Evil: The Unnecessary Version

Saint Augustine. If you don't know the name then I feel sorry for you. He is one of the most profound theologians of the Christian Faith and his most famous work "Confessions" is a beautiful story of his transition from sinner to saint. At the moment I am about half-way through this seminal work, but it has challenged me in my personal walk with God in a way that few books have.

The most interesting point of note I have come across recently was an observation that Augustine made while trying to discern where evil comes from. He writes that he began with the assumption that "God allows evil to happen" and then worked from that idea. This is a very human thing to do. It is so simple to attribute to God the mistakes that humans make, and this is exactly the conclusion that Augustine comes to. He states that it is not that God allows evil to happen, rather it is that God allows humans to choose our own actions, and we choose evil. Evil is easy, it is simple, and in the modern world it often gives the most immediate benefits. The man who lies to an employer will gain the job over the one who tells the truth (if the liar is not found out). The spouse who has an affair will reap the immediate rewards of carnal pleasure.  The person who cheats on an exam will receive a better grade than the one who took their test honestly.

Evil is simple, and it works perfectly in a fallen world. God gave us a choice to do good, or to do evil, and we naturally choose evil. (Romans 3:23). It is a struggle to choose good, no matter what hollywood tells us with their heroes in white hats who always choose the right thing to do. The world is not so black and white. We sin. It's our nature. God does not wish it so. He does not allow evil to happen, we do. If we blame God for the bad things that happen in this world, then maybe we should go out and try to fix it instead of spending all our time wearing holes in the knees of our pants trying to "search out God's reasons" God is unsearchable; however, he has given all of us the tools to choose good and fight evil, but when we do nothing we are allowing bad things to happen simply by way of our own inactivity.

Now, before you jump on me, I am not belittling prayer in any way, shape, or form. Prayer is one of, if not the most important parts of life. It has real-world power that cannot be contested, but James wrote, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead." (James 2:26) We must act upon what calls us to action, because all of the conviction in the world is absolutely worthless if we do nothing.

St. Augustine may not have had the perfect answer for why evil is present, but it is still something to think about.

100 Meter Dash

I was reading from Aristotle's "Ethics" today and I came across this passage, "Hence the young man is not a fit student of Moral Philosophy, for he has no experience in the actions of life, while all that is said presupposes and is concerned with these: and in the next place, since he is apt to follow the impulses of his passions, he will hear as though he heard not, and to no profit, the end in view being practice and not mere knowledge." Now what Aristotle is getting at in the larger picture is that we should define a certain point or goal that we wish to achieve, and only once this goal has been set can we move forward in life. He is asserting that young men (such as myself) should not strive to form their own ideas, but rather to learn from those who have gone before them.

As I was reading that I thought of the passage in the book of Matthew which says "This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand." Matthew 13:13-14

How many times in life do we think that we are ready for something, but in reality we are fooling ourselves? Jesus knew that the people he was speaking to were not ready for deep seated theological conversations, but he also knew that only those who were truly receptive to his words would be given the power to understand what he was saying.

God is continually speaking to us, sometimes in the smallest details of life, sometimes with something more substantial. In our fast paced, iphone addicted, Facebook addled world we are more focused on keeping up with the Jones's than we are with keeping our relationship with God right. God is always there, waiting for us to open up and be receptive to his words, but we put him off and tell ourselves that we will get to our devotional time later, but then never do.

Now, i know that all of this has been said before, and it will definitely be said again, but we are in a culture that is devaluing religion in favor of more profane activities.

The Apostle Paul writes "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24

If we keep our eyes set on earthly things, then our prize will be the things of this earth. The traditional theologian would tell you that the prizes of this earth are despair, being unfulfilled, and things like that, but I have a different opinion. I have had many friends who can only be described as "happy pagans". These people aren't religious, they live very fulfilled (in their opinion) lives through their work and their families, and the small things in life bring them joy. So if they keep their eyes focused on these earthly pursuits then that is what they will receive on this earth. . . . but then one day they will die and lose all of it.

Those who keep their eye fixed on the prize that Paul is talking about; Jesus, will receive all that he has to offer, which is so much more than the earth can give. Jesus offers us joy, peace, fulfillment, a treasure that will not pass away or be eaten by moths, a friend to the friendless and all of those trite expressions you've heard in church. Those who follow God will one day live with him in paradise.

This is all just a thought, do with it as you will, but I would recommend running harder and further than you ever have, because in this race there is no prize for second place.

Have a great day, and God Bless.

Why Valentine's Day is Awesome

Boxes of chocolate, proposals, fancy dinners, tiny little heart shaped candy that say words like "be mine" and taste like chalk. This, ladies and gentleman is Valentines day, or a small part of it.

Valentines day can also be one of the saddest days of the year, suicide rates are actually the highest around this time of the year, which is a tragedy that shouldn't happen. People try to cope with this day by calling it "Single's awareness day" or satirize the whole process as the popular TV show "How I met your mother" did in the episode "Desperation Day". Those of us who are single laugh about how much money we will be saving and how we can just enjoy this time of year, while an equal number of us bemoan our single status and think that we will be forever alone. 

I don't believe in this version of Valentines day. If you've ever met me you know that I am a happy person (if I've had my coffee), so even though I am single, I love this holiday. Everyone who is in a relationship is almost invariably happier during this time of year when hopeless romanticism is out in full force. Big romantic gestures become the norm, and for one day at least, many people get to enjoy the type of love that they have seen in romantic comedy's and disney movies alike. This is also the time of year to be thankful for the people who do love you, even if it is in a strictly platonic sense. We all have friends and family who love us and care about our happiness. If you really think that you are alone then that is simply an idea that you have generated in your own mind because you enjoy being lonely, or get a rush out of wallowing in self-pity. Love is all around you, even if you are not a Christian, God still loves you and His is the greatest love you will ever know. So at the very least, look to God on Valentines day and thank him for the Love that He gives. 

Love is a powerful emotion. "Love is patient, Love is kind, It does not envy, It does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. . ." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 

That is probably one of my favorite verses in the Bible, because it so succinctly sums up the Love that God has for us. 

Many people who are in relationships look at those who aren't and think that there is no possible way that they could be happy on Valentines day, but I beg to differ. Love encompasses so much more than Romantic love, and I am more than happy to enjoy my Valentines day surrounded by those who love me and expect nothing from me in return. 

Here's hoping you have a very happy Valentines Day!!