Introduction

For my first post, I simply want to take the time to introduce you to the nature and purpose of my blog, and in the process share a bit about myself.

I was never concerned much about religion growing up. My teenage years were spent concerned more about video games than church. But I was always someone whose whole world took place in his mind. Entire conversations, relationships and even fights were only a few thoughts away. I always knew my brain was super active. So when I became a Christian back in 2004, it seemed a natural response when God led me to think critically about my faith. As I did, however, I found myself on the brink of skepticism. Questions came faster than answers, and I had never thought about any of this stuff.

Luckily, I found some great Christian apologetics ministries, such as Tekton, Christian Think Tank and Answers In Genesis. I studied  them obsessively, reading day and night, training my theological thought to be transformed and renewed. I have continued to do so to this day - broadening the scope of my knowledge as I seek to know the mind of God. I have studied beyond philosophical issues to look at contextual issues, text-criticism and even translation troubles. All the while, I have tried to remain involved in the world, using the knowledge for good and balancing it with grace. It has been a long road.

During all this time of study, I unfortunately found one theme that seems to stand out above any other - popular theological thought (in the west) simply stinks. It is shallow, devoid of context and lacks peer review. It caters to the fast-food world rather than challenging it. And it is, I feel, contributing to a trend in the America whereby there are many 'believers' in God, but their view of God is small - no matter how big they believe Him to be in their mind.

My goal, then, for this blog, is the very same one shared by the apostles Paul when writing to the Corinthians:

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor 10:5, NIV).


How do I intend to do this? Quite simply by sharing simple but personal thoughts on issues that come to my mind, which communicate important points on Christian thought. If I give you, the reader, some tough thoughts to chew on, I'll succeed in my purpose. I am not wanting to change minds as much as challenge them - much like various people challenged my own thoughts to help them mature. I will tackle everything from apologetics to philosophy, current events and even conspiracy theory.  The things I share are intended to give fuel for people to change their minds; the change itself is a job only God's Spirit can achieve.

So, this is not a blog from which you should expect long, scholarly or detailed posts forcing my opinion. I want readers to know God more and strengthen their faith. That cannot happen if I "preach to the choir". Where it serves to support my point, I'll reference relevant experts or sources. And I do expect interested readers to follow external links to complete their journey. Those who don't should still come away with some helpful thoughts. But I am not an expert on anything in particular, and will never pretend to be. I also do not presume to be unbiased, but try to share and predict multiple viewpoints on a topic, as any good rhetorician would.

In closing, I hope you look forward to what I have to share. I have longed for a while to expose troubling theological thoughts, trends and tactics - taking them to task. In the hopes of renewing intellectualism within Christian circles, this blog, I hope, will start a ball rolling. The atmosphere of theology in Western culture is slowly becoming a dark place - it's time to shine a light...