Mr Binn”s “Two Letters”has hit several nails squarely on the head, while he may have missed on one or two. World views are on trial here. The questions is what is at stake? If I take Greg”s stated purpose of comfortableness that works best for you then inherent in his view is self centeredness, driven by what my team would identify as a “sin nature.” Lets assume he”s correct in the purpose of life then our world view makes no never mind – we are just viewing life through a different lens, but for the same purpose: comfortably making it through life.
Greg and I are of the “me” generation. We were raised in a culture of narcissism. The view makes sense to me. This, of course, is the “sin” problem on steroids. Rebellion was, for us, a badge of honor, as I recall.
So the question raised is: what is the purpose of life? Whom is to be glorified and raised up? Man or God? Do I have the gift of faith in man and his finite reasoning power or is it a gift of faith that allows me to see the reality of a dead buried and risen Christ (i.e. the supernatural), who through His actions allows me to be reconciled with the Creator and bestows me with some power to actually, more than occasionally, do what God desires – even though it goes against my nature?
Which gift we possess is central here. Of course just by being born we all possess the first gift so, the second, coming as it does from above, is a pretty special gift – one I wish and pray for all.
So central is who is to be satisfied: man or God. Whose interests are to be satisfied?
Also Greg has squarely smacked the head of an other thorny question: is there an eternity? If no then darn tootin” he is on the right path: eat drink be merry and fairly nice to folks – no problemo. Of course then there is our view: eternity is real and, to put it mildly, a really long time. If my team is wrong and we live comfortably and are usually reasonably nice to folks then who cares if we a bit kooky?
On the other hand if our view is correct and eternity is real and we have to stand before a just judge to pay for all our lies, adulterous thoughts and perhaps actions, the murderous ones as well then all will lose big time, unless somehow there is a way they can be paid for. He came as a ransom for many. His blood on that cross did the trick – if the gift of faith in Him has been given. Jesus the Christ is real.
This does raise the question of fairness, as Greg said, but even in our own system of justice life in prison for certain repeated offenses is deemed fair. And all of us, in our thoughts and actions, have transgressed – daily, I might add. Jesus said in Mt 7 that we are held accountable even for our thoughts. Scary thought that! And uttered by a man most, even those without the second gift of faith, deem the most ethical and moral being we”ve ever heard of.
I appreciate Greg”s intelligence and clarity in putting these issues on the table to be hammered out. Not all of us have even considered these questions. We are too busy just trying to survive. I heard the 49ers lost last week.
Doug Del Bosco, Lakeport
