The Evidence of Things Not Seen

This summer, the largest experiment in particle physics will begin in Switzerland. The scientists are hoping to find signs of the elusive "God-particle" whose presence they think will lead to a new theory that will change our view of the universe and our place in it. Newsweek interviewed theoretical physicist and Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg to get his opinion on what this experiment means to the world, and especially how its findings might affect religion. Here are few excerpts of what he had to say:

"As science explains more and more, there is less and less need for religious explanations."

"...religion has evolved along with science. It is something created by human beings, and as human beings learn more and more their religion changes. Today, especially in the more established religious sects in the West, they've learned to stop trying to explain nature religiously and leave that to science."

"People who expect to find evidence of divine action in nature, in the origin of the universe or in the laws that govern matter, are probably going to be disappointed. "

"It is always possible that we will discover something in nature that cannot be explained in the naturalistic way that we've gotten used to in science and that will really require divine intervention. That hasn't happened."

Read the full interview here: http://www.newsweek.com/id/128877/page/1

Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as "...the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith is not always an easy thing to have. It is always easier to trust in what our own senses perceive than in the things that we cannot see, touch, hear or understand. The majority of scientists desire answers to every question, and often trust in their own findings above all else. They seek to prove either the existence or the non-existence of God by human standards. Like Thomas, they want to "...see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side..." (John 20:25) before they make an effort to believe.

Even we as Christians have moments when we lack in faith, and oddly enough, it is often in the little things. We believe that God spoke the world into existence, but we doubt His providing for our basic needs. We believe that God Himself walked among us as a man, but we doubt His closeness when we are hurt and broken. We believe that the blood of God's own son has cleansed us from our unrighteousness, but we doubt his working everything in life for our good.

Faith is hard, there is no denying that. But the reward for our faith is beyond anything that we can imagine. There will come a day when we will put our fingers on the scars that we already knew were there, and place our hands into the side that we already knew existed. No matter what the outcome of this new experiment might be, we know that the only way to view the universe is as the footstool of God, and that our purpose in it is to glorify Him with everything that we are.

"Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed'". John 20:29.

How Deep the Father's Love For Us

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powr's, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

-"How Deep the Father's Love For Us" by Stuart Townend

"Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom..." Matthew 27:51a

The Danger of Liberal Christianity

I read something yesterday that inspired me so much, that I have to share it with you. On February 13, the World Council of Churches Central Committee opened its meeting in Geneva, and a young Russian Orthodox Bishop named Hilarion Alfeyev delivered a bold statement that I am sure made many in the room squirm. I will give you a few excerpts from this published account:

“I would like to draw your attention to the danger of liberal Christianity. The liberalization of moral standards, initiated by some Protestant and Anglican communities several decades ago and developing with ever-increasing speed, has now brought us to a situation where we can no longer preach one and the same code of moral conduct. We can no longer speak about Christian morality, because moral standards promoted by 'traditional' and 'liberal' Christians are markedly different, and the abyss between these two wings of contemporary Christianity is rapidly growing.”

“We are being told by some allegedly Christian leaders, who still bear the titles of Reverends and Most Reverends, that marriage between a woman and a man is no longer the only option for creating a Christian family, that there are other patterns, and that the church must be 'inclusive' enough to recognize alternative lifestyles and give them official and solemn blessing.”

“We are being told that human life is no longer an unquestionable value, that it can be summarily aborted in the womb … and that Christian 'traditionalists' should reconsider their standpoints in order to be in tune with modern developments. We are being told that abortion is acceptable … and that the church must accommodate all these 'values' in the name of human rights.”

“What, then, is left of Christianity? In the confusing and disoriented world in which we live, where is the prophetic voice of Christians? What can we offer, or can we offer anything at all to the secular world, apart from what the secular world will offer to itself as a value system on which society should be built? Do we have our own value system which we should preach, or should we simply applaud every novelty in public morality which becomes fashionable in the secular society?”

“When are we going to stop making Christianity politically correct and all-inclusive? Why do we insist on accommodating every possible alternative to the centuries-old Christian tradition? Where is the limit, or is there no limit at all?”

“Many Christians worldwide look to Christian leaders in the hope that they will defend Christianity against the challenges that it faces…. Our holy mission is to preach what Christ preached, to teach what the apostles taught, and to propagate what the holy Fathers propagated.”

“I am convinced that liberal Christianity will not survive for a long time. A politically correct Christianity will die."

“[T]raditional Christians, will consolidate their forces in order to protect the faith and moral teaching which the Lord gave, the Apostles preached, and the Fathers preserved.”

All that I can say is Amen!

"Let anyone laugh and taunt if he so wishes. I am not keeping silent, nor am I hiding the signs and wonders that were shown to me by the Lord many years before they happened, who knew everything, even before the beginning of time." -St. Patrick

A Book Review: The Four Loves

Love is often considered to be the arch-emotion. Throughout history, so many things, both good and bad, have been done in the name of love. In this book, C. S. Lewis explores the nature of the four different loves, three of them natural, one of them supernatural and each derived from its Greek name.

Affection (storge): Lewis describes this as the most basic and natural of the human loves. It is basically a fondness for the familiar and is especially common between family and those thrown together by chance. It is also the least discriminatory love, in that it does not take into account the person's "worthiness" of being loved. But Lewis points out that since affection seems to come built-in, many people expect or even demand it without making an effort to be "lovable".

Friendship (philia): This was probably my favorite chapter. Friendship is the least natural of the human loves, in that it is not necessary for life. But Lewis considers it the most admirable of the natural loves, in that it looks not at the beloved (face to face) but rather at the thing that the friendship is about (side by side). Because the friends are looking beyond themselves, they are able to welcome those who are looking towards the same thing without jealousy. But friendship, since it is exclusive, can have a tendency to look down on those who are "outside", and the things that strengthen a friendship that looks towards something good, can also strengthen the one whose goal is evil.

Eros: This is not describing sexuality, but rather the state of "being in love'' or having a simple desire for the beloved. This love is good because it desires the beloved regardless of the pleasure that he/she can give. But it can also be bad when it becomes a blind devotion. As Lewis says, "...love begins to be a demon the moment he begins to be a god."

Charity (agape): This is the supernatural love, the love we should have for our neighbor, regardless of whether or not they posses any lovable qualities. Lewis spends this chapter explaining how important it is that the three natural loves be subjected to the love of God, which is the greatest of all the loves.

In The Four Loves, Lewis provides a sometimes funny, always challenging look at the different ways that our human emotions affect our lives, and how we as Christians should seek, not to destroy or master them, but to subject them to the will of God. I highly recommend this book for anyone, but especially for those who already enjoy Lewis' works. I especially recommend reading this if you have or plan to read Till We Have Faces since that story plays out many of the themes from this book.

Alert from Homeschoolers in CA

Dan @ In the Long Run has just posted on a court ruling that could severely affect the right to homeschool in California. Please take the time to read it and support our fellow homeschoolers.

C. S. Lewis on Friendship

"But in Friendship...we think we have chosen our peers. In reality, a few years' difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another, posting to different regiments, the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting-any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking, no chances. A secret Master of the Ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples 'Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,' can truly say to every group of Christian friends 'You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another.' The Friendship is not a reward for our discrimination and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of all the others. They are no greater than the beauties of a thousand other men; by Friendship God opens our eyes to them. They are, like all beauties, derived from Him, and then, in a good Friendship, increased by Him through the Friendship itself, so that it is His instrument for creating as well as revealing."

-from The Four Loves

The Ultimate in "Seeker-Sensitive"

This clip was originally meant to mock those who are constantly moving around looking for the perfect church. But I think that it also provides a humorous (and slightly exaggerated) look at the lengths some churches will go to to draw in the largest crowd possible. Check it out!