CNN recently had an article about the growing number of emerging adults who are self-identifying as a “spiritual but not religious.” What does this mean for Christianity and its claim to be Total Truth? Find out on the latest think Christianly podcast.
Tag Archives: Evangelical
Are You Still Thinking Like a Non-Christian?
Our churches are filled with people who are spiritually born again, but who still think like non-Christians.—William Lane Craig
Pop Quiz: Try to make a list of all the beliefs that you have that the culture around us doesn’t. (any difference?)
Could you show someone from the Bible, why the Trinity is important? That Jesus claimed to be the only way to God? Could you tell someone why it is reasonable to believe God exists? If you have been a Christian for longer than a year or two, you can read, and you own a Bible–without trying to induce guilt–the answer ought to be yes.
How are you doing? As Christians, our intellectual habits should be different from those around us. Engage your mind (Luke 10:27; Rom 12:2; Col. 2:8; 2 Cor. 10:3-5)–it is an act of worship. Our world desperately needs thoughtful Christians. You can become one–start here:
Americans, Truth, and Ice Cream
“Americans think of God, religion, and morals like ice cream and not like insulin. They choose religious views according to tastes, according to what they prefer rather than according to what’s true. Non-believers view religion like ice cream. Remarkably, Christians often do the same thing.”–Greg Koukl
Living in a Postsecular Culture
C. John Summerville, in his book The Decline of the Secular University, makes an important observation about our society:
America is not “secular, but postsecular, by which I mean a situation in which cultural fashion has replaced intellectual argument.”
What this means is that people, politicians, and the media operate according to slogans and what is popular and witty, not what is rationally sound or well documented. Our culture feeds on desires and feelings which leaves precious little time for thinking and evaluating. And this is killing us–both personally and as a society.
What we need is a church and a new generation of Christians who are willing to think for the glory of God (Rom.12:1-2).
To Know and Love God
Theology is very important. What we really think about God is the most important thing about us.
“The study of theology is considered by many to be dry, boring, irrelevant, and complicated. But for those who want to know God, the study of theology is indispensable. The word “theology” comes from two Greek words, theos (“God”) and logos (“word”). The study of theology is an effort to make definitive statements about God and his implications in an accurate, coherent, relevant way, based on God’s self-revelations. Doctrine equips people to fulfill their primary purpose, which is to glorify and delight in God through a deep personal knowledge of him. Meaningful relationship with God is dependent on correct knowledge of him.Any theological system that distinguishes between “rational propositions about God” and “a personal relationship with God” fails to see this necessary connection between love and knowledge. The capacity to love, enjoy, and tell others about a person is increased by greater knowledge of that person. Love and knowledge go hand in hand. Good lovers are students of the beloved. Knowledge of God is the goal of theology.”–Erik Thoenness