New Zealand and Nietzsche both start with "N"

But now they have more in common. From NZ comes the story that students will be allowed to use "text speak" on national exams from now on. That's right. No longer will they be required to write in full sentences. Gone are demands for adjectives, prepositional phrases, verbs, and had they not already disappeared, adverbs.

Nietzsche, in his book Twilight of the Idols, makes the following statement:

"'Reason' in language - oh, what an old deceptive female she is! I am afraid we are not rid of God because we still have faith in grammar. "

He recognized that our use of order and structure spoke volumes about God. He also noted that the fact that words can call to mind "things" was imitative of what God did in creating the world.

This gives us a real obligation to use words wisely. As Christians, we either promote God or erase (get rid of) him by our writing and conversation. Which are you doing?

The Haggard Buzz

This morning I read three different pieces on the Ted Haggard situation. All were on Ref 21. Each had a different focus. One, quite frankly, had a strange message on when to give forgiveness. One suggested that our proper task at this time is to feel shame for what happened and not push grace too far until we do feel the shame. The last entry warns of the dangers of following a man rather than Christ.

I assume these entries were for "us" in the cheap seats as we deal with the sting of the Ted Haggard situation. If so, I like the last entry, see some good in the middle one, and disagree with the first. (More on this later?)

What seems to me to be important at times like this is the issue of surprise. Most people express surprise that such a thing could happen. At the same time, we seem to read about this kind of thing throughout Scripture. From Adam accepting fruit, to Abraham passing off his wife as his sister, through David's adultery, on to Peter's denial of Jesus, those with a heart for God continually demonstrate their need for a Savior.

Certainly this doesn't excuse Haggard from his lies and behavior. But, it shouldn't be a threat to our faith. Everything about our faith warns us that this will happen. Jesus, in John 2, refuses to trust himself to men because he knows us. We are that bad. Also, we are that saved.

So, when someone asks you if your faith is shaken, tell them, "No, it is affirmed."