GroshLink

On Wednesday, it is my priviledge to participate in the C. S. Lewis Seminar at Penn State Harrisburg. This faculty and staff gathering began last fall by reading/discussing C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity.  Currently we're delving into Letters from a Skeptic by Gregory and Edward Boyd.  In Correspondence 16 (How an you believe that a man rose from the dead?), Greg responds to his father's concern about how his tiring objections affect him in a manner which reflects my sense of call as I not only identify, encourage and equip Christian scholars to be redeeming influences in higher education, but also hold forth the Word of Life to those being drawn into His Presence by the power of the Spirit:

Let me first respond to your concern that I'm growing tired of your skepticism.  Perish the thought!  I admire the strength of your character and the astuteness of your questions and objections.  I'm loving this!  Beyond my love for the subject, I'm just enjoying dialoguing with you about the most important things in life.  We've never talked like this before.

But I also know something you don't -- and this also fuels my fire.  You see, Dad, you are a marked man.  God's got your number!  He's passionately in love with you and wants you with Him throughout eternity.  And in spite of all the issues with His program which you have in your mind, He knows that your heart is pliable.  My job is simply to get the intellectual issues cleared up as much as possible so He can have free access to your heart.  I think He's getting that, more and more with each letter.

This confidence, combined with my love and concern for you, inspires me on.  Call it gut instinct, but I just have this fundamental convinction that you are going to be saved.  You probably aren't aware of it, and maybe there's little evidence of it yet.  But when I pray for you, there's a confidence that comes over me.  It's the Spirit of God, the same Spirit which is chipping away at your skeptical heart.  This no doubt sounds corny to you, but that doesn't bother me.  I'm convinced you'll look back on this someday and see it as well.  In any case, you don't need to worry about fatigue from my end of the conversation.

OK, let's turn to your objections about the Resurrection (pp 101-2).  Amen.  I'd encourage you to take a look at some of the conversation.

P.S.  The other week I connected with a new tenure track faculty member who was part of InterVarsity's graduate student ministry.  Our paths crossed at a conference several years ago and now they've crossed again.  This coincidence and the continued connection with our campus ministry is an example our of long term intention with the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN) and our Faculty Ministry. 

PPS.  Heard back from an alum, I have Letters from a Skeptic on my bookshelf and really enjoyed it. Wish I could be there to participate in the discussion.  Heard back from a grad student, Letters from a Skeptic played a large part in getting me to drop my anti-Church-as-an-institution ways, and start going to church in college.  Changed my life, you might say. Praise God!  Thank-you for sharing.