Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Sola scriptura vs historical cultural background
In preparing for a major preaching series in 1 Corinthians next year I'm immensely enjoying the book 'After Paul left Corinth - the influence of secular ethics and social change' by Bruce Winter.
In brief, Bruce is a (rigorous!) historian who has dredged all sorts of sources - both secular and biblical - for clues as to the cultural background of 1st century Corinth. All this to illuminate the issues Paul addresses in first Corinthians. And illuminating it certainly is!
As I'm reading, (and enjoying, and learning) I'm also grappling with the tension between the perspicuity and sufficiency of scripture on one hand, and the helpful illumination of non-biblical material on the other. Has anyone got any thoughts on managing this tension?
In brief, Bruce is a (rigorous!) historian who has dredged all sorts of sources - both secular and biblical - for clues as to the cultural background of 1st century Corinth. All this to illuminate the issues Paul addresses in first Corinthians. And illuminating it certainly is!
As I'm reading, (and enjoying, and learning) I'm also grappling with the tension between the perspicuity and sufficiency of scripture on one hand, and the helpful illumination of non-biblical material on the other. Has anyone got any thoughts on managing this tension?
Doubt
In lining up a sermon on Psalm 73 I came across some excellent thoughts from Os Guiness in his old book 'Doubt - faith in two minds'
'Faith is the ass of the modern world... [Like harsh treatment of a donkey] many Christian's drive their faith unfairly when they believe, and then they flog it unmercifully when they doubt. In both cases they have been led to believe that true faith is doubt free and that doubt is the same thing (and just as sinful) as unbelief'
'Doubt is not the opposite of faith, nor is it the same as unbelief. Doubt is a state of mind in suspension between faith and unbelief so that it is neither of them wholly and it is each one only partly'
'Anyone who believes anything will automatically know something about doubt. But the person who knows why they believe is in a position to discover why they doubt. The Christian should be such a person'
'If faith does not resolve doubt then doubt will dissolve faith'
...i guess there'll be plenty more from where those came from.
'Faith is the ass of the modern world... [Like harsh treatment of a donkey] many Christian's drive their faith unfairly when they believe, and then they flog it unmercifully when they doubt. In both cases they have been led to believe that true faith is doubt free and that doubt is the same thing (and just as sinful) as unbelief'
'Doubt is not the opposite of faith, nor is it the same as unbelief. Doubt is a state of mind in suspension between faith and unbelief so that it is neither of them wholly and it is each one only partly'
'Anyone who believes anything will automatically know something about doubt. But the person who knows why they believe is in a position to discover why they doubt. The Christian should be such a person'
'If faith does not resolve doubt then doubt will dissolve faith'
...i guess there'll be plenty more from where those came from.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Integrity at work
How many of us have a method at our fingertips for thinking ethically and making Christ honouring decisions when presented with ethical dilemmas? How many Christian's in secular society have actually mashed their work expectations, outcomes, practices and priorities through the sieve of Christian ethics?
As I've been preaching through a series about 'work' I'm struck by how much help we need to think much more ethically. We settle so easily for the 'sacred / secular divide', locking away our Christian beliefs with the rest of our personal and private preferences. Jesus said to his followers 'You are the salt of the earth...!'
The 'salt' may not be that 'salty'.
Excellent book on this: 'Integrity at Work' by Norman Geisler and Randy Douglass.
It gives an introduction to ethics... a helpful acrostic called 'The ETHICS Compass' and a whole load of practical advice and real examples about ethical decision making that should get you excited again about living for Christ on the FRONTLINE. There is a chapter each on sexual dilemmas, dilemmas for employers, for employees, dilemmas with customers, dilemmas balancing work and home. Very helpful stuff.
As I've been preaching through a series about 'work' I'm struck by how much help we need to think much more ethically. We settle so easily for the 'sacred / secular divide', locking away our Christian beliefs with the rest of our personal and private preferences. Jesus said to his followers 'You are the salt of the earth...!'
The 'salt' may not be that 'salty'.
Excellent book on this: 'Integrity at Work' by Norman Geisler and Randy Douglass.
It gives an introduction to ethics... a helpful acrostic called 'The ETHICS Compass' and a whole load of practical advice and real examples about ethical decision making that should get you excited again about living for Christ on the FRONTLINE. There is a chapter each on sexual dilemmas, dilemmas for employers, for employees, dilemmas with customers, dilemmas balancing work and home. Very helpful stuff.
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