Theories

    Theories are a very odd creature.  In our minds, we know they don't necessarily represent reality, but we cling to them as if they do.  If you have lived for any length of time, no doubt you have found that some of your personal theories about how life works just didn't prove to be true.  Of course, it is much easier to recognize when the theories of other people fail.

   When my wife and I decided to homeschool our first born, we met a great deal of opposition.  The opposition rarely had anything whatsoever to do with what we were actually doing.  The objections always came out of the personal theories held by others.  Here are a few such theories....

1.  Your child won't known how to socialize.

2.  If your child doesn't go to public school, they might get along fine in "the church", but they will have a difficult time relating to unbelievers.

3.  Being homeschooled, they will experience culture shock when they enter the real world.

  Even though these were little more than theories, many held on to them adamantly, as if they were a kind of universally accepted law.

   I'm not here to defend homeschooling.  In fact, I don't much care how you school your children.  I'm quite at ease either watching you stand or fall as you live by your own theories.  That might sound mean.  Would you rather me be a tyrant?  

  What I can say looking back, is that the kinds of theories voiced against us really didn't turn out to be true.  If anything, our first born has had a much easier time finding her way in the world as a believer, than she has at finding her place in the church. 

  We stand or fall as we take on the consequences of the theories we have chosen to live by.  I may fall just yet over some that I have chosen.

  This morning I woke up reading about two men trying to defend their theories.  You may have heard of them;  Bill Nye and Ken Ham.  What I read reminded me of how we eventually come to face the reality of the theories we have lived by, and how ultimately, we are without excuse.

  Reality tends to be a rather tough taskmaster, but only insofar as it's resisted.  I think it tends to be that way, because we spend so much time trying to prove our point and defend our theories instead of embracing that whatever is - is.

  Here is what I know for sure.  We're all going to die.  I also know for sure that we are going to spend a lot more time after we die than what we spent here alive on earth.  You can bank on that.

  I also know this:  If there is a God, Bill Nye is without excuse when he meets Him.  He has clearly thought things through, and made his conclusions.  Maybe Ken Ham didn't do that best job in the world, but he did everything he possibly could to tell him that there is a God who made this place we call home.

  The "church" is often criticized for not doing enough in the world.  You might have all the answers.  For me, I don't know what else we're expected to do.  I don't know what else you would expect Ken Ham to do.  As for me, I write books (not many people want them). I write blogs, and they are available around the world, in different translations (not many people read them). I preach (christians seem to be the only ones who want to listen).  I'm doing everything I know to do in order to try and reach the world, as I trust you are if you belong to Christ. (Are you doing all you can?)

  As for being without excuse, I don't think I've heard of anyone being otherwise.  As I follow the Nye/Ham debate, everyone who comments on the articles I've read already have their stand.  It is extremely rare to hear someone say, "Gee.  I really don't have any pre-formulated thoughts or opinions about God.  Tell me more." If you ever meet such a creature, let me know.  I'll try to sell them one of my books.