Education: God is Fact or Fiction? by John Lennox at UNC 2012

Telos Center

January 15, 2021

Telos Education

Telos Center

December 23, 2019

Telos Education

Education: What is the Greatest Math Problem? Simple but Profound

Telos Center

December 23, 2019

Telos Education

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Teachers (including pastors) and parents have a great opportunity to provoke thought and discussion in all various educational subjects to life, even math. Many hate math or at least find it difficult, let alone find the Bible, Christianity, and God difficult. It’s imperative as well as inspirational for teachers to accurately teach — explain life to students.

And so, is there any math problems that could summarize the Bible? Is there a particular math problem that explains Christianity? Is there a math problem that describes our relationship to God? Is there a math problem that explains how justification, sanctification, and glorification work? Is there a math problem that is profound but simple for even a child to understand?

Yes, yes, there is:

0 + 1 = 1

We are included in the equation though our value is zero or nothing and have nothing to offer.
We actually (because of sin) are negative in our value (i.e. -0) but a negative zero does not exist and still remains no value.
He holds all the value in the equation and still includes us.
He provides us value — his value.
There’s no room for self-righteousness, and only reveals his righteousness is what makes the equation work.
There’s only room for humility and receptivity of his value.
His value is not merely descriptive but actually him.
We are Christian (saved) and are able to have a relationship to God because God gave us value in the person and work of Jesus on our behalf.
Even before Genesis 3 and the sinful fall of mankind, humanities’ righteousness still came from God. Just because Adam and Eve were created “good” does not mean that was the full value. They were good only because God declared them to be. “Good” refers to relationship to God and his presence. One can’t be good and Godless at the same time. The then later way to be “good” is for God to declare us good (again), which he does and only through the gospel of Christ. There’s a big theological word for that — justification (declared righteous).
His ever presence in our lives is then sanctifying.
His presence is also a secured promise of being with him after our death — glorification.
God is valuable, but not for our sake though he includes us, but for his sake.

Telos Center

September 15, 2019

Telos Education

Education: Has Science Buried God? by John Lennox [VIDEO]

Telos Center

September 15, 2019

Telos Education

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Eric Metaxas interviews (mainly at minute 6 on the video) John Lennox at the Colson Center in Washingon D.C. in summary form regarding the topic question, “Has Science Buried God?” The interview might just be best for a helpful introduction to Lennox and to discover more of what he has authored and argued, especially in debates with high profile atheist (20th-21st century version) professors and scientists. Dr. Lennox provides a lot of helpful statements and introductory level direction in how to think and find more answers. Many of the statements are also challenging modern day assumptions, decades old under-toe current, and now seemingly tsunami wave of people’s ‘anti-belief’ in God. Below the video are quotes/statements written out from the interview for reference also.

Metaxas allow 3 questions from the audience at the end, which starts about 1 hour 5 minutes that addresses: 1) Mathematical proofs; 2) Abortion; and 3) What would Lennox say before God in heaven upon death?

From Socrates in the City youtube video (1 hour 19 minutes) description:

“Host Eric Metaxas and Oxford professor John Lennox explore the question, "Has science buried God?" -- discussing the fine-tuned universe, evolution, logic, history, and more! "It's like we're an old Vaudeville team" says Metaxas, who eggs the legendary Lennox into retelling his equally legendary roast chicken anecdote. The interview was hosted by the Colson Center and took place in Washington D.C., in May 2019.“

Video

Dr. Lennox provides statements like:

“There are a myth in our culture: 1) Science is the only way to truth. 2) The position is logically incoherent … That statement (science is the only way to truth) cannot be true since it does not come from science.”
“Science can bury atheism.“
“It was the belief in God that drove science.”
“They got the wrong concept of God.”
“The more he understood of how it worked, the more he admired the genius of the God [of the Bible] who did it that way.”
“There’s a mind behind what’s up there … not mindless, unguided processes.“
“Our faith increases [in God when learning the world and science].“
“Kids can understand but professors cannot. The scientific explanation tells you how it works. The personal explanation works also … the two explanations do not compete but compliments.”
“[The why question] is an important question.”
“Something came from something, not nothing.”
“Science can bury atheism.“
“We have been miseducated by atheists that there’s science there and there’s faith here.”
“Atheism followed to its logical conclusion destroys rationality.”
“The Bible is putting the finger on what is really profound.“
“The universe is word based … not that the universe came from nothing and created itself.”
“And God said … The idea of God speaking is such a powerful one. The Bible has been talking about it for a millennia.”
“Nobody can get rid of the idea of creation. So reject God and end up with a self-creating universal and that’s a contradiction in terms … leads to nonsense.“
“It is a mistake to think that only Christians are a people of faith.”
“Every school in our country is a faith school.”
“They don’t realize that their atheism is a belief system [don’t you believe in your atheistic beliefs].
“We are people who believe in Christ, and provide why we believe what we believe.“
“[Put Christianity and truth in the public space] We need a lot of courage to do that, otherwise we all will be silenced.“
“Evolution only addresses when there is life and not how life came about.”
“Our culture is faced of a raw choice between God and nothing.”