At Face Value

I was really affected by the discussion and the conversations that took place in class on Tuesday. I spent some time last weekend discussing the Euthyphro with my roommate to see if she could help explain exactly what Socrates says through this dialogue. I was completely stumped by the "approving" vs. "approved" argument and still am, but the discussion in class really made me think.

It made me think about questions that I have never considered before. It challenged my beliefs and made me question why I call them my beliefs. I had never considered the question, "Is God just because he saves us, or does He save us because he's just?" (I'm not sure if 'just' is the word that Dr. Mashburn used) This question made me think about how I would answer that if I was not a believer. How would I see a God that so many have declared as a just and holy God when so much evil is in the world? How could a just God allow so much injustice? Does God determine everything that occurs? Why does this 'just' God allow horrible things to happen to 'good' people? But then I ask myself, "Who am I to question God or his plans and purposes?" And after this question I ask another, "Well, would God want me to take everything I am told at face value? Or would he want me to seek out the truth for myself?"

I am in no way claiming to be an expert on anything, but I do not think that these questions should be disregarded. Yes, they may challenge what we have always been told and maybe even what we ardently believe. But I also think that there are certain challenging questions that need to be asked, no matter how ludicrous or offensive they may seem. I think the real danger lies not in asking these questions about God and his justness or holiness, but in taking anything we hear at face value.

No, I do not have an answer for the question that began this post, and I may never be completely set on one answer. But I am thankful for Tuesday's class because the discussions that took place made me take a second look at my beliefs about mercy, justice, and holiness and why I have those beliefs. So my challenge to the rest of the Honors class is simply to at least consider the questions that are asked. I am not asking you to completely change everything you believe, but I am asking that as an Honors family we seek out truth together and not take information that we hear or have always been told at face value. When we only take things at face value, I believe we miss an opportunity to seek and grow in our relationships with each other and with the Lord.

P.S.- I commented on Mallory S. post.