Wednesday, September 10, 2008
don't waste your life - john piper
i've been reading this book "Don't waste you life" by John Piper.
it is a christian book which talks about what we should live for and how we should live our lives. i was wondering how i'm ever going to explain the contents of this book to non-christian friends.
its an uphill task because:
1. if you don't believe in God, you won't agree with the main stance of the book that you should live your life to worship God and give Him glory even in the most mundane of daily activities.
2. so before i even share about the book and its application to my life, i need to share with you why i believe in God.
3. so what if i've explained? christianity is a faith. it is not merely head knowledge. its the beliefs and directive prompting of your heart towards God. it has to be experienced by the individual. so if one has already dismissed the knowledge and facts underpinning this religion, its difficult for one to be open to any form of revelation or experience.
4. I am not perfect. How has Christ make me any different from others? i can seek to live according the the truth and purposes of my faith but i'm not indefeasible. why do i say im weak when i say i believe in a God who is strong and powerful?
therein lies the seemingly circular argument: i need God because i'm weak. God has made me strong. but i still fall, i'm a weak person. therefore, i rely on God. so you should ask, are u sure there's God?
that argument will be torn down by a simple fact that this world does not exist in a vacuum. we cannot hold all conditions constant. there is no ceteris paribus. my weakness yesterday may have been overcome according to God's strength, but i may fall away by other problems from external sources or an inherent flaw of mine. God can be powerful and be my all provider, but laying all my trust (or faith) in Him is still a struggle to many Christians today.
“Life is wasted if we do not grasp the
glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave
to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain.” John Piper
8:37 AM
