A Rant About My Parents
Typical hormone driven teen critiquing popular Christianity. Parents who attend a church that can be safely classified as belonging to the "popular Christianity" denomination. (No, not my church. We attend different churches and they don't like that either) Do the math, and you get some rather less-than-happy parents.
Actually, I resent the label of me being a critic of "popular Christianity". This is not Slice Of Laodicea (Sorry Ingrid!). I'm just a simple fifteen year old kid who enjoys reading Phil Johnson, Challies, and Steve Hays. And I happen to take the study of theology (and the critique of bad theology) as somewhat like a hobby (Beats wasting your time with those MMORPGs out there, eh?) though I do take apologetics somewhat more seriously. But don't misunderstand- this is not like a game to me. I do it by the Book. You know what I refer to. Being faithful to God. Thinking of Christ.
Anyway, my parents are of the brand of Christians who, well, pit faith against reason. "Take that leap of faith" (so they say) when I mention apologetics. "The Bible is a simple book". That's when I mention theology. And unfortunately, they're not happy with me being active in both areas. Oh, and did I mention that they are charismatic and I'm not? I guess I have now. And yes, you guessed it: they're not happy with that either.
It gets rather frustrating when I try to establish my case for this things. Arguing against a LDS on whether the Book of Mormon is historically accurate is much easier than putting forth the case for taking serious theology and engaging in apologetics with your parents, apparently. Everytime when I utter something in defense (or offense) it kind of cuts into your heart. You're arguing against your parents. Not very nice.
They are, also, pretty much fed up with me bringing back home books on apologetics and theology (Though my church library has come in handy, though even then, the books I borrow are subject to scrutiny). And my father makes those baptist jokes everytime he sends me to church. Ouch. And no, I don't retaliate with such things as "How many charismatics does it take to change a lightbulb". I've never ever thought of such things. I love and respect them.
That is why, also, I feel heavy-hearted everytime they express objections against me going to my church, or everytime I read something related to apologetics (or theology). Its not like I want to disobey my parents. I can't because its against the Word of God, and the whole idea of teen rebellion, is, like, so lame! Especially when you have a very strong views on such things like God's laws and commands. On the Lordship and Sovereignty of God. On Calvinism.
Speaking of the Doctrines Of Grace, I'm rather hesitant to reveal my "reformed" status to them. What are the different reactions I expect when I expound the Five Points to them? Two, I reckon. Calmly accepting it (and maybe even attending my church) or freaking out and SOSing for the nearest Arminian pastor. I do pray that it will be the former.
But perhaps its because I'm only fifteen and I'm already studying Kantian philosophy. Maybe its because I'm writing against the New Perspective on Paul, vigorously defending the imputation of Christ's righteousness (I'm not much interested in the FV/Auburn Avenue controversy though) against people who've read too much N.T. Wright- uncritically. I don't really know. But perhaps I've given you a little too rosy picture of my intellectual prowess (Hehe). Let me show you how "teenaged" I am.
For starters, I hate maths (I suck at it to boot). Physics? Chemistry? Good gosh...don't even talk to me about those things. I guess that would be enough to convince you. If it wasn't for me homeschooling, I would have most certainly crashed and burn in public school. (Oh, and to add something to that, I've grown a little contempt for the government schools. Too much Van Til, me thinks. Darn antithesis been bugging me. Grrr...)
But I guess I've digressed too much. Its about my parents, not me, after all. Anyway, all I ask my Lord is this: That He will help my parents see that what I'm doing is according to His word. But, if I'm wrong, I would ask Him to show me my errors and to help me turn away from them. Amen, and Soli Deo Gloria!
Actually, I resent the label of me being a critic of "popular Christianity". This is not Slice Of Laodicea (Sorry Ingrid!). I'm just a simple fifteen year old kid who enjoys reading Phil Johnson, Challies, and Steve Hays. And I happen to take the study of theology (and the critique of bad theology) as somewhat like a hobby (Beats wasting your time with those MMORPGs out there, eh?) though I do take apologetics somewhat more seriously. But don't misunderstand- this is not like a game to me. I do it by the Book. You know what I refer to. Being faithful to God. Thinking of Christ.
Anyway, my parents are of the brand of Christians who, well, pit faith against reason. "Take that leap of faith" (so they say) when I mention apologetics. "The Bible is a simple book". That's when I mention theology. And unfortunately, they're not happy with me being active in both areas. Oh, and did I mention that they are charismatic and I'm not? I guess I have now. And yes, you guessed it: they're not happy with that either.
It gets rather frustrating when I try to establish my case for this things. Arguing against a LDS on whether the Book of Mormon is historically accurate is much easier than putting forth the case for taking serious theology and engaging in apologetics with your parents, apparently. Everytime when I utter something in defense (or offense) it kind of cuts into your heart. You're arguing against your parents. Not very nice.
They are, also, pretty much fed up with me bringing back home books on apologetics and theology (Though my church library has come in handy, though even then, the books I borrow are subject to scrutiny). And my father makes those baptist jokes everytime he sends me to church. Ouch. And no, I don't retaliate with such things as "How many charismatics does it take to change a lightbulb". I've never ever thought of such things. I love and respect them.
That is why, also, I feel heavy-hearted everytime they express objections against me going to my church, or everytime I read something related to apologetics (or theology). Its not like I want to disobey my parents. I can't because its against the Word of God, and the whole idea of teen rebellion, is, like, so lame! Especially when you have a very strong views on such things like God's laws and commands. On the Lordship and Sovereignty of God. On Calvinism.
Speaking of the Doctrines Of Grace, I'm rather hesitant to reveal my "reformed" status to them. What are the different reactions I expect when I expound the Five Points to them? Two, I reckon. Calmly accepting it (and maybe even attending my church) or freaking out and SOSing for the nearest Arminian pastor. I do pray that it will be the former.
But perhaps its because I'm only fifteen and I'm already studying Kantian philosophy. Maybe its because I'm writing against the New Perspective on Paul, vigorously defending the imputation of Christ's righteousness (I'm not much interested in the FV/Auburn Avenue controversy though) against people who've read too much N.T. Wright- uncritically. I don't really know. But perhaps I've given you a little too rosy picture of my intellectual prowess (Hehe). Let me show you how "teenaged" I am.
For starters, I hate maths (I suck at it to boot). Physics? Chemistry? Good gosh...don't even talk to me about those things. I guess that would be enough to convince you. If it wasn't for me homeschooling, I would have most certainly crashed and burn in public school. (Oh, and to add something to that, I've grown a little contempt for the government schools. Too much Van Til, me thinks. Darn antithesis been bugging me. Grrr...)
But I guess I've digressed too much. Its about my parents, not me, after all. Anyway, all I ask my Lord is this: That He will help my parents see that what I'm doing is according to His word. But, if I'm wrong, I would ask Him to show me my errors and to help me turn away from them. Amen, and Soli Deo Gloria!
This entry was posted
on Sunday, September 11, 2005 at 10:43 PM.
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