If everyone hates you, you’re either very evil or very good. Remember, Christ was crucified.
Author Archives: Josh Flick
Arguments
An argument is a set of premises leading to a conclusion. The strength of this “leading” can vary. Sometimes, that all the premises should be true but the conclusion false is logically absurd, and sometimes it’s only unlikely. We’ve all encountered arguments such that its premises are lovely, the connection between its premises and conclusion is very strong, and its conclusion is incompatible with other propositions we believe. When this happens, we’re forced to give up either some of the premises or these other beliefs. We should give up whatever we are less sure of. In my experience, arguments with the most unpleasant conclusions have premises such that one is far less sure of them than he is of the beliefs he would have to give up to accept the conclusion.
“Christ-Centered”
I’m wary of phrases like “Christ-centered”. Perhaps they are sometimes used in a clear and unobjectionable sense. My concern is that the Christian faith should not be Christ-centered but God-centered—Father, Son, and Spirit. Obviously, God in his entirety is the proper object of our worship and ultimate concern, and two verses come to mind that I think drive this point home:
“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16.7, ESV).
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise’ ” (John 5.19, ESV).
Hell
Each of us is or was in a vortex of sin leading to a final rejection of God, the natural consequence and just punishment of which is everlasting personal separation from him, which is hell. It is not the sins we commit in the vortex—like adultery, theft, and murder—which merit hell; rather, it is the final rejection to which they lead. This rejection is a free and culpable choice on the part of all who make it, and it would be wrong (not to mention impossible!) for God to force them into a proper relationship with him.
Hello World
Hello world!