The Eat Nothing Diet (It’s Super Trendy)

Scientists have finally discovered a food item that is perfectly safe to eat. It is gluten free, non-GMO, vegan, organic, grass fed, non-inflammatory, never exceeds temperatures of 250°F, no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, fair trade, additive-free, preservative-free, toxin-free, antibiotic-free, no high fructose corn syrup, unprocessed, free range, and is rich with essential elements vital for life!

It’s called air.

Wait… that can be a carcinogen.

Nevermind…

Eat nothing.

Seriously, though. There has been a lot of attention given recently to food and health concerns surrounding food. And we all have to eat. But the question then becomes, “What should we eat?”

And thanks to both science and pseudoscience, essentially everything kills you. I struggle to think of some food item that isn’t in some way linked to fears about soil contamination, cancer, ethical treatment of animals, bodily reactions, etc.

It’s paralyzing.

And the reason I write this is not to condone a particular lifestyle or diet. My purpose in writing this is rather to share my thoughts as a Christian as I have wrestled through some of these issues. How should a Christian approach food? Here are 5 thoughts to consider.

1. Wanting to be healthy is healthy.

If you are asking these questions and considering changing your lifestyle in order to live a healthier life, then that’s wonderful! We are called to be good stewards of what God has given us (1 Cor 4:2). Moreover, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19), and they should be respected and cared for as such. So if you are looking to lead a healthier lifestyle, then you are not only caring for yourself, but you are also caring for the body that God has given you, which is His dwelling place.

2. There are foods that are Biblically permissible to eat.

The Old Testament offers a bunch of laws detailing what the Israelites could and couldn’t eat. But then, in the New Testament, these laws were fulfilled by Christ and are therefore not binding on us as Christians.

So what can we eat? Well, the lynchpin passage for this is Acts 10:9-16. Essentially, we can eat all types of food, and there are no foods off limits (except of course humans and that which is inherently destructive).

[It is worth noting here that some might point to the preservatives added to meat or plants and claim that the food the Bible allows us to eat is natural while the food we are consuming today is packed with harmful chemicals and is quite unnatural. I think that is a fair point, and we as Christians should be careful about consuming some of these items. We should research for ourselves and eat only that which is safe to consume (although, I will caution that there is a lot of information here, and it is difficult to filter through heaps of pseudoscience and diet propaganda).]

3. Avoiding certain food for ethical reasons is also Biblical

Some avoid food (like meat) not because they are caring for themselves, but because they disagree with the unethical treatment of animals. From a Christian perspective, this can be legitimate.

Were animals intended to be eaten? Yes. There is no Biblical case that can be made against that. Were they intended to be stacked on top of each other in factories, living in their own filth, and subjected to conditions that eclipse the holocaust? Eh, probably not. Humans were entrusted with the responsible care of creation (Gen 1:26, 28), and some of these methods do not seem to be Biblically responsible. So if you avoid certain food because you disagree with the methods employed to bring that food to your plate, that’s fine. But these are your convictions, and you must be careful not to force your own convictions on others.

4. Being physically healthy is not the ultimate goal.

Being conscious and careful of what we eat is a good practice, but if we aren’t careful, it will consume us (nice little pun there for ya). Diet can grow from a healthy habit into an unhealthy obsession. This is when it becomes dangerous not to our physical health, but to our spiritual health. When our diet becomes an obsession, we are prone to forget that we are primarily spiritual beings, and the most pressing problem that needs to be addressed in our lives is the need to be fed with the Word of God.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” – Romans 14:17

Moreover, much of the obsession over diet in our culture stems from the atheistic hope that is placed in this life, the hope to live forever (or at least as long as possible). Obsession over health and long life are antagonistic to the Christian, who is to hold on to her life loosely (Acts 20:24).

5. We must be healthy not for ourselves, but for God.

Being healthy is great, but aside from honoring God by treating our bodies well, the Christian should realize that health is a means to an end. Our lives are to be given to God as an act of worship (Rom 12:1). We do this best when we keep ourselves healthy. If we maintain our physical health, we will be ready to go where He leads us, and we will be better prepared to deal with physical conditions, so that we can focus on the more pressing, spiritual needs.

Preserving your life, which is given in service to God, is healthy both physically and spiritually. Food must not be seen as an indulgence, but as a necessity. It is a means to an end, and that end is glorifying God.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” – 1 Cor 10:31

#wanderlost

Travel.

The word itself seems to sparkle as it floats from your mouth and into the stale air around you. The word carries hope. Adventure. Freedom. Potential. It’s a loaded word that seems to flood gray worlds with the color of something new and fresh.

Hearers immediately envision National Geographic images of dancing tribal chiefs painted in their war colors, exotic foods on the beaches of Thailand, oceanside markets in Spain, rolling green hills, crystal blue water, train stations in Germany, ancient rituals in India, cascading waterfalls, hostels, taxis, enlightenment, happiness, joy…

Essentially, everything that here is not… wherever “here” might be.

The traveler is wise from her experiences. Her passport pages are stamped with proof that she has been where you have not, seen what you have not, and experienced people and places that have given her wisdom that only the outer reaches of the planet can offer. She is happy and free. At fancy dinners, she casually contributes to conversations, “Actually, the cuisine in rural Japan isn’t what you’d think” or “Hiking Kilimanjaro is exhausting but so worth the experience.”

And when people ask, “What do you want to do with your life?” she just shrugs and says, “I’m not looking to settle down. I want to save up and just travel around, you know, see the world.” And if she can find a job that permits traveling (or even entails it) then she has found the holy grail of what it means to live a full life.

The reason I’m writing this is to absolutely annihilate that idea.

Because I’ve done it. I’ve traveled the world. I’ve seen some of the most stunning scenery the world has to offer. I’ve been on a safari in Africa. I’ve hiked to the Sun Gate in Machu Picchu. I’ve been to over half of the states. I’ve bungee jumped from 14th highest jump in the world (twice… and I skydived… skydove?) I’ve met people from African tribes, some even dressed in their beautiful tribal attire. I’ve tried some delicious, cultural delicacies as well as some atrocious, native food that I hope to never see again as long as I live.

And you know what? None of that made me any better of a person. At least not to the degree that most people believe it would. 

You see, we have this notion that travel is somehow magic. But do we ever really consider why?

I think this might help. Are you happy where you are? Seriously, are you happy? Do you go to bed every night without burdens, sleeping with a smile? Do you shut your computer after yet another season of some Netflix show and think, “What a great life I am living!”? 

I mean… we all want what we believe travel offers. Escape. But sadly, it isn’t true. Once you land in another country, it’s exhilarating, but only for a couple weeks. Once the jet lag and the culture shock wear off, you realize that you’re staring right into the eyes of the exact same beast you left back in LAX.

This beast we call “life.”

The world is covered in dirt and it’s inhabited by people who are just trying to get by, people who are searching couch cushions to pay bills, working overtime to provide for their children, cramming to pass in school, praying that they will find a job, fix their car, find a date, or yes, even escape their home in hopes that one day they’ll get the opportunity to see (you guessed it) America.

Uplifting stuff, huh? Don’t worry, I won’t leave you here. I just want you to see through this lie that we’re constantly fed, the lie that somehow traveling is the answer to all of our problems and the fruition of all of our dreams. I have 3 things to say about this and then I’m done. I promise.

1. If you are promoting this through your life, it probably isn’t helping. 

Travel social media accounts are common, and are often supported by followers in the K’s (thousands… for all of you who aren’t on Insta). Their life looks like heaven on earth. As you scroll through their feed, you are inundated with professional grade photos of surreal scenery and exotic experiences, all glued together by a common smile in each shot.

To be fair, many truly believe that they are inspiring people. And yes, some people might benefit from these types of accounts. But statistically, studies have found otherwise. In a broad sense, social media induces jealousy and dissatisfaction, ultimately leading to elevated depression. See one of many studies here.

Unfortunately, many of these followers will be momentarily pulled from their cubicle, stinky car, or bathroom stall and perhaps will enjoy the pictures for a second. But then they will be transported back to their environment, often sadder than before.

 Do we truly believe that bombarding others with images of us doing what they long to do is actually going to help?

Serious question.

2. There are valuable things we can gain from travel.

Ok, I know what you’re thinking. But who can stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon and not be changed??? Fair point. Beautiful scenery, people, and just getting out and seeing the world will give you a different perspective on life, but, as I noted above, it isn’t some enchanted experience that will leave your face glowing or anything like that. Seeing the beauty of God’s creation and wanting to share it with others is both great and beneficial.

My purpose in writing this is not to say that travel is bad. It’s fun! Do it if you can/want to. My purpose is simply to show you that traveling is not this heaven that everyone believes it to be, and that traveling does not necessarily make you a spectacular person.

Did you notice that in my opening description, I never once mentioned befriending the people of different cultures? I’ll be honest, there is so much you can learn from these people. I’m not talking about meeting them and having a passing conversation. I’m talking about becoming friends with them. I have grown so much in my personal life (in a very humbling way) by making friends in other cultures and entering into their world. Seeing the differences in what they value, how they live, and the subtle, cultural nuances that dictate their social dynamics is absolutely fascinating. This takes time, but it’s well worth it. 

Immersion in that kind of environment is life-changing.

But you know what? You don’t need a passport to have this kind of experience. We live in a land where the world comes to us. And even aside from that, different subcultures exist within our communities. In short, you can have life-changing, cultural experiences without ever going through customs.

Kind of boring, isn’t it? Well that’s my point. What I believe is the most beneficial aspect of traveling isn’t really exclusive to travel. For example, I actually believe that there are enormous cultural differences between African Americans and white Americans such that interracial friends could benefit profoundly just by entering into each other’s lives.

Do all your friends look like you? Do they all drive the same type of cars and live in the same size houses? Then maybe you need to do a bit of traveling.

3. There is an answer to our problems and dreams.

I’m “religious” or whatever, so here’s my solution, which I believe to be the truth.

You want to be somewhere else. We really all do. This entire world is quite dreadful, and the little happy phases and momentary pleasures just don’t seem entirely redeeming. We all desire more, and there’s a reason for that. Perhaps nobody has ever said it as well as C.S. Lewis:

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

That world is heaven. You long for heaven. And a life lived well is a life lived in service of Jesus Christ, the one who is the culmination of all your desires. He died on the cross in order to redeem this broken place and in order to fix your soul, which is broken by sin. If you turn to Him for forgiveness and trust in Him, you will find true joy, in heaven. We all long to go there…

…to, shall we say, travel there.

You might disagree with me on that, and if so that’s fine. But if I could flood your social media feed with anything, it would be Jesus, because I believe that He alone will bring you the happiness you crave in travel.

11 Christian Truths that… well… Aren’t True

God is good when my life is great

I see this one all over Facebook. The template looks something like this:

“So today marks a great landmark/accomplishment in my life and I am soooo excited. I would like to take this opportunity to Grammy acceptance speech thank all of my friends and family. I wouldn’t be here without them. Can’t wait to see what God has in store for me on this new adventure. God is good!”

Ok. I get it. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with this (except it’s kind of annoying). However, it seems to imply that were this person not to land her first “big girl job” or get accepted to whatever college, or get engaged… God would somehow not be good. Yet, isn’t God good no matter what? Isn’t that a fundamental truth of who He is? I would really like to see a status that says:

“Had one of the worst days of my life. Everything fell apart and my life now lies before me in ruins. But God is still good, and I give Him all the praise.”

*Like*

Christians shouldn’t judge

Ok, yes, it’s in the Bible. But like every other cliché verse, this one is taken out of context and loaded into the arsenal of people who have never even read the Bible. It most accurately means “Don’t make condescending judgments about others without first realizing that you too have faults” (see context of Matthew 7). The Bible (Jesus) gives criteria to judge people and discern whether or not they are truly Christian. The Bible actually supports judgment, but only in a non-hypocritical manner, intended to be helpful (after all, wouldn’t you want that pesky speck out of your eye?). There is a way to judge lovingly.

Christians are all hypocrites because they eat bacon

Again, this one is usually spat at Christians by those who haven’t crossed through the doors of a church since they were 10 and their parents made them go. And if they did their research, they probably wouldn’t use this as an argument because it’s so weak. Personally, I knew the response to this when I was in 2^nd grade Sunday school class. Standing next to the felt board, the teacher taught us that Jesus was the fulfillment of all the laws in the old testament except for moral laws (like the 10 commandments). I was satisfied with that explanation and you should be too.

Satan lives in hell

I asked my friend one day if he believed Satan lived in hell. He quickly remarked, “Why the hell would he live there?” Most people don’t ever stop to think about this one. It’s in comics, cartoons, movies etc., but most assume it’s true. Seriously, why do people believe this? It’s nowhere in the Bible (except in revelation when Satan is thrown into hell). For now, he actually lives here, and that’s in the Bible. The battle for your soul is happening on this earth, in this life, and Satan would just love for you to believe that he isn’t real or that he is occupied with other things.

You are saved because you prayed a prayer

There are elements of truth to this, but if this is your only appeal to your salvation, you have every reason to be terrified. Yes, the Bible does say that we are saved by confessing Jesus as Lord, but it is also clear that this completely transforms our lives. If you prayed and then nothing changed, then you probably aren’t saved. And any preacher who tries to console you and reassure you that this isn’t a rational concern of yours could possibly be holding your hand as he walks you comfortably into hell…

God loves you just the way you are

This sounds great, right? Our culture idolizes those who remain resolute in who they truly are. In some ways, this authenticity isn’t bad, however, missing the need for change is detrimental. Central to the Bible is a constant call for change (since we are, after all, sinners), which will make you more and more like Jesus, the image of perfection. Because God loves you, He wants for you to change.

Faith means believing in something with no evidence to support it

If Christianity supported this kind of irrationality, I probably wouldn’t even take it seriously. But that’s not what faith is. When Jesus came, He performed miracles so that people would believe that what He said was actually true (i.e. He gave them good reasons to believe Him). Faith, as it turns out, is more accurately your answer to the set of foundational beliefs you have about God, yourself, and other metaphysical questions. In this sense, everyone has faith in something (or nothing). Belief without evidence is, I think, impossible anyways.

Worship means singing with your hands in the air

That’s actually called “praise”. Worship isn’t what you do on Sunday; it’s how you live your life. Your time is valuable and God wants all of it. If you give your time, energy, attention, and devotion to Him daily, that’s worship. If not, well… you’re still worshiping, but you’re not worshiping God. And if you spend your life devoted to yourself, but then go to church and sing praises to God, then you might be tricking the audience, but you aren’t fooling God. He knows the words you’re singing are lies.

Hate = Bad

In some cases, yes, it is wrong to hate. In fact, the Bible says that hating another human is just as sinful as murdering that person. However, most of us are raised believing that the moment the word “hate” escapes our lips, someone nearby will sternly correct us.

“You hate it? Would you care to reword that, mister?”

“I don’t hate it. I strongly dislike it…”

“That’s better.”

Hate isn’t a cuss word. In fact, I think hate is necessary. The Bible, on several occasions (old and new testament) speaks of even God hating. You see, hate is a natural byproduct of love. In order for God to love that which is good, he must hate that which is not. He allows us to share with Him in this hatred for evil, for injustice, for terror, for suffering, and yes, for unholy hatred.

God exists to make me more comfortable

It’s a tragedy that this needs explanation. In many ways, discomforts in our life are specifically given to us by God in order to help us grow, mature, and become wiser. Although God does bless physically, He more often blesses spiritually. And quite often, this spiritual gift comes packaged in the ugly wrapping paper of trials and hardships. It might be hard to see at the time, but God has a purpose for it. And if you don’t believe this and you truly think that God is there to make you comfortable, your faith will suffer greatly whenever your life gets hard. Ideas have consequences, and this is one of them.

You don’t need theology. Just give me Jesus.

Naturally, the follow up question comes, “Who was Jesus then?” If you begin to answer in any way that suggests that He had anything to do with God, welcome to theology! Without theology, the “Christ” in “Christian” doesn’t really mean anything. The people who most often say this, do so whenever they’re confronted with an inconsistency in their own theology. They’ve been cornered and would rather not deal with the reality of being wrong. Yes, granted, some people use theology improperly and shoot venom daggers at the less informed, but that doesn’t mean it’s inherently bad. Theology is a study that seeks to explore into the mind of the infinite God. It is limitless, unimaginably rewarding, fulfilling, comforting, mind blowing, and inexplicably beautiful. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon, huh?

26 Christianese Words You Gotta Know (If you want to interact with Bible Belt Christians)

For people who are not native to the Bible belt or for those who have not grown up in the church, interacting with Christians can be difficult at times. As a byproduct of the Christian culture, many phrases, words, or other common sayings have been twisted and given biblical meanings that those outside of the culture might not understand. So, in order to assist those who may be lost in translation, I’ve compiled this list of words and phrases to help bridge the language barrier.

Consider this Christianese 101…

Fellowship – Hang out.

Spirit-led – Nobody planned anything, so whatever happens happens and everyone will think it’s cool because it broke traditional church conventions.

Mission trip – A fun summer trip to another country, which typically includes parting tears, painting orphanages, French braids, nalgenes, germ-x, diarrhea, bandanas, inside jokes, and lots and lots of Facebook profile pictures.

Blessed – This one is very common (and essential to know if you wish to be a fluent Christianese speaker). Although in the Bible, this word more accurately refers to one’s acute awareness of God’s providence as a result of some form of suffering, poverty, etc. (“blessed are the poor in spirit” Matthew 5:3), it has come to mean something actually quite opposite in Christian circles. Most people use it to mean “comfort”. “I’m very blessed” can be translated as, “I’m very comfortable. God has given me a lot of the things I’ve asked for and I am very happy with my life. I have money, a stable job, a family, and, in general, things just kinda go my way.” I find it terribly ironic that this word, which was used in the Bible to describe the joy of losing physical possessions and gaining spiritual wisdom, has come to mean, in many cases, the direct opposite.

Small group – It is, in fact, a small group. But this small group refers specifically to a gathering of people (typically around 6-15) for a Bible study. This usually takes place at a host house with brownies and pizza bites, and while the Bible is emphasized, the focus of the study often turns to a book written by a trendy pastor.

Apologetics – The study of why Christianity is right because it says it’s right.

Saved – While, again Biblically this has a different meaning, most Christians believe they are saved because they prayed a scripted prayer or walked down the aisle during an altar call. Biblically, this more accurately refers to one whose life has been completely transformed by a belief in Jesus.

Travel mercies – Prayers that the plane won’t crash.

Raising support – Missionaries (people who live abroad) asking for money. Although an integral part of their work, the younger generation has begun to practice this for short-term trips, and has been taught to absolutely abuse it. They’ve learned that if they need money, they simply ask grown ups in the church, who will give them money as long as it’s being done for Jesus.

Pour into someone’s life – Get lunch with them.

“I’ll pray for you” – “I have no intention of praying for you”

America – The promised land. Although the country as a whole doesn’t adhere to Biblical principles, many Christians believe that America is blessed by God and will equate their love for the country to their love for Jesus (which is partly why Christians become so enraged when the government does not enforce Biblical precepts).

Prayer requests – Typically at the end of small group time, this is when everyone tells you all the medical ailments of their grandparents.

Alcohol – The saliva of Satan

Chik-fil-a – A fast food safe haven for your children. The chicken sandwich secret ingredient is angel kisses.

Evolutionist – I’ve actually never heard this word used outside the church. It means exactly what it looks like, although I’ve never heard it used in a positive manner.

Republican Party – A group of Texans (who are all going to heaven) who are out to save this nation from insanity with the love of Christ while shooting at people crossing the border.

“Let’s get coffee” – This is actually very dependent on the gender. For the same gender, it’s basically what it sounds like. However, for a male asking a female, the male is essentially communicating that he thinks the female is hot. The female perceives this gesture as, “I want to marry you”. If the female says yes to you, that means she already knows when she will marry you, where you will live, what her wedding will look like, and what your kids names will be.

Chacos, Kavu bags, and ENO hammocks – The starter kit for being a trendy Christian (bonus points for taking Instagram photos doing your devotional (this word defined later) in your Chacos while swinging in your ENO hammock)

C.S. Lewis – The smartest person to live in the history of ever

Tattoo – Inscribed with the ink of the devil, older folks will perceive these markings as labels, which read, “not a good person”. For the younger crowd, however, it just means you’re artsy or a little edgy. Serious Christians get tattoos in Greek or Hebrew.

Solid – A person who actually lives in a manner somewhat reflective of their beliefs.

Predestination – The absolute worst word to utter at a Wednesday night potluck. Prepare for fire to reign down as smiley southerners unleash their inner theological rage at one another.

Getting “plugged in” – Attending something church sponsored outside of the Sunday church service.

Quiet time – For most Christians, this is a chore. It basically means read a couple chapters in the Bible and spend alone time with God (like a girl would her boyfriend). Many Christians believe that their relationship with God is based on how they feel towards God. Doing this gives them a good feeling. (Syn: “spend time in the word” or “devotional”).

Evangelism – The most awkward experience of your life. Although Christians typically neglect to do this to their close friends and family, they somehow believe that they ought instead to go to the mall and trap people with bait and switch surveys and that from them inconveniencing other people on the bus, subway, or coffee shop, those people will suddenly change everything they believe after an awkward, five minute, forced conversation.

Well, hopefully this has been helpful. Go home and practice these terms, and you will soon be speaking in short, Christianese sentences. For more advanced lessons, try attending the yearly Passion conference or getting plugged in to a local mega church. Have a blessed one!

The Misery of I

Work for a living. Have children. Work for their living. So they can work for their children to live, in order for their children to, Lord willing, make a living for their children. And so it goes…

Ad naseum.

The routine perpetuated by those in the generations above mine has been left mostly unquestioned for centuries. Millions of families have raised their children to believe that their purpose is to find a spouse, procreate, and live happily as they rock in their chairs at family reunions and admire the immortality of their last name tearing through the house in the form of auspicious youth, as their own bones grow brittle and their hearts begin to fail. We are taught that marriage and children are the two most cherished, life transforming experiences in life.

So why, in light of these lessons, are marriage rates and birth rates not only falling, but also plummeting? Statistically, birth rates have been falling since 2008, and have currently reached an historical low. Marriage rates have fallen dramatically since the 70’s and are continuing to do so at a growing rate (especially in cities). Why is that?

The answer might be simple. You see, we’ve left this question untouched for centuries, the question of “why?” We have been doing just fine without it, and nobody has thought it odd to continue living in this manner.

That is, until now.

This generation has dared to address the question, “Why?” and with skeptical glares, they indignantly ask, “Why should I give my life to such a dizzying routine, which will ultimately continue regressing into an infinite loop of child-bearing and death? Shouldn’t someone break the cycle at some point and indulge in the work that has gone into this?”

And that question, coupled curiously with the dramatic rise in social media and the deliberate crippling of religious voice has left this generation in a very peculiar position. We have before us a question with no clear answer. And we are witnessing the death of purpose, identity, and value in the sea of existential silence as the only reasonable responses surface.

And, oh God, we are so desperate.

Some resort to iPhone apps in which the ultimate purpose is to pop bubbles, slash fruit, jump cute birds over hills, or line up candy figures endlessly. Others find some transcendental purpose in the workforce, as companies indicate that they are more successful in hiring when purpose is emphasized rather than dedication (as was for the generation preceding the current one). Others work for the weekend and reach the apex of their existence in the weekly high inherent to the expensive liquors, sloppy dancing, empty laughter, casual sex, and Sunday service hangovers. Yet, all of these people have something very important in common: they are trying desperately to distract themselves from the brutal reality staring them in the face, namely, that everything they do has no lasting meaning or purpose.

It’s depressing. But whatever, it’s real.

There is another category of people, however. But this group of people is quite different. They don’t try to distract themselves from meaninglessness with trite, banal rituals or mindless routine. They don’t retreat into the dark corners of their room to lose the triviality of their lives in video games or porn. Instead, they find purpose in their lives through the expression of who they are at their very core. They experience like no generation has before. Their lives are constantly new, filled with enriching people, places, and ideas, exotic foods, and cultural encounters. They become the embodiment of who they wish to be, dedicated to filling their life with travel, adventure, and stories. These people are unafraid of the question “why?” because they know why. And everyday is filled with their resounding answer to this question.

And, although these people are virtually idolized in our culture, I pity them far more than anyone else, because they, unlike the others, have addressed the question fervently, and have failed miserably to answer it to any degree of satisfaction because, at the very foundation of their purpose, lies one huge letter that keeps them from truly experiencing life, from truly becoming who they were created to be. It’s the letter “I”, and it is quite a miserable letter. The answer to the question “what do I do with my life?” is answered by the pursuit of self-betterment, the writing of one’s story. Yet, the flaw resides not in the answer, but the question. Beneath the seemingly plentiful life of adventure and travel lies an enormous, gaping hole left in their souls that, as it is filled more and more with “I”, echoes louder, crying for the eternal purpose for which they were created, the purpose of glorifying God. The right question to ask is not, “What do I do with my life?” but rather, “How am I to give this life back to God, its rightful owner?”

You see, there exists a magical place where we can pursue all of our own desires, be ourselves, be free from the judgment of others, indulge in the inclinations of our heart, and live our lives the way we want to.

It’s called hell.

Hate and Homosexuality

A man approaches a Christian and asks him if he believes homosexuality is a sin. Tacit to his question is the greatly-feared dichotomy “If you don’t support homosexuals, you hate them.”

*The man smiles as the microphone inches closer to the Christian’s face*

It’s called a false dilemma.

You present two choices as if they’re the only available options and force the victim to select between the two, without informing the individual that other options exist. It’s fallacious.

Unfortunately, the gay pride movement has been hijacked by a particular false dilemma, a logical fallacy that has led to bitter controversy between two groups, namely, Christians opposed to homosexuality and those who favor it (not strictly Christians who favor it). The fallacy goes something like this: “If you don’t support homosexuals, you hate them.”

And then, once the microphone is shoved in the face of Christians, they tremble and stutter, fearing the inevitability of the evils inherent to either option.

Choice 1: If the Christian sides with homosexuality, he is heralded by the culture for his willingness to think progressively, embrace tolerance, and position himself in line with the flow of modern morality and values. However, he also faces opposition to centuries of church doctrine, teaching on the sinful nature of embracing such practices. Is it worth it (or right)?

Choice 2: On the other hand, if the Christian opts to voice opposition to homosexuality, he is immediately bombarded with terrible titles like “bigoted”, “close-minded”, “judgmental”, “intolerant”, or “hateful”, titles assigned by groups who claim to be widely accepting and open to all types of people and beliefs (the irony is just so rich).

*The Christian sighs into the microphone and shrugs*

The church is very divided on this matter. In fact, many have left churches because of this issue. Here is what the Bible says (briefly) about homosexuality:

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:9

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” – Leviticus 18:22

“For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” – Romans 1:26-27

Christians who favor homosexuality are split on these verses. Some argue that the verses are merely taken out of context, while others contend that the Bible is the result of human contrivances, or was a product of the culture of that time period (i.e. not trustworthy and inferior to modern cultural morality). Both issues would require separate articles (or even books) to address them, however, I will say in passing that it is difficult to take those verses out of context, and the inerrancy of scripture is a much deeper matter that should leave any serious Christian horribly unsettled

But those are separate matters. The pressing question is this: “is it hateful for a Christian to voice opposition to homosexuality if he believes that the Bible condemns it?”

In short, no. In fact, it can’t be (if done properly). Christian beliefs and values don’t allow for it. For a Christian, the most urgent call with which he is faced is the salvation of others. Everything he does is to be necessarily directed at glorifying God, and included in this is his unwavering devotion to ensuring that he has done everything possible to provide his fellow human beings with the truth, and he is to speak that truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). And this is done not because homosexuality somehow harms the Christian, but because the Christian loves and cares deeply for another human being who, according to what he believes, is sinning. This isn’t a judgmental act or one done from a hypocritical position of pride. It is one performed with overflowing love, a love that is bound by eternity, defined by passion and zeal, and constituted by an absolute humility and selfless concern for another’s ultimate flourishing, even if it means facing harsh criticism. And if it is done with love, it can’t be hateful.

[“I love you too much to be silent.”]

The Christian is held captive by that which he believes to be true. Ultimately true. He does not have the luxury of forfeiting or suspending his beliefs for the demands of the culture, even when faced with bitter labels or potential isolation. He is a servant of a sacred text, a text that necessarily does not condone acts he is called to embrace. Yet, he is urged by the culture to divorce himself from his beliefs, compromise his devotion, and adhere to a standard that breaks the very foundation of his beliefs. What else can he do but hold dear to the demands of his own beliefs or crumble beneath the pressure?

That isn’t very fair. Would you want to belong to a culture that berates people who refuse to abandon the core values of their heart? That certainly isn’t accepting, loving, or tolerant…

[The failure to tolerate intolerance …is intolerant.

Forbidding someone force belief …is the forcing of one’s belief

Condemning another’s judgment …is judgmental]

*At last, the Christian steps to the microphone and speaks*

“I do not believe this is right. I know that, according to the Bible, which I believe to be the infallible word of God, He decrees perfect laws that are both timeless and given in love to His people. Therefore, I can show no greater love than to uphold these laws and give these transcendent words of life to my brothers and sisters whom I desperately want to see with me in eternity. The most hateful thing I could do is remain silent, keeping from you that which I believe to be the path to human flourishing, ultimate joy, and eternal salvation. I find myself in a position reminiscent to that of Martin Luther as he, with an ancient microphone thrust into his face, sheepishly proclaimed:

‘I consider myself convicted by the testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my basis; my conscience is captive to the Word of God. Thus I cannot and will not recant, because acting against one’s conscience is neither safe nor sound. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.’”

Do You Need Free Will to Love?

This is not exclusively Christian (although it is a response to a common objection raised against Reformed arguments that deal with God’s sovereignty in election. The objection goes something like, “If God chooses who will love Him, then there is no free will and, therefore, the love is not real”.)

There are two reasonable approaches to this question. The first operates under the presupposition that free will exists, and the other does not. This argument will be built around that of determinism (no free will), of the latter presupposition. Although it might seem redundant to argue, the presence of free will is not necessitated by the nature of the question. In fact, assuming a deterministic universe is imperative to answer this question in its entirety, since it is the only framework that allows for the examination of the negative.

The question then becomes: “In a deterministic world, can love exist?”

Love inherently is expressed (typically through emotions and actions), and that expression is not love itself. Yet, these outward manifestations have deeper causes (i.e. love has deeper causes). Since one cannot arbitrarily feel affection without reason or cause, it then follows that these expressions are not love, but are the direct byproducts of a more foundation force, as it were. Moreover, if one necessarily reasons to love, there must be a logical basis, for if one’s love is based not on logic, it follows that it must be based on pure volition or the forces of chance (both elements of free will). This logical basis for love is grounded in one’s beliefs or one’s values. These serve concurrently as the governing bodies for one’s actions, emotions, and the filter through which all of one’s thoughts and experiences pass (i.e. one’s perception). Therefore, belief and values are inexorably bound to one’s thoughts, and, transitively, one’s love.

The question then becomes: “Are beliefs and values determined?”

Belief is rooted in reason, since one cannot merely choose what one believes as much as one chooses what one desires. Both are determined efficaciously by one’s reason (which has other governing faculties that are more foundational as well). Therefore, love exists as a foundational understanding (which often leads to outward manifestations), rooted in beliefs and values, which are necessarily byproducts of definite causes that systematically exist within the structure and framework of determinism. Therefore, free will is not a necessary component of love.

The Funeral Speech I’m so Sick of Hearing

A baby cries and everyone shifts nervously in the pews, hoping the mother fixes the problem quickly. Sniffles echo through the stained glass sanctuary as organ pipes resonate the remainder of an old comfort hymn. The casket is open at the front of the aisle, but nobody looks inside. Instead, everyone’s gaze fixes upon the adorned minister, who spreads open his arms and begins his speech. His delivery is heartfelt, tactful, and professional. He holds his composure stoically, and as he progresses through the “he’s in a better place” clichés, he stumbles upon one of the worst, universally accepted phrases that plague modern eulogies…

“We know that this tragedy was not part of God’s plan…”

And with those words, my attention is lost to the nauseous feeling crawling through my stomach, the ineluctable cringing, the distaste my mind has developed towards overt heresy. The crowd nods softly. The man beside me mumbles reverently, “Amen”. My eyes narrow as my mind swats at his words like a swarm of gnats, the words that betrayed truth, spoken by its supposed ambassador. He concludes his speech and summons the crowd rise for the concluding ceremony, the final motions before the long, reverent drive to the cemetery…

As I stare out the window, silently acknowledging the lit headlights of passing cars, I contemplate quietly.

“What is it that drives our beliefs? Surely it isn’t consistency. For, if it were consistency, there wouldn’t be such obvious contradictions littered throughout our language. For example, we praise people for accomplishments, which means that we believe in freedom. Yet, we attribute mistakes to genetic diseases, family history, etc. We like free will when we speak of good things, yet can’t accept it when we speak of evil. In other words, the good in our lives we meant to happen, and the bad in our lives happened to us. Conversely, we love freedom when we speak of tragedy. Life is a plan, but death is chance. We love destiny, but hate when we’ve arrived.

“Or perhaps we don’t believe in a plan after all. Although we love the idea of God having a plan for our lives, we quickly abandon this mindset as soon as something goes wrong. Maybe we don’t believe that God has a plan separate from ours. That’s it! Maybe we see God as merely an enabler for our plan to play out. He exists not as a wise, holy being, but as a cosmic Santa Clause who simply gives us what we want when we want it. We look to Him to conduct our lives in the best manner we see fit. (Come to think of it, that’s probably why we say that God ‘answered a prayer’, while we really mean that He simply answered it in a manner that pleased us. When He says ‘no’, we just assume it was an ‘unanswered prayer’, since it wasn’t done so in accordance with our plan for our lives.)

“Maybe this is why we see tragic death as accidental, not according to God’s plan. We assume that we know God’s plan because we know our plan. Therefore, if anything happens apart from our plan, it happened apart from God’s plan. Perhaps this is why people stop believing in God when their lives get tough. We’ve become so obsessed with our freedom that we’ve abandoned all trust in the only one who deserves it.”

(Almost every issue can be traced back to an obsession with ourselves…)

You see, there are no degrees of sovereignty when it comes to God. God is either fully sovereign or fully not. And if He is not sovereign, He is not God (capital G). He cannot control some things but not others, for in controlling even the smallest of things, He would affect the entire order of creation. Moreover, there is no Biblical case for God removing His controlling hand from any situation (except for sin, which is still part of His plan according to Gen 50:20). In fact, there can be a strong Biblical case that God exercises complete control over every facet of creation. He has to. That is, if you believe that He has a plan.

The Bible is clear that God has had a plan from the beginning. He doesn’t just know what is going to happen; He has planned it since before there was time. If you ever say that God has a plan for the good things, you must believe that He has a plan for the bad things as well. And if He has a plan for the bad things, then He is in complete control of their occurrence, which is not bad news. In fact, it’s wonderful news, for instead of allowing chance to reign, we allow God to control. The sovereignty of God is a comforting doctrine. It states that God, in His infinite wisdom, doesn’t allow for us to fall victim to the random acts of chance, which many believe dominate our lives. But, instead, He sovereignly wills all that comes to pass, the good and the bad alike, and He guides them all into a greater plan, a plan that we can’t see, a plan that ultimately works not necessarily for our happiness on this earth, but for His glory.

Tragedies are not accidents; they are part of a perfect plan.

So, if you are experiencing the loss of a loved one, do not listen to the preacher’s words if he tells you that it was an accident. Take comfort in knowing that your loss was not due to the cold, brutal forces of chance, but was a product of a perfect plan and had a definite purpose. An eternal one.

And if you are a preacher and you have given a funeral speech in which you have said anything along the lines of it being deviant of God’s plan or that God wasn’t involved, you need to repent and apologize to the friends and family, whom you mislead during one of their most sorrowful times.

So as I stand and watch the body sink slowly into the dirt, I know. I know that although he might be gone, the purpose for which he lived is not, because it is the purpose for which we all live, the purpose of glorifying God in His perfect plan. Not ours.

Why Christians should be Intolerant

 Yes, we’ve all seen the bumper stickers on the tailgates of Subaru Outbacks: “Coexist”, and among others, “Tolerance”… and whatever else is trending in the liberal world. And it’s spelled with different sacred symbols, suggesting equality among people from every religion.

It’s cute.

But wrong.

We live in a culture obsessed with the idea of tolerance. (And I don’t just mean religious tolerance). In classrooms, students will no longer answer questions directly, when posed by professors. Instead, they will either ask another question or they will form their answer with the inflection of a question. Rather than holding the confidence that certainty allows, students will answer even the most obvious questions with a timid air of skepticism. Many will preface their responses with, “This could be totally wrong but…” or “I might be way off but…”

Why?

Because we are afraid of being wrong.

In our culture, it is better to be uncertain than wrong. People who confidently express their views are seen as arrogant, close-minded, and bigoted. This is manifestly demonstrated in our obsession with the word “like”. Nobody wants to commit to a statement fully, so everything is “like” something else. This isn’t very noticeable until you remove the word “like” from your vocabulary. Then, you’ll hear yourself actually committing to statements in ways that aren’t comfortable, because too much certainty is expressed. “Like” dilutes our language. “Like” is like a spice to our sentences that like adds ambiguity rather than leaving us like fully committed to what we’re actually saying.

Yet, in a world where no one is wrong…

No one is right either.

Promoting religious tolerance is admirable in some senses. I understand that I would much rather live in a world where people from different religions don’t behead their opposition, participate in genocide, or excommunicate their family members for believing differently. I always seek to love my enemies and treat people from all different worldviews with the respect they deserve as rational human beings. Yet, if we are all right, then no one is, since some say that others are wrong. Obviously, someone can’t be right about someone else being wrong while that person is also right (at least in a world where logic works). Moreover, if I posit full ideological tolerance, I’ve undermined my own belief. The moment I begin to preach tolerance, I’m expressing my own intolerance for intolerant people. So I’m being intolerant.

And while this belief seems harmless, it stands as one of the most difficult forms of persecution that the church deals with today.

In many ways, Christians are united under a common call to spread their belief (and this is common in most religions). Yet, the tolerant culture answers this call with a plea for silence. If a Christian (or a Mormon, or Jehovah’s witness, etc.) attempts to evangelize, it is seen as an intolerant act. “Who are you to tell me what I should and shouldn’t believe?” is the typical response. (Even though this line of thought falls victim to the same regressing problem that universal tolerance faces, it is, at its foundation, self-defeating and warrants no serious consideration). This has bred a generation of churchgoers who believe firmly that others ought to be evangelized, yet, they are too afraid to do anything about it for fear of offending those who hold different views. It has led to a church full of cowards, buckling beneath the pressure of society. The culture screams at the church to be tolerant, and the church responds with morbid paralysis, too afraid to offend a lost generation so desperately searching for truth, who fall deeper into confusion while demanding silence from those with whom the truth lies.

This is why, as a Christian, I cannot accept the doctrine of tolerance. (And if you are tolerant of me, you’ll understand). According to Christianity, Jesus came to save sinners through His sacrifice, and salvation lies only through believing in Him. If you don’t believe in Him and embrace this reality, you go to hell forever. It’s a pretty simple concept, but carries weight no one was ever meant to fully process. Yet, if it is true, then my highest calling as a Christian is not to be tolerant of other religions, but to ensure that the people I love deeply realize their need for salvation and turn to Jesus. In fact, I can’t do both at the same time, because they’re in direct opposition to one another. I have to choose between offending you (and possibly spending eternity with you) or remaining quiet (and watching you possibly go to hell while I sit back and say nothing)…

May that ellipsis stand as the granddaddy of all ellipses, the most emphatic, reverent silence in existence…

Don’t you see? There is no greater love from a Christian than for him to share his belief with you. He isn’t judging you (unless he’s doing it improperly); he’s loving you! Even if you don’t believe it, he does. And for him to preach to you is love. He would rather create an awkward moment and risk offending you than watch you perish eternally. Tolerance, for the Christian, is the deepest kind of hate there is. For a Christian to believe such ultimate truths and not act on them, watching the world perish while he does nothing, is the worst kind of hate.

It’s like evil.

 

Did Science Kill God?

Most of us are familiar with the Nietzsche quote, “God is dead”, but there are few who know what follows (There are also few who are able to spell “Nietzsche” correctly on the first attempt)…

“God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? […] Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?”

Nietzsche didn’t mean that God, who once existed, had died; he meant that through the progress of science and enlightenment, human beings had transcended their superstitious, religious beliefs and had traded them for an objective explanation of the world that no longer required a god (or any supernatural being for that matter). Diseases, which had been previously attributed to curses, witchcraft, or Satan, could now be explained by science. The traditional belief of the earth’s age was being increasingly eclipsed by scientific discoveries, which portrayed the earth as an ancient, 4 billion year old rock, nearly half a million times older than many had thought. Reason replaced faith. Fact replaced belief. Science replaced religion. And a chilling silence filled laboratories, classrooms, and households alike, as man became the god he had been pursuing for thousands of years.

That’s what Nietzsche meant. And the consequences of this philosophy have become increasingly prevalent ever since.

It’s called positivism.

According to positivism, you can only know that which can be tested or confirmed by science or logic. The world is as old as science tells us it is. You are sick because a virus has infected the cells inside your body, and the appropriate immune response has been initiated. You are depressed because there is a chemical imbalance in your brain. You love because you admire another’s genes and would like for your children to have them. You woke up in the middle of the night unable to move and seeing visions because of a condition called sleep paralysis, which is actually quite common and can be explained physiologically. You believe in God because it helps you deal with death and the meaninglessness of life…

That’s the world according to positivism. There is no supernatural, no heaven, no sin, no karma, no soul, no angels, no miracles, no luck, and certainly no god. There only exists that which can be written in a textbook without offending Stephen Hawking, et al. And although positivism has given rise to a group of predominantly liberal free thinkers, who flaunt their impartiality and give themselves over to the honesty of science, it has stood as an absolute atrocity to epistemology (the study of knowing stuff), since it ignores what might be an entirely separate realm of existence.

God, angels, sin, etc. cannot be tested by science because they exist above the dominion of science. Of course positivism excludes the possibility of a god; it relies entirely on a study that is necessarily separate from the very idea of a god! It can’t prove that there is a god. But it can’t disprove a god either. What can be tested? If a god existed, would that existence not be outside of time, outside of physical barriers, and beyond objective observation (not necessarily phenomenological perception)? But just because you can’t place God inside of a test tube doesn’t mean He doesn’t exist. The two are simply separate, and you will never be able to measure a spiritual being in milliliters, pounds, or atomic structure. Yet, everything that supposedly exists beyond science is held to this standard, which dominates modern thought.

The reason Positivism has taken such a dominant position in modern thought is due in part to the trends in progress. Centuries ago, there existed many phenomena that couldn’t be explained by any sort of scientific discourse. So, naturally, man posited God, spirits, demons, etc. as the cause. When scientific advancements were made, science filled in the gaps, as it were, and proved that there existed an explanation apart from the spiritual realm, an explanation that made sense, could be demonstrated, and didn’t need any sort of god. The most obvious example is evolution, which has been gradually eating away at religious “space-fillers”, used to explain the seemingly unexplainable. This theory (along with many other scientific advancements) has pushed religion aside in a couple areas, and many assume the pattern will continue until religion and any concept of god or spirits is annihilated.

Yet, this is a step too far. Aside from ignoring the problem of causality, science does not rule out the possibility of a god (in fact, I’d argue that science reinforces (not proves) the idea of a god, but that’s a different topic). In order for a process to be caused by a god, it does not necessarily have to happen apart from scientific explanation. This is the underlying fallacy of Positivism. Although it might seem to be the case, science is not gradually decreasing the idea of god; it is merely explaining how what happens happens. And this has stood as such a threat to religion not because it has proven it wrong, but because, for centuries, many had looked to religion to answer scientific questions. But just because science can explain a process does not mean that some sort of spiritual force cannot be involved. It’s possible that the two may even coincide. Some god may or may not be involved. Science will never tell us. Because it can’t.

The unfortunate result of this positivistic shift is the godlike status that has been attributed to science. Now, instead of looking to religion to answer questions that science should address, we are looking to science to answer metaphysical questions. Simply tacking on “scientists agree” to anything adds credibility, even if it has nothing to do with science. Questions of ultimacy (e.g. “what is the meaning of life?”, “is there a god?”, “is there objective morality”, etc.) cannot be answered by science because science only deals with the physical world. Yet, many look to science to answer these pressing questions. Meaning, god, morality, and other metaphysical matters cannot ever be truly addressed by science, and we need to open our minds and realize that science has limitations, and beyond these limitations might be a spiritual realm. And if this is the case, dedication to positivism will cause one to miss an entire sphere of existence.

Science isn’t a bad thing. Technically, I’m a scientist (a biochemist). I love it. Science saves countless lives everyday. You’re using science to read this. Because of science, you have access to infinite information, all crammed into a tiny little glowing rectangle you keep tucked in your pocket. Because of science, I can explain why this cereal I’m eating tastes gross (it’s Vanilla Chex by the way. Don’t buy that. Scientists agree that it tastes bad). Science is a wonderful thing, and intentionally ignoring some of its most factual claims for the sake of religion is both dishonest and unhealthy. Don’t cover your ears. Open them to the beauty of progress and the pure enjoyment of scientific discovery!

Science doesn’t kill God. It never did. God is the creator of science, and it’s truly a tragedy that the two are separated, unnecessarily pit against one another when they really should exist in harmony.