"Atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning."
C.S. Lewis
"The fingers of your thoughts are molding your face ceaselessly."
Charles Reznikoff
"Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere."
G.K. Chesterton
"Humility enforces where neither virtue nor strength can prevail, nor reason."
Francis Quarles
"Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil."
C.S. Lewis
Resistance Thinking Faith
It is through the Jesus lense the Resistance Thinking seeks to explore truth about the world in which we live. In this faith section you will find articles, news and reivews that will help you explore the complexities of the Christian faith.
We will cover a broad range of topics, including: theology, church, leadership, devotions, classic Christian literature, prayer, everyday faith, apologetics, church history, Christian living, Old Testamnet, New Testament, creation, fresh expressions, epistomology...the list could go on and on!
If there is any topic you would like the Resistance Thinking team to go to work on please shoot us an email. If you have any work that could help us all to be more effective 'Resistance Thinkers' please send it in for our team to review.
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." CS Lewis
Two weeks ago I engaged in a discussion regarding ten good reasons why one should abstain from premarital sex. I didn't, however, touch on the issue of lust.
As Christians we prescribe to a biblical understanding of the world (at least we should). The Bible endorses sex as something which is great and pleasurable, in the right circumstances. Unfortunately, we have a society which looks us directly in the eye and lies to us saying that sex is great in any situation. Therefore, it is justifiable to satisfy one's sexual curiosities, to participate in homosexuality or to cheat on a spouse or a partner.
I have been astonished by the number of supposedly rational people in the secular world who endorse, or at least, do not see any problem with having an affair. In this sense I mean participating in sex with someone other than one's actual partner (this includes any cheating whether by permission - i.e. hall pass, or behind said partner's back). It seems incredible to me that such actions can be construed to being positive rather than the vile acts of betrayal they actually are.
Jesus taught that merely by lusting one is committing adultery (Matt. 5:28). Such an interpretation of the Old Testament commandment is difficult to follow from the day puberty hits in, to the day hormones are no longer needed. This commandment not only prohibits cheating on a partner but also having sex with someone outside of marriage. Many people reject Christianity on this point alone. This commandment is seen to be too restrictive as it also takes into account what one thinks about.
Recently I have found it difficult to follow Jesus's charge in regards to sexual temptation. It is very easy to slip into a mindset that by the act of being engaged to someone means that we are in a committed relationship. This is certainly not helped by the mutual attraction that a couple generally has. It is important to remember here that being committed to another person does not reflect an actual marriage. Saying you love someone does not reflect wedding vows.
For young Christians it can be a draining thing to wait. Some may feel desperate as they feel they have no hope for finding someone who'd want to spend the rest of their lives with them. Others struggle to contain the feelings of mutual affection for another person. Both are on the verge of ignoring the warnings of Jesus.
Sexual appetite does not exist in isolation. In one is to act upon these urges there are consequences. One of the strongest consequences is an undermining guilt because of how you have blatantly placed your own selfish desires over the best interests of the person who participated in sex with you. As a Christian I know that if I were to have sex I am damaging my relationship with God. I also know that sex can very quickly become something which is addictive and can define even the most committed relationship if God is not the head of it.
Many people (Christians included) do not have the grounding to avoid being entrapped by the pulsing sexuality of society. Through life we face times of temptation, be it while we are single or when we dating/engaged, where we will struggle to say no to the voice in our head telling us that "everyone else is doing it". The fact is:
Everyone else is not doing it.
Even if they were, it doesn't make it right.
Such logic does not protect from the shame and guilt of a decision to participate in sexual activity.
Most young adults struggle with lust in one way or another. It may be in a sexual way, like mentioned above, or it may be in pornography. Regardless of whether you are fantasising over your fiancé, a friend or the woman in the video on the internet this is destructive behaviour. As Paul writes:
It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
1 Thessalonians 4: 3 - 7
Joshua Harris has written a book called Sex Is Not The Problem (Lust Is). This is worth checking out for all of us who need to keep our eyes open to avoid Satan snares:
Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders have begun a campaign to apply the golden rule 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you' globally.
Charter seeks golden rule The Age, Barney Zwartz, November 18, 2008 A GLOBAL campaign to apply religion's "golden rule" — treat others as you would like them to treat you — has been launched by Christians, Jews and Muslims. The campaigners, claiming that compassion is at the heart of most religions, have launched an online Charter of Compassion and invited atheists and others to join them.
Faith Through Reason (Janne Haaland Matláry, Gracewing Publishing) Newsweekly, Reviewed by Valerie Renkema, February 2008
This excellent book is about a young Norwegian woman, who later served as her country's deputy foreign minister, who throughout school and university sought constantly for some truth in life and the meaning of goodness. This search led her from the study of law to a study of politics and philosophy.
She raised the question of what makes a man "good and wise" and how can "ethics be applied to politics?"
During a year spent in America she was influenced by discussions with a Catholic professor where all the old philosophers were studied.
When she returned to Norway she contacted a Dominican priest, who was a specialist on St Thomas Aquinas, and with whom she had many discussions and eventually developed a love for the Church and Catholic social teaching.
Another person vital to her eventual conversion was a Benedictine priest whose spirituality she continued to follow.
She gradually found over time a real joy in entering a church. This led her to a wonderful experience that the truth was to be found in Jesus Christ.
She married, had four children, became professor of international politics at the University of Oslo, and served as a diplomat for the Holy See at various UN conferences. She also became the deputy foreign minister of Norway (1997-2000).
She traveled a lot and one day saw a French slogan, "Voir la vie autrement - to see life differently".
She says that this "slogan stayed with me, because it denotes what the Christian must decide to do and indeed to renew the will to do over and over again".
After a lot of Christian and political activity and witnessing the fall of the Berlin Wall, she recognised that communism was indeed a failure, but warns in her book that we must not be tempted by the lure of consumerism and capitalism.
She claims that there is a place for social development along Christian lines, and that involvement as a Christian in politics entails both sustaining family life and promoting economic justice for all.
The challenge is there, to protect the concept of marriage and family, the lives of unborn babies, the elderly, the poor and the destitute.
This book - which comes with a preface by the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, shortly before he became Pope - is exciting reading and a wake-up call for us all.
Albert Mohler has written an endearing article replying to Jay Bakker's new book Fall to Grace. He addresses the short-comings of avoiding scriptures that may "clobber" people and concentrating only on forgiving people.
"Is the Church guilty of beating people with the Bible? As strange as that argument might sound, it is actually a powerful weapon in the hands of those who are determined to normalize homosexuality and same-sex marriage within the Church. Those pushing for the acceptance of homosexuality now argue that Christians opposed to that agenda are “clobbering” sinners with the biblical text.
There seems to be no authoritative original source for this very powerful rhetorical innovation, but it has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it is deployed as a way of subverting the Bible’s condemnation of same-gender sexuality.
In his new book, Fall to Grace, Jay Bakker presents a classic form of this argument. Bakker, the son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, is now co-pastor of Revolution Church in New York City — a congregation described by New York magazine as “a church that is still figuring out its message.” Well, it may be trying to figure out its message on some issues, but on homosexuality its position is very clear....
Nevertheless, the most important aspect of Bakker’s argument is his way of dismissing the texts as “clobber Scriptures” — suggesting that the Church is misusing them by telling homosexuals that same-sex behaviors are sinful....
The Bible’s condemnation of same-sex behaviors is comprehensive and clear. It is interwoven with the Bible’s message concerning God’s plan for humanity, marriage, and society — and the Gospel. Human flourishing is found only by living in obedience to God’s revealed plan. Our rebellion against the Creator is never so insidious as when we declare that our own plan is superior to his.
When the Bible, in part or in whole, is dismissed as “clobber Scriptures,” it is not only the Bible that is subverted, but also the Gospel. The Church must recognize that fact clearly — and fast."
Click here to go to Albert Mohler's website and his full article.
Evangelical Reverend Richard Cizik comes to Australia to preach... about climate change.
Evangelical in Australia to lobby on climate change ABC Radio, Sara Everingham, 10 November PETER CAVE: Environmental and Christian groups have combined to host an American evangelical Christian who's in Australia this week to lobby the Federal Government on climate change. The Reverend Richard Cizik is expected to meet Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today and will meet the Opposition's Environment spokesman Greg Hunt.
Bill Muehlenberg reviews 'There is a God', the book from leading ex-atheist Antony Flew about his intellectual about-face and his reasons for abandoning atheism. Flew describes these as being threefold: (1) the fact that nature obeys rational and ordered laws, (2) the fact that we are intelligently organised and purpose-driven beings and (3) the very existence of nature itself. For more great reviews by Bill, visit culture watch.
There Is a God (Antony Flew, HarperOne, 2007) Bill Muehlenberg, December 2007 In 2004 the atheist world was rocked by the news of one of the most important defections from its ranks in recent times. The world’s leading atheist, Antony Flew, announced that he was no longer an atheist, but a theist. This of course sent shock waves through the anti-theist camp, since they had long been claiming that rational and reasonable people only choose unbelief, whereas believers can only be regarded as stupid, gullible and deluded. It is pretty hard to describe Antony Flew in those terms.
Indeed, given his credentials, this is an amazing book about an amazing intellectual about-face. For over 50 years Flew was the number one proponent of atheism. And as a world class scholar with over 30 books on philosophy in print, he was one of the twentieth century’s most imposing intellectual figures.
In this book we hear about the reasons why he has abandoned atheism and embraced its counterpart. The significance of this turnaround can be seen in part by the ugly attacks and bitter responses by fellow atheists. They have made it perfectly clear that Flew has committed the unpardonable sin here. Their crude and ugly attacks on him and his decision is a telling commentary on the intellectual shallowness, bigoted fundamentalism, and narrow-minded intolerance that characterises so much of the new atheism.
The first half of this book is a brief intellectual biography of Flew. Here we learn about how he was raised in a Christian home; his decision to embrace atheism at age 15; his career as a professional philosopher; his numerous important works on philosophy; his time as a Marxist; his encounters with such intellectual heavyweights as C.S. Lewis, A.J. Ayer, Gilbert Ryle, Wittgenstein, and others; his debates with Christian theists such as Lewis, Alvin Plantinga, Richard Swinburne, William Lane Craig; his debates with fellow atheists such as Richard Dawkins; and his six decades as a dogmatic atheist.
The second half of the book deals with why he finally felt compelled to abandon his atheism and embrace theism. He offers three main reasons for his defection, (or apostasy, as many fellow atheists regard his move). The first bit of evidence he cites is the fact that nature obeys rational and ordered laws. The second is the fact that we are intelligently organised and purpose-driven beings. The third is the very existence of nature itself. The brute evidence of nature, in others words, has led Flew to recognise that “the universe was brought into existence by an infinite Intelligence”.
He expands these three points in some detail, and demonstrates how any open-minded examination of recent scientific discoveries can only point in one direction: that matter alone is not all there is, and a supreme intelligence must be directing what we observe in nature. All the reasons offered in this book are based on an honest assessment of the evidence. Flew had made it a life habit to follow the command of Plato attributed to Socrates, “We must follow the argument wherever it leads”.
Flew rightly complains that so many atheists are simply stuck in a narrow box, where prior faith commitments to naturalism preclude an honest evaluation of the evidence. It is so easy “to let preconceived theories shape the way we view evidence,” he says, “instead of letting the evidence shape our theories”. Flew’s willingness as an honest atheist to follow the evidence where it leads finally led him out of the barren sands of atheism into the refreshing oasis of theism.
He notes that many leading scientists today “have built a philosophically compelling vision of a rational universe that sprang from a divine mind”. Eminent scientists and scientific thinkers such as Max Planck, Erwin Schrodinger, Werner Heisenberg, Paul Davies, Francis Collins, John Polkinghorne, Roger Penrose and Stephen Hawking all acknowledge that there must be more to reality than what is offered in the materialist worldview.
The various new discoveries – be they in astronomy, physics, cosmology, genetics or molecular biology – all demonstrate intelligence, purpose, order, design and complexity, the most obvious explanation of which is an intelligent designer.
Flew of course takes on all the various challenges to such thinking, be it the multiverse scenarios, the functionalism of Dennett, Stenger’s notion of symmetry, or Dawkins’ idea of selfish genes. Concerning the last of these, Flew had long been a critique of this idea. “Genes, of course, can be neither selfish nor unselfish,” he says, “any more than they or any other nonconscious entities can engage in competition or make selections”. Indeed, natural selection “does not positively produce anything. It only eliminates, or tends to eliminate, whatever is not competitive”.
Even though this is a brief book of just 200 pages, the cumulative case for the inadequacies of atheism and the necessity of theism is here very nicely and compellingly made. And given the one making the case – the world’s leading atheist for six decades – this book needs to be seriously read by everyone.
Flew makes it clear that he is not a Christian – at least as yet – but is basically a deist. Deism says that there is a creator God, but such a God has no ongoing relationship with the created order – a bit like an absentee landlord. He says his journey to theism was based on reason alone, not faith, and he has yet to decide about revealed religion.
He does inform us however that if he were to embrace a revelational religion, Christianity would be the best choice. Indeed, he finds the arguments for Christianity persuasive, and is now exploring the evidence for this as well. He is even impressed with the central truth claim of Christianity, the resurrection of Jesus. In fact, he allows New Testament scholar N.T. Wright to have a concluding chapter in this book, making the case for the resurrection.
So as an honest seeker, he is more than willing to consider the claims of Christ. But for the honest atheist, this book offers a persuasive case for the claims of theism. As Roy Abraham Varghese argues in another appendix to this book, “we have all the evidence we need in our immediate experience” for theism, and the only reason why people remain in atheism is a refusal to look at this evidence. In this hugely important book Antony Flew challenges all of us – atheists especially – to honestly and sincerely examine the evidence, without preconceived biases and agendas. Genuine intellectual honesty demands that we indeed follow the evidence wherever it may lead.
