hilosophy is, etymologically, “love of wisdom”… Notice here a small point. It’s not knowledge of wisdom. It’s love. Think about this for a moment. If you have an object of love, you embrace it; if you lack it, you pursue it. Philosophy at its best is not just a matter of filling our heads with new questions and deep knowledge. It’s also an enterprise of the heart. It is the passionate pursuit and wholehearted embracing of wisdom, or genuine insight about living.
ome wise thoughts on what may underly some of the fervent eagerness to see Christian values defended by political action. This is not to say that political action is ruled out–but it can never be the focus of our hope for a transformed society.
Indeed, if there is any real evidence of the decline of Christianity in the West, the evidence resides precisely in the eagerness of so many professing Christians to employ the state to advance the Christian religion…. [It] resides not in the presence of other religions (including secularism) in our culture, but in the Judge Moores, the hand-wringing over “under God” in the pledge of allegiance, and the whining about the “war on Christmas.”
If professing Christians believe our religion is advanced by the power of the state rather than by the power of the Spirit, by coercion rather than by example and moral suasion, then perhaps Christianity is indeed in decline. If we can no longer say, with the apostle Paul, “the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly,” then perhaps Christianity is indeed in significant decline. If we believe we need Christian presidents, legislators, and judges in order for our faith to advance, then we ourselves no longer believe in Christianity, and it has declined.
Christianity does not rise or fall on the basis of governmental activity; it rises or falls on the basis of true ecclesiastical activity. What Christianity needs is competent ministers, not Christian judges, legislators, or executive officers.
hanks to Marc Lloyd for pointing me to this interesting summary of Calvin’s metaphors for talking about creation.
Calvin has developed an increasingly rich set of visual metaphors by which to describe the ways in which the invisible God makes [himself] somewhat visible in the universe.
The universe may be described as a “mirror or representation of invisible things” (Heb 11:3).
The world may also be described as the theater of God’s glory, which, when we behold it, should lead us to the knowledge of God who created it.
The universe is the living image of God, in which God represents [himself] to us.
The world is the clothing that the invisible God wears so that we might behold God therein.
Because the invisible God appeares to us in the fabric of God’s works, the world is also the school in which we should be taught to know the God who created us.
Finally, the universe is the speechless proclamation or the mute teaching that would instruct us in the true knowledge of God, who is the Author of all things.
lease forgive me for indulging myself with another of my poems. This one is meant for the ear more than the eye. Let me know what you make of it. This is how it goes:
let me speak of a pearl
the sort that softly gleams
on the neck of a pretty girl
a moon made minute and white.
an opal stone from a mine
of shadows and silver light
he gospel is what gives substance and life to Christianity. For a Christian, there is nothing more soul-refreshing than thinking about Jesus’ good news. So let me recommend the aptly named blog Of First Importance whose unambitious promise is to “provide a thoughtful quote to help you remember what’s ‘of first importance’: the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Among the many other things I read each day, I have found the disparate quotes (from different people, times and perspectives) on Of First Importance to be a treat I look forward to.
nother exceptionally helpful post from R Scott Clark can be found on his Heidelblog. The title is “A Word to Students in the Midst of Controversy,” and the content is excellent. He writes of the situation at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, but his insights will be helpful anywhere. Well worth a read for any theological student!
ou can find an historical answer by R Scott Clark. I have found this helpful in understanding the origins of the movement. But if you don’t know what the Federal Vision is, please don’t waste your time reading about it!
ife’s for the living, I guess. Have a look at this advertisement filmed live in Liverpool Street Station. Lovely to see such delight on people’s faces!
hese words from John Owen’s Christologia are particularly encouraging. Owen’s aim in writing his work was the exaltation of Christ into his rightful position “in the hearts and consciences of men.” Think more of Christ!
hilosophy is, etymologically, “love of wisdom”… Notice here a small point. It’s not knowledge of wisdom. It’s love. Think about this for a moment. If you have an object of love, you embrace it; if you lack it, you pursue it. Philosophy at its best is not just a matter of filling our heads with new questions and deep knowledge. It’s also an enterprise of the heart. It is the passionate pursuit and wholehearted embracing of wisdom, or genuine insight about living.
