The Intolerance of Tolerance

A few weeks ago I came across a podcast recording of a conversation between D.A. Carson and Al Mohler which really challenged my perspective on how our culture approaches ideas and arguments.

One of the most important aspects of our existence is being able to face, understand and think about the world that surrounds us. We live our lives propelled by our perspectives on the life that surrounds us. The ideas that fill our minds and hearts are the most important determiners of our direction and fate in this great big world. We all believe in something, live for something, desire something, etc.

Because of the huge importance of the topic of our worldviews, our ability to engage in intelligent conversations about the issues that matter most to us is one of the most vital aspects of life. Throughout history, we can see that discussion and debate gave rise to rise to conflict and separation, but it also inspired the continual search for truth in all the various areas of knowledge (science, philosophy, religion, sociology, etc.).

Ashamed of the Gospel?

It is a shame that christians often have the same view of the gospel as non-christians. What do I mean by this? We listen to the world around us as it laughs at the story of Christ, and over time, that belief starts to seep into our own minds. Little by little we start to believe the idea that the gospel is foolish and sounds like a bunch of rubbish. This causes christians to be scared of thinking out loud about what they believe and having quality conversations about it with the various people that surround them.

I think that part of the problem is the fact that not only christians, but it seems like everyone in our time is so hesitant to talk about what they believe in. We live in a culture that says that everyone makes up their own faith and truth and anyone who starts to defend what they stand for is being controlling and intolerant.

Idol Factories and Glorious Mirrors

“1  Then certain of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. 2  And the word of the LORD came to me: 3  “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them? 4  Therefore speak to them and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Any one of the house of Israel who takes his idols into his heart and sets the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him as he comes with the multitude of his idols, 5  that I may recapture the hearts of the house of Israel, who are all estranged from me through their idols.” (Ezekiel 14)

The Problem of Love

It has been quite fascinating for me to start to notice recently the prevalent power of love in the life of the human heart. We don’t have to look far to see it. Turn on the radio, see the latest movie, open a random book - and you will very likely find it there. It is quite intriguing to notice that the vast majority of, even just music and poetry, is dedicated to this subject of love. What seems to be more interesting is the fact that most of the things that people write or sing on the subject, is not about the successful achievement of love, but rather about its brokenness and illusive nature.

The Value of Friendship

Lately I have found myself thinking about what I really see as valuable in life, what exactly I want to devote my time to more, and how it is that I learn to decide that. Something that I noticed in myself, and in many of the young people in my life, is that we are often times inspired and driven by many of the amazing opportunities and open doors that we see in life. We are eager to pursue a career and see what we can make out of it. We are eager to grow intellectually and read and understand as much as we can about the world that surrounds us.

In contrast to this, I notice that older people, people who have been through many of the various challenges of life, often times spend less time with intellectual and occupational pursuits, and more time focusing on the people that matter most to them. It is as though a change happens as they get older, and they start to see the value of the people around them. In contrast to younger people, older people seem to have a deeper appreciation for building deep, meaningful relationships.

Eternity

Several factors in the last few months have prompted me to think about the subject of eternity, and on the vast implications that it has on the way that I live my life. As I think about the weight of this subject I am shocked at the fact that I so quickly forget its significance and feed my mind and heart on things of infinitely lesser significance.

The word of God shows us clearly that, compared to what lies beyond, this life is but a mist, a vapor that comes and goes, never to return again. The significance of this life depends on our relationship to eternity. “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mark 8:36).  These words are harsh but real - if our lives in this world are not leading to the ultimate life after death than all that we do here is just a vain curse. We are setting ourselves up for eternal suffering - where is the value of that?

Reflecting on the Richness of Life (Pt. 2)

I notice that there are many half-happy people in this world, who are very much content with being half-happy. They just seem to be going with the flow and only stopping to reevaluate and grow when they face some sort of major life difficulty. Aside from that they don’t want to be bothered or challenged in their pursuits and purposes.

But as I look at the unfolding of my life in Christ I am constantly blown away at the depth and richness of life that everyday yields. The gospel of Jesus Christ does not offer us a mere moralistic therapeutic deism* (which seems to be the experience of, even, many christians today). The gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us with a deeper life that is built on the all consuming purpose of God for life. Who else can teach us about life except the Author of life himself? What is any other worldview worth in comparison to his?