Discipleship pack
What is a discipleship pack?
It is a spiritual direction for people who really want to take the message that has been preached and turn it into practical living. It is a tool to be used so that what has been heard in the message translates into practical action and a transformed life. It is a tool to be used by the fully engaged and devoted disciple to make sure that they become doers of the word and not merely those who hear without ever changing.
Why are the exercises effective?
They are based on a careful study of the human soul and the psychology of our minds. The spiritual direction here is designed to impact us not only intellectually but at the deeper levels of the subconscious which the Bible speaks of as the heart. If they are practiced as outlined consistently then they will be tools of the Holy Spirit to bring about transforming change. Our belief is that change does not normally happen due to some supernatural “zap” of God but is due to a process which takes place within us over time. Time is our friend and God works in us normally through a gentle process that brings about long term change.
Why should I do these spiritual exercises?
For the same reason you do physical exercise. To maintain health, reduce stress, and increase strength. Many of us want to be sane, stable, strong, and spiritual. But this desire is not becoming a reality in our lives. Instead we find ourselves troubled, overwhelmed, exhausted, and dominated by sinful habits we hate. This spiritual direction can begin to equip our souls to successfully fight the inward battle against the unbelief in our hearts, the influence of the culture around us, and the influence of the dark forces of evil which seek to destroy us.
Our hope: That you will use this discipleship pack as a help towards making your faith in Christ, real, practical, and transforming. Take the challenge offered here to not just hear the word but live it.
Read Mark 1:9-13
Lectio Divina: Sacred Reading
Thinking About the Word.
Listen carefully as you read this scripture passage is read aloud. In the space below, write a sentence that summarizes what this passage means to you. Begin with a statement such as, I think this passage means. or I think God is telling us..
Experiencing the Word.
Read the passage again out loud. In the space below, note the sights, smells, tastes, touches, sounds or feelings that the second reading of the passage evokes in you. These do not have to be complete sentences. You may also draw symbols or pictures if you wish.
Meditating on the Word..
Read the passage again out loud. In the space below, write the word or phrase that leaps out at you in this passage as it is read a third time. Sit quietly for several minutes and repeat the word or phrase in your mind. Try to wipe away extraneous thoughts and focus on your word or phrase.
Acting on the Word.
Read the passage again out loud. Listen attentively to the fourth reading of the passage. In the space below, write in one sentence where you believe God is calling you, your church, or your community to act in the world based on this passage. Use an I statement such as I think that God. or I hear God.
A Circle of Prayer
Speak to two or three people about also doing this exercise. Meet once a week in person on by internet. Share with each other the insights that God gave you in your reading of this passage. Pray for one another in light of this passage and the insights gained. Hold each other accountable for doing sacred reading each week.
Meditation on This Word – Mark 1:9-13 - Read this meditation once a day for six days
NAU Mark 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." 12 Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. 13 And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.
Also read: Matthew 3:13-17
Matthew 4:1-11
Luke 4:1-13
Sometimes we wonder how committed Jesus is to us. We wonder about how dedicated He is to helping us. Even in light of the incarnation that tells us that the eternal second person of the God head has now taken on a human nature to save us. Now we see that Jesus chooses to place upon himself the covenant sign of baptism. This was not because he had to repent. It was not because He lacked the Holy Spirit.
Why then is Jesus baptized? It was because He wanted us to know that He was ready to fully be identified with us. He also pointed out the importance of baptism. He was showing us that we should all want to do whatever God calls us to do. He is an example of obedience to us. Every disciple and their children need to be baptized. It is an important part of our relationship with God.
Eventually he would identify with us by taking our sins upon Himself. His baptism shows that He is dedicated to His people and that He is willing to die for their sins. One of the key points here is that Jesus is one with us. He sees us as His family. We are the people of the King and the King is not ashamed to be identified with us. He approves of us and accepts us.
Jesus is focused on doing the will of the Father. He is focused on seeking first the kingdom of God and righteousness. This drives him and is His passion. He wants to fulfill the will of God on the earth. If we are to become like Jesus we must also seek to do all of God’s will and be identified with God’s purposes on the earth. Jesus was not ashamed to be identified with us, but are we at times ashamed to be identified with Him?
Jesus also now faces the temptation of the devil. The devil is a fallen angel who heads an angelic rebellion against the kingdom of God. This angel choose to rebel against God’s rule and strives to encourage men to join him in disobedience. He tempted mankind in the paradise and now attempts to tempt Jesus who is the second “Adam” not in a garden but in a wilderness. Here Jesus’ faithfulness to God’s plan and purpose are put to the test.
The tests that Jesus faces are not unlike those we face. The first temptation is to use God and “spirituality” to get our needs and wants instead of seeking God for Himself. The next test is to try to see if God loves us by taking unrealistic and uncalled for risks and then blaming God if they don’t work out. Finally, the ethical dilemma is to compromise our principles in order to get the good thing done. It is easy to tell ourselves that the end results justify the methods. It is hard to argue with “success”
The Bible makes clear that everyone has to face a very hard and difficult life. Even the Son of God has to face the testing of the devil. He is led by the Holy Spirit out to face this test even as the man and women were allowed by God to be tested by the devil in paradise. They failed that test. We failed that test when the devil tested us. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But Jesus did not fail that test. That is why He is the Savior. He alone is good.
But now as Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit and forgiven us our sins we are better equipped to face these tests. We will still fail but at times we will succeed. We will resist the devil and he will flee from us as we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and use the practice of the spiritual disciplines to help us overcome the influence of our rebellious culture, the dark spiritual forces, and our own unbelief within our hearts.
Our lives are sometimes in a period of testing. At other times God send angels to strengthen us. He builds us up and then allows us to face a difficult time to see how well we have learned to follow Him. Through this testing of our faith we become more and more like Jesus (James 1:1-12). This is the normal road of maturity for disciples of Jesus.
The key here is that Jesus has come to be identified with us. He wants us to know that He accepts us and is not ashamed to be our King. Are we ashamed to be His people? Our King is dedicated to fulfilling all righteousness. Are we ready to follow Him in fulfilling all righteousness? Are we ready for the tests that are coming into our lives? Are we aware that life will be a battle with the values of our unbelieving culture, the dark angelic forces, and our own doubting hearts? Do we seek the Lord for the strength to overcome these influences that we might follow Jesus? To follow Jesus means to be ready to be tested as He was and to resist the devil each and every day (James 4:7). Through this process we will become more like Jesus.
Community questions – Mark 1:9-13
Also read: Matthew 3:13-17
Matthew 4:1-11
Luke 4:1-13
1. Why do you think that our society has little emphasis on baptism or church membership?
2. What do you think it means that Jesus wanted to “fulfill all righteousness”?
3. What feelings do you have when you think about hearing a voice from heaven saying to Jesus; “This is my beloved Son”?
4. Why is it important that Jesus want so be identified with us as our King?
5. From reading these passages how important does it seem to the gospel writers that Jesus overcame the devil in the wilderness?
6. How do you think that the devil is testing Christians in American culture today?
7. How would you explain to someone else the importance of being ready to resist the devil in our daily live ?
Meditation (Self Talk) - Psalm 1 - By speaking to ourselves out loud with passion and focus that which is true, especially at times when we are tempted and tested by life, we can begin to reprogram our hearts and have the life of Jesus flow through us into the world.
1. Jesus wants me to know that He is not ashamed to be my King
2. Jesus wants me to know that baptism is important
3. Jesus wants me to be ready to resist the devil in my daily life
4. Jesus wants to seek to fulfill all righteousness
5. Jesus wants will comfort and strengthen me when I am weak
6. Jesus wants me to be open to the Holy Spirit leading me into new spiritual trials
7. Jesus wants me know that I now am He is well pleased with me today
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
Learning To Love The Bible
Timothy 3:16-17 (New Living Translation)
16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 17It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.
16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 17It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.
Most of us recognize that as Christians that we should read the Bible. But the truth is that it very hard for most of us to get into a regular habit of doing it. The reason for this is that many of us are:
- Some of hardly read anything as adults that is serious literature
- Some of us find it hard to get anything from the bible that is meaningful to our daily lives
- Some of us feel we just do not have time to read the bible
- You can add your reason here __________________________________
The truth of the matter is that the Bible is the most important book in the world. It is the only book that is the God breathed and perfect revelation of the mind and will of God. The content of the Bible is true and it is a channel of the Holy Spirit to bring to us supernatural insight and strength to live the Christian life. God gave the scriptures to prepare us for the mission He wants us to do on earth and for the life we will live in heaven. So finding ways to overcome our struggle with Bible reading and study would be critical.
First, let us recognize that there are three types of reading of the Bible that we need to make time for in our lives.
- A general reading of the Bible that is done daily to keep us in touch with the Word and opens our hearts to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We should dedicate not less than 15 minutes a day to this type of bible reading. There are several on-line resources that make this type of bible reading easy and can be found at such sites as http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/
- A study of the Bible that is done about once a week. This would be where you choose a specific topic or book and carefully look at a particular passage. In this study you would use books called commentaries that can help you know what the best and the brightest have thought about the passage. Notes should be taken and questions written down to take to your pastor. This type of study should take at least 30 minutes a week. There are again on-line resources that can help you with this goal such as http://bible.crosswalk.com/
- A Sacred Reading of the Bible that is done at least once a week. This is reading a very small section of the scripture in a very prayerful attitude in which you are seeking the Holy Spirit to speak directly to you in your life right now. This reading is focused on being prayerful and focused by repeating the scripture out loud in the presence of the Lord. Here we should have a journal in which we can record our impressions and thoughts. A guide on-line that can help you learn this type of reading of the scriptures can be found at http://www.thedome.org/SpiritQuest/ListenHeart/Lectio/ways.html
By having this mixture in our approach to the Bible it can make it more interesting. Having groups that are dediated to any of these types of bible reading can help. If a group wanted to meet somewhere weekly to just read the bible for fifteen minutes and have each person read one verse as they went around the circle it may help some of us read more than we normally do. Perhaps some people work at the same office and they could do this daily before work. Sometimes it helps to dedicate ourselves to others in a fellowship so that we can study the scriptures as we should. See if you can find a couple friends who want to improve their reading of the Bible and you can encourage each other in this goal.
Remember what God has given you the Bible for your good. The Bible is the gift of God to you. It is a way by which you can accomplish the purpose of your life. It is truth that you can count on at the most difficult of times. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you develop a practical plan to improving your reading of the Bible. I doubt you will ever regret that prayer.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Divorce
Malachi 2:16 "For I hate divorce!" says the LORD, the God of Israel. "It is as cruel as putting on a victim's bloodstained coat," says the LORD Almighty. "So guard yourself; always remain loyal to your wife."
I was speaking to a person who was 65 years old. They had made a decision to divorce their spouse. Their spouse had failed to provide what they believed to be a "fair" share of financial support in the marriage. Their spouse had a tendency to not to be as successful in business as one would hope. They lived in an upper middle class area and had a comfortable lifestyle. They were a long way from poverty.
The issue however had to do with the spouse not being trusted to have done their best and the feeling they had exploited the other person. There were of course deeper issues and wounds. But there was no sexual sin here. There was no physical abuse here. There was no abandonment here. Both people claimed to be followers of Jesus. Yet, divorce was being chosen because there was a promise of a happier life for the next, let us say twenty years, perhaps less.
This divorce that was being chosen was a sin. It was a high handed sin against God. It is not an uncommon sin among Christians today. The choice that was made reflected atheism more than Christianity. If as an atheist I know I have only twenty years to live before I become food for the worms of the earth then striving to find the most happiness I can before I become nothing could be considered a logical choice of action. But if as a Christian I belive that I will have to answer for every thing I have done in the body and at the very least suffer eternal lost of reward for choosing a sinful and unjustified divorce then it is the most insane action in all the world. Not to add of course that if I think Christ died for this sin that I have by doing it added to his pain.
Yet, today many Christians would respond with a "so what" attitude towards these things. This action may not glorify God, this action may be met with a frown from Jesus on the day of judgment, but I still get heaven and that is all that matters. I can have a happier twenty some years and heaven as well. The sin of divorce will allow me to have the best of this life and I can be satisfied with a little bit less rewards in heaven. To tell you the truth, rewards in heaven do not seem as real as pain on the earth right now. Jesus paid it all so I am going to use that to gain happiness now.
May we sin that grace may abound! God forbid we ever think like this. It should be noted that the only sins that are forgiven are those we have repented of and confessed. Divorces chosen so carefully and in deliberate violation of the biblical teachings are rarely repented of by the spouses. Repentance by the way would mean that there should be a striving to return to the marriage and reconcile. Does one who have true faith decide to commit the sin of divorce? Does the presence of the new birth make itself known by having a person openly decide to rebel against the teachngs of Jesus Christ? Is it possible that such a divorce, chosen in open rebellion against Christ, is a reflection of a heart of unbelief more than a heart of faith? If so, then it is a warning that the person needs to not just repent about the divorce but to repent so that they may be saved. Sometimes we know more about what faith is in our hearts by our actions than we know from our words and feelings. The fruit of faith is a life of love. Unlawful divorce is not an act of love. It does not reflect love for God or for others. It is a selfish act of rebellion.
As the people of God we need to renew our dedication to the teaching of scripture about divorce. Our society has made divorce acceptable, easy, and shame free. Our society sees marriage as a liscence to have relational fun and create families. But they see such unions as not life long. They seet marriage as a purely human invention that can be molded to fit the needs of those who want to be in it. God does not get to set the rules for marriage. We can simply do what we want with it. This self centered rule over marriage is a rebellion against God, His Christ, and His kingdom. We need to seek to understand tha practice the sacred nature of marriage once again and live within the will of God concerning divorce.
Dear Lord,
Help us to see your will concerning marriage. Help us to see that you hate divorce. Help us to hate it as well. Help us in our struggles within our marriages. Give us the courage to not give up on them.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen
Thursday, March 02, 2006
The Narrow Way of Jesus
Discipleship Pack
March 4, 2006
I. I.. Read Matthew 7:13-23 once a day for the next six days. Read it out loud and ask the Holy Spirit to show you the meaning of the passage for you that day. Write down key words that hit you each day and why they seem important to you.
II. Prayers
a. Dear Lord, I want to be able to discern the narrow and broad paths. It would seem that should be easy enough. Yet, in my blindness and self justification even the most obvious things are hard. Lord, give me the eyes to see things as they are and not as I would have them be. Let me know the truth from error. Keep me from false doctrine and false living. Lord, have mercy on me a sinner and keep me from the way that leads to destruction.
b. Dear Lord, I want to bear the fruit of love in my life. I do not want to be barren. I do not want to just look like a disciple but from the heart be a disciple. I renounce my loyalty to the world and King Adam. I want only you Lord Jesus to be my king and my one great desire is to see your kingdom come to the earth. Lord, have mercy and help me to live up to these most exulted desires.
III. Thoughtful Quotes
a. “If my religion is only a formal compliance with those modes of worship which are in fashion where I live; if it costs me no pain or trouble; if it puts me under no rules and restraints; if I have no careful thoughts and sober reflections about it – is it not foolish to think that I have I am striving to enter in the strait gate? How can it be said that I am working out my salvation with fear and trembling?” (William Law; A Serious Call To A Devout and Holy Life; pg. 26)
b. “Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” — Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. president (1809-1865)
c. “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically... Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” — Martin Luther King Jr., American civil rights leader (1929-1968)
IV. Meditation on Matthew 7:13-23
Jesus says hard things. He is saying that it is hard to find and walk in the pattern of life that leads to life. It is easy to find and a pleasure to walk in the pattern of life that leads to death. This means we must overcome our natural tendency to always take the easier road. Only by keeping the end in mind can we choose the right road and enjoy the difficult trek. There are no short cuts or detours. We must find the right path and stay with it till the end or perish. This picture of life is a long way from the post modern ideal of tolerance and relative truth. Far from all ways leading to God, Jesus is making it very clear that there is one difficult and hard road to be followed if one wants to avoid condemnation and know the eternal blessing of God in heaven.
What is this narrow road that Jesus is speaking about? First of all it means that we must have proactive faith. We must decide to take responsibility for our sins and seek the Lord. Rather than expect the kingdom of God to come to us, we must seek it with all our hearts. The narrow road is one in which we have asked God to show us the way, knocked on the door of it until our knuckles are bleeding, and sought for it as we would a lottery ticket worth millions. This is a vibrant and working faith in Jesus and not one to blame shift.
The person who chooses the road that Jesus is recommending is also one who keeps the end in mind. The virtue of the road is where it leads not the comfort it provides. The right road is hard but leads to life. The wrong road is filled with comfort but leads to death. True faith looks beyond comfort to destiny. It is willing to pay the daily price of discipleship for the joy of knowing the life of God and avoiding eternal hell fire. This eye upon eternity is critical in making the right choice.
The narrow road demands we have the right priorities. We must seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. God’s kingdom and purpose is placed ahead of our immediate pleasure. Sacrifices are made to serve the Lord and others for the sake of God. We make the love of God and others our top priority allowing ourselves to place personal pleasure and affluence on a lower level.
It is this road that Jesus calls us to. Not because He does not love us, but because he yearns to know us. He does not want us to make even miracles and signs of power our greatest concern. No, he desires that our lives be reflective of His character and love. If this is attained with a real personal union with Him then all will be well. It is time we hear these hard sayings and ask for the faith to embrace them and with them, the Lord Himself.
Journal
1. What is your emotional response to Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:13-23?
2. Do you ever wish that the way was not so narrow? Have you talked to God about this problem? What would you say to him about it?
3. Why do you think the way is narrow? Is it up to God to make the way narrow or broad? What outside of God could influence the need of the way being narrow?
4. If you were to fully devote yourself to the narrow way what changes would you make in your life?
Small Group Guide
1. What was the impact on those who heard Jesus when he first preached the Sermon on the Mount when he talked about a “narrow way”?
2. Why do we think that miracles mean that a person is from God and is saved?
3. Why is it disturbing to think that a person can be a miracle worker and still end up in hell?
4. What impact does it have that the great problem with those false prophets is that they were “lawless” and did not know Jesus personally? Clearly they had accepted Him as “Lord” but yet did not know Him. What implications does this have for the church today?
5. What could you do to improve your personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Self Talk and Meditation
Speak these out loud to yourself three times a day for the next six days.
1. I want to choose the narrow road of Jesus
2. I want to bear the fruit of love in my life
3. I do not want to take the easy road
4. I want to know the divine life of God
5. I want to avoid spiritual death
6. I want to know Jesus personally
7. I want to seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
March 4, 2006
I. I.. Read Matthew 7:13-23 once a day for the next six days. Read it out loud and ask the Holy Spirit to show you the meaning of the passage for you that day. Write down key words that hit you each day and why they seem important to you.
II. Prayers
a. Dear Lord, I want to be able to discern the narrow and broad paths. It would seem that should be easy enough. Yet, in my blindness and self justification even the most obvious things are hard. Lord, give me the eyes to see things as they are and not as I would have them be. Let me know the truth from error. Keep me from false doctrine and false living. Lord, have mercy on me a sinner and keep me from the way that leads to destruction.
b. Dear Lord, I want to bear the fruit of love in my life. I do not want to be barren. I do not want to just look like a disciple but from the heart be a disciple. I renounce my loyalty to the world and King Adam. I want only you Lord Jesus to be my king and my one great desire is to see your kingdom come to the earth. Lord, have mercy and help me to live up to these most exulted desires.
III. Thoughtful Quotes
a. “If my religion is only a formal compliance with those modes of worship which are in fashion where I live; if it costs me no pain or trouble; if it puts me under no rules and restraints; if I have no careful thoughts and sober reflections about it – is it not foolish to think that I have I am striving to enter in the strait gate? How can it be said that I am working out my salvation with fear and trembling?” (William Law; A Serious Call To A Devout and Holy Life; pg. 26)
b. “Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” — Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. president (1809-1865)
c. “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically... Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” — Martin Luther King Jr., American civil rights leader (1929-1968)
IV. Meditation on Matthew 7:13-23
Jesus says hard things. He is saying that it is hard to find and walk in the pattern of life that leads to life. It is easy to find and a pleasure to walk in the pattern of life that leads to death. This means we must overcome our natural tendency to always take the easier road. Only by keeping the end in mind can we choose the right road and enjoy the difficult trek. There are no short cuts or detours. We must find the right path and stay with it till the end or perish. This picture of life is a long way from the post modern ideal of tolerance and relative truth. Far from all ways leading to God, Jesus is making it very clear that there is one difficult and hard road to be followed if one wants to avoid condemnation and know the eternal blessing of God in heaven.
What is this narrow road that Jesus is speaking about? First of all it means that we must have proactive faith. We must decide to take responsibility for our sins and seek the Lord. Rather than expect the kingdom of God to come to us, we must seek it with all our hearts. The narrow road is one in which we have asked God to show us the way, knocked on the door of it until our knuckles are bleeding, and sought for it as we would a lottery ticket worth millions. This is a vibrant and working faith in Jesus and not one to blame shift.
The person who chooses the road that Jesus is recommending is also one who keeps the end in mind. The virtue of the road is where it leads not the comfort it provides. The right road is hard but leads to life. The wrong road is filled with comfort but leads to death. True faith looks beyond comfort to destiny. It is willing to pay the daily price of discipleship for the joy of knowing the life of God and avoiding eternal hell fire. This eye upon eternity is critical in making the right choice.
The narrow road demands we have the right priorities. We must seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. God’s kingdom and purpose is placed ahead of our immediate pleasure. Sacrifices are made to serve the Lord and others for the sake of God. We make the love of God and others our top priority allowing ourselves to place personal pleasure and affluence on a lower level.
It is this road that Jesus calls us to. Not because He does not love us, but because he yearns to know us. He does not want us to make even miracles and signs of power our greatest concern. No, he desires that our lives be reflective of His character and love. If this is attained with a real personal union with Him then all will be well. It is time we hear these hard sayings and ask for the faith to embrace them and with them, the Lord Himself.
Journal
1. What is your emotional response to Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:13-23?
2. Do you ever wish that the way was not so narrow? Have you talked to God about this problem? What would you say to him about it?
3. Why do you think the way is narrow? Is it up to God to make the way narrow or broad? What outside of God could influence the need of the way being narrow?
4. If you were to fully devote yourself to the narrow way what changes would you make in your life?
Small Group Guide
1. What was the impact on those who heard Jesus when he first preached the Sermon on the Mount when he talked about a “narrow way”?
2. Why do we think that miracles mean that a person is from God and is saved?
3. Why is it disturbing to think that a person can be a miracle worker and still end up in hell?
4. What impact does it have that the great problem with those false prophets is that they were “lawless” and did not know Jesus personally? Clearly they had accepted Him as “Lord” but yet did not know Him. What implications does this have for the church today?
5. What could you do to improve your personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Self Talk and Meditation
Speak these out loud to yourself three times a day for the next six days.
1. I want to choose the narrow road of Jesus
2. I want to bear the fruit of love in my life
3. I do not want to take the easy road
4. I want to know the divine life of God
5. I want to avoid spiritual death
6. I want to know Jesus personally
7. I want to seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Intelligent Design
Is teaching Intelligent Design in public school an establishment of religion?
There is a current debate in the United States on allowing the discussion of intelligent design in the public schools. The issue is can we allow students in a public school to be exposed to the idea that there may be evidence of an intelligence in the formation of the universe without establishing a state funded religion? Is the introduction of the intellectual idea that there may be an intelligence who designed the universe a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America? Do we have to imply that the universe is rationally known as only a random accident and does not demonstrate any evidence of design in order to not establish religion? Is the religiously “neutral” position simply to set forth the idea of a universe that is random and without purpose? Would suggesting the idea that some scientists see in the universe evidence of design, purpose, and intelligence based on scientific data be the beginning of our loss of separation of church and state? This is the debate that is before our nation and our courts today.
Now we have groups on both sides who are zealots for their position on the issue of the universe being created or not created. There are those who are convinced of a purely atheistic viewpoint of life and those who are equally convinced of a theistic perspective. This is not new but has always been the way it has been. This is an important intellectual issue.
Because our emotions run so high on that issue we need to make sure we understand that is not the issue that is being discussed here. The question here is if presenting the idea that some scientists based on current evidence see indications of design in the physical universe instead of all things being able to be explained by random chance over extremely prolonged periods of time is a violation of the First Amendment of the United States? Are the expressions of such ideas and the study of the scientists who are reflecting on these concepts, if paid for by public funds a government establishment of religion?
Now a fair question to be asked is if such ideas would establish a religion one should be able to define what religion would be established. Sir Fredrick Hoyle, the Nobel Prize winning mathematician who could be seen as the great grand father of the intelligent design movement was moved by his mathematical studies in probability to the idea that there must have been an intelligence guiding the process of evolution. This led him to a belief in a type of pantheism in which this intelligence was part of the physical cosmos. Others in the intelligent design movement have only a vague sense of an undefined designer much like Aristotle’s “First mover” while others see this as affirming their faith in a more traditional deity. Clearly the idea of intelligent design does not lead to any theological harmony or even philosophical unity. So what is the dogma that we are establishing with the power of the state by allowing the discussion of intelligent design? Exactly what religion is being forced down the throat of our students with the coercive power of the state by reading an article by a scientist who sees evidence of design in the universe?
What is clear is that intelligent design is not promoting any of the major world religions or even one particular philosophical perspective. So, what religion is being established by allowing the idea of intelligent design being taught in our public schools? If this is a violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment then at the very least we should be able to define exactly which religion is being established.
The purpose of the First Amendment was not to ban all discussion of great ideas in the public schools and some of these great ideas deal with theological ideas. One cannot read Plato’s “Republic” or Voltaire’s “Candide” without introducing some discussion of the divine. One could wonder in fact if people are even being educated in an adequate manner if they are not at least being introduced to basic metaphysical concepts. Is reading such classics a violation of the First Amendment? Or would it only be a violation if one quotes Plato in science class since he was a believer in intelligent design, but clearly not a member of any major world religion.
Now the other idea is at question here is one of establishment. Are those who are suggesting allowing the idea of intelligent design to be introduced into the discussion of ideas in the public school suggesting that intelligent design be taught as “dogma” by the public school teachers? For government to establish a religion it has to place the power and influence of the state behind an idea and declare that this is the official view of the government. Intelligent design does not question the basic mechanism of evolution but instead presents the idea that the evidence of the universe as currently understood leads some scientists to a view called theistic evolution instead of atheistic evolution. There is no desire in the intelligent design movement to stop teaching the “how” of the evolutionary process but only to give options about the “why” of the evolutionary process.
The intelligent design movement is not suggesting that the only view that be presented to students be that of intelligent design. They are not asking for intelligent design be established as the official position of the public school system. All that is being suggested is that the viewpoint of scientists who hold this theory be allowed as part of a discussion of ideas in the public class room. Intellectual neutrality is normally enhanced by allowing an open discussion of current ideas instead of using the force of the state to censor and ban some ideas. So if the intelligent design movement is only asking that teachers have the legal right to present these ideas of part of a the options along side the atheistic explanations, then where is the establishment of a religion by the state in allowing what is a current debate among scientists?
Now, the other aspect of the First Amendment is that the government cannot prohibit free speech. Being a teacher means that one is to educate students and have them go through a process of dialogue towards finding the truth. The Socratic Method is one that requires that students learn through a discussion of ideas. A bad idea is best discovered to be a bad idea in the midst of open and free discussion in the public square. It is not up to government to ban or censor ideas. They are to produce a truly safe space for the discussion to take place without taking sides. This is true neutrality.
The public schools should be encouraging students to think about great ideas and work through the process of forming personalized world views which will develop within them character, contentment, and competence. Why can we not trust our teachers and educators to develop curriculums that reflect a good dialogue instead of micromanaging them with fear of violating the law if they encourage an important discussion on a significant issue? Clearly as educators they need not to abuse their role by “dogmatizing” their world view to their students but instead help to lead the discussion into a better understanding of the key issues.
It is hard to not see the Pennsylvania court’s decision concerning intelligent design as being the establishment of the atheistic evolutionary perspective as the one state sanctioned world view of the universe. The court labels all others views as “religious” and “non-scientific” which implies they are irrational and false. The one “true” view of atheistic evolution is the only one that the state will teach and establish as the orthodox perspective endorsed and encouraged by the state. This does not seem very “neutral” or representative of the views found in our society. Instead it seems that the schools instead of being a safe public place for the open and free discussion of great ideas are instead an agent which aiming at representing one particular world view upon all of the students while censoring ideas which differ with a purely materialistic perspective upon life.
Now this is the exact opposite of the intention and hope of the constitution which is to keep any philosophy, worldview, or religion from being established as the state sponsored orthodoxy. While it may be hard to define atheism as a religion it clearly is one particular philosophy of life. I do not think the writers of the First Amendment desired the state to promote atheism as the official stance of the state any more than they wanted the United States of have one established state church.
It would seem therefore that we need to rethink this entire area. Why not allow a free, public, and critical discussion of great ideas about origins in our public schools? Why are we attempting to keep our children from asking the big questions of life? Is this helping develop them as persons or encouraging an intellectual arrested development by an over protective and anxious court system? Can education take place when we ask educators to excite students about learning with one hand tied behind their backs? Can educators educate when they are always afraid that there will be some violation of state and church?
An educational environment which is based on fear promotes the production of a mediocre education which fails to engage the intellectual passion of our students. Great discussions lead to great thoughts that can transform nations. If the republic is to be transformed and reach its potential greatness it would seem that this will come from a free discussion than from government censorship. That seems to be the hope and heritage given to us in the First Amendment. May we as a people and as a nation find our way in the present debate to engage this hope and heritage.
There is a current debate in the United States on allowing the discussion of intelligent design in the public schools. The issue is can we allow students in a public school to be exposed to the idea that there may be evidence of an intelligence in the formation of the universe without establishing a state funded religion? Is the introduction of the intellectual idea that there may be an intelligence who designed the universe a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America? Do we have to imply that the universe is rationally known as only a random accident and does not demonstrate any evidence of design in order to not establish religion? Is the religiously “neutral” position simply to set forth the idea of a universe that is random and without purpose? Would suggesting the idea that some scientists see in the universe evidence of design, purpose, and intelligence based on scientific data be the beginning of our loss of separation of church and state? This is the debate that is before our nation and our courts today.
Now we have groups on both sides who are zealots for their position on the issue of the universe being created or not created. There are those who are convinced of a purely atheistic viewpoint of life and those who are equally convinced of a theistic perspective. This is not new but has always been the way it has been. This is an important intellectual issue.
Because our emotions run so high on that issue we need to make sure we understand that is not the issue that is being discussed here. The question here is if presenting the idea that some scientists based on current evidence see indications of design in the physical universe instead of all things being able to be explained by random chance over extremely prolonged periods of time is a violation of the First Amendment of the United States? Are the expressions of such ideas and the study of the scientists who are reflecting on these concepts, if paid for by public funds a government establishment of religion?
Now a fair question to be asked is if such ideas would establish a religion one should be able to define what religion would be established. Sir Fredrick Hoyle, the Nobel Prize winning mathematician who could be seen as the great grand father of the intelligent design movement was moved by his mathematical studies in probability to the idea that there must have been an intelligence guiding the process of evolution. This led him to a belief in a type of pantheism in which this intelligence was part of the physical cosmos. Others in the intelligent design movement have only a vague sense of an undefined designer much like Aristotle’s “First mover” while others see this as affirming their faith in a more traditional deity. Clearly the idea of intelligent design does not lead to any theological harmony or even philosophical unity. So what is the dogma that we are establishing with the power of the state by allowing the discussion of intelligent design? Exactly what religion is being forced down the throat of our students with the coercive power of the state by reading an article by a scientist who sees evidence of design in the universe?
What is clear is that intelligent design is not promoting any of the major world religions or even one particular philosophical perspective. So, what religion is being established by allowing the idea of intelligent design being taught in our public schools? If this is a violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment then at the very least we should be able to define exactly which religion is being established.
The purpose of the First Amendment was not to ban all discussion of great ideas in the public schools and some of these great ideas deal with theological ideas. One cannot read Plato’s “Republic” or Voltaire’s “Candide” without introducing some discussion of the divine. One could wonder in fact if people are even being educated in an adequate manner if they are not at least being introduced to basic metaphysical concepts. Is reading such classics a violation of the First Amendment? Or would it only be a violation if one quotes Plato in science class since he was a believer in intelligent design, but clearly not a member of any major world religion.
Now the other idea is at question here is one of establishment. Are those who are suggesting allowing the idea of intelligent design to be introduced into the discussion of ideas in the public school suggesting that intelligent design be taught as “dogma” by the public school teachers? For government to establish a religion it has to place the power and influence of the state behind an idea and declare that this is the official view of the government. Intelligent design does not question the basic mechanism of evolution but instead presents the idea that the evidence of the universe as currently understood leads some scientists to a view called theistic evolution instead of atheistic evolution. There is no desire in the intelligent design movement to stop teaching the “how” of the evolutionary process but only to give options about the “why” of the evolutionary process.
The intelligent design movement is not suggesting that the only view that be presented to students be that of intelligent design. They are not asking for intelligent design be established as the official position of the public school system. All that is being suggested is that the viewpoint of scientists who hold this theory be allowed as part of a discussion of ideas in the public class room. Intellectual neutrality is normally enhanced by allowing an open discussion of current ideas instead of using the force of the state to censor and ban some ideas. So if the intelligent design movement is only asking that teachers have the legal right to present these ideas of part of a the options along side the atheistic explanations, then where is the establishment of a religion by the state in allowing what is a current debate among scientists?
Now, the other aspect of the First Amendment is that the government cannot prohibit free speech. Being a teacher means that one is to educate students and have them go through a process of dialogue towards finding the truth. The Socratic Method is one that requires that students learn through a discussion of ideas. A bad idea is best discovered to be a bad idea in the midst of open and free discussion in the public square. It is not up to government to ban or censor ideas. They are to produce a truly safe space for the discussion to take place without taking sides. This is true neutrality.
The public schools should be encouraging students to think about great ideas and work through the process of forming personalized world views which will develop within them character, contentment, and competence. Why can we not trust our teachers and educators to develop curriculums that reflect a good dialogue instead of micromanaging them with fear of violating the law if they encourage an important discussion on a significant issue? Clearly as educators they need not to abuse their role by “dogmatizing” their world view to their students but instead help to lead the discussion into a better understanding of the key issues.
It is hard to not see the Pennsylvania court’s decision concerning intelligent design as being the establishment of the atheistic evolutionary perspective as the one state sanctioned world view of the universe. The court labels all others views as “religious” and “non-scientific” which implies they are irrational and false. The one “true” view of atheistic evolution is the only one that the state will teach and establish as the orthodox perspective endorsed and encouraged by the state. This does not seem very “neutral” or representative of the views found in our society. Instead it seems that the schools instead of being a safe public place for the open and free discussion of great ideas are instead an agent which aiming at representing one particular world view upon all of the students while censoring ideas which differ with a purely materialistic perspective upon life.
Now this is the exact opposite of the intention and hope of the constitution which is to keep any philosophy, worldview, or religion from being established as the state sponsored orthodoxy. While it may be hard to define atheism as a religion it clearly is one particular philosophy of life. I do not think the writers of the First Amendment desired the state to promote atheism as the official stance of the state any more than they wanted the United States of have one established state church.
It would seem therefore that we need to rethink this entire area. Why not allow a free, public, and critical discussion of great ideas about origins in our public schools? Why are we attempting to keep our children from asking the big questions of life? Is this helping develop them as persons or encouraging an intellectual arrested development by an over protective and anxious court system? Can education take place when we ask educators to excite students about learning with one hand tied behind their backs? Can educators educate when they are always afraid that there will be some violation of state and church?
An educational environment which is based on fear promotes the production of a mediocre education which fails to engage the intellectual passion of our students. Great discussions lead to great thoughts that can transform nations. If the republic is to be transformed and reach its potential greatness it would seem that this will come from a free discussion than from government censorship. That seems to be the hope and heritage given to us in the First Amendment. May we as a people and as a nation find our way in the present debate to engage this hope and heritage.
Newsletter for March 5, 2006
Take the words of Jesus and let them become the Supreme Court of the Gospel to you.
John G. Lake
Saturday: March 18th
Men’s Conference
9 to 3
Free
Lunch provided
Men’s Conference
9 to 3
Free
Lunch provided
Do you feel like your life is slipping though your fingers? Does the rush of every day events seem pushing you towards a future you do not want? Do you feel like you would like to follow Jesus but don’t know how to get out of the rat race you feel your life has become? Does the chaos at work and the chaos at home seem to make you doubt if there is any space of sanity left in your life? How in a world that seems so out of control can anyone think about following Jesus?
These are just a few of the questions we will be attempting to answer at this years men’s conference. This conference is open to everyone and would be a great way to introduce your friends to our ministry. Our hope is that every man in the First Church West Community will be planning to attend.
100 ESSENTIAL PASSAGES: THIS WEEK- Isaac’s Birth and Sacrifice
WEDNESDAY AT 7:00 PM
Come to this weekly bible study to look into 22: 1-19, a story which speaks of a father being called of God to sacrifice his only son. This study will look for the practical meaning of this passage and how it can help us understand the love that God has for us in Jesus Christ.
Contextual bible study is the key to really understanding the scriptures. By reading the Word of God in context we can come to its true meaning. Only once we know what a passage means in the context can we hope to understand how it may relate to other passages in other contexts.
If you have been looking for a fellowship of prayer and straight forward study of the scripture then you will find this study helpful. This study is a great way to understand a historical view of the Bible and the progressive revelation that God has supplied to us in the inspired and infallible Scriptures.
This bible study starts at 7 pm. Please put in time for this study of God’s word.
Upcoming Events
“We would See Jesus” Small Group March 5 – 6:00 pm
100 Essential Truths – 7pm March 8 – 7:00 pm
“We would See Jesus” Small Group March 12 – 6:00 pm
100 Essential Truths – 7pm March 15 – 7:00 pm
Men’s Conference March 18
Communion Joint Service March 26
Ultimate Questions at 1:00 PM March 26
The Fellowship of Narnia – 7pm March 28
The Women’s Conference April 1
Communion Joint Service April 30
NO WEDNESDAY STUDY MAY 03
Ultimate Questions at 1:00 PM April 30
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER MAY 04 – 7:00 PM
2006 PRAYER SEMINAR MAY 06 – 7:00 TO 9:00 PM
100 ESSENTIAL TRUTHS MAY 10 – 7:00 PM
100 ESSENTIAL TRUTHS MAY 17 – 7:00 PM
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