Modern Wedding Vows

I take you, my darling,

as my lawfully wedded wife.

As thankfully,

the law you see,

allows me room in strife.

To have and to hold,

From forward this day,

unless by chance,

some circumstance,

pulls us farther and farther away.

For better, or worse,

unless, tragically,

when older you grow,

and time starts to flow,

you lose all that youthful beauty.

For richer or poorer,

unless you see,

I have nothing with you,

and it's found to be true,

that I need currency.

In sickness and health,

unless, dare I dread,

that the sickness you've got,

makes that young body rot,

and would chain me up next to your bed.

To love and to cherish,

unless I might see,

another young sweet,

that I really must meet,

and who better than you, suits me.

From this day forward,

till death do us part.

Or else my lawyer,

for his gracious employer,

severs these bonds at the heart.

-BlackFox (...Yup. Lazy short post.)

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Impact

Slightly random post today, but I want to discuss a teacher who made a large difference in my life. I might still be in high school, but her actions did mean a lot to me, and on a blog like this I want to share them.

Due to needing an elective credit, I was placed into a class called “Family and Consumer Science” ...also known as “Feelings 101”. Now, obviously someone like me groaned at this class. I had little desire to listen to someone tell me about how important my self esteem was, and how unhealthy certain thought patterns were for me. I felt like I was going to be sitting in a class, where I would be expected, and probably told, to simply shut up and do what I was told. Often times before, if I raised a question of theology or morals in a class, the teacher would shut me down. However, this teacher was entirely different. We would spent the time before and after class debating the material. She did not shut me down or insult my beliefs. We argued everything from the nature of children, to divorce, to the value of self esteem. In fact, people in my class used to ask if I was going to “argue with the teacher again today”. I know this seems like a little thing, but it was really important to me. It helped me structure my arguments and thoughts. It taught me a lot about her belief system and how to argue against it. I also learned that often times, you simply have to agree to disagree. That sometimes basic beliefs and grounds are so dissimilar, that you can not reach a unanimous conclusion. Another lesson, that it is ok to debate anyway. That defending your belief is more rewarding than winning or converting the other guy. It taught me the joy of defending my beliefs, and the joy of sparring with someone who liked to do the same. It really improved how I saw teachers and classes like hers in general.

To teachers out there, you should consider doing this as well. Instead of putting down someone for being “closed minded” talk with them. Instead of avoiding a question tackle it. Make them test the knowledge of their beliefs. In fact, test your own as well. There are a lot of benefits to doing this and it can really mean a lot to someone like me, who is used to people avoiding the subject. I'll state plainly that out of all the teachers at my school, I hold her in respect the most. She is so far the only one who has had the courage to talk with me. Who has been willing to do what few teachers would even consider. She did what no one else did, and I will always be grateful for the time she spent with me. I will always remember her and the investment she gave to our debates.

Thanks teach, you know who you are.

-BlackFox

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Great Expectations

When I speak of predestination, the most common complaint I get is, “That's not fair”. They say that it is unfair that some are saved and others are damned. They say it is unfair that God chooses who goes to heaven before birth, that some will never be called. They say that since God is just, he must also be fair. He must give everyone an equal shot at heaven. He must extend his hand to everyone to accept or refuse. He must make an effort to save everyone, because that would be fair. And on this, they are unrelenting. Recently, I was talking with my father about this very subject, and he relayed to me an interesting story he once read. The story went along like this:

A professor at an upscale university taught a philosophy class. One of the major things about his course was this: “Your grade will be determined by three papers. If they are not turned in on the due date, they will be a zero”. Naturally, the due date for the first paper arrived. Almost everyone in the class was excited and prepared. Paper in hand, ready for turn in. However, a few students were nervously standing in the front of the room, without a paper. They pleaded with the professor to extend the due date just a few more days. They said that they were only freshmen, and they were not used to the work load, and they needed time to adjust, and please, oh please, could they have just a few more days. So the professor gave them a few more days. The next paper came, and this time only ninety percent of the class was prepared. Ten percent of halfway nervous people were standing without something to turn in. so they begged and pleaded with the professor. Saying that it was homecoming week, and they just did not have enough time, and that it was a difficult subject, and so on. So again, the professor gave them a few more days. Finally, the last paper came. On the due date, only half the class was prepared. The other half told the professor that they would have the paper in a few more days, and would he please give them that time? This time, the professor said no. He gave each one without a paper a zero. This instigated a resounding cry of “BUT THAT'S NOT FAIR”! To which, the professor replied, “You want fair? I'll go back and grade the other papers as a zero because you turned those in late too”! He had used this as an example of grace. About how when we receive grace, we come to expect it. We feel entitled to it. We feel it is owed to us. When, in reality, we have no right to it. And in all fairness, we should have never received it to begin with.

The grace of God operates in the same way. We have no more right to demand salvation than a murder does to demand acquittal. If we do, we are nothing more than whiny children demanding what we are not entitled to. A boy begging his teacher for an extension, and then becoming angered when it is not given. If God were to be “fair” then, by rights, we would all go straight to hell. We have all sinned. We have all failed. No one is righteous. No one deserves salvation. We all deserve to be cast into the lack of fire. No exceptions. God does not have to save anyone. God does not have to extend grace. God does not have to show his love. He chooses to save us, He does not have too. In the interest of fairness, He should not even consider it in the first place.

Do not ever demand that God be fair.

-BlackFox

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