C.S. Lewis' thoughts on Incarnation and Atonement. I find this illustration of Christ's incarnation to be most moving and thought provoking. It is from his book "Miracles." Enjoy.
“One may think of a diver, first reducing himself to nakedness, then glancing in mid-air, then gone with a splash, vanishing rushing down through green and warm water into black and cold water, down through increasing pressure into the deathlike region of ooze and slime and old decay; then up again, back to colour and light, his lungs almost bursting, till suddenly he breaks the surface again, holding in his hand the dripping, precious thing he went down to recover. He and it are both coloured now that they have come up into the light: down below, where it lay colorless in the dark, he lost his color too” (Miracles, chap. 14) . . . .
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Science and Religion
Long considered unfriendly bedfellows, I have had the pleasure of indulging both of these topics quite frequently in my life. Having a BS in Biology, and studying to obtain a Master of Arts in Theology has created quite a mixture of thought, logic, and research in my mind. One of my greatest quandaries is fielded in the area of "spontaneous generation." Spontaneous generation is the belief that life can unexpectedly arise from a non-living thing. Many many years ago, scientists like Louis Pasteur proved this silly myth wrong, irrelevant, and illogical. And yet today I read an article by one of the foremost physicists in the world stating this:
We must rid ourselves of the thought of spontaneous generation. It is a fallacious idea, and it must be replaced with gradual spontaneous generation.
Hmm...let us dismiss this foolish idea that life can arise from non-living things suddenly...but given time it can definitely happen? I'm a bit confused at the logic here. The reasoning of some of the smartest men in the universe has literally blinded them to any possible truth to be found in areas such as this. I write not to critique to scientists, but to say this-
As Christians we are not to stand back and point fingers at those reaching conclusions we wholly disagree with. It is no surprise that men who do not know Jesus reach conclusions that we clearly identify as folly, the Bible tells us that this will happen. The truth is that God has hardened their hearts to His message. He has deafened their ears and blinded their eyes so they can neither hear nor see the truth. Again, our job is not to stand back and point fingers at the condemned for their foolishness- lest we become them as they point at our ignorance in trusting a divine being. We have two wonderful activities to partake in. 1) We rejoice that God has opened our eyes and our ears and softened our hearts so that we can see Him. We praise God for blessed ears and eyes and His election of us. 2) Like Jesus, we do not simply rejoice in our salvation but we venture into the world to bring life to the dead. When Jesus sticks his fingers in the ears of the deaf man he sighs as he looks to heaven, then he says be opened. And for the first time in the man's life he hears the sounds of the world and he speaks (Mark 7:3137). In Matthew 20 Jesus is called to by two blind beggars on the side of the road. While everyone passes by avoiding eye contact or telling them to shutup, Jesus has compassion on them and he touches their eyes healing them so they can see. He does not merely mock them. He touches their eyes and for the first time in their lives they see not only the beauty of creation but their first true sight is the face of the Saviour of the world standing before them. Memorable?
Let us not stand back and watch the world burn. God has called us to much more. We have been given the opportunity to partner with Christ in the restoration of creation and that which He loves most, mankind. So will you not join the cause and begin to restore sight and ears and life to those around you? Let us not condemn but restore. Thank you Lord for blessed eyes.
We must rid ourselves of the thought of spontaneous generation. It is a fallacious idea, and it must be replaced with gradual spontaneous generation.
Hmm...let us dismiss this foolish idea that life can arise from non-living things suddenly...but given time it can definitely happen? I'm a bit confused at the logic here. The reasoning of some of the smartest men in the universe has literally blinded them to any possible truth to be found in areas such as this. I write not to critique to scientists, but to say this-
As Christians we are not to stand back and point fingers at those reaching conclusions we wholly disagree with. It is no surprise that men who do not know Jesus reach conclusions that we clearly identify as folly, the Bible tells us that this will happen. The truth is that God has hardened their hearts to His message. He has deafened their ears and blinded their eyes so they can neither hear nor see the truth. Again, our job is not to stand back and point fingers at the condemned for their foolishness- lest we become them as they point at our ignorance in trusting a divine being. We have two wonderful activities to partake in. 1) We rejoice that God has opened our eyes and our ears and softened our hearts so that we can see Him. We praise God for blessed ears and eyes and His election of us. 2) Like Jesus, we do not simply rejoice in our salvation but we venture into the world to bring life to the dead. When Jesus sticks his fingers in the ears of the deaf man he sighs as he looks to heaven, then he says be opened. And for the first time in the man's life he hears the sounds of the world and he speaks (Mark 7:3137). In Matthew 20 Jesus is called to by two blind beggars on the side of the road. While everyone passes by avoiding eye contact or telling them to shutup, Jesus has compassion on them and he touches their eyes healing them so they can see. He does not merely mock them. He touches their eyes and for the first time in their lives they see not only the beauty of creation but their first true sight is the face of the Saviour of the world standing before them. Memorable?
Let us not stand back and watch the world burn. God has called us to much more. We have been given the opportunity to partner with Christ in the restoration of creation and that which He loves most, mankind. So will you not join the cause and begin to restore sight and ears and life to those around you? Let us not condemn but restore. Thank you Lord for blessed eyes.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Take Your First
Two and a half weeks ago my mom was diagnosed with stomach cancer. When we found out I spent most of the night crying, bitter, praying for God's mercy on her and my family. After feeling semi-conscious for a week at work I drove home to be with her through appointments and planning of treatment. Wednesday, a week ago today, we were told that her cancer had not spread. By the mercy of Christ it was contained in her stomach. Friday they planned a surgery to remove her entire stomach, and yesterday that plan was carried out.
Unfortunately, the cancer had spread to her spleen, intestines, and part of her esophagus. They removed her stomach, 10 inches of colon, her spleen, and 2 inches of the bottom portion of her esophagus. After moving through this enormous range of emotions over the last 19 days I am completely convinced of one thing:
Jesus Christ is Lord of all.
The word cancer makes Him no less sovereign, it merely makes us more mortal. We must relinquish control of our lives and when we do we will encounter the greatest joy in all of the earth. Knowing God. Not merely knowing of Him, but to walk with Him deeply and to enjoy the riches of His grace. I believe that all things work together for the good of those who love Him. I do love Him, my mother does love Him, my father, and my sister as well. Trust in Him, all you who are weary...I am weary. I will place my rest and trust in Him, knowing that He will never leave me nor forsake me. His mercies are new every morning. I believe that, and therefore I have hope in the darkest night of the soul knowing that in Christ Jesus all that is wrong in the world will eventually be right. I believe God can heal my mother...but ultimately He must be glorified and if He wishes to use my mother's (and family's) suffering to accomplish His means than my most desperate prayer is for us to draw even nearer to Him, and Him to us, during this time of trial. That through this we will know Him more than when it begun and that He will use this suffering to make His name great, for He is the end of all things.
LORD, How I ache for Your restoration of this broken world. I plead for a miracle in my mother's life...knowing that You are far greater than cancer and that with even a word You can cure her. You who calm the seas and created the heavens and the earth. The One who spoke the universe into existence, and came to die that I might spend eternity with you. Heal her body if it is Your will, if not, then Your will be done and not mine. Make much of Your name father in Heaven, be magnified in this situation. Amen...Amen.
Unfortunately, the cancer had spread to her spleen, intestines, and part of her esophagus. They removed her stomach, 10 inches of colon, her spleen, and 2 inches of the bottom portion of her esophagus. After moving through this enormous range of emotions over the last 19 days I am completely convinced of one thing:
Jesus Christ is Lord of all.
The word cancer makes Him no less sovereign, it merely makes us more mortal. We must relinquish control of our lives and when we do we will encounter the greatest joy in all of the earth. Knowing God. Not merely knowing of Him, but to walk with Him deeply and to enjoy the riches of His grace. I believe that all things work together for the good of those who love Him. I do love Him, my mother does love Him, my father, and my sister as well. Trust in Him, all you who are weary...I am weary. I will place my rest and trust in Him, knowing that He will never leave me nor forsake me. His mercies are new every morning. I believe that, and therefore I have hope in the darkest night of the soul knowing that in Christ Jesus all that is wrong in the world will eventually be right. I believe God can heal my mother...but ultimately He must be glorified and if He wishes to use my mother's (and family's) suffering to accomplish His means than my most desperate prayer is for us to draw even nearer to Him, and Him to us, during this time of trial. That through this we will know Him more than when it begun and that He will use this suffering to make His name great, for He is the end of all things.
LORD, How I ache for Your restoration of this broken world. I plead for a miracle in my mother's life...knowing that You are far greater than cancer and that with even a word You can cure her. You who calm the seas and created the heavens and the earth. The One who spoke the universe into existence, and came to die that I might spend eternity with you. Heal her body if it is Your will, if not, then Your will be done and not mine. Make much of Your name father in Heaven, be magnified in this situation. Amen...Amen.
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