Lessons About the Usefulness of Christianity

[Lynn S. Nored]

Recently my wife and I were privileged to attend the Dedication Ceremony for the donation ceremony of Dr. Virgil Trout’s 16,000 volume library. Dr. Trout has lectured in over one-third of our nations major universities on Christianity, ethics, and Science. (See http://devotionalsforeverydayliving.blogspot.com/2012/10/dr.html for a short bio). His topic at the dedication was: The Usefulness of the Impossible. The impossible was defined as “the Word became flesh” and dwelling among men and impossibility of the resurrection. The impossible was God becoming man and the Christ after crucifixion being raised from the death. Both are impossible acts in any natural world sense. Yet, we have ample evidence of Christ’s existence on earth and testimonies and circumstantial evidence of His resurrection.

What then is “useful” about these impossibilities? Do they have any practical applications? Virgil gives five areas that are impacted: 1) History 2) Ethics 3) Science 4) Politics and 5) Religion. For History they give purpose and direction. For Ethics they provide the basis of respect and conduct of man to man. For Science, a human enterprise, they provide a God created universe to explore and protect. For Politics, they provide the imperative for man to give to the state what the state needs as good citizens. They provide ethics for the state, and for Religion they are the guide to the relationship with God. These are the categories Dr. Trout delineated. What follows are my thoughts.

Some, even Christians, would eliminate the interaction of the Christian with some of these categories. But Christian are part of creating history. They cannot escape doing so. Certainly the purpose of Christians is to use their talents to serve others (Eph 4). Few would argue that these impossibilities have no effect on the development of ethical principles. Ethics are just the moral principles that guide our lives. Without the guidance of God, man develops some crazy rules for right conduct. In Science it is the very God created “laws” that enable to understand how our world works. Our understanding of God’s world changes as we grow and develop. It is good that science that tells to let the land “rest”. Politics is the “sticky” category for most modern day Christians. In earlier times, the pulpit and political advocacies were joined. But like history, Christians live in a political world. Their actions or inaction contribute positively or negatively. As Dr. Trout said, it is not an accident we enjoy the liberties we have in the U.S. It is impossible to separate your personal decisions from what happens politically. Inaction or indifference is both a decision and an action. So your Christianity should inform your actions not only morally but politically as well. Religiously we must love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. There is absolute truth. Truth is not relative.

The above just serves to introduce how these “impossibilities” inform every aspect of our Christian lives. Contrary to the enterprise of “taking religion out of the public square” Christianity is the very fabric that inform especially our public as well as our private lives.