In certainty and doubt alike, we give thanks. Doubt reminds us of our inability to determine or direct our own paths. It tells us that we are in the hands of One much greater and much more than we are. Certainty reminds us that we shouldn’t want to steer our own course, for in doing so we would certainly never reach our destinations.
Paul’s imprisonment has inspired other Christians to remain strong as they share the gospel story. Because of Paul’s captivity, the Christian community is strengthened: confident, daring, and without fear. How is this possible?
If we are to “become humble like this child,” then perhaps we should ask questions and doubt, but we should do so lovingly.
Try reading the passages with the view that Jesus not only became an archetype himself, but was demonstrating what abundant life and a right relationship with God could look like.
Harari assumes a God-of-the-gaps approach to science and progress generally; he assumes that, because we now know how things like disease, weather, and war arise and function, we can no longer chalk these things up to God’s Will. Though this is a faulty assumption—just because we know about the biochemistry of sickle cell anemia doesn’t mean it cannot be part of God’s plan—it is not an uncommon one, especially in scientific humanism.
When we find ourselves caught up in the world’s measuring sticks, stressed out and feeling inadequate because of our sinful hearts’ tendency to go along with relatively meaningless comparisons, let’s remember that one sinful human measured against other sinful humans is still just a sinful human.
