Trauma blood
4 years ago
Monday, March 9, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The Reason For God - Relativism..."Little Gods"
It is the current, the power, the force that really defines Western culture - specifically the United States. It destroys authority. It destroys morals. It destroys religion. It destroys absolute truth. What is it? Relativism.
Strangly, Keller addresses this subject in his chapter "How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?" But makes perfect sense. In a relativistic world, no one deserves punishment, because right and wrong is defined by each individual person, not by some transcendent standard. The practical impossibility of this philosophy is evident. A world with absolutely no absolutes is a world in chaos. Everyone has some kind of moral compass - as humans we are created in God's image. We know right from wrong. But the issue goes even further than that for atheists.
Atheists claim that there is no God. But what they don't understand is that in relativism they themselves become god. There is always some being who the world answers to, relates to, serves. In relativism it is the individual. Keller put's this well: "Ultimate reality was seen not so much as a supernatural order but as the natural world, and that was maleable. Instead of trying to shape our desires to fit reality, we now seek to control and shape reality to fit our desires." (emphasis added, Keller 71) The world relates to you. What you want defines the world. There is no such thing as an atheist. There is always a god. It just might be you.
Strangly, Keller addresses this subject in his chapter "How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?" But makes perfect sense. In a relativistic world, no one deserves punishment, because right and wrong is defined by each individual person, not by some transcendent standard. The practical impossibility of this philosophy is evident. A world with absolutely no absolutes is a world in chaos. Everyone has some kind of moral compass - as humans we are created in God's image. We know right from wrong. But the issue goes even further than that for atheists.
Atheists claim that there is no God. But what they don't understand is that in relativism they themselves become god. There is always some being who the world answers to, relates to, serves. In relativism it is the individual. Keller put's this well: "Ultimate reality was seen not so much as a supernatural order but as the natural world, and that was maleable. Instead of trying to shape our desires to fit reality, we now seek to control and shape reality to fit our desires." (emphasis added, Keller 71) The world relates to you. What you want defines the world. There is no such thing as an atheist. There is always a god. It just might be you.
The Reason For God - Power of the Holy Spirit
Timothy Keller addresses this issue that many non-Christians bring up about the Church: The Church is reponsible for so much injustice! On page 52, he has a section titled "Character Flaws" where he talks about Christians (normal people, pastors, and even church leaders) who he describes "seem to be at least (if not more) corrupt than leaders in the world at large." (Keller 53) And he leaves it at that.
I have a pretty serious problem with this statement, especially with nothing qualifiying it or explaining it any more. What it mainly does is take away credit from the Holy Spirit, and thus pretty much disarms our faith. If we aren't different people, if we aren't better people, then why become a Christian? When you love the Lord and when the Holy Spirit dwells within you, you will be different. No one said anything about being perfect - we are still sinners. But being as corrupt or more corrupt than leaders in the world at large? I think he takes it too far. I understand it would be tough to address the difference between a true Christian and a nominal Christian, but a seperation has to be made. If true, devout believers are homosexual or rape children, then our faith is pathetic. I don't believe a true Christian can live like that. God will forgive and save anyone regardless of their sin life, but once they have the Spirit, their lives change. They bear the fruit of the Spirit. They are different.
I have a pretty serious problem with this statement, especially with nothing qualifiying it or explaining it any more. What it mainly does is take away credit from the Holy Spirit, and thus pretty much disarms our faith. If we aren't different people, if we aren't better people, then why become a Christian? When you love the Lord and when the Holy Spirit dwells within you, you will be different. No one said anything about being perfect - we are still sinners. But being as corrupt or more corrupt than leaders in the world at large? I think he takes it too far. I understand it would be tough to address the difference between a true Christian and a nominal Christian, but a seperation has to be made. If true, devout believers are homosexual or rape children, then our faith is pathetic. I don't believe a true Christian can live like that. God will forgive and save anyone regardless of their sin life, but once they have the Spirit, their lives change. They bear the fruit of the Spirit. They are different.
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