New Direction

I just wanted to be clear about the new direction of my blog. First, it is decidedly becoming a place for Christians to find encouragement. Second, I plan on sharing screen-less leisure time ideas for families. We’re addicted to screens. If we’re not looking at them together, we’re looking at them separately. And if we’re not looking at them at all, we’re talking about them. Enough, I say. We can do better.

First up is the game Sequence. It is essentially tick-tack-toe with playing cards. It is only mildly mentally taxing, which is to say it is a great lubricant for sustained conversation and relationship building. Letting the five-year-olds play makes it even more pleasant.  

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4 Juxtapositions Every American Christian Needs To Consider

TrinityShield2To begin I’d like to simply ask you to declare with me how holy the blessed Trinity is. Amen.

(I found this little, kinda creepy, picture the other day. It’s called the Trinity Shield. Christians of old used it to help describe the Trinity.)

As you know, I’m on a bit of a righteous anger kick right now (Eph. 4). It began with a conviction that President Obama was doing us dirty when he angrily defended his decision to not say “Radical Islam” and described Islam as, “One of the world’s great religions.” It continued when I finally read the Qur’an to determine whether Islam is the threat that I felt it the empirical facts seemed to indicate.

I’m slowly calming down, but it has taken longer than I expected. Here’s where I’m at today. If I haven’t told you before, I’m at my best when I have things to compare. Maybe you are too. So, let’s compare some things.

1. First, Christians sometimes sing, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Until I read the Qur’an, I believed that song to be true. Now I don’t. By that I mean that it’s not the Bible that revealed to me that Jesus loves me. I know Jesus loves me because He told me He does. Muslims, on the other hand, believe Allah notices them because a book (and a man with a deadly weapon) tells them to. This is no trivial distinction.

2. Here’s another: From what I can tell, beginning around 1000 AD, Christian philosophers and apologists began to offer logical arguments which prove god exists. Growing up in a Christian home in America, I charitably believed the arguments must be valid and valuable. As an adult who has read the Qur’an, I am certain abstract god (Allah) does not exist. I’m also certain that humans don’t prove the Triune god exists. The best that humans can do with abstract god (Allah) is enslave each other. Conversely, the Triune god tells us He exists.

3. How’s your math history? As a 21st century American, I learned that humans didn’t always know that the number zero existed as an abstraction. I learned that it wasn’t until the early 7th century, that mathematicians formally named zero and began to use it in previously unrealized ways in calculations (more than just a placeholder). But only since reading the Qur’an have I realized that precisely identical to zero (which is nothing), Allah is an incredibly powerful abstraction.

(For the curious Christians, I do also believe it is more than coincidence that Muhammad wrote the Qur’an in the same century that zero was realized. The number zero shook up the world. And the Qur’an did so as well. Satan is very real. Guard yourselves.)

4. We’ve touched on theology and math. Let’s hit literature. Some people, even Christians, want to argue that the Bible is a great piece of literature. Before reading the Qur’an, I would have agreed. Since reading the Qur’an, I know the truth is that the Qur’an is the greatest, most powerful piece of literature on the planet. Outside of Barna research articles showing why Christians are leaving the church and the ever increasing amount of exorcisms being performed, Christianity is barely newsworthy anymore. However, the Qur’an is spreading to western Europe and America, despite the greatest military force, including yours truly, fighting the Qur’an for at least 30 years now. Want to talk about great, powerful literature? Then study the Qur’an. It is tops. Want to talk about true power? Then repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2).

Here’s the rub. The Triune god told me He wins in the end (the Bible). He told me not to fear when the going gets rough (Psalm 27). But He didn’t tell me my suffering must be at the hands of the Qur’an. Maybe I misheard him. What did he tell you?

Do any of you Christians believe we have the power to relocate the Qur’an to the fiction section once and for all? I do.

Call(s) to Action: PRAY. Then immediately be sure to SPECIFY that you are referring to the Triune god, or the Trinity, or Jesus when you’re talking about the Christian godhead outside of church. This includes church signs. (Here’s a good example.) When you’re in church, PAY ATTENTION to the lyrics and BRING UP your concerns directly to the music ministry. The music ministry can’t fix what they don’t know is broken. Whatever the case, DO NOT LEAVE your church. Pray. Pray and TAKE ON more responsibility. Stay put. “Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord (Psalm 27:14).”

The Triune god of the universe cares about words. So does the adversary. This is evidenced by scripture from Genesis through Revelation. I love Jesus Loves Me. (Really, I do. I memorized a sweet piano arrangement of it.) But I love Jesus more than a catchy tune. So maybe it’s time to drop it. On the other hand, This Little Light of Mine is safe because of context.

Hopefully these little comparisons are useful and challenge to you to fulfill your calling.

An Apology

I want to both thank you for your prayers and apologize. I knew going in to the Qur’an that I was messing with evil, but still thought it was a necessary task. The last two posts about Anselm and fools and ontology are evidence of me losing touch a bit. In any case, I still defend last week’s analysis of Islam and my conclusions. Looking forward, my aim is to let the Holy Spirit (via personal convictions in accordance with the Triune God’s will as revealed in the Bible and feedback from other believers, including any of you) guide my thoughts as I try use my Triune God-given talents to persuade you to agree with me triply as to the pernicious nature of Allah (abstract god), that Allah has infected all of us already, and that Christians, through the power of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, are the only people who can lead the charge of freeing those who submit to Allah. Thank you again for your prayers, and keep them coming. Praise the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Pete

Simplest Explanation Of The Ontological Argument

1. Somebody once wrote (believed) that only the fool has said in his heart, “There is no Triune god.”

2. If we deny claim 1, we devalue whoever it was that wrote it (believed it) to an inhumane level.

3. A human being is more than flesh, a human being is capable of belief.

4. Therefore, (a) if we admit claim 1 above, we necessarily endow the human who wrote it with their humanity and we realize the Triune god lives.

5. Therefore, (b) the Triune god is worthy. We should glorify the Triune god.

On Tolerance

How tolerant are you? I think I’m very tolerant, but I’m pretty sure I would be viewed by most Americans as being very intolerant. Here’s a litmus test for tolerance that I think is worth considering.

Last week we explored Islam and Allah. The biggest take away was that Allah is not the personal name of Islam’s god. Allah is merely the Arabic word for God.

In the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag, there is a line that declares, “One Nation, Under God”.

My tolerance test for you is the following question. Are you tolerant enough to show the refugees that we love and welcome them by changing the pledge to declare, “One Nation, Under Allah”? After all, Allah is just the Arabic word for God.

Or how about when the president closes his national addresses with the phrase, “God Bless America.” Are you tolerant enough to not voice an objection if he were to say, “Allah Bless America”?

Pray

As I mentioned, this week I’m starting a short series on Islam. I’m doing this to clarify my thoughts, I’m doing this because you won’t, and I’m doing this because H- (and her friends) deserve my best. Pray for me.

Random Updates

I texted my Muslim acquaintance. He hasn’t got back to me. So I’m back to square one regarding knowing a Muslim (radical or not). But I have, in fact, let all the talk about “radical Islam” be a catalyst to finally reading the Qur’an myself. Believe me when I tell you that there will be many posts to come about that little book. Suffice it to say, it is only 350 pages (the English copy I have) and I recommend it to you. I recommend it to everyone. I especially recommend it to any wayward, post-modern, grew-up-in-the-church-then-left-because-obviously (fill in the blank with anything from “there is no god” to “I love the Da Vinci Code”) Christians. The Qur’an is a must read. Let’s make it a NY Times best-seller. Seriously.

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This is probably too soon, and likely inappropriate on several levels, but I want to share an idea that I couldn’t stop regarding an Onion-style post. My idea is to have Trump insist that the President call the alligator an “alligator” but the President refuses. Instead the President favors the label “a native Floridan swimmer of the swamps and walker of the woods and tall grass”. And while those two argue about names, all the male toddlers across the country use the episode to push their long-standing agenda to “skip the bath”. The post would have concluded with a scene back in Orlando showing the first of several alligator eggs hatching to witness its parents and aunts and uncles rounded up and killed by uniformed professionals.

What do you think? Would’ve been funny, right? Or no?

My Response to President Obama’s Speech About Radical Islam

This one again is mostly for me as a time capsule. But enjoy! 

Here are my responses to a few key points President Obama self-righteously thundered home.

“That’s the key they [Trump] tell us. ‘We can’t beat ISIL unless we call them Radical Islamists.’ What exactly would using this label accomplish?”

Are you asking me? Or is this just a rhetorical question? Calling them “Radical Islamists” would demonstrate to me that you live in the same time-space universe as me, Mr. President. That’s all.

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“Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away.”

Here’s where I’m losing you, Mr. President. Supposedly we’re at war with terrorism, which is an abstract idea. Terrorism is an idea, not a thing. Ideas might be able to be stopped with bullets and violence like you’re trying to do, but they definitely cannot be stopped if they aren’t accurately identified. My question to you is are we fighting an idea or people? Please inform me.

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“As president I have repeatedly called on our Muslim friends and allies at home and around the world to work with us to reject this twisted interpretation of one of the world’s great religions.”

Bold move, sir. I love that you are so willing to flippantly and negligently treat religion as if it is a hobby.

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“Not once has an adviser of mine said ‘Man, if we really use that phrase, we’re gonna turn this whole thing around.'”

I doubt you have an adviser who has ever told you anything you don’t want to hear. Moreover, you’re the President. You’re the leader. You don’t need advisers to advise you that a duck is a duck.

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“They [The DoD] know full well who the enemy is.”

Can you arrange a meeting where they tell us who the enemy is? Someone please tell me. Who is the enemy again? People or terrorism?

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“The reason that I am careful about how I describe this threat has nothing to do with political correctness and everything to do with actually defeating extremism.”

Everything you do is about political correctness. That aside, you cannot deny that extremism (the Radical in Radical Islam) is the cause of extremism (an ideology, not a people) and expect to defeat it. Do you see?

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Paraphrasing: “If we use Radical Islam then we do the terrorists work for them.”

See earlier this week.

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“It could not have been more inspiring [to be at the Air Force Academy commencement ceremony two week ago]. To see these young people stepping up, dedicated to serve and protect this country.”

This is really just a pet peeve of mine, but the officers of the U.S. Military swear to protect and defend the constitution of the United States of America–not the country. Again, words matter, Mr. President. When I went through officer training school, the Air Force was sure to point out that Germans in WWII era swore allegiance to Hitler, Russians to the Russia, and America swears to the constitution. Do you see the difference? We’re nobler and have a greater understanding of the human condition.

Does Anyone Think We Can Defeat The Enemy?

Here’s President Obama’s self-absorbed response  to Mr. Trump’s self-absorbed bombas-ticary.

Assuming you don’t have 25 minutes to spend on the above video, I’ve done my best to clarify the arguments below.

Mr. Trump is arguing that

A – American leaders need to use the label “Radical Islam” in order to stop terrorism.

B – Implicit to Mr. Trump’s argument is the argument if we don’t label the enemy accurately (know who/what the enemy is) then we cannot possibly defeat the enemy.

C – If we don’t elect Mr. Trump as president, then no one will say “Radical Islam.”

A + B + C =

D – Without using the label “Radical Islam,” we cannot defeat the enemy (whatever the enemy is).

Since B and D are the same, then Mr. Trump is using circular reasoning. All Mr. Trump has actually argued is, “Without me, we cannot defeat the enemy.”

In response, President Obama is arguing that

A – If we use the label “Radical Islam,” we don’t really mean the adjective “radical”. In other words, if we say “Radical Islam,” people only hear “Islam.”

B – Extremists successfully recruit new extremists by telling the lie to young Muslim men that the West believes Islam is the enemy.

C – If the number of extremists grows, we cannot defeat the enemy.

D – If he were to say, “Radical Islam is the enemy,” then he’d be doing the recruiting for the extremists (ISIL/ISIS).

A + B + C + D =

E – If we use the label “Radical Islam,” we cannot defeat the enemy (whatever the enemy is).

Since C and E are the same, then President Obama is likewise using circular reasoning. All President Obama has actually argued is, “Without me, we cannot defeat the enemy.”

In sum, Mr. Trump believes we must use the label “Radical Islam” to defeat the enemy and President Obama believes we must NOT use the label “Radical Islam” to defeat the enemy. But each man clearly believes that without him, the enemy cannot be defeated. Can we agree that besides being self-absorbed and redundant, their argument is depressing?

For a different, encouraging argument, try mine.

I am arguing that,

A – I wanted to fight or I did fight terrorism (Wait. Terrorism? Who are we kidding? We’re at war with Allah) with violence from Sept. 11, 2001 until March 1, 2012.

B – It’s now 2016. 4 years after stepping off the violent path, it is apparent that terrorism (Allah) is still a growing threat.

C – Terrorism (Allah) cannot be defeated by violence because it is an idea.

D – Only ideas can defeat ideas.

E – Due to internal inconsistencies not much different than President Obama and Mr. Trump’s circular reasoning, neither naturalism, nor deism, nor Buddhism, nor scientism, nor atheism, nor Mormonism, nor Tom Cruise-ism, nor patriotism, nor nationalism, nor globalism can defeat terrorism (Allah).

A + B + C + D + E =

F – Christianity’s Triune God, in all of His mystery (tell me again, how was Jesus fully human and fully divine at the same time?), in all of His reality (the concrete resurrection of Jesus as proclaimed by the New Testament writers and its subsequent 2000 year witness of manifest grace) is the only idea that can defeat terrorism (Allah).

In other words, A + B + C + D + E = 

F – We can defeat terrorism (Allah). And we can defeat terrorism (Allah) without me! We just need to submit ourselves to the will of Christianity’s Triune God.

In sum, my argument (Christianity’s argument), unlike Mr. Trump and President Obama, is, “Without me, the enemy can be defeated”–emphasis on “the enemy can be defeated” and “without me.” There is hope people. His name is Jesus.

Do you see?