VERITAS, VERITAS, VERITAS
In an age of relativism only madmen speak of absolute truth.
THE MADMAN----Have you not heard of that madman who lit a lantern in the bright morning hours, ran to the market place, and cried incessantly: "I seek Truth! I seek Truth!"---As many of those who did not believe in Truth were standing around just then, he provoked much laughter. Has it been lost? asked one. Did it lose its way like a child? asked another. Or is it hidden? ---Thus they yelled and laughed
The madman jumped into their midst and pierced them with his eyes. "Whither Truth?" he cried; "I will tell you. We have killed it---you and I. All of us are its murderers. But how did we do this? Who gave us the sponge to wipe away the entire horizon? What were we doing when we unchained this earth from its sun? Whither is it moving now? Whither are we moving?
Backward, sideward, forward, in all directions? Is there still any up or down? Are we not straying, as through an infinite nothing? Do we not feel the breath of empty space? Has it not become colder? Is not night continually closing in on us? Do we not need to light lanterns in the morning? Do we hear nothing as yet of the noise of the gravediggers who are burying Truth? Do we smell nothing as yet of the decomposition? Truth, too, decomposes. Truth is dead. Truth remains dead, absolutely. And we did it.
"How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of killing truth? Are we able to weald such power to cut truth up till nothing contradicts?
Here the madman fell silent and looked again at his listeners; and they, too, were silent and stared at him in astonishment. At last he threw his lantern on the ground, and it broke into pieces and went out. "I have come too late," he said then; "my time has passed. This tremendous event is behind us now - it has already numbed the ears of men. The time has passed yet I push on. The past is already, history can not be changed, things dead can not rise again. Dead men's minds can not be changed; Homer's breath can not be regained! Yet today is felt the thunder clap, today is seen yesterdays star-light, Deeds, though done, still require time to be seen and heard. Yet this deed has its day, this deed today gives light - and they have done it to themselves.
It has been related further that on the same day the madman forced his way into several churches and there struck up his Requiem aeternam veritati. Led out and called to account, he is said always to have replied: "If truth is dead, what after all are these churches now if nothing more then memorials to Truth? Yet, who knows truth but those graced with a glimpse of its source? Where is Truth if not in the mouth of those who delight of its goodness? How is truth dead when HE walks among us? Truth has RISEN but you, It is YOU, who remain died!!"
This nefarious Adaptation by J. Dawson Jarrell of the madman in the marketplace from Friedrich Nietzsche's, The Gay Science (1882, 1887) para. 125; Walter Kaufmann ed. (New York: Vintage, 1974), pp.181-82.
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Some thoughts on narrative and didactic genres of scripture
In begining I will open with a quick look at intended meanimg
a. Goal – “Intended meaning" is that understanding of a text which the Author/authors meant his original reader to know. After this the interpreter attempts to form a doctrine, based on the meaning of the text. That implies knowledge of weather the literary forms of of the text is set in a narrative and didactic context. No doctrine can properly be exegeted unless the frame is set.
b. What is narrative and didactic? Two genres of literature found in scripture the more common terms are story (narrative) and Teaching(didactic). It is commonly held that Narrative inform and yet does not command a normative standard for the grounding of any major doctrinal premise. Only the didactic passages teach us the foundational truths of the faith leaving the story to illustrate the truth. Yet is it dangerous to make such a hard and fast distinction. This elevation of the didactic is not absolute, we can not say, “Doctrines or ethical principles can only be derived from didactic portions of Scripture and never narrative portions of Scripture.” This is just not true, as a Baptist if I were to hold that hermeneutical principle strictly then I would not be able to give biblical grounding to the doctrine of baptism by immersion. Since the doctrine is based on the Greek meaning of baptism and the use of narrative text. Thus the key to knowing when something is worthy of grounding the truth of it in narrative sections of the text is precedence. If it is consistently found in a text as a pattern that the author is constantly revisiting, then we can begin looking at the text in a normative way.
c. Also, Paul implies that he used the Old testament narrative for didactic instruction in 2 Tim 3:16-17 and Rom 15:4. First 2 Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Also when we look at Romans 15:4, Paul writes, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Historical narrative does have didactic value. So the question is how do we legitimately get doctrine and practice from narrative?
d. I think the best way is very simple. If you find in didactic portions of Scripture a minor truth then the use of narrative to flush out the simple understanding is expectable. When we say how does that look. Or what is the phenomenological understanding of that. Narrative is most helpful. Therefore the Didactic hold a first order in the text but not fully excluding the use or narrative as doctrinally defining.
a. Goal – “Intended meaning" is that understanding of a text which the Author/authors meant his original reader to know. After this the interpreter attempts to form a doctrine, based on the meaning of the text. That implies knowledge of weather the literary forms of of the text is set in a narrative and didactic context. No doctrine can properly be exegeted unless the frame is set.
b. What is narrative and didactic? Two genres of literature found in scripture the more common terms are story (narrative) and Teaching(didactic). It is commonly held that Narrative inform and yet does not command a normative standard for the grounding of any major doctrinal premise. Only the didactic passages teach us the foundational truths of the faith leaving the story to illustrate the truth. Yet is it dangerous to make such a hard and fast distinction. This elevation of the didactic is not absolute, we can not say, “Doctrines or ethical principles can only be derived from didactic portions of Scripture and never narrative portions of Scripture.” This is just not true, as a Baptist if I were to hold that hermeneutical principle strictly then I would not be able to give biblical grounding to the doctrine of baptism by immersion. Since the doctrine is based on the Greek meaning of baptism and the use of narrative text. Thus the key to knowing when something is worthy of grounding the truth of it in narrative sections of the text is precedence. If it is consistently found in a text as a pattern that the author is constantly revisiting, then we can begin looking at the text in a normative way.
c. Also, Paul implies that he used the Old testament narrative for didactic instruction in 2 Tim 3:16-17 and Rom 15:4. First 2 Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Also when we look at Romans 15:4, Paul writes, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Historical narrative does have didactic value. So the question is how do we legitimately get doctrine and practice from narrative?
d. I think the best way is very simple. If you find in didactic portions of Scripture a minor truth then the use of narrative to flush out the simple understanding is expectable. When we say how does that look. Or what is the phenomenological understanding of that. Narrative is most helpful. Therefore the Didactic hold a first order in the text but not fully excluding the use or narrative as doctrinally defining.
Monday, February 5, 2007
The Importance Of The centering beliefs of a community
How a Statements of faith can be used in a church
I have been told, there is not a nuance I do not like and that is very true. I like to have precision and clarity in the things I write, how good I am at it is often debated, but none the less I wholly conceit to the fact that I am a fan of the prepositional phrase. My love of nuance is why I love statements of faith. A well written statement can cut through all the confusion and lift a factual statement to the place all minds can see it clearly. When we construct a faith statement we are setting out in propositional form spiritual reality. This is the personal dimension of a statement of faith as seen through the soul of the individual. The flip side is a Statement as a set of beliefs held by a group. Some time they are seen to be a way to “prophetically” witness to the culture. For me that is a well thought out load of crap, more so it presents itself as a political finger pointing sound bit on the 10 o’clock news. If a group wants to deal with culture on that level then they should open a dialogue with opposing views. Hold public forums, have fashion shows of truth for the naked public square. Be unafraid to confront postmodern false prophets and make the church a place to talk truth and light in a dark world.
While a statement of faith makes a comparison to the surrounding darkness, the light is not the statement but the people themselves. Jesus states, “you are a light that can not be hidden.” Lived faith statement is prophetic light. Ok rant over…. Back to may topic..
A statement of faith is a list of propositions that outline the beliefs of a group. It is the definition of a group’s commonly held conviction. They encompass ethical and theological principles of life and faith and make up the foundational teachings of Christianity as the group understands them. Culturally speaking, the importance of such a codex of beliefs is the way it defines and identifies a people. The individual can gain a worldview in the statements. Teaching them life vision and purpose for living.
The functions of a Statement of Faith
It is the gravity of a community
A statement of faith is what gives the community of faith theological weight. It keeps ones feet on the ground so we may run the race and not just be caught spinning your wheals.
It is the glue of the community
Paul states that a congregation’s unity is found in holding to a common body of biblical truth and living by those truths. The commonly held believes are the unifying elements of a group. They are the truths that a group rallies around and in this the group finds a corporate since of identity.
It is the beauty of the community
They are the beauty of a community of faith in two ways. One, the nature of truth, Truth is beautiful. Truth has order harmony, even transcendences. Truth makes life beautiful, and truths about redemption are most beautiful. The statements inform our worship. They are the facts God by His Spirit lights on fire.
It is the core of the community
A statement of faith is a core. Augustine wrote “unity in the essentials, diversity on the non-essentials and in everything love.” This principle should guild the intellectual life of a church. A group’s statement is the essentials of a group. They are the core truths. In every group there are two spheres, I, YOU. Yet as the picture shows in the overlap of your beliefs and my beliefs we see a new sphere “what we believe.”
The “I” is the individual. The “YOU” is the other individual. The “We” is the group. It sounds like this “I believe this” “you believe that” but “we believe this together.” There is room for some tolerance (biblically defined) of “what you believe”. Both “I” and “you” are needed. The “You” spear teaches us control free love because loving others you disagree with is part of Christian discipleship. The “I” is important because each “I” may have personal conviction and ethical truths that burn deeper than others. This helps the body fit well together. But the “we” dimension is central for it alone functions as a worldview: A way of seeing in the world. Group vision comes from the center not the sides. The person that drives a car using his peripheral vision will soon crash. What we believe centers our vision of the world and our place in it. Note how the picture also looks like an eye.
Thinking in hypothetically, four words sum up what I see as core themes of a statement of faith. reformational, evangelical, spiritual, and apostolic.
Reformational
This is the Fundamental teachings of the Protestant Reformation. These are the ideas that form a person’s vision of life. These point make up a Theocentric worldview.
"Sola Scriptura" - “Scripture Alone”
"Sola Christo" - “Christ Alone”
"Sola Gratia" -“Grace Alone”
"Sola Fide" -“Faith Alone”
"Soli Deo Gloria" -“Glory to God Alone”
The same worldview could be expressed in a metanarrative outline in scripture…
God - Creation - Fall - Redemption - God
in this a larger context-we find the believer within the gospel/redemption plot-line …
Evangelical
By “evangelical”, I would mean a the doctrinal conviction that the proclamation of the Good news in the means of grace for salvation. This is contrasted with a sacramental view of salvation through church membership or baptism.
Spiritual
By “Spiritual” one could say, “charismatic” but by this I mean committed to “thy kingdom come.” That is a commitment to the present day demonstration of the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit. A belief that gifts work, prayer works, faith works but we do not work the gifts, faith, or prayer. This is not a tolerating of these things but actively encouraging that would be a posture of action and ministry.
Apostolic
By “apostolic” I mean centering the mission plain of a church as reproduction by division. I desire to plaint local churches and network church in corporate ministry. This is contrasted with a top down structure of authority.
I have been told, there is not a nuance I do not like and that is very true. I like to have precision and clarity in the things I write, how good I am at it is often debated, but none the less I wholly conceit to the fact that I am a fan of the prepositional phrase. My love of nuance is why I love statements of faith. A well written statement can cut through all the confusion and lift a factual statement to the place all minds can see it clearly. When we construct a faith statement we are setting out in propositional form spiritual reality. This is the personal dimension of a statement of faith as seen through the soul of the individual. The flip side is a Statement as a set of beliefs held by a group. Some time they are seen to be a way to “prophetically” witness to the culture. For me that is a well thought out load of crap, more so it presents itself as a political finger pointing sound bit on the 10 o’clock news. If a group wants to deal with culture on that level then they should open a dialogue with opposing views. Hold public forums, have fashion shows of truth for the naked public square. Be unafraid to confront postmodern false prophets and make the church a place to talk truth and light in a dark world.
While a statement of faith makes a comparison to the surrounding darkness, the light is not the statement but the people themselves. Jesus states, “you are a light that can not be hidden.” Lived faith statement is prophetic light. Ok rant over…. Back to may topic..
A statement of faith is a list of propositions that outline the beliefs of a group. It is the definition of a group’s commonly held conviction. They encompass ethical and theological principles of life and faith and make up the foundational teachings of Christianity as the group understands them. Culturally speaking, the importance of such a codex of beliefs is the way it defines and identifies a people. The individual can gain a worldview in the statements. Teaching them life vision and purpose for living.
The functions of a Statement of Faith
It is the gravity of a community
A statement of faith is what gives the community of faith theological weight. It keeps ones feet on the ground so we may run the race and not just be caught spinning your wheals.
It is the glue of the community
Paul states that a congregation’s unity is found in holding to a common body of biblical truth and living by those truths. The commonly held believes are the unifying elements of a group. They are the truths that a group rallies around and in this the group finds a corporate since of identity.
It is the beauty of the community
They are the beauty of a community of faith in two ways. One, the nature of truth, Truth is beautiful. Truth has order harmony, even transcendences. Truth makes life beautiful, and truths about redemption are most beautiful. The statements inform our worship. They are the facts God by His Spirit lights on fire.
It is the core of the community
A statement of faith is a core. Augustine wrote “unity in the essentials, diversity on the non-essentials and in everything love.” This principle should guild the intellectual life of a church. A group’s statement is the essentials of a group. They are the core truths. In every group there are two spheres, I, YOU. Yet as the picture shows in the overlap of your beliefs and my beliefs we see a new sphere “what we believe.”
The “I” is the individual. The “YOU” is the other individual. The “We” is the group. It sounds like this “I believe this” “you believe that” but “we believe this together.” There is room for some tolerance (biblically defined) of “what you believe”. Both “I” and “you” are needed. The “You” spear teaches us control free love because loving others you disagree with is part of Christian discipleship. The “I” is important because each “I” may have personal conviction and ethical truths that burn deeper than others. This helps the body fit well together. But the “we” dimension is central for it alone functions as a worldview: A way of seeing in the world. Group vision comes from the center not the sides. The person that drives a car using his peripheral vision will soon crash. What we believe centers our vision of the world and our place in it. Note how the picture also looks like an eye.
Defining a Core by clarifying the themes
Thinking in hypothetically, four words sum up what I see as core themes of a statement of faith. reformational, evangelical, spiritual, and apostolic.
Reformational
This is the Fundamental teachings of the Protestant Reformation. These are the ideas that form a person’s vision of life. These point make up a Theocentric worldview.
"Sola Scriptura" - “Scripture Alone”
"Sola Christo" - “Christ Alone”
"Sola Gratia" -“Grace Alone”
"Sola Fide" -“Faith Alone”
"Soli Deo Gloria" -“Glory to God Alone”
The same worldview could be expressed in a metanarrative outline in scripture…
God - Creation - Fall - Redemption - God
in this a larger context-we find the believer within the gospel/redemption plot-line …
Redemption
as
Faith in Christ
as
Faith in Christ
{ Incarnation-Life-Death-Resurrection-ascension-believer’s life-Second coming}
Evangelical
By “evangelical”, I would mean a the doctrinal conviction that the proclamation of the Good news in the means of grace for salvation. This is contrasted with a sacramental view of salvation through church membership or baptism.
Spiritual
By “Spiritual” one could say, “charismatic” but by this I mean committed to “thy kingdom come.” That is a commitment to the present day demonstration of the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit. A belief that gifts work, prayer works, faith works but we do not work the gifts, faith, or prayer. This is not a tolerating of these things but actively encouraging that would be a posture of action and ministry.
Apostolic
By “apostolic” I mean centering the mission plain of a church as reproduction by division. I desire to plaint local churches and network church in corporate ministry. This is contrasted with a top down structure of authority.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)