Battle of the Heart

This blog is designed to give people an inner look at a devotional life. Taking time each day to spend time with the Lord. The hope is if you travel on this journey with Rev. Jacob Shaw, you may be more inclined to spend time with the Lord as well. I encourage the use of a devotional, a scripture reading and prayer, then finally some form of artistic mark to tie it all together. 

Today's devotional is taken from: Zacharias, Ravi. The Logic of God: 52 Christian Essentials for the Heart and Mind. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019. [E-Book] Chapter 5: Battle of the Heart

Opening Thought:  There is another apologist names Frank Turek who in his talks with hostile college atheists will often poise the question to them, “If Christianity were true would you become a Christian?” The question is designed to mark in the person their intent within their atheism. When I wrote my thesis, Atheist Controversy in the United Church of Canada: A Review of Gretta Vosper (https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/6133/), I discovered in my studies there are a wider variety of atheist out there. Some are atheists in a more passive sense (sometimes categorized as negative atheism) these people merely have a lack of belief in God or gods, other people have a down-right opposition to theism, (this is sometimes classifies as positive atheism) and there are more varieties and sub-classification than this. The point of saying this is to remind us of the fact that behind every worldview is a worldviewer, and within worldviewer are often motivation they do not realize they have. When Frank Turek asks this question, “If Christianity were true would you become a Christian?”, what Frank is doing is looking to see the motivation behind their position. If the person is a "truth" seeker, but they had not come across an understanding of God, so far in their searching, that would convince them that God exists, thus they remain atheistic. However, if Christianity were true, assuming that they are seeking truth, they would have to become a Christian if what they are truly seeking what is truth. If they could have Christianity 100% proven to them, and they still did not wish to become Christian, than they were either never searching for truth to begin with, or they have a world view that is antithetical to truth.       

The devotional begins with: John 18:33-34,36-38

Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.

Second Thought: This passage speaks to the concept of seeking truth, because Jesus confronts Pilates question of Jesus being the messiah with the questions, “whose asking?” If Pilate was asking because he genuinely wanted to know truth, or seek truth, then his internal motivations would be different than if Pilate was asking for political sake or for whatever outside influence. Jesus makes the dilemma upon Pilate more challenging when Christ equates himself with truth. As a result, if one reject Jesus then one is rejecting truth. Thus, if one is a truth seeker, then one at the very least must approach a truth claim with open ears.

This does not mean that a non-believing truth seeker would come to Christianity without question, concern or even hostility, rather it means someone wishing to seek truth would temper their disbelief in hope for discovering truth, even if that truth contradicts their previous worldview.    

Continual Work: Ask yourself this question, are you a seeker of truth? Is there something you feel to be true that you otherwise ignore or deny because it challenges your worldview’s comfort zone.

What Rev. Jacob is Working On: My childhood home was filled with discussion on philosophy, religion, and politics. My siblings and I were encouraged to let learning and knowledge be our playground. One thing I most appreciate about my upbringing is that it has given me a critical mind to evaluate what I believe. This has certainly given me a number of long sleepless night evaluating the nuances of my faith, but it has also given me a great confidence in life. I’ll reflect on that today, and maybe even critique it a little too.

Rev. Jacob’s Scripture time: John 18:35

“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

I have added in the verse that Zacharias left out. I chose this verse today because I believe it speaks to the reality of when we most often avoid truth. When our subjective truth feels “close enough” that we often don’t give time to think of a possible greater truth, even if it just a minor adjustment to an idea or thought. Too often do I see Christians belittle and cast down other Christians who think or believe differently than they do, this come from both side of the traditional spectrum, left verse right, liberal verse conservative, traditional verse contemporary. Everyone thinks they have it spot on. Sure, we need to hold confidence in what we believe, but when we are in the ballpark of faith, i.e., baptized and/or confirmed, we can let there be some wiggle room for discussion.

Closing Words: I hope you enjoyed and were lifted by this devotional time; it is truly important to take time for God each day. By doing so, you welcome God into your life, and in turn you will be able to better see the world through the eyes of God, rather than God through the world's eyes.

Prayer for your day: Lord, help us seek truth in Your Word, born to us to give us the revelation of Your will. We are every thankful for your gift of life, love and salvation. Guide our meditation of heart and mind and we think of You this day. In Christ’s name, Amen. 

Artistic Close: This is a beautiful wood block textile from designer and painter Furuya Korin (1875-1910) à the arrows make we think of the fast pace modern life on the 21 century, even tough it was created long before. When we encounter a variety of thought it can be wonderful, but it is more wonderful if all the thinkers in their variety are pointed towards an eternal and ultimate truth. Let that be food for thought.

Vintage woodblock print of Japanese textile from Shima-Shima (1904) by Furuya Korin. Digitally enhanced from our own original edition.