I have become an elder quite literally. I'm over 80. I spent the latter part of my 70s struggling to understand who/what/where God is. (Jesus and the Spirit were easy in comparison!) I finally got to the point where I know God to be good, just, using love as the means of inspiring humans to find their spiritual center and to work for the kingdom. God is both imminent and transcendent. Other than that I have no idea who/what/where God is. I am quite happy not knowing.
This is a really timely post for me, Pete! Allow me to explain… and forgive me in advance for a slight rant!
Last Christmas I was laid up over the holidays for several weeks with a virus that meant I struggled just to get out of bed. So I fell into the habit of scrolling on my social media as a way to pass the time. I’m not proud of it and I am sure you have never succumbed to that temptation - 😜- but there it is. The algorithms lost no time in kicking in and before I knew it I was completely sucked in by a couple of individuals who appear to make at least part of their living by making YouTube videos of them engaging with young college students or other vulnerable types in so-called arguments in apologetics. By this I mean they take a question, usually a familiar stereotype like, how can a loving God allow suffering, and proceed to tear the poor victim to shreds with a response that is appallingly arrogant, condescending, and delivered in an angry, obnoxious manner which barely conceals their disdain at the stupidity of the person asking the question. And I’m only slightly exaggerating here…
My point is - why??! It’s as if these folk get some perverse pleasure in humiliating their opponents. And it’s utterly astonishing to me that they (presumably) actually think this approach will persuade their listeners to turn to Christ. It sickens me because it couldn’t be further than the Jesus I encounter in the gospels. So I appreciated the distinction you drew in this post between belligerence and a genuine passion to defend the truth. May God grant us who think we have the truth all wrapped up, a bit of humility and compassion the ability to listen.
I have become an elder quite literally. I'm over 80. I spent the latter part of my 70s struggling to understand who/what/where God is. (Jesus and the Spirit were easy in comparison!) I finally got to the point where I know God to be good, just, using love as the means of inspiring humans to find their spiritual center and to work for the kingdom. God is both imminent and transcendent. Other than that I have no idea who/what/where God is. I am quite happy not knowing.
Thank you Pete!
This is a really timely post for me, Pete! Allow me to explain… and forgive me in advance for a slight rant!
Last Christmas I was laid up over the holidays for several weeks with a virus that meant I struggled just to get out of bed. So I fell into the habit of scrolling on my social media as a way to pass the time. I’m not proud of it and I am sure you have never succumbed to that temptation - 😜- but there it is. The algorithms lost no time in kicking in and before I knew it I was completely sucked in by a couple of individuals who appear to make at least part of their living by making YouTube videos of them engaging with young college students or other vulnerable types in so-called arguments in apologetics. By this I mean they take a question, usually a familiar stereotype like, how can a loving God allow suffering, and proceed to tear the poor victim to shreds with a response that is appallingly arrogant, condescending, and delivered in an angry, obnoxious manner which barely conceals their disdain at the stupidity of the person asking the question. And I’m only slightly exaggerating here…
My point is - why??! It’s as if these folk get some perverse pleasure in humiliating their opponents. And it’s utterly astonishing to me that they (presumably) actually think this approach will persuade their listeners to turn to Christ. It sickens me because it couldn’t be further than the Jesus I encounter in the gospels. So I appreciated the distinction you drew in this post between belligerence and a genuine passion to defend the truth. May God grant us who think we have the truth all wrapped up, a bit of humility and compassion the ability to listen.
Bless you Pete - love your work.
Stephanie
I think they do that because they are insecure and need to protect their egos.