Comments on: Descent into Hell and the Deconstruction of False Hope http://perilousrealm.net/2005/09/05/descent-into-hell-and-the-deconstruction-of-false-hope/ Looking for Rivendell in Rochester, NY Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:01:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Travis http://perilousrealm.net/2005/09/05/descent-into-hell-and-the-deconstruction-of-false-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Travis Wed, 07 Sep 2005 04:19:37 +0000 http://www.restlessreformer.com/?p=58#comment-67 There is certainly no easy way to answer the question, nor a satisfactory way to "objectively" answer the question, as though Christians and non-Christians can easily play on the same objective playground and understand each other fully. I could speculate endlessly about the myriad of reasons one might not have experience true Christianity in their attempt, but this would go on and on. So I'll answer the question as plainly from a Reformed view as I can. No one who has "tried" Christianity and found it a "false hope" has truly been regenerated by the Spirit of God in the first place, therefore rendering the attempt invalid, or corrupted, by sin. This is not an easy or pleasant answer, but the Christian answer nonetheless. With the whole world fallen, in the opinion of Christianity, no subjective opinion of "what gives me hope" could ultimately serve as a determining factor in where the world's only hope does indeed lie. Neither does this necessitate arrogance in the heart of the one believing this, for we who believe this don't think we came to this great hope because of ourselves, but in spite of ourselves and only by grace. So I don't believe that I have to "reckon with" anyone's particular feelings of hope, in the sense that it is a threat to the Christian position. I do have to reckon with it by humble prayer and petition before God's throne that He'll save us all for Christ's sake. I have to reckon with the personal question, "why me and not so-and-so," which haunts me frequently. But I can't not believe what Jesus said, and it all comes back to that for me. This is where the absurdity and foolishness of faith meets its max for me - while inwardly I may even protest against some of my very own words here, I cannot and will not turn from the Person of Jesus. There is certainly no easy way to answer the question, nor a satisfactory way to “objectively” answer the question, as though Christians and non-Christians can easily play on the same objective playground and understand each other fully. I could speculate endlessly about the myriad of reasons one might not have experience true Christianity in their attempt, but this would go on and on.

So I’ll answer the question as plainly from a Reformed view as I can. No one who has “tried” Christianity and found it a “false hope” has truly been regenerated by the Spirit of God in the first place, therefore rendering the attempt invalid, or corrupted, by sin. This is not an easy or pleasant answer, but the Christian answer nonetheless. With the whole world fallen, in the opinion of Christianity, no subjective opinion of “what gives me hope” could ultimately serve as a determining factor in where the world’s only hope does indeed lie.

Neither does this necessitate arrogance in the heart of the one believing this, for we who believe this don’t think we came to this great hope because of ourselves, but in spite of ourselves and only by grace.

So I don’t believe that I have to “reckon with” anyone’s particular feelings of hope, in the sense that it is a threat to the Christian position. I do have to reckon with it by humble prayer and petition before God’s throne that He’ll save us all for Christ’s sake. I have to reckon with the personal question, “why me and not so-and-so,” which haunts me frequently.

But I can’t not believe what Jesus said, and it all comes back to that for me. This is where the absurdity and foolishness of faith meets its max for me – while inwardly I may even protest against some of my very own words here, I cannot and will not turn from the Person of Jesus.

]]> By: Sarah O http://perilousrealm.net/2005/09/05/descent-into-hell-and-the-deconstruction-of-false-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-66 Sarah O Tue, 06 Sep 2005 19:11:24 +0000 http://www.restlessreformer.com/?p=58#comment-66 Travis- I am curious what you make of people who have tried Christianity, have found it not to be their answer, have moved on to another place and are not downhearted, but in fact full of hope, peace, joy and love? Perhaps this is not in the scope of your thesis- although perhaps it is. If you are going to be arguing that Christianity is not one of many valid answers, but The Answer, you will have to reckon with those of us for whom that is, in any objective or verifiable way, not true. (I mean, not true in that Christianity is not the answer for us, not in that it is never an answer for anyone. Clearly it is the answer for you!) I can see that perhaps your argument might be that we are clinging to false hope, but for those of us who have experience Christianity as an extremely false hope and find a much greater authenticity outside of Christianity, that is an argument that smacks either of lunacy or of a basic refusal to listen to where we are coming from, neither of which seem to be places you come from. I am sorry. I always throw the tricky questions at you. I really am such a gadfly to you. Sarah O Travis- I am curious what you make of people who have tried Christianity, have found it not to be their answer, have moved on to another place and are not downhearted, but in fact full of hope, peace, joy and love? Perhaps this is not in the scope of your thesis- although perhaps it is. If you are going to be arguing that Christianity is not one of many valid answers, but The Answer, you will have to reckon with those of us for whom that is, in any objective or verifiable way, not true. (I mean, not true in that Christianity is not the answer for us, not in that it is never an answer for anyone. Clearly it is the answer for you!)

I can see that perhaps your argument might be that we are clinging to false hope, but for those of us who have experience Christianity as an extremely false hope and find a much greater authenticity outside of Christianity, that is an argument that smacks either of lunacy or of a basic refusal to listen to where we are coming from, neither of which seem to be places you come from.

I am sorry. I always throw the tricky questions at you. I really am such a gadfly to you.

Sarah O

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