by Brian Hobbs | Nov 14, 2013
C. S. Lewis
Having not been born yet, I can only imagine the trauma that people must have felt at the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Yet did you know that on that fateful day, another truly great man died? I refer to my favorite writer, C.S. Lewis.
While many are offering fitting tributes to the late President Kennedy on this 50th anniversary date, I wish to write one on Lewis. The atheist-turned-Christian has composed a collection of writings almost unparalleled in modern times.
Scholar, Christian apologist, public intellectual and author, Lewis was able to compose meaty works in the following genres: Poetry, children’s fiction, history, theology, science fiction and allegory. He mastered each of these genres and provided a body of works that has changed the lives of millions worldwide.
He is perhaps best known for his Chronicles of Narnia children’s books (I have reviewed some of those here). Yet his most important theological work is Mere Christianity, in my estimation. It is the most important because it teaches the landmark idea of the “trilemma.”
The “trilemma” forces people to reckon with the ministry, teachings and life of Christ in a real and honest way. Christ cannot be called a mere “good man” or “good teacher.” Lewis says this, “Christ either deceived mankind by conscious fraud, or He was Himself deluded and self-deceived, or He was Divine. There is no getting out of this trilemma. It is inexorable.”
Many honest agnostics have had their hearts softened by God through this Truth, and many, like Lewis, have come to Christ once having honestly come to grips with who He really is.
For those wanting to know more about this spiritual giant, who sought to unify Christians on the essentials so we would not depart on secondary matters, I suggest you watch the movie “Shadowlands,” which has Anthony Hopkins playing Lewis. I also recommend this new biography by Alister McGrath.
If you truly wish to get to know and enjoy Lewis, however, simply pick up any of his books and begin to read. I assure you, the day you meet up with Lewis through his writings will be a red-letter date in your life.
by Brian Hobbs | Oct 29, 2013
“The question should not be: ‘Why are others persecuted (around the world)?’ Perhaps the better question is: ‘Why are we not?’” That is the central theme of The Insanity of God, a book written by Nik Ripken, a modern-day American missionary to Somalia who first-hand saw great suffering, tragedy and spiritual darkness.
Interestingly, the book, which has been endorsed by household-name Christians leaders including David Platt, Frank Page and John Maxwell, is written under a pseudonym. Ripken shares his story, as well as dozens of stories of other Christians facing persecution around the world, in places like North Africa, East Asia and the former Soviet Union.
In dramatic fashion, Ripken describes himself as an unlikely choice to become a missionary. Without a significant Christian background and upbringing, this boy from Kentucky is radically born again, preceding his college years and senses a call to take the Gospel around the world.
“I simply assumed that a person could be saved and called to serve God in the very same moment. That’s exactly what I believed was happening to me. I answered God’s voice and I put my life in His control,” he said.
Ripken takes Christ’s Great Commission literally and soon finds himself (and later his wife and children) as real-life missionaries in one of the hardest mission fields, the “horn of Africa” in the 1990’s.
With vivid descriptions of a country racked by starvation, intimidation, depravation and darkness, Ripken takes you into the moments within his front-lines ministry. At risk of spoiling one part of the plot, a tragedy takes Ripken and his family out of that ministry setting, and the remainder of the book is spent following his Boswell-like research of persecution around the world.
The stories of the book will move you. The call of the writer will challenge you. Certainly this is a book that any Christian who wants to learn obedience to Christ, “even when it doesn’t make sense,” should read.
by Brian Hobbs | Oct 17, 2013
Well, our brief national nightmare appears to be over, as the most recent U.S. government shutdown has come to a close. A compromise has been reached in Washington, yet the roots of disagreement appear to be unmoved.
This most recent crisis only underlines the greater reality that we are divided, not only in Washington, but as a country on whole. We are at a crossroads, just as Ancient Rome was in the first century before the birth of Christ.
According to the late, great historian, J. Rufus Fears, “In 60 B.C., a crisis of almost unprecedented proportion had been reached (in Rome) over the lack of a budget and the national debt.” The Roman Republic, which had fallen from its glory days of a virtuous and patriotic citizenry, was troubled by other similar problems, including elections that were decided only by campaign contributions, an immigration crisis and wars in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Roman people of the time seemed to care more about Gladiator games than civic virtue and were unwilling to carry the awesome responsibility of self-government. By the year 59 B.C. the Roman Republic, which was divided into two major political parties much like our own, turned to the eventual dictatorship of Julius Caesar.
A national crisis, however, does not necessarily need to destroy a republic and create a dictator. In fact, American history shows the contrary. Our own Founders, in 1786, faced a debt crisis of epic proportions and emerged from it all the stronger. What separated those leaders, ones like George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, from today comes down to one ingredient: Patriotism.
Let’s pray for wisdom for our current leaders and that God would rise up more patriots like George Washington.
by Brian Hobbs | Oct 14, 2013
I want to address this movie review (or non-movie review rather) specifically to professing Christians. Why do I call it a non-review? It is because I walked out of the movie less than halfway through.
While our family was not huge fans of the first installment, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, it was clever enough, as things go. The sequel had many problems I discuss below. But first, here is a summary of the plot:
“Flint Lockwood now works at The Live Corp Company for his idol Chester V. But he’s forced to leave his post when he learns that his most infamous machine is still operational and is churning out menacing food-animal hybrids.”
Within the first 15 minutes of the movie, there are numerous double entendres and subtle references to, among other things, cohabitation, animal dung, animal reproduction and yoga. The movie makers will tell you these references go over children’s heads, and perhaps they may. But these kind of tactics show you just what kind of scriptwriters we are dealing with.
Low brow references demonstrate a lack of creativity (bathroom humor is a short cut to getting laughs) and lack of propriety. While some may think me a movie Puritan here, I must say more and more filmmakers are using these kind of tactics (though not all) to entertain.
I think we often underestimate the power that films and media have on children (and adults). One theologian said, “we become what we behold.” Another old saying is, “monkey see, monkey do.” If all we see are silly or off-color comments and characters, do not be surprised when we raise up silly and off-color kids.
Judging from the previews, this movie had some clever food-become-animals that were sure to provide laughs and entertainment. It is just too bad that the filmmakers chose the low road before the movie could get to that point.
Overall: 1 star (out of 5)
Photo Copyright: Sony Entertainment
by Brian Hobbs | Oct 3, 2013
With all the talk focused on the U.S. Government shutdown, America’s political system once again finds itself in gridlock. Leaders of both political parties are at an impasse over the issue of healthcare, and the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
This issue shows the reality that we are divided in Washington, we are divided at home. This is not the first time, however, our country has faced crisis and division. The Founders of our country faced a great policy crisis, one related to debt.
According to the late, great historian J. Rufus Fears, “In 1786, a severe debt and mortgage crisis threatened to bring down the fragile structure of republican freedom in our young nation. The wise heads of Europe believed that the financial crisis of the new United States was proof that democracy could never work. The Founders of our country, men like George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and Robert Morris, responded to that financial crisis in such a way that they laid the foundation for the freedom we still cherish. The Founders did so because they learned from history.”
Can we do today as the Founders did? If we do not, we may be headed down the path of despotism. Fears said, “In 1786, when the mortgage crisis got severe in this country, men like George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and Robert Morris all realized that the situation could lead to a dictatorship.”
Fears said of the greatness of the Founders, “How did this infant republic produce a galaxy of statesmen unsurpassed in history and unequal to any power in Europe at the time? The older I get, and the more I study history, the more I wonder if these things just happened by chance or whether there was a greater hand guiding it. What separated them from men and woman of today is (1) they were all patriots; (2) they were people who understood the teachings of Adam Smith in the Wealth of Nations; (3) Congress was willing to listen to experts like Robert Morris and Alexander Hamilton who were not theoretical economists, but practical men of business; and (4) they had honor and believed that repaying debt was a matter of honor.”
Whether a healthcare law or overcoming debt, these principles are at play today. What our leaders–what all citizens–need most today need is a sense of patriotism. I am unsure how the government shutdown and gridlock will end, but a long-term solution is needed, and a renewed patriotism will be key.
Finally, this would not be properly a Christian blog entry if I did not admit I do believe the Hand of the Almighty is guiding our nation, even as we spiral downward. Let’s pray that God would strengthen Christians to be who we are supposed to be. After all, patriotism and prosperity without God is no better condition than what we face now.