"The Theory of Everything"

The recent movie by this title is the story of Steven Hawking, a British physicist noted for his book "The Brief History of Time." The focus of Hawking's development as a physicist was his quest for "the perfect equation." He believed that there existed a single equation that could explain all of life, such as origin of universe and the meaning of time. The word "theory" does not refer to abstraction or "blue sky" as many generally think. A theory is simply explaining the way something is. While some of the fascination with Hawking has been his contribution to secular humanist philosophies, some has been his miraculous initiatives during his dehabilitating illness.

As I sat watching an interesting story, but trying to understand what he really was saying (he has a lot of contradicting positions), it dawned on me that "The Theory of Everything" great minds pursued is not AN EQUATION, but the demand there must be AN EQUATION. What do I mean by this? In my research and studies I have come to the conclusion that the core explanation of the natural world (as evidenced by economics, ecology, physics, religion, and humanity) is the equilibrium imperative. The very fact that everything needs an equation to be properly explained is in itself the basis for everything. The need to have the left side of an equation to be in balance with the right side of the equation is the fundamental explanation of everything. Hawking actually acknowledges this (albeit unknowingly) when he writes, "ever since the dawn of civilization, people have not been content to see events as unconnected and inexplicable. They have craved an understanding of the underlying order in the world."

Without ever questioning it, people immediately seek "cause and effect", every outcome must be connected to a cause -

    
Columbine, Katrina, 9/11, price of oil, 2008 financial crisis, and so on. People are obsessed with what's on the other side of the equation, never questioning their assumption that there must be an equation. What explains everything is the requirement for equation (equilibrium).

Hawking found his work especially problematic in dealing with humanity. In his book he states, "If there really is a complete unified theory that governs everything, it presumably also determines your actions. But it does so in a way that is impossible to calculate for an organism that is as complicated as a human being." I find his lack of application for his "theory of everything" in human behavior interesting because my theory of everything does explain human behavior. In the field of humanity the equilibrium imperative is explained by the companion theories of Social Exchange, Equity, and Attribution (as I have written about many times in various forms). BTW, my theory of everything is not really mine, God gave it to all of us in His word.

An interesting object lesson embedded in Hawking's story is his wife. Falling in love with Steven as a Ph D student before his illness, she decided to marry him when she found out about his illness and "committed her life" to helping him through his challenges, given she thought he would only live two years. After many years of tremendous courage (3 children with Steven) and sacrifice of her own pursuits for a Ph D, she eventually succumbed to the pressure of a seemingly one-way relationship. At some point what was on the left side of her equation denoting benefits of relationship with Steven didn't balance with her sacrifices and lack of self satisfying life experiences. So the marriage ended and she sought to live her life with another man. Disequilibrium seeking equilibrium explains the behavior of his wife. Although she was a member of the Church of England, her Christianity had not transformed her from being subject to the governance of her humanity.

This is where the "Theory of Everything" runs into a problem, even mine. Hawking's and my theory on the equilibrium imperative explains only the natural order of life. Lets call this the kingdom of this world, governed by equations. God tells us that He has a Kingdom and it is different. Grace, not equilibrium, explains how this Kingdom is governed. We are told that His Kingdom is eternal and invisible, while the kingdom of this world is temporal and visible. Jesus would often say, "The Kingdom of heaven is like this...", to emphasize another Kingdom.

Thus we have a problem with a theory for everything, there are two worlds, which are distinctly different. So different that the core theory for each are completely contradictory (incompatible). Maybe this is why Hawking kept finding a need to contradict himself. He was anchored in one kingdom but occasionally receiving glimpses of the other Kingdom.

That's how the movie made me ponder ......

Justice makes u feel equal - Grace makes u feel special

There has been much made of the Ferguson Mo incident as it relates to the current state of race relations in the US. The dominant theme of protest is injustice done to blacks by the law enforcement community, which is seen as collateral damage from a bigoted society. There is a significant perspective in the American church that Christians have failed to do their part in society to enhance the justice afforded the African American community. This criticism generally stems from the assumptions about the connection of social justice and the Gospel.

I have long been critical myself about the view of Christians in the US I call "the social gospel". I must make the distinction between the role of Christians to carry out their faith in a fallen world, to be salt and light, and the idea that the central theme of the Gospel and the main concern of Jesus is justice.

Justice is grounded in man's need for equilibrium - get what u deserve or equal distribution of wealth, etc. Despite the problem that fairness has multiple norms, such as equity, equality, and need, and is therefore impossible to get society to agree on what is fair, justice is man's need, not God's plan of redemption.

For instance, in Matt 20 Jesus explains what the Kingdom is like. He describes workers who labor all day but get the same reward as those who work only a few hours. Social justice advocates ask, doesn't this mean that justice is equality and central to the Kingdom? No, Jesus says that the Kingdom operates at the discretion of the King, that He does what he wants and that His desire is to bless kingdom dwellers as He pleases (Grace, substantiated in much of the New Testament). Those individuals that demand justice (btw, justice is the equity norm of fairness), can't face the Grace of the Master and leave. "The first shall be last and the last first" is not in any form a statement of justice as the prevailing norm of the Kingdom.

Pointing others to justice is NOT pointing others to Christ. Treating others fairly may make them feel equal, but treating others with the Grace that flows through us makes them feel SPECIAL - a more excellent way.
      
certainly worth pondering and is explained in more depth in

"Obedience Applied"

This is the title of a recent sermon on Philippians 2: 12-13 (some of my favorite scripture). Those of you that know me can speculate on how I must have cringed at this title. My issue is not with "obedience" itself (although I do struggle with rules), but with the perspective that "obedience" is not the heart of the Gospel. Being obedient is not the "good news". Grace is. Immediately I wished the title of the sermon was "Grace Applied."

I generally do not take exception to my pastor's theology of "obedience", just the central focus of it. He defines "obedience" as "faith in action", unlike the notion of rule following as many other preachers do. However, the ears of parishioners are tuned into rule following as the meaning of obedience. partially because our flesh demands legalism (equilibrium imperative) and partially because this is what the word actually means. Obedience is the somewhat automatic, demanded response to authority. The seas and the demons "obeyed" Jesus because of His authority over them. Obedience in scripture has a military context, soldiers have to obey their authority or they no longer remain soldiers.

When the basis of the Christian life is tied to this notion of obedience, behavior conforming to the law or God's commandments, then there is no joy, hope, and significance. This is a futile treadmill. This is why so many Christians live this side of eternity with a "grin and bear it" posture, looking for deliverance at our biological death. It is true that we do in some ways moan for our full redemption, but our life here and now should expect the outcome of the good news. Jesus came so that we may have joy, abundant life. Is that only for later? I don't think so.

A song by Aaron Senseman includes these lines,

"There is truth in His body, raised the third day.
There is joy in a stone rolled away.
There is hope pouring out of the tomb where He lay,
pouring out, pouring out over the grave."

The Incarnate Christ, conquering sin and death, on our behalf is our joy, hope and significance - here and now. Christmas is about Jesus' obedience not ours, creating the disequilibrium of Grace, FOR US.

To fully enjoy the reason for the season, we must find the freedom in Grace, not to do anything we wish, but to live in thanksgiving, without the shackles of our STINKIN THINKIN