Here are some thoughts to reflect (or comment) on from this section:
- From John Lennon to C.S. Lewis, what is Piper arguing to be an essential and foundational step in not wasting your life? Don't blow this question off. Think about it.
- How does "realness" (objective truth, p. 19) change the way you look at the exams you are preparing for and the pile of writing assignments that are due next week? How does it affect the way you treat roommates, classmates, siblings and parents?
- Examine your own worldview. Does it offer lasting happiness? Is it based on objective truth? Apply these two questions to "existentialism."
- What value, if any, is there in investigating worldviews that are in opposition to a Christian worldview?
8 comments:
Sorry about my class attendance, these last two weeks have been pretty crazy. So, are these current questions due for next monday?
Yes. You can also add comments of your own.
There is a lot to think about - It struck me that every person in the world is searching for what is real/true, and there are so many false philosophies pulling in every direction. I sure am thankful that God has chosen to show me the truth. I checked out the blog site you had linked, and that was a challenge to me. I know my motivation for studying and doing assignments is way off-base sometimes; 1 Corinthians 10:31 rings true. As Christians we have (this is taken from that site) 1.) A higher purpose: To glorify our Creator. It’s not about us, 2.) A greater strength: The work of the Holy Spirit. Not our own strength, 3.) A sweeter joy: Knowing Christ as Savior. Saved by grace alone.
And that's why we should do the things that we do. Another thought that I had was the importance of embracing reality - we are humans, we have a life to live, and Christians have this amazing link to the absolute reality. I think some Christians become overly consumed with what comes after this life that they miss the purpose of this life. I have many more thoughts - but I've definitely filled enough space. :0)
Something we discussed here at home on Monday is that postmodernism pushes us to think of ourselves as each having our own reality, living in our own little bubbles. Our bubbles might stick to the others, but we each have our own truth. This worldview keeps us in the subjective, without ultimate "reality." Our bubbles are all part of an impersonal universe, they would say. We are all "nowhere men." The gospel, on the other hand, is a bubble-popping storm that exposes us to judgment and throws open the doors of mercy at the same time. Grand paradox. Great God.
John Lennon’s Nowhere man has been a lot of what I’ve been frustrated with in my school lately. It seems that we all agree that that’s what we are and we’ll all end up the same so what’s the use of trying anything. I’m in a Catholic school that has no standard’s or real rules. My class has been deemed the class of ‘truth’- sounds great at first but apparently means we each have truth to teach each other and we’re supposed to be open to learning other people’s truths as well, there is no definite right or wrong and we have to be accepting of everyone and every action…I thought there was only one Truth, but… Anyway, in my writing class (which is more of a two hour discussion than anything) we’re all about finding utopias and what that means. But there is no right answer, no objective truth, ever, we’re pretty much all nowhere men (well, women, no boys in my class :0) The last line of Voltaire’s “Candide” is basically saying, “that’s fine about all your stupid philosophies but we don’t need to analyze everything let’s get on with life and work” (that of course is Hillmann’s version) My teacher agreed with me but then we had to continue to analyze this book over and over again, despite the message it gave. Why can’t we stop wasting our lives by contemplating trivial things that supposedly don’t have an answer and get to work! It frustrates me to see that in a faith based school (supposedly Christian) we have no boundaries, we’re not living for a common goal and we don’t care if there’s a real right and wrong. (I keep telling myself, I’m here for the major, not the faith aspect…) I’ve also been frustrated with my religion class (intro to major rel.), and to answer the second question, last week I decided that I had to dedicate my studies to God (how foolish that I didn’t do this from the start) – I wouldn’t be able to complete them (or even start them—the assignments can be so subjective) without his help, and knowing that I answer to Him not the grade on the paper is a greater encouragement to do it right and good. In my Intro to Major Religions (frustrated there again because we can’t say anything is right or wrong), I am benefiting greatly by seeing other world views—we have two students in this class that are Sikirs (don’t know how to spell that but they’re a break off of the Hindu religion). It was incredible to watch one of the students become angry when the teacher didn’t really know what he was talking about –the same way I would have reacted had it been someone misrepresenting Christianity (wanting to say something but didn’t know where to even begin and the class went on with the teacher not even noticing she had something to say, then she just gave up completely). Sometimes it’s hard to realize that others hold to different beliefs as strongly as I do mine—that opens up an awareness when witnessing to others.
Wow, that third question hits me hard. A couple weeks ago I realized that I was just being complacent. I knew the answers, I knew where I stood, I could witness to others, but there was no real joy in any of it. I was just doing it cause that’s what I’ve always done. I’m still struggling with it some, but there does need to be a joy knowing what I know about Christ—how could there not be? It’s an assault on the Savior and the merciful God on my part if I’m not enjoying Him—he created us to glorify Him and (by) enjoy(ing) Him forever afterall.
...therebelution link is very encouaging! thanks for the link.
Well, my answers will not be as long as Kelli's but I enjoyed what she had to say. I especially enjoyed the classroom story about going over and over the analysis of a book when that very book says to just move on with life!
Piper is arguing that there must be a universal and common purpose for all men - not different purposes for every individual. He is also telling us that this purpose is not something that a man ivented, it is outside of us. What's more, in his discussion of Bob Dylan's song, "blowin' in the wind", he is arguing that whoever is behind this purpose to life must first awaken the human mind to that purpose. In other words, the natural thought of man cannot discern the purpose of the universe without outside intervention.
"Realness" affects my life in that I understand that all of my actions and interactions towards and with others must either align with the purpose of all things or be unaligned. There is no middle ground. Either I am doing every action for God's glory or I am not.
I am going to skip to the question about examining other worldviews in the interest of time.
I think that examining other worldviews is useful almost exclusively to the extent of finding out their biggest weaknesses so that we know what angles to use in conversations about worldviews. I am not saying that we need to debate everyone, but it does help to have an understanding of what someone's worldview is when sharing the gospel with them. The gospel and it's worldview is strong on all counts and so it seems to me to be a good idea to blast the weak parts of other worldviews with the truly strong stuff.
Aight. That's all for now.
yeah I'm lazy and I should be reading and I'm trying but I'm tired and the packers are playing, and I don't have enough free time to post book-long messages...lol kelli
I'll assume that is short for Cedarville student. I plan to post soon but we are going to do an overview of all of chapter two for next Monday. The local discussion will be led by a WITC stud...ent.
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