Been a couple days since the car update. The situation at present is that my car is totaled, I sold it for $400, and should be getting a 96 Toyota Corolla next week (how a chick can resist a guy driving a 96 Corolla that gets 40+ mpg is beyond me). For now my buddy Matt, who I was staying with, has given me his car while he's in LA (brave guy, I know). But since he's out of town I'm staying with a pastor and his family until he gets back. Really I can't even express how much God has provided for me. I've wanted for nothing. The time spent with my Catholic friend was I think beneficial to us both, and talking and listening to Pastor Russ has been very enlightening.
I also had the chance to read two excellent books, A Refutation of Moral Relativism and Good News About Sex and Marriage. A Refutation of Moral Relativism really does totally show the inconsistencies and irrationality of relativism, and I am convinced that those who hold to it do not do so out of intelligent, thoughtful evaluation of the arguments, but out of willful suppression of the truth to ease their consciences. Good News About Sex and Marriage is the incredibly condensed version of John Paul II's Gospel of the Body. My Catholic friend and I are about to begin studying through this work, but it's so heady (and probably beyond my intellectual grasp), another book, Theology of the Body Explained, (a commentary on Gospel of the Body) is necessary. Together the two of them are above 1200 pages, and this is undoubtedly the most in depth study I've ever done, especially on one issue. Why I am choosing to do it on this issue (which the titles are somewhat misleading, sex and marriage is the subject, the body only in relation to them, not the stewardship of the body) I'm not completely sure. Partially because my understanding is so warped and un-biblical from our degenerate society, and partially because I believe Christian reformed circles (and non-reformed circles even more so) are sorely deficient in this area. I also believe this to be at the heart of the destruction of true masculinity and femininity, primarily responsible for the breakdown of the family unit and more so than anything else why our society is going to crap. It is interesting that in A Refutation of Moral Relativism, the author makes the case that the primary reason moral relativism is so attractive is as a means of justifying illicit sex. I have to agree because it's on these grounds that I would like to accept moral relativism, but thankfully I cannot accept what I know to be a lie.
On a completely different note, I just watched The Great Global Warming Swindle at
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3028847519933351566
I recommend everyone watch it, just as I recommended everyone watch An Inconvenient Truth. By avoiding it you are choosing to remain ignorant on one of the most important cultural issues of our day (whether it should be or not is debatable, but it is regardless). If you believe the whole global warming thing is bs, you should watch it to get some intelligent reasons to believe it's bs, rather than just the, “The earth is so big.” If on the other hand you are one who thinks anyone who doesn't believe in global warming is an idiot, you should watch to find out how intelligent people are able to not believe in it.
The film was very instructive about the origins of global warming, the influence the media has had and most importantly, rational alternatives to the very observable global warming. I think one fundamental issue that people need clarification on is what global warming is and is not. Global warming in and of itself is not really debated, it's a pretty observable fact. The issue at hand is whether or not man is primarily responsible for the warming (due to the greenhouse gas CO2 resulting from human industry, etc).
And though I would now say I really don't think global warming is that big of an issue, this does not at all affect my stance on things such as reduce/reuse/recycle and pollution. My stances concerning these are not pragmatic, but absolute. Environmental pollution and failure to reduce/reuse/recycle are all areas of poor stewardship of the dominion mandate God has given us to rule the earth. They aren't wrong because of the outcome, but because they are failure to obey God's command. Fortunately we have such a God that is infinitely wise that He has made those things that are harmful sinful and those things beneficial to us allowable. This however kind of gets into are, “Are they wrong because He commanded not to do them, or did He command not to do them because they are wrong?” Ultimately I think they are wrong because they are contrary to His character and thus He commanded against them (or positively speaking, He commanded for some things because it was in accordance with His character).
4 comments:
Seth, I am glad you are in good and safe keeping in light of the unfortunate car accident. May God's blessings abound! (Did that sound like Dad or what?) I felt compelled to write, not necessarily even knowing if you look at the posted comments. In regards to your understanding of sex and marriage being warped and un-biblical from our degenerate society, I think it's great you are seeking answers and truth. Let me share with you, however, that no matter how much you study on the subject, the actual process of being in a marriage adds a new dimension into everything you thought you knew or studied about marriage. Marriage should be the place where two people can come together totally naked (literally and figuratively) and be unashamed. This involves complete vulnerability- will I be loved even when he sees the true me? That to me is indeed why God designed sex between one woman and one man in the bonds of marriage. Promiscuous sex totally ruins the intimacy of that vulnerability, because if I have unclothed myself in front of many, what have I done to protect that intimacy, that sacredness shared between two people? Instead of vulnerability, there becomes a cheap and mangled view of "Hey, here I am, take it or leave it." or "What must I do to earn this love because I have been vulnerable before and it got me no where." Viewing love, marriage and sex through this light, first and foremost gives you the insight to protect that intimacy and secondly, it takes away the worldly view of the same being merely objects which may be bought, exchanged, refunded, or quickly gotten over. It also allows you to move past the whole idea that love, marriage and sex are based merely on physical attraction. That may be something that draws you to a person, but if it is what holds you together then I don't think they're can be much hope for a lasting relationship. Before I got married I had the insight to know that marriage would be something I had to work at (if you are under the impression that you shouldn't have to work at it, then I would advise you not to get married; I have no knowledge of any marriage that has not required work that is what I would say is a good marriage). But, again, just being married made me realize how naive my previous thinking had been. I know you well enough to know that you realize the commitment and sacrifice that are required in marriage and I must tell you it is something we all struggle with. To be unselfish and put another's needs and desires before your own- WOW, it's not something I'm necessarily good at, which is again, why my marriage requires work on a day to day basis. Which I will say is another reason sex in the bonds of marriage is beautiful. Sex, in my Biblical view, at its best, allows the mutual giving and receiving; that is one reason why I believe God designed it between only one man and one woman. Trust me, I am no marriage or sex expert, I just thought I'd share my views as your Christian sister and as a married woman.
Yes, Katie I read my comments, and I appreciate yours (and Karina's as well). And while I agree that being married does add an element to it, I am more confident than ever that all true knowledge can only come from a biblical understanding. All that you said and much more was said by John Paul II, a pope who was celibate I don't even know how many years. Understanding that chastity is required not only in singles but couples as well, and that sex is the physical renewal of one's vows and can only appropriately be partaken of if those things are true and being said in that act are revolutionary ideas to me. I think most people are only able to marry because they are so ignorant of the issues. I feel that as I learn more what marriage truly is and of the fourth ring (engagement ring, two wedding rings, and suffer-ring), the chances that someone out there besides Christ is actually worth dying daily for become ever smaller. And actually I'm kind of happy about it. The two men I admire most (post-biblical times), David Branierd and Robert Murray M'Cheyne were both single and used by God in astounding ways primarily because they were completely unbounded. Throw in Paul and John the Baptist for biblical times and you have some of the most influential and godly men ever to live. And I won't even mention Jesus. I'm actually tossing a writing idea around in my head, something like, "What the Catholics have right." that I hope will come out of my studies. We'll see.
Seth, reading these comments you are currently writing reminds me of our weekly discussions when you visited me after Rad was born. I know that this is something you constantly struggle with. I think, however, that it is a constant struggle with everyone. As you said, today's society makes it almost impossible for it not to be a regular struggle. Our public examples are of people who trade in spouses regularly for the greener pastures over the fence. Women are expected to bare more and more skin, and men are lauded for their rampant "consuming" of women. With those kinds of wordly influences, it is no wonder so many marriages end for sexual reasons. After all, when you have had sex thousands of times with the same person, there aren't a whole myriad of surprises. Sex, uncomplicated by daily responsibilities, hurt feelings, knowledge of shortcomings, etc., can seem very appealing at times. Not to me, of course, but to the masses :). I think Katie summed up how it hould be pretty well.
Seth, Heather and I are glad that you have weathered your accident well and will soon be sporting a vehicle with such a distinguished driving profile as a '96 Corolla.
The comments thus far have been fascinating and insightful. You have a unique perspective as a man who has remained unattached well into your adulthood. My understanding of passages such as 1 Cor. 7 and Jesus' comments in Matthew 19 leads me to believe that, within the life of a Christian, celibacy is a gift that is given to some in order to serve the purposes of God's kingdom. As to how it "feels" to be gifted in this way, I cannot really comment except to say that I have had the distinct impression from my adolescence that I have not been so gifted. I think that Heather will support me in this. 1 Cor. 7 has been a particularly helpful text for me to consider with respect to the prominence which marriage should (or should not) have within the life of the Church. Paul explicitly states that the pervasive immorality of the Corinthian context was a circumstance that pleaded in favor of marriage for the majority of able bodied Christians. Kate has expressed some of the nobler aspects of the marital bed, with which I am in full agreement. There is a beauty to the nakedness of man and wife that contains whispers of Eden. We are, however, east of Eden now and men and women bring pretenses even into sex. Karina and Kate both alluded to these perversions as have you. At the risk of being misunderstood, however, I want to say that personally I would have had an extremely difficult time maintaining a clear conscience sexually if it were not for my relationship with Heather. Eve was created to be a strong helper to a man, and I can bear witness that this is true in the sexual area. As the book of Proverbs says, two really do have a better return for their labor. Just as God has given Pastors, teachers, etc. to strengthen our faith and to help fortify us against stumbling, He has also given wives to men like me in order to help us in the area of sexual purity. So, part of what I am saying is that a man's appreciation of distracting temptation in the area of sexuality is a strong indicator that he should seek a wife. This is especially true in a sex saturated society like our own and is the principle reason why I would recommend marriage to the vast majority of young men.
Rest assured, I don't believe that God intended for marriage to primarily serve as a "sexual force field", but, in His grace, it does serve that purpose as well. My situation is somewhat ironic, because Heather has been such an assistance to me in the area of sexual purity, but when we got together I knew that I was not destined to remain a single man the rest of my life.
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