A great quote

This is not directly related to the problem of suffering but is certainly related to asking such questions. Here is a quote from Dave Tomlinson, author of Re-Enchanging Christianity

"The assumption is often made that those who struggle with doubts and questions, those who drift away from the Church or even mainstream Christianity, are in some way spiritually substandard; that they lack the grit or piety to pursue the Christian faith. Yet the reality is quite often the reverse: it is the doubters, the people who have outgrown the hand-me-downs of religous certainty yet who continue to ask the questions, who are on a genuine faith journey."

He goes on:

"This begs the question: are churches supposed to be gatherings of like-minded believers who all share the same views on the Holy Trinity, salvation, the priesthood, sexuality, the infallibility of scripture and the meaning of the ten-horned beast in Revelation? Or should they, as I believe, be communities of openess and diversity, where sceptics, doubters and dissenters are as welcome as those who appear pefectly settled with the tenets of their faith?"

Its nice when someone else puts in to words how you are feeling.

The problem of suffering

I've never really, properly tackled this problem. Its always been one of those 'big questions' that, for some reason, I've not found particularly difficult to deal with. I don't know if this is just because I've not really thought about it extensively though. I think its starting to bother me now.

Why do people suffer? Why do the innocent die? Why do the rich/powerful continue to prosper at the expense of those at the bottom of the pile? How is this compatible with a loving, all powerful God?

My immediate response would be something like.... they may suffer now but its not the last word. God will make things right.

I'm going to go on a journey and attempt to examine the problem of suffering. I'm going to look at what the bible and christian tradition has to say about the subject and I'm going to see what I come up with.

Is the reality of suffering compatible with the existence of the God of the bible?

keeping perspective

I'm amazed at how I can talk about God in such an offhand kind of way. And then find myself in church mouthing words to a great song yet my mind isn't engaged. And then i'm chatting away using words like 'hell' without consciously acknowledging the reality for people i love or even myself.
And this indifference is displayed time and time again in me whether consciously or subversively. The biggest challenge for me at the moment is to take the knowledge I have in my head, and truly feel it with my heart. In other words I need to take Jesus' message and let it transform my life.
This, i think, actually isn't that difficult. It's just i'm usually in so much of a rush to pocket a good answer to my question that I forget to actually apply it, or let it properly affect me. I feel like I need to exercise my emotional comprehension - it's the spiritual war - though a more tactful one than a rage: apathy vs empathy, indifference vs compassion, ignorance vs acknowledgement. There is a choice for me in my every response to any situation. And there is a good and holy spirit within me, prompting me to do good.
It's interesting because the word for mind 마음 (Ma-eum) in korean is also used to mean heart. I like the idea that a 'renewed mind' would involve my heart somehow.
I want what I know about Jesus and my maker to change me, and I want my actions to reflect what I feel and believe about Him.
It all seems to come back to that brilliant verse: 'seek first the kingdom of God'. Good perspective, it seems, changes everything.
So I'm all up for ideas on how to go about 'seeking'.

looking to God and then acknowledging my need for change, and a want for it, is probably a good place to start. Effort and practice, too, definitely have a part to play. and both spontaneity and routine are useful - though i'm not sure which one is more beneficial because sometimes routines such as reading the bible at a set time or making a place or time for prayer can be quite freeing when i need starting place, which is something spontaneous payer or worship often makes difficult. people too, they help give me perspective. Meditation? I definitely don't do enough of that.

A final quote, and important lesson is: 'to be continuously fascinated by God'

Love Wins (calm down)

Here is an excerpt from a review of Rob Bell’s new book – Love Wins.

“If Love Wins is wrong – if the theology departs from the apostolic good deposit, if the biblical reasoning falls short in a hundred places, if the god of Love Wins and the gospel of Love Wins are profoundly mistaken – if all this is true, then what damage has been done to the souls of men and women? Bad theology hurts real people”.

Its pretty easy to find stuff like this written about Rob Bell’s new book. Its pretty easy to find things like this written about lots of books. I’m not interested in talking about Rob Bell’s book specifically (for one thing I’ve not read it) but I am interested in responses like this.

All I really wanted to say was this: just calm down a bit. I think the issues that Rob Bell is addressing are important – I genuinely do. But I’d also like to know what ‘damage has been done to the souls of men and women’ if he is wrong? Because its probably not a lot, is it? Probably just that he was wrong about some things and some people agreed with him and they were wrong also. I’m not sure it requires that we talk as though we are in Lord of the Rings so we can make things feel more dramatic. Absolutely, disagree with Rob Bell and lets talk about why. But be prepared for me to stand firm in my convictions lest the flames of destiny transport me via osmosis to a place where cool waters breath though the nostrils of an enormous dragonfly….. 

Honesty is a hard attribute to find

Love, as the prevailing thought, is an excellent base upon which to build this conversation. Sometimes I think its easy to forget this. 

This leads me on to a thought. Why is it so difficult to be honest in discussions about God/life/everything that matters? One the one hand, its probably hard precisely because it does matter.When the stakes feel (are?) so high, things get uncomfortable when honestly leads to difficult questions. On the other hand, if these things really are very important, surely its vitally important that we are as honest as we can be. Being afraid to say what we really think, or to ask the questions we really want to ask leaves us stuck. Perhaps more comfortable than we otherwise would be, but stuck.

I don't want to hold an image of God that is false. Ultimately, I'm sure parts (most?!) of my God images are wrong, but that shouldn't stop me trying to find out who God really is. When we box ourselves in through fear of asking the right questions, do we reduce the space in which our search for God is taking place? Does this ultimately lead us to a more limited understanding of who God is? I think it might. 

I hope this can be a place where honesty is valued rather than feared.  

Love - the prevailing thought

Of course we are probably wrong; and will probably go on being wrong until the day comes when there is no longer a 'wrong' to be. But in the pursuit of truth we aim only to get closer to that which we are chasing. I guess for us this is getting to know our maker, and by extension living in a way that honors and pleases him. And we do this together, which is not only great fun, but also essential. 

Let's begin with where we're at. let's be genuine and sincere, because where is the sense in pretending, and who are we deceiving but ourselves. Also nothing is quite as refreshing as authenticity.

I feel like 'love' somehow should should be the prevailing thought. As we question and as we live. So i hope this space will be a place of encouragement, and a sparring ground for ideas, questions, thoughts and all forms of critical thinking. Ultimately, I hope we can catch a glimpse of God. 

So yes, I'm excited, and don't forget honesty is valued here.