Saturday, 06 June 2009

• Currently The Best of Vivaldi, Vol. 2 see related

  Things I Believe: A compendium of music and archival posts

  
  I've lately been involved in a friendly online discussion-- I've given up the other kinds-- with a congenial person who is curious about what I believe and why. When I mentioned that Christians don't actually believe (as she'd feared) in a God who's a bloodthirsty tyrant, she posed the thoroughly appropriate follow-up question, "So specifically what do you believe?" Should've seen that one coming.  (Though as Chesterton observed, "It was perhaps an incautious suggestion to make to a person only too ready to write books upon the feeblest provocation.")
  
  On reflecting and trying to figure out how on earth to summarize my beliefs simply, I realized I few things:
  
  

  1. I can't write a book about this at the moment, as my creative energies are tied up in several writing and composing projects in life offline.
  2. Fortunately, I've already done quite a bit of writing about my beliefs on this blog over the past years. [An ironic gasp of shock from my readers.] Corollary: A lot of my current readers are newer and might have missed some of my older posts that are still worth reading.
     
  3. There is simply no way to accurately  put across what I really believe without involving music in some way.
  4. Fortunately, I'm a composer.
     
     

  Combining these ideas leads to this compendium. On the right are simple statements with links that will lead you to my posts where you'll find the ideas explained more thoroughly. On the left are a song or two that I've written that express it more viscerally. For a more immersive experience, you might try reading the posts while listening to the music; let me know how that works if you like. (We may be witnessing the beginnings of what theology will look like in the Web 2.0 generation, but I'm not sure of that.)
  
  It occurred to me afterward that I could have done something similar with a list of good books and a playlist of classical music. Life works like that sometimes. But hopefully this may make up for the dearth of substantive posts around here lately.
  
  So here's a bit of what I believe.
  
  

  The existence of God is something like the taste of chocolate or the sound of music: try to perceive it the wrong way and you'll miss it; try to perceive it the right way and it will permeate your life. Why not Taste and See! (Or, if you must have it philosophically, try The Bachological Argument.)
  

  
  Song: At the Re-Creation
  

  
  

  According to the Bible, "God is Love..." and not just any kind of love, but the kind of love that shows compassion even to one's enemies (More on God's Love). God loves you unconditionally no matter what you've done or failed to do-- you could almost think that God is a Cubs Fan.
  

  
  Song: Bless Thou Jehovah

  
  

  So what's the problem? Some of the things we've done, left to themselves, could destroy our lives, and even God can't have a close relationship with someone who's constantly fighting against Him. Somebody has to pay the price, but who? Is Jesus the Only Way? Check out what Jesus did (and didn't do) in The Misadventures of Person C, or, Why Couldn't God Just Forgive Us?
  

  
  Song: The Return

  
  Song: Nailed to the Cross

  
  

  This of course has a great bearing on who gets into heaven, and how they get there. Just ask the Five People You Don’t Meet in Heaven (and one you might).
  

  
  Song: I See a Little Child

  
  
  

  But even in our life here and now, it enables us to go on The Best Road and to become More Like Jesus. It gives a Prescription for Your Discouragement, comfort when trolls advance The Green Hair Theory (you'll probably have to read that one to get the reference), and enables you to say “Jesus is a Friend of Mine.”
  

  
  Song: O, Could I Speak the Matchless Worth
  

  
  
  

  That's not to say that all Christians are perfect; as everybody knows, we have plenty of opportunities to engage in Hypocriticism, pointing out actions that look like Grace on a Snake. But if you dislike religious hypocrisy, you're actually agreeing with the teachings of Jesus, and already taking the first step that can show you what His grace is all about: Blessed are the Disillusioned.
  

  
  Song: The Craftsman
  

  
  

  In fact, it's that way with most of the common objections to Christianity: If you object to the picture of Christianity you've been given, you might be surprised to find yourself feeling right at home with the real one. See 20 Reasons to Abandon a Bugaboo. Either that or they miss the point entirely, as in Variations and Fugue on a Theme in D (awkins) (elusion). And even many self-styled Christians are guilty of giving a bad impression: check out Eric's Handy Guide to Refuting Dangerous False Teachings
  

  
  Song: Missing The Point

  
  

  What's the right way to read the Bible, then? Try Jesus and Thoughtful Bible Study.
  

  
  

  As Jesus points out, the point of studying the Bible is not to know more theology than anyone else but-- well, see For Your Consideration: When Good Doctrine is False Teaching (negative) or Defying Gravity (positive).
  

  
  

  Song: Like a River Glorious

  
  

  Put it in one sentence? To Live is Christ.
  

  
  Song: Echoes from the Cross
  

  
  Christians / long-time readers: Is there any topic that you think I left out and should have addressed?
  
  Non-believers / others: Are there any areas or issues that you'd like me to explain better?
  
  (Note: Replying to the above doesn't guarantee you'll get a post in response, but good questions usually get something out of me. Comments of course are always welcome.)
  
  If you like my music, you can find more of it (and more about) it here.
  
  

  • 10:22 PM
  • 63 Views
  • 2 eProps
  • 3 Comments