That’s a part of an excerpt from Penn Jillette’s book that’s making the rounds in the tech blogs I read (via Daring Fireball). Here’s the full excerpt:

There is no god and that’s the simple truth. If every trace of any single religion died out and nothing were passed on, it would never be created exactly that way again. There might be some other nonsense in its place, but not that exact nonsense. If all of science were wiped out, it would still be true and someone would find a way to figure it all out again.

Since this is an excerpt, I’m not sure whether Mr. Jillette is arguing his case from the standpoint of all historic facts being lost or if he’s arguing from the standpoint that history itself is reset (people lauding the quote seem to take it both ways). Here’s the thing if all historic facts were lost could we prove that George Washington lived? Or if history were reset and George Washington never lived could we prove that he existed? See, Mr. Jillette’s argument is a fantasy, but it sounds so authoritative that people who want to dismiss religion gravitate toward it.

Christianity does not live outside of history. Something that is most obvious at this time of year. This is when we celebrate our savior’s entrance into time and history and His becoming incarnate to take on our sin and pay the punishment for it so we might have eternal life. Mr. Jillette’s fantasy question implies that only science is based on objective truths. Well, so is history.

In my quest to build a technology business around confessional Christian products and service, I’ve come across lots of advice from other Christians about how to find what God has called you to do and build a business around that “calling”. What this typically leads to is the idea that you need to look at how God has uniquely gifted you in terms of ability and interest and that is how to determine what He has called you to do.

Vocation

I find this really problematic because it is dangerous, for any reason, to look inward at ourselves to determine what God wants us to do. While the Holy Spirit dwells in us, that Old Adam still exists in us and corrupts whatever good intentions we have. No, the best way to determine what God wants us to do is to look outside of ourselves, at His Word and the people He has put around us. We know from His word that He would have us love our neighbors and our neighbors are those He has put in our lives be they spouse, children, co-workers, etc. This is the doctrine of vocation that aside from “salvation by grace, through faith, for Christ’s sake alone” is the most comforting teaching Luther uncovered in the Reformation.

Mission

The other problem with looking inwardly for your calling is that your career/business becomes primarily an expression of your desires and not about how God wants to use you to serve your neighbor. This leads to the idea that mission/evangelism becomes the way in which we serve our neighbor and that anytime we are serving our neighbor we are doing evangelism. That’s how building homes, passing out water, and cleaning up the neighborhood become “evangelism” without any hint of Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins. In no way am I denigrating theses acts of mercy, it’s just that this confused “evangelism” without the proclamation of the Gospel isn’t going to save anyone.

It always amazes me that ones understanding of vocation has such ripple effects, but I guess it shouldn’t because we all want to know how God wants to use us. However, instead of being curved in on ourselves (incurvatus in se) and looking at our gifts we need to look outside ourselves and serve the one who is right in front of us. You could take the most brilliant scientist who has the passion and ability to come up with a cure for cancer and if his child is sitting in front of him with a dirty diaper it should be quite obvious how God wants to use him.

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Concordia Publishing House has just released 16 titles from its Arch Book series as iPad apps. Each one is $1.99. I bought The Parable of the Prodigal Son for the girls to try out. I’ve been considering doing something similar so I hope these are successful. I quickly put the app through it’s paces and it’s not bad, but it’s somewhat lacking when compared to the Dr. Seuss books. The highlight of the words is rather weak (I like the animated zooming of words personally) and the timing of the highlights is uneven, sometimes coming before the word is spoken, sometimes almost after. Also, there is no interactivity with the pictures. The leading edge of iPad children books apps like Food Fight! animate most of the images when clicked on and even have rudimentary games. What this points out to me is that while the content of Christian apps may be more important the quality of the app will still be judged against all apps. These quibbles aside, I’m really glad CPH is bringing the Arch Books to the iPad.

As soon as I open the garage door my 4-yo greets me with, “Let’s take a bath with Jesus!” My first thought was, “What in the world have the girls been doing today? I hope this isn’t some type of ‘Jesus is my Homeboy‘ thing.”  Turns out my wife had gotten her a toy set with Jesus, the Apostles (I wonder which one is Judas), and a boat. Well she spent the afternoon splashing around in the sink. I told her that Jesus could walk on water (this one sank) because he was God. Although we didn’t take a bath with Jesus, I did get a chance to teach her a little more about our Savior.

Just before last night’s Ash Wednesday service my 4 year-old pulls me aside and tells me this:

4yo: Let’s go to church. That’s where Jesus is.

Between saying “no” and being defiant in general she must be listening a little.

While drying my 8 year olds hair last night we had this conversation:

8yo: Dad, tomorrow is Fat Tuesday.

Me: What’s Fat Tuesday.

8yo: It’s when we get to eat sugar all day!

Me: What?! .

8yo: Yeah, we get to eat whatever kind of food at school.

Me: Okay, I’m not sure about that, but what’s Wednesday?

8yo: I know, Ash Wednesday. You know, when you get the ashes on your forehead.

Me: What season does that start?

8yo: Spring?

Me: Um, what church season does that start?

8yo: …

Me: Not Advent, but ….

8yo: …

Me: Lent

8yo: Lent, right. I just forgot. I’m giving up unhappy emotions for Lent.

Me: What?!

8yo: Yeah, you’re supposed to give something up for Lent so I’m going to give up unhappy emotions

Me: Hmm, that’s kind of interesting. Seems pretty hard, I just give up breakfasts. But why do we give up things for Lent?

8yo: …

Me: To remember and be sorry for our sins. So what do we have to do for our sins to be forgiven?

8yo: Give up something?

Me: Hold on, what did Jesus do?

8yo: He died on the Cross to forgive our sins.

Me: And what do we have to do for our sins to be forgiven?

8yo: Nothing, it’s a gift.

Me: So why do we give something for Lent?

8yo: To remember our sins.

Me: Yes, whenever we think about what we’re giving up for Lent we should think about our sins and that Jesus has died for them.

8yo: Thanks, dad. Is my hair dry yet?

Mostly a reminder to myself to take any opportunity to walk through what we believe with my girls, but this may be a helpful reminder to others.

My daughter goes to a Catholic school and it gives me a great opportunity to catechize her. In this clip, we talk about the Prayer of Sorrow.

Two of the most interesting blog posts all year. Not so much for the posts themselves, but the comments are truly amazing. The discussion is on the Gottesdienst Online blog and starts with a post with a pastor from the SELK discussing that bodies position on Women’s Ordination. In the comments, Valparaiso Professor and LCMS rostered clergyman Matthew Becker defends his pro-Women’s Ordination stance. Of course his fellow pastors refute his position and call him to repentance. Prof. Becker sees no reason to repent or break fellowship with the LCMS.

The discussion gets even more interesting in a follow up post where Prof. Becker continues his support of Women’s Ordination. Then, in answering a question regarding the relationship between Women’s Ordination and the ordination of homosexuals, he expresses support for the ELCA’s view on human sexuality. Prof. Becker sees these things as individual items of theology and Christian ethics that may be disagreed upon.

I enjoyed all the pastors defending the historic faith, but I was fascinated by Prof. Becker’s arguments in favor of his position. No, I was not swayed in the least, just in awe of the various gymnastic moves he makes to hold his positions together. I have no doubt that he is very intelligent based on the positions he has synthesized, but he is not a very good theologian.

Yesterday I was commenting on a Facebook link and carelessly addressed someone I knew to be a pastor by his first name. When I realized my error (I believe it is only proper to show respect to the men that God has called to be pastors) I asked for forgiveness. The pastor’s response was, “Brian, you are forgiven,” not “no problem” or “that’s okay” and that word of forgiveness made my day. I had asked for forgiveness because I felt I had shown disrespect to the pastor and his office, but his word of forgiveness pointed me not just to the forgiveness of that one sin but to the forgiveness of all of them.

Thanks, Pr. Lorfeld.

I’ve been following the comments on a post by Pr. Messer about the Michigan District giving funds to a congregation so they can open a coffee house. Supporters of the funding have noted that “journeys coffeehouse is a non-traditional approach to bringing the message of Jesus Christ to the world.” and “… a coffee house could be just such a place to slowly build relationships so that others may come to know Christ.” Pr. Messer and Jim Pierce have done a wonderful job of pointing out where these notions are problematic.

”The Great Commission”

What I want to address is one commenter’s assertion:

Doesn’t Jesus himself say “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”? (Matt. 28:19).

This statement also goes by the name “The Great Commission” and after being bombarded with these two substitute forms of the real Great Commission for over 2 years by the Synod, CNH District, TCN, and every evangelism program under the sun, I have now formulated a response, “Finish the sentence!”

Those ellipses and the shorthand “Great Commission” obscure how the church is to make disciples. With the shorthand in place those words have been used as an excuse to do just about anything from having a pastor ride in on a motorcycle, to big puppets processing in a service, to now funding a coffee house. Let’s try looking at the full sentence:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV)

Wow! That’s a lot of stuff under those ellipses. I don’t know about you, but “…” is a poor substitute for baptizing and teaching. But here’s what I think is really going on. I don’t think any Christians these days have a problem with baptism. Even those with unbiblical views of baptism hold it in some regard. What I believe more and more every day is that today’s Christians have a real problem with “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” The full breadth and depth of the Christian faith, especially as it is confessed in the Book of Concord, unites us in Christ but divides us from the culture and too many Christians fear being out of step with the culture or, gasp, irrelevant. They want to hide behind those ellipses so they can “reach out” however they best see fit. Never mind that Christ has told us how to make disciples, that might offend people. Let’s just make them some coffee.

One more thing, I think those ellipses also hide the answer to a lot of concerns I have in my life. I have two young daughters and I’m concerned about how they will become and remain biblically orthodox Christians. I have a wife who wasn’t raised in a Christian household and worry about her spiritual life if anything ever happened to me. I belong to a struggling congregation where some just want to “make disciples of all nations…” ellipses and all. How do I address these disparate concerns? Of course the answer is trust in God, but the means in each of these cases appears to me to be “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”