Theology and Apologetics

Today’s Thought (Written in Haste)

Postmodern thought:

The problem is that we can only know that we cannot know the ultimate purpose for human existence.  

The solution is to take the symbols of previous faith-systems and modify them to validate our subjective, personal situations.

The trouble with this is that it is just another metanarrative.  In this metanarrative, we cannot know our purpose, ultimately, so we must create our own subjective purposes.  But isn’t this, then, our ultimate purpose?  All people must create their own purposes…that sounds like an objective metanarrative to me, and it is something that is commended by many people today.

So in our day we have established a metanarrative that says people can be as selfish, hedonistic, immoral, and corrupt as they want, and that there ultimately should be no justice for our actions.  

But all of these thoughts go against the way reality seems to be.  We actually have objective moral problems with things, and we need justice.  We have to believe that there is something all people should believe. What really matters is whether we believe in what is true about reality.

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

—

Ligon Duncan, “Whats at Stake at the Beginning,” On Genesis 1

Certainly, Lord, your law punishes theft; indeed there is a law written in men’s hearts which not iniquity itself can erase; for no thief will submit to being robbed by another; even a rich thief will not tolerate another man who is forced to steal by poverty.

—Augustine’s Confessions, pg. 30 of the first Signet Classics edition.

Infinite wisdom cast the design of salvation
into the mould of purchase and freedom;
Let ‘wrath deserved’ be written on the door of hell,
But ‘the free gift of grace’ on the gate of heaven….

Let Thy love draw me nearer to Thyself,
Wean me from sin, mortify me to this world,
And make me ready for my departure hence.

—A selection of the prayer, “The Mover” from “The Valley of Vision”

CEcolampadius, that famous divine of Switzerland, when dying on his death-bed, and being asked, Whether the light did not offend him? He answered, pointing to his breast, “Hie sat lucis”, ‘Here is abundance of light,’ meaning of comfort and joy.
He asked one of his friends, “What news?” His friend answered, “None.” “Then,” saith he, “I will tell you some news; I shall presently be with my Lord Christ.

—

“The Afflicted Man’s Companion”, Rev. John Willison

http://ia600809.us.archive.org/21/items/afflictedman00will/afflictedman00will.pdf