In my last post I talked about the research I did for a talk on evolution. Now while it was a very humbling experience it also made one thing clear: our origins matter. Not just in the sense of physically how we were created/how we evolved, but also the very way we think about it, how we approach it, the assumptions and ideas we bring to the table without even knowing it. When approaching evolution and creationism a naturalistic mindset rules out any talk of the supernatural, while a dogmatic mindset rules out any deviation from Genesis 1. Origins matter, because they often determine your conclusions. Continue reading “on filling the earth and subduing it”
on learning and faith
I recently gave a talk on evolution and creationism. It involved some very challenging research, with some pretty challenging implications.
I was raised in the tradition of literal six-day creationism, but reading about the other ideas of creationism (and evolution) gave me a lot to think about. What did God really do? Did it really happen in six days? Is it really that important? Was it literally like that? If not then how literal are other parts of the Bible? Did God use the imagery in Genesis merely to speak to what we know? What then are the implications for the other imagery of Scripture? What is God? Continue reading “on learning and faith”
on the craziness of the bible
I’ve written previously about what makes the Bible speak so truly. It is a book of hope, a love letter from God, a brutally honest assessment of the way we are as people.
But there is another characteristic of the Bible which seems overlooked.
It’s a fundamentally crazy book. Continue reading “on the craziness of the bible”
on being happy
We should gladly accept good things when they come, but don’t let them make you forget where the fountain of happiness is.
Good things, good people, good jobs, good moments come and go. If they don’t go they will change. And during that change they will definitely disappoint you along the way. Continue reading “on being happy”
on godly jobs
It’s probably true to say that in church circles, the sacred enjoys a premium over the profane. I’ve heard more than a few people express the thought that pastoring or ministry or even bible study leading is a higher calling than playing music, setting up and welcoming.
Non-Christians seem to think we think this too, and maybe it’s because we privilege church-speak and hyper-spirituality over more mundane things such as getting to know people, social justice and caring for the poor. Recently when I objected to what people were talking about during a wedding I was at, my friend thought my objections were based on the fact that not enough people were talking Jesus-talk and sprouting halos (when in fact my objection was based on the fact that everybody in the congregation was so sickeningly successful and not enough of them were telling fart jokes). Continue reading “on godly jobs”
on being nice
Recently I watched a Chinese soap opera portraying a spoiled little imperial prince. He treated all the servants like dirt and had no respect for his elders’ authority. I was thinking how different he is from kids in our era, who are expected to be nice and multicultural and polite. But then I thought it must’ve been because these princes were raised for a specific purpose: their education consisted in how to rule the kingdom and stay alive. Their education had nothing to do with getting along with other people. They literally had no reason to be nice.
Which made me think back to my niceness vs kindness debate, which I’ve briefly touched on before. Why are we nice? Is niceness for its own sake worth it? Often we are nice because, let’s face it, you won’t get far in life if everyone hates you. Continue reading “on being nice”
on small dreams
“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.” – 1 Cor 13:11-12
I’ve been thinking recently about the Bible’s promises of inheritance. If I (alongside all Christians) am co-heir of Christ, the image of the invisible God, firstborn of creation, king of all creation, then all his riches, his grace, his righteousness are mine. That’s a sweet deal.
Then why does life still feel decidedly unawesome? Continue reading “on small dreams”
on being content
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and very situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:11-13
Recently two things have been on my mind: what it means to be free, and why is it that certain sins seem perfectly acceptable to certain quarters of Christianity. I won’t go at length about how both have played out in my head but here’s how I think they’re linked.
The key to freedom is being content. Freedom from wanting more and more is not gained by getting stuff, but to finally take a step back and say that’s enough, I’ll enjoy what I have. The same applies to jobs, popularity, experiences in life – get while you can but at some point you realise that the desire for more will not be satisfied by getting stuff. Continue reading “on being content”
on the cross
I don’t know about you, but this is often the only thing that comes to mind when someone asks about the cross:
Why did Jesus die for me? Because he loves me.
True, but equally true and arguably more important is this:
Why did Jesus die for me? Because I was bad and I deserved to die on that cross, not him.
We – all who trust in Jesus’ promise that the cross has set us free from death – are all alike. We are the sinful firstborn of Abraham who was spared sacrificial death because God promised that the death of a lamb instead would suffice. We are the firstborn of faithless Israel in Egypt, spared fatal judgement because a firstborn passover lamb took our place. We are the convict Yeshua bar-Abbas, the sinful son of the father, spared from execution at the last minute because the firstborn son of the father who shares our name, Yeshua bar-Joseph, went to the cross in our place.
on spiritual highs and lows
Spiritual ups and downs are a seemingly unavoidable part of the Christian’s life. If you’re anything like me it goes like this: a two-week spiritual high followed by a crash, followed by feelings of remorse, self-disgust and disappointment. Along comes a great experience or inspiring sermon, then a bout of spiritual growth, another high, then a crash. Repeat ad nauseam. Continue reading “on spiritual highs and lows”
Remember, My Lord 