Learning in War Time

In "Learning in War Time" C.S. Lewis talks about how there is no such thing as "normal life." Life essentials cannot be laid aside because of inconvenient situations- even war. There is always a million reasons not to do something. For now, for whatever reason, some of us are called to be students. God has given us a desire for beauty and knowledge. Even if our search for knowledge and beauty seems inconclusive, it will be built upon by others. Our search is not in vain.
This is one thing I've been understanding more and more. I used to always look ahead to the future when I would live differently- I'd wake up every morning, read my bible, pray, go for a run. Somehow, I've never changed. Life is still normal. I also remember field hockey season. My friend and I always said "as soon as hockey's over," we'll get back on track with God. Hockey season ended, and I occupied my time with other things. If I don't seek God today, what will change in the future?

Vocation and the Kingdom of God

This chapter talked about "the kingdom of God." In a practical way. God has given us free will. Ideally our little "kingdoms" will align with His kingdom. For now, I'm called to be at Calvin. I always look forward to "someday" when hopefully I'll be serving God in another country, and I will fully see how God is working in me and using me each and everyday. The older I get the more I realize that life is "the everyday." I need to learn to seek God here, now.
I also enjoyed the quotation by Richard J. Foster, "Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people." I've grown up in a Christian atmosphere. It's easy to get caught up in the motions, for all to appear to be "good" Christians- who don't struggle with anything and who have a perfect relationship with God. What we need is to be vulnerable with each other. To love and accept each other unconditionally- instead of judging each other.

The Screwtape Letters- Letters VIII and IX

I can relate to both of these letters. In Letter VIII, Screwtape advises his nephew to take advantage of the dull times of human life. In these times idle thoughts can be a detriment to one's faith. The "black and white" lines swirl into a dark gray. Good things that God has given us to enjoy- sex, alcohol, and relationships are gradually perverted. Any satisfaction found in them is lost with this perversion. It seems like we're longing for the meaning and fulfillment that comes through God alone, but we deny that it comes from God. We try to find it in the mere actions without the spiritual aspect of them. . .
I really enjoyed Letter IX. "He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles." This is one thing I've been gradually learning. I also look forward to the "mountain-top" experiences with God. I long for those moments when I have no doubts, when I know I'm exactly where God wants me to be. But, most of life is the "everyday."And somehow, God loves me in the everyday, he shows himself in a million small ways each day that I easily overlook. It's also amazing to me that God loves me even when I stumble. Often times in my faith I get to doing things on my own. I forget that Jesus died for me- on nothing I have done. When I stumble in my faith and doubt him I feel like I have failed- but thats the point. I can't do it on my own. Thats WHY Jesus died.

"Screwtape Letters. . . Numero Uno"

I found this letter very interesting. Screwtape explains that humans hold to a bunch of contradicting philosophies at the same time. We say we believe them, but our lives do not reflect our beliefs. He also emphasizes how we get caught up in "ordinary life." When we do start have thoughts toward God, we dismiss them once we come in contact with regular life.
Moreover I also found it interesting how he talked about how argument does not convince humans to follow or not follow God. The best way to draw someone away from God is to distract them.
All of these points seem very true. This letter was thought provoking. A relationship with God means loving him and seeking him in the midst of ordinary life. Can ordinary life become extraordinary? Do I settle for too little? Or is monotony just part of life? We all have those "mountain-top" experiences- then we come down again, and "ordinary life" resumes. But can we live on the mountain-top? Do we give in too easily to "ordinary life?" Obviously, we will have our ups and downs, but what about the middles?

"On Forgiveness"

I got a book a few years ago with a bunch of essays by C.S. Lewis. Over interim I found myself reading an essay "On Forgiveness." Lewis talks about forgiveness, how he doesn't usually grasp its meaning. He says, “I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality (unless I watch myself very carefully) asking Him to do something quite different. I am asking Him not to forgive me but to excuse me. Forgiveness says ‘Yes, you have done this thing, but I accept your apology; I will never hold it against you and everything between us two will be exactly as it was before.’ But excusing says; I see that you couldn’t help it or didn’t mean it; you weren’t really to blame.’ If one was not really to blame then there is nothing to forgive. . .But the trouble is that what we call ‘asking God’s forgiveness’ very often really consists in asking God to accept our excuses. . .We are so very anxious to point out [our excuses] to God (and to ourselves) that we are apt to forget the really important thing; that is, the bit left over, the bit which the excuses don’t cover, the bit which is inexcusable but not, thank God unforgivable. . .Real forgiveness means looking steadily at the sin, the sin that is left over without any excuse, after all allowances have been made, and seeing it in all its horror, dirt, meanness, and malice, and nevertheless being wholly reconciled to the man who has done it. That, and only that, is forgiveness, and that we can always have from God if ask for it."
Ok, thats a pretty long quote. I just couldn't leave any of it out... Forgiveness is something I don't often think about. My religion- my claim is that my life is based on forgiveness. Jesus died for my sins. I'm forgiven. If I thought about this everyday, If I sought to understand exactly what it means to be forgiven- my life would be drastically different. No day could possibly be that bad- how can I complain about menial things when ALL of my sins have been forgiven- forever- on nothing I have done? How can I possibly have a bad attitude- if I realize I'm forgiven, I'm debt-free? How can I feel inferior if I remember that God loves me, God wants a relationship with me- even though I'm sinful. I have not even begun to understand the depths of God's forgiveness.

"Our English Syllabus"

I really enjoyed "Our English Syllabus" by C.S. Lewis. Often times I feel like I'm learning about one side of an issue. Yes, this syllabus is good for high school (but I was starting to get sick of it). Now, I love learning. I love learning things that will challenge the way I think. I agree with Lewis- students should be able to explore, to learn for themselves. They should be given freedom to be creative. They should question things- never just accept the status quo. This inquiry, this search for truth and knowledge is a gift from God. We can also have peace knowing that we will never know everything, but He does. That's why He's God and we're not. Even though we can't possibly understand and discover everything, we can still enjoy the journey. Finally, this learning should be carried on throughout life, not just for 4 years in college.

We Have No Right To Happiness

A giant snowstorm hit yesterday. In my philosophy class, we were talking about the snow. Some of us enjoy snow, others hate the cold weather. We all came to the same conclusion; however. Since we cannot change our situation- the snow, but we can change our attitudes, we might as well enjoy the weather. The snowy weather was beyond our control, yet it still affected our attitude, our happiness. C.S. Lewis also admits that often times we look to things beyond our control to make us happy in "We Have No Right To Happiness." He uses the example of a couple who left their spouses for each other. After all, they have a right to happiness don't they?
The woman who told them of this couple suggested that they have a legal and even moral right to happiness. Obvious from the title, the reader knows that Lewis disagrees. Instead he argues that we have a right to happiness within lawful means- moral law and state law. He argues that a society given over to immediate pleasures would deteriorate.
I also found the last two paragraphs very interesting. Lewis showed that a society given over to sexual pleasures would be demeaning to women. Ultimately, women would be harmed. And to battle this women have become more promiscuous. This is prevalent in our society today. Everyone longs to be loved. Most would risk all instead of losing this one chance at love, forever. The fulfillment from acting on sexual impulses does not last.
Lewis also made another interesting point. He stated that this mentality of acting impulsively, disregarding moral and natural law would spill over into all aspects of society. And it has, almost undetected. Without moral standards, society deteriorates.

Bulverism

I found C.S. Lewis' essay on "Bulverism" very interesting. I see bulverism all around. We are constantly trying to explain why someone believes something, then we dismiss his reasoning and purposes as simple and stupid. Bulverism attempts to refute an argument without real arguments. The purposes behind a thought are dismissed instead of proving the idea wrong itself. However, I believe that there is some good to understand the thought processes behind certain ideas. In understand the influences and thought processes behind an ideology, we better understand another section of the world. Instead of dismissing an argument with this background information, we should understand the background information in order to better understand the ideology, then refute it logically and reasonably.
When looking for an example of understanding, yet still refuting an ideology one could use communism. Ideally, communism looks great. Equality and justice for all. After all, capitalism cannot exist without poor people. Someone has to be exploited in order to make a profit, in order for capitalism to continue. Not everyone can be rich. So, communism looks wonderful. It even looks biblical. After all, in Acts didn't all the believers share everything in common? They loved each other and shared their lives- emotionally, spiritually, and materially with each other? Doesn't that sound beautiful? So, I have this understanding of communism. I understand why communists believe what they believe. However, I am not a communist. I know that communism is impossible. It's impossible because we are tainted. We're sinful and selfish. We cannot live together and share everything. We always want more, we want to better ourselves instead of our neighbor.
I also enjoyed how CS Lewis brought us to God, the One who is behind Reason. Without Him we could KNOW nothing. We try to make ourselves independent of his authority through our own thought, our own reason. But without him, without this higher power, our reason would not exist. It would not be credible. Yet, we still try to divorce Reason from the Supernatural, when in fact they go hand in hand.

Chapter 1: Longing and Hope

I found the first chapter of Plantinga's book very similar to "The Weight of Glory." I discussed the longing and fulfillment in my other blog, but a few more things stood out to me in this reading. First of all, I really enjoyed the idea that beauty, the fulfillment of this longing, comes through people. We will never be completely filled on earth, but our relationships and daily tasks are not meaningless. God created me for today. If I remember this, I can take joy in each day.
I also liked the idea that "genuine hope always combines imagination, faith, and desire." I'm often a realist. Growing up I was always fascinated by the lives of missionaries who came to visit my church. I almost idolized them. They were super-humans, used by God. "God would never use me in amazing ways," I thought. Since then I've grown in confidence, God has placed many encouragers in my life at various times. A few years ago I remember my friend Henry saying, "Our God is the God of dreams." We often forget that "nothing is impossible with God." It is easy to get bogged down by the world, by bills, broken relationships, and unfulfilled visions- yet we cannot give up hope. I believe that God gives us dreams, he will grow us in faith (alot!), and he will be found faithful to fulfill them. They may not happen the way we planned, but thats part of the excitement.
I just spent the last paragraph showing how our God is the God of what seems impossible. I can say that, but do I really believe it? Shalom, reconciliation, the world the way it should be- all this sounds wonderful, but is it realistic? Sometimes its hard for me to believe. I know in my mind that God is greater than man, but it's not something I have fully learned in my heart yet. I see inequality and racism, I hear insincere words and empty promises- all this in the church and Christian institutions. If we do not love each other, how can we love the world?

The Weight of Glory

I was reading Ephesians 1 today with a friend. We came across words like power, glory, and hope- words we hear all the time, yet think little about. Right now, I do not know what these words mean. I could give you a definition for each of them. I know them in my mind, but not my heart. I do know; however, that I have this longing that C.S. Lewis describes in "The Weight of Glory." I ache for something more, but I'm not quite sure what. Words cannot express this desire.
Often times I look to good times in the past, times I remember as feeling full, as Lewis describes. I also draw hope from the future. "Once I get to college, my life will be in place. I'll be where God wants me to be." I reach this points and life seems to just go on. I've been learning that life on earth is not glorious, yet somehow it's still beautiful. God loves me in the everyday, in the small things.
So, Lewis talks about my longing -this glory. I cannot wait for it to be fulfilled. I cannot wait to finally feel comfortable with myself. I will be sure of who God created me to be. I will be new, fresh, revived. A few things do help with this longing though. I long to realize God's love for me and to love him in return. That is not my only task; however. God created us to love people. And this love, these relationships are fulfilling. I've met alot of new people since coming to Calvin. It's easy for me to dismiss people before I meet them. I limit myself on the relationships I could form before a word is said. Lewis refutes this type of thinking. He calls us to see others as children of God. They, too will be glorious. God created them, God loves them. God will affirm them.