Should Christians Complain?

A lot of events in the world have been troubling me as of late. The censorship and suppressing of Christian expression has given me cause for concern. The recent rumblings of the State dictating policy within the Church is even more disturbing for me. Post-modernism and its offspring of cultural relativism have already taken their toll on Christianity. With all these things going on, we still don't have it all that bad. At least not in comparison to Christians in North Korea, China, and many Middle Eastern countries. In America, our expression of belief is negatively responded to with verbal abuse and the occasional fine or lawsuit. The aforementioned countries respond with prison, torture, or execution.

Quite frequently, I'll read posts from non-Christians or even political liberals who believe that Christians in the U.S. play victim and close their eyes to their dominance within the culture. I'm of two minds on this subject. I think non-Christians, being what they are, cannot see how the Church and its values are being undermined simply because they support the views and causes that are behind that very undermining. They have no vested interest in the survival of Christianity and therefore see no persecution taking place. At the same time, I do think that the Church underestimates itself and resigns to having lost what's termed as the "Culture War".

I really hate it when well-known evangelists and pastors talk about how "the end times are here". I think it's rubbish. It's presumptuous and fails to take into account how much pull the Church still has in the world. Maybe same-sex marriage poses a potential threat toward Christian expression, but abortion has gone down considerably in the US, even in the states with few restrictions. The Church played a big part in that. Or how about the fact that Roman Catholicism hasn't budged on its position of homosexuality and abortion as being sins? Many churches have been swayed on this, but what is arguably the most powerful denomination in Christendom has still stuck to its guns. They haven't backed down. That's something to celebrate. However much controversy Pope Francis continues to generate, he hasn't changed the Roman Catholic Church into some mirror-universe equivalent. Well, not yet anyway.

What I'm trying to say is that the world hasn't been given to hell in a handbasket. The end times do approach closer each day, but that doesn't mean that those days are here. The world hasn't gotten nearly bad enough to warrant using that phrase. Yes, Christians are getting marginalized within our culture, but this is nothing new. Christians were oppressed in the Church's infancy. That this sort of thing goes on just proves that events run circular, that there's an ebb and flow to the persecution of Christianity.

We also need to take into account that this may just be God's way of seperating the sheep from the goats. It's easy to call one's self a Christian when those tenets of faith are without heavy resistance. But a true Christian will stick it out when the world is working against them. Even when receiving verbal abuse, whether we be referred to as hate-mongerers or anti-science or an obstruction to social progress, the true Christian shows his loyalty to Christ and His teachings.

Just for the record, I have no desire to give people the impression that my being a true Christian somehow elevates me above others. I know many within the Church that are far better examples than myself. But having those qualities of a true Christian is something I aspire to. I want God to be pleased with me that I made attempts, though not without stumbling, to serve Him and seek His Kingdom.

-L. Travis Hoffman

6/9/2015

When is it no longer legalism?

Every few months or so, I find myself asking this question. When does an act, behavior, or what have you, become distinctly and instrinsically sinful as opposed to being something that is meant to fit the box of the Christian "image"? I really don't know. I'm not sure if this should bother me or not. I only know that I want to avoid legalism and also avoid ways of being pulled further away from Christ. That doesn't necessarily mean that I feel closure, however.

I love listening and watching stand-up comedy. And, putting it out there, I enjoy the comedy of comedians like Louis C.K., Dane Cook, and Pablo Francisco. Guys that are most definitely crass and crude with their material. I enjoy R-rated comedies like Superbad or The 40-Year-Old Virgin. I get a lot of amusement out of its humor.

Perhaps I'm trying to justify myself, but I feel that this humor taps into who we are. We are people that are impure; we lust, we let our tempers get out of control, we covet, and we hate. There's a certain honesty about that type of comedy. And sometimes when it gets dirty or dark, it's oftentimes out of sheer absurdity. The humor becomes surreal. Does Louis C.K. really want to get AIDS so he can pass it onto deer so they can die? No, of course not. He's using hyperbole to make a point that he really hates having deer on his property. Do I always enjoy their humor? No. There are many times that I think Louis or Dane go over the line for me. Blasphemous or hurtful. They frequently condone values that are very much un-Christian.

It's said that our behavior reflects what we take into our lives. In fact, even the Bible says something to that effect. I don't know the verse off-hand, but I do recall it. The point is that it's a truth and therefore absolute. The Word also says to be in the world and not of it. I'm trying to figure out where one ends and the other begins.

I'll use another example of something I enjoy. I really dig mythology, especially of the Greek variety. It's imaginative and it's informative of what culture was like in their respective eras. It also consists almost exclusively of pagan gods and magic and, compared to Christianity, acts of sin. Is it morally sound for me to gain pleasure from the stories of cultures that created and worshipped false gods? Stories that were created by people who likely condemned themselves to hell? I think that this is a legitimate question to pose to one's self, because I don't know the right answer. I really wish I did. My only advice, my only comfort, is to pray for proper descernment and vigilance toward what might be sinful. Pray to recognize what is offensive to God and what He probably doesn't care about. As frivilous as this sounds, we're going to have to answer for our sins, regardless.

-L. Travis Hoffman

6/3/2015

Why I Lean Toward Calvinism (Kind of)

I'm not a Calvinist. That is, if you were to ask someone that adheres to John Calvin's approach to Christian theology, I wouldn't fit the bill. I'm hesitant to subscribe to all five points of Calvinism. At best, I'm a four-point Calvinist. But close is only good in horse shoes, so I won't describe myself as one.

However, as I've learned about John Calvin's observations on sin and grace, I feel inclined to agree with him. Questions about heaven, hell, and salvation seem to have some clarity and bring me some peace of mind.

For those who aren't well-learned of church history, John Calvin was among many thinkers who furthered the Reformation or Protestant movement. I don't want anyone to think that I'm somehow worshipping Calvin or elevating him to prophet status. In fact, for this reason many prefer to be identified as Reformed. It's merely referring to those who agree with Calvin's studies and interpretations about Christian theology. I believe in the same tenets and foundations as my family and friends who are Christians.

I'll be honest in saying that I don't know anyone personally that follows this school of thought. I know at one point that there was a movement within my own church to push for this system. However, this was years back. What little knowledge I have of Calvinism has been gathered from a podcast series that focused on it and a little bit of reading here and there. I'm not claiming to be an authority or even terribly knowledgable about it, but I can express my own reflections on what I've learned. Onward to my reasons.

My investigations on Calvin's interpretation of divine election and grace have provoked thoughts and, potentially, answers to things that I frequently ponder. Particularly as of late. The concept of irresistable grace, that a person who might be completely hostile to Christianity and then joins the Body of Christ, for example, explains some things. Another example could pertain to our concern about areas of the world where people are unaware or not exposed to Christianity. Through this idea of irresistable grace, we can take comfort in knowing that the Father is more than fair and chooses His elect without discrimination. No location, color, age, gender, or history can obstruct His blessing of election. It is not earned, but given. Through His will, an individual among the elect will naturally be pulled into accepting Christ's gift of salvation. This doesn't negate the necessity to witness, but it does bring a sense of privilege and devotion toward Him in that we can be His instrument to carry out His will.

On the other side of the coin, this can also explain how certain individuals will adamantly refuse and reject Christianity. They could be subjected to the most compelling of evidence or experiences and still would not admit that Christ is Lord. I know someone that is exactly like this. I've mentioned him in a previous entry. Both the doctrines of total depravity and irresistable grace (or lack thereof) could feasibly explain that. I hope that I'm wrong and he comes around.

What has likely given me the most to occupy my mind is the fifth point of Calvinism, Perserverance of the Saints. This is not new doctrine for me as my church has always taught this view. However, my exposure to it from the aforementioned podcast provided food for thought. When leading the reformation, Martin Luther was challenged on this view by the Roman Catholic Church. They objected to this interpretation of scripture, believing that if salvation did not require continuous renewal then man would feel free to do as he pleased without fear of repercussions. Luther replied that one who has the gift of salvation will desire to please God. The point being that a Christian, a true Christian, displays the fruits of the Spirit. It may not be apparent to others, but God knows. We generally look at the people that are "playing the part" and make a judgement call based on that. It's all about the heart. It's reflected in whether you're being good to become a Christian or you're being good as a result of being a Christian.

I lost a close friend some time ago. His mother, naturally, was concerned about where he was in eternity. She asked me if I thought he was in heaven. I said that I hoped so and assured her that God is more than fair. I told her that if he was saved, then his soul would be with Christ. Then she got into some other stuff that Roman Catholics don't believe in getting saved (which is not true, FYI), but it did get me thinking. Assuming that he had asked for salvation, did he receive it? By that I mean, in his heart was he really asking for it? I knew my friend for nearly his entire life and yet I never found myself exposed to his fruits of the Spirit. He never expressed much love for religion or anything remotely spiritual.

What I'm saying is that it made me realize that words from the mouth do not bring salvation. Words from the heart do. My inclination is to believe that my friend did not receive salvation. It's disconcerting on one hand at the thought of my friend being in hell. On the other hand, God is fair. Beyond more than fair. I take comfort in knowing that. It's nothing I have control over, anyway.

As far as points of doctrine that are chaffing to me, I have a hard time with limited atonement. I believe that Christ's sacrifice atoned for the sins of everyone and not just those among the unmerited elect. The idea that even the possibility of salvation is denied to many people seems to fly in the face of God's gift of free will. However, the Calvinist's understanding of free will seems to function differently than what is taught to Arminians. But getting into that might make this entry even more longer than it is now. Maybe another time.

It's been fun reading and learning about this stuff if for no other reason than to provide me with the challenge to observe my faith through a different set of lenses.

-L. Travis Hoffman

5/1/2015

10 Years Later

We're approaching the end of April and it just occurred to me that it has been a decade since I had made my suicide attempt. Hard to believe, because it doesn't seem *that* long ago. I was 17 at the time. I felt like I had absolutely no control over my life. My mind was constantly bombarded by doubt and self-loathing. Any hope of career aspirations or creative autonomy looked completely out of reach. Then the straw that broke the camel's back in the form of complete rejection and unrequited love. I was hospitalized from Tuesday evening to Friday afternoon. Good times.

It was pretty agonizing trying to recover from that ordeal. But with the help of treatment, faith, family, and a girl named Kayla, I was able to get through the year without any more incidents. I was very fortunate.

Hardships like these tend to open your eyes to certain things about yourself and the world around you. For example, my abandoned and comically inept attempt at suicide by garden hose. Play that scenario in your head for a few moments. Aspects of my humor are considerably darker and altogether different in their self-deprecation. I've never made light of anyone else's troubles with self-harm, but I can't help but laugh at how ridiculous mine was and has been. It does affect your perception of how others feel around you and makes you perhaps a little too sensitive toward others. There's a tennis game of raging pessimism and cynicism against idealistic Romanticism that's constantly going on in my soul. And yes, it is as verbose and convoluted in my head as it is in print. I make an effort to compartmentalize it to blogs, but it likes to bleed over onto facebook and some of my conversations. There's healing in being vulnerable and having candor. Solidarity has its benefits.

So there it is. Here's to a ten-year anniversary of a botched suicide attempt!

-L. Travis Hoffman

4/28/2015

"It Doesn't Affect Me"

We're all familiar with this phrase. I've heard it countless times as I'm sure you have, too. Heck, you might've even said it yourself. Either way, it's there.

"Gay marriage doesn't affect me."

I counter this statement by saying that if gay marriage doesn't affect you (that is, the person making the claim), then it shouldn't matter if it isn't legalized or accepted into culture. Which we all know is untrue. The person does care. It affects their moral, ethical, and political sensibilities.  Maybe it's merely a case of simple equal rights. Maybe it's an imperative to gain societal acceptance. But there is something there. So let's not kid ourselves or anyone else by saying that the status of gay marriage has no bearing on our lives.

Now that we've arrived at this conclusion, both sides of the issue can lay claim to a vested interest of where  gay marriage stands. I'll share my own personal views on the matter. It's my opinion that gay marriage is something that should be voted on at a national level. When the polls are in, then the issue is settled. It's either legal or it's not. No more lobbyist or supreme court intervention. There should be no attempt to undo what is decided, one way or the other. We respect the democratic process and the will of the people. Though I'm not someone who would vote in favor of it, I at least feel that both sides would (or should, ideally) be treated fairly and respectfully when all is said and done.

My initial reason for not supporting gay marriage was not because of the convictions of my faith (though I do have these), but rather it pertained to public health. Having read some medical journals, I have reason to believe that the body does not accommodate to same-sex intercourse.  Because of that, I have felt that legitimizing homosexuality, despite the health risks, would be dishonest and, ultimately, have a negative effect on society. It's one thing to engage in the activity, it's another to promote and claim that it is equally safe and healthy. This appears to have no impact on public opinion, which likely means that gay marriage will be legal in due time.

If this does turn out to be the case, then I would encourage fellow Christians to be respectful and compassionate. We must remember that God is greater than any obstacle or tribulation. My concern within our culture, however, is that this will not be enough to appease the mainstream. If same-sex marriage is passed, I do not want to be forced into supporting it under threat of legal retaliation or being blackballed from a career. I don't want to be told that my views do not have equal protection under the First Amendment. Many of those in support of same-sex marriage also support a separation of church and state. Though this is nowhere in the Constitution, I will entertain this position in order to make a point. If religion should not be the last word in the determination of law, then neither should the government have any place to dictate church policy. It was for this reason, in fact, that Thomas Jefferson used the phrase in his letters in the first place.  

I need to make another point. Freedom of Speech and Thought does not mean freedom without consequence. There are people who oppose same-sex marriage who want to express their views in absolutely stupid ways. An auto mechanic who altogether refuses to serve a homosexual is stupid because he's not being forced to support the customer's views. He's being asked to fix a car. A group of students who start an "Anti-Gay Day" and wear shirts with Bible verses and target fellow students who are gay, using offensive labels and bullying. They are stupid. This is not Christian and it's not compassionate. It's deliberately inflammatory and does nothing to honor God. It should not be tolerated within the Body of Christ. So if you are among those who are considering these things, stop. Just stop. Don't be an instigator and don't be an idiot. If we want our thoughts to be heard, then we will do it civilly and without intentional provocation.We must use prayer and the Bible appropriately.

I rarely discuss this issue with others. I'm less interested in debating and more convicted toward listening and being respectful. The majority of people aren't going to change their mind, anyway. But I want to leave giving little doubt that I at least care, regardless of the outcome.

-L. Travis Hoffman

4/22/2015

Going Through the Motions

It's tough for me when it comes to reading the Bible. As important as it is to my life and as fascinating as I find it, I don't read it nearly as much as I should. I read about it and I read material pertaining to it, but the good book itself? Not so much.

It's not for lack of desire. I wouldn't even say that it's from lack of motivation. There's just those periods, those dry spells in my life, that make time spent reading to be fruitless. Nothing of value comes from it. I'm reading the words but nothing is sticking in my head. It's just me going through the motions so I can say that I read from my Bible today.

It occurs to me now that I'm approaching this from the wrong mindset. To say that nothing of value would come out of it would be a lack of understanding. I'm not saying that we should be content with just going through the motions, but we should understand that there is value in obedience. Reading the Bible, prayer, worship, etc. are all ways of expressing and communing to God. It's how we have a relationship with Him. And, like any relationship, we aren't going to be experiencing profound feelings of emotion or understanding each and every time. That's not how it works. If it did, it would make our relationships conditional and lacking in any genuine, meaningful love. God wants us to put in the work and show that He matters to us by obeying Him even when it's inconvenient, boring, or seemingly pointless. He always appreciates us for doing it, even if His love isn't felt in that very moment.

Let me reiterate that we shouldn't be content with going through the motions. We need to learn and change our ways and methods if we expect our relationship to have longevity. But we also need to recognize that hard work and loyalty does not always give instant gratification. If we can do this in our relationship with Christ, then we're certain to have success in other relationships.

-L. Travis Hoffman

3/17/2015

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