postmodernism101@boundless.org

This week I'm going to refer you to some excellent articles I came across a few days ago on boundless.org--what with ATF this weekend, it's been a mad house this week. We'll be taking over 130 people this year!!

Article 1: The Hazards of Reading on a Battlefied - Walt Russell
Mr. Russell writes on authorial intention--that the meaning of a text is meant by its author--and the implications of this truth. (This article is the first of a four-part series, which aims to help us read our bibles well. I recommend them as well).

Article 2: What Is Truth and Why Does it Matter? - J. P. Moreland
In this article, Mr. Moreland does an excellent job of answering the question posed in his title, and leads through a discussion about the 'correspondence theory of truth:' that something is true when it corresponds accurately with something in reality.

Article 3: Postmodernism and the Christian Life: Part 1 - J. P. Moreland
This is an excellent summary of postmodern thought. Mr. Moreland groups the basics of postmodern thinking into six statements, then explores them briefly. Very good.

Article 4: Postmodernism and the Christian Life: Part 2 - J. P. Moreland
Mr. Moreland follows up his previous article with an "[analysis of] four aspects of postmodernism that bear on the possibility of successful Christian growth and discipleship."

They're each a bit more in-depth on nearly everything we talked about at the last ONELIFE. Very, very important--and very, very good!

Joining the Great Battle

"I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do with my life."

Have you ever heard that? Ever said it? I’ve probably said it as often as I’ve heard it. Many people in their twenties are in the same spot: big passion, small direction. Desires are strong to live for something worthwhile, lasting, and enjoyable—maybe even for The Kingdom—but they aren’t exactly sure about the what, the where, and the how. I’ve been there. (Truth be told, I may still be.)

I woke up this morning with one clear thought: "Where, Lord, is the great battle of our day? Where can I join the front line of your Kingdom? Where can I make the most impact for Truth?" Immediately I thought of frontier missions. But then I thought about the classroom—and then the courtroom. Then academia. Then the media. Then the arts. Then the factory floor. Then…I realized that the battle is all around us—we are in the thick of it nearly everywhere. And I think this is the way it’s supposed to be: the 'front line' is neither geographical nor vocational; it’s just plain everywhere. The 'front line' is anywhere a loyal subject of the High King of Heaven is in contact with a slave of (or an idea from) the dark 'lord' of hell. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer suggests that "The only way to follow Jesus [is] by living in the world." The Cost of Discipleship, p. 48) It seems that we should think of expanding the Kingdom of Heaven on earth in and through a vocation (and nearly *any* vocation at that), and not just for a vocation. "Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of God." (1 Cor. 10:31) So the battle line here—the external one—is drawn: it’s everywhere and anywhere, and it’s against the ideas and values and lifestyles of the enemy. (See 2 Cor. 10:3-5)

And I thought further that there is no battle so fierce as the one that rages daily in my own mind, heart, and flesh. This is the first and most violent of the battlefields, where the cost of losing is perilously higher to me than anywhere else: "for what shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world, and yet lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36) The reward for victory is also greatest here: for "greater is he that rules his own soul than he that takes a city." (Proverbs 16:32) We can do wonders in and through a vocation, and yet if we haven’t conquered the inner land of our own heart, "it profits us nothing." So the other battle line—the internal one—is also drawn: it’s in our own minds and hearts as well.

By waging and winning the internal battle (being "not of" the world) while living "in the world," we join the front lines wherever we are. So, the battle lines are drawn: where and how you join is (your decision and your destiny. If you’re looking for guidance for the details, look to the Word—he has promised to "show you the path of life." (Psalm 16:11) The Wisdom of God is imparted through the revealed Word of God as illuminated by the Spirit of God: "in all your getting, get wisdom." Plumb the depths diligently, and apply the gold rigorously in deciding the details, and "then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8)

Recommended Reading:
God’s Guidance: A Slow and Certain Light, by Elisabeth Elliot (192 warm and helpful pages)
TwentySomeone, by Doug Serven and Craig Dunham (240 very enjoyable pages)
Decision-Making and the Will of God, by Garry Friesen (462 meaty and pages)
The rigorous application of scriptural wisdom in making both major and minor life decisions is well exemplified in Elisabeth Elliot’s Passion and Purity, and her Through Gates of Splendour.

Welcome to ONELIFE.

Only one life, 'twil soon be past:
only what's done for Christ will last.

This blog has been set up to facilitate the continued discussion of the heart and vision of the ONELIFE community which was born in Biddeford, ME on 9.17.2004 at New Life Church. It will also be a repository for past and future email devotionals. And, last but not least, it will also provide a way for me to keep in touch with all the people I've come to know and love in the Biddeford, ME area.

Please bear with me as I figure out how blogger works. For now, you must be registered to post comments, but I'm looking into changing that as well as eventually opening up posting to more people.

I'm hoping to also figure out a way to have new posts automatically sent to those who sign up for it. Not sure if or how that would work. Your thoughts and ideas are welcomed and encouraged.

Thanks for your interest!

For His Glory and our Joy,
AG

--
P. S. - the web address is already-notyet because onelife, onlyonelife, and thingsabove were already taken--though they're obviously not used. "Already-not yet" is an answer to 'has the Kingdom of God broken into the world? The answer is that it has come already and it has not come yet. We live in the tension between, as pilgrims living primarily for the next age. (Feel free to post thoughts or comments about this name--we can change it I get a better suggestion.)

Of all people, most to be pitied?

If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
[1 Corinthians 15:19]

I read this verse the other day and I thought: "Why?" Why, if this Christian life is a blessed life, and if it is filled only with ease, comfort, health, safety, security, prosperity, and general giddiness—then why are we "to be pitied" more than "all people" that hunger, thirst, are blind or deaf, have diseases, are homeless, cold, in prison, etc.? Because this life is not that way. His meaning is this: if we go through all this and there’s actually nothing after it to make it all worthwhile—if there’s actually no "joy set before us" to strengthen us to "endure the cross" and "despise the shame," then we are not only destitute in this life, but deceived about the next one. And false hope is worse than no hope. This verse only makes sense if "this life" is not easy, comfortable, and giddy.

This presents a rather difficult view of Christianity: to think that it might be a "hard path"? That I actually might be despised and rejected of men just like my Master? What about 'walking in the favor of the King?' Hebrews 12:1-11 and 1 Peter 1:3-9 present a rather different understanding of the true and lasting favor of the Lord. The birth of a disciple of Christ is marked by a radical departure in every aspect of our being from what the world thinks and lives; for His way of thinking and living is considered foolish. To be joined to the Rejected One is to be inducted into what Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls "the brotherhood of the Crucified." (The Cost of Discipleship, p. 114. [actually he calls it the "fellowship of the crucified."])

This view wipes away trivialities and forces our attention to the center of life: the glory of Christ—where we must gaze at him and ask ourselves "Is he worth it? Is he worth the 'loss of all things'?" It is true that we do not trust in or seek hardship; we trust in and seek only Christ. But Scripture affirms that hardship is the unavoidable outcome of following Christ in this world and the only road to the fellowship of the cross. Hope for the next life gives us a will to leave all, strength to endure persecution, and joy as we run the race down the Calvary road. (Anyone who’s been verbally smacked by a friend or loved one or publicly derided or even beaten for the sake of Christ knows what I’m talking about here.)

But why do I write this to you? To have a "nice devotional thought"? No. Because I want to see our generation walk the “old path” of reverent and (therefore) radical discipleship. I want us to live a life of following Jesus so closely that we simply must look to the hope of the next life just in order to keep going in this one. So let us leave our nets, take up our dusty swords and use them on our own hearts, and follow our Rejected (yet Reigning) King of Creation. His glory awaits only those who follow in his footsteps—and his footsteps lead only to the cross.

Suggested Reading:
Matthew 8:19-22
Hebrews 12:1-11
1 Peter 1:3-9

How Firm a Foundation

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." This phrase, "Yet once more, indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
[Hebrews 12:26-29, ESV]

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
[George Keith, How Firm a Foundation]

Calamity has a way of revealing what, and how sure, our foundation truly is. After 9/11 shook our foundations, many people realized that—despite the responsible attempts of our leaders—there is no such thing as "Homeland Security." That day my mom put this note on their refrigerator door: "Security is not found in governments or in men; Security is found only in Jesus Christ." And she’s right. We have a different and permanent homeland that we await from heaven [Hebrews 11:13-16, 12:22-24, 13:14], and we have a stronger security than any man or group of men can ever offer us [John 6:35-51, 10:1-5, 27-29; Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 6:13-20]. This is the glorious lesson of the life of Job.

Job may have suffered more than any other person in the Old Testament. All at once, Job got news that 1) the Sabeans had slaughtered all of his oxen and donkeys and all of the servants that cared for them (except one), 2) the fire of God from heaven burned up all of his sheep and all of the servants that cared for them (except one), 3) the Chaldeans stole all of his camels and killed all of the servants that cared for them (except one), and as if all this wasn’t enough, 4) a great wind knocked a house down on top of all ten of his children (seven sons and three daughters). So in the space of a few short seconds, Job discovered that he had vicious enemies, he lost his entire source of livelihood, he lost all of his servants, and he lost all of his children. This is immense personal calamity. Almost none of us will ever experience loss so great as this in our life. Yet what was his response? He worshipped God!

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." [Job 1:20-21, ESV]

The lesson of Job for all of life is exactly what Louie Giglio said when reflecting on the tragedy of 9/11. He said: "Worship is ALWAYS the correct response." When Christ alone is the source and strength of your foundation, your foundation cannot and shall not ever be shaken. He said "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." [Matthew 24:35, KJV] He did not say "heaven and earth MIGHT pass away." Calamity and personal loss will come, but if we "Trust in the name of the LORD," that He is Sovereign and Good and that He will "never, no never, no never forsake" us, we will have a steadfast anchor of our soul. Governments and countries will come and go, but Christ stands firm forever! With Heaven our Homeland, and Christ our Security, "we shall never be moved!"

God is in the heaven-and-earth-shaking business: how firm is your foundation?

Suggested Reading:
Hebrews 6:17-20
A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Martin Luther) and How Firm a Foundation (George Keith): Excellent!
GENERATION Magazine, Vol. 3, Issue 3
Note: we do not necessarily agree with all opinions expressed, but most of it is very good!