each of our free choices gives rise to a possible world. for example, if i can choose between A and B and you can choose between A and B, then we have four possible worlds (i choose A, you choose A; i choose A, you choose B; i choose B, you choose A; i choose B, you choose B).
in theory, there are an infinite number of possible worlds.
*****
God created the world to reflect His glory. more precisely, God chose to create this particular world - the world in which we are living in right now - out of the infinite number of possible worlds which He could have chosen to create, because this particular world reflects His glory more than any other possible world.
if any other possible world could reflect God's glory more than this particular world, then God would have chosen to create that other possible world instead. indeed, if not creating a world at all could reflect God's glory more than creating this particular world, then God would have chosen not to create a world at all instead.
*****
each of our free choices gives rise to a possible world.
God chose to create this particular world - the world we are living in right now - out of the infinite number of possible worlds which He could have chosen to create.
therefore, we are chosen but free.
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Monday, 7 July 2008
tripartism in real life
tripartism is more than the relationship between employers, workers and the government (as we learn in social studies). it is the essence of our existence.
God
as the opening statement of the uccf doctrinal basis affirms, 'there is one God in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit'. this is pretty straightforward stuff. to deny the trinity would be to deny the 'central dogma of christian theology' (the oxford dictionary of the christian church, 2005).
man
one of the debates in the philosophy of mind is between substance monism and substance dualism. substance monists would argue that man is merely a body, while substance dualists would contend that man is both a body and a soul.
however, it is clear from Scripture that man is not merely a body, or even both a body and a soul. rather, man exists in body, soul and spirit; in the image of a triune God.
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV)
the earthly tabernacle
as roy reinhold explains in his article, new vs old covenant, the earthly tabernacle represents tripartite mankind. the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:33) represents the spirit, the Holy Place (Exodus 26:33) represents the soul and the courtyard (Exodus 27:9) represents the body.
the greater and more perfect tabernacle
within the Godhead, the Father is the spirit, the Spirit is the soul and the Son is the body (the Word become flesh). this is why we pray to the Father, by the Spirit and through the Son.
"When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" - Hebrews 9:11-14 (NIV)
relationships
"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." - 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NIV)
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
not only are we created in the image of God; our bodies are the very temples (earthly tabernacles) of God. how now shall we live?
relationship with God
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." - Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NIV)
just as the spirit (the Father), soul (the Spirit) and body (the Son) of God are one, so we ought to love God as one in spirit (heart), soul (soul) and body (strength). Jesus Himself calls this 'the first and greatest commandment' (Matthew 22:38, NIV).
we simply cannot love God in either spirit, soul or body without loving Him in all three. it is logically impossible to worship God in spirit without also worshipping Him in truth.
"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." - James 2:26 (NIV)
relationship between a couple
in his excellent book, choosing God's best, dr don raunikar describes the phases in the courtship process. over time, a couple proceeds from spiritual oneness (the courtship period), to emotional oneness (the engagement period) and finally to physical oneness (becoming one in marriage).
there must be spiritual oneness before there can be emotional oneness, and there must be emotional oneness before there can be physical oneness. in other words, there must be unity in spirit before there can be unity in soul, and there must be unity in soul before there can be unity in body.
we simply cannot be married to someone in either spirit, soul or body without being married to someone in all three. to this end, marriage without sex is like faith without works. it is unconsummated, incomplete and dead. at the same time, sex outside of marriage is like works outside of faith. just as works only make sense within the context of faith, so does sex only make sense within the context of marriage.
philosophy, politics and economics
in studying philosophy, politics and economics, it is interesting to read that '[political] ideology, in short, brings about two kinds of synthesis: between understanding and commitment, and between thought and action' (heywood, 2003).
politics is the bridge between philosophy and economics, economics is the bridge between philosophy and politics, and philosophy is the bridge between politics and economics. going back to something i wrote exactly 52 weeks ago, it is even clearer to me now that philosophy, politics and economics have a lot in common.
tripartism in real life indeed.
God
as the opening statement of the uccf doctrinal basis affirms, 'there is one God in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit'. this is pretty straightforward stuff. to deny the trinity would be to deny the 'central dogma of christian theology' (the oxford dictionary of the christian church, 2005).
man
one of the debates in the philosophy of mind is between substance monism and substance dualism. substance monists would argue that man is merely a body, while substance dualists would contend that man is both a body and a soul.
however, it is clear from Scripture that man is not merely a body, or even both a body and a soul. rather, man exists in body, soul and spirit; in the image of a triune God.
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV)
the earthly tabernacle
as roy reinhold explains in his article, new vs old covenant, the earthly tabernacle represents tripartite mankind. the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:33) represents the spirit, the Holy Place (Exodus 26:33) represents the soul and the courtyard (Exodus 27:9) represents the body.
the greater and more perfect tabernacle
within the Godhead, the Father is the spirit, the Spirit is the soul and the Son is the body (the Word become flesh). this is why we pray to the Father, by the Spirit and through the Son.
"When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" - Hebrews 9:11-14 (NIV)
relationships
"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." - 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NIV)
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
not only are we created in the image of God; our bodies are the very temples (earthly tabernacles) of God. how now shall we live?
relationship with God
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." - Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NIV)
just as the spirit (the Father), soul (the Spirit) and body (the Son) of God are one, so we ought to love God as one in spirit (heart), soul (soul) and body (strength). Jesus Himself calls this 'the first and greatest commandment' (Matthew 22:38, NIV).
we simply cannot love God in either spirit, soul or body without loving Him in all three. it is logically impossible to worship God in spirit without also worshipping Him in truth.
"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." - James 2:26 (NIV)
relationship between a couple
in his excellent book, choosing God's best, dr don raunikar describes the phases in the courtship process. over time, a couple proceeds from spiritual oneness (the courtship period), to emotional oneness (the engagement period) and finally to physical oneness (becoming one in marriage).
there must be spiritual oneness before there can be emotional oneness, and there must be emotional oneness before there can be physical oneness. in other words, there must be unity in spirit before there can be unity in soul, and there must be unity in soul before there can be unity in body.
we simply cannot be married to someone in either spirit, soul or body without being married to someone in all three. to this end, marriage without sex is like faith without works. it is unconsummated, incomplete and dead. at the same time, sex outside of marriage is like works outside of faith. just as works only make sense within the context of faith, so does sex only make sense within the context of marriage.
philosophy, politics and economics
in studying philosophy, politics and economics, it is interesting to read that '[political] ideology, in short, brings about two kinds of synthesis: between understanding and commitment, and between thought and action' (heywood, 2003).
politics is the bridge between philosophy and economics, economics is the bridge between philosophy and politics, and philosophy is the bridge between politics and economics. going back to something i wrote exactly 52 weeks ago, it is even clearer to me now that philosophy, politics and economics have a lot in common.
tripartism in real life indeed.
Thursday, 3 July 2008
history and the will of God
history and the will of God are not about "what ifs", but about "what is".
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
the question is not whether in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. we already know that He does. the question is whether we love Him, whether we have been called according to His purpose.
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
the question is not whether in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. we already know that He does. the question is whether we love Him, whether we have been called according to His purpose.
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
the problem with sin
1. the cost of sin
2. the opportunity cost of sin
3. the effect of sin
4. the butterfly effect of sin
the cost of sin
even if the cost of sin alone is the whole of the problem with sin (which it is not), this in itself should be enough to stop us from sinning. objectively speaking, why should we ever choose to sin when we can always choose not to sin?
separation from God
"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." - Isaiah 59:1-2 (NIV)
above all, sin gets in the way of our relationship with God. it hinders our prayers and prevents us from being blessed by God.
lack of assurance
"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." - 1 John 3:9 (NIV)
it may be that we have "merely" fallen away (Matthew 13:20-21), or it may be that we were never saved to begin with (Matthew 13:19). either way, as long as we remain in sin, we have no assurance (ie. faith) that we are saved. indeed, 'everything that does not come from faith is sin' (Romans 14:23b, NIV).
the opportunity cost of sin
if there is an "opportunity cost" for doing the right thing, how much more will there be an opportunity cost for doing the wrong thing! sin is not only doing the bad that we should not do. at the same time, it is also not doing the good that we should do.
when we yield to temptation, we forfeit the opportunity to strengthen our faith by overcoming temptation. oscar wilde once remarked that 'the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it'. however, yielding to temptation does not actually get rid of it. it simply replaces a particular form of temptation with another more resistant form of temptation. the only way to get rid of temptation is to overcome it by taking the way out which God has provided for us.
the effect of sin
even as sin gets in the way of our relationship with God, it also affects our relationship with others. for example, lying affects how others view us, to say nothing of how others view God.
the butterfly effect of sin
every action leads to something else, which in turn leads to something else - both positively and negatively. just as edward kimball mentored dwight moody, who mentored frederick meyer (whom i recently discovered was the pastor of york baptist church from 1872 to 1874), who mentored wilbur chapman, who mentored billy sunday, who mentored mordecai ham, who mentored billy graham, so does sin have far-reaching consequences which extend way beyond the act itself.
2. the opportunity cost of sin
3. the effect of sin
4. the butterfly effect of sin
the cost of sin
even if the cost of sin alone is the whole of the problem with sin (which it is not), this in itself should be enough to stop us from sinning. objectively speaking, why should we ever choose to sin when we can always choose not to sin?
separation from God
"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." - Isaiah 59:1-2 (NIV)
above all, sin gets in the way of our relationship with God. it hinders our prayers and prevents us from being blessed by God.
lack of assurance
"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." - 1 John 3:9 (NIV)
it may be that we have "merely" fallen away (Matthew 13:20-21), or it may be that we were never saved to begin with (Matthew 13:19). either way, as long as we remain in sin, we have no assurance (ie. faith) that we are saved. indeed, 'everything that does not come from faith is sin' (Romans 14:23b, NIV).
the opportunity cost of sin
if there is an "opportunity cost" for doing the right thing, how much more will there be an opportunity cost for doing the wrong thing! sin is not only doing the bad that we should not do. at the same time, it is also not doing the good that we should do.
when we yield to temptation, we forfeit the opportunity to strengthen our faith by overcoming temptation. oscar wilde once remarked that 'the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it'. however, yielding to temptation does not actually get rid of it. it simply replaces a particular form of temptation with another more resistant form of temptation. the only way to get rid of temptation is to overcome it by taking the way out which God has provided for us.
the effect of sin
even as sin gets in the way of our relationship with God, it also affects our relationship with others. for example, lying affects how others view us, to say nothing of how others view God.
the butterfly effect of sin
every action leads to something else, which in turn leads to something else - both positively and negatively. just as edward kimball mentored dwight moody, who mentored frederick meyer (whom i recently discovered was the pastor of york baptist church from 1872 to 1874), who mentored wilbur chapman, who mentored billy sunday, who mentored mordecai ham, who mentored billy graham, so does sin have far-reaching consequences which extend way beyond the act itself.
Sunday, 22 June 2008
if it is God's will
it is downright scary to actually submit to God's will, to actually practice what we preach. but that is what we are called to do.
"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you." - Psalm 84:10-12 (NIV)
if it is God's will. better still, if and only if it is God's will.
"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you." - Psalm 84:10-12 (NIV)
if it is God's will. better still, if and only if it is God's will.
Friday, 20 June 2008
by faith
We boast of being so practical a people that we want to have a surer thing than faith. But did not Paul say that the promise was by FAITH that it might be SURE (Romans 4:16)?
- Streams in the Desert, June 14
- Streams in the Desert, June 14
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
10 days until the end of summer term
1 non-spiritual pilgrimage to st james' park.
2 weekends away.
1 london church crawl.
2 more papers and i'm done.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." - Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
*****
if all goes well, i'll be back in singapore at 6.05am on sun 29 jun. just in time for church!
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
calvinism vs catholicism
*to sulynn*
this is the end
to be sure, i am neither a calvinist nor a catholic. for that matter, i am neither a baptist (even though i go to baptist churches in both singapore and york) nor a methodist (even though i went to acps/acsi/acjc for 10 years). i am first and foremost a christian, in Christ.
having said that, i think that the catholic position on predestination and free will is closer to the truth than the calvinist position on predestination and free will. predestination refers to God's infallible foreknowledge of our free will, not God's predetermination of our free will (this is a contradiction in itself). to this end, predestination is descriptive, not prescriptive.
*****
the capacity to be saved is by grace. God determines whether or not we can be saved - we do not have free will with respect to whether or not we can be saved.
the choice to be saved is by faith. God does not determine whether or not we are saved - we have free will with respect to whether or not we are saved.
this is the endto be sure, i am neither a calvinist nor a catholic. for that matter, i am neither a baptist (even though i go to baptist churches in both singapore and york) nor a methodist (even though i went to acps/acsi/acjc for 10 years). i am first and foremost a christian, in Christ.
having said that, i think that the catholic position on predestination and free will is closer to the truth than the calvinist position on predestination and free will. predestination refers to God's infallible foreknowledge of our free will, not God's predetermination of our free will (this is a contradiction in itself). to this end, predestination is descriptive, not prescriptive.
*****
the capacity to be saved is by grace. God determines whether or not we can be saved - we do not have free will with respect to whether or not we can be saved.
the choice to be saved is by faith. God does not determine whether or not we are saved - we have free will with respect to whether or not we are saved.
Monday, 9 June 2008
london church crawl
all souls church, langham place (9.30am to 11am)it was my second time at all souls and i thoroughly enjoyed the service, as before. the 30 piece orchestra was a nice touch. hugh palmer preached on discernment in christian liberty, unpacking 1 corinthians 8 (food sacrificed to idols). knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
1 corinthians is a rather instructive letter which warrants careful study. virtually every chapter is relevant to us, even (especially!) in this day and age.
christchurch london (4pm to 6pm)
it was my first time at a newfrontiers church and i wasn't quite sure what to expect. the service was definitely charismatic, and possibly Charismatic. regardless, i think that denominational differences can and should be accommodated when and where possible - which actually isn't saying much. the point is that all denominations are equally imperfect.
holy trinity brompton (7pm to 8.30pm)
holy trinity was a bit of both all souls and christchurch - think tim hughes leading worship in an anglican church. clearly a very solid church, though i personally found myself more at home in all souls.
random fact: the alpha course started here.
*****
it is important to bear in mind not to date the church, but if you ever happen to be in london on a sunday, why not visit a few churches in the area (hillsong also has a 12.45pm service)?
Friday, 6 June 2008
more on philosophy and theology
this builds on philosophy and theology, on philosophy and theology, faith and reason and systematic theology.
philosophy and theology share a symbiotic relationship, like the government and ntuc.
philosophy (the discipline) sharpens theology by unpacking certain misconceptions. for example, the law of noncontradiction states that 'one cannot say of something that it is and that it is not in the same respect and at the same time' (aristotle). this helps us to understand that 'to suppose God to have contrary wills towards the same object, is a contradiction; but it is not so, to suppose Him to have contrary wills about different objects' (edwards); one will in two senses.
at the same time, theology refines philosophy (individual worldviews) by separating the wheat from the chaff/the wheat from the weeds. given a theistic worldview and an atheistic worldview, it is clear which of them is true, or at least closer to being true. creation vs evolution, realism vs anti-realism, tripartism (man exists in body, soul and spirit; in the image of a triune God) vs monism/dualism...
it's true, it's true
"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."" - John 8:31-32 (NIV)
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."" - John 14:6 (NIV)
"Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."" - John 18:37 (NIV)
it would be hard to choose between philosophical truth and theological truth. fortunately, they are the same thing.
link: philosophy and theology (25 nov 07)
philosophy and theology share a symbiotic relationship, like the government and ntuc.
philosophy (the discipline) sharpens theology by unpacking certain misconceptions. for example, the law of noncontradiction states that 'one cannot say of something that it is and that it is not in the same respect and at the same time' (aristotle). this helps us to understand that 'to suppose God to have contrary wills towards the same object, is a contradiction; but it is not so, to suppose Him to have contrary wills about different objects' (edwards); one will in two senses.
at the same time, theology refines philosophy (individual worldviews) by separating the wheat from the chaff/the wheat from the weeds. given a theistic worldview and an atheistic worldview, it is clear which of them is true, or at least closer to being true. creation vs evolution, realism vs anti-realism, tripartism (man exists in body, soul and spirit; in the image of a triune God) vs monism/dualism...
it's true, it's true
"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."" - John 8:31-32 (NIV)
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."" - John 14:6 (NIV)
"Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."" - John 18:37 (NIV)
it would be hard to choose between philosophical truth and theological truth. fortunately, they are the same thing.
link: philosophy and theology (25 nov 07)
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