We the Slanderers

If  I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. I absolutely love Calvin and Hobbes. I would even go as far as saying they are a form of catharsis for me. Not unlike painting for some or coffee for others (and yes coffee is an art). Bill Waterson, whatever he believes about the gospel, has a profound understanding of human nature and our haunting condition. In fact, if you didn’t know Calvin and Hobbes are actually named after two highly influential and respected minds, John Calvin, a French theologian and Thomas Hobbes, a British Philosopher.

This particular post will mark the beginning of a new series of articles in which I combine two of my favorite things: Theology and Calvin and Hobbes.

I think I’m going to call it, Theology and Calvin and Hobbes.

For those interested, this strip does have a precursor, in which Calvin slanders a little girl with a particularly nasty name.  In the comic above Calvin confesses to Hobbes some level of remorse. But the interesting point here comes not from the talking tiger, but from Calvin’s mishandling of his own emotions. His struggle is not unlike some of our own, especially when the solution is staring us in the face.  Though admittedly, even if that is the case it doesn’t always mean we are willing or able to act.

Despite his selfishness Calvin is on the right track. He is seeking counsel from his most trusted friend, which is something I know I find myself failing to do often times. I realize for myself, it seems easier to not seek counsel because I already know the answer and it makes me uncomfortable, or I think I can simply slide the situation under the nearest rug.

The foremost issue with these methods of problem solving come from their source. Which is undoubtedly ‘me‘ centered. (Something I’ve been learning a lot about lately) The me centered approach is blatantly in contradiction with the selflessness of Christ, which as Christians is what we should be striving for. It would be easy for me to just state plainly that we need to man up, and while that is true, if it were that easy we wouldn’t need to have these conversations.

The two main points I wish to make concerning human selfishness, and the one ones I’m still learning to work through (knowing I’ll never perfect them until Jesus comes back to make me) are simple in concept but are lifelong endeavors.

The first of which has us rely more heavily on community. For us to have the Hobbes to confide in so we may be corrected when our hearts don’t find joy in what the gospel would have us do. This is a tough one for me because for all my jovial bravado, I’m actually a hermit in disguise, or better yet a lone wolf with a diva complex. But one particular place where scripture has been encouraging for me is acts 4.32. Here we see the benefits of true community, through which I can be thankful for the community I’ve grown into.

Second, if our hearts are perpetually like this, then we should really look at where our affections are, because they can’t be focused too strongly on Jesus and what he has accomplished.  If they were then Calvin would be in tears over causing little Susie to cry. It’s in these situations that we must look at every person as if they were Christ, like how God looks at us through the lens of Christ’s righteousness. The reminder here should be simple, Christ died for his enemies, we follow Christ, so our love should reflect his, meaning no name calling at six year olds (or anyone) for what we do to them we do to the one who died for us. (Matthew 25.45)

So the end encouragement here is  to man up, but not simply to it’s own end, but for the sake of Christ.

My new favorite question

After finishing Tim Keller’s book The Reason for God and hearing the influx of criticism of Rob Bell’s new book I started really thinking through a question about my own theology.

Why is this actually important?

It’s a interestingly simple question.  A query often forstalled by parents to their toddlers, or by math teachers to frustrated students. But it is one as Christians we should always be asking.  And why should we be asking it?

Because the answers have profound implications for our eternity. Here are a couple examples.

The Virgin Birth: This is most likely the least believable of Christianity’s teachings, but vital nonetheless.  If Christ was not immaculately conceived then we run into plenty of issues. Foremost, his completely human birth would mean that Jesus was, in fact, not God. Which would then display that he would have been a liar, based on his own words within scripture.(John 10.30, John 14:7-10) And if we cannot trust him concerning his origins then anything else he would claim would be suspect as well. Meaning that his atoning death on the cross was wasted and did absolutely nothing. In the end, a Christianity without the virgin birth means there is no salvation and God’s wrath is not satisfied.

The Trinity: By far one of the most confusing and paradoxical tenets of Christianity. But if it were lacking would probably change the way Christians acted immensely.  Simply put (and paraphrased from Keller) if he were not triune then he could not BE love, nor could he have loved before the foundation of the earth. In fact God could not have loved until after he created the very first thing, whatever that may be. God’s honesty once again becomes an object of scrutiny. And again we point back to the virgin birth, if Christ is simply a created being he cannot properly atone for our sin. Also a case may be made that without the unity of the trinity then God needed us. Not to mention Jesus would have been advocating worship of himself apart from God which would have been blasphemy and cause for even more wrath!

Thankfully though, Christ has proved the validity of his mission through the countless miracles, fulfilled prophecy, not to mention that whole resurrection thing.

I wish to point this out for a couple of reasons. One is to simply to help develop a greater awe of the gospel.  True and greater understanding of the gospel will yield a true and greater joy and awe. But more than just that, for myself at least, I hope a better understanding of theology will help make me a better communicator of Christ’s truth and make my prideful and arrogant heart humble.

Are there some tangible ways that anyone has seen where your theology has helped make Christ more beautiful? Or does it sometimes seem like its hard to implement it all the time?