What comes to mind when you think of McMaster University? Great med school? Decent football team? Large, sprawling campus? Whatever image you have of McMaster University, you probably weren’t aware that, more than anything else, it was the thing that drew baptists in central Canada together, and then split them apart. Understanding how is an important part of the history of our church tradition. Last week I attended a workshop by church historian, Dr. Michael Haykin, and learned about the history of the Fellowship, our church association.
I remember a conversation I had with someone I had been studying the Bible with and they said to me, “I don’t know what to make of the Bible.” Before they had started reading it, they assumed the Bible was a book of legends – amazing stories intended to communicate spiritual truths. But as they began to read, they realized that the Bible contained too much detail and first-hand witness to read it as a fable. It seemed like a collection of letters, speeches and historical accounts. The problem they had was that it also spoke of things they found too remarkable to be true. And so they were at a loss to know how to read the Bible. I think a lot of people have drawn similar conclusions.
Last week I began to address a report on people’s beliefs by LifeWay Research and looked at what the Bible says about worship and the idea that we all ‘worship the same God.’ Today I’d like to consider people’s views on the afterlife. What do people believe about what happens when we die and what does the Bible have to say about it?
Last week, LifeWay Research released a report on people’s beliefs in society today. What was clear was that although many people identify as Christians, their beliefs are often at odds with what the Bible teaches. As Bob Smietana summarized, “Americans love God and the Bible, [but] are fuzzy on the details.” I suspect the same could be said for Canadians. I’d like to look at this report over a series of posts and try to help clarify what the Bible does teach in these critical areas. I’ll start with worship.
Two weeks ago I began to talk about our Learning Centre discussion on the “no strings attached” (N.S.A.) approach to relationships that North Americans are characterized by. I shared that sociologists summarize the Canadian mind-set as being typified by low trust, low obligation and high freedom. These qualities are not just unbiblical but extremely unhealthy because:
- A lack of trust will lead to isolation and loneliness relationally.
- A low obligation mindset will lead to problems professionally and maritally because healthy commitments are the glue that holds relationships and organizations together.
- A priority on freedom will cause someone to check out when things get uncomfortable.
Given the emphases of our culture, it’s not surprising to me that baptism has become less and less popular in the church – and yet I’m convinced that it’s one of the things God has designed to bring healing to our N.S.A. issues. When was the last time you thought about baptism?
