Nathanael Szobody on Martin Luther says in his commentary on Genesis that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not an evil tree in itself. In fact it was a good tree, for certainly knowledge is good; how else then can God be called good? The evil was clearly in defying the prohibition concerning the tree. Read More
Nathanael Szobody on Our effectual calling to be the people of God, as individuals into a body, was not to complete our self-improvement project, nor to make us happy, nor to get us into heaven, nor to make us successful here on earth. We were chosen, called, and made holy through pain, suffering, sacrifice and death in Christ to make a dwelling place for God; to enjoy a ‘communion’ or loving presence with him in which all other blessings and pursuits find their fulfilling role. Read More
Nathanael Szobody on It is not that Jesus’ commands have been tried and found lacking; it is that they have not been tried.
–John Armstrong
Nathanael Szobody on IF you’re reading this it must mean that you find some value in the recently discovered pastime of blogging. Personally I never was one to surf the internet in search of random information/entertainment. But the blogging culture seems to have quickly become one of ‘clicks.’ It seems that people have certain blogs they go to, be they about news, or interests, or friends or just plain hot air.
I am incouraged that Americans have again seen the value of a public forum with the free exchange of ideas, but it seems that blogs have become more of a means of exclusivism that open exchange. We go to those blogs that are related to where we are in life, unwittingly bypassing the wealth of information that could help jolt us out of our comfort zone and come face to face with ideas that make us uncomfortable. It in effect blinds us to what is happening in other parts of society. Whereas traditionally when we browse the newspaper we can’t help but come across any range of topics within our society.
Finally, many blogs serve what we seem to have an insatiable desire for: random bits of information and opinion that have very little meaning outside of thier narrow context–often meant purely for entertainment. For this reason on my blog I attempt not to gain a ‘following,’ nor to entertain, but to perhaps provoke a bit of edifying thought on some more universally implicit topics in the midst of a hectic day. A futile endeavor in modern American culture? Perhaps, but I haven’t given up yet.
Nathanael Szobody on Nathanael Szobody on I’m open to exploring any range of topics that relate to philosophy, theology, society, or scripture in general. Please leave some suggestions!
Nathanael Szobody on An apologist is one who defends the faith and refutes attacks upon it. Is the theme a prominant one in the New Testament church? The creeds were certainly layed down in response to false doctrine being taught in the church, but not because of attacks being made from outside of the church. The Apostle Paul commands Timothy and Titus to rebuke false doctrine and uphold good doctrine, and always be ready to give an answer. But again, that was in the context of within the church.
Satan will always be devising new schemes to attack, sometimes from within and sometimes from without. The goal of the church should be to confront those attacks which threaten the spiritual maturity of the believers. Somewhere along the line Christians have gained the reputation of being intolerant and judgemental. The Apostle Paul only judges those sins and heresies which are inside the church. When he does refer to the error of the world it is in reference to the former way of life of the believers; again, it is serving the purpose of strengthening the church’s faith in the one who has already saved them from the world.
Francis Schaeffer portrays much of modern apologetics as spitballs launched from the fortress of orthodoxy. This is an image that we all contribute to cultivating when we elevate the defense of right doctrine above the uncomfortable role of being Christ to our neighbor. Ephesians 4:1-16 lays out the proper approach to spiritual maturity as it relates both to ‘right doctrine’ and the workings out of love within the body.
Nathanael Szobody on How many times a week do you recite the Lord’s prayer? Got it? Ok, now how many times do you pray the Lord’s prayer? And is it really the Lord’s prayer or is it more accurately the disciples’ prayer?
It is important to understand the simple purpose of each of the petitions, as Luther’s Small Catechism teaches for example. But these petitions were not given so that we could get something from God as much as they were given as the gift of God in themselves. Christ taught his disciples to pray in this manner because each of the statements in the prayer pertain to a crucial element of our relationship to him.
Nathanael Szobody on Greater than all was Abraham, great with that power whose stregth is powerlessness, great in that wisdom whose secret is folly, great in that hope whose outward form is insanity, great in that love which is hatred of self.
–Soren Kierkegaard
Nathanael Szobody on If all that is revealed, both in nature and in scripture, is a procession of Christ (though nature, of course has been corrupted since sin) according to John 1, then all truth and essential created beauty can be said to be an expression of Christ. For he said “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,” and also “God is Love.” This word, or ‘communication’ of God will always have very physical implications, and vise versa; all physical interaction can be seen as an image of spiritual truth.
Therefore, to study, teach or act upon truth in any of its forms, be it spiritual or physical, for any reason other than to strengthen and preserve the relationship between Christ and his creation and between those of us who are in that creation, is vain and perverted.