The value of a question

In less than two weeks I will travel to the UK to stand before an examining board and give an account for my PhD thesis. My defense (i.e. viva) is a process of answering tough questions posed by specialists in my field of study.

In preparing for this, I appreciate all the more the potential of a well-crafted question. A good question can expose ignorance, inconsistencies and a host of other things that I would prefer to keep hidden. This was one of the features of Socrates which eventually got him killed: his method of asking questions served as an expose of the assumed knowledge of his day. His simple sentence: "I have a question" was dangerous, powerful and subversive.

Through out his ministry, Jesus too would stun and stupefy would-be challengers by a single sage question. Indeed, his questions continue to reveal pride and ignorance in our own hearts in ways that can make us rather uncomfortable.

As we continue to ask questions about Jesus, God, et al, I wonder what questions Jesus would ask us. What do you guys think?

Would love to get your thoughts.....

Why preach?

I received an email recently that basically went like this:

What is the proper "method" to do "preaching" in a church? In this email the writer explained that he knew of "verse-by-verse" preaching as well as "topical" preaching. And he was trying to figure out which one was best in terms of helping him grow in understanding who God is and how to follow Him.

I have also received questions that go like this: what is the purpose of preaching at all? In this question the poor writer had experienced loads of woefully poor preaching and as a result was turned off by the whole concept.

In addition to these above, I have met a handful of folks at the Question Group who were checking out Christianity but the very notion of having someone "preach" at them was so offensive as to keep them from ever attending a church service.

In response to these questions, let me first admit that I am currently working on a sermon for this Sunday and as I work on it I hope these very questions influence the texture and posture of how I say what I say. I totally understand that the concept of preaching in itself (as well as preferred styles of preaching) in many cases present a barrier for people in even coming to church or, if they do come to church, from enjoying it. So why is it an important part of the Christian experience....why can't we just throw it out?

Several reasons prevent us from doing this but let me just mention one: the means of preaching, oral proclamation, gives its listeners a hint as to how to respond to the Gospel. In Romans 10 Paul contrasts the ineffectiveness "works" in attaining right standing before God against that of the effectiveness of the "word of faith that we proclaim" (i.e. preaching). The response to this proclamation of the finished work of Jesus on the cross [if you don't know quite what this means email me and it can be its own post] is not that of "well, I must work harder and be a better person to gain love and acceptance by God". Rather, it is a confession that Jesus has ALREADY done the work you needed to do and that he is the better person you or I could never be. It is an oral confession and acceptance of his work on our behalf. Hence the foolishness of preaching (1 Cor 1:18) shows us how to respond to the Gospel - to confess and to accept the work of Jesus on the cross....

Much more to be said but I will stop here to see what you guys have to say....

Is God good?

Hey Guys. Sorry it has been a while since the last post but I am happy to announce the details of our next Question Group. Beginning July 14 and continuing on the 21th and 28th we will have a series based on the character of the God of the Bible. I know that a handful of folks who check out Christianity are concerned not just with the reality of God but whether or not the God of the Bible is good and worthy of our worship. Indeed, one of the most famous opponents of Christianity, Christopher Hitchens, attacks the Bible at precisely the issue of God's character in his book God is not Great. So we will spend some time exploring the Bible to discover what God's character is and is not.

I am also excited to announce that our first night will feature Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Denver Seminary, Dr. Danny Carroll. Dr Carroll has written a lot on the concern that the God of the Old Testament had for the "outsider" and "foreigner". You can check out his most recent book here.

More details to come but hope to see you all there...

Why would God punish every human being for one man's mistake?

Here is an interesting question that was emailed recently:

Why would God punish every human being for one man's mistake? I have heard people say that "Oh everyone would not choose God if given the chance," but I really don't think thats the truth. I'm the most compliant, want everything to go well person, I wouldn't have rebelled. If things were good why change them! I'm not rebellious at all by nature. I don't understand why God would have one man's decision affect all of humanity. It doesn't seem just.

Thanks for this question. Rest assured, scripture affirms that God judges individuals based on what each one does - we are responsible for our own actions. God shows no partiality (Rom. 2:11; Acts 10:34; Gal. 2:6) and "he will render to each one according to his works" (Rom. 2:6). However, Jesus and Paul ruffled some feathers because neither of them had confidence that if we are judged according to our own works that things would go well for us. Paul wrote "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" and Jesus' core message was that the kingdom of God was coming but that individuals needed to "repent" in order to enjoy it. So we are judged according to our works but according to the New Testament our good is not good enough. This is where the Gospel comes in. The good news is that where we fall short - Jesus didn't. Jesus is really the only one who was ever completely obedient to God (Phil 2). So the Gospel is offensive to us because it calls into question the belief that "I'm not rebellious at all by nature". While there may be a sense in which we don't feel rebellious, Jesus diagnoses all of our hearts as infected with sin (Mark 7:1-21) and in need of his intervention.

More to say but I will stop here to see what comments you guys have.....

What is the relationship between science and faith?

Here are parts of two related emails I received recently:

My question is when and how does science play a part in proving religion wrong, inaccurate, or even impossible? When do we know what stories in the Bible are not to be taken literally (Noah's Ark, people living till they were 900 years old, etc). Has science interfered with disproving other religions as well?

and

I am not necessarily sure how you would best frame such a question, but I think that the science/faith question in the end boils down to a view of events in the bible as being literal vs. allegorical. I think this is such an interesting question because there is so much of both present in the bible. Besides just the creation account, there are many other possible interpretations of events that could be allegorical in nature, rather than strictly factual. The ages of many old testament figures point to this, as do many events in the old testament; i.e. plagues, floods, etc..

Thanks for these questions. Science certainly has played a part in shaping how Christians have interpreted the Bible in the past. More often than not it has been a helpful corrective against folks who try to make the Bible to be something it clearly isn't (i.e. some sort of science textbook). It is helpful to point out that the Bible does not speak to and is not concerned with the mechanics of a thing, but rather the meaning and purpose for why a thing exists in the first place. When someone tries to extract scientific processes out of Scripture they are by definition going beyond what Scripture itself affirms. However, God is not bound by time and space as we are and because of that there is always a possibility of the miraculous. So we can't be too quick to conclude that something in the Bible could not have happened just because it is "impossible". God stands above science and he may work thru it or bypass it from time to time to remind us who He really is.

Just some initial thoughts.... What do you have to say?

I would like to believe but just can't

Below is a portion of an email I received after a Question Group.

I think it would be a great comfort to believe. My problem is that I am just not convinced. It still seems like it could be a fable … a set of stories that people have told themselves to feel safe, protected … to give their lives meaning. All religions feel that way to me right now. It just seems so very human (and therefore, understandable, but not necessarily correct) to create the idea of an all-powerful being who is watching over us. I told someone recently that I would describe myself as an agnostic with atheistic, Christian, and Buddhist leanings. Sounds like I’m trying to be clever, but that is really where I am right now!

That is why I came to listen to your group. That is why I am reading books by people who did not believe, and then became believers. I want to know how they did it. That is why I read “The Language of God” by Francis Collins. But he didn’t convince me. At some point, it was about faith, which to me means, we can’t quite take you the rest of the way with logic or proof, so we’re going to ask you to leap. Make sense?

First of all, thanks for this email and "yes" you make sense:) This expresses well what a lot of people struggle with as they try to understand what life with God is about. There can be moments on your journey that make it seem like "all the religions are the same"and hence, like you said, thoroughly manmade. And it makes senses that total doubt would follow based on this conclusion. However, as you think about Christianity in particular I would encourage you to consider two things: first, consider your own spiritual quest. Why is it that you are even asking these questions, reading books like "Language of God"? What is it that compelled you to come to Question Group? You mentioned that you are interested in learning about people who came to believe later in life and I would like for you to read this. It is written by a A N Wilson - famous atheist and running buddy Richard Dawkins - who came to realize, about this time last year in fact, that atheism could not explain the mystery of life; it could not explain the mystical reality of his own soul and his soul's quest to meet its creator. Give it a read and let me know what you think.

Second, consider Jesus. He is unlike other religious leaders in multiple ways. One is that he encourages interested onlookers to take a close look at his life and 'count the cost' of what it would mean to follow him. His life is rooted in history (which separates him from fables) and can be studied. In fact, this Wednesday at Question Group we will look at all the non-Christian evidence of Jesus and his resurrection. He is also different because he does not require us to have "great" faith - rather he shows himself to be totally faithful (often in areas where we are not faithful). Jesus says that the smallest amount of faith in a strong object of faith (himself) is what really counts as opposed to having "great" faith in something that will ultimately let you down. Does this make sense?

Curious to see what comments you guys have out there...

Question Group Last Night ...

Just wanted to say thanks to all of you who showed up last night at the Question Group and thanks to Craig for presenting - it was a great time indeed! It was exciting to see Dazbog packed out and many of your questions after Craig's talk were excellent. Hope to see you all there next Wednesday! Fyi, I talked to the Dazbog manager and he said the Question Group gave him the best Wednesday business he has ever had - very cool.

Also, check Kara Pearson's blog to see pics of last night's Question Group in action.

Why would God create people just to send them to hell? Part Two

Some very good discussion from Clint and Michelle regarding this question in the 'comments' of the post below: certainly worth reading if you haven't read their comments yet.

Clint explains quite well the notion of hell in light of Jesus' teaching of kingdom and both Clint and Michelle touch on the notion of election/free will which I want to get into a bit here.

The problem of election in relation to this question derives mostly from Romans 9, as noted by Michelle below. Here are some of the highlights:

"though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of thim who calls— she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.' As it is written, 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'...So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills."

Ok, a few things to note here about the context of this passage: It was written to mostly Gentile Christians in Rome who were confused as to why they were enjoying the benefits of the Jewish God while many Jews in Rome had rejected Jesus as Messiah - conflict between these two groups in Rome emerged as a result. So one reason why Paul writes to the Gentile Christian is to create humility and fear in the hearts of Christians which is why he concludes in 11:20 "So do not become proud, but fear."

A primary reason why Paul uses election language in this passage is to eliminate any notion of pride in the hearts of Christians - they are Christians not because they were smart enough to figure it out when many others were not, rather they were Christians because of God's mercy. In this way we see that Paul is not showing the arbitrary nature by which God sends some to hell and others not but rather is highlighting the basis upon which someone becomes a child of God: God's grace and mercy.

But what do we do with God's "hardening": isn't that proof that "God creates people just to sent them to hell?" Well, take a closer look at the passage and ask the question who benefited from God hardening Pharaoh's heart? Answer: all the nations of the earth. Likewise if you continue reading this passage Paul will explain that God has also "hardened" Israel's heart; again, ask yourself the question who benefits from God hardening Israel' heart? Answer: all the nations of the earth (e.g. Gentiles). Moreover, unlike Pharaoh, Israel's hardening is only "partial" (11:25 ) which is why Paul ends this section with "For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all."

So there is a forward propulsion to "election" and "hardening" that is counterintuitive: yes, God hardens hearts but he does so for the benefit of the many.

Why would God create people just to send them to hell?

Ok, so I am glad to see this discussion offering up some softball questions :)

Before I get into the question asked above, I wanted to preview some questions that I will post in the days to come:

I would like to believe but I just can't see the difference between Christianity and any other fairy tale...

How can it be just for God to judge us on the actions of one person, Adam?

Can I be a Christian without have a preacher yell at me - what is the purpose of preaching?

Can science play a part in proving a religion wrong?

Great questions - thanks for sending them in....... just a reminder that if you are reading this and you have a question please email me dsmorlan@gmail.com and we will post it and discuss....

Ok, back to the title question above: serious thinkers have grabbled with this issue for thousands of years; indeed, this question lays at the heart of what it means to live life in light of the reality of the Divine. That is, if there is a God who is sovereign (e.g. ultimately in control of everything that happens) how does that relate to/impact human responsibility (e.g. that we can be rightly held accountable for our actions)? So the question 'Why would God create people just to send them to hell?' leans heavily on the divine sovereignty aspect without really accounting for the human responsibility aspect of this equation.

A great example of the divine sovereignty/human responsibility dynamic is in Acts 2:23 'this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men'. On the one hand, Jesus' crucifixion was no accident at all as it happened according to God's plan. On the other hand, the individuals who perpetrated this crime where held accountable by Peter's accusation 'you crucified and killed....'

There is more to get into with this question (e.g. the notion of judgement/hell and Paul's discussion of election in Romans 9) but I will stop here and see what you all have to say...

Do I need to know what it 'looks like' to follow Jesus?

I've had a number of great questions roll in the past couple of days – this going to be fun! – but we will start with an interesting question emailed to me late last night:

Do we need to answer the question: What does it look like to be a Christian?! If so, why? I believe that following God or Christ is an unpredictable story...Therefore, I don't see the point in trying to reconcile what it looks like to follow Christ or be a Christian. It will look like whatever God deems necessary, which can be ugly, scary, wild or even immoral by some standards. Do we need to have an answer to the question What does it look like to follow Christ? If so...why?

I think there are at least three things to keep in mind here: first, there is a real since in which following Jesus looks different for different people because people come to him from such diverse backgrounds. So when Jesus says ‘follow me’ to the taxcollector, his journey and the struggles that will be at war against him in his journey will look and feel different than someone else.

Second, there is also an aspect in which following Jesus will look/feel the same for everyone. Jesus confronts all of us – to pick up our cross and follow him, to deny ourselves, to be first we must be last, if we want life we must give up our life – and says following him means that he and his desires are more important (and better for us!) than our own.

Third, I would say it is important to know what it ‘looks like’ to be a Christian especially for someone who is not a Christian but might be considering becoming a Christian. While there is some mystery at play, Jesus encourages interested seekers, nevertheless, to ‘kick the tires’ and ‘look under the hood’ of Christianity. In this way, knowing what it will look like to be a Christian is important as someone ‘counts the cost’ of following Christ.

Any thoughts?