"Defining A Well-Ordered Cultural Life"

Discovering new books and insights into faith, culture, and our changing world are just a few of the tasks I really enjoy about my job.  Leading the way in this pursuit is a wonderful resource called Mars Hill Audio Journal (marshillaudio.org).  A former NPR staffer named Ken Myers started MHAJ more than 20 years ago, and it's a series of interviews between Myers and authors about a huge variety of subjects.  These interviews are always insightful and presented from a Christian perspective, although not all of the guests on the journal come from a faith background.  If you're looking for informed cultural engagement as a person of faith, start with Mars Hill Audio.  Below is a letter written by Ken Myers and sent to subscribers and supporters of MHAJ, and I think it's a great perspective on engaging our world and listening well to the Spirit as we do.


http://marshillaudio.org/downloads/2013YearendLetter.pdf

Take a look around MHAJ's website and download some of their free material if you're interested.  You won't be disappointed by the depth and insight you glean from it.

Happy new year,

Travis

Hopes and Fears

"Abounding prosperity and devastating hardship - Paul has certainly experienced each, and he wants his friends to know that he has been able to take each in stride because of the companionship of Jesus Christ.  One of the hallmarks of Christian integrity and personal integration is that circumstances lose their overwhelming power over us.  Our self-image and sense of security no longer are tied to the things that happen to us.  Events are important, but for Paul something is more important and he has learned it by experience.

"Most people who are confused and harmed by abundance or loss are the ones who confer permanence on either.  But the fact is that at the heart of the existence of each of us is something of far greater durability and importance.  It is Jesus Christ, the companion of our way, who outlasts both extremes as well as any degree of abundance and abasement in between - they are merely way stations on our journey.  Paul can enjoy a steak and lobster without any problem at all, and he accepts the shipwreck, too.  He is not too impressed by extravagance, which is nice once in a while, or by intense abuse, which is hard to take but, like abundance, is not the last word.  That is Paul's secret."

- Earl Palmer, Integrity in a World of Pretense, p. 170-171 (regarding Phil. 4:12-13)

Google Knowledge

Dallas’ Corner: Dec. 2013

Knowledge is the ability to represent (think about, talk about, and deal with) a corresponding subject matter as it is, on an appropriate basis of thought and experience. - Dallas Willard

One of the biggest (and most complicated) questions people wrestle with today is, “What counts as knowledge?”  That question may sound a little grand, but it’s definitely the question-under-the-question for most of our daily decisions.  If you Google something, does that mean that what you find is always reliable and trustworthy?  I used Google last week to answer a question about wiring my front porch light, but what if that answer was wrong?  How would I know?  When my wife was teaching elementary school, she got into several conversations with students who believed that because they saw something on the internet, it must be true.  Can we call that “Google Knowledge?”

Our location in history has a lot to do with how we find knowledge, and how we make decisions based on what we consider to be knowledge.  Because we live in a time period after the Enlightenment, we tend value things like science, scholarship, and popular opinion – the latter of which is what we usually find via Google.  There are ‘tiers’ to what we consider to be reliable and trustworthy forms of knowledge – books, the proclamations of our preferred cable news network, a university professor giving a lecture – all carry different weight behind them.

Of course, it’s pretty easy to go through life without thinking about these kinds of things.  Entire industries are devoted to distraction and entertainment, which can be good but often are useful for distancing us from thinking deeply and broadly about issues like what counts as knowledge.  I’m not thinking about authority sources and tiers of reason when I’m deciding what kind of coffee to buy at the store – at least not on most days.  :)

 If you took an introductory logic or philosophy class in college, questions about knowledge might be more familiar to you, but like many things, they simply fade into the background as life gets louder and busier.  Dallas Willard studied the subject of knowledge in-depth during his nearly 60-year academic and pastoral career.  Willard once said that we pick up beliefs throughout the day like a jacket picks up lint.  Which beliefs have you and I picked up today?  A big part of his ministry was helping people identify which beliefs they picked up and how to evaluate them based on faith in Christ.

Back to the top: Willard’s definition of what counts as knowledge is complicated but very helpful, especially as we think about the intersection of faith and our real-world concerns.  How does my faith impact where I live, or how I relate to my neighbors?  How does the knowledge of the Bible speak to my decisions about serving others, buying groceries, health care options, jury duty, voting, and other seemingly-innocuous choices?

Jesus told his disciples that they would “know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).  That’s the best possible place to start our pursuit of knowledge.

Solo Dei gloria,

Travis

A Decision About Worry

More than 2 years ago, Jill and I went to visit our midwife for a monthly check-up.  I can't remember how far along in the pregnancy we were, but I do remember leaving the office feeling scared for the first time.  Our midwife - who was really wonderful and not at all prone to making grand statements - said to us after looking at Jill's blood work, "You know, I just want to be careful and run some more tests."  I think it had something to do with a fluid level that seemed low, but whatever it was, I do remember feeling shaken as we left the office and walked to the car.

We got to the car and just sat for a moment.  The child God had given us - whom we hadn't even met just yet - might have problems.  We let that reality sink in for a few moments.  At the very least, more tests needed to be done, and more waiting would come after that.  Waiting.  Wondering.  Worrying.

Somehow, our conversation meandered to God's power and control.  We were trying to connect God's sovereignty - His absolute, gracious, just, and firm rule over all time and creation - with our situation.  We arrived at this conclusion: starting that day, we would face thousands of opportunities to stress and freak out in the face of something our kid would face.  Did he get hurt at the playground?  Would other kids be mean to him at school?  Would he pass the class?  No matter how big or small, the stressors would come.  What we chose to do that day as husband and wife was to rely on the sovereignty of God.  We chose to lift our unborn child up to God and say, "God, you are in charge.  You belong in-charge.  We can't handle this situation, and we hold it out to you."  Instead of worry, we chose to trust - which sounds simple but isn't really - at least not for me.

That might have been one of the most Spirit-informed and blessed decisions we've ever made.  I'm sure that God will continue to refine that decision over the years.  Even today, He reminded me that my stress and anxiety over problems we've encountered lately with our house - mostly plumbing-related - fall under His sovereignty.  Now I've got a new angle to embrace God's rule and power.

God, be the ruler of my home.  Be the one who is absolutely in charge of things like water, snow, power, warmth, shade, and security.  Be in charge of our neighbors and our neighborhood.  Be in charge in my heart when all I want to do is stress out and hold on to every little thing that could be wrong.  Take charge, Lord.  I trust you.

Gratitude for 2013

[Below is a report I wrote for our session (board of elders) which summarizes a few of the wonderful things done by our Merciful and Generous God.]

 

Reflecting on 2013 fills me with a sense of awe.  God’s faithfulness to me, my family, and our church family has been unmistakable this past year.

Personally, I’m in awe of being able to run again.  When I hurt my knee and face in a bicycle accident at the end of August, I had no idea how substantial my injuries might be.  (Sidebar: We never really know how hurt we are, how sick we are, or how much we need the gospel to further penetrate our hearts, do we?)  I remember thinking after I fell, “I hope I can run again by Thanksgiving.”  Our annual trip to the Oregon coast always includes great running adventures with family.  It turns out that I was able to run along the beach in Oregon – one of the most beautiful and memorable moments of my year.  Thanks be to God for His healing mercy.

My family is in awe of God for how much He has continually provided for our needs.  This year, we have been stretched as disciples, particularly through our finances and in stewarding our home.  God has been faithful, the presence of Christ has been real, and the Spirit has protected us and given us hope every step of the way.  God’s abundance is demonstrated to me every time I come home from work and see Will’s smile.  Christ’s mercy is so clear to me every time I wake up in a warm home with my wife and son in good health and good spirits.  Thanks be to God for His provision.

Our church family has enjoyed an incredible year.  We’ve successfully improved the front entrance to our church – thanks to our friends at FCI and all the sub-contractors, as well our building team – taking down trees and memories but also showing our church body that we’re ready to dash into a new future together.  We’ve tacked complicated but important projects together like biblical justice, partnered with InterVaristy to reach new disciples for Christ at CMU, and continued to thrive in our ministry to kids and families.  I’m so proud of the way we’ve grown and changed as a church, and yet kept our core commitment to following Christ and sharing his Word.

Only a God with as much mercy and imagination as ours could possibly have orchestrated such an incredible year.  How much bigger and incredible could 2014 be?

Solo Dei gloria,

Travis

Bunsen, Beaker, and the Bible

I'm very grateful for people who are leading and thinking in an area of faith that often seems out-of-reach to me: conversations between science and faith.  I loved high school chemistry because I had a great teacher.  Beyond that, science is usually not something I read or think about very much beyond occasional articles in the paper or on my Google News feed.  I'm more of a Bunsen and Beaker kind of guy.

When we lived in the Seattle area, I encountered quite a few pastors, professors, and just 'regular' people who really invested a lot of time and thought into building bridges between the scientific community (and those who adhere to similar world views) and the church.  A 'think tank' devoted to these very issues - which I found through one of the elders at my former church - is called The Discovery Institute, and I'd recommend their work if this field of study interests you - discovery.org.

A leading voice in this conversation - and in many others as well - is the pastor of Bethany Community Church, Richard Dahlstrom.  Richard was one of my professors at Fuller and is one of my top podcast people. :)  I love the way he communicates, both speaking and writing, and his church is doing tremendous things for the sake of the gospel in Seattle.  He just published two articles about science and faith which I would highly recommend.

http://biologos.org/blog/two-books-two-eyes-four-necessities-for-christian-witness-part-1

http://biologos.org/blog/two-books-two-eyes-four-necessities-for-christian-witness-part-2

A friendly critique: I probably wouldn't go so far as Richard does as to elevate creation and God's word into the same playing field, but I like where he takes that argument.  Especially in a context like Seattle which places a high value on creation and the outdoors, Richard's approach is helpful; it's just not necessarily a Reformed perspective, which I don't think he'd mind me saying. :)

This conversation becomes personal for me when I think about a particular friend of mine who very much believes that science holds the answers to all of life's great questions.  We've had many conversations on the subject, and I respect and value his perspectives.  I don't lean toward studying these kinds of issues, but because of our friendship, I take it more seriously than I used to.  Maybe that's a good lesson in general: when it comes to our faith in Christ, the more we can personally care about other people with specific objections to faith, the more we can graciously and winsomely enter into those conversations, and hang in there for the long haul.

Blessings,

Travis Fletcher