Why Read "Old" Books?

Reading old books is often hard work. Mark Twain once quipped that a classic book is one "everyone wishes they have read but never takes the time to read." So, here is some encouragement from CS Lewis for us to prioritize reading "classics."

CS Lewis writes,

None of us can fully escape this [cultural] blindness [of our age], but we shall certainly increase it, and weaken our guard against it, if we read only modern books. Where they are true they will give us truths which we half knew already. Where they are false they will aggravate the error with which we are already dangerously ill. The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books. Not, of course, that there is any magic about the past. People were no cleverer then than they are now; they made as many mistakes as we. But not the same mistakes. They will not flatter us in the errors we are already committing; and their own errors, being now open and palpable, will not endanger us. . . . To be sure, the books of the future would be just as good a corrective as the books of the past, but unfortunately we cannot get at them. 

("On the Reading Old Books," in God in the Dock, pg. 202. I found this quote in The Devoted Life: An Invitation to the Purtian Classics, ed. by Kapic and Gleason, pg. 34.).

"Is Something Evil Only if It Harms Others?"

This is a pressing question for our day and time. More and more it is the cultural way of defining evil. However, if we think for a few moments, we realize that determining what harms others is itself complex. Does a divorce hurt others if both the man and woman say they want the divorce? Could it be that such a divorce hurts society in untraceable ways? In other words, how direct and obvious must the harm be before the action is considered evil? So, even without using the Bible, I would argue that this definition of evil is built on quicksand.

More than that, however, the issue is that Christians must define evil the way God does. A world that rejects God defines evil in shallow ways. The Christian worldview offers a deeper understanding of the nature of evil. A definition of evil must reckon with the existence of God as the owner, lawgiver, and judge of all creation. It must take into account God's glory and holiness.

The Ask Pastor John podcast has an excerpt from a John Piper sermon that will help you see through the culture's shallow definition of evil, and begin to think biblically. Here is how he summarizes evil:

The essence of evil, all evil — what makes evil really evil — is that it always involves finding more pleasure in something other than God. 

The whole eight minutes of the podcast is worth listening to. Obviously, it is not a full treatment of the topic, but I think it addresses the crux of the issue.

Redeem the Time: A Challenge from Jonathan Edwards

Since you are on break from enforced thinking (that is college required thinking), let me encourage you to spend some time thinking about the direction of your life and how you might improve it for the glory of God and your happiness. Well, I'll let Jonathan Edwards do it through some of his resolutions.

Jonathan Edwards wrote 67 resolutions (guiding principles) for his life when he was in his early 20's. Here are just a couple related to the use of time and the goal of life. Perhaps you can think over them, find Scriptural support, and implement them into your mindset.

RESOLUTIONS REGARDING THE AIM OF LIFE:

1. “Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good … Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.”

22.  “Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.” [My editorial question for you, Ask yourself what will promote maximum happiness for the maximum duration? Is it not pursuing God?]

RESOLUTIONS REGARDING THE USE OF TIME:

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age.

"When Has My Career Become an Idol?"

I view this blog as a place to occasionally post fresh thoughts, but I also view it as a place to curate some good things I stumble on that I think are helpful for young adults.

I listened to this episode of "Ask Pastor John" on the topic of work and idolatry. It is almost 12 minutes long (you can get it on your favorite podcast app and listen to it while you drive around).

Don't Overlook Fellowship Opportunities in College

This is the third post in the series "Your College Years Will Fly By".

I am continuing my series on not wasting your opportunities. Today’s post is on fellowship. Before I exhort you not to waste your opportunity, I should mention what fellowship is.

Fellowship involves Christians seeking to do spiritual good to one another and sharing life’s joys and struggles with one another. It is different than socializing in that it has a spiritual aim and foundation. It aims to spur each believer on to love, good deeds, and faithfulness. Its foundation is our common unity in Christ (which is why a Christian can and should love unbelieving neighbors, but there is no Christian fellowship there). I should point out that socializing works with fellowship in that socializing (talking about general and common life experiences) usually facilitates fellowship. It isn’t a replacement for fellowship (as if talking about who won the game is the same thing as fellowship). However, socializing isn’t unimportant either.

As young, unmarried adults, you have opportunities for a greater breadth of fellowship during this season of life. You will likely have more discretionary time than the “married with kids” demographic. I don’t mean to imply that you aren’t busy or that you don’t have serious work to do which consumes time and energy. You are likely very busy. All I mean is that your “free time” (however much you have) is likely discretionary (will you join this club, will you go to the football game, etc.). Whereas, a person who is married with kids has almost all of his or her free-time allocated. You might indeed stay up late working on papers, but you won’t have young kids waking up the next morning at the first sliver of dawning light to demand your attention. Perhaps you don’t have much discretionary time, but you likely have more energy than you will have in the future.

My point is that you should evaluate your opportunities to fellowship and maximize them for your good as well as that of others. Be broad in those you fellowship with. Try to be intentional at church to speak with older and younger people and to do them spiritual good. Hang out with the young families on the playground after Sunday evening service. Go to a Bible study to learn the Word with fellow believers and to pray with one another. Make time to socialize with fellow Christians so that you can more easily and naturally have spiritual fellowship.

Every stage of life should be marked by Christian fellowship. And in every stage of life there will always appear to be good reasons why you don’t have time for it. The temptation, especially in a Bible-centered church, is to see fellowship as simply a nice add-on. In otherwords, I come and hear the Bible, but I don’t have time to socialize and fellowship. Fight against this way of thinking. Develop the habit (the discipline) of fellowship now while you have a bit more energy and (perhaps) time. And when you grow older, don’t forsake it.

Don't Waste Your Evangelism Opportunities in College

This is the second post in the series "Your College Years Will Fly By"

Here is my syllogism:

·       Every Christian must be involved in “making disciples,” which includes sharing the gospel with unbelievers.

·       Each stage of life brings some unique evangelistic opportunities. 

·       Therefore, be a good steward with your opportunities, for they will never be exactly the same in the future

Every Christian should evangelize

Jesus commanded his disciples to make disciples of all the nations. They “make disciples” (or followers of Jesus) by sharing the gospel message (Mark 1:15), exemplifying Christian love for fellow Christians (John 13:35), and letting the Lord give new life (John 3). The point is, every believer has a role to play. We know that this is true because the promise in the Great Commission is that Jesus will be with his followers until the end of the age to empower them in ministry. Therefore the ministry must endure past the original disciples to the end of the age.

Each stage of life brings some unique (and some similar) opportunities

For example, a young mom who is at home with her kids will have opportunities to evangelize her children, other moms she spends time around, her hairstylist, etc. Some of these are unique opportunities (her children) while others are more common (hairstylist).

You, as a young and single adult, will likely not have as many opportunities in the realm of evangelizing your children (but you could evangelize children through a ministry).  All I am saying is that there is usually a unique “people group” you can reach now that you will likely not have as direct access to in the future.

So, don’t waste the particular opportunities you have now. What doors are open for young adults? For those who are students, you have more direct contact with college students. These young men and women are at a phase of life in which they are trying to formulate convictions about their purpose, why the world is as it is, and where everything is going. That is a unique opportunity in terms of evangelism. 

Beyond that, young, unmarried adults often have a greater number of exchanges with people during the day. Between work and school, you are around large numbers of different folks. Being around more people, especially at a secular university, means you also have contact with a wider variety of people. Not merely in terms of numbers but in terms of worldviews and nationalities. You in a stage in life in which it takes less extra and intentional effort to break out of the silos of being around people that are mostly “just like you.”

Therefore, be a good steward

What a tremendous set of circumstances to minister in! What opportunities to make Jesus Lordship and grace known. So, don’t waste these unique opportunities. The same goes for “the rest of us.” We have unique opportunities that are unique if we open our eyes and love our neighbors.

Your College Years Will Fly by: Don't Waste the Opportunities

Each stage of life has unique opportunities and challenges. Our fallen human nature often leads us to always look forward or backward rather than to enjoy and use what we have in the here and now. Your college or young adult years are no exception.

Wise is the person who takes stock in each season of life. Evaluating the opportunities and adjusting things in your life to accommodate new responsibilities is essential but often overlooked. If you don't evaluate how to play to each season's opportunities and responsibilities, you will likely look back with extra regret as you get older.

These are the years in which your ability to think and reason is blooming. Your body is usually healthy and full of energy (despite how tired you often are). Your schedule is full, but you have fewer responsibilities than you will have in the future if you get married and have kids. You likely have a broader array of relationships through your connections at school, work, and social engagements. The question is, how can you maximize the opportunities you have to foster your own growth in Christ, the good of the church family, and the good of unsaved neighbors.

So, I want to spend a few posts on this topic. I specifically want to encourage you to think of the opportunities you have in the areas of (1) evangelism, (2) discipleship, and (3) spiritual growth. Take some time to think of your unique opportunities in your current stage of life (this exercise works well no matter what stage you are at).