This is a condensed version of a sermon I preached on living and sharing the Gospel amidst reproach and hostility. I use several examples from my ministry at Penn State as illustration.
[I preached this at Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community last Sunday. My grandparents and several other family friends reside there, and some of my extended family from Miami and Houston were able to join us as well!]
Outside the Camp
12So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Hebrews 13:12-14
Back in October, my brothers and I had the great experience of going to Game 4 of the World Series. The Phillies won big, 10-2. Even our pitcher homered. We serenaded all star Rays 3B Evan Longoria with chants of “EEE-VA!! EEE-VA!!” all night long. It was an intense and memorable experience–as any Philly sporting event should be.
When I was driving back home the next morning, I stopped for a break on the Turnpike. I saw two women wearing Tampa Bay Rays gear, so (of course) I had to say something. Turns out one of the women was the cousin of the Rays pitcher from the night before. (He didn’t have a good game). After some good-natured ribbing, she told me that she had been surprised at 1) how hard it was to find tickets, and 2) how, um, INTENSE the fans were!
I just laughed. I said, “Well, what do you expect? This is Philly, and it’s the World Series!” It was funny how naive she was. I hope she’s recovered from her experience. Her faulty expectations set her up for some PTSD, Philly-style.
I. Bearing reproach for the name of Jesus is to be expected today.
In many ways, it’s harder than ever to be a Christian in University culture.
Less of this generation professes faith in Christ than any previously—one study (The Bridger Generation, by Thom Rainer) found only 4% profess faith in Christ!
Christian students know that fewer of their peers think positively of them than ever. One book, UnChristian, by David Kinnaman & Gabe Lyons, found that only 3% of nonChristians ages 18-29 have a positive view of “evangelicals.”
Nearly ½ of nonChristians agree with the statement, “Christians get on my nerves.”
2/3 agree that “the Church is full of hypocrites.” (Lost and Found, by Ed Stetzer).
And overt hostility against Christians has become more common and pronounced.
Richard Dawkins—“The God Delusion,” Christopher Hitchens—“god is not great,” and others.
At Penn State: My ministry is to the 42,000 students not connected to Christ, the unchurched and the dechurched. I’ve connected with many nonChristians this past year, including many of the leading skeptics, atheists, and agnostics. They need to hear the Gospel: they’ve heard it, but they haven’t heard it.
One student named Yasic is a self-professed militant atheist. He owns 17 copies of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I asked him how a militant atheist ended up with that many copies. He explained that every year on his birthday, several Christian friends ended up giving him a copy. I asked if any of them ever read it with him. None had. That conversation led to a book club/discussion forum that he attended regularly. I really grew to respect Yasic and to consider him a friend during the year.
The atheist/agnostic group sponsored a “Blaspheme for Pizza” day. They wanted to get students to commit the “unpardonable sin” in exchange for a slice of pizza.
Now I could tell stories like that all night, and conclude by saying “That’s why I do campus ministry, and why I need your prayers and support.” While that’s true, it’s also dodging the real question. What we should be asking is,
“How do we live faithfully, and proclaim the Gospel faithfully, in such a context?” How do we live with the reproach, rejection, even hostility the world might have for us? How do I do that, and how do I help students do it?
II. Faithfulness is Found by Going to Jesus Outside the Camp
The answer is here in this passage. We do it by going to Christ, by joining him “outside the camp.”
What does it mean that Jesus suffered so that we would be made holy?
- Going outside the camp means loss
He became powerless; he had no place to rest his head and did not cling to material things or comfort; He lost relationships and was despised and rejected, even by his own family.
- Going outside the camp means shame
He was the victim of a sham trial. Treated as a common criminal. Stripped and beaten. Mocked and laughed at, and abandoned in his moment of greatest need. The reproach of those he created and came to save.
- Going outside the camp means keeping a greater goal in view
Jesus, “for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame…” Focusing not on the now, but on “the city that is to come.”
Jesus did all of this for our salvation, our redemption. His saving work is unique. Though he was God, he emptied himself and did not cling to any of his divine privileges (Philippians 2).
But in doing so, he also demonstrated the way we must live and proclaim the Gospel: not through power and riches, but in loss and weakness. Not through fame and the applause of the world, but often in shame. Not with comfort and ease in the here and now, but with our hearts focused on “the city that is to come.”
Going “outside the camp” means to join Jesus in laying down our lives so that others would hear the Gospel! Just as Christ went “outside the camp” and bore reproach, so can we face mockery, loss of friendship, loss of opportunity, in order to faithfully proclaim Christ.
The bad news is that many Christians in our culture and at PSU have not embraced Christ’s method. Instead of building bridges, they’ve sought to fight. Instead of coming in humility and weakness, they’ve sought power and been arrogant.
The good news is that the Gospel is going forward at PSU, as we’re learning to embrace Christ’s method for sharing the Gospel in weakness. As I’ve just finished my first year of ministry working with students at Penn State, I’ve seen God working in powerful ways. Students are coming to faith. We’ve formed new groups for believers and unbelievers. The Gospel is being shared, heard, and understood.
III. Going Outside the Camp by Sharing the Gospel in Weakness
We have a preacher at PSU, aka “Bro Cope.” He’s a PSU institution.
He stands outside one of the big classroom buildings all day and shouts fire and brimstone. He’s often heretical (he doesn’t believe he sins anymore). Atheists make it their personal mission to argue with him, and hang out there more than anyone. His presence frames much of the debate & discussion about religion on campus.
Most Christians don’t really know what to do or say about him. But everyone notices and remembers his pride, arrogance, condescension, and especially the ridiculous arguments and cases for Christianity he’s made. There was even an incident between my atheist friends and the preacher where the police were called. People said he threatened to pull a knife on the students! Even though that was blown out of proportion, it still confirms the worst stereotypes: Christians are ridiculous, arrogant, ignorant, hypocritical, and yes, a little dangerous. This preacher is one of the main defeaters of the Gospel on campus.
How do we share the Gospel when this is what people are reacting to? We must show that we need the Gospel. If you want to talk with skeptics, give up the idea that your goal is to win the debate. Even if you could (and that’s doubtful), that’s the wrong approach. No, it’s with humility, it’s in weakness. This is definitely outside of our comfort zone. You and I need the Gospel for this. The Gospel power of not having all the answers, of being willing to be shown when you’re wrong; showing you can take a punch and come back.
With my Sojourn group (a forum for faith and doubt), there were plenty of times when I felt like I didn’t have the answers and had failed. I remember that for me the discussion about Hell went particularly bad, in my mind. And yet people kept coming back. I remember after one of the meetings one of the most outspoken skeptics (Ed the Gnostic—skeptical of both Christians and atheists) made a point of thanking me for leading the meeting!
Our sharing in weakness is redemptive. This often means God redeeming our mistakes and even sins against others. Yes, we should be close enough to unbelievers that we might sin against them. Close enough to them that they will care. Close enough that they see our need for Jesus.
One girl in my Missio Dei ministry also wrote for the daily student newspaper. She was a freshman and communications major. In the spring, she did a story about the controversy surrounding the atheists having an office at the Spiritual Center.
The only problem was, there was no controversy! My atheist friends were (justifiably) angry and upset, and so was the Spiritual Center. They complained, and the paper printed a retraction and suspended her. So she was out of a job—maybe a career?–and my atheist friends had one more complaint against those religious nutjobs.
What do I do? I’m friends with both of them. I counseled the journalist to look for God’s redemptive purpose in this. What if she were to ask them for forgiveness? So I brokered a meeting between her and Dan (the president of the atheist group) & Yasic. I really appreciated their willingness to meet and the trust they were putting in me.
During the meeting, she apologized. She said, “I made a bad mistake, please forgive me…I’m not perfect, this is why I need Jesus.” This apology seemed to help the situation. It was the right thing to do, and it seemed to defuse their anger and outrage. The right thing to do also turned a difficult situation into a redemptive one, an opportunity to share the Gospel. This only happened because she was willing to embrace loss, shame, and the hope of a greater future. She shared the Gospel in weakness.
People who are skeptical of Christianity can call us a lot of things. But if we go outside the camp and share the Gospel in weakness, they shouldn’t be able to call us arrogant or hypocritical. When we come in humility, we’ve accomplished something real. We’ve removed, or at least put a dent in, one of the main defeaters of belief.
The Gospel is not meant to culminate with us, but to compel us outward (2 Cor 5). We are not cul-de-sacs; we are conduits of God’s grace. The Living Water is meant to flow in a river, not end in a stagnant swamp—and God’s grace always wants to flow “outside the camp.” As we keep our eyes on Christ and the “city that is to come,” we can face reproach, knowing God will use it for his good, lasting purposes!
15 responses so far ↓
makarios // July 11, 2009 at 12:31 pm |
God bless you brother. See you there!
stevelutzpsu // July 12, 2009 at 7:41 am |
Makarios–thanks for the comment. I checked out your blog as well–some great resources there on dialoging with skeptics. Keep it up. Too few Christians are willing or able to even start the conversation.
Melanie // July 11, 2009 at 2:08 pm |
Hi Steve,
This is Ruth’s Elliott’s friend Melanie McWreath, your Thanksgiving guest from years past!
It’s been a couple years since I’ve been on a campus, and I live in the Bible Belt now, and there are not many who openly oppose the gospel.
But I really liked the idea you shared about not trying to win someone over through arguing, but letting people get close enough to see your need for a Savior. This means joining Christ in shame, in loss, in suffering if need be.
This also benefits Christians in your life, and you too, as it keeps you honest and humble before God and with yourself.
I hope you are doing well, and it’s been so encouraging to read various things that you post!
stevelutzpsu // July 12, 2009 at 7:40 am |
Hey melanie–great to hear from you! My guess is that there are more skeptics in the Bible Belt than you realize. They often feel oppressed and “coming out” is a painful experience.
Let us know if you’ll ever be up this way, on Thanksgiving or any other holiday.
Jason // July 11, 2009 at 6:48 pm |
Thanks for posting this. I’ve had similar thoughts and experiences on my campus as well, but I don’t think I’ve been able to articulate it this clearly. I’ll read it a few more times over the next week and see what all I can apply to my current situation.
Bro Cope // July 14, 2009 at 12:46 am |
I guess I ought to forgive you for your ignorance, due to your spiritual infancy. You seem to not know much about how Christianity is supposed to be related to by the world. It appears you are more interested in beingl liked and accepted by the world. That places you in the dubious position of being called the enemy of God – Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
The church is SUPPOSED to be hated and despised by the world. But that does not coincide with your theology. No you are more interested in being friends with the world. I won’t change your mind, because the god of this world has deceived you, but I will warn you. If you compare my preaching with Jesus’s life, and you compare your “ministry” with Jesus’ life, you will lose. Jesus was not well received in His day. He was despised and rejected. He was not killed because He loved on them too much. He was killed, according to His word, Joh 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
If you were doing what Jesus said to do, you would be hated also. But that is not what you want. You don’t want to be hated for Jesus’ sake. You want to be liked. You will be thrown into Hell because that desire makes you the enemy of God.
Bro Cope
stevelutzpsu // July 14, 2009 at 9:30 am |
Bro Cope,
Good to hear from you. However, your accusations are both off-base and show you didn’t read my sermon very closely. I am not advocating compromise and selling out, far from it. In fact, I’m calling for the opposite. The entire sermon is a call to go to Jesus, wherever we will find reproach and rejection. I do not need to justify my ministry to you, but I can tell you there have been plenty of times where I faced mockery and rejection for faithfully proclaiming the truth of the Gospel.
I agree with you, in that the church is supposed to be hated by the world (Jesus makes that clear in John 15). But we should be hated for our proclamation of the Gospel, and our identification with Jesus, and not anything else. It does NOT mean that we have license to spew hatred at anyone and everyone, which is a charge you are open to, at the least. Where in the Bible does Jesus command us to hate the world? Yet that is what you are known for at Penn State–hating people, in Jesus’ name. You may argue that that’s not what you’re doing, but due to your dubious methods and heretical teachings, perception has become reality.
Let’s do what you suggest and compare our ministries with Jesus’. Jesus was despised and rejected by the self-righteous, arrogant, legalistic religious establishment, because he was “a friend of sinners.” He befriended the adulterous woman at the well in John 4, the cheating, traitorous tax collector Zacchaeus in Luke 19, and multitudes of “unclean” sick people. When doing so, he never sugar-coated the truth and spoke clearly of their sin. But he also extended the love and forgiveness of the Gospel to them.
John 3:16″For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[b] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Who are your Zacchaeuses, Bro? I am glad I am open to you charges–it means I’m being faithful. The ministry Jesus modeled was emphatically NOT one of standing on a corner, spewing condemnation, but a message of hope, forgiveness, and salvation for sinners, for those with ears to hear.
The sin of the world that Jesus saved his harshest condemnations for was that of the arrogant religious establishment, the leaders who had piled heavy loads on the backs of the people, that they themselves were unwilling to lift a finger to move (Matt. 23:4). You preach a gospel “that is no gospel at all,” (Gal. 1:6-7) a salvation not by grace but by works and self-effort. You publicly proclaim heretical falsehoods in the name of Jesus, such as that you no longer sin: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8.
If I am guilty of compromise, Bro, it is in not doing my utmost to make sure everyone at Penn State knows you do not preach the same message Jesus preached, and that you are a false messenger. Hopefully this begins to change that. And let me hold out the forgiveness of the Gospel to you as well, Bro:
1 John 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
This promise is not just for the “sinners” who walk by you at Willard–it is for me, and it is for you.
Peter // July 14, 2009 at 10:08 am |
Wow Bro. That’s impressive disdain, condescension, and anti-human rhetoric from a follower of Christ. I’m not in the least bit surprised to see an exchange like this because you have both read the same text and chosen to zero in on different things and emphasize different passages according to your temperaments and experiences. The Bible is an endless labyrinth of words that can be used to justify nearly anything (nearly) and therefore very difficult to use to reasonably justify anything. It has no global single message so preachers have to bicker over this or that. Why bother?
I was mildly intrigued by the notion that going outside of the camp means embracing loss, shame, and keeping a greater goal in view. What is so perplexing about it, though, is that you don’t need Jesus to experience the power of loss and the comfort of being found again; you don’t need Jesus to experience shame either and the corrective power it can bring to a person through self-awareness and empathy; certainly there are oodles of ways to obtain a longer view than by embracing Jesus. By embracing Jesus, one might also become myopic and miss may forests because of a single tree.
Look at Bro. Look at many of your brothers and sisters in Christ who are lost in their lives with the maladies that many of the rest of us have. They can go “out of the camp” with Jesus or they can go out of the camp themselves with their families or with J.K. Rowling in her Harvard commencement speech or with Paulo Freire or Thich Nhat Hahn or…you get the picture…and arrive at the same ethical insights imbued with purpose and love.
Your piece ends by noting that if you come in weakness “they shouldn’t be able to call us arrogant or hypocritical. When we come in humility, we’ve accomplished something real. We’ve removed, or at least put a dent in, one of the main defeaters of belief.” It frankly boggles my mind that you can’t see the inherent arrogance behind even that statement. Because behind it is the certainty of faith and the arrogation that you “know” the best system for living here and how to get to THE good afterlife and that you “know” that your belief is objectively better than all other beliefs. It’s quite strange that you can’t see how those of us on the outside can’t help but be puzzled and see your alleged weakness is feigned, a show to dupe us into believing the unbelievable.
stevelutzpsu // July 14, 2009 at 10:31 am |
Peter, thanks for chiming in. I’ll just respond to your last point. I’m going to go with Penn the magician and several other skeptics I know on this. They argue that if I really believe Jesus is the Savior of the world, and we are all destined for eternity in Hell apart from him, what kind of monster would I be to withhold this message?
Certainty of faith/belief does not automatically equal arrogance. And be careful, because secularists are not any more immune to that charge. We all have truths that we hold dear, and believe ours to be at least helpful and (if we’re honest) superior to other beliefs in some way. The oft-stated belief that anyone can believe “whatever works for you” is a radical imposition of a belief system that is also quite arrogant, the assertion all things are equally true, or nothing is really true (though I doubt this is where you’re coming from).
From what I can gather, you hold reason and secular humanism in high regard (feel free to put a finer point on this). This leads you to view religious assertions with skepticism, at best. Whether or not I perceive that as arrogant is beside the point. We can be relatively convinced of our positions, yet hold a dialogue in a humble, respectful manner. And that’s what I’m arguing for here, contra Bro Cope.
On that note, Peter–we should do lunch or coffee sometime.
Peter // July 14, 2009 at 11:04 am |
But the issue comes down to the consequences of our beliefs. I am pretty thoroughly convinced of a skeptical point of view but that provides me no ethical framework. Penn is right that if you REALLY believe it, then you should go out and tell people about it and make it really real for everyone else. The missionary impulse called for in the Gospels is necessarily arrogant because it is not just superior here but eternally superior across all of space and time. The only other things like that are physical laws of the universe (so far as we can tell). So when I see an argument like the one you’ve put forth, that puts human myths and their (unclear) ethical demands on a par with the cosmological constant or the strong nuclear force I think it’s understandable why I’d think that is arrogant.
I think it’s smart of you to turn the argument around on my assertion of arrogance though because indeed, many a secularist is arrogant. Look no further than bad boy Christopher Hitchens. But he’s a personality. Utilitarianism, by its nature, can’t really be so arrogant as a because there are basically no dogmatic utilitarians in the way that there are dogmatic Catholics, Sunnis, or Pentecostals. Peter Singer (or some other uitlitarian) might call themselves utilitarians but they don’t claim that “happiness” is the one thing that ultimately matters for all of eternity. They may have grounded principles but they are not the only principles that really matter. Contrasted with the kind of Christianity that some practice (surely Bro but lots of eminently more sane people too like some of my students and friends) it makes the kind of arrogance we are talking about different.
But the manner is another thing. You can have a humble manner. I’ll appreciate it. In fact, I think it’s paramount that we be civil, empathic, and loving to one another. That we listen and learn and love. What am I? A hippie?
But the tenor of a message isn’t all of the content. It’s part of it but not all of it. I agree, it’s going to wonders for the closeness of your relationships but it is unlikely to move me to belief. Bro’s right. You can win my friendship and my earthly heart (so to speak) but because I lack any belief in a transcendent eternal soul, you can’t win it and neither can Jesus. But it makes for good coffee talk.
Once I do my big race on August 1st, I’d be happy to go for coffee or something.
stevelutzpsu // July 14, 2009 at 11:44 am |
But isn’t everyone making big, metaphysical claims? I claim the God of the Bible exists, and Jesus is the Savior of the world, and the Bible is God’s Word. Yes, that’s a big, overarching claim.
But a secularist claims God doesn’t exist (or that there’s not enough evidence. Effectually the same thing). This belief is just as big, which can be experienced as arrogant to those on the outside. If having transcendent beliefs is arrogant, then we’re all guilty, and back where we started. It’s a peculiar tenet of our day and age that making “big claims” is necessarily arrogant, yet we all do it.
What is unique about the Gospel, I believe, is that it should lead to humility, not arrogance. All other belief systems promise to puff up your ego for thinking they’re right. But I don’t believe the Gospel because I am extra righteous, extra smart, or more worthy or valuable. I believe it because I’m a needy, broken sinner. And in the old saying, I’m just a beggar telling other beggars where to find bread.
In the end, Bro is wrong. He’s saying that I can’t even have this reasonable, civil conversation with you, and certainly not go to coffee with you, because that kind of “friendship” is forbidden by the Bible. And you are right, I can’t “friend” you into belief in Jesus. But I can certainly do my best to make sure that my manner doesn’t set up any unnecessary obstacles to belief, which is why I’m spending so much time calling out Bro here.
I’ll be back from vacation 8/1, so that sounds good, let’s get some coffee after that. Thanks for your thoughtful input Peter.
Rob // July 14, 2009 at 11:54 am |
I appreciate your ministry Steve. College campuses are some of the hardest mission fields. Christianity really is viewed as snobbish and arrogant by many unbelievers, thanks to many humans in the past.
It is important to know that there is A truth, one truth. Because of our belief in Christ and His finished work on the cross, we are not above anyone, nor are we to come off as seeming that way. Paul, in the Bible, called himself the chief of sinners. American Christianity has done a terrible thing to what the world sees as real Christianity.
Peter, the only reason we reach out to those who are not followers of Christ is because we love them. We see this horrible end for those who are not believers and we cannot bear to see any go to hell. It is a gift that we have received and want to share with you and others. It is received by understanding that you have sinned against God, yet knowing that God loves you and does not desire you to perish (spiritually). That is why he sent His ONLY begotten son, to die, in our place, and then be raised from the dead to be a living sacrifice, so that anyone who would believe on that saving work would not perish and be separate from their creator, but rather spend eternity with Him.
I know it seems far out and hard to believe, but think on this, do you KNOW for SURE what happens when you die? Isn’t it worth your short time on earth to consider that we have a creator.
I can rest in that I don’t feel I have to convince you or anyone, but I do have a burden to share what Christ has done for me, and pray that those I talk with would see their condition before an almighty and loving God. I also know that I need to share truth in love and not compromise either one.
Have you read the book of John, or Romans in the Bible? If you could, you might be interested in what it says.
Here are some good videos: Please, if you watch them, watch them in their entirety:
http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/resources/video/189
http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/resources/video/194
http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/resources/video/175
Jeff Schomer // July 14, 2009 at 12:12 pm |
Steve,
“May the Lord bless and keep you, make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. May His Spirit rise upon you and His presence lead and guide you.”
I am encouraged by your words and blessed at the witness of the Holy Spirit’s work within your life.
Keep on serving!
Jeff
Peter // July 14, 2009 at 5:57 pm |
Steve,
There are a few things here. Saying that something doesn’t exist, saying that there is not enough evidence to say whether or not something exists, and saying that something definitely exists are each quite different from one another. I can’t know whether or not God exists or not in any sort of objective sense at all and neither can you or Rob or Bro. Nor can you do so for hell, heaven, souls, virgin births, and so on. The whole kit and kaboodle just lacks any non-human imaginative evidence for it so I don’t believe that it is a grounded reality as far as any person can remotely ascertain as real or true. I see evidence of people’s belief everywhere but that’s all I see – collective belief and its ramifications through written scriptures, agreements about what those scriptures mean (and obviously disagreements too as we have had here), and the traditions that are associated with them. I see people being people and no God doing anything. You see people doing people stuff too and have no way to provide observable evidence that can’t be chalked up to people doing people stuff.
The same is true for hell. Rob says he doesn’t want to see me go to hell. He won’t. You’ll never see anyone go to hell outside of your own or a collective imagination. Provide some sort of corroborable independent evidence for hell and I will gladly give it a view and consider it. None has been forthcoming for all of human existence (outside of imagination that is) so I can’t possibly believe it. It might be real but I’m waiting for some evidence that isn’t derived from: 1. authority, 2. anecdotes, 3. revelation, or 4. tradition. The evidence for the existence of a transcendent lord of the universe is essentially the same for Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism. They fall within those four categories which are all attributable to collective human behavior. As Emile Durkheim said (in paraphrase), this really looks like humanity worshiping itself.
It makes no sense to me for someone to realize that they are a sinner against God when believing in the alleged God is impossible for them. I might be selfish and occasionally spiteful (I am a human after all) but I can’t be a sinner because sin is an affront to God. I lack a belief in God so I can’t accept sin. That doesn’t mean I am morally perfect. No one is.
Rob said, “I know it seems far out and hard to believe, but think on this, do you KNOW for SURE what happens when you die? Isn’t it worth your short time on earth to consider that we have a creator.” Yes. I do. I know that my brain will die and the being who I am will cease to be as the being it is. Its matter and energy will be reconstituted by the forces of the universe that work on all other biological matter. Over the course of time, I will be turned into soil that will feed plants. In a way, parts of what we now call “Peter” will be literally reincarnated. Of course, those parts of me won’t remember anything about being Peter any more than the part of my fingernails I bit off have any memory of being me. It is not hard for me to understand and accept that I will cease to be as the being that I am. For all of time before I existed as the being I am there was no me. I wasn’t here. I won’t be here after that and “I” won’t be anywhere else either.
Besides, the wager you’ve put to me is entirely selfish. You’re asking me to bet on something not because it’s a good thing to do but because it might keep me out of trouble. It’s called Pascal’s Wager after Blaise Pascal. Why should I bet on something for which there is no evidence it ever has or will happen? That seems pretty silly. An actuary would laugh the wager out of the room.
It’s no small thing to wonder whether there is a creator or not. There is a creator I suppose or creative force. The universe is. Perhaps it came from something or somewhere. Perhaps creation isn’t even the right word because it invites us to think about birth and such. It may just be incompatible to our way of thinking. I don’t know the answer to creation and neither does anyone else. Physicists have had lots of hypotheses about it and gotten us in some good directions. But there is nothing in any of it that points to God or gods much less a personal God or gods.
It’s interesting to speak about humility in this regard. Because I think that our profound and rather obvious ignorance on these matters should lead us to humility, and to lead us to say “We don’t know.” We don’t and we might never. Religion tries to fill that in with certainty where it can have no way of doing it because it has no method for appropriate categorical truth detection. There is no method of self-correction or testing. But Christianity doesn’t stop there with claims about a creator.
It says that the creator incarnated itself as a man in a particular time and place and then was betrayed (necessarily) so that the creator of the universe who is also a different entity as his son(a logical impossibility…not to mention the holy spirit) had to be killed so that it could fulfill its own prophecies and allegedly save mankind from itself. Sorry, that doesn’t make any sense. I know lots of people who can think of clearer ways to communicate than these. Also, it didn’t work. Look at how wretchedly people still treat one another no matter what faith they are. How was anyone in feudal Japan supposed to know about this alleged salvation? They weren’t because they are the myths of bronze and iron age shepherds inherited by people under the yoke of the Roman Empire.
the SENTinel // July 17, 2009 at 7:04 am |
[...] campus has them: The raving, raging, often heretical “preachers.” (I just got into it here on my blog the other day with Penn State’s preacher–check out the comments section). The borderline cults. The groups who have their [...]