Plantinga - Chapter 4

As we discussed the purpose of the 10 commandments today in class, a Psalm that I recently read came to mind. Psalm 19 speaks of the beauty of the law; it reminds us that the law is beautiful because of its purpose and what it does for us. Rather than thinking of the law as something that binds us and restricts us, we think of it as something beautiful, reflecting something so much deeper in our hearts.

Psalm 19:7-11
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.


On a different note, during our discussion of Plantinga, chapter 4, we began discussing the impact of receiving a Christian education on our faith. I think this is a topic we must truly be aware of as we are constantly surrounded by a Christian environment. On one hand, I think receiving a Christian education can be a great opportunity. In a secular school, professors are thinking “along” the Christian faith we are “looking at.” They may challenge us intellectually in certain areas; yet at the same time there is something more challenging and engaging to be challenged by professors who “look along” the same faith and challenge their students within that. I think we can be challenged to seek God and learn more about Him and the world he has created in a Christian school.
Yet at the same time there is such danger living in this environment. Just as the Screwtape letters mentioned, Satan is so eager to make us believe that we are following God by convincing us, through outward things (habits or knowledge), that we are near to God. All the while he tries to harden our hearts to God, cutting off our communication with the Lord. He attempts to wean us from a personal relationship with God to bring us to a point where we are only approaching God in the context of classes or in a group context. From there he may attempt to make our “interactions with God” merely empty and meaningless habits. The most dangerous place is when he is successful at cutting off our communication with God; with time, with long lived lies, he may be able to convince us of almost anything. Since we are not forced to swim against the current of the world (as we would in a state school), we may easily begin to stop swimming so hard and be carried with the current.
What are we going to do with our Christian education? Will we be spoon-fed like a child and slowly become apathetic? Or will stand firm in the hope of our salvation and fall more in love with our Savior every day?