Book Comment: The God You Thought You Knew

 

In his book, The God You Thought You Knew, Alex McFarland responds to ten common secular objections to Christianity.

Some of the objections discussed in this book include:

1.     Christianity is judgemental and intolerant.

2.     Evil and suffering exist and a real God would not allow that.

3.     Christianity is totally made up and not based on any facts.

4.     Modern science disproves Christianity.

5.     Religion is not for the educated.

6.     The whole thing is boring and a waste of my time.

7.     Since I do not like it, it cannot be true.

8.     The Bible is full of errors.

9.     Dead people cannot come back to life.

10.  A loving God would not send anyone to Hell.

As with most books such as this, what you get from the book depends on what you bring with you. You may not agree with everything the author says. Luke (see below) advises to think for yourself.

Information you will need to search for this book: McFarland, Alex, The God You Thought You Knew. Exposing the 10 Biggest Myths About Christianity (Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 2015)

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A general caution: books may give you wonderful new insights and explanations of subjects, but you should never base your Christian beliefs on any one book or the teachings of one person, no matter who they are. All teachings must be consistent with scripture. Read as the Bereans did, with discernment. “… for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11 NASB

Any doctrines must be consistent with the historical full body of Christian thought. Doctrines or teachings inconsistent with scripture in any way must be rejected. You would not eat cheese which had a fuzzy fungus growing on it.

Are You Bored With Your Life?

If we are bored with life there is something wrong with our concept of God and His involvement in our daily lives.  Even the most dull and tedious days of our lives are ordained by God and ought to be used by us to glorify Him."  Jerry Bridges, The Navigators

Every job is meaningful, every life is meaningful.  God may have you in place to perform one action in His plan for the life of one person, or numerous persons.  You may never know what you have done.  How do you know that you have not already done it?

Joseph probably was not thrilled when his brothers sold him into slavery.  He was being placed into a position in which he could save his people.  Esther probably was not thrilled to be forced to become essentially a sexual slave for a brutal king.  She was in position to save her people from genocide. Brother Lawrence was an uneducated man not suited for any monastery duties except cooking and washing dishes.  He cheerfully devoted his duties to the Lord and became known worldwide for his pious example.

Held For Ransom

“A young couple was visiting a church for the first time.  As the preacher’s sermon dragged on, their little girl became restless.  Finally, she leaned over to her mother and whispered, “Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?”

“From The Big Book of Church Jokes, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.”

Film Comment: Video Fireplace

     The ultimate exercise in vacuity!  Video Fireplace (1991) is, as the title declares, a video of a fireplace: logs blazing before an unmoving camera.  The show ends when the logs burn down to ashes.

     I think this film reflects on the modern American film industry and also on modern pop culture: an appealing bright facade which requires nothing of the viewer and gives you nothing in return, not even a little heat.

     A companion video is Video Aquarium (1991), which has twenty-five tropical fish as its stars.

     My suspicion is that most people merely viewed these films as one-joke novelties, like Billy Bass, the singing fish mounted on a wall plaque.  The question then becomes why in the world someone would spend money for them.

     I'm not just being a Grinch.  News flash!  Christians are allowed to have fun, even stupid, silly, or ridiculous fun, but we are reminded in Philippians 4:8 that our usual or continual focus should be on pure, praiseworthy things.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on those things." Philippians 4:8.

     Our modern western culture is in many ways like that of the intellectuals in Athens in Paul's time, always searching for the next thrill, the next trend, the next fad, to entertain their bored, spiritually empty minds.

"16. Now while Paul waited for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

  17. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

  18. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him.  And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods; because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

  19. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

  20. For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

  21. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)" Acts 17: 16-21.