A Journey Into, and Out of One's Self

Perhaps one of the fundamental challenges of transforming a society toward justice is transforming its system of values from functional to ontological. I think South Korea suffers from a wealth, power, and status oriented value system, coupled with a sense of entitlement rather than responsibility that lets human life be so undervalued in some specific cases but not in others. Justice asks the question why is it this case and not the other case? In the functional view human beings become part of a cost benefit analysis, and are only valuable if (in the Korean case for example) they can make it through a competitive society to a university and then get a job in accordance with the degree earned. I've noticed sometimes I have bought into this view. Changing this view takes more than simple declaration, but a careful watchfulness of one's own thoughts. I hope people at my church do this. We as a church not only need to treat people with value but actually think about them with...

This post is motivated by the question "Is there a purpose for Skepticism or criticism from within the church?" It is also motivated by the fact that an open approach to skepticism and intellectual engagement on issues related to the Church is what helped bring me to faith in Christ. There are of course potential benefits and dangers for having skeptics who are vocal within the church. It can present a view of church disunity. It can present an image of a church that does not command with authority the loyalty of its followers, and suggest that perhaps people do not really believe what the leader is saying. It can also provide a space for disingenuous people to spread lies or sow doubt in an audience that is ignorant of the issues at hand. These are perhaps fair concerns. My purpose with this post is to try to define what is and is not Biblical skepticism. From what I hear in old Hebrew Law when a person was being tried for a capital crime if the jury voted unanimously fo...