How to Stay Christian in College by J. Budziszewski

Author:J. Budziszewski
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: RELIGION / Christian Life / Spiritual Growth
ISBN: 9781612917238
Publisher: The Navigators
Published: 2014-08-01T00:00:00+00:00

WAR

This chapter may have been a challenge, so let’s take a quick last look at the ground we’ve covered.

First, thinking you know the truth isn’t arrogant or intolerant; arrogance comes from having the wrong convictions about how to treat people who don’t share it with you.

Second, the whole point of searching for truth is to find it; saying that the important thing in life isn’t having truth but searching for it is like saying that the important thing in sickness isn’t getting well but seeing doctors.

Third, reasoning depends on faith; falsely placed faith will keep you from the truth, but rightly placed faith will help you find it.

Fourth, it doesn’t make sense that there is no truth because then it wouldn’t even be true that there isn’t.

Fifth, it doesn’t make sense to claim truth can’t be found because to claim anything at all is to imply that the claim is true.

Sixth, the biggest and most important truths aren’t harder to find than the little ones; in fact they’re easier because God has provided help.

Seventh, truth isn’t whatever you sincerely believe; only a mighty magician could make something true just by thinking it.

Eighth, popular agreement doesn’t make a statement true; people have been swallowing nonsense since the world began.

Ninth, the slogan that truth is whatever works isn’t a pathway to the truth; it’s a wall to keep it out.

Why must all this be so hard? Because you’re going into war. I don’t mean a war of bombs and bullets and ballistic missiles; I mean a much more fiery, deadly war of errors and sins and temptations—of mind-bombs, soul-bullets, and spiritual powers at great heights. You see, according to the Bible it’s not just a coincidence that the world keeps going wrong. The Prince of Deceptions launches lies against us as soldiers launch missiles, and the world finds these lies more attractive than the truth. Our eyes don’t see as the angels do, but whenever someone accepts one of the Enemy’s myths, it must look to them as though a warhead had exploded in his heart, strewing death and destruction in all directions.

For believers, there’s nothing to be afraid of because the armor of God is stronger than the weapons of the Enemy. But you have to strap it on.

One more thing. Do you notice anything missing from Paul’s description of the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18? He mentions the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the footguards of readiness to spread the gospel. Then he mentions the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Lacing everything together is prayer. But all of this armor is for your front. Paul mentions no armor for your back.

Why is that? Because God does not intend that you ever turn your back to the foe. John Bunyan explained by way of a story,

But now in this Valley of Humiliation poor Christian was hard put to it; for he had gone

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