Hurting Others and Hurting Yourself

I had this thought while sitting on a couch in Caldwell Hall listening to Anathallo. I have no idea what sparked it, and I have drawn few, if any, conclusions about it. What I write here will be pretty much the same writing that appears in my journal.

In this country, apparently, we want the law to protect others from hurting us, but we do not want any laws regulating whether or not we can hurt ourselves. When some legislation is passed limiting our ability to hurt ourselves, we immediately cry out against it. We want suicide to be legal, weed to be legal, and no law against drunkeness. The abortion debate is similar. As long as the baby is part of the woman, she is free to injure herself; the child dies. If the child is a person separate from the mother, he is protected under the law regardless of his location. Should the law prevent me from hurting myself? Is that my free choice? Should legislation try to curb self-destructive behavior? Does my hurting myself injuring other people? Our system of government operates under the assumption that people want the best for themselves, and that they do not wish to injure themselves (because that is presumably not the best). The great political experiment that is the American Government is a system supported by morality. When morality is removed, how will the structure stand? What will support

Most of you know that I take freedom very seriously, and I am not a proponent of denying freedoms in order to gain security. I am by no means sure what the answers to any of these questions are, and I am trying to figure them out.

Spring break begins for me at the end of the week. I am going to Chicago for all of break to work in the inner city at soup kitchens, nursing homes, orphanages, child-care programs, and to spread the gospel to those who need to hear of their Savior. If you think of it, please pray for me that I will be encouraged by the power of the Gospel. Pray for boldness to speak the truth, "to preach the gospel to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord" (Isaiah 61:1-2).

I hope everyone is well and that your coming breaks are refreshing to you. If you are in Raleigh, feel free to call and perhaps we can sit and reason together. Be encouraged in the resurrection which has swallowed up death in victory. What have we to fear? (1 Cor. 15) Do not fall into the temptation to compartmentalize your life. The resurrection affects all parts of our lives from the way we eat lunch to the way we study solid mechanics or literature or biochemistry. A transcendent God cannot be kept from enveloping your whole life.

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."
~1 Corinthians 15:52

Marriage In College?

Today, while eating lunch, I was involved in a conversation about the possibility of being married while in college and how that would look. I think, if I got married while I was an undergrad, that it would be ok for my parents and my wife's parents to support us (financially), like they had for the beginning years of college, until we both graduated, and we were in a position to support ourselves. This idea has been received with sharp disagreement. Most people think that the moment I get married I should be responsible for my own finances, meaning that I assume the roll of sole provider for my wife and myself (i.e. I better put food on the table with my own hard-earned money). I, however, fail to see the problem with being in college and being married and having essentially no income. There are plenty of other ways that I, as a man, can provide for and lead my little family besides finances. I do not think that that would be an anti-Biblical situation by any stretch of the imagination. I do not really even think that it is a bad idea, or at least not worse than the idea of a 5 or 6 year courtship. This, of course, does not really affect me anyway since I am not in a romantic relationship, I am not about to enter a romantic relationship, and (frankly) there is nothing on the horizon. I will never be presented with an opportunity to be married in college. (Ok, never say never. Something could happen very soon, and I just have no idea it's coming at this point. God works like that sometimes, and I am not ruling that out as a possibility entirely. My point is that if things continue as they are, I will not be in a position to be married in the next 2 1/2 years.)

Here is the point of this whole line of thought as it actually applies to my life and all of yours. Why is it that I have such a great aversion to the idea of getting married while in college? Is it because getting married at that point in life really is an awful idea, or is it because I simply lack faith in Christ, who is the supreme God and ruler of the universe? How can I better bring glory and honor to the name of Christ: through the restraint I display in a long dating relationship, or in my faith that he will provide for my wife and me even when we are both full-time students? This thought could be extended to any big decision in life: missions, grad school, career, even dating relationships. Do I oppose certain changes to the status quo because they are bad, or simply because I can't trust God?

"For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe."
~1 Corinthians 1:21

20/20 Conference

I went to a conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary this weekend called the 20/20 conference. It was marvelous. The title was "Sex and the City of God." The speakers were all great and spoke on a variety of topics concerning sex, love, and marriage. Some of my readers are no doubt snickering at the thought of me, a college student, going to yet another conference on sex. We all thought we were done with that part of our lives didn't we? Fear not, however, for this was by far the most intelligent and valuable set of teaching that I have ever heard on any of these subjects. The conference brings together teachers, pastors, philosophers, and theologians from all around the east coast to speak, so it is no sort of "I gave my word to stop at third" type seminar.

There were 4 main sessions and 2 breakout sessions (actually 3 but I left early). The four main sessions were on marriage, speaking the truth in love, sex in heaven, and sexual abuse. All were great. The two break outs that I chose were on dating and homosexuality. The dating session was, perhaps, the first intelligent discussion of Christian dating I have ever heard. The second was probably the highlight of the entire conference as the teacher spoke on how to help people who are dealing with same-sex attraction without alienating them or compromising the teachings of the Bible which say that it is wrong. He was a great speaker.

I would love to write about all of the sessions, but those thoughts will come in later posts. I have tons of ideas and thoughts bouncing around in my head because of the conference, so I will no doubt be writing on lots of them (hopefully I can find the time).

I am still in a euphoric state over the NC State victory over UNC. I was not there, but I was going crazy in my dorm (that is the reason I left the conference early). I have to admit I thought there was no way we could possibly win, but I will not gloat about it.

I will not boast in anything accept the all-surpassing power of Christ which has saved my life and given me hope and joy. I beg you, give all you have to Christ, and you will never be in need. Keep things for yourself and you will never be satisfied.

Being an ambassador for Christ is no easy job. It takes a lot out of us. Love each other deeply. Do not alienate people. Rather, get to know them deeply that you may lead the to Christ. Preach the Gospel. If it is not received remember that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. Continue preaching the Gospel to them anyway, how will they hear without someone preaching to them? Blessed are the feet of those who bring good news (Romans 10:14-15). Judgement is coming. God is no Santa Claus. Are we ready? When the Son of Man returns will he find any faithful on the earth? I pray that he does, and that we are a part of that group.

Think. Love. Listen. Read. Talk. Hope. Glorify.

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)..."
~Ephesians 2:4-5