Category: personal

She had disliked the pervasiveness of Lutheran thought, especially the Calvinist faction, who seemed to have an answer to every question before it had even been asked.
Speaker for the Dead, Orson Scott Card, p. 113.

I am presently reading the second book in the Ender’s Game series and I ran across the above quote. I don’t really know any Lutherans who would describe themselves as Calvinists (typically different traditions). I was, however, hit by the last sentence of this quote, “to have an answer to every question before it had even been asked.” It made me laugh because I have some good friends who are pretty strong Calvinists. One of whom takes me fishing and lets me deer hunt on his property and therefore I would never say anything bad about Calvinism. 😉 Truth be told the quote probably made me laugh because it hit close to home, even though I’m not a Calvinist.

1 Peter 3:15 says

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

This scripture says to be prepared to give an answer but it also tells us the specific question that we are to be prepared to answer (i.e. “the reason for the hope that you have.”) I don’t think that means that we need to pretend like we have all the other answers, because, truth be known, none of us do. If we pretend like we do then all we do is lie to ourselves and others. God and life are too mysterious and wonderful. We only know Him because He reveals Himself, not because we discover Him. If our piddly little brains can know and have ready all the answers then we have severely put God, and life, into a box. God is so much bigger than that. Ask me Who my hope comes from and I should be able to answer that on the spot, ask me another question and hopefully I take a bit longer.

The other thing about the above quote is that it makes me think that if we already have “an answer to every question before it [has] even been asked” it probably just means that we aren’t really listening to the question. It makes me think of those times that I become idiotic and focus more on how I am going to respond to something, than I do to actually listening to the other person in the conversation. Real dialogue (etymologically meaning “across speech“) and understanding fails to happen when I do this. When I am at my best I truly listen to what a person is saying, pause a moment or two to make sure I understand what they just said, and then I respond. When I am at my worst I am biting to respond before the person even finishes his or her statement. I am usually much closer to connecting with truth during the former and much further away during the latter.  As James says, we should be “quick to listen” and “slow to speak.” Sounds a whole lot like that whole “you have two ears and one mouth, and they should be used in that proportion” saying.

I think the next book I am going to read is Karl Barth’s The Humanity of God which I believe from the synopsis has some points similar to this. God is “wholly other” and thereby we only know Him through His self-revelation, rather than our own discovery. This knowledge of Him through revelation is an act of grace (undeserved) and therefore should produce grace and humility in us. Humility doesn’t pretend like it has all the answers. Pride does that. The humility that comes from knowing God through His self-revelation just points to Him as the answer.

I know that most of the world is focused on today being the 50th anniversary of JFK’s death but for me it is the 50th anniversary of C. S. Lewis’ death. I’m sure that someone could prove that JFK had more direct influence on my life through some specific policies. After all he was the president of the U.S. Still no one outside of Jesus Christ and my family has been more influential on my life than C.S. Lewis. I interpret so much of what I do and think through lenses that have been partially shaped by Mr. Lewis.

1.  My Battery Charger – Apparently I didn’t close Fred‘s door last night and the dome light ran the battery down.  So I am rather fond of my battery charger right now.

2. My brother sent me Darn Tough Vermont socks for my birthday and they are awesome. I am rather fond of them. Thanks bro!

3. I am rather fond of the fact that when I walk into Emy J’s coffee I invariably know quite a few people there and end up having really good conversations. Not also the best situation for getting work because the conversations can end up distracting me from doing what I need to do but they lead to a better life and faith and that is a better thing. It is amazing how deep a seemingly random conversation can get.

SIDE NOTE – My facebook friend Scott Slayton has written a little post on the scandal over President Obama supposedly omitting “under God” from his reading of the Gettysburg address that is worth a read. There are plenty of actual things to criticize the president, and other politicians of all flavors, over. There is no need to attack him/them over something that is simply not true. Just makes us look stupid. Anyhow I was going to write something about it but I think Scott did a decent job first, so I will just point you his way.