began in the unmoderated discussion following the opening statements , “ You ’ re a stoic ! You ’ re a Christian sto- |
Tim Keller |
certain that God satisfies our deepest desires , consequently making us certain of both our earthly and eternal |
Mark Lilla |
answers , so in many ways our human condition is figuring out how to use what God does give us to comport ourselves in the face of uncertainty .
In the beginning , Lilla confessed that his mind lay with Montaigne ’ s conception of the good life as one that pursues simple and sensational pleasures . But does Lilla ’ s mind sit well with his heart ’ s Augustinian position on suffering and love ? His emphasis on the latter suggests that ultimate satisfaction is satisfaction of the heart . With respect to the evening ’ s topics , both men pointed to the Christian understanding of satisfaction , even if Lilla ’ s mind seemed to want for a little more . Together , Keller and Lilla painted a picture of the good life that was clearly more than a conversation between two minds . | cu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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ic .” What Lilla meant was that Keller had given his entire response in terms of the satisfaction and happiness that believers themselves receive when they have properly ordered loves , similar to the stoic maxim , “ virtue is sufficient for happiness .” Lilla replied to this notion , “ That ’ s very special , but that ’ s all about you . What about God ?” Keller responded by explaining that the search for God begins with selfish intentions and we can never love Him perfectly , but we eventually realize that we should love God irrespective of what we get out of our love for Him .
When asked by the discussion moderator what is worth submitting to , Lilla said we should submit to that which we can determine and otherwise figure out how to comport ourselves in the face of uncertainty . That , Lilla said , is the human condition . In a way , Keller would also endorse this view . The difference is , of course , the degree of uncertainty that these two would recognize . For Keller , if we correctly order our loves , we can be
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destinies . This difference appeared again in a question that Lilla posed to Keller : if it turns out that God doesn ’ t exist , would you have to revise your good life at all ? Lilla seemed under the impression that it would not need revision . If ordering your loves in the right way leads to deepest satisfaction , what does it matter if God is there ? You still successfully ordered your loves and had a happy life , after all . But Keller disputed this assertion , citing Romans 5 : “ God ’ s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us .” We don ’ t simply believe in God ’ s love ; we experience it . And more than that : our love for God can ’ t be our love of God for Himself — as opposed to love that results in our happiness — if God doesn ’ t exist . If we correctly place God as our highest love , we directly experience Him and thereby close the door to the type of uncertainty that characterizes Lilla ’ s conception of the human condition . However , God doesn ’ t give us all the |
c o l u m b i a n e w s - i n - b r i e f
RUF International Serves Columbia Students
Reformed University Fellowship International launched a chapter at Columbia University this fall .
Andrew Terrell , on campus staff with RUF-International in New York City ( www . rufinyc . com ), is energized to “ reach out to the international students God has brought into our country .” Terrell , a student at Reformed Theological Seminary in New York , previously served with Mission to the World in Madrid , Spain .
RUF International “ seeks to welcome students from all nations with biblical hospitality , explore the good news of Christ with them , and equip them to serve God wherever He places them .”
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w i n t e r 2 0 1 7 : : c h r i s t i a n u n i o n . o r g
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