Stream of Consciousness 2

One of the more remarkable things that I have been noticing is the robustness of the Christian faith. Obviously, I believe that Christianity is true, but above simple faith, I have found, more and more often, it provides a much richer picture of the nature of the world, and of human nature. Harvard psychologist William James call this sort of faith a "working hypothesis", and argued that in order to be objective and reasonable it would best be described as something one might doubt, and thereby revise into a stronger, more workable hypothesis.

This isn't to say that simple faith isn't enough for the purposes of salvation; because the Gospel is understanding that you can't love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. . .and you can't love you're neighbor as much as you love yourself - making you a sinner - and turning to Jesus, who did everything you couldn't do, then was offered as a substitutionary atoning sacrifice for your sin - and was raised to life so that you could know you are forgiven, and God is not angry with you, and has adopted you as a child of God. He then comes to live with you and shows you his power by teaching you to love people and himself. This is the only true religion, and the furthest thing from religion, in the entire world.

Is also isn't to say that those who find themselves away from faith in whatever capacity can't find some sort of meaning and purpose in their lives. The Christian worldview accounts for both the corruption in people, in the account of the Fall, and the goodness that still periodicly shines through people - in that we were all made in the image of God. It gives us a purpose for existing - to know intimately the God that arranged our genes and sustains us daily, who fills the Earth with good things for us to eat, and learn, and explore and who demonstrates his lovingkindness on those who would spit in his face through both special revelation and common grace.

I do not believe, or at least, I have not found it to be true that Christianity can answer every question, but it does illumine every issue - even if at times, as Martin Luther often alludes to, we are covered by the "darkness of faith".

Christians have to be careful not to fall into the trap of knowing something with "absolute certainty" in order for it to be true or effectual. "Let your yes be yes and your no be no." - If you don't know something, ask. If there is no answer, passionately seek it. If you need life more abundant, knock until you break the door down and take it. Violent men take hold of the Kingdom of God.