Scientists Reject Postmodernist Theory

                                                               (Comerica Park, Detroit)

When we were in East Lansing, as campus pastors at Michigan State University, our church was filled with scientists. Over the years I was privileged to do book studies and Bible studies with many of them. The dialogue we had deeply informed and enriched me.

One common thread was their reaction to the postmodern 
anti-realism. 

"Metaphysically, postmodernism is anti-realist, holding that it is impossible to speak meaningfully about an independently existing reality. Postmodernism substitutes instead a social-linguistic, constructionist account of reality. Epistemologically, having  rejected the notion of an independently existing reality, postmodernism denies that reason or any other method is a means of acquiring objective knowledge of that reality. Having substituted social-linguistic constructs for that reality, postmodernism emphasizes the subjectivity, conventionality, and incommensurability of those constructions." (Stephen Hicks, Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault, Kindle Location 292)

We cannot speak about a reality that exists independently of the human mind? No method can give us objective knowledge of that reality? (Especially, for postmodern theorists, the scientific method.) For a scientist this is absurd, since science is the study of objective reality (trees, viruses, planets, global warming, the physical brain, etc. etc.)

Theistic philosopher Dallas said:

"The early church did not get stuck in a Cartesian box. Aristotle thought there was a real world and a real mind that could know it. And that is what disappears. I have watched scientists listen to postmodernists and it is a constant display of thinly veiled disgust.” (Willard, Eternal Living: Reflections on Dallas Willard's Teaching on Faith and Formation, Kindle Locations 230-232)

The idea that there is not an objective reality outside of us, and that it can be studied and known, is absurd (even while taking into account how our experience of that reality is socially constructed).

(For an interesting and brave attempt to rescue postmodern ideas, and apply them to a Christian worldview, see James K. A. Smith, Who's Afraid of Postmodernism? See esp. Ch. 2, "Nothing Outside the Text? Derrida, Deconstruction, and Scripture.")

The Final Test of Compassionate Prayer

 

(Redeemer Monroe

My unChristlike deficiency is seen in my struggle to forgive my enemies. "Enemy" means not only those who want to see me defeated, but those I dislike, those I am irritated with, those I look down on. At the top of my personal prayer list is the transformation of my heart that would increase my capacity to not only forgive others who have wounded me, but to love them, from the heart, as well. 

This, as I see things, is the Big One. 

Henri Nouwen writes,

"The final test of compassionate prayer goes beyond prayers for fellow Christians, members of the community, friends, and relatives. Jesus says it most unambiguously, “I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44); and in the depth of his agony on the cross, he prays for those who are killing him, “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Here the full significance of the discipline of prayer becomes visible. Prayer allows us to lead into the center of our hearts not only those who love us but also those who hate us. This is possible only when we are willing to make our enemies part of ourselves and thus convert them first of all in our own hearts."

See that last sentence? This is the love-of-Jesus part, which envisions, from our hearts, a flourishing, Christlike life, for those who are emotionally and physically killing us. As that happens, we will know the truth, and it will set us free.

Now Reading...

 

I have always been a reader. I remember my mother taking me and my brother Mike to the library, and  getting us more books to read. My parents bought Mike and I all the Hardy Boys books, which we devoured. As I got older I read science fiction books. And then there were sports magazines, especially Sport magazine.

My mother saw the value of reading. I became a reader.

Here's what I am now reading, as we enter another summer. Thankfully, Linda loves to read, too. We will find some beaches, set up our chairs, and read.

I'm now reading...

Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say, by Preston Sprinkle

The Case for Heaven: A Journalist Investigates Evidence for Life After Death, by Lee Strobel

How God Became Jesus: The Real Origins of Belief in Jesus' Divine Nature - A Response to Bart Ehrman, by Michael Bird

Losing Our Dignity: How Secularized Medicine Is Undermining Fundamental Human Equality, by Charles Camosy

Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution, by Carl Trueman

Religious Experience and the Knowledge of God: The Evidential Force of Divine Encounters, by Harold Netland

Deconstruction, by David Gunkel

...with a cup of coffee...

What to Do When My Demands Are Not Met

(Flower, in my back yard)

Unsurprisingly, things in my life have not all gone the way I desired them to go. How am I to handle all these disappointments?

Thomas Merton, in his journals, wrote about life in the monastery of Gethsemane, in Kentucky. One theme was his struggle with the CEO of Gethsemane (the "Abbot"), Dom James. Dom James had problems, as Merton saw things. Merton knew he had to accept Dom James's leadership, and wrote:

"I do not criticize Dom James – his nature is what it is, and he must see things as he does. And he is the Abbot God has willed for me." (Merton, Thomas (2010-10-19). Learning To Love: Exploring Solitude and Freedom, The Journals of Thomas Merton, p. 27.)  

Then Merton had this insight: "I know I will never have things exactly as I wish they ought to be – and as I would take pride in them." (Ib.)

In that singular sentence, I see a free person. Merton was free of the terrible burden of always having to have things go his own way. (This is how Richard Foster puts it in Celebration of Discipline. This is how Jesus puts it, when he tells Peter, "One day someone will tie a belt around your waist and take you where you do not wish to go.")

Is that really a terrible burden? Wouldn't it be ideal to have everything go our own way? As interesting as these questions are, they are irrelevant, because everything in life will not go the way you want them to. More than that, everything in life should not go your way, unless you are a God who always knows the way the world and people need to go.

The person who needs things to be exactly as they wish them to be will be forever weighed down by the fact of a mighty non-happening. They will be everlastingly miserable, as demand after demand remains unmet. And, they will be angry.

But one who learns how to be, in and through whatever comes their way, is the free person, living transcendent to life's circumstances. (Also called: living by faith.)

Pray to be free of the need to have things always go as you demand them to go.

**
My books are:

Praying: Reflections on 40 Years of Solitary Conversations with God

Leading the Presence-Driven Church

Encounters with the Holy Spirit (co-edited with Janice Trigg)

Deconstructing Progressive Christianity

31 Letters to the Church on Discipleship

Be Free of Trying to Change Other People

 

                                                   (Woman, selling sock, in Istanbul, Turkey)

Years ago God told me, “John, why are you trying so hard to change other people when you can’t even change your own self?” I have come to the freeing conclusion that: we cannot change other people. Only God can. So I can let go of trying to do that.

One result of this insight is that Linda and I rarely, if ever, “advise” others. We only do it if requested. This is because unasked-for advice is usually received as criticism. For example, if I saw you today and said, “Did you know that Macys has some nice shirts on sale?”, you would think, “John doesn’t like my shirt.”

If I want your advice I’ll ask for it. I do ask people for advice, on a variety of things. If the advice is about something personal, I ask people who know me, love me, are themselves vulnerable and open, and trustworthy. When Linda gives me unsolicited advice (like, “Your pant zipper is down”) it always comes out of care for me.

In relationships, and in ministry, the desire to change other people is toxic. I like how Thomas Merton puts it. Merton writes: “Nothing is more suspicious, in a man who seems holy, than an impatient desire to reform other men. A serious obstacle to recollection is the mania for directing those you have not been asked to reform… Renounce this futile concern with other men’s affairs! Pay as little attention as you can to the faults of other people and none at all to their natural defects and eccentricities.” (New Seeds of Contemplation, 255)

If God shows you another person’s fault it’s mostly so you can pray for them.

Before God, be concerned with your own transformation into Christlikeness. Pray "change my heart, O God." That prayer will keep you occupied all your life. To such a person, God will send people who desire change. That's called influence.

(The parent-child relationship is different. As is the teacher-student relationship. As are hierarchical-authority relationships, when acknowledged and willingly submitted to. Like, e.g., a sports coach who shows their athlete what they need to do to perform at a higher level.)

Physicalism as a Faith-Based Religion

                                                                         (Redeemer sanctuary)

The only kind of atheism worth entertaining logically implies physicalism. But physicalism brings problems to atheism. Physicist Richard Muller, in Now: The Physics of Time, writes:

"The denial of nonphysics, nonmath truths has been named physicalism by philosophers. Physicalism is faith based and has all the trappings of a religion itself."

This is not because of the difficulty of not having enough time to parse everything physically. It is because of the impossibility, in principle, of doing so. 

 For example, "there are other issues that are real but not in the realm of physics, questions such as, what does the color blue look like?" (Ib.)

And...

"Gödel’s theorem inspires us to wonder about the completeness of physics—not of any particular theory, but of physics itself. Are certain aspects of reality, in addition to those affected by the uncertainty principle, beyond the reach of physics? Once you start thinking along these lines, you discover that many aspects of reality not only are untouched by current physics, but also appear to be untouchable by any future physics advances. One example is evident in the question of what something looks like."

(See also, perhaps, Thomas Nagel's "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?")

Why I Am Against Abortion

 

(We must keep this ball in play.)

The abortion issue is heating up. I think that's good.

I hope and pray that aborting babies ends.

The reason I, and others like me, are against abortion is this: I/we believe the inborn conceptus/embryo/fetus is a human being. No human being is more defenseless and innocent than an inborn person.

I, and others like me, believe it is morally wrong to kill innocent, defenseless human beings. I believe if you saw the inborn entity as an innocent, defenseless human, you would feel the same as I and others do.

You would see abortion as human-killing. This would make you feel angry. This should make you feel angry.

I do not believe I, or you, have a moral right to kill innocent, defenseless humans, no matter how they were conceived, no matter how inconvenient their existence is to us, no matter how unprepared we are to nurture them.

I see the following reasoning as irrational and immoral.

1. I am not prepared to care for you.
2. Therefore, I must kill you.

1. You do not fit into my life plans.
2. Therefore, I must kill you.

1. You are a product of rape.
2. Therefore, I must kill you.

1. Your existence is a result of incest.

2. Therefore, we killed you.

1. I have the right to do what I want with my body.
2. You were part of my body. (This premise is false.)
3. I did not want you.
4. Therefore, I killed you.

Here's one I heard this week.

1. People who are against abortion should care for unwanted babies.
2. People are not caring for unwanted babies.
3. Thus, people who are against killing babies are hypocrites.

Which leads to,

1. No one was there to care for you.
2. Therefore, we killed you.

If you are angry that not enough is being done to care for unwanted persons, perhaps God is calling you to do something about this, and not use it as some justification for killing persons. Thankfully, in Southeast Michigan, some people have taken this on. Several in our church family have responded to the call and are doing something for these unwanted humans.

The Importance of Keeping Hope Alive

 

(Linda - on one of our Cancun trips)

Join Me at "The Awakening" Conference - June 26-30

 

The 2022 HSRM "The Awakening" Conference

• Go Here to Register for the 2022 HSRM Conference

Bruce Van Natta  and Elijah Stephens will join us along side our HSRM leaders as Guest speakers in 2022 for a spirit filled week June 26 though June 30, 2022 at the Green Lake Conference in Green Lake, WI. 

• Click here for a Schedule & Information on the 2022 conference.

• You are invited to the Holy Spirit Renewal conference at Green Lake, Wisconsin from June 26 to June 30, 2022 for a week of spiritual renewal, healing, transformation, equipping and empowerment to walk the Spirit-filled life as described in the New Testament. 
• Experience God throughout the week in anointed worship and teachings from nationally known guest speakers, HSRM leaders, and gifted workshop presenters. 
• Youth Ministry, children’s Ministry and childcare make it possible for the whole family to enjoy and fully participate in the conference and receive a touch from the Lord. 
• Free time every afternoon allows time to enjoy the great outdoors on the beautiful conference grounds of Green Lake Conference Center. 
• The fellowship among the conferees at the Holy Spirit Conference is a special feature and has earned it the tag line “More than a Conference, It’s a Family!” 
• Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries has been serving the Body of Christ for 47 years though conferences, seminars, and retreats and has the distinction of maintaining a great balance of word and Spirit-expounding God’s uncompromised truth and sound scriptural teaching while experiencing and releasing God’s New Testament power that was promised to all believers. 
• He is the same yesterday, today and forever! 
• Love yourself and your family and make it a priority to “press in” for all the Lord has for you and wants to do in your life. 
• The conference is a Paradigm shifter that will bless you in every way! 
• 
  
• For Lodging at the Green Lake Conference Center (www.glcc.org)  please make your arrangements with the Center by phone at 920-294-3323. 
• The Green Lake Conference Center offers a wide range of lodging options, from tent camping sites to cabins/homes and hotel rooms. 
• Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries does not make arrangements for conference lodging. Off-site hotels are also available in Ripon and Green Lake, WI..
• ON-GROUNDS DINING is available in the Kraft Center Dining Room 
• 
  
• Register for the 2022 HSRM Conference
• 
  
• 2022 GLCC Lodging and Meal Rates
• 
  
• Things to do at Green Lake Conference Center
•  
• How to get to Green Lake Conference Center

HSRM 2022 CONFERENCE GUEST SPEAKERS

Bruce Van Natta

The author of “Saved By Angels” and “A Miraculous Life” and founder of “Sweet Bread Ministries”– 

In 2006 Bruce was crushed underneath a logging truck and was on the verge of life and death when he had an "out of body" experience.  God sent two angels to keep Bruce alive.  Bruce's body was almost cut in two.  Main arteries were completely severed in 5 places!  The doctors said there was no medical record of anyone surviving longer than a few minutes with injuries like his.  Bruce should have died before the ambulance arrived.  Yet God kept him alive for over 2 ½ hours, until doctors could operate.  Many of his internal organs were smashed.  In fact, Bruce's intestines were so badly damaged that the doctor's couldn't even save enough intestines to sustain his life. Even after the miracle of surviving this horrible accident, Bruce, (father of four children) was slowly starving to death.  

God spoke to a man on the other side of the country, (Bruce Carlson) to buy a plane ticket, fly to Bruce, and pray for a creative miracle in his intestines.

His true life story stirs the faith of any believer and brings unbelievers to a place where they can accept Christ.  

Many people report being healed of sicknesses, diseases, addictions, as well as emotional problems like fear and depression after getting prayer at one of Bruce's meetings and these testimonies are just as exciting and meaningful as what happened to Bruce.

https://sweetbreadministries.com/

Elijah Stephens

We must meld the intellectual, the supernatural, integrity, and love to prepare for the next Great Awakening.”— Elijah Stephens

Elijah's background is very diverse. He holds degrees in philosophy and psychology. He served in the Army, owns multiple businesses, served seven years as an executive pastor at the Vineyard Chattanooga, is an author, and film maker.  

His passion is to train leaders to follow the Spirit, and show them how to teach others to do the same. Also, it is to help churches work more effectively, and develop their next generation of leadership. Also, he loves training church members to walk in their identity, and to see power. He values teaching exegetically correct, theologically solid, intellectually honest, Spirit-led sermons that are healthy and free from hype and pretense. 

https://simplykingdom.com/

No Shameful Entertainment In the Presence-Driven Church

One of our Redeemer kids

I am an aging guitar player. I started lessons on the steel guitar at age five, transitioned to electric guitar, and then added acoustic guitar, especially finger style picking. As a teen I loved big, loud, Marshall amplifiers. Stacks of them, piled to the rooftops!

I liked ambiance. There was something about playing in dimly lit bars, on a little stage, with colored lighting. I always looked better in the dark.

I liked black lights and fog machines and dry ice and incense and Hammond B-3 organs and strobe lights and long hair and bell bottoms. Even though the bands I played in were short-lived and unknown, these things made us look and sound better than we really were. At the time, these things were thought to be cool, and people looked at you like you were cool if you played in a band that slowly emerged through the false, foggy atmosphere holding Fender guitars slung to the waist.

This is called Entertainment.

Then, I had an encounter with God. My life direction was forever changed. My friends changed, my drug habit changed (it was gone), I changed my major in college, I stopped dating for a year, I picked up a Bible and began to read, the music I listened to changed, I became a youth leader in a church, I became a public speaker (the thing I most feared in life!), my habits began to change, the way I viewed life and reality changed, and my experiences changed, because my heart was changing and transforming. I realized I needed a lot more changing, and that attitude was a change for me. God did something to me that a black light with some added fog and dry ice failed to do.

This is called Power. Real Power effects change.

Power is what we were told in the book of Acts would happen when the Holy Spirit gets into a person. "You shall receive Power," said Jesus.

Real Church is a Power Encounter with the Holy Spirit. This has nothing to do with Entertainment. Entertainment is programmable and predictable. It gets old, quickly. It can be fun to go to a show or a concert, but who would want to see the same thing week after week?

In the Presence-Driven Church no Sunday is the same. This is because the Spirit is allowed to lead, and the Spirit cannot be programmed, and is essentially unpredictable, from our cognitively shrunken point of view.

A Presence-Driven Church has a cost. The pastors and the people must have a habitual praying life. They must resolutely abide in Christ. They must have a worshiping lifestyle. Their focus must be on knowing God, not on knowing about God. They must be servants, rather than rulers. They must become familiar with God, a result of which will be increasing discernment and hearing from God. Pastors in Presence-Driven Churches become facilitators of God's presence, and are equipped to do so because their primary act is spending much time with God. You won't need a black light to do this.

James McDonald writes:

"A real encounter with the living God changes everything. First, it magnifies the Lord, and then it puts me and my ego and my sin and my burdens all in their rightful place.
That is what church is supposed to do and be. Not an encounter with the glory of God in creation but an encounter with God in a different, even more awesome way that only church can provide. However, church today as a weekly experience with the manifest glory of God is the greatest lack we face. The lost are not found because God’s glory is not revealed in church. Children wander because church is pathetically predictable or shamefully entertaining but hardly ever authentically God." (MacDonald, Vertical Church: What Every Heart Longs for. What Every Church Can Be, Kindle Locations 56-61)

  (See my book Leading the Presence-Driven Church.)