Tree in the Park

Seagulls in the City

A few images I snagged randomly while at the park shooting a session with my wife. It was odd to see seagulls in the city of Memphis.

Is God's Redemption Incompetent?

Paul goes into this deeply in Romans where he says with great puzzlement, "I do what I do not want to do." This is a very existential statement; he is frustrated and he understand this question as well as anyone. He concludes that although his life is grounded in the Spirit or redemption, the nature of the flesh or sin is still there. The answer then is twofold. First of all, we must realize that the work of redemption is completely not dependent on us. We do not obtain it by works, and we do not keep it by works. The work of redemption is having a fresh stance with God as righteous - a stance that will never leave us as we are washed in the righteousness of Christ (again nothing we obtain on our own). The work of redemption also creates us anew, free from the bonds of sin. Does this mean none will sin after redemption? No. It does mean that we are no longer bound by sin and its effect on us. Moreover, it really does mean that desires have changed from wanting to fulfill sinful urges to wanting to fulfill holy urges. If this is not present in a person, it is quite possible they have never truly understood and taken on the faith they think. This is actually the clearest test for evaluating someone's sincere faith - the New Testament church used it.

Secondly, we must remember that while redemption is complete in its covering of our sins and victory over sin, it does not wipe away our memory. A person who was a drug addict and then became a christian does not mean they will not struggle in that area anymore. He addict still remembers the rush, the feeling, and the comfort that can come from such an addiction. While he may have fresh desires to never touch the stuff again, there will be times that those memories and even body urges will press hard upon him. This is why no christian should claim to be perfect; as Chesterton said, "When the world goes wrong, it proves rather that the Church is right. The Church is justified, not because her children do not sin, but because they do." Even when we look at the Mother Theresa's or Billy Graham's we find struggle in their life if they are willing to admit it. The beauty of Christianity is what I have said in the past: Ideals are fleeting, but the journey towards them is quite concrete.

So the redemption is complete as we are covered in Christ's righteousness, and that we are changed in desire and perspective. However, sin still remains as long as we are human, have a memory, and have experienced sin. But isn't the whole point of Christianity the idea that man is a wreck without God? Without God's continual grace and our continual desire to follow after God, even the christian is a wreck.

Q&A: Why Does God's Redemption Seem Incompetent?

I was sitting with a friend the other day and we were talking about different things we have learned in the past couple of weeks. As the conversation developed, I just simply asked him, "Do you ever feel like God didn't do that great a job redeeming us?" He smiled and said, "Yes." Right then I felt the same agony and fear that haunts many Christians when faced with the existential dilemma. I truly believe that this is the greatest argument against Christianity in our generation. Let Bill Maher bring up talking serpents all he wants. Until Christians become genuine and honest in their faith, there will always be this existential struggle for the unbeliever.

This question I asked my friend has been posed in many ways. I like the following three to help give it a clearer context:

"I like [Christianity's] Christ, but I do not like its Christians." - Ghandi

"If you Christians want me to believe in your redeemer you will have to look more redeemed." - Nietzsche

"There are five Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the Christian, and some people will never read the first four." - Gipsy Smith

Each of these men saw the simplicity of the Christian faith that most Christians miss. If you have been given new life, then your life should be different. When we do not see this, we automatically doubt. Christians and unbelievers should both automatically doubt. Christians do not have to be reminded of James' "Faith without works is dead," nor the peculiar words the Gospels use when the paralytic's friends tore open the roof to get to Jesus, "When Jesus SAW their faith." This simplicity - "if A, then B" - should scare us.

So what can be said in defense for Christ's death and resurrection? Is it incompetent? I'll post my answer soon, but first let's discuss. Any and all comments are welcome.