Life

“Do not make what is free into a must”

January 21, 2021 by wagraham Leave a Comment

Martin Luther once wrote, “Do not make what is free into a must.” Here, he was talking about the practice of matters not directly forbidden in Scripture (monastic vows, etc.). While Luther strongly and bullishly at times pushed for what Scripture said we must do, he had a place for the conscience, for Christian freedom in matters that Scripture has no direct prohibition.

We live in a scientific age in which every jot and tittle finds its definition. But real life often does not work that way. And I suspect that we bring this scientific expectation into our Christian practice when in fact Christian freedom allows us much more leeway than we might expect. Legalism is always a danger; freedom is always ready to be lost. As Paul tells us, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1). [Read more…] about “Do not make what is free into a must”

Is Philosophy Bad?

January 19, 2021 by wagraham 3 Comments

Christians sometimes look at philosophy with skepticism. Given some of the modern philosophies and recent history, that skepticism makes sense. The Apostle Paul after all does warn against falling prey to “philosophy and empty deceit” (Col 2:8).

Traditionally, however, philosophy (often) aimed to describe the world. It overlapped with medicine, physics, and ethics. It was a more totalizing thing, something that described how someone lived their entire life. In Paul’s day, that would have been the general way philosophy was understood. And in Antioch where Paul lived, philosophers would preach in the open spaces to persuade people to certain ways of life.

So one does not have to reach too far to understand what Paul means in Colossians 2:8. He does not want Christians to dedicate themselves to a way of life according to the tradition of men (κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν ἀνθρώπω) but rather to a way of life according to Christ (κατὰ Χριστόν). Paul did not here mean to dismiss mathematics, medicine, ethics, astronomy, and much more besides, which were all topics of ancient philosophy. He meant to warn people against a totalizing acceptance of philosophy (a way of living) that did not accord with Christ. [Read more…] about Is Philosophy Bad?

Does Christian Nationalism Exist?

January 17, 2021 by wagraham 1 Comment

Commentators have dubbed Christian supporters of Donald Trump who entered into the Capitol building Christian Nationalists. The term is slippery, however. And as far as I can see, no organized, identifiable entity can be described as Christian Nationalist. That does not mean that Christians have not mixed their faith into nationalistic hopes. That does happen. So whatever else may be true, Christians have tied their religious aspirations into some sort of political entity.

Here, I want to note a few pieces of evidence for my assertion before turning to some of the possible ways to understand the phenomenon. [Read more…] about Does Christian Nationalism Exist?

What Are Gospel Issues?

December 17, 2020 by wagraham 5 Comments

People sometimes call something a Gospel issue. Such statements seem to mean that the Gospel implies or perhaps requires adherence to some activity or belief. Probably the most common claim is that social justice is a Gospel issue.

I know these discussions have a lot of depth to them. So here I do not want to directly engage them but work to define the phrase Gospel issue. In my view, some debates around this slogan become mired in confusion because two sides privilege different senses of the words Gospel and issue. [Read more…] about What Are Gospel Issues?

If we are not a city of light that shines a light on the darkness, then what are we?

December 15, 2020 by wagraham 2 Comments

Just hours away from me in Montreal exists the largest distributor of pornographic content in the world, serving billions of views a year to the world.

Added to that, the demand that Mindgeek/Pornhub creates contributes to the burgeoning trafficking industry that exists in our Canadian cities and is supported at times by Christians.

Should We Cite Mental Health as a Reason to Lift Covid Restrictions?

December 7, 2020 by wagraham 6 Comments

Christians have sometimes (not always) overlooked the importance of mental health. Yet due to our current crisis, many of us have begun to register concerns for mental health.

Here, we are following an emphasis found within traditional Christian teaching. As Michael Foley notes, Paul employs the lens of the will along psychological lines (e.g., Romans 7). Augustine in particular reflected on Scripture and the nature of the soul and developed a deep understanding of human psychology in his Confessions.

The emphasis continued through the medieval and post-reformation period. The English Puritans, for example, wrote constantly on the depths of our inner life, motivations, downs, ups, and everything in-between.

From this retrieval of Christian psychology, a problem has arisen. Some commentators have made the argument that lockdowns are the cause of mental health decline. That is an impossible claim to make because correlation does not imply causation and because 2020 evinces a whole set of possible causes for mental decline. [Read more…] about Should We Cite Mental Health as a Reason to Lift Covid Restrictions?