A Gospel-Centered Fourth Verse to "My Jesus I Love Thee"

It was a few months ago, I believe, that we at Heritage Baptist Church played "My Jesus I Love Thee." During practice one of my Pastors, Alex (my brother and best friend who is also an author on this blog), did not like the fourth verse of the song. So, we cut it. I agreed with him, and as much as I loved the hymn, and still do, it was better without the fourth verse. The next day I then sat down to write a new gospel-centered fourth verse. My goal was to focus not at all upon the pictures of great material wealth in new creation, but instead, our true treasure in new creation, Jesus, my lord, and my savior. We performed it at Refuge (our Wednesday night prayer, music, and scripture reading service) tonight, or 29 July 2015. Here is the verse if you were unable to attend.

When Christ takes His Bride, and creation's restored;
We'll live in the presence of Jesus our LORD.
No, Death shall not victor, for Christ won't lose His Wife.
Forever I'll love Thee, my Jesus, my life.

Philosophy and the Christian: Why Philosophical Engagement Is Important For Contemporary Christianity

            I distinctively remember two separated incidents in which two different individuals when hearing I was studying philosophy were deeply concerned and indeed worried I would lose my faith. I often respond to people’s concern or worry with the brilliance of C.S. Lewis’ words, “Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered” (1). I’ll never forget reading Dr. Gregory Alan Thornbury writing in regards to Carl F.H. Henry’s philosophical view that “Christianity is the most intellectually satisfying account of reality” (2). I believe both of these.  If C.S. Lewis’ comment is my general response to those who are concerned or worried for me, then Dr. Thornbury’s comment is my particular response. Philosophy matters for the Christian because as they interact critically with ideas they will inevitably face questions of ontology, teleology, epistemology, ethics, politics, education, and on and on. Philosophy can serve the Christian in formulating answers to questions that arise from any of these subjects by thinking critically and logically assessing the strength of argumentation. But maybe you are like most people I interact with and don’t care at all about anything I am talking about. Maybe you are a Christian and don’t remotely see the importance of maintaining a philosophical foundation. I would argue that building a philosophical foundation in metaphysics and metaethics will prove instrumental to living out your theological convictions and therefore a needed part of growing in knowledge.
            There is arguably no spot in the New Testament where engagement with the philosophical world is more explicitly dealt with then in Acts 17. Here Paul shows us why philosophical engagement is healthy, helpful, and perhaps needed. It is not my intention to offer here an exhaustive discourse but instead to point people toward an appreciation of philosophy in general, Christianity in particular, and hopefully looking at Paul in Acts 17 as being a compelling example as to why philosophical engagement is important.

Paul in Athens
            The book of Acts reports that while Paul was in Athens he saw a city full of idols which caused him to reason “in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.” (Acts 17.16-17, quotation from 17). What is so intriguing about this observation by Paul in Athens is that he is standing in a place where philosophical engagement is primary and some of these philosophers are among the intellectual elites of the day. The book of Acts acknowledges the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers had conversed with him (v.18). The thing that intrigued these Epicurean and Stoic philosophers was that Paul was preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
            Paul’s preaching of the resurrection of Jesus caused an inquisitiveness that typically comes with an adequate apologetics. Paul steps up to the challenge of the philosophers and immediately addresses their religiosity. All people are inclined towards transcendental notions because all people are worshippers. Common objections of this claim, say by atheists or other proponents of naturalism, still fail to see that they hold something as ultimate, say biological evolution, chance, relativism, etc. When Paul sees the religiosity of the Athenians he doesn’t claim that their religiosity, though genuine and sincere, is sufficient for reconciliation with the religion he was coming to preach.

The LORD - unknown god
            Paul addresses the philosophers by giving an account of the Christian worldview. As he is viewing the city he sees an inscription that is attributed to a god unknown, presumably in case they had forgotten one. Paul lets the Athenian intellectual elites know that they didn’t merely miss one, but that in upholding all of the rest they have offended the only One.

“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
(Acts 17.24-31)

            You’ll notice that Paul doesn’t merely try to reasonably argue his way to the heart of the people present, though he does do that. Paul tells them that God calls all men to repent because of judgement. Paul’s preaching of Jesus resurrected is what got him to Areopagus and it is what Paul leaves them with. Christianity from the very beginning didn’t shy away from public discourse that was engaged with philosophy and neither should the church today.

Some mocked, Some repented (v. 32-34)
            It seems common that people who find out I am studying philosophy fear that I will get wrapped up in nonsense and lose my faith citing Colossians 2:8. Paul’s engagement with philosophy in Acts 17 shows us that philosophy in general isn’t to be feared but that philosophy that is antithetical to the gospel ought to be viewed at as in need of serious caution. Caution ought not to equate with fear because those who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ indeed have a resurrected Savior that stands as their advocate. Engaging in philosophical conversation with people who actively hate the gospel will not always be fun but it is always necessary. Will we be the people who stare sin in the face and tell people an altered heretical version of the biblical text that tells us the day we eat of the fruit that we will surely die? We must not and we cannot do such regardless of the cost.
            The book of Acts tells us some mocked Paul. Anyone who has taken a philosophy course at any public university knows this is still a reality. However, what is encouraging to those who love philosophical engagement when reading this passage are the names Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman Damaris (v.34). As someone who studies philosophy those names are beautiful, they remind me that not only will the gospel be victorious in salvation in general, but the book of Acts reminds us that individuals with names are getting saved when the Christian worldview with the basis of Scripture is presented. This gives me hope for those I engage with, and it is hope enough.

(1) http://www.lewissociety.org/aboutus.php
(2) http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/on-the-shoulders-of-an-evangelical-giant