Will the availability of information on the internet spell the end of Christianity? How does one sort through the avalanche of information available today and arrive at truth?
I agree with Dr. Craig that one should consider taking challenging spiritual issues in small doses, and reviewing them as completely as possible. And his stress on the witness of the Holy Spirit is key, indeed. And Jesus backs him fully in Matthew 12:25 "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou has hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." This statement is no doubt a reinforcement for those who do not have the academic resources to investigate questions in a so-called scholarly environment. So, Jesus was 2,000 years ahead of us, and anticipated this issue, and addressed it simply but fully, just like we would expect him to.
But I must add that he also revealed how no matter what approach he used, there would be many - like the Pharisees of his day, and the atheists of our day - who would only act with spiritual indifference, as highlighted in Matthew 11:16, 17, "But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 'We have piped unto you and you have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.'" His message being clear and damning to them: that they are so childish and infantile, that no matter what he says or does (think miracles that they themselves witnessed), they remain thoroughly determined not to be pleased. Surly, they will have their reward.
I only wish that in Dr. Craig's reply he would have stressed actually reading Scripture as a way to open the door for the Holy Spirit to walk in. Of course, his response podcasts are limited in length, and he is often responding without a flood of prior notes. Still, I wish he would actually mention reading Scripture more in his general responses to answers. I think he might not do this because then he would run the risk of sounding like a pastor and not a Christian philosopher. In the end, the remark about the witness of the Holy Spirit was critical and further backed by Jesus in Matthew 12:29, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." And, on a personal note, this is just what Jesus has provided me. I'm at complete rest in my daily life, and because he provides rest for my soul, I know I can handle any circumstance that I'm faced with - good or bad.
Well, I've been longer than I expected. But finally: I have so much pity for atheists that I just can't begin to define it for you, Pastor J and Nelis. They are missing the pure essence of real life and will die in their sins, being separated from God forever. A circumstance so dreadful and so easily avoided, as to have no real words to define it. As a friend sometimes says to me, "The devil is playing them like a spoon, and they don't even know it." Yep, I agree, they just don't know his power. He must laugh at them all day and just relish in how clever he has been in deceiving them, while they return daily to the vomit that he feeds them. It brings chills of regret to me, and I'm sure to you two, and the Lord.
I agree with Dr. Craig that one should consider taking challenging spiritual issues in small doses, and reviewing them as completely as possible. And his stress on the witness of the Holy Spirit is key, indeed. And Jesus backs him fully in Matthew 12:25 "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou has hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." This statement is no doubt a reinforcement for those who do not have the academic resources to investigate questions in a so-called scholarly environment. So, Jesus was 2,000 years ahead of us, and anticipated this issue, and addressed it simply but fully, just like we would expect him to.
ReplyDeleteBut I must add that he also revealed how no matter what approach he used, there would be many - like the Pharisees of his day, and the atheists of our day - who would only act with spiritual indifference, as highlighted in Matthew 11:16, 17, "But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 'We have piped unto you and you have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.'" His message being clear and damning to them: that they are so childish and infantile, that no matter what he says or does (think miracles that they themselves witnessed), they remain thoroughly determined not to be pleased. Surly, they will have their reward.
I only wish that in Dr. Craig's reply he would have stressed actually reading Scripture as a way to open the door for the Holy Spirit to walk in. Of course, his response podcasts are limited in length, and he is often responding without a flood of prior notes. Still, I wish he would actually mention reading Scripture more in his general responses to answers. I think he might not do this because then he would run the risk of sounding like a pastor and not a Christian philosopher. In the end, the remark about the witness of the Holy Spirit was critical and further backed by Jesus in Matthew 12:29, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." And, on a personal note, this is just what Jesus has provided me. I'm at complete rest in my daily life, and because he provides rest for my soul, I know I can handle any circumstance that I'm faced with - good or bad.
Well, I've been longer than I expected. But finally: I have so much pity for atheists that I just can't begin to define it for you, Pastor J and Nelis. They are missing the pure essence of real life and will die in their sins, being separated from God forever. A circumstance so dreadful and so easily avoided, as to have no real words to define it. As a friend sometimes says to me, "The devil is playing them like a spoon, and they don't even know it." Yep, I agree, they just don't know his power. He must laugh at them all day and just relish in how clever he has been in deceiving them, while they return daily to the vomit that he feeds them. It brings chills of regret to me, and I'm sure to you two, and the Lord.