Theology Archives | Page 3 of 8

Autonomy versus Aseity

August 18, 2023 by Mark Eckel

During my PhD dissertation defense, a question was raised about my use of the term “aseity” and its application to my research. Believing The Personal Eternal Triune Creator to be the source and sustenance of all things, I used the theological word that means God is self-sufficient and independent; in short, He does not need us. The applied principle of God’s separate status is imperative in a Hebraic-Christian view of social order. Often human governments and social rules have sought to argue for human autonomy, we, being a law unto ourselves (“auto” = self, “nomos” = law). Humans, left to themselves, will seek independence and self-sufficiency instead of seeing the beneficence to all people by dependence on Divine Directives.

A few observations of both autonomy and aseity follow.

AUTONOMY (1) prioritizes law to self over others; (2) laws become only what the individual or group desires; (3) self-law is boundaryless, left to human will; (4) without boundaries, self-law becomes an arbiter and judge; (5) human judges will impose boundaries of their self-made laws; (6) whatever human power captures the law will dictate their law to others; and (7) autonomy then becomes tyranny.

ASEITY (1) only God is wholly self-sufficient and independent; (2) humans are dependent and insufficient in and of themselves; (3) neither creature nor creation imposes law without Sovereign oversight; (4) human laws draw their ethical boundaries from this Divine Source; (5) human nature is inherently corrupt and naturally seeks to transgress Heaven’s boundaries; (6) Eternal Standards are foundational for human law, limiting usurpation of cultural power; and (7) dependence upon The Personal Eternal Triune Creator benefits self and society, fostering liberty, limiting license.

The Christian bears the responsibility of displaying the logical outcomes of autonomy versus aseity. The Christian statesman holds in tension innate human dignity with people’s inherent corruption. Unconditional, sacrificial love is the praxis, protecting the weakest members of society because the strength of governance has been built through Heavenly virtue. In contrast, the state, left to itself, becomes the proprietor of all things, creating its own servitude. In direct contrast, true human liberty is constrained by God’s laws, giving opportunity for human prosperity intended to provide charity to all.

The picture here says it all: I’m always thinking. Reading does indeed prompt my writing at times. In this case (and others posted this week) I have been reading Conservative Foundations of the Liberal Order

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The Bible on Authority & Humanity

June 27, 2023 by Mark Eckel

If there is no God

then gods are everywhere.

Our Truth in Two explains why (full text below)

Support MarkEckel.com (here). Find the MarkEckel.com YouTube Channel (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (webs ite). Dr. Eckel spends time with Christian young people in public university (1 minute video), teaching at Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis, and interprets culture from a Christian vantage point (1 minute video). Consider becoming a Comenius patron (here).

Pictures: Josh Collingwood, Wikipedia

“Who is the number one god?” There is a scene in the 1996 movie version of The Island of Dr. Moreau that is worth discussion. Based on H. G. Wells famous novel, a shipwrecked man is confronted by the mad scientist, Dr. Moreau. The doctor is creating half-man, half-beast people to unite the best of both species. Of course, he utterly fails. At the end of the movie, the beast people have taken over Moreau’s laboratory. The shipwrecked man is now alone, facing the fury of a hybrid species. Thinking they are now the island’s god, the animal people seek to rid themselves of the last man. It is then he asks the question, “Who is the number one god?” causing the beasts to turn on each other.

Such a scene-summary tells us about the two doctrines that run through every discussion about every subject: (1) Who is our authority? And (2) Who are we as humans? I have spent the last year at my church teaching series of lessons around the idea of “Biblical Christians in Culture.” The questions of authority and humanity are repeatedly addressed. You can find links to the series in this Truth in Two. “Who says?” and “Who are we?” are essential human questions. As a Hebraic-Christian thinker I believe what the Bible teaches: (1) there is one God who has spoken, answering the “Who says?” question and (2) humans are both created with dignity and corrupted by our own depravity, answering the “Who are we?” question.

But The Island of Dr. Moreau teaches us that we will attempt to be our own authority and recreate ourselves as we see fit. We should not be surprised that our culture has done exactly the same: subverting God’s authority and imposing our own. The same problem remains, however; if we are all our own authority, the question from the shipwrecked man should ring in our ears, “Who is the number one god?” For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, personally seeking truth wherever it’s found.

“Biblical Christians in Culture” video series can be found here.

A Perfect World

June 20, 2023June 20, 2023 by Mark Eckel

You think you can make the world “perfect”?

Well, guess again.

Watch our Truth in Two to find out why “perfect” is impossible now (full text below).

Pictures: Josh Collingwood, imdb.com

FULL TEXT

“I don’t know anything. Not one thing.” Clint Eastwood’s character has the last and truest line in the 1993 movie A Perfect World: A prison escape, a kidnapping, a friendship, and a storyline about how this is *not* a perfect world. Kevin Costner plays Butch, a man on the run, who finds a common bond in Phillip, the boy he kidnaps. And here is the connection – abuses in this life force the abused into imperfect situations, making sad choices, looking for that perfect world.

It is the very situation I pose to students. Young idealism producing a desire to change the world, is wonderful. But many of the young faces in my classes have yet to realize the world is not black and white. So, whenever someone writes a paper about justice, health, environment, or governmental concerns, I ask students to answer two questions about their view of life. (1) What does your perfect world look like and (2) how will you get us there?

They can’t answer the first question. No one since Adam & Eve can answer the first question. In fact, I’ll go further to suggest that you and I would have made the same choice to rebel against God. But the real issue is one of perfection. If there ever was a perfect world, it was in Eden. So, think about this. Adam & Eve were perfect, living in a perfect environment, and they had yet, to sin. If anyone had a shot at a “perfect world” it was Adam & Eve.

The Eden account tells us that there was only once, a perfect world. The world we live in now, is imperfect. So, the next time someone wants to tell you about how to make a perfect world, tell them to watch the movie by that title and answer those two questions. And consider after watching the movie whether or not you agree with the last line, “I don’t know anything. Not one thing.” For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, personally seeking truth wherever it’s found.

The Bible on Origins & Outcomes

June 13, 2023 by Mark Eckel

I suspect I know where you end.

But where do you begin?

Watch our Truth in Two for a Hebraic-Christian approach to origins & outcomes (full text below).

Pictures: Josh Collingwood, Snappy Goat

FULL TEXT

I waited an hour for the doors to open. I had never waited in a line to get into a movie before. But just like everyone else in that theatre, I could not wait to see Batman Begins. For those who might be interested, Batman is my favorite superhero. And Christopher Nolan’s brilliant work on screen is the origin story of Bruce Wayne who is Batman. Origin stories in graphic novels or movies are followed closely by all who care for their favorite heroes. Everyone wants to know where their champion comes from.

Origins and outcomes are great concerns in my teaching. For instance, I have colleagues in public university that do not believe what I believe. However, we all agree to basic outcomes like practicing justice, equal rights, freedom of speech, and a desire for world peace. Those ideals are all the outcomes, the results of what comes at the end of any teaching.

But it is usually the “origin” question where my professor friends and I might disagree. As a Hebraic-Christian thinker, I am most concerned about the source or the cause of everything. To me, everything begins in the Bible’s book of Genesis. I think the best explanation for the results we desire, comes from the God whose original intention was for the good of His creatures and creation. It is the question I ask of those who may agree with good outcomes but disagree about where those come from. And then there is the question of ethics. How do we know the ethical way to get to the outcomes we desire? Over the years, I have reduced the idea to this mantra: knowing where you’ve come from, and where you’re going to, helps you know how to live now.

Origin stories matter. It might not be a bad idea to start in Genesis. And you won’t even have to wait for the doors to open. For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, personally seeking truth, from the original account of all origin stories, the book of Genesis.

The Bible on Patience: 3 Lessons I Have Learned

May 23, 2023 by Mark Eckel

Maybe you’re like me: you want everything yesterday.

But life doesn’t work that way.

Find out why patience is an essential for life by watching our Truth in Two (full text below).

Pictures: Josh Collingwood, Snappy Goat

FULL TEXT

I have a confession to make. I am very impatient. For example, please don’t pull out in front of me while driving on the road, then slow down. And whatever else you do, please, at the grocery checkout counter, do not take out your checkbook to pay the bill. I struggle with biblical commands in Galatians 5 to exhibit patience as the fruit of The Spirit or my responsibility to exhibit patient endurance during suffering according to 1 Peter 2.

My real problem is that as much as I believe in God’s sovereignty, I don’t always like it. I struggle with God’s plans, His wisdom, His ways, His schedule, His will for my life. In essence, my problem with patience is my problem with God. But what is ironic is how much God has been patient with me! Romans 2 says God has exhibited kindness, forbearance, and patience toward me. Jesus tells the story of the merciful, patient king in Matthew 18 who forgave his servant. But often, I find myself in the second half of that story where the one who is forgiven does not forgive another who owes him. Colossians 3 says that God’s forgiveness of my sin should result in me showing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience toward others.

Patience for another, on behalf of another, takes time. Patience allows youth to age, ignorance to fade, and our desire for immediate recompense to be put on hold. Patience is longsuffering. The word “longsuffering” says it all: we are to suffer long, not retaliating when wronged. In our culture, people like the word “tolerance.” But tolerance only says we are putting up with another person. Longsuffering tells us we are in this for the long haul. For Christians, “longsuffering” is to be a fruit of The Spirit.

But if I could ask just one thing? Please don’t bring your checkbook to the grocery store. For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, personally seeking truth wherever it’s found.

Resurrection, No Doubt!

April 4, 2023April 4, 2023 by Mark Eckel

I will always respect doubt and doubters.

But the work of Dr. Gary Habermas puts the truth

about the resurrection beyond any reasonable doubt.

Watch our Truth in Two to find out why (full text below).

Pictures: Josh Collingwood, Room for Doubt (2018)

FULL TEXT

I vividly remember the example he gave. The professor began a timeline of resurrection events by walking from the front to the back of the auditorium and then out the door to make his point. Gary Habermas came to the campus of IUPUI in the spring of 2018. Habermas is considered to be the authority on the historical veracity, the space-time truthfulness of the resurrection. Habermas’ numerous books, peer reviewed journal articles, and lectures are the standards by which, doubters must measure their questioning, of Jesus’ physically rising from the dead.

What was the point Habermas was making by walking out the door? Habermas contends that the resurrection accounts were written not decades later, not years later, not months later, not even days later but the accounts of Jesus rising from the dead were being written within hours of the event. What is so unique about Habermas’ approach to the historical resurrection of Jesus, is that he only allows himself the criteria his critics allow to be true. His approach has revolutionized both the apologetic field and all of religious studies. You can find a like to Gary’s approach at the end of this Truth in Two.

I have great respect for doubt and those who do not believe what I do about Jesus. But you cannot say that you have properly addressed the evidence until you have researched and read the copious work of Gary Habermas on the resurrection. Ultimately, it is the honesty of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 that is so obvious: if Jesus is not risen from the dead our faith and preaching is in vain and we are of all people to be most pitied. But scholars such as Gary Habermas have taken the case and have shown beyond all reasonable doubt, He is Risen!

For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, repeating the Truth of Scripture with Christians around the world: He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Habermas_ITQ-2015-Bergeron.pdf (garyhabermas.com)

You Don’t Know Anything Yet

March 14, 2023 by Mark Eckel

In education today, some will be aghast at what I say here.

But in their hearts, they will know it’s true.

And this one is for The Church too. Find out why. Watch our Truth in Two (full text and link below).

Pictures: Josh Collingwood, SnappyGoat

FULL TEXT

During my high school teaching I would sometimes begin a unit of study with a freewheeling debate about a topic. The discussions were always lively. Students were excited to express their opinions, though they had little substantive knowledge about the subject. At some point during the proceedings, I would cut off the chatter so we could begin our study. Inevitably, one student would speak for the rest of the class, saying, “Why can’t we keep discussing this?” And every time, I would say the same thing, “Because you don’t know anything yet.”

I was reminded of these memories when I read Richard Osmer’s 1997 article, “The Case for Catechism.” A link to the essay can be found in this Truth in Two. [Below] A catechism is a teaching program designed to train church people to address fundamental beliefs, which would lead them to think Christianly about all things. As Osmer says,

“To put it simply, you cannot think, speak or act unless you have something to think, speak or act with. Unless explicit attention is given to the acquisition of biblical and theological knowledge, the members of the church will not be capable of using the faith, to interpret their lives or their world. They will employ concepts from other areas of life in which they do have competence.”

So important do I view Catechismal instruction, that in the 1990’s I wrote a catechism for my children which has been used in various venues since then. Christian parents and churches should commit themselves to the next generation by training them in biblical knowledge. The apostle Paul said it best in Colossians 1:28,

“Jesus we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”

For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, personally seeking truth wherever it’s found.

The Case for Catechism – Religion Online (religion-online.org)

Love as Crucifixion?

February 14, 2023 by Mark Eckel

Imagine the phrase “Crucify Yourself,”

as a Valentine’s Day card.

Find out why that is the Christian message by watching our Truth in Two (full text below).

Pictures: Josh Collingwood, SnappyGoat

FULL TEXT

My brother-in-law, Larry Renoe, has been a pastor for decades. In his many years of shepherding God’s people, Larry has performed scores of weddings. Of all his marriage homilies I have heard about, none ranks higher in my estimation than this one-of-a-kind tagline: “You know your marriage is working when it feels like a slow way to be crucified.”

Marriage as crucifixion. Wow. Why is that statement so unsettling? During the Roman era, crucifixion was used as a tool of torture and propaganda. A person was hung or nailed to a cross to die an excruciating, long, drawn out death. A victim could live for hours, days, or sometimes, weeks, often dying of dehydration, starvation, or asphyxia. Propaganda enters the crucifixion description because the soldiers would crucify people in public places. 6000 rebels were crucified along the Apian Way, for instance, after the famous Spartacus revolt. “If you don’t obey the Roman empire, this could happen to you!” was the visual reminder of dead and dying, crucified rebels, along one of the most public thoroughfares in the ancient world.

But still, marriage as crucifixion? The biblical record is clear. The Christian response to life should always be one of self-denial, death-to-self, and sacrifice on behalf of others. Jesus said it best, “If anyone wants to be my disciple, he must take up his cross and follow me.” For the Christian, relationships of any kind – marriage included – are a daily dying to self, our testimony to others of Christ’s love. So, on Valentine’s Day, perhaps we should not expect gifts of cards, candy, or flowers. Perhaps, we should remember that love is costly, love is a sacrifice, and love is the crucifixion of oneself.

For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, personally seeking truth wherever it’s found.

4 Reasons I Am Pro-Life

January 24, 2023 by Mark Eckel

Science and Scripture agree,

Life in the womb should be protected.

Discover the four reasons by watching our Truth in Two (full text below).

Pictures: Josh Collingwood, SnappyGoat

FULL TEXT

I want to explain why we, at the Comenius Institute, have made a choice for a pro-life position.

(1) We choose science. Scientific evidence of human life beginning at conception in a woman’s womb is indisputable. Embryology declares that life begins at fertilization. Here are just two of many examples: the human person in the womb has distinctive DNA, separate from that of the parents; and the human heart begins beating after 22 days. Choice for life protects a beating heart.

(2) We choose life, not death. The American Association of Pediatricians gives at least seven criteria for life to exist: everything from cellular structure to stimuli response to the capacity for reproduction to unique genetic information for a lifetime of development. Simply, life in the womb is meant to live.

(3) We choose care. I once had students ask why pro-life people don’t care about the life of the child after birth. I immediately reached for my phone, and I identified six people that I know personally who care for children after birth. Some have fostered children whose biological parents are absent. Others have helped the adoption process for moms who know it is best for their baby to live with others. Still more offer physical and financial support for moms who need help raising their children, inside and outside of the uterus.

(4) We choose a God-centered response to human life. The Hebraic-Christian Scriptures are clearly pro-life. God’s procreation injunctions in Genesis 1 are obvious: human birth is God’s intention. Birth, not death, is celebrated in the lives of all Hebrew patriarchs, from Abram to Judah. In Jeremiah 1:5 the prophet acknowledges he was chosen in the womb for a purpose. Psalm 139 further declares our days were planned in the womb, human life being “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of The Comenius Institute, personally choosing life.

Common Sense

January 10, 2023 by Mark Eckel

God made His world to work

for human benefit.

Find out why by watching our Truth in Two (full text below).

Pictures: Josh Collingwood, SnappyGoat

FULL TEXT

I have 169 mantras, statements my students have heard over and over from me in the classroom through my forty years of teaching. A mantra is just that – a repetitious statement. But a mantra is more than that. The word literally means “an instrument of thought.” Because I believe repetition is the mother of education, I use repetitive ideas because they stick in students’ minds.

But repetition by itself is not education. One also needs common sense. The phrase has come to mean the practice of right judgment in practical matters. But the phrase assumes two basic ideas. “Sense” is wisdom, a deep grounding in discernment; some might say a sensible person is quite perceptive or understanding. The individual then applies the accumulated insights from life to particular concerns. “Common” takes for granted that there is an assumed thinking for all people, places, times, and cultures. A universal ideal exists which is then applied in some local reality.

When we say a person has “common sense” we generally mean they are taking the best of what they have studied about humanity and human relations, then using it to make a decision. Hebraic-Christian thinking suggests that “common sense” is Wisdom embedded in world for the benefit of all humanity. According to Proverbs 8,

Wisdom “walks in the way of righteousness and the path of justice.”

We make sense of what is common from One who has our best interests at heart.

If you want to know more about my 169 educational mantras follow the link in this Truth in Two. And there are multiple links to teachings on biblical wisdom as well. It is common sense, the wisdom of God’s embedded truths in creation, that supplies the content for my communication, that allows ideas to stick in student’s minds. For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, President of the Comenius Institute, personally seeking truth wherever it’s found.

The Bible on Wisdom: 169 Teaching Mantras