Redeeming Your Time

As a dad who is currently at home with his family, I have the privilege of returning to an older pattern. I am a high school teacher who loves teaching. Before returning to teaching this year, I was a pastor who worked from home. Both of these vocations allowed me to have time with my family. Extra online teaching, meetings, gardening, and studying are all time consuming. The work of building a household is ever present and there's always more that can be done. But the most important part of the job is preparing our children.

Right now many dads and moms are at home. Whether their jobs are shut down or they are working from home, there are more fathers and mothers at home together with their kids than in recent memory. Quite a few are going crazy already since they don't know what to do besides turn on one more Netflix show. The blessings of Netflix and Amazon Prime are obvious and can be used well, but what else should we be doing?

Paul told the Ephesians to continually redeem the the time because of the evil days. That was not a call to be more efficient, but to take what was lost and restore it. Many in the church at Ephesus had lived carnal lives before coming to faith in Christ and the had to start where they were, not where they might like to be. The message that in Christ they could redeem the time was a gracious blessing.

No one would call the Corona virus a blessing. It is a product of the evil that came into the world with man's fall. Our hearts grieve  for the thousands who have died and many others who suffer with it. Yet the time God has given us with our families can be wasted or redeemed; it can be used to heal and strengthen our relationships or further damage them. The choice is ours.

Redeeming the Time

How then do we redeem the time God has given us with our kids? Start by taking in God's word. This includes reading and memorizing it together. This begins with you. Read Scripture to your family every day. Choose a verse and memorize it together. If you lead your family in this, they will follow. Read it, talk about it, and store it up in your heart.

Pray together. Prayer is a personal activity but it doesn't have to be all private. Your kids learn how to pray by watching and listening to you. Give God thanks before a meal. Pray for the sick people in your family, your church, and (especially right now) throughout the world. Praise Him for His goodness and grace. Encourage your children to pray aloud also. Get a good book of prayers (The Valley of Vision, The Book of Common Prayer, Matthew Henry's prayers) and pray.

Talk together. This is where many parents stumble. Many don't talk with their kids as much as talk to them. There are parents who are so child-centric that they don't exercise authority and give direction to their kids. But in my tradition (conservative, Evangelical, and Reformed) parents can just as easily go the other direction. In their desire to raise godly children, they turn the good gifts of God into lead weights that drag their kids down. They want their kids to go in the right direction so much that they forget that children are saplings to be trained, not metal to be hammered.

This can be hard because we want our children to follow God. Questions can bring fear that a child might stray if the question isn't properly swatted down answered. But our calling as parents isn't to scoff at questions; it is to teach them how to pursue wisdom. In other words, let them talk about whatever is on their mind and listen. They help them walk through it with and open Bible and a heart in submission to what God says.

This is not an immediate process. Preparing the rising generation takes time. Wherever you are starting, there is a long way to go. But God has given millions of people an opportunity they never had: to spend large amounts of time with their children and build relationships that will reap eternal benefits.

Twilight of the Idols

I've heard much about Frederick Nietzsche over the years and finally got around to read one of his books, Twilight of the Idols. It's been an enlightening read.

I wouldn't recommend Nietzsche to anyone. He's a bold pagan who embraces the pagan worldview without qualification. His writing is full of zest. He loves eugenics, euthanasia, and the development of power. He has a wicked sense of humor and makes fun of Christianity and philosophy at every opportunity.  He was a significant influence on the acerbic H.L. Mencken, who wrote a preface to a later edition of one of Nietzsche's books. The "alt-right" considers him a patron saint, although he would probably appreciate "patron god" more. If a young man has lost his way and struggles with asserting masculinity, Nietzsche would be the worst possible influence.

Why should some people read Nietzsche? Read him if you want to understand history. His influence on German philosophy is impressive. His beliefs laid the foundation for the philosophy of the National Socialist (Nazi) Party in Germany. The superiority of Aryans, anti-Semitism, worship of power and pagan symbols, it's all in Nietzsche. But his thought is not new. He merely condenses the older Germanic pagan beliefs that had been idle for a several centuries following the advent of Christianity in Europe.

We should also read him to shock us out of our intellectual stupor. We've been accustomed to the Christian culture around us for so long that we haven't had to think about why we hold specific beliefs and practice certain ethics. Our forefathers could articulate their debt to Scripture, natural law and Christian tradition as the reason for their beliefs and practices, e.g. care for the poor, the sick, widows, orphans, etc. Nietzsche challenges us to explain ourselves. He presents a bold message of a new world where Christianity will wither away and worldly men will take over. Flabby Christianity isn't sufficient to answer his claims. To answer him requires preparation, thought, and wisdom accrued through time. There are no shortcuts.

The most striking argument he presents is the condemnation of Christianity as an "other-world" religion, i.e., one that only focuses on what comes later and insufficiently appreciates the good of this world. His indictment rings true. We often treat God's good world as if it were the opposite of the original garden of Eden, only taking from one tree and fearing to partake of much else. God made us and He made all the creation good. Although we've perverted much of it through sin, the good of His creation should be enjoyed, not feared (see Joe Rigney, The Things of Earth, for a good introduction to enjoying God's gifts of creation). To delight in Him and His gifts casts down one of the most powerful weapons our great enemy has.

This post barely scratches the surface in explaining the depth of Nietzsche's thought, but I hope it gives you some reasons for reading him. If you are grounded in your faith and are prepared to encounter one of the most robust pagan minds of the last two hundred years, you could do a lot worse than Nietzsche.

Copper coins in a dense jungle

The Whig Interpretation of History by Herbert Butterfield
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I appreciate the sentiments of the author, Herbert Butterfield. Namely, that historians should not approach their craft preconceived ideas that they want to push. In other words, come to history with an open mind, not a set plan on what you want to prove and choosing to report facts and events that back your thesis.

The problem with this book is that his approach can eliminate the idea of learning lessons from history at all. Despite his protests, his extreme caution in determining morality in past events rings hollow in the postmodern age. In fact, his view could play right into the postmodern perspective that says truth is determined by who is in power. Add to the fact that his favorite whipping boy in the book is the Protestant Reformation and the benefits many claim as a result. I acknowledge that the benefits can be exaggerated, but the sword cuts both ways. The glories of Medieval Catholicism can be (and at times have been) exaggerated to the point of absurdity, e.g. Brad Gregory's Unintended Reformation.

Another problem is the dense prose. He is not clear in his writing and I had to plod through it. Read this book was like finding copper coins in a dense jungle. Nevertheless he makes good points about the dangers of faulty historical interpretation and what the role of the historian should be. Anyone who studies history should read it. Everyone else, feel free to pass.

Freedom to live

It is only through God Himself existing and being my Creator that I, and the world, has life. We are free; free to think, to play, to eat, to fast, to speak, to love, to bless each other; free to kill, steal, lie, to sin against one another and God Himself. We are free because God lives and made us in His image. We are not deterministic automatons, merely fulfilling the biding of our bodily chemistry. We are filled with ability, hope, and joy because God made us and gives us the breath of life.

Problems with good intentions

An Other Kingdom: Departing the Consumer Culture by Peter Block
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

While I appreciate the vision of this book - and economy based on covenant and common good rather than contract and individualism - I disagree with much of its application. The only way to bring the vision into practice is through excessive government intervention into people's lives. There are many problems with much of our economy, but those can't be fixed by further regulation and redistribution.

Some of their interpretation of other writers is poor. For example, the authors reduce Adam Smith to a modern-day Libertarian. But their view shows a stereotype of Smith rather than a true reading of his work. He was far more nuanced in his approach of political economy than such an surface-reading suggests. Also, the use of Scripture to support their goals is admirable, but it is one-sided, neglecting what Scripture says about the personal responsibility people must take for their choices.

The language of neighborliness, mystery, liturgy, and covenant is humane way of presenting their arguments, but the application left much to be desired.

Help for Teachers

December is a time of year when teachers (and students) are ready for a break. We have taught for several months and, after grading exams, need to recharge. Discouragement fostered by fatigue could easily set in if not for the hope of Christmas and the anticipation of communing with family and friends.

But what about all those other times of the year when you give everything you have to teaching and it seems like little good comes from it? At those points we need someone to come alongside us and offer encouragement. That's where Augustine of Hippo comes in.

St. Augustine (354-430 AD) was a North African Bishop. His conversion story is famous, as chronicled in his Confessions. The other work for which he is famous is The City of God. Both are excellent books and should be read more than a few times. However he wrote much more than that, and it's another one of his works I'd like to tell you about.

He wrote a long letter to a deacon named Deogratias who was charged with instructing people who were interested in the Christian faith. Deogratias was facing discouragement in his work and Augustine, as a loving father, comes alongside to encourage and exhort him in his teaching.

The advice is sound and as relevant today as it was then. Augustine advises him to be aware of the different levels of education among the students and to adjust his teaching accordingly. He calls him to focus on the story of redemption, from creation through the final advent, with love of God being the final goal of education (here, here!).

The part that stuck with me the most though was his advice for dealing with teacher discouragement. He says that a teacher should strive to always be cheerful. If the teacher doesn't rejoice in what he is teaching, the students will not either.

But this cheerfulness is under constant attack. The twin termites of doubt and discouragement gnaw away at our joy, tempting us to hold back, ease up, and give in. They leave us empty on the inside, merely going through the motions while waiting for the time to pass. What then should we do?

Augustine, the veteran teacher and pastor that he is, gives sage counsel. I will summarize several of his points regarding this topic but it is best to read it for yourself.

1. If the material is too lofty for them, you may need to simplify so that the students can understand. We like to show our intellect in our teaching, proving how much we know. But we don't teach for the goal of showing our intelligence. Imitate Christ and humble yourself.

2. Don't get tired of repeating yourself. Be like a gracious father or mother and continue patiently with your students. God has given you the opportunity to enlighten their minds to great truths. Be thankful and make good use of it.

3. Don't let the apathy pass but approach and reprove it with grace. Sometimes students, to borrow Augustine's words, "no longer commends what is said, but gapes and yawns, and even unwillingly exhibits a disposition to depart..." When that happen we should directly question the reason for the apathy and reprove it, not harshly but firmly.

4. When you think you could be making more money doing something else, remember that you are here as a teacher because God placed you here. You don't know what is the most profitable thing you could be doing. Be thankful for the opportunity to obey God right now where you are.

5. When a student offends you and you are tempted to be cold and aloof, remember the sacrifice of Christ. Jesus died so that sinners, like you and those students, would be redeemed. He loves them despite their sin; we should love them also.

6. When your own personal sin robs you of your joy, repent. Confess it and take whatever steps are needed to put it to death. Don't try to teach while under the weight of guilt. Confess your sin, be cleansed and freed.

There is much more that I could say about this wonderful letter, but as I said earlier, read it for yourself. Let the words of the wise saint of old refresh you and restore you in your calling to feed those who have need.

Preparation for Spiritual Warfare

     There is a growing market for books about manhood and the family. A couple of years back, Pastor Chris Wiley contributed to that market with his book, Man of the House: a “how to” book for young men on how to build a household. While not overtly religious, it is based in a Judeo-Christian, natural law ethic. It serves as a guide for young men who want to know how to build a household.

     His new book, TheHousehold and the War for the Cosmos, serves as a prequel to Man of the House. It clearly presents the foundation for a Christian household. The subtitle is “recovering a Christian vision for the family” but this not your typical, Evangelical (read mushy) book on how to be a better dad. It is a book about what leadership in a Christian household looks like. And it begins with piety.

     

     The piety he describes is not the piety of abstaining from cards and alcohol, but a virtue that is much more profound. He describes its meaning in Roman times when the Apostle Paul wrote about it, and how the meaning of the word was emasculated in modern times. When we hear the word “piety” we should think more about sacrifice, patriotism, and responsibility than quiet walks on a Sunday afternoon. Piety is a masculine virtue.

     He showcases this piety through comparing and contrasting the patriarch Abraham with Aeneas, the founder of Rome. Without giving away the history, there is much more in common with those two men than I ever thought, and they both go a long way in teaching us how piety is displayed. This was an especially good chapter.

     In the last half of the book, Pastor Wiley applies this stronger piety to us, explaining how Scripture calls for fathers to teach their families to be pious, pointing again to Abraham as an example. My favorite chapter was when he walks the reader through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, documenting how piety is developed from chapter 1 through chapter 6. The pinnacle was when he connected the household codes of Ephesians (5:22-6:9) to spiritual warfare (6:10-21). I’ve never read a commentator who could convincingly explain Paul’s logic in writing about households to writing about warfare, but the author’s explanation is more than convincing. To summarize: the household was (and still is) an instrument of warfare. In ancient times it was literal warfare; today godly households are to be instruments of spiritual warfare. Hence the application: get married and begin your battle plans.

     This book accomplishes what is purports to do: present a vision for the Christian family. It doesn’t present the detailed plans of Man of the House, but it lays the necessary foundation. I would have enjoyed a longer treatment of some of the ideas, but I’m sure he will present those in time.

Sometimes books on the family leave you feeling discouraged; either you can’t possibly put into practice what they suggest, or they tell dads to become more feminine and less masculine. This book does neither. It points out a real problem and shows how we can begin the repair process. I received a review copy of this book from the publisher, and am thankful; it will benefit me for many years.