Talkers, talking and poorly disguised opinions

So I just got out of my history class on Intentional Communities. Great class, absolutely loved it. I sat for almost three straight hours completely enraptured by the discussion and could have gone even longer. While I was there I had an idea final coalesce in my brain. Something was bothering me about the way some people were talking, even though what they said was in no way offensive in content. What I realized was that it wasn't what they said but the way they said it in. Anyone who has ever talked to a first year university student is going to understand what I'm talking about. It's those people who say "in MY opinion" or "I think" but really mean "This is the truth and if you don't agree with ME your a moron." Though I have found this primarily in first year university students I most definitely haven't found it there exclusively. Oh don't worry I remember being one of those people and it's kind of amusing to look back and see just how ignorant you really were. Which actually brings me around to my next point, a comment someone made to me after the class. That comment was that first years talk the most. Now while not university true they do talk a lot and far more passionately. They have the trait of often being unreasonably aggressive or defensive with their beliefs. My personal journey from that point to the point where I can now argue both sides simply to learn more, has been a rough one. I may be wrong but I really don't think there is a painless way to achieve that way of thinking. It seems to me that it almost always requires being displayed as 1) lacking in knowledge 2)being close minded 3)at least once being proven to be absolutely, irrevocably wrong. It's not that such people are with out knowledge it's just that they have yet to come to the realization that they don't have to be right and that they will never know all there is to know on a given subject which makes it very hard to discuss and debate something with them. Mind you just last night I spent four or five hours discussing and debating several topics. It was a most excellent conversation and one that didn't end with one of us convincing the other of his way of thinking but rather of each of us refining are beliefs due to the knowledge of the other.

Lessons from a Demon

So I've been reading The Screwtape Letters, a book by C.S.Lewis. They are fictional letters between and elder Demon and his younger nephew. The change in perspective however makes you re-evaluate some seemingly harmless habits and modes of thinking. Take being in love for example; what exactly does that mean? Love is defined in 1 Corinthians 13 but nowhere in there is there any reference to feeling a certain way, so why do we set that requirement? I, myself had already come to evaluate relationships more on the terms of ability to communicate, shared ideas and the ability to challenge each other to be better people. Still I just thought it was cynicism that cause me, and those who thought like me, to think in this manner but I think now it was a disillusionment with a false concept.

Still how about those people who, ever strive to better themselves, that's a sign of spiritual maturity right? Or is it? The best way to become a better Christian is a two fold process: spending time alone with God & serving others. Some of you can see what I'm getting at already. Growth comes not from focusing on the growing but by putting into practice those things you have learned.

What about searching for a church that feels right, that's a must right? Again no, what you need is a Church who's doctrine is sound and that will challenge you to do what is right. It is better to be totally devoted to a dying church then to hop from one to another ever searching.

So I've probably offended a few of you by now but like that's strange, so go get the book and read it. If you still have the same worldview after reading it your either very perceptive (way to go!) or you've got some heavy duty blinders on. It's all up to you, after all no one can force you to use what you learn.

Between two sets of doors

I had a very interesting experience tonight and one I'm not completely sure I understand the entire meaning of. We were having a night of worship at my university and I stepped into the foyer to get some air as both sets of doors were open. As I stood there listening to the worship going on behind me the music was off set by the sounds of the big trucks on the road before me and the siren of an ambulance. As I watched people out walking an biking I was struck by a thought: This is a refuge but that's all it is. Our Christian community is a place of refuge and rejuvenation but it is an island in the middle of a dying world. This world is dying, it has been since sin first entered it and while we can not save this planet we can bring hope to it's people, if we step out. To often as Christians I believe we call to others from the foyer, never stepping out into their world, meeting them where they are. No we call and expect a wounded soul to come to us, but that is not what God calls us to do. The flip side of that are those who are so caught up in trying to reach others they forget to tend to their own spiritual needs and slowly start to backslide. We are to be in the world but not of the world. In the terms of my experience we have to take time to enter the refuge and recharge on God but we also have to go out and use that energy to make a difference. The foyer should be no more then the border that defines one from the other.

All of this really doesn't get across the feelings I experienced at the time so if you should ever find yourself between the doors of a refuge and this harsh world take a moment to reflect on the difference and your mission in this life.