Breaking Things Down...

Having finished the Challenge of Jesus by N. T. Wright, I decided to read a book by Bruce Ware I had been wanting to read for a while. This particular book is called Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God. The book is written on the conversations Bruce has had with his daughters as they grew up, about the core theology of the Christian faith. So, explanations of core theology meant for children.

No, I am not becoming a parent anytime soon. My reasoning for reading the book is twofold: 1) I teach Sunday School to third graders and 2) I want to know how to explain Christian Theology in simpler terms. Reading the first chapter, however, I felt myself amazingly refreshed. The first section covered God's Word and God's Own Life as God.

It is amazing to reflect on things such as God's transcendence hand-in-hand with his imminence. On God's transcendence: "God is the one who gives to all of creation what it needs, while nothing in all of creation can give to God anything that he supposedly lacks...yes, God is God apart from us, in that he possesses within his own life the fullness of all that is good and perfect" (pg. 25). Talking on Isaiah 40:12, which reads, "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?", Ware talks about how he showed his daughters how little of the ocean he could pick up. But God could hold all the waters in his hand...incredible.

At the same time, God is imminent--He is there for us, providing us with everything we need. "God comes to us not so we can fill up some emptiness in God (there is none), but so he can fill up the huge emptiness in us" (pg. 28). God's love is selfless in that "God's love is an in spite of love; God loves us even though we cannot benefit him, and even though we have sinned against him" (pg. 29). Within this same section, Ware talks about how the Word of God is inspired by the Holy Spirit and is how God talks to us. In addition, he highlights amazing attributes of God, such as the facts that God is all-powerful, all-wise, and all-good.

Reading these truths about God explained brilliantly but simply (alongside plenty of Scripture) refreshes my love for God. The next nine sections, covering topics such as the Trinity, Human Nature and Sin, Who Jesus Is, The Holy Spirit, etc. will be, God-willing, refreshing, humbling, and awe-inspiring. Seriously, though, everyone should pick up a copy of this book. We all need to return "back to the basics;" that is, assuming the basics were even there in the first place. Especially if we are to teach the younger generation(s) the wonderful, though weighty, truths of Christianity.

The Sovereignty of God amidst Evil

I think that one of the questions a Christian faces in his or her life constantly is that of Where is God amidst what seems to be prevailing evils? We see this afresh in the disaster that hit Haiti. So upset, we often question the goodness of God, or if there even is a God. Or, if there is a God, He must not have fully conquered evil, and, if he hasn't conquered it yet--will He ever?

A book I read over break and encourage every Christian to read is "Spectacular Sins And their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ" by John Piper. It's short and I think one could easily read it within half a day. But it allows for a great deal of reflection.

In the book, John talks about Colossians 1:15-16, which says: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers of authorities--all things were created through him and for him." Paul knows full well that these "rulers" and "authorities" include evil supernatural powers. As Piper says, "Therefore, when Paul says 'rulers [and] authorities' were created by Christ and for Christ, he means that they were created knowing what they would become and how it is that precisely in that evil role they would glorify Christ--knowing everything they would become, they were created for the glory of Christ" (pg. 35).

Therefore, whether God causes or permits evil to happen (which He does so without sinning), it is so that His glory may shine forth. While much of this remains a mystery, God has chosen this way of working in the world to bring Himself the most glory. And it must be said that since everything is created by Christ and for Christ, God is sovereign over all evils.

I have rambled and wish that everything that is not of Christ would be forgotten. But I encourage everyone (Christian and non-Christian) to read this book. The Sovereignty of God is not mere intellectual fuel, but a precious truth that is to be applied and fleshed out in our lives.