Where We Start and Where We Go

Part of one's beliefs as an adult are solidified by experience. Someone oppressed by Christian parents might leave the beliefs of their family. Those who are raised in a supportive or centralized culture may be more inclined to follow the practices and traditions of those around them. I'm no exception to this. I've been raised in a strongly observant Christian family from birth. Church, orthodoxy, and orthopraxy have always been in my life, however great the degree.

But our experiences at home aren't just the determining factor. Our outside experience is just as important. And whether negative or positive, they still have an impact. In some ways, I feel like it's stronger at reinforcing my faith. I've had some nasty encounters with atheists. Not all of them. Many, in fact, are quite pleasant and respectful. When I think about it, they're usually agnostics. But I've been around some of the most abrasive, condescending, closed-minded people who've identified themselves as non-believers.  Just mean-spirited and unpleasant.

I had to deal with a guy like that once. I was trying so hard to like him. In fact, I did like him. We had some common interests and laughed together quite frequently. But there were moments when he wouldn't shut up. It wasn't that I thought he shouldn't express his opinions and beliefs. I found it really interesting and informative. It was when he would denigrate my beliefs, my convictions, that I found myself biting my tongue. Occasionally, I would try to correct him on something he mistakenly claimed. Yeah, he didn't care. He believed whatever he wanted. After a while, I didn't even bother trying. I'd just nod my head and smile.

During this, and my many other ordeals I've gone through, I've concluded that I would never be that kind of person. My faith would find that conduct absolutely unacceptable. And, in the improbable event I became a non-believer, I would retain the respectful behavior of my former faith.

Now many non-believers would label me, this hypothetical atheist, as an enabler. The so-called "New Atheist" movement. Guys like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. Men that believe they have no obligation against using polemics in their quest to eradicate the "evil" and "enslavement of minds" that is religion. Brilliant men, undoubtedly, but intellectual light-weights with regards to philosophy. If the New Atheists would require that from me, I'd rather not be one.

It's not like this doesn't go both ways. People of faith can be very aggressive and uncompassionate. Vindictive and judgemental. I don't blame those out there who have turned away. This seems no different than the New Atheists' attitude.

The Church cannot be this way. It is a spiritual and moral imperative. Truth without compromise, but truth in love. That cannot be stressed enough within the Body of Christ. A follower cannot condemn a person to an existence in hell while speaking of compassion five minutes later. It's blatant hypocrisy and it's wrong. We acknowledge our sins, forgive, repent, and help each other up. We don't deny hell, but we also recognize that we all deserve it when you get right down to it; no one can ever do enough good to measure up.

Through all this, I think about Pascal's Wager. For those who aren't in the know, I'll explain. Blaise Pascal argued that it is to one's favor to believe in God and be wrong than to not believe and be wrong. It's not a perfect argument by itself, but it serves the purpose to what I want to say. Some people won't find Pascal's Wager a compelling enough argument to choose a life in Christ. But, with the love and influence of the Church, we can tip the scales in His favor.

-L. Travis Hoffman

2/24/2015           

The Christian Cursing Conundrum

Another divisive issue. Cursing. Swearing. Four-letter words. You know about them, whether you keep them in your vocabulary or not. And it's stupid. I'm not talking about the words, I'm talking about there even being an issue, altogether. It's such a minor quibble in the scheme of things. I'm not saying we can't tackle multiple problems at once, but should this really have any serious priority?

I know people who live to both extremes and it is quite obnoxious. I knew someone who would cover their ears every time someone around him swore. Infantile. If I come out of an R-rated film with my parents, it's expected for my mom to say, "I could've done without the language," to which I end up rolling my eyes. I also know people who use F-bombs for every other word and it is extremely obnoxious. Oh, and they usually do it in public places and around children. That infuriates me to no end.

Now we can quote the usual scripture about not letting "unwholesome" talk come out or using words that edify others, and I agree with those verses. I don't, however, adhere to legalistic, watchdog nonsense. Context, ladies and gentle-fellows. It means a lot when it comes to scripture.

Consider what might've been viewed as unwholesome conversation during the early days of Christianity. Did you do it? Okay, now what do you look at as unwholesome today? I'm pretty sure poop and fart jokes would've been considered bad taste and sexual topics would definitely be taboo. How about the words "crap", "suck", and *gasp* "piss"? Offensive in 2015? Not so much.  I'm not saying we have carte blanche to use curse words up and down without any sort of conviction. I'm saying what I said before. Context.

If edifying language is the ideal, then unwholesome would likely be the exact opposite. Praising God vs. cursing Him or using His name frivolously. Words of encouragement vs. tearing someone down. Giving blessings vs. telling someone to go to hell. That, my friends, is context.

We should be respectful, though. Even though they might detest salty language, I have the love and respect to not do it around my parents, family, or friends because I value them enough not to make them uncomfortable. Certain friends and co-workers, I do. Many of them don't care and neither do I. No children, though. It's rude.  And I'm not frivolous about it. Mostly because I like showing off my impressive vocabulary.

"If you wouldn't say it in front of God, you shouldn't say it all," my mom would say. To which I respond, "Rubbish" (with due respect to Mom). There are a lot of things I wouldn't do in front of God. Going number two. Making love. Picking my nose. Dancing and singing alone when no one is home. None of these things are bad in and of themselves, but I'd rather in those moments have God looking away for a couple of minutes, had I the choice. I'd say the same idea applies here.

I'm not presenting any real solution here. Those who read this likely won't change their opinion. I get that. I'd say to just take someone else's point of view. Be respectful and use your language appropriately. I've found it very rewarding around my peers.

-L. Travis Hoffman

2/19/2015

Logic's Place in the Christian's Life

Some things just don't make sense in Christianity. They seem contradictory or improbable or downright impossible. Like the Trinity, for example. Or an existence where predestination works hand in hand with free will. I can understand if skeptics find themselves overcooking their noodle over certain concepts within the Bible. My mind can't wrap itself around these ideas, either. I'm left taking it on faith.

See, there's kind of the problem. What is faith? We don't seem to ever have a consistent, clearly-defined meaning for the word. And, depending on the interpretation, the skeptic may or may not be applying faith of some form in their own lives, further complicating the issue. We can't even settle on whether or not faith and reason are compatible or diametrically opposed to one another. Pascal and Kierkegaard supported the latter while Descartes and Thomas Aquinas believed in the former; all of these men were great thinkers and contributers to Christian thought.  Frankly, I'm at a loss as to what to believe.

Not that taking a side is somehow a deal-breaker with Christ or anything. I do wonder, however, whether one's relationship with Christ would be more rewarding intellectually. But then, something occurred to me. What if these elements in our faith, among others, are perfectly within a reason outside our reach?

In high school, I had an Earth Science teacher who told us once or twice that our knowledge of the universe is only as great as the technology that's available to us. Now I never got the impression that she was someone of faith, but her words have always stuck with me. It's a perfectly obvious fact that's lost on us.

Think of yourself as a child. You look at the world and see so many things and you have no idea why they work the way they do or their function. Yet we are completely aware that the adults around us do know these things and, as we grow more mature, we come to learn and understand the world.

I think that's mankind. Maybe the Trinity falls within a completely logical, rational means and we just haven't grown enough in spirit to understand it. Maybe we just need to be one on one with the Lord so He can explain it to us. And I'm okay with that. I think that's fair. It doesn't necessarily mean that the answer isn't available to us in this life. For all I know, God could reveal the answer tomorrow. I doubt it, but it could happen. I guess maybe that's where faith comes in.

-L. Travis Hoffman

2/15/15