A scriptural silence case study: kids

The Bible is silent on a certain parts of our life. Some things are easily derived, some things, not so easy. Some people will casually accept as obvious that the Bible will not comment on everything, because they do not expect it. Other people will turn and twist the Bible to make it ask and answer a question it never intended.

Searching for answers when the Bible is silent can be a difficult thing. One thing I believe is key in the process is you have to ask yourself if are you comfortable giving authority to the Church’s history. Uh-oh. That sounds C-C-C-atholic! If, when I say this, I assume that the Holy Spirit has been active in the life of the church since it was formed, does that make you more comfortable? To put it another way, if we sought to affirm what God has affirmed the past 2000 years through the community of faith we call the church, would that be a good place to look for answers? I find it odd that many people do not have this in mind when they read Scripture anyway. To me, it only makes sense. But, I guess we could try to re-create the wheel with every generation, because that is not self-serving or anything.

How should we respond to scriptural silence? I want to keep that thought out there as I dig into a related example involving the salvation of children.

Have you ever found it odd that conversions to Christianity, as described in the Scriptures, are only conveyed as experiences of adults? From a exegetical perspective, the Bible offers very little regarding the salvation experiences of children.

I often wish there was a book in the Bible about parenting. Its one thing to read and understand and apply for myself, but to explain Christ’s death and resurrection to a child seems like something I could use some coaching on! If anything, from the biblical account, kids became part of the community of faith because dad did, not because of individualized decisions. That was not part of their cultural consciousness. So the Bible’s model REALLY doesn’t fit with what we do now…but I think you would agree this is not an instance where we want to go back to the NT model (yes I said it).

Of course, what precipitated this is that I am the father of three small children. So I have a stake in this little quandary. If the truth of kingdom of God is best received by a child (which, according to Jesus, it is), how do I describe it to them? I certainly don’t do it like a college professor. But it doesn’t really fit in Barney and Friends either.

Nothing creates more of a sense of wonder and guilt for me like the faith-dripped prayers of a 4 yr old. When my child asks if Jesus died on a cross, what do I say? Is going through a sinner’s prayer 50 times like I did spiritually fruitful for a child?

The church has espoused much regarding “ages of accountability.” But this seems to be an attempt to answer a dilemma that springs out of a NEED to have a ‘conversion.’ Enter: my unconventional assumption…

In the New Testament, we had first century Christians, (adults). As the next generation was born, they could, in effect, be part of the Christian community their entire life. Some of those “go-to” verses on salvation seem to make less sense in this context. (“That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that Christ raised him from the dead you will be saved.”)

Do children who grow up understanding who Christ was and embrace him all along the way have a “conversion”? Or is it more a process of immersion (excuse the pun) that can grow deeper and deeper?

What is inherent in this conversation is really a revamping of the theology of salvation that the evangelical church preaches. The conversion of a first century person seems easier to define because of the contrast between who the person was before, and who they became after. But for my 4 year old, who she is now will only grow deeper, I assume. I’m not saying we are born inherently good, but I don’t think we need to have a “conversion” to maintain a doctrine of the sinful nature and be ’saved.’ (part of the kingdom of God).

So even though I have not baptized my kids as infants (not sure why I haven’t) I do view them as being “IN”! In light of scriptural silence on conversions, infant baptism makes a ton more sense to me. Not that I fully understand what they DO, but I understand why they began to be performed.

Meghan and I will continue to feed the kids and answer questions and share things as the children are able to receive them . But I am not going to be looking for a time when I need to hand them a tract. I just don’t think this is valid. Of course, I’m not talking about if my kid rejects Christ; that would be different. I’m talking about the kid who grows up and learns and changes and is stretched but who is, from minute one in this world, saved (God’s child).

 

If I am way off, please let me know why. Seriously, parenting is tough. I don’t want to screw up any more than I already do…and this would be an intentional screw up…not good. Thanks.

 

Incomplete thoughts on war

The anti-war movement has me troubling  a bit, and this post isn’t going to go where many of you might think. What seems so instinctive for the Christian, or any decent person even, (being anti-war) is surprisingly not so. Why is there such a visceral reaction against even the term “anti-war” among Christians around here? Its a phrase that is instinctively tied to a group of quacks that seem to serve as the poster children for our real enemies.

Let’s try to bear out the logic. Conservative narratives seem to suggest that Marxism Leninism is still alive today, and that “peace” movement people are really communist atheists in disguise. Assuming this is actually true, the Christian also will THEN jump to the conclusion that this person is their enemy. Regardless of any false conclusions that have been made about a person or a group or a cause, now wrongly labeled as an enemy (a practice-choosing enemies-that has no business being a part of the Christian life) becomes the source of all our scorn. We will support anyone in power, whether it be media, politicians, authors, or the like, if they will speak against our enemy.

I haven’t even begun to vet the conclusions that get people to where they are. Even people very dear to me, will shout, ”Amen!” and laugh at any derision toward their supposed enemy.

Again, I’m still trying to figure out how any of this is relating to following Christ. But I will leave that thought to simmer for a moment.

I want to address the holes in the conclusions first that pegs anti-war as a cause as diabolical. First, war is dynamic, and cannot be labeled as just or evil.

People are usually in one of two camps. Either they believe that war is justifiable in certain instances, or they do not. This is a bird’s eye view of the issue. It asks one generalized question, and gets a generalized (though wholly inadequate) answer. In what sense, or at what point, was a given action justified? Lets take World War II for instance. The first question is, did Hitler need to be stopped? Answer, obvious. Yes. Okay, so the war is just. But wait. What about civilians who were killed? Were there deaths just? What about the bombing of Germany, was this just? What about the destruction of the German economy? Was that just? Simply put, the “just-war” narrative is not helpful in any real sense. (I am purposely only discussing an anthropomorphic view of justice, not any eternal justice, because that is way above my education and intellect)

I do understand that seemingly the only alternative is that war is evil. Lets bear out some of those ideas. Taking life, is a gross miscalculation of your position as a created being. Passing judgment on a wholesale group of individuals based on historical norms of war is worldly madness. A fog of the worst kind. All war is evil. But what about Hitler? What about Stalin, Pol Pot, and others? Is not inaction also evil?

So you can see, within these limited views, there is no easy side. There is a tension between them.

But I do not think casting moral judgment’s on histories battles is of utmost importance. What IS important is finding a way to navigate the current political landscape and still maintain your integrity and sole allegiance to Christ.

Here’s where I’m at:

1. The world is fallen. Every seemingly right action can have subsequent wrong ones.

2. The anti-war movement is not as important as being anti-war. Anyone who is pro-war is truly an animal when you think about it. Of course we are all anti-war. We begin from this assumption. I don’t care what you may have been tricked into thinking you are, but you are anti-war. Sorry to disappoint you.

3. I will no longer view the anti-war movement as my enemy. Their obvious errors speak for themselves. But most of them are probably not the current manifestations of atheistic communism (a la Marxism-Leninism) that they have been painted as.

4. I will no longer watch the news, whether it be Fox, CNN, or whoever, unless I am consciously aware that the network is either stroking my assumptions or infuriating me. Both actions results in hijacking my loyalty to Christ.

5. I will, above all, pledge my allegiance to Jesus Christ.

6. I will forever embrace my fidelity for men and women who died in the horror and madness of war. However, I will not conclude that all of their deaths were necessary, and therefore, in more than one sense, nonsensical.

I’m still convinced that obvious evils need to be restrained, and governments are the best way to do this. I cannot look into the face of the one who holds a gun to my children’s head and peacefully “give it to God.” Though I think theoretically this is the most Christian ( as in Christ, Jesus-like) response.

This topic is infuriatingly tough to deal with. I have been schooled in the conservative thoughts of Van Prinsterer, Friedman, Lewis, Solzenheitzen, and others. This wrestling does not scorn the truths that these men have given me. What I am attempting to do is to correct the proverbial drunken sailor who has gone too far to the one side. If you also have gone too far, you will know it when you have either fallen in love or in hatred with one side over the other. I am fighting the battles within so that I can bring peace in the relationships without. I realize this issue is difficult, and may be charged with emotion, especially for those who have family (as I do) or are people in the armed forces. But I think the discussion is worthwhile for the soul health of people everywhere. So I encourage you to continue to wrestle with this. Like other complex dilemmas of our human existence, if you stop wrestling with them, you’ve probably swung too far in one direction.

 

Approve of them!

I went to a 7 & 8 year old baseball game tonight. I cannot say what I saw surprised me but it had my blood boiling nonetheless.

Much like people’s disoriented sense of their knowledge of current events, fathers have no sense of what actually is going on emotionally with their sons. Now this baseball that was being played is already scaled back, if nothing else, to help the parents realize this isn’t the little leage world series. But evidently this does not matter. People are nuts. My whole perspective on it is a bit of an outside observer, because I already hate the idea of putting pressure on such young kids.

The scenario: A ball was hit to the second baseman and he threw it gently over to the first baseman and got the runner out. Good job, right? Not for dad and grandad, who hunched stalkingly over the fence foaming their disgust over the speed at which their son/grandson threw the ball to the first baseman. “Cmon! Throw it harder! He’ll catch it! Geez!” and then to each other “What’s the matter with him?!?” in utter disgust. This was not a manufactured criticism to attempt to motivate (which would have been way off enough as it is), this was straight from the heart, disapproval. The boy’s physical discomfort was so apparent at the sound of his dad’s constant barrage of comments. Tugging at his jersey, nervously looking at the ground then looking over at his disapproving dad; extremely quiet, obviously backwardly trying to figure out his destiny in the world of 7 yr old baseball.

Not only was the game of no importance, the kid had actually performed what a second baseman was supposed to do! He fielded, and threw! I yelled “Great job kid! Way to go!” And said a few other things about the ridiculousness of daddy dearest’s response…hopefully loud enough so that deadbeat could hear. Yeah, I know, probably not the smartest or most effective strategy(my wife shushed me, she realizes I would be an easy target to be broken in half), but I could not help it.

Studies have shown that young kids involved in sports only excel when they are encouraged. Yelling at them, though seemingly effective to get immediate submissison, will serve as a divider when the child reaches later adolescence. Dad becomes that lunatic jerk that does not deserve respect. The kid may even quit sports just to spite him. But do we really need psychology and case studies to make us aware of this? Apparently so.

I played varsity sports all through school. I am incredibly competitive. But I never felt that negative pressure from my parents. Its not like I’m angry at my childhood. I had great coaches, and loved every minute of it.

I think the disgust I feel is now coming from me as a father. I also have had conversations with grown men, now fathers, speaking about the way their disapproving fathers treated them that still affects them to this day. When you crush the spirit of a young child, the damage is severe and lasting. I know I’m going to be a coach of my children’s sports teams one day…I wonder if I’ll be able to deal with those few parents that don’t understand how to parent through sports. I hope that I do better than what I was feeling tonight, or I may end up with my nose being broken, again. But then again, I will get a couple shots in too.

 

Pizza

If you think back over your life to this point, was there ever a time where you were eating pizza and NOT having an amazing time? Yeah, me neither. No attempts at deep thoughts today, just the amazing profundity of dough, sauce, and toppings.

I love pizza. I have made Meghan aware on several occations that it is my love language. I believe that marriages would drastically improve if women could realize this fact about most men. At least mine would. (not that it needs improving honey, just saying)

The best pizza I have ever had is Oley’s 10 pound pizza. I highly recommend you try it. It will blow your mind and leave you happy for days. There’s some things in life that you just accept as inherent in the universe. I think pizza is one of them. I wouldn’t be surprised if pizza was found to increase our life span. I think it could even bring world peace. Let’s order a delivery to the Taliban, and see if they still want to blow us up! Yeah, my political science degree was a waste, I know. But the diplomacy of pizza!…I may be onto something here.

I have deep love in my heart for the Pizza Hut buffet…not because the quality of the pizza, but because it brings people together and doesn’t make you feel guilty for eating 10-15 pieces of pizza. Everyone is enjoying themselves…why? Pizza. That’s why. Birthday parties, get togethers, late night binges, all united by a common thread: pizza.

If anyone can give me a single solitary creation of God that is as unifying and brings depth to our soul more than pizza, please point it out to me.

So go get yourself some pizza today, and be one with the cosmos.

For further reading on pizza, see:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_pizza

2. http://pizzatherapy.com/historyo.htm

3. http://www.recipepizza.com/

 

Fences

I grew up out in the country in northwest allen county. I played by myself most of the time in the woods, riding bikes, and exploring. Thoughts seemed so imaginative, dreams were so big, and life was an adventure. Wasn’t it great? Who I am, including my perspective revealed on this blog, flows from those 2 square miles upon which I spent the majority of my first 15 years.

At the same time, about 25 miles away, there was a kid growing up in southeast allen county. For all I knew, the world he was living in was 1000 miles way. He also rode his bike, but not down to the creek or in the woods. He pedaled down to the 7-11 to buy a slushie and some candy. This kid was also imaginative and dreamy. But his world was different. I wonder if he ever thought what it would be like to be a kid out in the country in northwest allen county. I never thought about him either…

As we mature age, the world we see becomes less about exploration and more about categorization. Our comfort with say, clean cut yards, contributes to our sense of belonging within a given community. It could be as simple as being close to a school or living in a neighborhood where all homes have vinyl siding with 2 car attached garages. Race and socioeconomic status play a big part as well. We transition from exploring the world as we experience it, to shrinking the world down to give us security, which we value about all else.

How do we get past a plastic perspective? Do we even want to?

I have coworkers who don’t drive south of Coliseum Blvd. I know some people who don’t like it when Mexicans move into their neighborhood. If we are honest, we all dabble in categorization, prejudice, and silent racism.

What if we tried to turn this on its head? What if we began to see our community as one to be explored again? What if we set aside our security and ventured out? You don’t have to go live in an area totally different than your own just to prove a point. (see stuff white people like #71 ) We who are neurotically attached to our intellectual ideals need the therapy and simplicity of the inner city. Those who know nothing but buidings and pavement need to walk in the woods. Those who in their solitude of the forest have become complacent need to stand on the porch of a broken down quad where children abound and no adults seem to be around or, at least, be interested. And soak it all in.

To explore is to be alive. Do you ever remember feeling that?

I guess the main thing I’m driving at is there is a lot your city can bring. I’m not talking about this restaurant over here or that shopping mall over there. I’m talking about the variety of worlds that are out there; and the volume and variety of relationships. Corners and pockets that need redeeming. Both in the city and in ourselves. Begin to view the space around you as something to explore, not something to fence in. When you do, you will again experience that sense of awe and excitement when, as a child, you whispered to God and felt like he was right there beside you…when you threw a rock and believed it would never land…when you knew the world was big and still felt safe.

Go exploring.

 

My alma mater initiates M. Divinity and Seminary

 

You can’t know it all

What do you know about roofing? I bet I know more.

I have a friend who believes that if he googles something for 5 minutes, he is qualified to write an informed wikipedia article on it. This “I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night” mentality is not just a comical marketing ploy. It truly describes many of us. The 24 hour news channels has literally turned the dumbest rednecks into self-proclaimed economists, international politicians, and social ethicists. Are there really no actual experts anymore? Is it really so shameful to say, “Hmm, I have no education or special knowledge or understanding on that topic, so I am not going to open my mouth.” Instead we have become people with an “informed opinion” on everything.

But its hard. We want to know the answers. Do we sacrifice the truth about ourselves to prop up false perceptions? Or do we do it simply because its flying at us from everywhere, baiting us into thinking we know what’s really going on.

I think we’d do well to focus on less things, understand them in more detail, and stay silent on most everything else. In the words of Coach John Wooden,

“It is what we learn after we know it all that really counts.”

 

The usefulness of ‘Narrative’

I never really liked the word narrative. It is often used by people who have an air of self-righteous evolution about them. As if they have risen above all and could categorize and dismiss any given perspective under the guise of a narrative. Nothing truthful to speak of in any of them, but just part of a structure of beliefs and assumptions that can be reduced to irrelevance in fairly short order.

However, the word is growing on me. The generally accepted meaning is still flawed I think, but I want to focus on the what I like about the word (I know, you are probably thinking, ‘Who cares about words?’ but just indulge me) Narrative is better than worldview or paradigm in at least one way. The historical rigidity of worldview or paradigm leads me to dislike distrust them. I still don’t know if I want to just use narrative though, given its negative connotation. Perhaps, like ‘postmodern,’ its meaning will soften with time. Maybe because narrative reminds me of literature, or a story. Stories are filled with truth and characters and emotions and every possible corner of human existence. The narrative is a living thing. Its not the rigid thing. Just because someone calls you a slave to your narrative doesn’t mean they are accurately describing you. Perhaps they are. Accept the criticism and be open to change. But many people’s narrative is changing, because they earnestly seek the new and learn more as time goes along. This is not relativism. Its called growth.

The point is not to discover the overarching narrative at age 23, while I do believe there are truths that transcend. Perhaps its better to say that the overarching narrative is not really possible to define or grasp for humans in its totality (though some people think its fun to try).

The word narrative helps me navigate better. I can absorb some parts and avoid others. The story can twist and shift without changing its general direction. If something is shown to be false, it can be discarded. The story goes on.

So the next time someone attempts to piously reduce your ideas to the “evangelical” narrative, or the “American” narrative, or the “liberal” narrative, or whatever…just realize the freedom and truth the idea can really give you. Whatever you call your set of beliefs and convictions, be consciously (yet shrewdly) open to change. Look for growth. Seek God where you currently do not.

 

Downtown Fort Wayne

The whole downtown project has me puzzling somewhat. I have more questions than answers, and should probably consult with a former city planner friend of mine to help bring some clarity, but maybe you all can help me out.

What exactly makes downtown Fort Wayne an appealing revitalization district? Is it because its the oldest part of our town? Will it help us feel better about ourselves as a city say, compared to Indy, or Chicago? When you really break it down, what is the purpose of the taxpayers money, and the push by much of Fort Wayne’s leadership to revive this few square miles of dirt?

I like the new Tincaps stadium as much as the next guy. I love it actually. Does this revitalize a city? And what does “revitalize” even mean? What should the goals of the city’s leaders be? Less crime? More street lights? Good landscaping? Nice curbing and open spaces? All of these things play into making an area more appealing. But is the purpose to build upscale residential areas (like West Central), or just a business district? If the main goal of the whole project is economic increase, what other things should coincide with it to make the community “down there” better?

One thing I know is not to build more church buildings. But apparently the next best idea is building restaurants. Not sure this is what having a great city is all about. What other ideas can be “built” into the city’s plans? Maybe they are out there being discussed and I’m just not aware of it. Where are all the creative leaders? How can we help build a culture of warmth and friendship in this city? Oh, wait, I think I blogged on this yesterday: just do it.

 

Living over Blogging

A blogger recently posted an article entitled, Do it, Don’t Blog It. I think the author improved on this title in the comments by saying he should have entitled it Do it, Don’t JUST Blog It. However, I really appreciated his thoughts. But bloggers, Facebook, Twitter, and the like are easy targets for people.

The point does not just apply to social networking stuff. The principle of fusing both thought and action is a thing humans have struggled with for centuries. If you find yourself only a sheep in one of these flocks, perhaps its time to jump the fence and peruse a bit. Given we are all Westerners, the most prevalent temptation is to live your life out in your mind only. Movies can give you feelings of joy. Books can give you a sense of adventure. Sermons give you a sense of knowing the truth, Television shows can even give you perceptions of friendship or companionship.

But living is far better than blogging; actual relationships far better than even the good artisitic expressions of same. Walking with God far better than just affirming beliefs about Him. Being led by the Spirit much better than creatively describing the Trinity.

Do not believe for one second I see no value, even equal value, in the blogs, ponderings, art, writing, etc. that feeds the mind with all sorts of good things. But to indulge too highly on this plane alone will leave your soul dysfunctional and detached from reality.

Translation-Get out there and live out all you know and believe to be right and good and beautiful. Change can be born out of a blog or a tweet but must be carried forth into the real world.