Pigfest Report : March 23, 2007

We had seventeen guests to the Pigfest. It was a lively group. We indulged in food, fellowship and conversation. Numerous thought provoking propositions were presented.

Bethany was the first to present. Her proposition was that "one of the God-given duties of a wife is to civilize her husband." Next up was Rebecca, who presented "standardized tests are too closely tied to self-esteem; therefore, we either need a new way to measure intelligence or children should not be allowed to know how they score on standardized tests." This was followed by a proposition from Trey, who argued that "civilized societies ought to protect the free expression of art no matter how vulgar or distasteful we perceive the art to be." [note: Trey played Devil's advocate with this proposition. He did not actually believe vulgar art should be protected]. Next was Bill who defended the idea that "God used evolution to create man and evolution does not pose a threat to Christianity." Finally, Paul argued that "the threat from radical Islam makes the U.S. involvement in Iraq the correct response."

Several things made this Pigfest memorable. One, the tone was remarkably friendly even though there was disagreement. Two, the Devil's Rule was used often and effectively. Three, the physical layout worked well (more of a large round table format). Four, the staging of the food and passing of the platters was done well and was easier for Mrs. Dawntreader. Five, it was a long Pigfest (nearly two hours) but it did not go too long to the point of wearing thin.

Here were my summaries on each topic.

On the civilizing of husbands. Bethany clarified that civilizing meant "revealing blind spots" in the sense that a wife helps expose her husbands weaknesses. There is no doubt at all that this is true. But a wife should not view her role as being the Holy Spirit and the convictor of sin. Nor should a wife view her husband as a project. Nevertheless, it is clear that God uses marriage in a unique way to sanctify us husbands and expose our sin and therefore our great need of the daily redemptive work of Christ through the Holy Spirit.

On the standardized testing. Our culture is too tied to academic performance. Intelligence goes beyond book learning. Standardized tests don't always accurately measure intelligence -- some book smart kids test poorly. Self worth, furthermore, should not be based on one's ability to outperform others on tests. Therefore, I concur with Rebecca's second suggestion that test scores should be kept hidden from kids to prevent a boastful spirit (or a deflated spirit as the case may be). Clarification: by standardized tests, we are not talking about SATs. We are talking about National testing done in middle school.

On protecting art no matter how vulgar. While free speech is certainly an important property of civilized societies, we ought to have standards of decency. We certainly should not have to use tax dollars to pay for things like crosses in jars of urine which are ostensibly expressions of art. Whether we can truly legislate those standards of decency is a ticklish area. And defining what constitutes art turns out to be challenging. Nevertheless, civilized societies don't have to give in to relativism in order to be civilized. Standards can be set and enforced ... if not through laws, then through the moral ethos of a society.

On theistic evolution. For the record, I am not a theistic evolutionist. I think Genesis is real history and that God created animals in their own kinds as a special act of creation. I think Genesis teaches that human beings were created both male and female and completely distinct from the animals as a special act of creation on day 6. I totally understand the urge to try to blend evolution with Christianity in the manner of Dr. Francis Collins. However, true evolution is unguided, undirected and random ... not directed and controlled by God. Blending the two doesn't fit philosophically, nor is there any scripture supporting even a hint of evolutionary descent. I think it is disingenous to frame evolution as directed and controlled and more consistent to hold to a Richard Dawkinsish view of evolution.

As I moderated this discussion, I took it upon myself to draw out conversation rather than offer my own views. I did make the following challenge in my wrap up. If you are a theist, then you let God in the door. Once God is in play, then one cannot assume him away (i.e. make the deistic assumption that God receded into the background after kicking things off). God exists and He has spoken. One must take all of His revelation ( both creation and the revealed word ) and harmonize it because all truth is God's truth. God cannot lie. If there is a conflict, it is on our inability to interpret. Furthermore, there is no one position that is free from assumptions. No position has the "high ground" of being pure reason, logic and fact. As G.K. Chesterton points out, we are in a world filled with magic. The laws of physics do seem to work, but nobody knows why, where they came from, or if they will operate tomorrow.

On the U.S. war in Iraq. I supported the invasion of Iraq when it happened. I thought that some form of democracy in an Islamic country might be possible as long as the country practiced more of a cultural form of Islam. Like many, I have grown more skeptical of the possibility of a stable democracy in a flash point country like Iraq. But I agree with everyone at the Pigfest that a response to the threat of radical Islam is required. Sitting back in the U.S. and waiting to get hit again and again is foolish. Taking a Neville Chamberlain approach of appeasement of radical Islam is foolish as well. Being nice to jihadists won't make them like the U.S. and leave us alone. What is fueling Islam's anger toward us is a worldview rooted in a thousand years of history. What I think is really required is a change of worldview in a strategic Islamic country like Iran (or Saudi Arabia). And guess what, Iran is undergoing a worldview change on the inside from what I am told by missionaries. Anecdotal reports from Iran are encouraging. Victory in this struggle will probably come through the blood of Christian martyrs -- not Christian suicide bombers, but Christians who are willing to go and risk death by sharing the gospel of Christ to a country like Iran that is thirsty and ripe for Jesus Christ. Like in middle earth, look for victory to come through the most unlikely of heroes -- keep an eye on the hobbits ;-)