3-25-19<\/p>\n\n
We cannot separate ourselves from this world. No matter how rotten our present circumstances might be, or bleak the future seems, or how passionately we comprehend the glories of Eternity, God does not want us to book swift passage to Heaven. This might seem like a stark theological challenge, but its answer is found in the clear intention of God \u2013 He designed us for work on earth; His call is on us to do His will and glorify Him in our works.<\/p>\n\n
But before works is faith. I respect the schools of Christianity that lay emphasis on works, for instance the short book of James; works, sacrifice, suffering, forbearance and other spiritual disciplines that both reflect one\u2019s deep faith and provides \u201clegs\u201d for the exercise of faith in Christ.<\/p>\n\n
Yet without faith, good works are dead. I realize that reverses the argument in that book of James \u2013 and is one of the factors why many theologians from the Early church through Luther\u2019s day thought James was not canonical. It can veer toward primarily a word game, but is faith real if not manifested by good works? And is there salvation in good works alone?<\/p>\n\n
To me, the first question is a challenge to our morals and duties of fellowship; the second is almost rhetorical \u2013 \u201cno\u201d \u2013 for confessional Christians. But I am here to cite, not discuss (and certainly not to solve) the choice.<\/p>\n\n
I do invite thoughts about Faith. Christian faith in the 21st<\/sup> century. We are living in a post-Christian world; cultures that not only challenge but reject many of the truths of previous generations.<\/p>\n\n Faith largely is regarded by Western Civilization 2.0 \u2013 and in fact the world at large, including, for differing reasons, Socialist and Totalitarian societies, as well as those of other faiths \u2013 as a relic. Worse than outmoded, faith widely is regarded as a body of lies, superstitions, and vestiges of ignorance.<\/p>\n\n In the absence of faith, we are encouraged to rely on self, science, and reason.<\/p>\n\n There are enormously consequential implications in this pursuit of folly. Self-swindling nonsense among whose functions are delusions of serenity and satisfaction. But the implications include reminders that faith animates the human soul toward justice, mercy, charity, good will, and commitments to improve oneself, one\u2019s community, one\u2019s legacy. I emphasize the word toward<\/em> these things.<\/p>\n\n Faith in Jesus (because \u201cfaith\u201d as abstract word is an absurdity: faith in what? In whom? By what standard?) does not make anyone perfect here on earth. That was never His promise. Faith in Jesus inspires us, and the Holy Spirit responds with gifts of empowerment and wisdom, to strive toward perfection.<\/p>\n\n That Christian faith has motivated generations believers to great works and, yes, mighty deeds. Betrayal of that faith has resulted, as a clear consequence, in incidents of grief and misery. Denial of that faith is the saddest words of tongue or pen. People with no standards cannot, by definition, have standards on which to act\u2026 or to base their worldview.<\/p>\n\n So we have a world \u2013 vast portions of it \u2013 where standards, values, practices, rules, and laws are fashioned by human ideas, which can and do change. By political and economic theories, arbitrary and often imposed by force. By inertia and worldly, selfish standards \u2013 what feels good; what \u201cdoesn\u2019t hurt anybody else,\u201d which, again, is self-swindling disaster waiting to happen.<\/p>\n\n This is nothing new; certainly the critique of our spiritual crisis is not new. Enemies of faith have been discerned and called out since the first-century church, indeed since the Garden. And it is not only theologians and apologists. I will cite the enemies of faith that have been identified, without Bible verses or works of latter-day Jeremiahs:<\/p>\n\n The lies of the devil\u2026 Anxiety\u2026 Obsessions with the petty things of life\u2026 Fear (we are reminded how often Jesus greeted people with the phrase \u201cFear not\u201d)\u2026 Lack of love or charity\u2026 Doubt\u2026 Faulty understanding\u2026 Ignorance of Christ\u2019s promises\u2026 Rebellion\u2026 Rejection of God\u2019s imputed Will\u2026 Unforgiveness\u2026 Lack of Self-Esteem\u2026 Timidity\u2026 Insecurity\u2026<\/p>\n\n Yet I am persuaded that the most serious enemy of our faith is the one cited by Brother Martin Luther, who is referred to above. His analysis and prescription are the least <\/em>palatable, the least welcome, to post-moderns and post-Christians and contemporary Western societies. He boldly stated:<\/p> Reason is a whore, the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n Reason.<\/p>\n\n Reason, the intellectual prize of Thinking People, Rationalists, the Renaissance, the Age of Enlightenment, the Scientific Age. The modern age. The Brave New World.<\/p>\n\n But I am persuaded by the proposition that Truth does not rely on our opinion of it.<\/p>\n\n In fact, if it is the truth, persuasion is superfluous. Luther typically made his point by overkill, characterizing Reason as a whore. But a hard fact can compel hard language. Just as a spiritual crisis requires a spiritual solution. And Luther was correct.<\/p>\n\n There is sin in the world, a fact largely conceded (even under other terms) by atheists. Humanity\u2019s continuous challenge through the ages has been countering the corrosive tendencies of \u201csin\u201d \u2013 traditionally, pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth \u2013 that is, our corrupt natures. If we recognize, as Luther did, that basic human nature grew from original sin; and that neither good works of our own devising, nor \u201cproper thoughts\u201d \u2013 Reason \u2013 will change the world or ourselves\u2026 then Reason must be regarded as a flawed resource.<\/p>\n\n So. Do we become dumb? Nonsense; knowledge is beneficial, and Luther spoke of deifying Reason. Do we abandon the Scientific Method and other experiments? Of course not. Do we abandon the search for Truth? No: even the major Enlightenment figures were people of faith; many of them believers of the literal Bible. Surprise!<\/p>\n\n What we should prepare to do is not \u201cdelete\u201d Reason from our personal, intellectual screens, so to speak. We should just file it in its proper category \u2013 a reliable resource but often unreliable god in our cosmology.<\/p>\n\n Rather we must recognize Faith. Rediscover what it is to accept His Word and Will. Reacquaint ourselves with utter dependence on God. Respect the Bible as His revealed Word, and as a Resource to light our paths.<\/p>\n\n Right? Right. Surely God\u2019s own Reasoning is wiser than our own. Tough advice for our times, but Truth does not have an expiration-date.<\/p>\n\n + + +<\/p>\n\n