Some of My Interests -- Because I was Tagged

[thebiblicalway]

Well, better late than never, right?

Look at your LJ "interests" list. If you have less than 50 interests, pick every fifth one. If you have between 50 and 75 interests, pick every seventh one. If you have over 75 interests, pick every tenth one. If you have fewer than ten, pick all of 'em. List them on your LJ, and tell everyone exactly what it

Comments

[thebiblicalway]

As far as this being more interesting, that's hard to tell. I'm not overly fond of reading my own posts.

So if you would like to share about what you're learning in this area I would be very interested in hearing about it.

Lemme summarize, what I've gathered so far. ... Well, to begin with, everyone has basic presuppositions or assumptions. It's good to point that out to people. There's this fallacious idea that many unbelievers have that they are unbiased in their beliefs. They are--they think--using the ultimate criterion for determining all truth: human reasoning. It's all humanistic. What they don't realize is that they are just as biased as anyone else. Their basic presupposition is that human intelligence is decisive and generally impartial in discerning the truth. False. The Bible tell us that Man fell. The result is that the natural Man's mind (as well as heart) is totally depraved and at enmity with God ("The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts," Psalm 10:4).

Now, many Christians try to reason people into believing the Bible, doing their best to appeal to their natural fallen mind. Even if they did eventually believe that the Bible contains truth, the normative end would be for them to still be clinging in faith to their own reasoning power, and not in faith in God. (Exceptions occur, undoubtedly, for God can always use His Word to save.)

Christians should really realize that we start with the assumption that the Scriptures are true. We take that by faith. (Aside: yes, I think God uses evidences in aiding in assurance with a pre-existing faith.) When the gospel is presented it should be presented as fact. Trying to rationalize it would only be appealing to Man's carnal mind and adding possibly to a mere head knowledge. The best approach is an authoritative approach. If unbelievers say we're just religious and have blind faith, we can come back and point out their religion and false presuppositions, removing their pretentious reasons for not listening to "religious talk".

... blaa, blaa, blaa ...

Not as odd as you may think. ;) I've often thought of doing something like that...

Ah, then maybe you're odd, too. =P "Different" may be a better word. (Oops, had to fix the unending .)

[numbugz]

My sister was recently telling me about presuppositionalism (is that a word?) and it's antidote. Very fascinating. I mean, in class this year the teens in our church are going through a book that gives logical answers to different questions about religion in general and Christianity in particular. It seems like on the one hand we do have to accept the Bible through faith, but God did give us our reason, and I think He expects us to use it. We have to have faith that God exists, but does that mean we should not try to use logic to prove it?

[thebiblicalway]

...God did give us our reason, and I think He expects us to use it.

'Definitely agree with you there. =) (Oh boy, don’t get me going! I’ll talk your ear off if you talk about these kind of things. I love philosophical discussions.) In answer to your question, God’s existence in particular is a fundamental truth that is built into people’s conscience. Those who deny God’s existence are not easily won over by logic, since they’ve already dismissed His existence based on a strong, sinful bias. If they are won over by logic, they’d not believe in God’s existence due to faith but, in their mind, by virtue of facts. “Without faith it is impossible to please God,” comes to mind, and faith is not birthed by “facts.” If we want to see people saved, we need the gospel-and only the gospel, by the work of the Holy Spirit, can result in salvation.

BTW, there really are no “hard facts,” or interpretation-less facts. All evidence gets evaluated through a worldview and gets interpreted based upon presuppositions (fundamental beliefs). That’s something important to realize. Evolutionists, e.g., take the same evidence as creationists and (generally) interpret that data to fit their preconceived beliefs-their faith. Now, evolution is so inconsistent and filled with illogicalities that it is quite possible to show them the absurdity of their faith. But, again, does that result in salvation? Not directly.

Eh, I’m rambling a bit. ... Yet, there’s so much more to be said. =( The place of logic in evangelism has escaped me for some time. Paul certainly reasoned with the Jews about the Scriptures. That takes logic, but in that case he was still presenting the gospel, but in a more complicated way, I guess. He was comparing Scripture with Scripture, from what I understand, and showing how Jesus fulfilled Messianic prophecies. There is no clear biblical case of someone trying to logically persuade another of the truth of Scriptures. You see? That’s the whole point that I really wanted to make. Trying to prove the Bible’s validity to the unsaved is not scriptural and not helpful (it seems). Like I said, though, I’m still studying this, so maybe I’m a bit off on this subject.

[artisticeagle]

You like philosophocal discussions???

Sweet!

I like your logic and I know my bro thinks your username is cool- "cause you live up to it" (!)

*nods head in approval*

lol

[thebiblicalway]

The reason I chose the name was because I want to live by every word of God and want to always understand God's revealed will for my life, not because I have any illusions that I do. I've regretted choosing the username on several occasions, now, realizing that people might get the wrong idea. =/

[redbandanna]

I think I should get a hold of this book. =)

This subject sounds like something I need to read into further because even though I haven't formulized my questions about these presupposistions in my head... they have been muddled up in my brain have been part of my recent confusion... but we won't go into that. =) Let's just say I've been questioning a lot of stuff -- part of the learning process I suppose.

Hehe. Different. Yes. Must be so.