Interesting. I especially liked the second one, the Keith Richards, Bob Dylan, Thomas Merton comments, and how it's possible to draw the good from comments of people you don't agree with. I've felt that way for a long time, and I've seen similar examples in the Bible, such as in Acts 17 where Paul is witnessing to the Athenians and talks about "as some of your own poets have said." They were pagan poets, probably believed in a multitude of gods and other things contrary to Christianity, but he was still able to use them in his witness because even people who lead ungodly lives can say wise or godly things. But I regularly catch flak for quotes on the TFI News site from people who are unorthodox, who seem like bad examples, or who have said or done something that could be considered anti-Christian. If that's the case, we should wonder why Sampson was in the Bible in the first place as a judge of Israel, or why Rahab the harlot is held up as an example of faith. Not to mention King David and all that he did, while being "a man after God's own heart." I guess my comment has gone to venting a bit, but I just wanted to express my agreement with what he said in this regard.
CH
2 years ago
Thank you, Frank. After reading your comment I thought of something I read in a Tim Keller essay not too long ago. Maybe it compliments what you said about "people who lead ungodly lives can say wise or godly things." From Tim Keller's 4 essay about Justice in the Bible:
"Christianity stands antithetically over against other views of reality. But the doctrine of “common grace” is that God gives gifts of wisdom, moral insight, goodness, and beauty to those who are not believers. So despite the antithetical nature of human worldviews, we can and need to learn from non-believers. The doctrine of sin means we Christians are not as wise as our right worldview should make us; the doctrine of common grace means non-believers are not as unwise as their wrong worldview should make them. But we should be informed in our listening, careful to not adopt their worldview (Romans 12:1-2)."
Frank
2 years ago
Good quote, thanks. Seems like the Lord "makes the sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Mat. 5:45), being very loving in the way He bestows His blessings. So it stands to reason that He'd bestow "gifts of wisdom, moral insight, goodness and beauty to those who are not believers," as Tim Keller said. And it's sometimes hard to appreciate the gifts without taking on the attitudes of some of the recipients, which is probably a good test for us as Christians.
Frank
CH
"Christianity stands antithetically over against other views of reality. But the doctrine of “common grace” is that God gives gifts of wisdom, moral insight, goodness, and beauty to those who are not believers. So despite the antithetical nature of human worldviews, we can and need to learn from non-believers. The doctrine of sin means we Christians are not as wise as our right worldview should make us; the doctrine of common grace means non-believers are not as unwise as their wrong worldview should make them. But we should be informed in our listening, careful to not adopt their worldview (Romans 12:1-2)."
Frank