I was at Barnes and Nobles and I was looking at books and what not because I enjoy reading, and I opened a book by Tim Keller called The Reason For God: Belief In An Age of Skepticism. So as I was flipping through it I read the first three pages and it was talking about how people problem with Christianity is its thought if exclusivity, that is that it is the only way to God. While many believe that there are many paths to God and if you live a “good” life you’ve made your peace with God. Many people believe this fallacy and continue on in ignorance. The so called “exclusivity” of Christianity is that we as Christians hold stead fast in the belief that salvation can only be attained through the belief in Jesus Christ as our sufficient and only saviour. Now many say that it is this thinking that has people so angry with the Christian faith. People might say that how can we make a claim that only one religion is the true faith and that it is arrogant to say that. I agree with the religion part because yes, religion is bad, many atrocities have been done in the name of religion. 9/11 was done in the name of religion, the crusades were done in the name of religion. But just think about this quote by Alister McGrath for a minute,
“The 20th century gave rise to one of the greatest and most distressing paradoxes of human history: that the greatest intolerance and violence of that century were practiced by those who believed religion cuased intolorance and violence.”
So I say to you that if you have taken some serious thought about this, and not just labeled me as a fundamentalist crazy, Jesus is the only way you will ever attain true happiness, forgiveness for your sins, and eternal life.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
I have, for the past month maybe, been reading a book called Defending Your Faith by R.C. Sproul. The book is categorized under apologetics and is meant to be an introduction to apologetics. First off I’d like to say that the book is amazing. I recommend it to any seasoned vet as well as the beginner. Well anyways as I was reading Chapter 17, Kants Moral Argument (For those who do not know Kant was an 18th Century philosopher, some of his most famous works include Critique of Practical Reason and his Critique of Pure Reason) and in this chapter Dr. Sproul was discussing Kants view of justice as a means to why God has to exist. So a few days later I was reading the New York Times and I came across an article about the Sean Bell case and how the three detectives who shot at him were acquitted. The article was about the peaceful protests that they were having in Harlem. Obviously these people did not feel that justice had been served. Now how does this relate to Kant and God, well Kant stated that that morality without God makes no sense. This is what is said in the book “What would it take for objective moral standards to be meaningful? The first thing that is necessary for ethics to be meaningful, said Kant, is justice. If crime ultimately pays, then there is no practical reason to be virtuous.” Saying that if it pays to do wrong then why not go ahead and do wrong. Then the book goes on to say “But after this has been establish, what would be necessary for justice to take place? Since justice obviously is not dispensed perfectly in this life, Kant said, it must be doled out perfectly in a state beyond this life. Because in this lie”innocent” people perish at the hands of the wicked, there must be life after death, or a place were the wicked will get their just deserts. Consider how the saint long ago puzzle over the same question: ”O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult?” (Ps. 94:3; cf. Pss. 37; 73). THe wicked can exult only in a place were justice is not perfectly carried out. THere is no absolute justice in this world. Nonetheless we seek justice, and we have courts to dispense justice, even though justice is no always served. There must be, then, according to Kant, perfect justice somewhere, and that somewhere is in the life hereafter.” With that being said, the perfect justice which Kant speaks about is that of God. God is Holy, Just, and Righteous. If we take a look at Isaiah chapter 6 we see mans reaction in the presence of that Holy, Just, and Righteous God. So I guess in a way I want this post to be one of inspiration to the believer. Do not let yourself get down when times seem rough in your life when you feel that there is no justice in the world because we see those who are in the world and they have all the best cars and the best jobs. The word says that we cannot live in carnality and expect the benefits of Christianity.
If you can’t read what the smaller captions say let me break it down for you from head to toe.
Designer Baseball Cap – $89
Stereo Headphones – $145
Ray Bans – $250
Earrings – $350
Top of the line CD player – $395
Latest Tunes – $99
Designer Silk T-Shirt – $85
Designer Low Slung Jeans – $115
Air Jordans – $475
Oh and just ignore the voter registration card in the trash because that doesn’t really have anything to do with this post. But yea all those things are on the cartoon there and your thinking what is he gonna say about that. First of all I’m not trying to hate on anyones style on any race or culture. But what I am hating on is the message that hip hop gives to millions of youth that listen to it. Because in essence hip hop has conveyed it’s message to the masses for over 20 years now. And I’m not sure what that message set out to be when it first started. But now that message is that you can get money because you were shot nine times and it’s cool. That message is that its not cool to get good grades in school. That message is that women are female dogs. That message is that drugs and alcohol are the only ways to have a good time. That your ultimate goal in life revolves around money and without it your nothing. Now again, don’t take this as me saying I’m better than you, because that is not the case. I use to listen to hip-hop all the time. As a matter of fact I still do, though it’s christian hip-hop now. But lets take a few notable secular hip hop artist and just examine the titles of some of their songs. The Notorious B.I.G. has a song called “Ready To Die”, I don’t know about you, but I’m sure not ready to die anytime soon. Noreaga has a song called “Married To Marijuana”, so what is he an addict? If you like this type of music I’m not hating on you, because like I said I use to listen to all this too. But Christ opened my eyes, this music has no positive influence on me. Most of the lyrics carry negative vibes about murder, death, killings, drug use, alcoholism, and that is what sells and they know it. And like I said I’m not saying you can’t listen to hip hop but there’s hip hop that is so much better so much more edifying so much more worth your time. This is to all the believers and non-believers out there. Examine what is going into your ears, some people say that they only like the beats, but that beat wasn’t made with the intention of giving the glory to God. I’m just gonna leave you with this, “He traded me his life for my death, He paid the fee his strife for my breath, my groans were bitter when i was a lonely critter at sins slave auction he was the only bidder. Though i had no purpose a useless tool i felt so worthless the rudest clueless fool deserving hell from the first offense but he paid an infinite price when i wasn’t worth cent i wasn’t worth a dime but he searched to find me in dirt and slime and turpentine. who’d of thought my evil deeds would be redeemable, but your gracious compassionate forgiving, personal, patient, immaculate, your giving, merciful your anger you don’t retain because you delight in unchanging love.” Powerful words from a hip hop artist named tim brindle. Thats the true love of Christ and I don’t know about you but those last two lines are just amazing. Christ love is so real and so true and so amazing. So why not edify yourself and make yourself feel better and listen to music that will give all the glory to God.
