Christianity and Radio: The God-Ordained Use of Technology for Good

Johnathon Held

School of Communications, Liberty University

SCOM 110: Media and Culture

Professor Jones

May 03, 2021

Christianity and Radio: The God-Ordained Use of Technology for Good

Radio has, since its creation, been a source for cultural influence on a mass scale. In what ways has and does radio influence Christianity and in what ways has the Christian Church utilized this media platform? This paper will focus on the ways in which radio has influenced the church, especially focusing on the ways in which it has changed evangelism and outreach.

Evangelism Defined

            To start things off right there is a need to fully understand what the term evangelism means. To do this it only makes sense to look to where the word originates from. We see in the Christian Scriptures koine Greek the term εύαγγελίζω, which when transliterated becomes euangelizo. Vine et al. (1873-1949) defined euangelizo as “to proclaim glad tidings”. The word is used in the King James Translation of the Scriptures in many different but related ways. It uses the term as “preach” twenty-three times, as “preach the gospel” twenty-two times, as “bring good tidings” twice, as “show glad tidings” twice, as “bring glad tidings” once, as “declare” once, and as “declare glad tidings” once. All of this is to show how the meaning of the English term evangelism came to be. The reason this is so important is because, in order to understand something properly, there must first be a common understanding as to the proper defining of terms that are necessary to the understanding of something. It is clearly visible now after seeing the source from which the term was derived what the true meaning is. Evangelism is the action of proclaiming the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many people turn to what has come to be known as the Great Commission when referring to evangelism. The Great Commission is found in the Gospel of Matthew 28:16-20.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Matthew 28:16-20)

            These are the last recorded words of Jesus Christ to His disciples just before His ascension into Heaven, so they are most certainly a vitally important message not just then but now and forever. He tells them to go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Take notice that this is not posed as a question, but rather, this is a direct instruction or a command even. This instruction is what the early Church was founded upon. This command encompasses the whole function of the church. Lewis (1960) wrote “The church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose” (p. 155).

Fulfilling the Great Commission

            As Christians down through the ages were compelled by this command and many other references in the Scriptures to evangelize the nations, they utilized whatever technology was available to them at the time. For many this could have meant nothing more than speaking the truth of the gospel, or writing a letter expressing the truth of the gospel. Today with the rampant rise of technology and innovation, there is an almost endless number of avenues that can be traversed on the path of taking Christ to the nations. There are many areas that could be looked at such as the Internet, social media, television, movies, books, or many more. For the sake of this research though the focus will be on radio and how the Church has utilized this specific media platform and how this media platform has influenced the Church.

            Many critics through the years have opposed the use of these new technologies. Wenham (2017) stated, “However, in redemption God did not condemn technology; He used it (with its inherent values) graciously to accomplish His redemptive purposes” (p. 211). This is seen for example, when God gave Moses the tablets containing the written words of the law, when Jesus reached down and wrote a message in the dirt, and even Jesus’ death utilized the technology involved with the Roman crucifixion. There is nothing inherently wrong with technology itself, however, being that it is utilized by a fallen sinful creature such as mankind, it inevitably becomes a tool used in the distortion of God’s purposes and a mirror for the evil that is within people’s hearts. These technologies, or tools, can be a medium used for destruction, but as was stated earlier they can also and most definitely are used by God for the purpose of redemption. How does God use these technologies for redemptive purposes? Well, He empowers His elect with the Holy Spirit, guides them to where he wants to use them, and gifts them according to the purposes with which He ordains be fulfilled. Christians everywhere are agents for the redemptive work of Christ and are compelled by the Spirit and the Gospel of Christ to use technologies for good. God promises that one day, those that look to Christ as both Lord and Savior, will dwell with Him in the new heavens and the new earth enjoying and worshipping Him forever. No longer will the technologies be used in ways that distort God’s purposes, but only in ways that contribute to the pure worship and adoration of the One who died and rose again. There is a wonderful picture of this future use of technology found in Isaiah 2:4, “And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Isaiah 2:4) What an almost unimaginable picture is portrayed here. No longer will tools be used for evil, no longer will there be any warring, whether it be in the physical form or in the form of warring within hearts and minds over sin. There will be a perfect peace, the likes of which can only be wondered about right now. All people and therefore all the technology used by said people will be in complete harmony with the purposes and will of God.

Christian Broadcasting Origins

            Religious broadcasting finds its origins in the early days of radio in the United States. KDKA Pittsburgh was the first station to receive a radio license from the U.S. Department of Commerce. On January 2, 1921, an important milestone in Christian history, KDKA Pittsburgh broadcasted the Sunday evening vespers service of the Calvary Episcopal Church choir (Berkman, 1988). This was the very first Christian radio broadcast, and it served to open the door for many more stations to broadcast Christian content. The utilization of this new method of communication revolutionized the way the Church was able to reach their audiences. Take for example, the broadcasting of a Sunday Church service. Where there was once only a possibility of impacting those within the congregation that were physically present for church, radio opened the possibility of reaching a wide number of people with the Gospel of Christ. This moved the Church towards the modern evangelical era seen today. The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) was formed in 1943 changing evangelicalism into a term of identity rather than just a description of theology (Matzko, 2016). Matzko’s research supports radio as being the key issue pushing Protestants into the National Association of Evangelicals. Matzko also says a wide range of denominations joined the NAE despite being divided by theology and practice. This media platform called radio, had caught the attention of Christians all over who wanted to see it utilized for good and not for evil. To see this technology used and harnessed for the purposes of God’s redemption and for His glory.

The Global Reach of Radio

            Stoneman (2017) says “During the middle decades of the twentieth century, American evangelicals broadened their global outlook and operations, becoming the largest private radio broadcasters in the world” (p.1139). This was truly a wonderful thing in the eyes of evangelicals. Now, there was a new and seemingly effective way to transmit the truth of the Gospel to all nations. Ministries are now able to be heard in basically every major radio market around the world. With this huge shift in the way evangelicals were able to deliver their messages and reach a much broader audience, Stoneman states missionary broadcasting organizations such as The Far East Broadcasting Company in 1948 were formed. This company had a goal to reach China with the good news of the Gospel of Christ, Stoneman says through the establishment of a network of Christian AM radio stations. They would go on to reach overseas audiences in China, Japan, India, the Middle East, Europe, Russia, Africa, and North America. All this is a beautiful example of the fulfilling of the Great Commission.

Convergence, Deregulation, and Media Conglomerations in Radio

              Convergence has had an overwhelming effect on radio just as it has on all media. The Internet is one of the main driving factors of this convergence leading to what is known as Web radio and podcasting. Baran (2021) defines Web radio as “the delivery of radio directly to individual listeners over the Internet” and podcasting as “streaming or downloading of audio files recorded and stored on distant servers” (p.170). This is not necessarily a bad thing according to Edison Research (2019) which shows that the percentage of Americans who listen to online audio has doubled since the year 2012. This research shows that the culture tends to be quite platform agnostic as well as helps to predict where the future of radio might be heading. Wherever the future of radio may be heading though, it seems the Church will be a part of it, working to take Christ to the nations.

            Ward (2018) states that “media deregulation has caused ownership concentration and consolidation across all media industries” (p.117). Ward points out in his research that Salem Media Group after the deregulation of media ownership rules in 1996 by Congress, has grown to become “an evangelical Christian media conglomerate owning more than 100 radio stations in the nation’s major cities; distributes talk, news, and music to 2,700 more stations in another 300 media markets; and produces daily talk shows with up to 7 million weekly listeners” (p.218).

Conglomeration and concentration of ownership has been an issue with all media, radio obviously included. This issue though, being that it is dealing with Christianity, makes it infinitely more important than when talking about any other subject. If the media conglomerate yielding what they call to be the Gospel of Christ is not truly the Gospel of Christ, then there is a significant problem because of the masses of people who could be misled with a false gospel. Tragically, this problem seems all too common in the media evangelism seen today. The so-called prosperity gospel floods into poverty and disease-stricken countries promising a God that will take all their problems away and leave them with money to spend, healing, and a blessed life now. Benyah, (2018), says that religion in Africa has become “a kind of an economic good/service that can be harnessed to deal with existential needs and aspirations” (p.116). Benyah further states that “Operating within this worldview, and with the help of the media, some Ghanaian Pentecostal/Charismatic pastors-prophets have commodified the gospel by employing various means of marketing to advertise, brand, and package religion as a consumer or spiritual product that can be bought to solve life-debilitating issues” (p.116). This is outright heresy, yet it somehow has become almost a widespread mainstream view of Christianity. So many people, desperate, broken, and confused, are confronted with this outright lie and distortion of the wonderous grace found in Christ Jesus, and accept it as truth simply because they do not know any better. It is one thing for the secular world to create content that is sinful, however, when an entity claiming to possess the truth of the gospel of Christ gives anything other than that one gospel, they have much reason for great fear and trembling because one day they will be held accountable for every soul led astray. May God strike down heresy in all formats and allow the truth for His good name’s sake to penetrate all media platforms. May He raise up bold witnesses willing to devote their lives to the mission of spreading truth and thwarting lies.

The God-Ordained Use of Radio for Good

            As can be seen, a lot of bad can come from the improper use of any media. That is the reality all people face living in a fallen world where sin has infected all. The only answer, and yes there is only one answer for this horrendous condition of enslavement to sin and derangement from God, is found in Jesus Christ. He is the One and only way that we can be made eternally right before God, blameless, taking on the very righteousness that is Christ’s alone. It is through the power of His indwelling spirit within believers that allows there to be a good use for radio. Christ is in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father, yet His spirit is with His people, teaching them, guiding them, comforting them, and empowering them to carry out God ordained good works.  

Conclusion

            The Church has always utilized whatever technology was at its disposal at the time in order to spread the gospel and further build the kingdom of God here on earth. The Church has utilized the radio platform in many various ways basically since its inception and has grown to have a global reach. This though did not come without some implications. As the audience reach grew, so did convergence, especially caused from the Internet, leading to Web radio and podcasting. The deregulation of media ownership rules led to conglomeration and concentration of ownership. This in turn has led to problems with people being led astray with the misleading messages and tactics of conglomerate organizations posing as Christians, yet giving an altogether different message, often a damnable one. Yet, even with all the negative that has come out of the Christian utilization of radio, God still chooses to use it for good. He chooses to use it through His Church, His redeemed taking the very same message of redemption, grace, faith, and love to the nations. All believers have a great privilege and a tremendous obligation to reflect Christ to all they meet. It is about winning souls. Christian’s ought to find the winning of souls of the utmost importance if they are truly Christians. For it is only true Christians that truly know the implications of an unrepentant unbelieving soul. May God raise up people that will live radically for Christ, declaring His truth on every avenue available to them. People that will fight for righteousness, for justice, for His glory. So long as radio is a functioning medium, may there be faithful servants of Jesus Christ inundating the airwaves with truth.

References

Baran, S. J. (2021). Introduction to mass communication (11th ed.). McGraw-Hill US Higher Ed USE.

Benyah, F. (2018). Commodification of the gospel and the socio-economics of neo-pentecostal/charismatic christianity in ghana. Legon Journal of the Humanities, 29(2), 116-145. https://10.4314/ljh.v29i2.5

Berkman, D. (1988). Long before Falwell: Early radio and Religion—As reported by the nation’s periodical press. Journal of Popular Culture, 21(4), 1-12. https://10.1111/j.0022-3840.1988.1864438.x

King James Bible (2017). Cambridge University Press. (Original work published 1769)

Lewis, C. S. (1952). Mere christianity (27. impr. ed.). Macmillan.

Matzko, P. (2016). Radio politics, origin myths, and the creation of new evangelicalism. Fides Et Historia, 48(1), 61-90. https://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a6h&AN=ATLAiBCB160725002838&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Edison Research. (2019, -03-06T19:40:08+00:00). The infinite dial 2019. https://www.edisonresearch.com/infinite-dial-2019/

STONEMAN, T. (2017). Global radio broadcasting and the dynamics of American evangelicalism. Journal of American Studies, 51(4), 1139-1170. https://http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1017/S0021875816002000

Vine, W. E., & Unger, M. (1996). Vine’s complete expository dictionary of old and new testament words. Thomas Nelson Incorporated.

Ward, M., Sr. (2018). A new kind of church: The religious media conglomerate as a ‘denomination’. Journal of Media and Religion, 17(3-4), 117-133. https://10.1080/15348423.2019.1595839

Wenham, A. (2017). How might social media like twitter shape our communication of the gospel? Churchman, 131(3), 201-218. http://churchsociety.org/churchman/archive/ (Publisher URL); https://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lsdar&AN=ATLAiGFE171204001200&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Jonathan and David’s friendship is always such a joy to read and contemplate on. The Biblical account of this friendship allows us to see the events that facilitated the growth of the relationship. The narrative almost transports us back in time, giving us an intimate view of these two friends, their shared joys, their hardships, and their grief. All these things worked together, drawing the hearts of Jonathan and David together all the more. As we read this story, we can relate because, just like Jonathan and David, we were created with a need for relationships with others. We all have that need for friendship. We desire to have someone that cares for us and is there for us when we need companionship. For David, Jonathan was this someone. When Saul was seeking to take David’s life, it was Jonathan who promised to help David. It was Jonathan who allowed an escape from Saul to be possible. Jonathan, being the son of Saul, had a right to the throne of his father but gladly and sacrificially asserted that not him, but rather his friend David would be the one to sit upon that throne. Tragically, both Saul and his son Jonathan died in battle, opening the pathway to David’s reign as king at the price of losing a best friend. David’s heart broke over the loss of his friend Jonathan. As we read David’s words expressing his grief, we almost feel a sense of his loss with him. We feel a sense of pain because we know that we could feel or have felt that same pain over losing a friend or loved one. Our basic human need for friendship is a need that we have no choice but to attempt to fulfill. We will and should make lifelong connections with people and experience lifelong friendships throughout our lifetime. While these friendships are vitally important, they are not ultimate. There is one ultimate friendship made possible through the sinless life, atoning death, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Romans 5:10 (NLT) says, “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son”. Our friendship with God is the ultimate friendship. It is through our friendship with God, the way in which we see God loves and cares for us, that should truly drive us out to befriend others and point them to the one in whom ultimate friendship is found.

Blessings in Christ,

Johnathon Held

References

Holy Bible, New Living Translation. (2015). New Living Translation. (Original work published 1996).

Public Relations Specialists: A Light in a Dark World

Johnathon D. Held

Liberty University

Abstract

Public relations focus on managing a firm’s public image to foster, maintain, and increase goodwill amongst the community and stakeholders. Those who pursue a career in public relations can expect to work closely with management and be responsible for planning, developing, and executing communications plans. Most positions will require jobseekers to have a bachelor’s degree and related experience. In addition, candidates should possess skills such as communication, management, and social perceptiveness. This career is found within all industries, including healthcare, government, and construction. Generally, the salary outlook is positive, particularly within or near large cities. A career in public relations certainly provides a wonderful opportunity to model Christian ethics. Public relations are in need of the redemptive effect of truth, grace, and morality. Those who pursue a career in this profession should seek to exemplify a Christian worldview to not only succeed in their career but also to bring glory to God.

Keywords: Public relations, business communications, planning, management, writing

Public Relations Specialists

A career in public relations offers the opportunity to enter almost any industry and play a critical role in the decision-making process alongside management. PR specialists mold and manage the relationships a company has with the community, employees, and other stakeholders. The job outlook for public relations continues to grow, and with that comes more opportunities for job seekers. Further, public relations touch almost every aspect of business, offering diverse job responsibilities and interactions. The following paper provides a summary of this profession, including the job description, career possibilities, suggestions for preparation, and a giftings analysis.

Job Description

Description

Public Relations Specialists are responsible for the relationships a business has with its stakeholders. Public Relations Society of America defines this profession as, “…influencing, engaging and building a relationship with key stakeholders across numerous platforms in order to shape and frame the public perception of an organization” (About Public Relations). PR professionals take a particular interest in the image and communications a company exudes and how those communications are interpreted and perceived by investors and the public.

 Typical Job Tasks of a Public Relations Specialist

Respond to requests for information

Determine exactly what the request is asking for and if this information can or should be provided. Formulate a response, usually in the form of a letter or email, either providing the detail requested or providing a response as to why the information cannot be provided.

Plan and direct communication programs

Identify the message to be conveyed, the recipient(s) of the message, the frequency of the communication, and the method of communication that will be utilized.

Counsel and advise management

Report on developments in the industry, public opinion, policy decisions, etc., and how to respond to these trends (About Public Relations.). Suggest courses of action considering current trends. Predict implications and possible stakeholder reactions to these decisions.

Typical Job Advertisements

Public Relations Manager (Public Relations Manager.)

Description/Job Summary

Position Overview:

It is the primary responsibility of the PR Manager to cultivate PR opportunities and uphold 84 Lumber’s reputation as a resource, thought leader and influencer in the building materials industry.

Position Responsibilities for PR:

• Keep a pulse on industry and competitive trends and regularly inform larger team of noteworthy news items and opportunities
• Ability to draft press releases and byline stories for new media opportunities
• Manage and write communications including but not limited to newsletters, talking points, memos, etc.
• Liaise between internal cross-functional teams and external PR agency partner(s)
• Must be a confident communicator and presenter
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must possess excellent organizational and planning skills
• Have a full understanding of media needs and media relationships
• Be proactive, reliable, responsible and accurate with an attention to detail
• Possess the ability to keep information confidential
• Tactical understanding of all primary social media platforms
• Self-motivated with a positive and professional approach to management
• Analyze media coverage; develop responses when needed
• Develop relationships with industry leaders
• Create presentations, articles, reports, and information related to PR efforts
• Develop weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual media activity reports

Preferred Skills

• Additional Competencies:
• Microsoft Office
• Project Management Software

Required Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations, Communications or Marketing
• 7-10 years of specific experience related to the essential functions of the job
• Agency experience preferred
• People management experience required

 

Senior Public Relations Analyst (Senior Public Relations Analyst.)

GENERAL OVERVIEW:

Coordinates media relations and prepares external communications.  Plans, prepares, and relays information concerning the organization to the press and the wider community to gain understanding and acceptance for the organization.  Develops and maintains lines of communication with media contacts and other external audience groups.

This position does require living in the Allegheny area as the person will be traveling to area hospitals. This position does work from home as well (flex).

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Manage projects and provide consultation on a variety of media and communication initiatives, including media inquiries and interviews, press conferences, and other communications activities.   Develop communications plans and approaches, news releases, fact sheets, background papers, message points, and a variety of other communications materials. 
• Manage media inquiries, research and develop corporate positioning on key issues, provide background on the issues, develop, write and edit appropriate communications materials and messages for a variety of audiences, including the media, member services, sales, government affairs, and other Highmark business units under strict deadlines. 
• Work with key business units across the corporation to ensure that consistent messages are being developed and communicated about issues impacting the corporation.
• Work with key business units across the corporation to ensure that consistent messages are being developed and communicated about issues impacting the corporation.
• Develop proactive media relations opportunities to position Highmark as a leader in the healthcare insurance industry.
• Serve as Highmark spokesperson with the news media and other external audiences on key healthcare issues affecting Highmark.
• On an ongoing basis, meet with key business units to identify issues and opportunities to position Highmark in the media and with key stakeholders. 
• Other duties as assigned or requested.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum

• High School Diploma or equivalent 
• 5-10 years of relevant, progressive experience in the area of specialization

Public Relations Specialist (Public Relations Specialist.)

Job Description: Reporting to the public relations manager, the public relations specialist will lead Ropes & Gray’s public relations initiatives for several of the firm’s core practice groups, including private capital transactions, business restructuring, tax, employment and benefits. Our aim is to elevate and differentiate Ropes & Gray’s brand by communicating the complex, cutting-edge and interesting work that our lawyers are leading across transactions, regulatory, compliance, litigation and investigations, while also communicating the firm’s commitment to its communities and public service—a hallmark of Ropes & Gray.

Essential Functions:          

• Media Relations
• With the public relations manager, serve as a point of contact for the firm’s media relations for core practices and geographies outlined above.
• Develop and implement strategic public relations plans for core practices.
• Prospect for and pitch stories to the business, trade, legal and daily media in the Americas and around the globe.
• Nurture relationships between reporters and the firm’s lawyers to drive coverage of the firm.
• Vet media inquiries for potential interviews with Ropes & Gray lawyers.
• Draft messaging points and briefing documents.
• Draft press releases and external announcements, including for deals and lateral arrivals.
• Assist with the placement of articles and thought leadership pieces.

Awards & Rankings

• Working closely with the public relations manager, lead the firm’s awards and rankings strategy for practices and regions outlined above; identify deadlines, evaluate entry criteria with our lawyers, draft and submit awards entries with assistance from the public relations writer, promote award wins on the firm’s website, intranet and LinkedIn.

Writing

• Develop communications that are clear, accurate and aligned with the firm’s strategic goals. Anticipate needs, respond quickly to requests and draft materials as needed.
• Provide high-level reporting, writing and editing for public relations communications. Solicit input and feedback from internal clients (e.g., firm leadership, attorneys, practice and business development support team members), proofread and fact-check material on tight deadlines.
• Proactively seek out, identify and develop compelling, timely content for website and intranet stories and other firm communications, based on practice group activities, successes (wins, deals, etc.), thought leadership activities,  pro bono efforts, events, executive initiatives and more.
• Take raw content describing the firm’s services, practices and attorneys and create compelling prose that effectively promotes the firm’s capabilities while maintaining a professional tone and style.
• Develop innovative ways to showcase the firm, our practices and lawyers.
• Serve as a resource for attorneys and marketing communications, business development and practice development staff across the firm.

Requirements:

ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES:

• Demonstrated understanding of process by which stories originate and are published in various media.
• Track record of producing positive media placements for a law firm or other professional services organization.
• Ability to develop relationships among the media and work closely with reporters and editors.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively (orally as well as in writing) with all levels of attorneys and staff.
• Ability to command attention in fast-paced, highly demanding environment.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a team as well as independently; must be able to share information, goals, opportunities, successes and failures with the appropriate parties.
• Ability to multi-task, set priorities, and meet multiple deadlines in fast-paced environment.
• A self-starter who understands the details within a much larger content.
• Be flexible and tolerate ambiguity in order to respond quickly and positively to shifting demands and opportunities.
• Strong people and project management skills.
• Attention to detail.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s Degree with 4-6 years journalism, PR agency or professional services experience; law firm marketing or PR experience preferred.
• Experience prospecting for and pitching potential stories.
• Prior experience working with various forms of media, including print, electronic and social media.
• Knowledge of various media platforms in which attorneys can obtain visibility, including electronic media.
• Demonstrable ability to communicate effectively and concisely in writing and orally.
• Excellent organization, project management, and communication skills required.

Career Possibilities

Salary Range

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Public Relationships Specialists have an average pay rate of $30.19 per hour or approximately $62,800 per year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.). Like any other position, the salary range will vary based on years of experience, the specifics of the position, as well as geographic location. For example, New York salaries average over $77,000, while South Dakota salaries average about $50,000 (Public Relations Specialists). Further, the outlook for the profession is positive, as demand for public relations professionals continues to rise.

Types of Industries

Healthcare

Healthcare public relations specializes in accuracy and forethought. It is incredibly important for healthcare providers to articulate precisely what needs to be conveyed to patients, potential patients, and stakeholders. It is key for doctors and hospitals to have good public relations for more patients to seek treatment from them and to bolster trust in the institution as a whole. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted this need over the past nearly 3 years. This niche of public relations has a direct impact on the recipient’s health and well-being, so those in this position do well to have a high level of attention to detail.

Government

Government public relations revolves around relationships and knowing how to navigate the bureaucracy. It is dire for these professions to know when and to whom a message needs to be conveyed. A professional in government PR may work for a company to coordinate communication between that company and the government, or they may work directly for the government itself. It is important for large companies and those that provide services to the government to have a healthy working relationship with the administration, just as it is important for the government to foster goodwill amongst the citizens of the nation.

Construction

Construction is one of the fastest-growing industries in America. Construction projects are physically visible within a town, so it is crucial for the company to have well-established relationships with the local community and government before, during, and after construction. Property owners and community members have unlimited questions and concerns about how the project will affect their neighborhood. Public relations can help to field these questions and to foster positive experiences, allowing the rest of the company to focus on the project and finish on budget and on schedule.

Geographic Locations

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is known for its role in the steel industry, which provided a huge economic advantage at the turn of the 20^th century. While some parts of the city are struggling to recover from mills closing, other parts of the city are booming. The cost of living here is very affordable compared to most big cities. Pittsburgh has some of the best hospitals in the country and many banking institutions. It is also becoming a quickly growing tech hub, offering a plethora of opportunities for the public relations professional.

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States, having a population of over 4 million. It is home to many large schools and colleges, aerospace companies, amusement parks, and health care. The downside to this city is that it is the most expensive city to live in the United States. The cost of living is 51% higher than the national average (Cost of Living in Los Angeles, CA). This said, anyone seeking to relocate to L.A. for their work should invest much consideration into the benefits and drawbacks of doing so and prepare their budget ahead of time.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. offers plentiful opportunities for public relations specialists. Whether it be in government, finance, defense, technology, or another field, there are openings in both the private and public sectors. Unfortunately, D.C. also tops the list of one of the most expensive cities to live in. However, given the subway system and proximity to surrounding suburbs, one could elect a longer commute to bypass the standard cost of living in Washington, D.C. proper. Regardless, the prospects abound in this thriving and historical city.

Preparation

Training

There are not typically any certifications that are required for this career path. Instead, industry experience and soft skills are often sought after. Valuable soft skills to hone include people management, organization, and interpersonal skills. It is also beneficial to be able to work independently and demonstrate initiative and problem-solving skills. Seminars and conferences provide industry updates and specific training for PR Specialists, as well as provide networking opportunities.

Education

Traditionally, a degree is needed to pursue this career. The degree may be in Public Relations, Journalism, or any type of Communications program. A Master of Business Administration may also be useful for this career path, as it provides a general understanding of business principles and can prepare one for entrepreneurial pursuits and increased management responsibilities.

Work Experience

Like any other profession, internship experience is extremely valuable to obtain prior to graduating. Internships offer the student the opportunity to gain real-world experience and to potentially hone into specific areas they may be interested in pursuing professionally. It is helpful if the jobseeker has prior experience with written and oral communications, management, designing and creating websites and fliers, and working with the general public. Jobs might include sales/promotions, writing, or marketing.

Fulfillment of Giftings (SWOT Analysis)

Giftings

Personally, I am gifted in my ability to take difficult situations, explain them plainly, and address issues as they arise. Whether I am communicating verbally or through the written word, I can gauge the level of detail that is necessary and anticipate any objections or questions that may arise. I also possess a reasonable level of persistence and integrity that is required in the public relations field. Finally, I believe that I bring originality to all that I do, which provides a unique perspective and innovative results.

Professional Need Analysis

Public Relations Specialists require outstanding communication skills, the ability to sympathize and empathize with others, and to have familiarity with social media platforms. It is helpful to have a business and administration foundation since these topics often intersect with public relations. Other skills that this profession requires include critical thinking, time management, and social perceptiveness (Public Relations Specialists.)

Gifting Gap Analysis

A few areas that I have identified myself as lacking include possessing a working knowledge of social media platforms, having a customer service attitude, and having a base understanding of business principles. These are all skills that I simply have not had previous exposure to, and which I can focus on growing in. Most skills for a career in public relations can be learned, although it is helpful if you are naturally a caring and compassionate person. I believe that I am, and although I may not possess every required skill or area of knowledge, I can pursue courses and gain hands-on experience to expand my skill set to be better prepared for a career in public relations.

As I am pursuing a degree in strategic communications, some of my coursework is not directly relative to public relations, such as computer science. Most of my core classes will be relative to this career path, but some courses, like advertising, human resources, and management, are not included in the core curriculum. It would be wise to take these courses if I am able.

Kingdom Mission

Public Relations is often viewed with skepticism, given it often has the responsibility to clean up the firm’s public image. It surely can be used as propaganda, but it can also be used in a God-glorifying way. This profession calls for high levels of moral and ethical conviction, as well as truth and grace. “The Christian worldview provides a commitment to truth, an ethical framework, and an attitude of servanthood toward fellow men – values the PR profession desperately needs” (Kearney, 2019). When PR is built upon a solid foundation, such as the Christian worldview, it has a redemptive effect on all those it touches. One obvious threat to a career in public relations is simply the stereotype it has obtained. Many view it as smear tactics and a way to generate false trust in companies. Communicating truth clearly and openly fosters organic trust and confidence. Kearney (2019) likens public relations to pastoral work. He calls for those in PR to view their work as ministry and draws parallels between the two. He writes, “Both, at bottom, rely on the art of persuasion with integrity. Both, if approached properly, have the building of relationships as their primary goal. And, as with any profession, both are to be carried out for God’s glory and our neighbor’s good” (Kearney, 2019). 

Conclusion

In summary, public relations specialists are responsible for managing the company’s interactions with stakeholders and its public image. The career outlook is quite positive, with many job openings and opportunities across many different industries. Those with strong communication, writing, and interpersonal skills are well-suited for a career in public relations. Finally, public relations need Christians to enter this field, to cultivate a better public image for the profession itself and to reflect God’s grace and mercy.

References

About Public Relations. https://www.prsa.org/about/all-about-pr

Cost of Living in Los Angeles, CA. https://www.rentcafe.com/cost-of-living-calculator/us/ca/los-   angeles/

Kearney, M. (2019, December). Public Relations: A Christian Calling? The             Outlook, https://outlook.reformedfellowship.net/sermons/public-relations-a-christian-        calling/

Public Relations Careers: 2022 Guide to Career Paths, Options &             Salary. (2021). https://research.com/careers/public-relations-careers

Public relations manager. http://84lumber.balancetrak.com/8412PRMKTG003

Public Relations Specialists: O*net Online. https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27- 3031.00

Public Relations Specialists: Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor             Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/public-relations-     specialists.htm

Senior Public Relations Analyst. https://careers.highmarkhealth.org/explore-jobs/job/j216582-senior-public-relations-analyst/

To help one understand domain separation, it first helps to fully understand what a domain is. Every person living in the world today operates out of various types of physical domains. What does this mean? Well, this means, according to Gandhi (2018) that people are “responsible for or have control over” something. Take, for instance, a large building with many different rooms. One of these rooms is a domain belonging to someone. This someone has quite a treasure trove in their room. Therefore, it is vital for them to keep it confidential, lest the wrong people catch wind of the immense treasure trove inside. It is also necessary for one to protect the integrity of the room and its contents. For example, you would not just want to leave the doors unlocked allowing anyone to either go in and move, destroy, or steal all the treasure. However, the room cannot be locked down so tight that the owner of the treasure or those who may be entrusted access to the treasure cannot get in. The room must remain available to all those who are rightfully entrusted to access the treasure.

These principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all part of what is called the CIA Triad. While this may sound like a new big-hit television series, rather it is a grouping of terms used in the understanding of what should be expected of information. Whereas the physical domain in the example above is a room holding treasure, in the computer world, according to Gandhi (2018) domain simply “refers to a collection of data or instructions that warrant protection”. In the computer world, much like the real-world treasure trove example, the CIA Triad is immensely important.

Domain separation acts in many ways just like the treasure example. Take, for example, a simple desktop computer utilized by a family of three. The computer is used quite heavily by both mom and dad for things such as keeping track of their budget and monthly expenditures, eCommerce such as shopping online and online banking, as well as working from home on certain days of the week. Little Johnny really enjoys playing the vast array of computer games available online. However, Johnny also enjoys exploring the vastness of applications and programs available to him on the computer. This has gotten Johnny into trouble when he decided to charge the credit card for over $300 on games as well as wreck much of the financial data in the spreadsheet application. Little Johnny’s parents decided it was time to instill a bit of domain separation to ensure this does not reoccur. Most processors today run in two states. One state is termed the supervisor domain which acts as the administrator account on the computer. When one operates the computer in this state, they enjoy total and complete access to all memory and programs the computer has to offer. The second state, deemed the user domain, does not afford this same freedom. In fact, the only freedoms the user domain may experience are those previously determined permissible by the supervisor domain. This effectively ensures that little Johnny will not be wreaking havoc, at least not in the computer world.

Simply put, domain separation works to separate important data or instructions from anyone or anything that may do harm or who simply is not afforded access to said information. With most of the information today being in a digital format, it is extremely apparent why one would want to know and understand things such as domain separation.

References

Gandhi, R. (2018). Introduction to Cybersecurity First principles. https://mlhale.github.io/nebraska-gencyber-modules/intro_to_first_principles/README/#cia-triad—expectations-of-information

Christians and Economics

Johnathon Held

College of Arts and Sciences, Liberty University

CSTU 101-D08: Western Culture

Professor Bradley Burgess

November 22, 2021

As we look at the western culture we happen to be immersed in presently, it is rather easy to see the similarities we share with the Romans. It is easy to see similarities in things such as our architecture, government, and laws. It is apparent that the Roman empire profoundly affected the culture we know and share in the west today. However, there is another similarity we share that is not as positive. This is the problem of poverty which was an ever-prevalent problem in Roman culture and continues today.

            Today, we have the advantage of being able to look back through almost a millennium of history, not only seeing what the Romans have done but also the many nations and empires since the Romans. We can see how Karl Marx and his erroneous ideologies would, when brought to fruition, lead to communism or, in other words, a system that has absolutely no divisions in wealth or status. All people under this system would earn the same and be completely dependent upon the governing body responsible for the population. The problem, however, with this view and views like this is that it does not produce any incentive to give of oneself for the betterment of their own life or the lives of those around them. This system is bound to fail, not only because it creates a people that are desperately dependent upon a governing body to supply all their needs but also because it does not foster the God-given need for people to have a purpose in life and to work hard towards it.

            The idea of capitalism, while not completely congruent with the teachings of Scripture because of man’s greed, lust, and sinfulness, is thus far the best model for a Christian view of how an economy should operate. From the very beginning, the Scriptures have shown that mankind was created to work. Adam was even instructed to tend and keep the garden in the garden of Eden. After the fall, the work of man only intensified due to the curse that God had placed on the land. Genesis 3:19 (ESV, 2001) says, “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread”. Mankind was created to work and to work hard. Capitalism is a system allowing for the reward of hard work and for the betterment of not only oneself but the betterment of those throughout society. Capitalism allows the freedoms that accompany the God-given right to own property to provide for one’s family and prosper so that others may be blessed through us.

Christianity cannot solve all of the problems when it comes to poverty and oppression, which is seen both historically and in the present state of the world. Although, within the Scriptures is given the absolute authority, as well as the absolute answers to this problem. Jesus said that we could sum up all of God’s commandments with just these two commandments: to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul, as well as to love our neighbors as ourselves. From these two things flows all of what the Christian life is about. Loving our God to the degree that we strive to bring everything into subjection to Him, that we work hard to glorify Him who has done immeasurably more than we can even conceive for us. This love for God and glorifying Him in all things leads us to an inexhaustible love for our fellow man. This is what drives us to give of ourselves sacrificially for the betterment of others. As Christians, we are called to be the example-setters. We are called to be the ones that influence governments and cultures to conform to what God has said and to show them the love of God through both our words and our deeds. Sadly, though, it seems that most of the western evangelical churches today tend to conform more to the world’s standards and culture rather than being the influencers they have been called out to be.

            Christianity will never fix all the poverty, oppression, and injustice throughout the world. However, we are called to make a difference in the name of Christ. Let us stop just mouthing what needs to be done, and let us start to be the example-setters we were called to be. Let us be bold in our profession of our Lord and King and let our convictions drive our hard work for the glory of our wonderful Savior. None of us have the power to solve all these issues, but we have the power through the indwelling Spirit within us to do the good works He has appointed for us even before the foundations of the world.

References

English Standard Version Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

To begin our conversation about the early Christian Church within the Roman culture, we must necessarily speak about Judaism. You see, Judaism is the very religion from which Christianity sprung forth. Jesus Christ, His message, and His teachings, initially was directed towards the Jewish people. Jesus Himself was of Jewish descent. Therefore, it is imperative that we discuss Judaism, and more specifically the things that set Judaism apart from the Roman culture. According to Rawls (2016) there were four things that differentiated Judaism from all other Near Eastern religions. Judaism was monotheistic meaning that unlike the many other religions they believed that there was only one true God. They were covenantal meaning that God chose them and struck a covenant between Himself and the nation of Israel. They were instructed by God not to have any graven images, meaning images of God or of any living thing. The name of this God was not to be taken in vain, not only meaning that it is not to be used in a profane way but that the name of God was not to be spoken at all (Pg. 221). These four things set Judaism apart from all the other religions of the time. Of all these things, it was the monotheistic convictions that would foster the biggest problems within secular cultures.

            However, within the Roman culture, the Jewish people had basically been allowed to practice their religion peacefully. This would not be the same story for the early Christians as the Lord used them to build His Church. The early Christians, much like the Jewish before them, believed in the four things that set them apart from all other religions. What differentiated the Christians from the Jewish, however, is that the Christians were more than convinced that the long-promised messiah foretold within the Hebrew Scriptures was none other than Jesus Christ. The very same Jesus Christ that was born within a Jewish lineage and was crucified by the Romans. This Jesus, according to the many eyewitness accounts, not only was crucified, but was also resurrected from the grave and ascended to the right hand of the throne of God. This, Jesus, the Christians say, is not just a Jewish man, He is also God. The God who has not only ascended but has descended to the lowly state of mankind in order to redeem mankind from the depths of a fiery Hell. To pardon the sin that has so stained us all. The early Church, unlike their Jewish counterparts, would suffer tremendous persecution. All but one of the disciples of Christ would suffer a martyr’s death.  Amidst the persecution and death, Christianity only grew. This, attributed to none other than a sovereign God as well as His message. Rawls (2016) says that His message, spoken through the Christians who suffered horrible persecution, was a message of “hope, joy, salvation, and a merciful and loving God” (Pg. 229). Rawls continues to say that this message came to “a world that knew only the sterner aspects of justice in a declining empire” and thus many people welcomed this wonderful message of mercy and grace.

            We find ourselves in much the same predicament today, as the Christian. We see ourselves surrounded by Godless people, fueled on by a Godless media within an ever more prevalent Godless culture. Much of the Church today has either completely conformed to facets of this Godless culture or have become so concerned with inclusion that they have completely removed any kind of doctrinal standards from their teaching and preaching. Furthermore, due to this lack of teaching and preaching and the standing firm upon doctrinal standards, we have in a sense stalled a generation of disciples from the knowledge that is to be gleaned from both the Scriptures as well as thousands of years of Church history. I think, sadly today, evangelism must start within the walls of the Churches. Christian churches today should really look at the costs that were paid by those throughout the generations who have professed Christ as Lord. Christianity is a message of hope, joy, salvation, and a merciful and loving God; however in order to take the light of this God’s love to a dark and hurting world His light must first reside in us. If this light resides in us, then we will strive to seek out more of Him through the Word He has so graciously given us in order that we might understand the things of God and the message in which He has for all of us. Let all of us that profess ourselves to serve Jesus Christ, truly strive to know more of our Wonderful Creator through His revealed Word. Let us constantly desire to sit at His feet and learn from Him. It is only when we commit ourselves to knowing Him and loving Him more every day that we will be of any real affect to those around us.  

References

Rawls, D. E. (2016).  A Narrative of Western Culture—With Access.

God’s Story Not Ours

Johnathon Held

CSTU 101-D08

Professor Bradley Burgess

November 8, 2021

We have all most likely heard the phrase “history repeats itself” and just accepted it as a true statement without putting much thought into it. However, if we stand here today and claim to be a Christian that stands on the infallible inerrant word of God, we must refute the idea that history repeats itself. The idea that history repeats itself was an idea that came from the ancient Greeks. They looked at history as cyclical, that is, that history is just a constant series of events and circumstances that will repeat and repeat, going on forever. The problem with this view is that it is completely contrary to the Scriptures revelation of history as it states very clearly that history started when God spoke and set all things into motion.

God created the universe and everything that it contains. He has been sustaining the universe ever since, and He is completely sovereign in that He controls the course of all of history and has a definite plan for the future of the entire universe. Hebrews 11:3 (ESV) says “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (2001). The ancient Greeks, as well as every other people group on the planet have an innate knowledge of God, yet they suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Romans 1:18-23 (ESV) tells us that all of the creation bears witness to God and that because of this all people are without excuse when it comes to recognizing the God that is behind the complex and yet completely uniform universe we behold before us daily. Yet it continues to say that even though they knew God, they did not honor Him or give thanks and have instead exchanged the glory of God for images made to represent the creation instead of acknowledging and worshipping the creator. We see this very blatantly with the polytheistic religions held to by the ancient Greeks. They worshipped an array of gods that really just represented various natural elements or human virtues.

The issue of cyclical history is that it is a man-made concept that completely goes against the obviously linear progressive concept of history and time portrayed in the Bible. God has a plan for the universe, and with His sovereign hand He will bring all things into conformity to His will. History will never repeat itself, rather God has already ordained the times and events leading up to the point that the entire universe will be destroyed in order to create a new heaven and a new earth where His elect will cherish and enjoy God’s presence for eternity.

(Word Count: 451)

References

English Standard Version Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

The Goodness of America

Johnathon Held

College of Arts and Sciences, Liberty University

CSTU 101-D08: Western Culture

Dr. Bradley Burgess

December 9, 2021

Western culture as we know it would simply not be without the impact of the Protestant Reformation. The very simple freedoms and liberties that we so oftentimes take for granted, very possibly might not exist today if not for the impact of the reformation. You see, the Reformation occurred simply because of an oppression of a God given liberty. This God given liberty was simply the ability to access God’s Word in a language that all could understand. You see, the Roman Catholic Church in the 1500’s not only had overwhelming power within the political sphere, but they very affectively suppressed access to the Word of God by restricting the language to Latin in which only scholars and priests at the time were fluent in. However, with Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press, and people like Martin Luther, the tides were turning against the suppression of God’s Word. The printing press allowed for a much faster replication of print in comparison to the traditional method of scribes translating word for word, page for page. This permitted, even under intense retaliation from the Catholic Church, the Word of God to be distributed in the language that was common to all people. For years, the Catholic Church made themselves as the required intermediary between man and God. However, when people got a taste for the true Gospel, they were able to see the faulty foundations on which the Catholic Church had built their doctrines. They were able to see that Jesus Christ and His infallible inerrant Word was the supreme authority, and not the man-made teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

            America, the great country that most of us call home, was founded on the principles and values built through the Protestant Reformation. The ideology to worship God freely and to have a government that is for the people were all things that were carried here due to the reformation. This country and our government were founded upon the values and principles of a Christian worldview. This, I believe is why we see so many problems with infringement upon our Constitutional rights today. Our culture, as it sways away from the Christian values and principles for morality, also sways away from the inalienable God-given rights according to Scriptures. It is these rights and liberties coming directly from the Scriptures that are the foundation for our government and our constitutional rights. There is a quote that has been claimed to be by Alexis de Tocqueville, however there is much contention on the true author of the quote. Regardless of the true author, this quote beautifully shows the thing that made America the great nation she is.

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her fertile fields and boundless forests, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her public school system and her institutions of learning, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution, and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great. (Did Alexis de Tocqueville Say ‘America is Great Because She is Good’?)         

The greatness of America is found in the goodness of America. The greatness of America was built on the solid foundation of Scripture, and as we see the culture sway from that solid foundation, it is abundantly clear that we should all be praying for a reformation in our own day and age.

(Word Count: 668)

References

Did Alexis de Tocqueville Say ‘America is Great Because She is Good’? https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/america-is-great-de-tocqueville/

Joy in Persecutions

Johnathon Held

College of Arts and Sciences, Liberty University

CSTU 101: Western Culture

Dr. Bradley Burgess

November 29, 2021

Christian persecution is something that marked the early Church. All but one of the disciples of Christ died a martyr’s death as well as countless others throughout future generations. Just what was it though, that caused the early Christian church to undergo such horrendous persecutions?

            To understand this, we must first understand a bit about the Roman culture as well as Christianity. To start things off, the Romans after dealing with civil war and internal turmoil, decided to not only build upon their man-made gods but to bring in a totalitarian ruler that would be recognized as a god himself. The many religions within the Roman culture were of no issue because none of these religions restricted people from also bowing in worship to the totalitarian ruler known as Caesar. This however, for the Christian, would be a huge problem. Christians serve but one God, the infinite creator God. Christians are bound to worship only God and are strictly forbidden from participating in worship of any idols or false gods, including Caesar. This refusal to bow down to Caesar caused the Romans to view the emerging Christians as a threat to the state. If Christians would not bow their knee to Caesar, they would be brutally beaten and often killed for their refusal. Christianity was even outlawed up until Galerius issued the Edict of Toleration in 311 A.D. (Rawls, 2016, Pg. 244).  

            This refusal to bow the knee and worship Caesar was one of the main reasons for brutal persecution, but not the only reason. Christians also were ridiculed, mocked, ostracized, beaten, and worse, simply because the Christian worldview was completely contrary to the culture around them. The culture around the early Christians were worshippers of pagan gods and religions that seemingly embraced and commended rampant debauchery and sexual lasciviousness. The Christians, who according to the Scriptures, could not just act as though all was well and join in with society in their sinfulness. Therefore, they suffered great persecution just for the fact that they set themselves apart from the sinfulness in order to honor and glorify God.

            Today, in our day and age there is still horrendous Christian persecutions all over the globe. In some countries, it is completely against the law to profess belief in Jesus Christ, much the same as it was for the Christians in the Roman Empire up until 311 A.D. However, most of the western world including the United States, allows for freedom of religion so that it is not a problem for people to profess belief in Jesus Christ. This is an absolutely wonderful thing that we often times take for granted here in the west. The simple freedom allowing us to worship God according to the Scriptures is an extraordinarily wonderful grace that was not afforded to countless generations of Christians before us as well as countless Christians living in countries today that are hostile towards Christianity and its message. Sadly, however, where you would think this freedom would foster in a deeper worship of God, it seems to have actually allowed for a sort of lethargic Christian, more reactive than proactive. Seeing no reason or need to suffer for the sake of Christ and His Gospel, and even worse than this is the twisting and turning the promises of God to make Him seem as though He is just this big Santa Claus in the sky waiting to lavish materialistic blessings upon His people.

            The pagan gods of the Roman culture are, at least in the West, not worshipped or regarded as gods today. With this being said, however, the sinfulness that comes from the fallen state of mankind still produces within a culture the commending of sinful acts in the name of pleasure. You see, the western society today has become completely individualistic, much like the Greek state of mind was more than a millennium ago. It has become all about me, me, me, and mine, mine, mine. The only driving factors of the western society today seems to be power, greed, lasciviousness, and the need for inclusivity with the sacrifice of objective truth. This is not just a problem that society faces today, but also a problem the entirety of the Christian Church faces. It is a problem, when you have a few select people that take the Scriptures seriously and are all but ostracized and ridiculed because of their convictions to truly strive for obedience to the Word of God. These people are often termed legalists or Jesus freaks or something of the like. Truth be told, however, it is not a form of legalism to strive to be obedient to what God has said. It is merely an expression of the faith that has been given to the believer. James said in his epistle that faith without works is dead.

There is a huge problem when people claim that there are all sorts of loops to jump through in order to come to Christ. This is false, Christ calls people to come to Him just as they are. He wants the broken, the hurting, the confused, the sinners to simply come to Him. When someone truly comes to know Jesus Christ, it is only because the Spirit of God is residing within that person, illuminating the truth as to who God really is and how we then should live. Therefore, if we truly know Him who has done inconceivably more than we could even imagine for us, we will strive to both know Him more and more as well as strive to be obedient to His decrees and commands. Christ Himself said in John 14:15 (ESV, 2001) “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”. If we love Him, truly love Him, we will count the costs of living out this life following Christ to the cross. We will count it joy to suffer for His name’s sake. Now, I understand that every Christian has a different walk and therefore the process of sanctification will look very different from one believer to the next. But what must be understood here, is that if we feel no pull to go onward in obedience there is a huge problem. If we enjoy being enmeshed with the world and the lusts thereof more than we enjoy being in the presence of our Savior, there is a problem. If we enjoy the company of our friends that lead us down slippery slopes of sin more than the people that God has called out to be His Church, there is a problem.

            The Romans were much more severe in their persecuting of Christians than what we experience in the West today. However, as stated, this has brought along problems of its own. Persecution is not completely gone though, with the ever-prevalent sinfulness of a Godless culture being essentially posted and broadcasted everywhere for all to hear and see. This has led many so-called Christians to be friends with the world and enemies to God. We must stand for truth in a generation where truth is all but slipping away. Truth today is becoming more and more subjective by the minute. Therefore, we must stand with Christ, with the truth that is His Word, and with the convictions that are placed within us by the Holy Spirit that is always guiding all that we do. We must be the Church, meaning we must stop acting just like the world does. If we truly do personally know the God of the universe, then there should be something within us that is remarkably different than the rest of the godless people of the world. This differentiation between the elect and the non-elect is something that the Scriptures tell us will cause persecution. If we have not suffered any kind of persecution, we should really be careful to inspect and make sure that we are living in a way that boldly proclaims His truth to others in our words and our deeds. If we do not ever suffer persecution of any form, then the chances are high that we are not living in a way that honors God. Let us all look at and examine our lives, our minds, and our hearts to see if we truly are living in a way that glorifies and honors Him who was ridiculed and persecuted (for us) to a far greater extent than any of us will most likely ever face.

(Word Count: 1403)

References

English Standard Version Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Rawls, D. E. (2016).  A Narrative of Western Culture—With Access

From Then to Now and Beyond

Johnathon Held

College of Arts and Sciences, Liberty University

CSTU 101-D08: Western Cultures

Dr. Bradley Burgess

December 6, 2021

The Medieval culture expressed themselves in ways that are very relevant to us today. This is because the Medieval cultural expressions in things such as literary works, arts and architecture, and the performing arts have and still are influencing our own culture today. We can see this in many things, most prominently, however, would have to be the architecture. The gothic-style architecture was not only brilliantly majestic but also sturdily built, with many of these Gothic-style buildings still in existence today. With this being said, this style of architecture has been repeated many times in newly constructed buildings throughout the years. We can see this in such places as St. Patrick’s Cathedral or Trinity Church in New York as well as numerous other churches. This continuation of the Gothic-style architecture is not limited to churches, with several government and secular buildings utilizing this style as well.

            We must understand that the Western Culture we find ourselves immersed in today has literally sprung forth out of the earlier Medieval culture. Even television and media outlets can be said to have had their beginnings found in Medieval culture. Rawls (2016) relates that “Fabliaux were satirical poems depicting ordinary people in events of everyday life with vigorous and coarse humor while ridiculing conventional morality” (Pg. 298).  Rawls continues to say that fabliaux were brief and placed value on plot and climax making them a type of “forerunner of the modern short story” (Pg. 298). When we flip through the channels on our televisions today, it is almost impossible to get through them all without at least a few reality T.V. shows. These shows in essence are the epitome of the Fabliaux in Medieval times. Reality T.V. shows depict ordinary people in events of their everyday life while at the same time using satirical comedy to ridicule conventional morality.

            When we understand the ways in which the cultures before us have influenced our culture today, it is easier for us to see and understand not only some of the reasoning behind why we do what we do, but also how what we do influences and continues to develop Western culture today as we know it. You see, from the way we build, from the way we write and think, from the way we educate and entertain, comes the essence of how our culture operates. How our culture operates is an ever-changing thing, being dictated by the thoughts, beliefs, and actions of successive generations. Therefore, it is so crucially important for us to understand where we came from and what things influenced us to be who we are today. It is whenever we have a better understanding of these influencing factors that we will be better equipped to look to the future, having an idea of what things will influence the generations that are to come. When we look to the past, we will find a treasure trove of knowledge and wisdom. In the sense of looking towards the future and the further development of Western Culture the past serves as a sort of trial-and-error road map. We can see the things that were good and the things that were not so good, the things that worked and the things that did not work. It is, when armed with the knowledge and wisdom laid down throughout the generations of old, that we will be able to look to the future regarding the influence each of us will make upon it. Armed with knowledge of the past will best prepare us for being a positive influence in our own society and those societies yet to be.

(Word Count: 600)

References

Rawls, D. E. (2016).  A Narrative of Western Culture—With Access.

Reason without God is Reasonless

Johnathon Held

College of Arts and Sciences, Liberty University

CSTU 101-D08: Western Culture

Dr. Bradley Burgess

December 17, 2021

It is hard to point out any one thing that was the paradigm shift needed to make Western Culture what it is today. However, I do believe that outside of the Protestant Reformation, the Enlightenment had the most influence on our culture today. You see, the Enlightenment, otherwise known as the Age of Reason was a time when science was beginning to question both the authority as well as the knowledge of the Roman Catholic Church. People were thinking critically and following reason and logic as the sole arbiter of truth. Throughout the ages, science has come up with theories to attempt in essence to explain the existence of matter and life apart from God. Science and reason, thinking critically and striving to understand the universe around us are not necessarily bad things in and of themselves. However, the problem is that science has strived to answer these tough questions apart from the truth of God as found throughout the Scriptures. Furthermore, people have listened so much to these false claims of truth that science in the modern and post-modern eras of thought has been elevated to a superior and authoritative place over the Scriptures. This is the very reason that today we see the public education system in America continuously strive to remove God from any type of teachings offered. Instead of including a balanced education by teaching children about all sides of the fence, we see an outright indoctrination of these secular ideologies that have done a great deal of damage to the way up-and-coming generations view not just Christianity but the world around them. Much of the up-and-coming generations of America have sadly been deceived and led astray by the very Government that was established based upon Christian morals, values, and principles. It is right to keep Church and State separate, but that does not permit the indoctrination of all Government funded school systems with teachings that stand explicitly against what the Scriptures teach us about the world and everything in it. As we see God become further and further removed from the minds of the people and from the education systems in place, it is not hard to understand why we see such moral upheaval. We see the firm foundations of our country that were built upon the truth of God’s Word shifting in the wake of the turbulence of people who do not know God and therefore have gone about living however they feel is best for them. As this nation drifts farther and farther from God, it continues to bear witness to the perverse nature of our sinful state without the grace and mercy that is found only in Jesus Christ and His Gospel. The Lord only knows what is in store for our nation, as well as all Western Culture as we know it. All of us that claim to be followers of Christ, should look around and clearly see the atrocities that are happening all around us. We must be in prayer and striving to repudiate the lies that secular culture continues to spew about things they truly do not understand.

Pride: Christian vs. Greek

Johnathon Held

College of Arts and Sciences, Liberty University

CSTU 101-D08

Professor Bradley Burgess

November 15, 2021

The word virtue in modern English is commonly translated from the Greek word arete. What we must understand, however, is that the term arete had a much different meaning than the meaning derived from the modern English rendition of virtue. The term arete implied that every single object, human, animal, and inanimate object, had a specific purpose. The purposes of these objects were fulfilled by the attributes the object possessed. So, for example, a knife’s function is to cut, so the arete of the knife would be that the knife is sharp. The Greeks were idealists and focused on what was beautiful, what was excellent, and what was the perfect standard by which all things should be judged against. This is easily seen in Greek art and the ways in which it differed from the pragmatic Roman art that would follow closely behind the original Greek masterpieces. The Greek ideals of excellence and beauty would fuel their thoughts on the justifiable pride that was found when individuals accomplished certain feats. For instance, the Greek warriors’ many great and heroic accomplishments would be written about in a poetic fashion and marveled over for generations. For the Greeks, even in times of peace, there was a great need for pride in oneself. Thus, the Greeks created the Olympics, a place of competition in which all competitors fought for the right to be honored and hailed as the most formidable opponent in whatever category they competed. The pride of the ancient Greeks was all about one’s own personal well-being and how well one’s contributions benefitted the wider society.

We may look back upon the Greek’s view of pride and think that our society today is much different. However, when we look at the way that we basically raise famous sports figures to levels of deity, we should be able to see that the apple has not fallen far from the tree. We can see how pride in one’s accomplishments still holds a formidable view in the eyes of western culture today.

As Christians, however, pride is not viewed as something we should seek to attain. Rather, humility is what should be sought by the Christian. You see, pride is taught in the Bible as being a very bad thing. All throughout the Scriptures, we hear things such as God hates pride and arrogance (Proverbs 8:13, ESV, 2001) or that pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18, ESV, 2001). The pride spoken of in the Bible is a pride that puffs us up over our own accomplishments apart from the Lord. We must understand that the Bible allows for a sense of accomplishment when we have performed an act well. However, we must understand that any act done well in the sense of God’s judgment is an act that was borne out of both the Holy Spirit’s directing as well as our heartfelt response to what the Lord has already done for us and in us. There is also a real sense in which we may express a form of pride over the accomplishments of loved ones. However, as Christians, we must understand that every accomplishment is achieved considering what God has done for us already. You see, the Bible teaches that it is pride that keeps us from humbling ourselves to the authority of our creator God. This same pride keeps us from seeing the wretched state that we are truly in, apart from the salvific work of Christ on the cross.

Our society today struggles with the same ideals of justifiable pride as the Ancient Greeks did. We elevate our own accomplishments as well as the accomplishments of others to feel a sense of purpose in this life. However, this sort of pride that allows us to elevate our own creaturely performance is an abomination before a thrice Holy God, and it keeps us from seeing the real purpose behind our lives. This real purpose can only be perceived when the Lord does a work within us, allowing us to see His truth. Once illuminated within our hearts, His truth allows us to see that our only real purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Renew Your Mind

Johnathon Held

College of Arts & Sciences, Liberty University

CSTU 101-D08

Professor Bradley Burgess

November 11, 2021

Undoubtedly, the Greek philosophers have had an immeasurable impact on how the western world thinks. Yet, many Christians believe that it is unwise to study these renowned Greek philosophies as they are completely contrary to the revelation we receive from the Scriptures. Colossians 2:8, a verse that is often cited in support of not studying secular philosophies, says this: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits^[a] of the world, and not according to Christ” (ESV, 2001). While I do not believe this verse is telling us not to study these secular philosophies, I do believe it is telling us not to allow them to sway our thinking on what God has revealed about Him, us, and everything. There are multiple pericopes within the Scriptures that warn readers about false gospels and bad theologies. However, this should not be taken as a call to avoid theological study. Also, we must understand that much of the way we have systematically ordered theology stems from the process carried out by these very Greek philosophers themselves. You see, philosophy is simply the love of wisdom, in which we as Christians are instructed, for example, throughout the book of Proverbs, to both seek after and love wisdom. As Christians, however, we know that all pure and true wisdom comes only from God. So, we should not be at all surprised when these secular philosophers come up with extraordinarily complex man-made constructs and concepts of the reality around them. If anything, most Christians today, myself included, should feel a sense of conviction over the fact that these men were so devout at critically thinking and using their intellect in ways to systematize and make sense of everything around them. Our world today might look much different if we spend more time pondering the Word of God, critically thinking about His wonderful truth, and how to apply these truths to our everyday lives.

The Christian Faith is not a faith that is absent of deep intellectual thought, although many act as though it is. In fact, the Christian faith is much about the mind, with Romans 12:2 calling us to renew our minds, which means here to view life through the revelation of God’s Word and the leading and guidance of His Spirit. There are numerous examples throughout the Scriptures where the Biblical author either quoted or referenced a secular philosophy. One great example of this is Paul when he is preaching the gospel in Mars Hill in Acts 17. Paul here uses his knowledge of the Greek’s thoughts and philosophies to relate with them and connect their thoughts to their need for salvation. This example should solidify that possessing some knowledge of the worldviews of those that think contrary to us can aid us in being able to engage with these people. You see, there is a great opportunity that comes with knowing how others think about things because we can see where they are coming from, making it easier for us to connect with them right where they are.

While I do believe that secular philosophies are something that should be studied, I also believe that we must first and foremost allow God to build us up with His wisdom and knowledge as we commune with Him in the study of His word. There is a very real sense that we must study these secular ideologies and philosophies carefully, constantly bringing ourselves to bear with the falsehood that is so prevalent within them. The renowned Greek philosophers have had an amazing effect on the framework in which theology has been systematized, how we reason and argue, and how we look at the world itself. The book of Ecclesiastes is one book in the Scriptures that covers a multitude of worldly philosophies but concludes by stating that only this one philosophy matters, that is to Fear God and obey His commandments.

References

English Standard Version Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

15 vs. 30 Year Mortgage

Johnathon Held

College of Arts and Sciences, Liberty University

MATH 114: Quantitative Reasoning

Professor Dudley

March 17, 2022

We are tasked with looking into an assumed family’s mortgage options in this discussion. We are posed with a family that is purchasing a typical dwelling with a down payment of $25,000 and $260,000 financed with an annual interest rate (APR) of 3.5%. We will evaluate the monthly payments of our family’s loans, comparing 15-year to 30-year mortgages.

• 15-Year Mortgage
  • Using excel, I was easily able to figure out what the monthly payments are for the loan
    • =pmt(.035/12,12*15,260,000)
      • =Monthly Payment of $1,858.69
      • This loan will have 180 total monthly payments.
      • The lifetime payoff of the loan totals out to be $334,564.20
      • The total interest paid over the lifetime of the loan comes out to $74,564.20
• 30-Year Mortgage
  • Using excel:
    • =pmt(.035/12,12*30,260,000)
      • =Monthly Payment of $1,167.52
      • This loan will have 360 total monthly payments.
      • The lifetime payoff of the loan totals out to be $420,307.20
      • The total interest paid over the lifetime of the loan comes out to $160,307.20

We are also faced with the knowledge that lenders operate using a standard rule that states families house payments should not exceed 28% of the monthly income. With this, we are tasked to look at a family that is making $5000 a month, meaning they would be able to afford a monthly payment of $1400 a month. However, when taking into consideration the annual property taxes as well as homeowner’s insurance, the available amount for a monthly payment drops $250 leaving us with a monthly payment amount of $1150. We will evaluate a 15-year as well as a 30-year mortgage, starting with just the annual interest rate of 3.5% and a monthly payment of $1150. We will first need to evaluate how much the principal of our loans could be based upon our $1150 monthly payments.

• 15-Year Loan
  • Using Excel:
    • =pv(.035/12,15*12,1150)
      • = Principal Amount of $160,865.59
• 30-Year Loan
  • Using Excel:
    • =pv(.035/12,30*12,1150)
      • = Principal Amount of $256,099.23

After looking at our 15- and 30-year mortgages, it is clear that there are some very distinct differences. A 15-year mortgage will have a much lower total payout with much less interest being paid throughout the life of the loan when compared with the lengthier 30-year mortgages. However, depending on one’s financial situations and varying circumstances when faced with taking out a mortgage, a 30-year mortgage might be the route to take if you are unable to afford as much a month. So, the advantages of the 15-year loan are that the loan will be paid off in 15 instead of 30 years meaning that there is much less interest being paid over the course of the mortgage. The advantages of the 30-year loan would be that the borrower would with a smaller monthly payment be able to afford a larger total principal on their loan. However, what must be remembered with this 30-year mortgage, is that the borrower will end up paying much more in total interest when compared to the 15-year mortgage. So, which is wiser? Well, I am no specialist in this field by any means. I do realize that there would be situations that would in my opinion make either a 15 or a 30-year mortgage viable. I believe it comes down to getting as much advice from those around you that are a bit more versed in the financial field than I am. Taking out a mortgage is not something to be taken lightly. This is something that must be done through much prayer and discernment.

            This prayer and discernment should always lead us directly to the Word of God for guidance. The Scriptures talk much about borrowing and lending. It does not condemn the act of borrowing or lending, but instead gives principles by which these things are to be done. For instance, Psalm 37:21 (ESV, 2001) says, “The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives”. You see, borrowing is perfectly fine, but the Scriptures tell us that if we borrow, we must do so with integrity and full intentions of meeting all agreements set forth in the payments of said debts. The Bible does not explicitly appeal to either the 15 or the 30-year mortgage. Regardless, it is wise to enter any long-term financial commitment with much prayer and discernment, gleaning all you can from the Word of God.

Reference

English Standard Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Cause of Death Evaluation and Comparison 1980 and 2016

Johnathon Held

College of Arts and Sciences, Liberty University

MATH 114-D02: Quantitative Reasoning

Mr. Stephen Dudley

April 14, 2022

We have been provided with for this assignment, a spreadsheet, complete with the mortality statistics for the years 1980 and 2016. We are tasked with evaluating, comparing, and interpreting the data found in these tables. First, we will compute the death per 1000 people in each of the 6 age categories. We will do this by dividing the total number of deaths recorded for the given age group by the total population of the given age group. I have also computed the deaths per 1000 people of all age groups combined for both years.

Deaths Per 1000	1980	2016
Total	0.00878	0.00849
Ages 15-24	0.00115	0.00075
Ages 25-44	0.00173	0.00159
Ages 45-64	0.00956	0.00641

1. We should be able to see here rather easily that in every instance the deaths per 1000 people dropped rather significantly from 1980 to 2016. The most significant drop is seen in Ages 45-64 with a whopping 67% decrease in deaths per 1000 people. But why is this? Why are we seeing a decreasing mortality rate among all people but especially among the older age groups? Francis (2002) in his article Why do Death Rates Decline? points to advances in medical research and technology as the key factors to these decreasing death rates. Francis also says, “since 1960, mortality reductions have been associated with two newer factors: the frequent conquest of cardiovascular disease in the elderly and the prevention of death caused by low birth weight in infants” (Para. 5). So according to Francis one leading factor in our decline in deaths in the 45-64 age group is the conquest of cardiovascular disease. But I also believe we could contribute it to the enormous advancements that have taken place within not just the medical science field, but in all areas of our lives today.
2. There is a plethora of interesting and unexpected data here. For instance, I expected homicides to have been lower in 1980 than 2016, however it seems as though that is not the case. I also was very intrigued, however, not quite as surprised when I looked at the rate of suicide deaths. Although medical science has greatly improved both the quality and the longevity of people’s lives causing a decrease in deaths per 1000, it has not had a great effect on the number of people who take their lives by suicide. In every age group, suicide has seen an increase from 1980 to 2016.

Deaths Per 1000 by Suicide	1980	2016
Ages 45-64	0.00016	0.00019

As we have seen, overall death rates have declined since 1980. However, this does not mean that all types of deaths have necessarily seen a decline. As seen here, suicides have not seen a decline, but rather an alarming rise. This number here may not seem so significant at first glance. However, when we break it down and really think about it, the surprising reality is revealed. You see, this is nearly a 19% increase in deaths per 1000 people. This means that 190 more people per 1000 died by suicide in 2016 than in 1980, and this is just the 45-64 age group. Why is this? Well, there are surely a vast number of factors that have an affect and ultimately lead to a rising suicide rate. Agrrawal et al. (2017) points out an undeniable connection between rising suicide rates amongst economic recessions and depressions. It is also undeniable to take away the rampant rise of drugs and alcohol and the ways in which this affects people’s mental health. As stated earlier, there are surely many reasons contributing to this alarming rise in suicide deaths.

•  

Deaths Per 1000 by Diseases of Heart	2016
Ages 25-44	0.00016
Ages 45-64	0.00134

As seen in the table above, there is a drastic increase in heart disease deaths in the 45-64 age group. What we see here is nearly a 738% increase in deaths per 1000 in the 45-64 age group when compared to the 25-44 age group. This is quite an astounding jump. An article on National Institute on Aging’s website (2018) discusses how age can play a huge factor on heart diseases. This article points out that heart disease is the buildup of plaque within the coronary arteries over the course of several years. Therefore, it is completely understandable as to why we might see this drastic shift in death rates related to heart disease as we progress our way up through the age groups.   

• Death is never a pleasant thing for any of us to sit and contemplate. From the most sanctified saint to the unbeliever, death is a painful and humbling reality. Even Jesus in such a heart wrenching way exemplifies His humanity when He wept over Lazarus’ death (John 11:35, ESV). Death is something, that is not meant to be. You see, followers of Christ due to the current state of sinfulness in the world will and do feel the horrendous sting that is death. We watch as loved ones pass away knowing one day, we ourselves will also be dead. However, as those called upon to receive the grace and forgiveness that is found in Christ alone, we may take hope that our Lord and Savior has conquered death. He has given us hope through the promises found within His word and the solace found within His Spirit. You see, as Christians, we have a hope that goes beyond the grave. However, this same truth is not a comfort to the unbeliever. The unbeliever has no solace through death. The only way to truly come to terms with death is to come to have an intimate relationship with the only One who can give life, Jesus Christ.

References

Agrrawal, P., Waggle, D., & Sandweiss, D. H. (2017). Suicides as a Response to Adverse Market Sentiment (1980-2016). PLoS ONE, 12(11)https://10.1371/journal.pone.0186913

English Standard Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Francis, D. R. (2002). Why Do Death Rates Decline? https://www.nber.org/digest/mar02/why-do-death-rates-decline

Heart Health and Aging. (2018). https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/heart-health-and-aging

Christian Evidences: Jesus and the Bible

Johnathon Held

College of Arts & Sciences, Liberty University

PHIL 240-B03: Christian Evidences

Dr. Sean Turchin

June 6, 2022

1. Should I find myself in this situation, I would attempt to do my best to speak the truth in love. It can easily feel as though someone is attacking you personally when they respond in this way while you are sharing the Gospel with them. However, this makes it even more critical to exercise emotional intelligence and choose your words carefully.

First, I would likely ask why he doubts Jesus ever existed and point out that even most non-Christians affirm that He lived. I would also go beyond ‘most non-Christians’ and point out the fact that many enemies of Christianity also affirmed the historical existence of Jesus Christ. Komoszewski et al. (2006) says, “It is a remarkable thing that we have any statements about Jesus by non-Christian writers” (Pg. 196). You see, Jesus was not a man of high stature or degree, but rather, was a simple son of a simple carpenter. Yet, conversations like this one about Jesus occur even still today. That alone should make one skeptical towards a claim against the existence of Jesus. Furthermore, the mere fact that we are speaking about Jesus here today is just the tip of the iceberg of evidence that points towards the reality of Christ’s existence.

As stated, there are many examples of not just non-Christians, but opponents to the faith, who have made claims concerning the existence of Jesus. For example, Komoszewski et al. (2006) talks about Lucian of Samosata, a Greek satirist, who harshly rebuked Christians for worshipping a man crucified in Palestine. Lucian, whose writings were around 170 AD, would have been far more beneficial if he had dismissed the reality that this man crucified in Palestine existed. However, what we find here instead is a mere portrayal of history as it really was. This is just one example of an extra-biblical source pointing to the existence of Jesus.

While I would have these arguments at the ready, I would also recognize that we are engaged in a two-sided conversation and allow my neighbor to share his reasoning with me. Many times, these conversations are very touchy. Touchy in the sense that it is vital to feel out the situation. What I mean by this is that we must be discerning and not simply dump the knowledge we may have, but purposefully share things that relate specifically to the conversation at hand. We need always remember this and allow for actual conversation to happen. With this said, it is prudent to consider the possible oppositions someone may voice and be prepared to provide a response with all meekness and humility.

For example, my neighbor may backup his claim against the existence of Jesus by stating that the gospels, which are the primary sources for our information concerning the life of Jesus, are filled with contradictions. Remembering the fact that a conversation is two dimensional, I would ask for the reasoning behind my neighbor’s claim. Doing this may help me to better understand why my neighbor thinks the way he does and better help me to engage with him. I would do my best to show that all seeming contradictions in the gospels are not such and have been proven to be slight variations at best. Depending on the time or interest, now would be a wonderful time to open a Bible with my neighbor. We could go over things such as a supposed contradiction surrounding those who found the empty tomb. If I can show my neighbor that the gospels are indeed complimentary, it will help to assure him they can be trusted and therefore what they state about Jesus is also truth.

These conversations, while an immense blessing, may often feel as a curse. We frequently must leave the safety of our comfort zones to actually converse about such weighty topics. We worry about what they might say, what we might say, or what we don’t know. However, we must remember it is okay, and even respectable, to say you don’t know and will research the answer. These conversations will more times than not seem to have ended in failure. What we must understand and what we must remind ourselves is that it is not for us to harvest the fruit, but simply to plant the seed. This is exactly how we must look at these conversations, not as a soul we will win, but simply a seed planted to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2.) Both the Apostle’s and Nicene Creeds make the statement that Christ lived a human life on Earth.  Additionally, the Athanasian Creed states, “Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation; that one also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Koscinski, 2018). We can see that the ancient creeds have set a precedence that to be considered an orthodox Christian, one must believe in the historical Jesus. However, we must consider why this is the case.

If someone who claims the title ‘Christian’ does not believe in a historical Jesus, they technically should be considered a heretic, however this language is normally deemed offensive in today’s culture. The truth is, Christians past and present have been willing to die for the claim that Jesus Christ was both fully man and fully God, that He had lived, suffered, died on a cross, and resurrected from the grave. In our postmodern, western culture, subjective truth is becoming the basis by which we can create our own reality and rewrite history. Objective truth is now seen as prideful and therefore seems to have become almost obsolete. With the influx of our culture’s faulty understanding of truth, we are seeing the effects firsthand within the Church. Where standard Christian doctrines such as the Virgin Birth, the sinless life of Christ, and the death and resurrection of Christ were once considered markers by which to identify those within the Church, it is now a matter of preference and interpretation. Many churches today, sadly, operate with central doctrines stripped away simply to tickle people’s ears and remain unoffensive. This is done, of course, to keep people coming back every week.

However, when churches turn away from affirming essential doctrines such as Christ’s earthly life, they deny the New Testament, or at least must do many cartwheels to reinterpret it and the early church councils. Without a bodily incarnation, Christ did not live a sinless life, He did not suffer on the cross for our sakes, and most importantly, He did not defeat death by rising from the grave! Habermas and Licona (2004) states, “… Jesus’ resurrection is at the spotlight of major Christian doctrine and practice. Belief in it is a requirement for salvation” (Pg. 28). Those who reject a historical Jesus are therefore still at odds with God and lost. With this subjective worldview, the entirety of the Bible can then be accepted in some areas and rejected in others, resulting in the deconstruction of the Canon of Scripture. There is therefore no universal basis on which they can solidify their faith and beliefs other than their own preference and logic.

While there is great danger in Scripture being viewed as subjective, I believe in our day and age what is of more concern is just the overwhelming, general ignorance of Scripture. With our media-laden society, it is all too easy to look for every answer for every question on Google or the like. However, as Christians, we are to look to the God-given Scriptures as our source for truth and the basis by which all things are to be understood and interpreted. Although, to understand and interpret our experiences by Scripture, we must know Scripture. This means that if we call ourselves Christians today, we not only must affirm the historicity of Jesus, but we also should have a fervent desire to seek out the wondrous truths that our God has so graciously bestowed to us.

It is clear from central Christian creeds and doctrines that belief in a historical Jesus is not only fundamental for the title of ‘Christian’, but it is an absolute necessity of our salvation. The objective truth that Jesus Christ lived, suffered, died, and rose again is sadly oftentimes trodden underfoot with the fallacy of a subjective reality. Those who attempt to use the Scriptures as well as hold doubts about the historicity of Jesus are forced to perform some form of acrobatic feat in an attempt to harmonize their fallacious beliefs with what Scripture is clearly stating. Churches today must stop watering down or altering the Word of Truth in any fashion. The sacrifice of truth on the altar of unity for the sake of membership numbers is a horrid affront to a holy God and a great disservice to His people. All of us have the responsibility of knowing the objective truths God has set out for us in His Scriptures. This responsibility is not to be taken lightly, and for the true believer, it won’t be. For the true believer, not only is this viewed as a responsibility, but more so, an immense pleasure. Let us all find more pleasure in seeking out our wonderful God and His wonderful truths.

3)         It is such a common yet tragic misconception that the New Testament has been tainted throughout the years since the original writings. While it is true that we do not possess any actual autographs, which are original texts, Komoszewski et al. (2006) points to the fact that “approximately fifty-seven hundred full or partial New Testament manuscripts are known to exist” (Pg.71).

            This at first glance may not seem very spectacular. However, when placed against the backdrop of reality, it becomes quite a spectacle. You see, the Old and New Testaments are not the only ancient writings we possess. There are many other writings used today to decipher just what the ancient world was really like. When we hear about these writings, however, we never hear claims about the corruption of the manuscripts over the years. When we think of things such as Homer’s Iliad, which according to McDowell and Jones (2014) we are now in possession of over 1,800 manuscripts, we should wonder why people are not even more critical over these writings. For, while Homer’s Iliad enjoys 1,800 copies, Komoszewski et al. (2006) explains that “the average classical author’s writings are found in about twenty extant manuscripts” (Pg. 71). Only an average of 20 manuscripts for many of the ancient writings is just crazy when placed against the mountain of New Testament manuscripts.

            What is even better about all these manuscripts, is the quality of the variants among the manuscripts. Now, of course there are variations amongst all these different manuscripts. However, most of these variations are simple spelling errors that can easily be seen and understood. These variations do absolutely nothing to affect the meaning or viability of these manuscripts. In fact, according to Komoszewski et al. (2006) “Only about 1 percent of all textual variants” are meaningful and viable. For a textual variant to be considered meaningful, it must impact the meaning of the text. For a variant to be considered viable, it must be “found in manuscripts with a sufficient pedigree that they have some likelihood of reflecting the original wording” (Komoszewski et al., 2006, Pg. 54). For example, if you had one lone manuscript that was very different from all the rest, it would surely be filled with many meaningful variations. However, these variations would be deemed not viable due to the lone ranger status of the manuscript. There is just nothing to point to this one manuscript as being a viable copy of the autograph.

            Now, what I would like for us to ponder next is the fact that the process for copying these ancient works was nothing less than timely and painstaking. I could not have imagined being an ancient scribe, tasked with but one purpose. To preserve the ancient writings by relentlessly copying word for word entire volumes of scrolls and various documents. This most definitely would have been a tough position to fill, therefore it is easy to imagine why there would have been so many spelling variations and mistakes. Now, I would like us to think about the corruption you spoke of in the transmission of the New Testament. I will presume that by corruption, you mean a conspiracy theory by the Church to change the texts in order to serve a hidden agenda. This is what seems to be the most popular and erroneous view held by our western culture today. However, what people don’t tend to do is think critically about the claim they are making. What we must remember is that the scribes painstakingly handwrote copy by copy these manuscripts we have before us today. This was a very timely task. Let us suppose that some scribes would want to rewrite some of these manuscripts to fit their sinister plots. Well, Komoszewski et al. (2006) shows us that these manuscripts exist in many languages such as Greek, Latin, Coptic, Syriac, Gothic, Ethiopic, and Armenian (Pg. 79). If we really think about this for a minute, we should begin to realize the problem here. You see, all of these manuscripts written in different languages and dispersed geographically would have been very difficult to corrupt. For starters, this is a conspiracy, so it all must be done in secret. The scribes tasked with corrupting these manuscripts would have to be able to interpret and write in all of these various languages. They would also have to be able to access all of these manuscripts, again in secret, and alter all 5,700 manuscripts in totality. This is obviously an absurd notion.

            With the plethora of New Testament manuscript evidence that we have available to us today, we have never been more confident of what the New Testament actually says. The research and analysis of these treasured documents has proven that we have more evidence to work with than we can handle. The evidence all points to authenticity and clearly shows that there was not any corruption possible throughout the transmission of the New Testament writings.

References

Habermas, G. R., & Licona, M. R. (2004). The Case For the Resurrection of Jesus – With CD. Kregel Publications.

Komoszewski, Ed, J., Sawyer, M. J., & Wallace, D. B. (2006). Reinventing Jesus: How Contemporary Skeptics Miss the Real Jesus and Mislead Popular Culture. Kregel Publications.

Koscinski, M. (2018, -06-08T14:13:12+00:00). The Athanasian creed: Text and Commentary. https://mark-koscinski.com/theology-and-religion/short-articles-and-adult-education-courses/the-athanasian-creed-text-and-commentary/

McDowell, D. J. D., & Jones, D. C. (2014). The Bibliographical Test. Christian Research Journal, 35(3)

Everyone is a Philosopher

Johnathon Held

College of Arts & Sciences, Liberty University

PHIL 240-B03: Christian Evidences

Dr. Sean Turchin

May 19, 2022

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Everyone’s a theologian”? The assumption that to be a theologian, you must be old and grey-haired, having spent years locked away studying God’s Word, is just completely inaccurate when you think about it. This is because every human being on planet Earth has thoughts about God. The Christian has come to know God through His word, the atheist thinks God does not exist, and the agnostic is unsure of God’s existence. Regardless, though, all of these have made thoughts and assumptions about God, thus making all of us, by definition, a theologian. I say all of this because, much like the reality of everyone being a theologian, I believe all of us are philosophers. We all, as human beings, rely on logic, wisdom, and the pursuit of knowledge to get us through every single day, even if we do not realize it. We were created to be logical beings with the ability to constantly grow in wisdom and knowledge.

Christian evidence is simply a discipline that utilizes logic and an argumentative framework consisting of premises leading to a conclusion. All these premises are reinforced with evidence pointing to why one should believe a particular premise to be true. As we look around and see our post-modernized western culture, fueled by things such as the Big bang theory, the metaverse, and Darwin’s theory of evolution, it becomes quite easy to want to shrink back from it all. For this reason, we as Christians need to grasp that the Christian faith is not a blind faith. The Christian faith is grounded in logic and wisdom, and there are very logical ways to convey the truth of our faith to others. Craig (2010) says that “shaping culture” is one of the vitally important reasons to train to logically defend our faith. I believe that if more Christians understood how to give a reasoned defense for their faith, we would see much more of the culture conforming to the Church instead of the Church conforming to the culture. Therefore Craig (2010) also states that “strengthening believers” is another reason to be trained to logically defend our faith. You see, because we stand on Christianity as truth, there is something wonderful about having proofs and evidence that assure us of these very truths. Moreover, understanding the logic and reason behind these truths and what makes them true can be beneficial in answering not only others’ questions but our own as well.

No matter who we are or what we believe, I am convinced that we are all philosophers. Christian evidence is merely a philosophical approach to the truths of God’s existence and the truth of His Word. Proverbs 3:13-14 (English Standard Bible, 2001) says, “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold”. If we are followers of Christ, we should want nothing more than to understand His marvelous and wonderous wisdom and knowledge. We should crave knowing more about Him and His wonderful truths as observed throughout all of creation around us and in the revelation made known to us through the wonderful counsel of His Word.

References

Craig, W. L. (2010). On Guard: Defending your Faith with Reason and Precision. David C. Cook.

English Standard Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Jesus and the Resurrection

Johnathon Held

College of Arts & Sciences, Liberty University

PHIL 240-B03: Christian Evidences

Dr. Sean Turchin

July 1, 2022

For the Christian, there should be absolutely no question about the trustworthiness and divine inspiration of the Scriptures. However, when faced with the reality that the Scriptures commission us to “make disciples of every nation” (Matthew 28:19, English Standard Bible, 2001), we must understand that this process involves conversing with people that do not believe the Scriptures are divinely inspired or trustworthy. For this reason, the employment of a minimal facts approach can often prove to be the most beneficial.

According to Habermas and Licona (2004), a minimal facts approach utilizes only data that is strongly evidenced, as well as data that most scholars accept. Furthermore, this approach does not base any arguments on the foundation of trustworthy or divinely inspired scriptures. This approach only views the New Testament as a collection of historical documents that contain information pertaining to actual events that transpired throughout history. This is not to say that the Scriptures are not trustworthy or divinely inspired, because again, as the Christian, there should be no question to this matter. However, utilizing an approach that does not depend on this to show great evidence of the historicity of the Resurrection of Christ will many times cause people to reconsider the trustworthiness of Scripture.

The minimal facts approach makes use of four facts that are practically accepted across the board, excluding, again, a very small minority of skeptical scholars. There is also an opportunity to deploy a fifth fact. This fact alone may not be the most credible in the eyes of the scholarly critic, but when faced with the evidence of the four overwhelmingly accepted facts, it should call into question why this would not be considered factual by most as well.

Sources ranging from all four gospels to non-biblical sources such as Jewish historian Josephus and Roman historian Tacitus, among at least three other non-biblical sources, attest to the claim that Jesus Christ was executed on a Roman cross. This historical claim is literally soaked with multiple attestations from friends and foes alike, which is no doubt the reason which it is accepted by most scholars today. This first fact, being as widely accepted as it is, with the treasure trove of supporting evidence to go along with it, is a wonderful way to start to show a valid argument for the resurrection of Christ.

With the fact that Christ was crucified well established, it is a good idea to move on to the second fact in this minimal facts approach. It is multiply attested that the disciples of Jesus not only declared that Jesus rose from the dead, but they believed it, with many staking their very lives on this claim. What must be understood here is that it was not initially this way. The disciples, initially upon the death of Jesus, were not only fearful for their own lives but had lost all hope in their Messiah. This is until women had gone to the tomb and made a shocking discovery. These women reported that Jesus, who was most certainly dead just three days prior, was no longer in the tomb. The women’s report that Jesus had risen was inconceivable to the apostles. As a matter of fact, the apostles went to investigate the tomb themselves, as according to Luke 24:11 (English Standard Bible, 2001), “they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense”. As an extra tidbit of information, the mere fact that the women were the ones to originally deliver the news of Christ’s resurrection is in and of itself evidence of the authenticity of this information. What must be understood is that women in this time and culture were not looked upon as credible witnesses in the least bit. There is what is known as the criterion of embarrassment. According to Komoszewski et al. (2006), “this has to do with things in the Gospels that could be perceived to be an embarrassment to early Christians, to the disciples, or even to Jesus” (Pg. 46).

The men may be skeptical at first, but it is short-lived. This is because they all claim to have seen, touched, conversed, eaten, and drank with the risen Jesus Christ. Not only is this attested to in all four of the gospel accounts, but it is also attested to by Paul, using a creedal reference in 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 which scholars think very likely is part of an oral tradition that could come within months or even days of Christ’s death and resurrection. With this said, this evidence is a remarkable defense against skeptical claims such as the legend theory. The legend theory basically claims that over time, the stories would evolve into fables far removed from the truth of the actual events. This may be true of things that involve a large gap of time between the actual events in question and the reporting of said events. However, when faced with the data that the oral traditions and writings were completed shortly after the events took place, it is highly implausible that there would have been enough of a gap for the legends to formulate. One must also remember that these oral traditions and writings would have been circulating while many eyewitnesses were still alive and able to refute false claims.

So, the evidence shows it most assuredly was not some legend that had formulated, but rather, these people claimed and believed to have seen the risen Christ. The disciples were not the only ones to see the risen Jesus, however. The third fact of this approach is that Paul, the very one who had once fervently persecuted those who claimed to have seen the risen Jesus, is suddenly and dramatically changed. Paul claims to have, himself seen the risen Christ, and it changes the entire course of his life. Paul goes from persecutor to persecuted. This is a remarkable bit of evidence, for it begs the question if Paul was so adamantly against the Christian movement, what exactly did happen to cause him such a drastic change of heart? The evidence here of Paul’s conversion is also multiply attested to by not only biblical sources but also at least 5 non-biblical sources.

Paul was not the only one that did not perceive Jesus as Messiah yet enjoyed the presence of the risen Jesus. James, the very brother of Jesus, is shown in the Gospel accounts to be an unbeliever. However, a stark contrast is seen after the risen Jesus appears to James. Much like Paul, James was a devout Jew and would have thought initially that his brother Jesus was a heretic. Nevertheless, both Acts and Galatians point to James as a leader of the church in Jerusalem. Not only was James reported to be a leader of the Jerusalem church, but it is attested to by multiple non-biblical sources that James was martyred for his faith in the risen Jesus.

With all these facts alone and the treasure trove of supporting evidence behind them, there is surely enough here to pose a strong argument for the historicity of the resurrection. There is, however, one last fact. While it may not enjoy the same consensus as the other four facts, if looked at in consideration with the other facts, it is impossible to ignore. The fact of the empty tomb is something that, throughout all the writings of antiquity, there is no problem with. Why is this? If it were true that the tomb was not empty, wouldn’t the opponents of the movement have gone to the tomb and exhumed the body, thus proving the erroneous nature of the claim at hand? If the tomb were not empty, Christianity would have sputtered out and died as just another weird religion.

However, even today, approaches such as this minimal facts approach are utilized to attempt to bring into focus the true historicity of these claims. The minimal facts approach is a wonderful way to engage with an unbeliever or skeptic and challenge them to think critically about the evidence and data at hand. While this approach, as well as others, are a wonderful tactic, it should be noted that this is only a framework. This is not something that usually will work systematically the same every time. It must be remembered that when engaging with unbelievers, or anyone for that matter, it is a conversation. This is meaning a two-way dialogue, not just an information dump. When dealing with matters as deep as these, one must be given a chance to process the information being relayed. Another thing to think about when utilizing frameworks such as this minimal facts approach to the resurrection is the fact that one may unintentionally rely on these more so than on the Scriptures. Studying and learning these systematic approaches to engaging with unbelievers is wonderful, but one must always keep their foundation on the Scriptures. If one thinks it is important to memorize these tactics and outlines, let them think it is doubly important to be in the practice of memorizing the Scriptures.

References

English Standard Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Habermas, G. R., & Licona, M. R. (2004). The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus – With CD. Kregel Publications.

Komoszewski, Ed, J., Sawyer, M. J., & Wallace, D. B. (2006). Reinventing Jesus: How Contemporary Skeptics Miss the Real Jesus and Mislead Popular Culture. Kregel Publications.

The act of proving something to be true involves the collection and dissemination of critical evidence to verify the plausibility and validity of a given claim. With the constant onslaught of cold case murders, it is easy to see how investigations into even recent events can remain shrouded in mystery. What must be understood is that, according to Habermas and Licona (2004), “when it comes to history, we can only speak of probability, not 100 percent certainty” (Pg. 31). Whenever a jury weighs all the evidence of a court case before delivering a verdict, there are often members of the jury who sit strongly on one side of the verdict, completely convinced by the evidence of either guilt or innocence. There are also many times those who are completely undecided on the issues, unsure of whether the defendant is guilty or not. This is much the same when it comes to historical certainty.

Much like jurors in a court case, historical analysis is something that, in almost all circumstances, cannot be proven to be absolutely 100 percent factual. However, also much like jurors in a court case, there is very often enough credible evidence to show beyond a reasonable doubt that a claim is true. This is important to understand because there will always be those people that hold opposing views and beliefs when it comes to the historical certainty of something. Yet, what must be asked is whether the evidence for one’s beliefs holds up in the wake of highly attested historical claims.

The claim that Jesus Christ rose from the dead is no different from any other historical claim in the sense that, based on the supporting evidence alone, one cannot come to a complete 100 percent certainty of this event being historically authentic. Nevertheless, there is a staggeringly large amount of evidence that points to the Resurrection being a historical event. There is such a plethora of credible evidence for many of the claims surrounding the historicity of Christ’s resurrection. This overwhelming amount of supporting evidence forces the skeptical critic to acknowledge the apparent truthfulness of certain claims. Furthermore, this forces the critic to formulate a theoretical position on which to stand and defend against the claim at hand. These theoretical positions, however, often are quite easily penetrable. These theories rarely consider the full scope of the evidence at hand.

While not being able to prove the Resurrection account or any other historical account to a 100 percent certainty, the overabundance of credible and supporting evidence forces the critic to now defend whatever position is taken against seemingly valid historical claims.

If these are seemingly valid historical claims, then what are some of the implications to be drawn from them? Well, one question that may be asked is if the resurrection account is historical, then what caused it to happen? This opens clear avenues for defending the truth of the claim that God exists and He has raised this Jesus from the grave. Not only this, but this Jesus that historically died on the cross and rose again, claimed that this was a sacrifice fulfilling all other sacrifices. This Jesus that historically ascended to Heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father claims that “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (English Standard Bible, 2001).

If accepted in the eyes of a skeptic, the case for the Resurrection has the power to open seemingly entirely new dimensions of engagement. Not only will it, as stated, prove to be a powerful defense of the existence of God, but it will also open the doorway to trusting in the scriptural accounts for other questions as well. Supremely, the question one should be steering towards is the question regarding the state of one’s soul. This is to be of utmost importance to the Christian, not the sake of a history lesson. One should always approach conversations with those who believe contrarily with the utmost grace and humility, leaning completely on the Holy Spirit through the Word of Christ.

References

English Standard Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Habermas, G. R., & Licona, M. R. (2004). The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus – With CD. Kregel Publications.

It is critical to eliminate the inkling or thought process that the resurrection is simply a tradition or legend. This is a necessary first step when confronting the historicity of the resurrection. If this central event can be reduced to legend, other events in Christendom can be as well. Further, the role of God is continually reduced as more events are considered lore.

A legend, by definition, claims that it has been developed over time and was not immediately accepted or well-known at the time of its supposed occurrence. However, we find numerous accounts affirming the resurrection dated to the first century. This is extremely important, as this fact alone begins to dismantle the idea that the resurrection is but a legend. The New Testament as well provides detailed reports of the empty tomb and the risen Christ, followed by a steady and dramatic increase in converts to the faith. If the text of the New Testament was truly written very shortly after Christ’s resurrection, this leaves no time for a legend to develop and grow.

Furthermore, considering the early dating of the credible texts and evidence, one must understand that there would have surely been many eyewitnesses to the historical events in question. With this said, if these events had been embellished and altered to some form of legend that inaccurately depicted the events that took place, surely many of these witnesses would have quickly come forward to dispute the claims. However, what is seen in the ancient accounts is quite the opposite. There is not any argument or question in the ancient records concerning the actual historicity of the claims made by the disciples. Rather, even throughout non-biblical sources, there is seen only attestation to the facts that the disciples claimed to be true.

In addition to Scripture and extra-biblical historical accounts, the ancient creeds also play a key role in not only defending the case for a historical resurrection but also explaining and defining what is orthodox concerning this event. From the earliest creeds recorded in the New Testament to even the New City Catechism written in 2017, the resurrection is a central topic. I Corinthians 15:3-4 (English Standard Bible, 2001) expressly speaks of the physical resurrection of Christ: “…that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…” This is significant when considering how to rebut the legendary development opposition to the resurrection. If early Christians were confessing together that they believed in the resurrection of Christ, this again makes it difficult to surmise that it is but a theory created over time.

Scholars also agree with the fact that there was an oral tradition that preceded the biblical texts. The aforementioned verses in 1 Corinthians 15, for example, are by the majority believed to be one of these ancient oral creedal statements. This oral tradition is believed to be within months or even days of Christ’s death and resurrection account. In the face of evidence such as this, it is extremely challenging for one to continue to defend a theory based on the formulation of a legend of any type. Logically, there does not seem to be enough evidence to make legend formulation seem plausible in the least bit.

References

English Standard Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Most of us have heard statements such as all roads lead to the mountain top or all rivers lead to the ocean. These statements point to the pluralistic ideologies about religion that are rampant in our society today. The problem with these pluralistic ideologies, other than the fact that they are erroneous, is that they leave no room for any religions that make exclusive claims. Therefore, religious pluralism is a contradiction unto itself.

You see, every one of the world’s various religions makes exclusive claims. Take, for example, Hinduism, which holds to doctrines concerning karma and reincarnation, which completely contradict many other world religions. Islam is another great example, adhering to monotheism as well as a strict legalistic system. Christianity is most certainly not to be left out of this list. According to Craig (2010), “When you read the literature on this issue, the recurring challenge seems to be laid at the doorstep of the Christian particularist, the person who says Christ is the only way to God”.

If we claim to be Christians, we should also be considered “Christian particularists” or those who claim that there is salvation in none other than Jesus Christ. In 1 Timothy 2:5 (English Standard Bible, 2001), Paul says, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”. Mediator here means, in a sense, a representative for our sakes before God, with Paul emphasizing the fact that there is only one, namely Christ Jesus, who can plead our case before God. These were the words of Paul. However, even Jesus Christ made claims to His exclusivity. In John 14:6 (English Standard Bible, 2001), Jesus declares, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.

These exclusive claims are undoubtedly offensive to those who believe contrarily. Therefore, sadly, amongst harsh criticism and negativity, many Christians shy away from wanting to share their convictions with others. Even worse, many Christians feel it is borderline sinful to offend anybody in the least bit. This is completely evident in pulpits today, where many pastors seem to shy away from the offensive portions of the Scriptures to preach a wishy-washy feel-good message. However, the problem with this approach, not only within our churches but when engaging with secular culture, is the sacrifice of truth for the sake of inclusivity.

You see, as Christians, we hold to the teachings of Scriptures that we believe, although penned by multiple authors, are literally “God-breathed” (English Standard Bible, 2001, 2 Timothy 3:16). These Scriptures reveal many truths that are offensive in the eyes of many. To shy away from declaring these truths over the fear of offense is a great disservice to both God and man. “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (English Standard Bible, 2001, 1 Corinthians 1:18). You see, what we must realize is that this message is going to offend. The truth is offensive; however, it is in declaring the truth to those around us, even amidst the offense, that the power of God works. “So, faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ” (English Standard Bible, 2001, Romans 10:17).

Second Peter 1:16 (English Standard Bible, 2001) says, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty”. You see, unlike so many of the other world religions in existence today, Christianity is based on eyewitness accounts of historical events, not “cleverly devised myths”. Is Jesus the only way to God? I believe without a doubt that He most certainly is. Not only is there an immensely massive treasure trove of evidence to point to the historicity and authenticity of the Scriptures and their claims, but I have also seen God’s grace at work in my own life. I may have never seen Jesus Christ in the flesh. I may not know how long His beard was or whether He had a beard at all (although because I am bearded, I am biased towards the bearded Jesus). I have never seen Him, not once, but I know Him! I know Him through what He has revealed to me through His Word. I know Him through the time spent on my knees before Him. I know Him because His Spirit dwells within me, confirming with my spirit that I belong to Him.

There is never any one thing that will magically bring people to the realization of the truth of salvation being found in Christ alone. There is no magical way to declare the gospel’s good news without it being an offense to many. However, our aim ought never to be to offend but to share. We are to share the good news out of the sheer desire that the person we are conversing with might come to know Christ the way that we ourselves have.

Blessings in Christ,

Johnathon Held

References

Craig, W. L. (2010). On guard. David C. Cook.

English Standard Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Radio frequency identification or RFID is a technology that has the potential to be utilized for both good and evil. Many have even speculated that this technology is the mark of the beast found within the 13^th chapter of Revelation. Is RFID technology something we need to be concerned about and is it the mark of the beast?

Well, to answer these questions we will first take a closer look at what RFID technology is. According to Stair and Reynolds (2018) RFID is a “technology that employs a microchip with an antenna to broadcast its unique identifier and location to receivers” (Pg. 105). This technology is applied in many ways for many different purposes. Possibly one of the most common uses for RFID technology is found within retail stores. Many retail stores have found that utilizing RFID technology allows them to better manage their inventories due to the RFID tag being attached to an item and automatically being read by the RFID receiver as the item leaves the store. This greatly removes the possibility of inventory discrepancies because it removes the human aspect of entering data and allows for an automated data entry system that is both much less prone to error and much more efficient.

These RFID chips can also be utilized for things you won’t find on shelves at the store. For instance, let’s say that we were driving down the road and found a lost dog. There is a pretty good chance that you may be able to locate the dog’s owners using RFID technology. Most veterinarian clinics today have RFID readers that allows them to read a small microchip that gets surgically implanted normally when the dog is still a puppy. Within this microchip is stored all the data that is needed to contact and reunite lost animals to their owners. This is a wonderful thing for poor Johnny who only wants his furry friend to come back home.

If it can be done to our furry friends, it can be done to us as well. RFID technology can be easily used in humans just as it is in animals. However, for the human, the possible uses for this chip far exceed what this technology has been used for in animals. For example, these chips could act as our wallets, as our keys, as our passports and identifications, and so much more.

Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,^[e] to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. (Revelation 13:16-17, ESV, 2001)

It is easy to see why people are quick to say that RFID technology implanted in our flesh is the mark of the beast spoken of here. Taken at face value, sure there is a plausible connection here. However, Revelation is not the type of literature we should just be taking at face value. What we must understand about the book of Revelation is that the language used here is figurative and not literal. Those reading Revelation with the mindset of interpreting everything in a literal fashion will be expecting to see a literal seven headed dragon and beasts with horns that speak like a dragon. For instance, the seven golden lampstands that John saw in his vision in Chapter 1 were revealed by Christ to be symbolic for the seven churches that Christ would be addressing through John in the first three chapters of Revelation.

Revelation is an amazingly complex and hard to understand book. Many would also say that the 13^th chapter dealing with the beast and the mark is one of the toughest chapters in the book to interpret. With this said, I do believe the claims for RFID technology being the mark of the beast are false. I say this in all humility knowing that I may be wrong. Regardless, however, of the truth in the RFID claim, there is much to be gleaned from these verses. In verse 10 we are told that this is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. This is a call to saints suffering horrendous persecution and turmoil to endure and set Christ before them as their prized treasure and to take heart knowing that Christ is triumphant. This is a call for us to put on all the armor of Christ and prepare for battle. This is a call for all of us to be in prayer and in the Word. This is a call for us to ask ourselves, do we truly treasure Christ more than the treasures of this world that will rot away to nothing. If we do, then these verses are an immense comfort to us. However, if we do not treasure Christ as we ought, these verses should make us tremble. My pastor told me something very helpful concerning understanding the book of Revelation. He said, “even if you don’t understand a whole lot of what is being said throughout the book, if you understand that God wins in the end you are in a pretty good place” (Pastor Win Groseclose).

Blessings in Christ,

Johnathon Held

References

English Standard Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Stair, R. M., & Reynolds, G. W. (2018). Principles of Information Systems (13th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Johnathon Held

Professor Chelsea Bevins

ARTS 224-B01

2 September 2021

Case Study Chipotle: Cultivate a Better World Campaign

Summary

Chipotle did not want to be viewed as just another fast-food chain. The “Cultivate a Better World” campaign sought to set Chipotle apart from other fast-food chains and restaurants by not only serving sustainable foods themselves, but by informing and educating people about sustainable foods and why we all must play a part. Robyn Peterson in his blog “Analysis: Chipotle’s ‘Cultivate a Better World’ Campaign” says that Chipotle hired a Creative Arts Agency that would help them advertise their campaign across various communication platforms (2014). With the help of this agency, Chipotle in 2012 produced a video titled “Back to the Start” which was an animated appeal to people’s emotions regarding the importance of raising pigs sustainably. This video went viral on You Tube and led to several other videos as well as a vast social media presence with a goal of dialoguing with consumers about these issues. Some of the main issues or challenges for this campaign was to present issues in a way that would spark thought and ultimately changes in the way we produce our food. Furthermore, before starting this campaign, Peterson says that there were some problems with transparency between Chipotle and its consumers. So, one challenge of this campaign is gaining trust and building authenticity for the brand in the eyes of the target audience.

Target Audience

            The target audience would have been millennials who are health conscious and care about the environment. The psychographics of millennials according to Wright (2007) would show them to be sociable, tech-savvy, and up to try new things. These people would be best reached through a vast array of communication platforms with a special focus on internet and app-based communication being the best route of approach.

Objectives

            The campaign’s objectives are rather straightforward. To build their brand by showing their dedication to establishing and maintaining sustainable food sources for their fast-food chain. Chipotle wants to connect with their consumers on a more personal and emotional level by showing their concern for both what we as consumers eat as well as the negative impact that industrialized “Big Ag” has on the environment.

Strategy

            Chipotle knew that the way to reach millennials was not through the standard advertisements that have become almost invisible to most people. Chipotle understood, that if they wanted to reach their target audience, they would have to stretch themselves and find ways to capture the attention of these potential consumers. Chipotle decided the best strategy would be to utilize the technology that these millennials so often utilize themselves (social media). This approach allowed Chipotle to communicate and dialogue with consumers in a new and more personal way.

Tactics

            The campaign utilized social media not only to have more personal dialogue with the consumers, but also to inform and teach about the issues of sustainable farming and food supply. The campaign has produced several short, animated films on You Tube with the purpose of appealing to people’s emotions regarding the problems of industrialized agriculture and the necessity for a sustainable and humane food production process. Chipotle even produced a video game that is based on the short animation videos posted on You Tube. These videos strategically cause people to recognize the problems that come along with industrialized agriculture. They bring you face to face with the inhumane methods of this billion-dollar industry and show how there is a much smarter, healthier, and humane way to do things. They do an amazing job at showing the problems in a way that sparks emotional response and then driving home the fact that things need to change. They cleverly show the change that needs to happen by explaining the way they source all their foods from local, sustainable agriculture.

Results

            The methods this campaign employed were quite successful. The scarecrow video alone saw over 6 million views on You Tube according to Petri (2013). The social media presence changed the ways that the company and the consumer communicated, allowing for a more authentic and trust building engagement between the two. The unconventional ways in which Chipotle carried out their advertising is what allowed them to reach their target audience effectively. So therefore, I believe Chipotle’s campaign was a successful one because they reached the target audience like they wanted, improved their brand awareness, and pushed people to think about humane and environmentally friendly ways to source our foods.

References

Alexandra Petri. “The Problem with Chipotle’s Scarecrow Commercial — and the Funny Or Die Parody.”Research Library Prep, Sep 22, 2013, https://search.proquest.com/docview/1434543948.

Peterson, Robyn M. Analysis: Chipotle’s ‘Cultivate a Better World’ Campaign. , 2014.

Wright, Michael R. “Psychographic
Characteristics of the
Millennial Generation:
Developing a Market
Segmentation for use in
the Wine Industry.”, 2007, https://1library.net/document/zk025key-psychographic-characteristics-millennial-generation-developing-market-segmentation-industry.html#fulltext-content.

Whether a program has grown to be too large and complex or contains vital pieces of information that are key to its structure and execution, information hiding can be a very useful tool to use. Information hiding is done to hide pieces of the code or program, making it unable to be accessed or edited by clients. This is accomplished via an interface that acts as a sort of partition hiding certain aspects that are not to be accessed or visible to clients. Information hiding allows one to see what an object does, not how it executes its behavior. Typically, as indicated by Johnston (2022), the aspects that are most likely to change are those that are hidden. Information hiding is beneficial because it allows one to make changes while limiting the impact on other parts of the system. Many use information hiding to shield the critical design system or internal workings from front-end users. Another level of abstraction is afforded here, for this shielding allows what a given object does to be exposed while keeping hidden how it does it. This shows how information hiding is more than just protecting important elements of codes or programs but is also aimed at a more streamlined and efficient end-user experience. For instance, the benefits of information hiding can easily be seen when numerous people are developing a program simultaneously. If one person is tasked with working on one portion of the program, not only would it be cumbersome for the entirety of the program to be accessible, but it could prove problematic. Information hiding allows this one person to gain a level of abstraction by only being able to access the piece of the program he is tasked with working on. This also voids any chances of this one programmer making any changes on any aspects of the program other than that which he is tasked with. The benefits of information hiding continue to grow exponentially as more people work within the same program, preventing unnecessary access and possible errors within certain parts of it. In sum, information hiding provides security and protection from error for everyone and everything involved.

References

Johnston, P. (2022). Information Hiding.Embedded Artistry.https://embeddedartistry.com/fieldmanual-terms/information-hiding/

Layering, in terms of First Principles of Cybersecurity, is the implementation of multiple steps of security. In order for a breach to occur, the hacker must get through each individual level before moving on to the next. This slows down the speed at which the system can be cracked and reduces the likelihood of a breach occurring. We can see layering within our homes. Some of us may have a safe in which we keep important things like cash or legal documents. There are multiple layers separating a burglar from our safe. These layers may consist of the locks on our doors, a surveillance system, and the code or combination of the safe. The burglar cannot get to the safe without getting through the surveillance system, and they cannot get through the surveillance system without first getting through our front door. These steps allow us to better protect our goods and prevent someone from getting them. Similarly, layering in cybersecurity provides security to the network. A few commonly used layers of security include perimeter, network, endpoint, and data security, as well as prevention and monitoring response. The latter two are arguably the most important, as the user is oftentimes the first line of defense in an attack. Prevention consists of training for the end user and risk management. Monitoring includes digital forensics and security dashboards. IBM suggests planning security from the most basic to the most complex (The Layered Defense Approach to Security. 2021). Generally, the most basic level will be system security. Following system security are network, application, and transmission level security. One should not only plan security within each individual level but also consider how each level interacts with the other to form a cohesive security plan. Layering seeks to prevent both active and passive attacks on a system. In an active attack, the hacker is attempting to access the system. On the other hand, a passive attack may be when network traffic is monitored in hopes of learning things about the system. In either instance, layering can aid in reducing the likelihood of successful attacks.

References

The Layered Defense Approach to Security. (2021). https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/i/7.3?topic=security-layered-defense-approach

The Evidence Just Doesn’t Add Up Indeed

Johnathon Held

College of Arts & Sciences, Liberty University

PHIL 240-B03: Christian Evidences

Dr. Sean Turchin

May 25, 2022

According to Raphael Lataster (2014) of The Washington Post in his article Did Historical Jesus Really Exist? The Evidence Just Doesn’t Add Up “there are clearly good reasons to doubt Jesus’ historical existence – if not to think it outright improbable” (Para. 9). Lataster claims to have good reasoning to doubt the historical Jesus. However, what I would like to show here, are the logical fallacies strewn throughout the claims against the existence of Jesus.

            Lataster starts out by immediately attempting to bar believers from contesting the information posed. Lataster claims that the quest for the historical Jesus is “among atheists” and that those who hold to the “Christ of Faith (the divine Jesus who walked on water) ought not to get involved” (Para. 1). There is something repulsive to me about a supposed scholarly article being started with a clear logical fallacy. You see, by claiming that believers “ought not get involved” based on their beliefs is a classic example of an ad hominem. This is whenever someone, instead of defending the argument that is at stake with applicable evidence, attacks another in a way that has nothing to do with the argument at stake. This fallacy is most often employed when someone feels threatened because of inadequately defending their position. Since the barring of those believing in a historical Jesus that differs from Lataster’s view of Jesus is a clear logical fallacy, I will continue to look at the premises of the argument here.   

            The article focuses most attention onto source criticism. According to Komoszewski et al. (2006) source criticism “has to do especially with the written sources that the Evangelists used when writing their Gospels” (Pg. 22). Lataster’s criticism here is focused upon the lack of early sources. However, it is not necessarily the lack of sources Lataster is concerned with, but rather sources that lack evidence to point to a Jesus other than the one Christianity believes in. Therefore, there is a great lack of evidence on Lataster’s part to refute the reliable information we do have today which is plausibly why he does not want anyone opposed to his erroneous ideologies to even take part in contesting his claims.

Lataster goes on to say that even the criterion of embarrassment is useless due to the “diverse nature of Christianity and Judaism” and “the anonymity of the authors” (Para. 4). Komoszewski et al. (2006) says that the criterion of embarrassment “has to do with things in the Gospels that could be perceived to be an embarrassment to early Christians, to the disciples, or even to Jesus” (P. 46). This factor of embarrassment historically has pointed to authenticity. However, Lataster argues that it is impossible to tell if these things deemed embarrassing harmed the image of the Church and therefore cannot possibly be used to point to the authenticity of a historical Jesus.

Lataster even points out that there are extra biblical sources such as Josephus and Tacitus that speak to the existence of Jesus, but because “the manuscripts were preserved by Christians” (Para. 7) then it is only reasonable to think that they “have obviously been changed by Christian scribes”. This my dear fellow students, is yet another clear logical fallacy. This is what is known as an appeal to ignorance. This fallacy attempts to state that something is true because it has not yet been proven false or vice versa. What makes this a fallacy is that there is no warranting evidence given.

I say all of this with the deepest humility and respect for Lataster. I pray that the Lord will open his eyes and allow his heart to experience truth instead of fallacy. I believe I have said enough to conclude with the fact that Lataster just lacks the evidence to support his claim that Jesus never existed.

Blessings in Christ,

Johnathon Held

References

Komoszewski, Ed, J., Sawyer, M. J., & Wallace, D. B. (2006). Reinventing Jesus: How Contemporary Skeptics Miss the Real Jesus and Mislead Popular Culture. Kregel Publications.

Lataster, R. (2014, December 18,). Did Historical Jesus Really Exist? The Evidence Just Doesn’t Add Up.Washington Post.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/12/18/did-historical-jesus-exist-the-traditional-evidence-doesnt-hold-up/

American Public Education System and a Much-Needed Overhaul

Johnathon Held

Liberty University

English 101-B17

Professor Charity Givens

September 13, 2021

American Public Education System and a Much-Needed Overhaul

 The American Public Education System is something that parents should be taking a close look at. It is this system that is responsible for training, educating, and equipping their children to enter the world. This is something that should pique the interest of not only parents, but all American citizens should be concerned about how well the next generations are being educated. After all, it is the children of these up-and-coming generations that will one day hold seats within government, that will own businesses and corporations, and ultimately will one day take over where one generation has left off. Therefore, evaluating this system that is responsible for the education system should be at the top of every American citizen’s list. A close evaluation of this system will show a dire need for reform. The American Public Education System must be reformed through increased funding for schools and teachers, a renewed and refocused interest in the student’s mental and physical well-being, and a major overhaul of the Common Core Standard.

One of the main problems with the American Public Education System is a lack of funding. Funding is required to adequately compensate faculty members and teachers as well as to provide supplies necessary for teaching and learning. Studies show undoubtedly that educators are underpaid, with school funding lower now than it was over a decade ago.

It’s been more than 10 years since the Great Recession, but many states are providing far less money to their schools today than they did before the crash. Our schools are crumbling and educators are leaving the profession in droves, unable to pay off student debt or make ends meet on stagnant salaries. (Alvarez, et al., 2018, n. pag.)

The problem with teachers leaving is obvious. If the teachers leave, who will teach the children? Yet, as Lynch (2017) says “34 states are contributing less funding on a per student basis than they did prior to the recession years” (Par. 6). This problem is ongoing, yet 34 of the states still choose to short-change their educators.

            Many teachers are leaving, but there are many that choose to stay even though the statistics are against them. These dedicated educators are already underpaid yet are quite often responsible for purchasing their own classroom supplies. In fact, teachers spend on average $485 of their own funds each year to provide classroom supplies (Underpaid Teachers and Crumbling Schools: How underfunding Public Education Shortchanges America’s Student, 2019, Pg. 4).

            So, educator salaries must increase, but how? Teachers’ salaries are currently funded by tax payer dollars, so legislature must change allowing for more funding. Children are the future of American society, and as the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child”. It is the responsibility of all members of society to raise intelligent children, and school taxes are a large part of that equation.

            Another part of this responsibility to raise intelligent children is providing and fostering a safe place for education to occur. When students do not feel safe physically or mentally, their focus will be divided. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs asserts that when humans’ fundamental, basic needs (Physiological, Safety) are not met, they will be focused on satisfying the higher-level ones (Belonging, Esteem, Self-actualization). Safe school environments positively impact student success. Alvarez et al. (2019) states “Educators understand if students don’t feel safe at school, achievement suffers. It’s the paramount duty of everyone in the community- and the politicians who represent them- to help create safe learning spaces” (n. pag.).

            Some may argue that increased security measures do not correlate with actual safety and may actually hinder the learning experience. There must be a balance between a proactive school and one that implements gregarious measures without careful consideration. This is not to say that no schools should have security measures in place such as metal detectors or security cameras. Students who are in danger either mentally or physically will not feel safe enough to concentrate on learning; security measures must be implemented following informed consideration for their well-being.

            One final yet major issue within the Public School System is the Common Core Standard. This standard was implemented so that all schools across the United States would have a uniform benchmark of performance. However, this results in educators teaching so that students may pass exams, rather than focusing on learning of concepts and critical thinking. “…the adoption of common core state standards may limit teaching to just testable information and stifle knowledge, flexibility, and creativity…” (Deas, Kenall 2018, pg. 12). Furthermore, teachers were not consulted or their impute sought when the standard was created, resulting in the standard not properly meeting the needs of students and schools. Deas, Kenall (2018, pg. 12), goes on to say, “…K-12 practitioners were excluded from the design of the policy….at the same time when policy researchers were arguing that policy should be understood and developed from the bottom-up…”. While a consistent benchmark may seem like a fine goal, students in underprivileged communities need more than a uniform standard of achievement. Deas, Kenall suggests “economic, programmatic, and social support” is critical for disadvantaged students and is good for teachers’ professional development (2018, pg. 6).

            Supporters of the Common Core argue that a uniform standard leads to more equitable success for all students and better measurable outcomes. However, states which have embraced the standard have seen negative effects on the achievement gap and increased drop-out rates

(Deas, Kenall, 2018, pg. 7). While the Common Core may be well-meaning, much more than a uniform standard needs to be put into place to help students truly succeed.

            The problems within the American Public School System are blatantly obvious and are not going away by themselves. Reforms must be made, from school funding, to children’s safety, to the Common Core Standard. It is the duty of society to see that a quality education is provided to each child. Each parent, neighbor, and legislator must take action and seek to improve the American Public Education System. The future of America literally depends on it.

References

Alvarez, B., Walker, T., Long, C. & Litvinov, A. (2018). 10 Challenges Facing Public Education Today. https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/10-challenges-facing-public-education-today

Deas, K. (2018). Evaluating Common Core: Are Uniform Standards a Silver Bullet for Education Reform? Educational Foundations (Ann Arbor, Mich.), 31(3-4), 47-62. https://search.proquest.com/docview/2204807034

Lynch, M. (2017, April 3,). 18 Reasons the U.S. Education System is Failing. https://www.theedadvocate.org/10-reasons-the-u-s-education-system-is-failing/

Underpaid Teachers and Crumbling Schools: How Underfunding Public Education Shortchanges America’s Students (2019)., U.S. Government Publishing Office.

Image of Salvation

Glorification

Johnathon Held

THEO 104-D04

            The image of salvation is honestly and truly quite an unimaginable and inconceivable thing when viewed in its totality. When we think of salvation, the doctrine of conversion is frequently looked at as the whole event. This, however, is just one act in God’s process of salvation. You see, what makes the image of salvation unimaginable and inconceivable for us is our finite fallen minds. The image of salvation is an act that started in eternity before we were even created, extended into our humanity through the person and work of Christ, and continues until the day of resurrection when those who have experienced the effectual call of Christ will be resurrected unto glory.

            Resurrected unto glory! That sounds so very lovely, but what does it mean to be resurrected unto glory? I know that as I was growing up, the notion of Heaven always came along with the idea of us floating around in the clouds playing harps and the like. It’s not a wonder that, as I was young, the idea of that heaven always sounded boring and weird. Honestly, that idea of heaven still sounds weird and boring to me. Therefore, I feel it is important for us as Christians to better understand the doctrine of glorification to better understand what our eternal future will possibly be like. Not only is the idea of floating in the clouds wrong, but I believe it paints a small picture of Christ and His kingdom and leaves many questions unanswered.

            So, what is the doctrine of glorification, and just how does it help us to understand our future eternal state? To understand the future, we must first look to the past. God created the first man Adam in the image of God. We can see, though, that through the sin of man, better known as the fall, the image of God is marred and distorted. It is not gone, however. Every single person roaming the earth, both now, in the past, and in the future, are made in the image of God. Paul explains where the problem with this image arises. Romans 1:23 (ESV) says all humans have “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things”. The problem ever since the fall of man is that all of creation bears witness to God, even though we are made in the very image of God, yet we choose to worship the creation instead of the creator. But God, in His incomprehensible grace, has sent His Son as the way to reconciliation with God, and His Spirit to indwell those with saving faith in Him. This very indwelling spirit allows us to display the glory of Christ working within us and through us.

And we know that for those that love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30 ESV)

 This is known as the golden chain because of the way it draws out our salvation for us link by link. It is also important to notice that it is all written in the past tense, as though it has already taken place. This is what is commonly referred to as the “already not-yet” reality of the life of those following Christ. It is said in the past tense to portray the promises of God as being so certain that we can speak of them as if they have already happened. Also, another way of thinking about this is that God is outside of time and, therefore, can say something is complete or finished, while within the confines of time, this may not yet be the reality. And we know this as Christians to be very true. We look around us today and see so much hurting and pain, so much evil, and hatred. We all struggle with our own lusts and temptations, our own fears and inadequacies. Our sinful fallen minds cannot fully comprehend the things of God. Paul speaks on this in 1 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV) “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known”. He says that for now, we see dimly, resulting from our fallen state. He goes on to say that one day we will see face to face, and one day, we will fully know and see the wonderful glory of our God in Christ. This will only be possible through our glorification. You see, the problem of sin has marred us to the point that we must be given entirely new bodies to inhabit the eternal kingdom of God. So, although this essay is focused on glorification, it is necessary to mention that glorification is, in its essence, the culmination of our sanctification. This is because only in our glorified state will we be completely and finally sanctified. It would be impossible for us to be in the direct presence of our Holy God with our sin-corrupted minds and bodies. It is only in our glorification that we will be completely and totally conformed to the image of Christ.

So just, what are our glorified bodies going to be like? Well, first and foremost, we will be like Christ. 1 John 3:2 (ESV) says, “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is”. We will be eternal. No longer will our bodies be subject to death and decay. Our new bodies will be incorruptible. Where our old earthly bodies were riddled with weaknesses, our new bodies will be made strong through Christ himself. 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV) says, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you”. 1 John 5:11 (ESV) says, “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son”. We will be able to eat and drink. Revelation 19 paints the picture of a wedding feast in celebration of the consummation of Christ and His Church. Christ alludes to this feast in the gospel of Mark. Mark 14:25 records Jesus telling His disciples at the last supper, “Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God” (ESV).  We will be holy and righteous. All sin will be washed away, never to surface again. We will be comforted by the Comforter Himself and will forever dwell safely in His presence. Revelation 21:3-4 (ESV) says, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away”.

An understanding of the doctrine of glorification has many implications. We should look to this doctrine when we are feeling the effects of this broken and fallen world. We should look at our current situations, no matter what they may be, no matter how big or small, or seemingly insurmountable they may seem, and realize that the Lord is working all these things together for the good. Just like the faithful people in Hebrews Chapter 11, we must remember that we are strangers and exiles on the earth. This is not our home. We are destined and always yearning for that heavenly city. With this being said, much like the Jewish exiles while away in their captivity throughout Babylon, they were instructed not to forsake the city in which they were being held captive. We also must not forsake the place we are now, even though this is not our real home. We are given the opportunity and the obligation to reflect God’s glory to all while we are still here on this earth. Let us do this with a humble sense of God’s presence with us now as we await with great anticipation a future time when we will see and experience His glory face to face. 

References

English Standard Version Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Knowing what you believe allows you to live a more purposeful life and to be confident in your beliefs. It is particularly important for Christians to know why they believe what they do because we are called to share the gospel with others. If we do not know appropriate defenses for our faith, sharing the good news would be impossible and become subjective. For Christians, the ability to share the reason for our faith allows us to not only share it with others but it deepens our own faith.

I believe that God is the Creator of the universe, as evidenced by creation itself. For something to exist must mean that there is an unchanging, eternal being that brought substance to life. I believe that the Bible is the Word of God because it was written across many decades of time and throughout many different areas of the world, yet remains uniform in its proclamation of who God is and how He works. I believe that Jesus Christ is the only Son of God. He lived a sinless life and was crucified, died, and rose again from the dead, putting death to death and making atonement for the children of God so that they may be in right standing before God the Father. I believe this because the Bible proclaims it to be true. The book of Genesis was written about 1400 years before Jesus’s birth. Genesis 3:15 (English Standard Bible, 2001) says, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” God gave this promise of redemption to all mankind on the very day that we collectively fell through our federal head, Adam. The book of Isaiah was written about 700 years prior to Jesus’ birth. Isaiah 53 describes Jesus’s arrest, “trial”, and crucifixion with an eerie level of accuracy. Beyond this, Jesus’ existence has been verified by sources from outside the Bible, such as Josephus’s writings. These are but a sliver of the beliefs I hold about God, the Bible, and Jesus. Regardless, these beliefs are general truths that I can share with others and hopefully begin more in-depth conversations that lead to the minutia of my beliefs. 

References

English Standard Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

1. What are various beliefs regarding the gospel message in our culture?

One prevalent view of the gospel in our society is that it is simply unnecessary to believe in such a thing. The idea of original sin and total depravity is lost on most, so it should not be surprising that the message of salvation is anything but a silly concept. If mankind is generally good, why do we need to be offered salvation? The Bible makes it incredibly clear that mankind is totally fallen and, without the salvation of Christ, will be lost forever. Psalm 14:3 (English Standard Bible, 2001) says, “They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”

Another view of the gospel in our culture is that there must be something that we do to earn salvation. Some believe that you must be generally moral, donate your time or money frequently, pray to Mary, or perform other acts to earn your way to salvation. This view of the gospel is missing the heart of it: that Christ freely gave of Himself and has freely bought His children! Moreover, before we were even born, before the foundations of the earth were laid, God’s children were already chosen. There is absolutely nothing that we can do to earn our salvation. This even includes our seeming ‘decision’ for Christ or a salvation prayer – the hand of God moves on His children to create faith in them, drawing them to Himself.

2. What are some specific emotional reasons non-Christians do not accept Christ as Savior?

One emotional reason that non-Christians do not accept Christ is that they have been hurt by those within the church or ‘Christians’ throughout their life; perhaps they were bullied or abused by someone who claimed the title ‘Christian’. Sadly, this is so very prevalent today. As Christians, when faced with someone who has had an experience such as this, we must be loving, gracious, and abundantly patient. We must make it a priority to show that the truth of Jesus Christ and His unmatched character ought not to be judged based upon fallen and sinful humanity. We must show that as Christians, we are just as desperately in need of the grace of Christ as anyone else.

Another reason someone may not believe the gospel due to emotions is that they feel anger towards God. Many times, this stems from a deep loss within their lives. It is interesting, because this person does not reject God’s existence, but rather is mad or hurt and chooses not to be on ‘good terms’ with Him. This is something that must be treated with tenderness and gentle care. A hurting heart that recognizes God’s existence yet is extremely upset due to some traumatic experience is a very sensitive and personal issue. This is an issue that may last for years or even a lifetime. When led to minister to someone dealing with such heartache, grief, and strife, one might wonder what should be said. Sometimes, when dealing with traumatic situations, deep-rooted pain, and grief, it is best to leave more unsaid. Many times, people in these sorts of situations appreciate someone just being there.

3. What are some specific moral reasons non-Christians do not accept Christ as Savior?

A moral reason that someone may not believe in God, as noted above, is that they believe they are a good person. Question 2 of the Heidelberg Catechism (Ursinus, 2016) asks, “What must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort?” (The ‘comfort’ is that a believer belongs wholly to Christ, and He has saved them.) The answer is, “Three things: first, how great my sin and misery are; second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery; third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance.” The first part of this answer is key to understanding the heart of the gospel.

Conversely, someone may very truly believe that they have transgressed so badly that a perfect God could never forgive them. Sadly, this is just the opposite of the truth. God is not weak in that He cannot bring Himself to love the most wretched and depraved of man.

4. What are some specific intellectual reasons non-Christians do not accept Christ as Savior?

An intellectual reason someone may reject God is that they claim there is a lack of evidence. Many, in fact, claim that there is mounting evidence against the existence of Christ and His death and resurrection.

A second reason that one may reject God is that they believe other worldviews are either equally valid or superior to Christianity. Perhaps the way of salvation found within Mormonism, Buddhism, Scientology, etc. is more convincing to them intellectually.

5. What are some apologetic methods Christians can share to address these reasons and better communicate the gospel message?

One apologetic method that I have seen practiced is relative to those who believe that all mankind is generally good. It is to present the Ten Commandments and to ask the person if they have transgressed any of them. You then ask what you call someone who steals something, what you call someone who lusts after another person who is not their spouse, what you call someone who lies, etc. This shows them that they have broken the law and are a self-proclaimed thief, adulterer, liar, etc. It is important to stress that God’s law requires perfection, and no one has ever satisfied that requirement but Christ.

Another method that can be used to better communicate the gospel to those who do not believe is relational evangelism. This applies to those who have been hurt by the church. This method demands a greater level of devotion than the one discussed above because it requires you to develop a relationship and remain as a constant presence in their life. This allows you the opportunity to speak into their life, to model how Christians truly love others, and it gives you a valid outlet to discuss salvation and God with them on a more personal level.

References

English Standard Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Ursinus, Z. (2016). Heidelberg catechism. Max Bollinger.

To cultivate a friendship with a co-worker who holds to secular humanism, I would treat them as I do any other person. It may be true that I develop a friendship with them to be able to speak into their life in a meaningful way because I wish for them to be converted, but I should genuinely care about them. This endeavor should never be done merely for a favorable response, but again because I generally care for someone and have concern over the state of their soul. I would look for ways to relate to them and show them that I am sincerely interested in what they say.

When preparing to share the gospel, I would consider what I know about them already, and I would think about worldview comments they have made in the past. This will help me to consider how I might best interact with them and anticipate possible objections or concerns they will have. I would likely consider a few big ideas to discuss, but I do not believe it is wise to carefully craft a conversation and guide it as it occurs, as this comes off as a sales pitch rather than an honest conversation. It is wise to make the interaction a genuine dialogue rather than a monologue or to expect an immediate response. I must also remind myself that it is not myself or even the person I am talking to who is able to ‘make a decision’ or turn toward God. God alone softens hearts toward him and calls us to repentance. Over and over, the Bible speaks of God actively changing hearts. Ezekiel 11:19 (English Standard Bible, 2001) says, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Other examples include Jeremiah 24:7 and Romans 9:18.

Someone who is a secular humanist likely believes that science answers all questions of origin and purpose and that there is nothing more than what we see here on earth. Therefore, the idea of God is both an impossibility and an unnecessity. Another reason they may struggle to accept Christ is that Christianity has a clearly defined set of ethics, while secular humanist ethics are based on the outcome of a result. The idea that there is a sovereign God and that there is an ultimate ethic to life may very well be off-putting to them.

Personally, I believe that I struggle with ‘breaking the ice’ and starting a conversation about faith and the gospel. I believe this is because I overthink what to say or how to say it. I incorrectly view ‘sharing the gospel’ as a switch rather than a general stance in my interactions with people—it is as though I view it as either actively presenting the gospel or just simply talking with someone. This is certainly not the correct way to approach the subject, as every interaction I have with others should reflect God, and each conversation should be viewed as an opportunity to plant seeds. It is simple yet quite difficult to implement this approach.

References

English Standard Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Critical Thinking Research Paper – Secular Humanism

Johnathon D. Held

School of Divinity, Liberty University

RLGN 104-D16: Christian Life and Biblical Worldview

Dr. Stephen Putney

December 5, 2022

Part 1: Worldview Questions

            In secular humanism, it is believed that mankind is simply a chance product of billions of years of matter interacting with other matter. What we know as life today is a byproduct of vast amounts of time. There are no supernatural entities, particularly God, within this worldview. A secular humanist magazine, Free Inquiry, states that this worldview is “…philosophically naturalistic. It holds that nature (the world of everyday physical experience) is all there is” (What is Secular Humanism?).  Like many other worldviews, secular humanism believes that man’s existence is not specifically purposeful and came about by coincidence.

            Man is simply “a higher form of ordinary animal life” (Colley, 2007), but ultimately, humans are not of any more value than other animals. If secular humanists honestly follow their worldview to its conclusion, humans are only as valuable as they are useful. The scientific method is an important principle for secular humanists. Because of this, secular humanists often view evolution as the most fitting lens through which to examine life.

            This belief does not provide a solid foundation upon which to develop man’s purpose in life. Because humanity is viewed as simply another cosmic event, there is no ultimate telos. However, secular humanists often still assert that there is some unique purpose behind our existence. According to the book Finding Your Worldview (Weider & Gutierrez, 2014), “Man’s value and purpose is seen in his or her ability to leave a positive impact on others and the world around them.”

            For the secular humanist, ethics are determined by the result that an action produces. There is, then, no ultimate right and wrong, as there is no basis on which it can be founded in an evolutionary, completely materialistic world. This logically leads to relativism, which “teaches that truth is dependent upon the individual or society and is subject to change” (Weider & Gutierrez, 2014). Not all secular humanists will hold to relativism, though. Some believe that right and wrong simply do not exist and are an emotive reaction to an action. Regardless, all secular humanist ethics are man-centered (Carter, 2021). Man is the most evolved creature and therefore has the responsibility of establishing morals within their respective situations and societies.

            Secular humanists believe that the natural world is all that exists. Therefore, death simply means to no longer exist. From a materialistic point of view, the body stops working and decays, and the life cycle continues. This portion of the secular humanist worldview often results in high levels of community involvement and philanthropic activities. On the other hand, this can also lead to a depressive state in times of hurt or pain because, ultimately, living and dying are both purposeless (Weider & Gutierrez, 2014).

Part 2: Compare and Contrast

            There are several similarities between secular humanism and a biblical worldview. However, these similarities are more generalities than they are specifics. Generally, a secular humanist and biblical worldview would agree that life should be valued, that humans are the most developed creature, and that it is virtuous to positively impact others. Both worldviews agree about these concepts on the surface.

There are certainly disagreements as to how or why these concepts should be exercised, though. For instance, one who holds a biblical worldview would have no problem agreeing that man is the most developed creature. However, this is because he was made in the image of God, not because of evolutionary processes and happenstance. They would also state that man was made for the purpose of bringing glory to God. A biblical worldview asserts that all humans, including in utero, disabled, or elderly, have equal value and that life should be preserved and valued. Conversely, the secular humanist would state that man is the most evolved creature because of cosmic progress. Because of this, man is only different from other animals because of his autonomy. While secular humanists claim to value human life, if they follow their reasoning to its logical end, there is no ethical argument against the euthanasia of those who are severely disabled, elderly, or otherwise unable to survive without assistance. An argument also cannot be made against abortion or infanticide. “Preborn children, infants, and some elderly people are, to various degrees, incapable of “shaping their own lives,” and are reliant on the care of others. It seems that humanism provides little, if any, protection for fragile people such as these” (Colley, 2007). After all, if the natural world is all that we see, and someone does not have complete autonomy due to disability or age, why should they be kept alive and cared for?

The secular humanist rejects all that Christianity is founded upon, including the Old and New Testaments, the divinity of Christ, and any concept of God (What is Secular Humanism?).  The Bible provides sufficient and trustworthy answers to the questions of origin, identity, purpose, morality, and destiny. These answers are certainly at odds with those that secular humanism provides. Paul writes in Colossians 2:8 (English Standard Bible, 2001), “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Further, in 2 Corinthians 10:5 (English Standard Bible 2001), Paul writes, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to Christ.” We are called to submit to what God declares through His Word. By this, we are able to measure all other worldviews and, in turn, better witness to the world.

References

Carter, J. (2021). 9 Things You Should Know About Secular             Humanism. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-things-secular-humanism/

Colley, P. D., Caleb. (2007). Secular humanism and the value of human life. Apologetics Press, https://apologeticspress.org/secular-humanism-and-the-value-of-human-life-2171/

English Standard Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Weider, L., & Gutierrez, B. (2014). Finding Your Worldview: Thinking Christianly About the World. B&H Academic.

What is secular humanism? Free Inquiry, https://secularhumanism.org/what-is-secular-humanism/

Worldview Research Paper

Johnathon D. Held

School of Divinity, Liberty University

RLGN 104-D16: Christian Life and Biblical Worldview

Dr. Stephen Putney

November 14, 2022

Part 1: What is a worldview?

One’s worldview is simply the way in which one engages their thoughts, emotions, and decisions with the world around them. It may be intentionally established, or it may be developed without any particular thought process. Everyone possesses a worldview regardless of the depth or intention devoted to it. The term originated from Immanuel Kant’s Critique of Judgement. It was eventually translated to mean “our intuition of the world” (Weider & Gutierrez, 2014). More contemporarily, Colson and Pearcey define the term as, “The big picture that directs our daily decisions and actions” (Weider & Gutierrez, 2014).

Part 2: Worldview Questions

The Question of Origin

            The first worldview question asks, “How did we get here?” A biblical worldview answers this by stating that God created the earth and all that is in it (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 45:12). Whether one holds to creation having happened across six literal 24-hour days or something more contemporary such as the Gap Theory or Scientific Creationism, all would agree that God is responsible for all of creation and is the reason that humanity exists.

The Question of Identity

            Are humans more than mere animals? A biblical worldview would answer emphatically yes. From the creation of the world, God gave man dominion over all of creation (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 8:4-8). Most importantly, humans are the only created being that bears the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). We are called to reflect God’s love and care for us to each other and all of creation. We are to strive to mirror all of God’s attributes in our thoughts, words, and actions.

The Question of Meaning/Purpose

            What is man’s purpose in life? The Westminster Larger Catechism addresses this in the very first question-and-answer set. The answer is, “Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God and fully enjoy him forever” (The Westminster Divines Assembly, 2013). Humans were created so that they might know God and worship him (1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 100). Further, Christ taught that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord (Matthew 22:37-38).

The Question of Morality

            This question grapples with right and wrong, or, considering the last three questions and answers, how should one live? Christian ethics are built upon the Word of God and not the shaky foundation of human reasoning and opinion. All of mankind fell in Adam and therefore possess original sin and need salvation (Romans 9:23). Salvation can be found only through repentance and trust in Jesus (Ezekiel 33:10-11; Romans 8:11). The biblical worldview adheres to the Bible as the standard for right and wrong because only the Lord can provide a perfect and unchanging ethic.

The Question of Destiny

            The final question asks what happens after death. The biblical worldview can confidently answer that if one has put their trust in God, that person will go to Heaven to live eternally with the Lord, for there is only one way to salvation (John 5:24; Acts 4:12). On the other hand, if that person has not repented before their death, they will be punished in Hell for all eternity (John 3:36). The question of destiny is ultimately found in the sovereign will and election of God, although man is still accountable for his actions and inaction.

Part 3: How might/should a biblical worldview influence the way you…

…think about and treat a person who doesn’t hold your beliefs?

Christians are called to evangelize those who have not heard or who do not believe the Gospel. Christians should be extremely concerned for the salvation of those who hold other beliefs. Jesus says in John 14:6 (English Standard Bible, 2001), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Christians should treat all others with respect, as they are also God’s image-bearers. Our utmost concern for those with other beliefs should be the salvation of their souls. Out of that concern should flow a special pity and patience toward them so they might come to know God’s saving grace.

…decide what to do when asked to do something unethical at work?

Colossians 3:23 (English Standard Bible, 2001) states, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”. Christians are to view their work as an extension of their service to God. As such, they should stand firm in their beliefs when confronted with compromising and unethical situations. We should be able to say with Peter, as he said in Acts 5:29 (English Standard Bible, 2001), “We must obey God rather than men.” We must always keep in mind that right and wrong are not determined by man.

References

Hinson, E. (2016). Everyday Biblical Worldview. B&H Academic.

Powell, D. (2006). Holman QuickSource Guide to Christian Apologetics. Holman Reference.

The Westminster Divines Assembly. (2013). The Westminster Larger Catechism. Great Christian Books.

Weider, L., & Gutierrez, B. (2014). Finding Your Worldview: Thinking Christianly About the World. B&H Academic.

Thinking Critically 1

In this short paper, I will set out to answer three questions. My first question pertains to convergence, my second to the free press in a democratic society, and my third is on my trustworthiness of the mainstream media.

 What is convergence? Describe what convergence has meant in your life and how it affects you.

          So, just what exactly is convergence? Well, it can be defined as the erosion of traditional distinctions among media. But just what exactly does all this mean? Well, let me give an example to better explain. If we look at the Newspaper, for instance, we will see convergence in perfect clarity. You see, traditionally, the newspaper used printing as a medium, and that is the distinction it held for many years. So, if convergence is defined as the erosion of these distinctions, where do we see this happening in the newspaper industry? We must look at how we can hop onto our smart devices, get onto the web, and search for a local newspaper. Most likely, we will be able to read at least some, if not all, of that newspaper’s articles in some format online. This is a wonderful example of convergence within the media. The newspaper held to for years the distinction that they produced their content through print and delivered to subscribers physically. Now though, with the influx of new technologies and the need to reach a more fragmented audience, we see the newspaper industry utilizing a different medium or platform to deliver their products.

            I think back to when I was just a young child. We did not have cell phones, computers, or e-readers. We didn’t know what Netflix was, and we had never heard of the electronic entity named Alexa. I was born in 1990, and sometime after the beginning of the milennium, I purchased my first cell phone. Not just any old cell phone, but one that had a camera and allowed me the ability to take underwater videos. That may not sound that impressive today, but it was a huge deal at that point in time. I remember when Myspace first showed up in the social media world, and I remember how, as high school students, this was how we communicated much of the time. Then along came Facebook, and it seemed as though overnight, everyone stopped using their Myspace and converted to Facebook for their social media platform of choice. I say all of this to show just what convergence has meant to me in my life. Convergence has meant for me that the ways in which I engage in media have drastically changed over my lifetime. I have seen the ways in which media industries have utilized new technologies for the delivery of their various products, and I see how, in response to the use of these different platforms, I have become quite a platform agnostic.

            Overall, I would say convergence has affected me in many ways. I have seen many different forms of media change throughout the course of my life. Through this change has come an era where we are able to basically access any media or information at the push of a button, or better yet, the swipe of a finger. The ways in which we can engage with media now are completely unprecedented in comparison to the ways available to us just over a decade ago. Many beneficial things come along with this ease of access to the media. But there are also a lot of negative aspects of this type of access. You have more access to things that may or may not be beneficial for you as an individual. As believers in Christ, we must look at media just like we look at everything else through a biblical lens. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:23(NKJV), “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify”. Paul is speaking to the church in Corinth here about Christian liberty. He goes on to talk about eating food that has been offered to idols. Basically, he says you are free to do this, but if it is going to offend a fellow believer to do so, then don’t. Then he goes on to say, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31 NKJV). I think we can take from this a practical application when we look at media or any area of our lives. In the case of the ease of access to media, I think this should play a huge part in directing us on not only what we are to watch or listen to but should also greatly influence the ways in which we ourselves engage with things such as social media. We must be asking ourselves, does this message bring glory to God? Does this Facebook post bring glory to Christ? Is this show I am binge-watching helping to bring me closer to Christ?

Which culture should receive the most credit for the invention of printing?

          I would tend to lean on the side of the European culture in and around the time of the printing press as the culture that should receive the most credit for the invention of printing. I say this while recognizing the considerable roles the early American colonists played as well. But I would say that the American wrought changes in the printing industry were only a possibility stemming from the world-changing invention of Gutenberg’s press.

            You see, Gutenberg’s press not only played a key and vital role in the Protestant Reformation, but it played a role in the foundational building blocks of what progressively would influence the rise of democracy. Therefore, I would argue that, although the early Americans played huge roles in not only the technological advancements of mass printing and the fight for freedom of speech and a free press, they were also only aiding in the progression of a mass media that started in culture before them and an ocean apart.

            Matthew 4:4 (NKJV) says, “But He answered and said, “It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”. Gutenberg’s sole aim with the use of his invention was to print Bibles. I look at my laptop and cell phone, and I can’t help but think about how technology has advanced since the time of the Gutenberg press. With these advances come many changes, many problems, but also an immense opportunity. We now have access to the Bible in thousands of languages and can basically access it anywhere, anytime, on a smart device. With all these advances that have made it easier than ever before to access content such as the Bible, you would think we would see more Christians diving into God’s word. More Christians with a passion to know Jesus Christ more intimately in the scriptures. I look at myself and know that there is always room to grow and much reason to devote myself more and more to the study of the Word of God. We all should be striving to always devote ourselves to God and to actually spend time with Him. As we devote ourselves to Him and come to know His Word more intimately, it should drive us to want to encourage others to do the same.

Debate the following proposition: Books are an obsolete medium.

          Books most certainly are not an obsolete medium, nor will they ever be. Books are more diverse and able to host ideas that are new, challenging, or unpopular. Books have traditionally been seen as a powerful cultural force for many reasons. Today, there are more books being published than ever before. Doesn’t exactly say to me “obsolete”.

            Some might say, “What about convergence within the Book industry?” Yes, undeniably, convergence has happened within the book industry as it has with all other mass media. The most obvious way to see this is how the internet is changing how books are sold and distributed. We now most likely either have ourselves or know someone with an e-reader. As print continues to be digitized and e-books published, more and more readers flock to these new avenues of digital reading, reinforcing the prospect of our platform-agnostic culture.

So no, I do not believe books are, or that they ever could be, an obsolete medium. Matthew 24:35 (ESV) says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” I know beyond any doubt that even if every other book did somehow someway become obsolete, the Words contained within the Holy, inerrant Word of God will never, and could never become obsolete.

Experience With Theology Essay

Johnathon Held

Theo 104-D04

When I hear the word theology, I automatically think of the deep study that takes a systematic approach to understand the scriptures. While this is true of theology, it is not the whole of what this word implies. The term theology is the combination of two Greek words; Theos, which means God, and logos which means word. So, when looked at in its simplest way, theology means words about God. I have heard so many people tell me that they do not want the theology stuff. I always look right at them and say, “So you don’t want to hear words about God?” Most people do not realize that we are all theologians because we all have thoughts on or about God. Whether we believe in God or not, we have thoughts about him. By not believing our thoughts are about His nonexistence. In contrast, by believing our thoughts are about His existence and, as a result, an understanding of the character of that existence. This is where believers in God find themselves in contradiction to one another. It is imperative that we as believers have a foundation on which to base our understanding of the existence of God. Thanks be to God, we have a collection of 66 books that have been divinely inspired and preserved throughout the generations of mankind that are sufficient for the Christian to understand the character and nature of the God we serve.

            In the past, I was not familiar with theology or would have even been interested in it. But by the grace of God, I came to know Jesus Christ in a real and intimate way through His word, thus changing in me without even realizing it my theological beliefs and understanding. I did not know what the term theology meant then, but that does not at all mean that I did not possess a theological point of view. All the while, I may not have understood what theology was, but as I read the Scriptures and interacted with the people God had placed in my life, unknowingly, my theological understanding grew. Eventually, I did come to learn what the term theology meant. I have come to understand that theology is of the utmost importance. Theology is not just some word that can be thrown around like it is meaningless since your theological outlook very much so determines whether your soul will be damned or not.

            Over the next eight weeks of this course, I am eager to learn much. I want to take away a better understanding of systematic theology and the ways in which we can go about studying in a systematic way. I always love learning more about theology proper or the study of the nature and work of God. Christology is closely related to this but deservingly so in its own category. I want to take a closer look at and see others’ understanding of soteriology as well as eschatology because these seem to be the most controversial within the Protestant Church. Overall, though, I pray that over the course of the next eight weeks, God abundantly blesses these studies. I pray that through our time together, God will grant me knowledge, strength, and a closer, more intimate relationship as I take the time to learn more about who God is, what He has done, and whom He has appointed me to be. I pray that I never become puffed up with knowledge but that I am always humbled at my thoughts about God, His work, or anything within the universe because it is all from Him.

Biblical Metanarrative Essay

THEO 104-D04

Johnathon Held

            Redemption is a word that means so very much yet is quite simple to define. Easton (2008) defines it as “the purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom”. We can see this redemption throughout the entire Bible. Redemption plays a key role in everything that God does and, furthermore, shows us more about who God is. Ultimately, Christ is the One through whom this redemption is accomplished and made available to mankind.  In this essay, redemption will be looked at as it plays out through the Scriptures and as it is seen unfolding throughout the metanarrative of the Scriptures. Christ will also be viewed in terms of the metanarrative.

            The metanarrative of the Scriptures is simply the overarching story displaying the unity of the Bible. The Bible is made up of 66 books with many authors and was written over the span of about 1500 years. Although vast differences can be seen amongst specific writing styles, topics, reasons for writing, and time, there remains unity throughout the Bible through the telling of a grander narrative. This narrative is easiest to follow when broken down into four categories. These categories (creation, fall, redemption, and new creation) are the four major themes seen throughout the metanarrative of the Scriptures. In other words, through the Scriptures, God tells the story of His creation falling away from Him into sin and His redemptive acts to make a people for himself and ultimately to make a new creation, where creation and creator dwell together in perfect harmony.

            The theme of redemption is evident throughout all the Scriptures. Although creation does not mention a specific redemptive act, the act of creation alone has made it possible for there to be anything in need of redemption. So, in a sense, the act of God’s creating was the first act in God’s plan of redemption because, in so doing, God has made something that would eventually need redemption. I say eventually because after God had created everything, Genesis 1:31 (KJV) says, “And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good”. This indicates that all was well at this point in time. Eventually, though, a tempest to the garden would cause both Adam and Eve to disobey God for the first time, opening their eyes to sin, guilt, and shame. This is known as the fall, and as a result, God banishes Adam and Eve from the garden to keep them from eating from the tree of life. As was pronounced, Adam and Eve would surely die for their sin, but this justice was not handed out absent of redemption. Genesis 3:15 is what is commonly referred to as the protoevangelium which means first gospel. Genesis 3:15 is a promise for future redemption, a time when the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent. This promise of redemption and countless more are fulfilled when the redemption of God manifests itself as Jesus of Nazareth. This Jesus lived a life for the sole purpose of God’s redemption. This life He lived absolutely perfectly, never once sinning or wavering from the fulfillment of His Father’s will. He was obedient unto the will of His Father, even unto the point of death on a cross. This death Jesus dies willingly as a propitiation or as a payment to redeem the lost. 1 John 4:10 (KJV) says, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins”. So, God, in the most beautiful display of redemption, accepts the blood of His crucified Son as the appeasement for sin. Jesus rose from the dead and about 40 days later ascended into Heaven to be seated at the right hand of His Father. From there, the Bible says He will return to judge the living and the dead. After the judgment of Christ, there are promises of a new creation. It is more than just people that need redemption. Romans 8:22 (KJV) says, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now”. All of creation is groaning, waiting for redemption. Waiting for the new creation, where there will be no more sin, pain, worry or strife. There will only be the unity, peace, and joy that come with being in God’s presence.

            In all this talk on the metanarrative and especially the redemption seen throughout it, we must connect some dots here. Christ is basically the main focal point of all the Scriptures. Throughout the Old Testament, everything points forward and works toward that one moment in history when the time is fulfilled by the One who is called Christ entering the flesh. The New Testament deals with Christ’s short life and ministry, death, resurrection, and growth because of these happenings. Jesus is seen most obviously in the events of His life and ministry, death and resurrection, but can be seen throughout the pages of Scriptures both typified and predicted. He was also always a crucial part of every single thing that happens simply because He has always existed. John 1:1-3 (KJV) says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without him was not anything made that was made”. John later in this same chapter reveals that “the Word” is none other than Jesus Christ. So not only was Jesus Christ with God in the beginning, but He also was God. Furthermore, Jesus was the one responsible for creation. So, not only did Jesus give of Himself sacrificially in a way that shows the love of God like none other, but He always Has been and always will be God.

            The redemption of God and the person and work of Jesus Christ go hand in hand. Jesus Christ was there laying the foundations of the world that He Himself would one day enter the confines of to redeem a people to call His own. He will use the power of His Spirit working in and through His chosen people to build a nation that lives for the glory of God. When the time has come, and the Lord Jesus comes again, He will completely remake the world in a way that allows Him and His people to dwell together eternally.

References

Easton, M. G. (2008). Easton’s illustrated bible dictionary. WORDsearch Corp.

  King James Bible. (2017). Cambridge University Press. (Original work published 1769).

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

THEO 104-D04

Johnathon Held

As we look around at the world we live in today, many people believe that truth is subjective. According to many today, we cannot even rely on the God-given physical makeup we were born with. We are told that we can be anything we want to be. All we must do is try hard and put our minds to it. We are taught the importance of self-esteem and doing whatever it is that makes us happy. Sadly, this seems to be the mainstream ideology of most people in western culture today. Worse yet, instead of the Church influencing secular culture to conform, much of the evangelical church today seems to have sat back and allowed secular ideologies and cultures to permeate the Church. Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD) is something I believe is prevalent in our society today. Not just within our society at large but even within the walls of our churches. Many professing Christians today only want to hear about the good things in the Scriptures. They only want to hear about the blessings, promises of joy, comfort, and, ultimately, eternal life. Many professing Christians today seem to emphasize on being good people rather than pointing to the only One who was good, Jesus Christ. Many more yet tragically feel the need to place inclusivity above all else, including ultimate truth. Churches, sadly, have seemed to become a numbers game. How many people can we get to show up, and how many raised their hands for the sinner’s prayer? As a result of this, the Gospel message gets watered down so as not to offend anyone. The ultimate concern is not about the state of people’s souls, just whether they are coming back next Sunday or whether they are enrolled in some program. There is seldom talk about sinfulness or repentance. Messages seem to focus on edification only and making people feel good about themselves. Sounds a lot like a component of MTD to me. If you find yourself a part of a church like this, I will absolutely suggest that you run away immediately. If the prime focus of your church is not teaching and preaching the full scope of the Biblical message and focusing on the truth that is found in Jesus Christ, then you are in a bad spot. I do not believe many who hold to any of the components of MTD know they are followers of it. However, when one understands MTD, it becomes blatantly obvious that it is still prevalent in our society today. May God raise up people who will boldly proclaim His truth through their words and deeds.

Blessings in Christ,

Johnathon Held

Reflection Essay

THEO 104-D04

Johnathon Held

The most beautiful thing about theology to me is that it is something we will never plumb the depths of. I believe that even throughout our eternal state, we will constantly be growing in our understanding of who God is. I believe that throughout all of eternity, we will search for the richness of His grace and the wonderful truth that is His gospel and will never find an end to the treasure found in our wonderful God. I cannot say that my view on theology changed over the course of this class. I came into this class with knowledge and understanding of who God is as he reveals Himself to us in His word. However, I have greatly appreciated the intentionality that comes along with taking this class. It has allowed me to learn and grow more in the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, which in turn allows my understanding of who God is to grow. The past eight weeks have directed me to portions of the Scriptures I would not likely have read if I were not in this class. The past eight weeks of this class have also affected my prayer life in many ways. Not only have I asked the Lord for grace, strength, and humility for this class, but it has been a great opportunity for me to reflect on the salvific work done both in me and throughout the history of creation.

            Theology often seems to be more easily understood within a mental capacity rather than being applied within a physical capacity. When I look at my own life and think about God’s promises, the nature of God, and specifically the holiness of God, I cannot help but feel like a complete failure. This is because it breaks my heart to know that even after having experienced the grace and love of God in my life, I cannot seem to help myself from sin at times. In these very times, the principles taken from familiarizing yourself with theology from the study of God’s word truly make a difference. You see, one principle taken from a theological perspective for my case is to understand that as Romans 5:8 (ESV) says, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Christ died for me while I was still a slave to my sin. How much more will He be for me now that His indwelling spirit is at work within me, convicting me for the sin I presently commit? Instead of putting myself in the penalty box every time I feel unworthy, I must instead cling to Christ, knowing and trusting in His promises and understanding that He is using all things (including my sinfulness) to mold me and shape me into the very image of Christ.

            Often the hardest part about being a Christian for many people is going out and sharing the gospel with people or just sharing the wealth of knowledge God has so graciously blessed them with. For me, though, this is often not the case. You see, I absolutely love going out and engaging with people. They could be my best friends or complete strangers. Either way I absolutely love just talking with people. So, my problem is not necessarily talking, but it is talking effectively and with a purpose. I am often guilty of talking too much and not listening nearly enough. So, I hope to be able to pass on the information I have learned in this class in a way that is humble, in a way that is empathetic to the situation at hand, and in a way that allows two-way conversation instead of just a one-sided instruction.

             We, as Christians, must be fervent about the study of theology. Fervent both in the sense of being passionate about growing in it and passing it on. We should be fervent about passing on true, sound theological doctrines because if we do not, others will not relent in passing on their man-made doctrines.

References

English Standard Version Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

The Sacred/Secular Divide

THEO 104-D04

Johnathon Held

It should be no surprise to us that we see a sacred/secular divide. It only makes sense that the secular culture would push back on wanting to hear about God. Sadly, this pushback deters many Christians from even attempting to talk about the Gospel or religion at all within the public aspects of their lives. People can get offended by you just for trying to show concern for the state of their souls. This causes pushback from the individual, but there are also instances where employment has been lost and lives have been altered just because someone brought their religion into a public place. This has led many Christians to rely only on actions and not on their words. This is a huge issue. While actions are vitally important and can hugely impact someone, we must realize that the power of words is even greater. Romans 10:17 (KJV) says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. As Christians, we must look for ways to engage different cultures about the reality of God and the truth of the Gospel. And this must be done through both our actions and our words. We must be bold in that we will follow the Spirit’s leading wherever it may be. We must not be ashamed to preach the gospel. I am just as guilty as anyone else in this issue. We, as Christians in America, have become way too comfortable and way too complacent in our faith. Take, for instance, the early church and the bold relentless dedication the apostles showed towards glorifying God and taking His truth to the people; often, people showed much pushback. They were beaten, imprisoned, and martyred for their faith, yet they never wavered from declaring the truth of Christ. By God’s grace, we are, at least for now, free from that kind of treatment for our beliefs here in America. We are free to proclaim Jesus Christ without worrying about imprisonment or beatings. Yet, sadly, we still often do not because we are afraid of a little pushback. We are afraid that people will disagree with us, mock us, or even be offended by what we say. We may feel uncomfortable, not knowing how to talk to people about Jesus. But we, as Christians, are all called to do this. So, we must strive to tell people the truth of the gospel. This must be done by both our words and our deeds. For the Christian, there is no such thing as a sacred/secular divide. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV) says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God”. There is absolutely no divide. We are to do everything to the glory of God. We should strive to remember that, as Christians, there is absolutely no aspect of our being that is secular. We are completely made new in Christ and are temples of the indwelling Spirit that resides within us. Let that reality drive us to towards living our lives in a way that humbly and faithfully reflects that sacred nature. Let our lives reflect the sacred nature of the One who died and rose again on our behalf.  

References

King James Bible. (2017). Cambridge University Press. (Original work published 1769).

Life Is in the Blood

Johnathon Held

School of Health Sciences, Liberty University

BIOL 101-B10: Principles of Biology

Dr. Jill Vannelli

September 26, 2022

Blood may not be the only substance that makes life possible, but it is assuredly one of the most interesting ones. Composed of plasma and formed elements, blood is a transit that carries nutrients, oxygen, wastes, and hormones all through our bodies. Not only does it provide life-giving oxygen and nourishment, but it also removes the toxins and wastes that accumulate over time within our bodies. The plasma portion of blood contains proteins, ions, sugars, vitamins, and other elements. It is composed of over 90% water and provides movement for the cellular parts of the blood.

Plasma makes up between 50-60% of blood, while the other 40-50% of blood is formed by elements. These formed elements are erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets. Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, are the elements that provide oxygen to bodily tissues. Leukocytes, or white blood cells, exist to protect the body from infection. When a virus is detected, it attacks and destroys the foreign cells. Finally, platelets are within the blood to assist in clotting if the body experiences a serious laceration. Red blood cells transport oxygen for the continuation of life, while white blood cells and platelets protect and make that life possible.

All of this reveals the magnificent life-giving characteristic of blood – with over 7000 liters surging throughout the body every day, providing oxygen and nutrients, removing waste, fighting infection, and protecting the body from losing blood when an injury occurs. Blood is the universal fluid that affects all parts of the body and upon which the body depends. Further, doctors frequently use blood tests to observe biomarkers and monitor for illness. In sum, blood is responsible for maintaining our body’s health and well-being.

Blood is first mentioned in the fourth chapter of Genesis, which records the history of Cain and Abel. After Cain has killed his brother, God says to him in verse 10, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground…” (English Standard Bible, 2001). This haunting line shows the reader how tragic and weighty this event is. While Abel’s blood may not have actually been crying to the Lord from the ground, the reader can certainly see how seriously the Lord takes the shedding of blood. The Lord goes on to curse Cain for his sin, but He also provides protection. In verse 15, God puts a mark on Cain to protect him from those who may seek his life in revenge for his brother’s murder. Even within the darkness of bloodshed and sin, He provided mercy to Cain.

In Hebrews 9, the author explains that Christ’s blood has accomplished redemption for God’s children. Christ came as the great High Priest and satisfied God’s sacrifice requirement once and for all. The Law required the shedding of blood continuously. Verse 22 says, “Indeed, under the law, almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins” (English Standard Bible, 2001). Jesus had to die with the shedding of blood rather than any other form of death to satisfy the Old Testament law and to make full and final atonement for His elect.

In Leviticus 17, Moses records God’s command regarding animal sacrifice and the eating of blood. God requires that an animal be brought to the tabernacle and offered when it is killed outside of the camp. The priests would then take the blood and throw it across the altar to visually display the covering of sins. God also required that the people abstain from eating any blood, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood…” (English Standard Bible, 2001). The Bible speaks much of blood with the intent to prevent illness and disease but also as a means to engrain in the people of God the weightiness of death and the Law. The sacrifice of animals provided a visceral representation of the intensity and depth of sin, and blood represented the covering or atonement of it. In this way, blood can be viewed as life-giving. Luckily, followers of God no longer need to offer daily sacrifices and depend on bloodshed to pardon their sins. Jesus has come as the perfect fulfillment of these requirements and has provided eternally effective atonement through His perfect blood.

References

English Standard Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Tithing in the New Testament & Old

Johnathon Held

School of Business, Liberty University

BUSI-223-B06 Personal Finance

Professor Christine Denham

September 8, 2022

The first Biblical reference to tithing is found in Genesis 14 when Abraham gives a ‘tithe’ or a tenth to Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High. After this first reference, ‘tithe’ is found much in the Old Testament. Throughout Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers, we see that tithing is integral to a covenantal relationship with God. Moreover, it was a part of the mosaic law to tithe. Leviticus 27:30 (English Standard Bible, 2001) states as part of this law, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord”.

            The controversial aspect of tithing really brings about a much larger question. This question pertains to the reality of the Christian being under grace and not under the law. While this is true, even Jesus Himself said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Matthew 5:17-18, English Standard Bible, 2001).

            Today, Christians are under grace and not the law of the Old Testament. While we continue to follow much of the framework of the Law, we do not follow the letter of the law, such as abstaining from shellfish and observing festivals. Likewise, I do not believe that Christians must adhere to and commit an exact 10% of their gross earnings to the church. Rather, I view the giving of a tenth as a great model rather than a law. If someone is led to give exactly 10% every week in the offering plate, that is wonderful. If someone gives a ten-dollar bill, that is also wonderful. What is more important, I believe, is where one’s heart lies in the giving of money. Paul states in 2 Corinthians 9:7 (English Standard Bible, 2001), “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”. There are two key pieces of information found within this verse. First, the giver should not give begrudgingly. Secondly, giving is not optional.

Therefore, I believe that there should be no set percentage that must be given to be accepted by the Most Holy. It was Christ who, in Luke 21, watched as the wealthy gave their offerings. However, it was not the wealthy that had made the greatest offering, according to Jesus. Rather, it was a poverty-stricken widow who could only spare 2 mites. This, said Jesus, was worth more than all the wealthy combined simply because she had given out of her poverty and not her abundance.

            As Christians today, thankfully, we are not under the law but under grace. However, when we understand just how costly and how absolutely beautiful this grace is (bought for us by the atoning sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ), we will truly see how priceless the treasure of the Gospel is and how deep a treasure trove that Christ affords to us. Tithing, while not a commandment under the covenant of grace, is very much a fruit of someone that has experienced the love of Christ within their hearts. It is with gladness and joy that we should give our financial means and our entire selves to the very One who has given Himself for sinful worms such as us.

References

English Standard Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.

Every Human’s Environmental Responsibility

Johnathon Held

Liberty University

ENGL 101-B17

Professor Charity Givens

September 27, 2021

Every Human’s Environmental Responsibility

Humanity lives within a symbiotic relationship, surviving for thousands of years, depending on the environment’s consistency and neighbors’ help to thrive. The problem, however, is that humanity has lost whatever sort of balance it once possessed with nature.

Today, humanity continues to not only survive but thrive, only at the expense of the environment and neighbors. The question is, just how long can this go on before the point of no return is reached? What, if anything, are humanity’s options for reforming the current global environmental policies? How is every individual human being affected by these problems, and how can they help towards achieving critical change? Some may ask why it is their personal responsibility. It is true that change can be accomplished with but a fraction of society’s involvement. However, each person’s societal and ethical responsibility is to care for the earth and those who live on it. At times, there may be situations where changes appear to be an inconvenience. However, with simple, daily changes, the habit quickly becomes natural. Earth has never needed humanity for survival, yet humanity has always been dependent upon Earth. Therefore, facing the reality of humanity’s negative effects on the Earth, it is every individual’s ethical duty to strive to protect their home and neighbor.

Many argue that change will inconvenience them and that changes often come with a loss of autonomy or freedom. The problem with this stance is that without change, many will risk involuntarily losing freedoms and autonomy because of health conditions brought on by negligent human actions. Schaider et al. (2019) says that high levels of nitrates are being found in drinking water and goes on to explain that these elevated levels are “indicative of human activity” (pg. 2). When these high nitrate levels are found in water, Schaider et al. goes on to explain that they almost always point to some other man-made contaminant such as fertilizers, wastewater discharges, and fossil-fuel combustion (pg. 2). Methemoglobinemia, a condition in which hemoglobin cannot release oxygen to body tissues, has been found present in infants fed formula with nitrate-rich water (Schaider et al., 2019, pg. 2). Further, consuming nitrate has been labeled as a ‘probable carcinogen’ and has been linked to thyroid dysfunction (Schaider et al., 2019, pg. 3). It is evident that these high-nitrate levels are caused by human negligence and if left alone will be a major health issue for many people.

This problem, among many more, may seem daunting to most people. Humanity needs to understand that changes can only be made one at a time, with the help of each member of society. Change is not easy, nor often looked upon favorably, simply because it is a short-term inconvenience. However, small changes quickly become a habit and routine if practiced diligently. While change may not be easy at first, everyone will find it to become part of their lifestyle. Change comes from one person’s actions at a time.

Humans are the caretakers of the earth. Together, humans should strive practically to protect their homes, neighbors, and planet. Not only is pollution an environmental problem, but it is also a socio-economic one. Children, society’s most vulnerable members, are disproportionately affected by pollution. Landrigan et al. (2019) state that “…pollution―air, water, soil, and chemical pollution―was responsible in 2016 for 940,000 deaths in children worldwide” (pg. 1). Furthermore, Landrigan explains that pollution is responsible for 16% of all deaths each year (pg.2). While most of the pollution-related deaths occur in underdeveloped countries, low-income areas in the United States are also affected. Those of low-income and minority races are also disproportionately affected by pollution. “Community water systems (CWSs) that serve communities with lower median incomes, lower rates of home ownership, and higher proportions of Hispanic or non-white residents have been associated with higher levels of nitrate and arsenic” (Schaider et al., 2019, pg. 2).

Climate change results in wildfires burning hotter and for longer periods, resulting in countless additional destruction. “Recent climatic change has intensified fire weather severity worldwide which, coupled with a lengthening of fire seasons, has resulted in an increase of “mega-fires” (Mariani et al., 2019, para. 4).

Amidst all the chilling statistics, it is completely evident that change is a must. Change is necessary; each person must do their part and take responsibility for leading the way. It is clear there are pressing pollution-related problems threatening everyone from the cradle to the grave. Short-term inconvenience is a minute price to pay for the love of a neighbor. These changes may not always be comfortable or simple, but they are always necessary.

Natural disasters are more disastrous than ever, and pollution is literally seeping into local neighborhoods. People are dying each day from the effects of humanity’s complacency. The need for intentional and informed action is blatantly evident.

There is absolutely no excuse for complacency regarding these matters. Each individual human being has no choice but to call Earth home. For countless generations, this home has sheltered and protected, provided innumerable resources, and allowed for the growth and prosperity of humankind. There may be many different approaches to solving these problems conceived in the minds of men and women all over. This is okay. There is likely to be more than one way to fix these problems. However, it is clear that there are major issues and that these major issues absolutely must be addressed. It is abundantly clear that choosing to do nothing is also a choice. To choose to do nothing is to continue this path of negligence, leading to harm and destruction of the planet and everything and everyone that calls it home. All of humanity is truly in this fight together, and together is the only way this fight may be won. It is a critical time for the world to make changes. Love for neighbors, both near and far, should drive people to protect them from the many dangers of pollution.  Humanity should strive to protect its home, neighbor, and planet to the best of its ability. For the betterment of families, friends, and neighbors, both far and wide. Everyone must make a commitment to correcting the damage done to the environment, both locally and globally, in every choice that they make.

References

Landrigan, P. J., Fuller, R., Fisher, S., Suk, W. A., Sly, P., Chiles, T. C., & Bose-O’Reilly, S. (2019). Pollution and children’s health. Science of the Total Environment, 650, 2389-2394. https://https://doi-org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.375

Mariani, M., Fletcher, M., Haberle, S., Chin, H., Zawadzki, A., & Jacobsen, G. (2019). Climate change reduces resilience to fire in subalpine rainforests. Global Change Biology, 25(6), 2030-2042. https://10.1111/gcb.14609

Schaider, L. A., Swetschinski, L., Campbell, C., & Rudel, R. A. (2019). Environmental justice and drinking water quality: Are there socioeconomic disparities in nitrate levels in U.S. drinking water? Environmental Health, 18(1), 3. https://10.1186/s12940-018-0442-6