"God made life, and God alone can tell us its meaning."
J.I.Packer in "Laid-Back Religion"
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Self worth
When either through our own messing up or through someone else messing us up our self worth takes a hammering it is an opportunity to stop and ask the question "where is my self worth?" For many it is centred in what they do professionally - be as a student or in the work place. Our culture almost expects this, afterall one of the first questions asked of a new aquaintance is "what do you do?" with the answer expected to be in respect to their professional life. Unfortunately, our work and workplace can be a fragile environment dependent on personalities and economic forces. Is "what we do" really who we want to be?
As a Christian I must remind myself that my worth is that which has been gifted me by a loving God who thought me worth the sacrifice of a child for. Not that I have done or been anything so fantastic, just that I am the object of grace - underserved love. My self-worth is, therefore, God's worth.
I wonder what the reaction would be next time someone asks "what do you do?" if you answered "I love God and my neighbour"?
Even for those who don't hold to the Christain faith, would you answer "I am loved by my family and I love them in return."?
As a Christian I must remind myself that my worth is that which has been gifted me by a loving God who thought me worth the sacrifice of a child for. Not that I have done or been anything so fantastic, just that I am the object of grace - underserved love. My self-worth is, therefore, God's worth.
I wonder what the reaction would be next time someone asks "what do you do?" if you answered "I love God and my neighbour"?
Even for those who don't hold to the Christain faith, would you answer "I am loved by my family and I love them in return."?
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Work 5: Role Models
The "Don Brash" affair in the media this week got me thinking about all of us who at one time or another are role models for others. If it becomes public that the coach of a junior football team is having an extramarital affair with the art teacher, or the principal is caught driving over the limit, should they resign?
Questions of honesty and integrity of those in leadership are important. Intentionally or otherwise these people are role models. Usually we claim "my private life is my own business" - but the boundaries between public and private blur when we are perceived to be people with traits we expect others, in particular children, to follow. Furthermore, we are one person - the person who is dishonest in their private life is the same person with the responsibility to be honest in their public working life.
However, none of us are perfect - and Jesus saying "let whoever is without sin cast the first stone" is a reminder to be absolutely fair in our judgment of others and their actions. I guess the place to begin is in looking at ourselves as individuals - in private and in public - and expecting of ourselves the same levels of honesty and integrity as we expect of our children, spouses, and friends.
Questions of honesty and integrity of those in leadership are important. Intentionally or otherwise these people are role models. Usually we claim "my private life is my own business" - but the boundaries between public and private blur when we are perceived to be people with traits we expect others, in particular children, to follow. Furthermore, we are one person - the person who is dishonest in their private life is the same person with the responsibility to be honest in their public working life.
However, none of us are perfect - and Jesus saying "let whoever is without sin cast the first stone" is a reminder to be absolutely fair in our judgment of others and their actions. I guess the place to begin is in looking at ourselves as individuals - in private and in public - and expecting of ourselves the same levels of honesty and integrity as we expect of our children, spouses, and friends.
Monday, September 11, 2006
S&C 3: Evolutionism
In a previous post I was careful to differentiate between a scientific theory - such as the theory of evolution, and religious or philosophical statements made by individuals who believe the scientific theory supports their religious point of view. In the case of those who use the theory of evolution to support an atheistic view of the world I call this EvolutionISM.
One of the "worst" (in the sense of making the illogical leap from scientific to religious statements) proponents of Evolutionism is British scientist and author Richard Dawkins. In books such as "The selfish gene" and "The Blind Watchmaker" he repeatedly attempts to put down Christianity. My concern here, though, is not so much attacks on a religion, but the logical consequences of evolutionism.
Dawkins himself in The Selfish Gene (p3) states "...that a human society based simply on the gene's law of universal rutheless selfishness would be a very nasty society in which to live. But, unfortunately, however much we may deplore something, it does not stop it being true." He then spends another 300+ pages defending his selfish gene thesis. He tries to claim that he's not advocating "morality based on evolution" but that is exactly what he is doing in that his argument is that everything done ultimately depends on genes trying to replicate themselves. This makes all moral decisions equally "good" or "bad" if they promote the replication of genes! Such a position is a recipe for anarchy. Unfortunately, it is also where we are heading socially as a nation. We see it in the "victimisation" of the criminals. They are treated as victims of their genes (race) and environment. They are treated as though they have a sickness rather than as evil doers.
Sexual behaviours once considered deviant (morally) are now considered acceptable - in part this is because of an overriding atheistic philosophy that it is all in our genes.
Evolutionism should be of major concern to the Christian community as it ultimate promotes a selfish world. It is these philosophies that must be resisted and shown to be lacking in logic that must be resisted. It is not a problem of the science, but of the people who misrepresent it. They are who our attention should be focused on - not the science itself.
One of the "worst" (in the sense of making the illogical leap from scientific to religious statements) proponents of Evolutionism is British scientist and author Richard Dawkins. In books such as "The selfish gene" and "The Blind Watchmaker" he repeatedly attempts to put down Christianity. My concern here, though, is not so much attacks on a religion, but the logical consequences of evolutionism.
Dawkins himself in The Selfish Gene (p3) states "...that a human society based simply on the gene's law of universal rutheless selfishness would be a very nasty society in which to live. But, unfortunately, however much we may deplore something, it does not stop it being true." He then spends another 300+ pages defending his selfish gene thesis. He tries to claim that he's not advocating "morality based on evolution" but that is exactly what he is doing in that his argument is that everything done ultimately depends on genes trying to replicate themselves. This makes all moral decisions equally "good" or "bad" if they promote the replication of genes! Such a position is a recipe for anarchy. Unfortunately, it is also where we are heading socially as a nation. We see it in the "victimisation" of the criminals. They are treated as victims of their genes (race) and environment. They are treated as though they have a sickness rather than as evil doers.
Sexual behaviours once considered deviant (morally) are now considered acceptable - in part this is because of an overriding atheistic philosophy that it is all in our genes.
Evolutionism should be of major concern to the Christian community as it ultimate promotes a selfish world. It is these philosophies that must be resisted and shown to be lacking in logic that must be resisted. It is not a problem of the science, but of the people who misrepresent it. They are who our attention should be focused on - not the science itself.
Work 4: The Christian Teacher in the classroom
It occurred to me the other day that the Bible does not discuss Christians Teachers. This is not surprising given that for most of the 3000 or so years the Bible spans there were no schools as we are used to them now. Teaching was the job of parents. The Bible certainly has a lot to say about their role in teaching their children.
How then, should Christian teachers be different from any others in the secular classroom? I wonder what your thoughts are?
Here are a couple of mine:
1. The Christian Teacher must always strive to be the best possible teacher utilising their gift of teaching
2. When a child comes to the Christian teacher the teacher must seek to respond to that child with the attention and compassion that Jesus showed to children
How then, should Christian teachers be different from any others in the secular classroom? I wonder what your thoughts are?
Here are a couple of mine:
1. The Christian Teacher must always strive to be the best possible teacher utilising their gift of teaching
2. When a child comes to the Christian teacher the teacher must seek to respond to that child with the attention and compassion that Jesus showed to children
Thursday, September 07, 2006
The active worrier
There are times when we all worry. The future may seem bleak ... for our selves or someone we know. Worry is in part being in a state of uncertainty. As someone who easily worries I've been thinking a little lately about this and about being an active worrier.
A passive worrier is someone who starts to worry and just allows the thoughts to continue, and possibly, overwhelm them. An active worrier is someone who recognises the worrier and takes some positive action.
Jesus gives us the clue to the first step an active worrier can take. He talks of not worrying because God is all knowing and all caring. In other words - put your worry in the greater perspective of you being part of God's creation - a very loved part. Jesus then calls us to action - "strive" for the kingdom of God and that which is right is his call (Matthew 6:25-34).
So, two actions are there - put things in perspective and strive to do what is right (ie not merely convenient). These may be preceded by a third action - prayer. A wise friend said the other day - when you find yourself worrying, pray. At the very least "a problem shared is a problem halved" - but be prepared for much more for our God is a gracious God.
A passive worrier is someone who starts to worry and just allows the thoughts to continue, and possibly, overwhelm them. An active worrier is someone who recognises the worrier and takes some positive action.
Jesus gives us the clue to the first step an active worrier can take. He talks of not worrying because God is all knowing and all caring. In other words - put your worry in the greater perspective of you being part of God's creation - a very loved part. Jesus then calls us to action - "strive" for the kingdom of God and that which is right is his call (Matthew 6:25-34).
So, two actions are there - put things in perspective and strive to do what is right (ie not merely convenient). These may be preceded by a third action - prayer. A wise friend said the other day - when you find yourself worrying, pray. At the very least "a problem shared is a problem halved" - but be prepared for much more for our God is a gracious God.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Work 3: Wonder
When is it that wonder finally gets kicked out of us? When is it that we no longer stand in awe of the beauty of creation, or we no longer take delight in the small things? When does a flower just become another flower and not a magical creation vivid in colour to be picked and handed to our Mother (and it doesn't matter that someone else calls it a weed)? Is it the regimented school system that does this, or the tired parent who fails to respond. If we survive those, is it the workplace that finally destroys the sense of wonder?
Over the weekend we shifted the orientation of my 4 year old's bed in his room - he was absolutely delighted by something new. My hope and prayer is that he will never lose that sense of wonder.
Nowadays the workplace has become a place where only routine and efficiency are praised. There is little or no room to take the time to revel in wonder. Creativity is stymied by bureaucracy and the headlong rush into conformity. Computers lead the way .... conform to Microsoft rules or suffer. Every workplace is branded so that bar the title and name everyone's business cards look the same. There is no place for individuality. Once they talked of the factories of Britain as "Dark Satanic Mills" - now our offices may be clean but they are still dark, sanitized of wonder and humaneness.
It is the uniqueness of the individual that makes us human. It is the ability to stop and marvel at each other and creation that distinguishes us from machines and beasts. We must find ways to regain wonder in the workplace. Perhaps when you next look on your colleague you'll wonder at their uniqueness. Perhaps you will stop and wonder at the creativity of those who produce the office furniture or the bravery of those who first mined for the metals in the paper clip. Perhaps you'll just rearrange your desk and luxuriate in the change. Seek out on opportunity to regain some of that wonder of your childhood.
"Lift up thine eyes to the coming of the King"
Over the weekend we shifted the orientation of my 4 year old's bed in his room - he was absolutely delighted by something new. My hope and prayer is that he will never lose that sense of wonder.
Nowadays the workplace has become a place where only routine and efficiency are praised. There is little or no room to take the time to revel in wonder. Creativity is stymied by bureaucracy and the headlong rush into conformity. Computers lead the way .... conform to Microsoft rules or suffer. Every workplace is branded so that bar the title and name everyone's business cards look the same. There is no place for individuality. Once they talked of the factories of Britain as "Dark Satanic Mills" - now our offices may be clean but they are still dark, sanitized of wonder and humaneness.
It is the uniqueness of the individual that makes us human. It is the ability to stop and marvel at each other and creation that distinguishes us from machines and beasts. We must find ways to regain wonder in the workplace. Perhaps when you next look on your colleague you'll wonder at their uniqueness. Perhaps you will stop and wonder at the creativity of those who produce the office furniture or the bravery of those who first mined for the metals in the paper clip. Perhaps you'll just rearrange your desk and luxuriate in the change. Seek out on opportunity to regain some of that wonder of your childhood.
"Lift up thine eyes to the coming of the King"
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