Comments for Josh Crain http://joshcrain.com The Writings + Reflections of Josh Crain Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on God and Steve Jobs by sharayah longoria http://joshcrain.com/2012/02/04/god-and-steve-jobs/#comment-27 sharayah longoria Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:49:00 +0000 http://joshcrain.com/?p=979#comment-27 great point. i know there are times when i've been flippant in my responses towards questions posed by youth. may i be more conscious as well! great point. i know there are times when i’ve been flippant in my responses towards questions posed by youth. may i be more conscious as well!

]]> Comment on Help Me Doubt by Hannah Cottrill http://joshcrain.com/2012/02/19/help-me-doubt/#comment-26 Hannah Cottrill Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:48:00 +0000 http://joshcrain.com/?p=993#comment-26 I wish I would have understood the phrase "live in the light you have".  I wish I would've understood that more of the things I learned in East Texas as "black and white" really aren't.  I wish someone would have helped me to get that God is more mystery and wonder and transcendence than formula, church culture, and rules.  I wish I would have been called to pour myself out for others in love instead of not associating with "those kind" of people for the sake of my own image/reputation/etc. I wish I would have realize that experiences in which one has truly encountered God are meaningful and personal and to be remembered/cherished forever so that WHEN (not if) you do doubt, you can recall those moments and be reminded that no matter what the passing tide brings, Christ is alive and he is risen and it's all true.  I wish I would've been introduced to the works of CS Lewis sooner and been told it's okay to ask those tough questions. I wish I would have understood the phrase “live in the light you have”.  I wish I would’ve understood that more of the things I learned in East Texas as “black and white” really aren’t.  I wish someone would have helped me to get that God is more mystery and wonder and transcendence than formula, church culture, and rules.  I wish I would have been called to pour myself out for others in love instead of not associating with “those kind” of people for the sake of my own image/reputation/etc. I wish I would have realize that experiences in which one has truly encountered God are meaningful and personal and to be remembered/cherished forever so that WHEN (not if) you do doubt, you can recall those moments and be reminded that no matter what the passing tide brings, Christ is alive and he is risen and it’s all true.  I wish I would’ve been introduced to the works of CS Lewis sooner and been told it’s okay to ask those tough questions.

]]> Comment on Help Me Doubt by Josh Crain http://joshcrain.com/2012/02/19/help-me-doubt/#comment-25 Josh Crain Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:04:00 +0000 http://joshcrain.com/?p=993#comment-25 Thanks, Bekah, I think that's helpful. I was completely clueless about that in high school as well and I think Christians have to stop being so afraid about their kids reading differing opinions. If we believe something is true then we should be comfortable dissecting it, criticizing it, and even being willing to walk away from it if it turns out we were wrong. Thanks, Bekah, I think that’s helpful. I was completely clueless about that in high school as well and I think Christians have to stop being so afraid about their kids reading differing opinions. If we believe something is true then we should be comfortable dissecting it, criticizing it, and even being willing to walk away from it if it turns out we were wrong.

]]> Comment on Help Me Doubt by Matt Tuckey http://joshcrain.com/2012/02/19/help-me-doubt/#comment-24 Matt Tuckey Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:03:00 +0000 http://joshcrain.com/?p=993#comment-24 Josh, we haven't met yet, but I've heard many good things about your new role at CBIC.  Congrats.  We were members there for 5 years and have served at a BIC church plant called Engage for the last 3.  I, too, went to Christian school.  I, too, almost completely lost my faith as I journeyed through College.  I attribute most of this to a lack of understanding my identify in Christ.  In short, that I am his beloved.  That I don't have to earn his favor.  That my work and efffort may be well serve to support the work he is already doing, but it does nothing to earn me position at his table.  I love this quote by Ann Voskamp (written as a prayer for her daughter):  "May she be dead to all ladders and never go higher, only lower, to the lonely, the least and the longing.  Her led of the spirit to lead many to the cross that leads to the tomb wildly empty."  I spent to many years climbing ladders.  I recently had a conversation with another pastor friend of mine and we talked about how the current church culture can tend to convey to youth the same salvation by works message, but instead of religiosity and rules, it's framed in service.  Service (always going lower to the least and the lonely) is good, but again, won't earn God's grace, his salvation, or will serve as an avenue to our contenement and peace.  I'm still learning that freedom is only found in a restful place of God's freely-given grace.  I can't earn it or control it.  But, I must surrender myself to find it.  So, yeah, I wish I would have explored this idea a bit more in High School instead of spending too many years after seeking contentment in things other than God and via ladder climbing.  Hope that's helpful,  Josh, we haven’t met yet, but I’ve heard many good things about your new role at CBIC.  Congrats.  We were members there for 5 years and have served at a BIC church plant called Engage for the last 3.  I, too, went to Christian school.  I, too, almost completely lost my faith as I journeyed through College.  I attribute most of this to a lack of understanding my identify in Christ.  In short, that I am his beloved.  That I don’t have to earn his favor.  That my work and efffort may be well serve to support the work he is already doing, but it does nothing to earn me position at his table.  I love this quote by Ann Voskamp (written as a prayer for her daughter):  “May she be dead to all ladders and never go higher, only lower, to the lonely, the least and the longing.  Her led of the spirit to lead many to the cross that leads to the tomb wildly empty.”  I spent to many years climbing ladders.  I recently had a conversation with another pastor friend of mine and we talked about how the current church culture can tend to convey to youth the same salvation by works message, but instead of religiosity and rules, it’s framed in service.  Service (always going lower to the least and the lonely) is good, but again, won’t earn God’s grace, his salvation, or will serve as an avenue to our contenement and peace.  I’m still learning that freedom is only found in a restful place of God’s freely-given grace.  I can’t earn it or control it.  But, I must surrender myself to find it.  So, yeah, I wish I would have explored this idea a bit more in High School instead of spending too many years after seeking contentment in things other than God and via ladder climbing.  Hope that’s helpful, 

]]> Comment on Help Me Doubt by Rebekah Holmes http://joshcrain.com/2012/02/19/help-me-doubt/#comment-23 Rebekah Holmes Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:32:00 +0000 http://joshcrain.com/?p=993#comment-23 I wish someone had told me it's ok to question and that questioning doesn't make you any less admirable or any less intelligent. I wish someone had told me to read differing opinions. I loved reading, but I always thought that reading something contrary to what I believed was wrong. That it opened me up to bad influences. Also that being open to new ideas is not in and of itself a bad thing, not only can new ideas strengthen what you know, but they can correct where you've been wrong. I also wish someone had said to read nonfiction. Other than textbooks, I did not read much nonfiction, now it's all I read and I wish I had started earlier. I wish someone had told me it’s ok to question and that questioning doesn’t make you any less admirable or any less intelligent. I wish someone had told me to read differing opinions. I loved reading, but I always thought that reading something contrary to what I believed was wrong. That it opened me up to bad influences. Also that being open to new ideas is not in and of itself a bad thing, not only can new ideas strengthen what you know, but they can correct where you’ve been wrong. I also wish someone had said to read nonfiction. Other than textbooks, I did not read much nonfiction, now it’s all I read and I wish I had started earlier.

]]> Comment on Help Me Doubt by Dcalavan http://joshcrain.com/2012/02/19/help-me-doubt/#comment-22 Dcalavan Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:03:00 +0000 http://joshcrain.com/?p=993#comment-22  I wish I had known that my parent's beliefs didn't necessarily have to be mine. That I was free to form my own opinions about matters of theology and that was okay as long as I grounded them in scripture. If I had went to a state school, it probably would have been good to know the historical reliability of the New Testament at least. Fortunately, I got this because I went to a state school, but I have many friends who aren't Christ followers who learned in their history classes things about the New Testament that just aren't true, things like it wasn't written until over 300 years after Christ and there was no accepted Cannon until Constantine made one. Heading these things off early is important I feel.  I wish I had known that my parent’s beliefs didn’t necessarily have to be mine. That I was free to form my own opinions about matters of theology and that was okay as long as I grounded them in scripture.

If I had went to a state school, it probably would have been good to know the historical reliability of the New Testament at least. Fortunately, I got this because I went to a state school, but I have many friends who aren’t Christ followers who learned in their history classes things about the New Testament that just aren’t true, things like it wasn’t written until over 300 years after Christ and there was no accepted Cannon until Constantine made one.

Heading these things off early is important I feel.

]]> Comment on Help Me Doubt by James G. http://joshcrain.com/2012/02/19/help-me-doubt/#comment-21 James G. Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:06:00 +0000 http://joshcrain.com/?p=993#comment-21 My college president once said that the opposite of faith is not doubt, it's disobedience. I think this is important because a recent survey of young churched "leavers" found a trend of doubt having been treated in a harsh, condescending, judgmental and overall unsatisfying manner within the church. People would "confess" doubt and, rather than be met with gentle and honest answers or any kind of relational approach, were met with denial and disregard. So, doubt isn't something that should be shunned. It should be dealt with. I think there's types of doubt. There's academic doubt, where someone has trouble integrating faith with their intellectual (not emotional) understanding of philosophy, science, history, etc. There's empirical doubt, where someone has trouble accepting Scriptural truth due to the lack of vivaciousness and morality (or even downright hypocrisy) in their close experiences with those of the faith. There's also implausibility doubt, where someone has trouble accepting Scriptural Truth because of the counter-cultural socio-political ramifications thereof (e.g. sexual ethics, bioethics, political stances, etc.).  I had most of my apologetics arguments in online forums while at a Christian college. I think I would have been better prepared for them if I had a deeper understanding of the purpose of the Bible's Truth. I was too worried about 6-day Creation, the worldwide flood, and using Scripture to justify political and other menial stances when I should have been following the overarching themes of evangelism, loving servanthood and cultural flourishing. Perhaps the most historically-verified miracle is that of Jesus's resurrection. It inspired the disciples and the largest "religious growth" in history. It should do the same for me. Also, Tim Keller's "Reason for God" is a good book. It's a relational apologetic that is well-informed of pretty much all the questions people ask about Christianity today. (And this is coming from a guy that doesn't read too many Reformed authors).      My college president once said that the opposite of faith is not doubt, it’s disobedience. I think this is important because a recent survey of young churched “leavers” found a trend of doubt having been treated in a harsh, condescending, judgmental and overall unsatisfying manner within the church. People would “confess” doubt and, rather than be met with gentle and honest answers or any kind of relational approach, were met with denial and disregard. So, doubt isn’t something that should be shunned. It should be dealt with.

I think there’s types of doubt. There’s academic doubt, where someone has trouble integrating faith with their intellectual (not emotional) understanding of philosophy, science, history, etc. There’s empirical doubt, where someone has trouble accepting Scriptural truth due to the lack of vivaciousness and morality (or even downright hypocrisy) in their close experiences with those of the faith. There’s also implausibility doubt, where someone has trouble accepting Scriptural Truth because of the counter-cultural socio-political ramifications thereof (e.g. sexual ethics, bioethics, political stances, etc.). 

I had most of my apologetics arguments in online forums while at a Christian college. I think I would have been better prepared for them if I had a deeper understanding of the purpose of the Bible’s Truth. I was too worried about 6-day Creation, the worldwide flood, and using Scripture to justify political and other menial stances when I should have been following the overarching themes of evangelism, loving servanthood and cultural flourishing. Perhaps the most historically-verified miracle is that of Jesus’s resurrection. It inspired the disciples and the largest “religious growth” in history. It should do the same for me.

Also, Tim Keller’s “Reason for God” is a good book. It’s a relational apologetic that is well-informed of pretty much all the questions people ask about Christianity today. (And this is coming from a guy that doesn’t read too many Reformed authors).     

]]> Comment on Help Me Doubt by Josh http://joshcrain.com/2012/02/19/help-me-doubt/#comment-20 Josh Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:49:00 +0000 http://joshcrain.com/?p=993#comment-20 My college experience was the same. I have always been a questioner and logic driven person, but college brought me into a tailspin of questioning. I think for me, a couple of things would have been helpful. 1. To know there are other people, with brilliant minds that greatly exceed mine, who were believers. There are so many brilliant people from all disciplines that hold to faith. I think it would have made me feel less isolated in my struggle. 2. To be aware that just because I can't explain something within my worldview does not mean the entire fabric of my worldview is to come unraveled. There have been a multitude of questions that have been answered for me over the years. Just because we do not have an answer presently does not mean one does not exist. Also, it isn't just for Christians to have to answer the "big questions" (origins, purpose, question of evil, etc). All worldviews have to answer these questions. Sometimes this gets distorted. The burden of proof does not rest solely on the Christian's shoulders. Everyone has to be able to articulate the reason they hold to their particular belief. I went into college thinking I was up against the ropes, not so. 3. To know that doubt isn't bad. It actually did more for my faith than most anything else. Without doubt, we couldn't have faith. The two dance together nicely. For more of my thoughts check out my post here: http://joshfults.com/2011/11/16/a-dirty-christian-word/ Yes, that was also a shameless plug for my own blog. Blessings, Josh My college experience was the same. I have always been a questioner and logic driven person, but college brought me into a tailspin of questioning. I think for me, a couple of things would have been helpful.

1. To know there are other people, with brilliant minds that greatly exceed mine, who were believers. There are so many brilliant people from all disciplines that hold to faith. I think it would have made me feel less isolated in my struggle.

2. To be aware that just because I can’t explain something within my worldview does not mean the entire fabric of my worldview is to come unraveled. There have been a multitude of questions that have been answered for me over the years. Just because we do not have an answer presently does not mean one does not exist. Also, it isn’t just for Christians to have to answer the “big questions” (origins, purpose, question of evil, etc). All worldviews have to answer these questions. Sometimes this gets distorted. The burden of proof does not rest solely on the Christian’s shoulders. Everyone has to be able to articulate the reason they hold to their particular belief. I went into college thinking I was up against the ropes, not so.

3. To know that doubt isn’t bad. It actually did more for my faith than most anything else. Without doubt, we couldn’t have faith. The two dance together nicely.

For more of my thoughts check out my post here: http://joshfults.com/2011/11/16/a-dirty-christian-word/

Yes, that was also a shameless plug for my own blog.

Blessings,
Josh

]]> Comment on Help Me Doubt by Rick Foux http://joshcrain.com/2012/02/19/help-me-doubt/#comment-19 Rick Foux Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:53:00 +0000 http://joshcrain.com/?p=993#comment-19 I wish I had known that the "Youth Group High" quickly disintegrates once you step foot into the real world. It's so much easier for your faith to be shaken once you realize that we do indeed live in a world of sin and you don't have your normal bubble of Christian friends to sing praise and worship with every Sunday and Wednesday night.  I also wish I knew that I'd have to argue for my faith on an almost constant basis. Once again, no one inside of the church bubble ever questions you or your beliefs. When the sphere of influence in your life is composed primarily of Christians and it suddenly shifts to being 95% non-believers, you have to explain to them that no, you aren't crazy, and be prepared to have every textbook atheistic argument thrown at you. I wish I had known that the “Youth Group High” quickly disintegrates once you step foot into the real world. It’s so much easier for your faith to be shaken once you realize that we do indeed live in a world of sin and you don’t have your normal bubble of Christian friends to sing praise and worship with every Sunday and Wednesday night. 

I also wish I knew that I’d have to argue for my faith on an almost constant basis. Once again, no one inside of the church bubble ever questions you or your beliefs. When the sphere of influence in your life is composed primarily of Christians and it suddenly shifts to being 95% non-believers, you have to explain to them that no, you aren’t crazy, and be prepared to have every textbook atheistic argument thrown at you.

]]> Comment on Help Me Doubt by Michael Eddy http://joshcrain.com/2012/02/19/help-me-doubt/#comment-18 Michael Eddy Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:24:00 +0000 http://joshcrain.com/?p=993#comment-18 Josh, I missed out on those college years.  Instead,  four days after I graduated I found myself on a plane heading to boot camp for the Navy.  As I reflect on what I wish I had been prepared for, well, I don't even really know where to begin.  I wanted to leave home and start completely new and away from the "box" that everyone had kind of put me in.  I guess you could say I was looking to redefine myself.  That didn't necessarily mean that I was seeking out God, but I really wasn't walking away from it either.        Here is what I didn't expect.  I didn't expect that loneliness would be such an awful feeling, and to escape that feeling I would be willing to take chances.  I wasn't expecting to feel so lost.  I wasn't expecting to feel like I was in the wrong place and I was stuck.  I just wasn't ready, and I don't think that anyone is ready to have most all of the social supports removed and then have to rebuild all of them myself and by my choices.  I was expecting, however, to continue feeling like a failure.  That pretty much stayed a constant.          I was really lost and really lonely, and continuously wondering where in God's plan I fit in.  Because really, if there is a plan, then I would fit into it, wouldn't I?  And if I didn't find a place to fit in does it mean that God doesn't exist?  Or worse, If God does exist and I don't fit in, doesn't that mean that I am not part of His plan?     This is what I did have, though.  I had an awesome small group of friends during my senior year.  They are the ones who taught me about Christ.  They are the ones who show me what it meant to be Christian.  They lived it out, they just didn't talk about it.  As I walked down my new path of self-discovery, I checked in with them when I could.  I was provided a safe haven away from some of the caustic influences of the secular world.  When I was at my lowest, I had them to rely on.      So what I wish I had, God really did provide.  It didn't spare me from anxiety, sadness, loneliness, or making some really stupid choices.  However, I have been blessed with awesome friends who accept me for who I am.     I think for our youth leaving to head out into the world, they may want to know that they will be remade, and it will not be a pleasant experience for some of them.  It will be hard.  God has given us what we need.  We need to choose the resources that He has given us when we need them. Wow, this turned out to be somewhat long.  Hope it helps. Josh, I missed out on those college years.  Instead,  four days after I graduated I found myself on a plane heading to boot camp for the Navy.  As I reflect on what I wish I had been prepared for, well, I don’t even really know where to begin.  I wanted to leave home and start completely new and away from the “box” that everyone had kind of put me in.  I guess you could say I was looking to redefine myself.  That didn’t necessarily mean that I was seeking out God, but I really wasn’t walking away from it either.
       Here is what I didn’t expect.  I didn’t expect that loneliness would be such an awful feeling, and to escape that feeling I would be willing to take chances.  I wasn’t expecting to feel so lost.  I wasn’t expecting to feel like I was in the wrong place and I was stuck.  I just wasn’t ready, and I don’t think that anyone is ready to have most all of the social supports removed and then have to rebuild all of them myself and by my choices.  I was expecting, however, to continue feeling like a failure.  That pretty much stayed a constant.          I was really lost and really lonely, and continuously wondering where in God’s plan I fit in.  Because really, if there is a plan, then I would fit into it, wouldn’t I?  And if I didn’t find a place to fit in does it mean that God doesn’t exist?  Or worse, If God does exist and I don’t fit in, doesn’t that mean that I am not part of His plan?     This is what I did have, though.  I had an awesome small group of friends during my senior year.  They are the ones who taught me about Christ.  They are the ones who show me what it meant to be Christian.  They lived it out, they just didn’t talk about it.  As I walked down my new path of self-discovery, I checked in with them when I could.  I was provided a safe haven away from some of the caustic influences of the secular world.  When I was at my lowest, I had them to rely on.      So what I wish I had, God really did provide.  It didn’t spare me from anxiety, sadness, loneliness, or making some really stupid choices.  However, I have been blessed with awesome friends who accept me for who I am.     I think for our youth leaving to head out into the world, they may want to know that they will be remade, and it will not be a pleasant experience for some of them.  It will be hard.  God has given us what we need.  We need to choose the resources that He has given us when we need them.

Wow, this turned out to be somewhat long.  Hope it helps.

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