Two Important Points to Ponder with Respect to Logic and Depth of understanding by Rich Vermillion Many people WANT to know Truth; many of them THINK that they do know it; most of these, however, do not. This is because sound Bible-based Christian doctrine is ONLY attainable if you apply logic to your study of Gods Word, AND have depth to your thinking. No, I am NOT talking about some strange hidden mysteries known only to the elite (for that is how occultists and Freemasons think, and I am NEITHER). Rather, I am talking about simply NOT being a shallow thinker. To put it another way, stupid people have stupid doctrines. ;) So lets discuss these two points: (1) LOGIC: If a person does NOT reason about the Scriptures using sound logic, then they will NOT arrive at TRUE conclusions, and thus, their doctrines will be in error. Therefore, the ONLY way to know genuine doctrines of Christ is to learn how to reason from the Scriptures as Paul did: ** Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. It is interesting to note that the Greek word translated as reasoned in verse 17 of the passage from Acts above is διαλέγομαι. Transliterated into Latin letters so that it is easier to read, this word is the term “dialégomai.” This Greek term is actually a compound word that is derived from two other Greek words: “from diá denoting transition or separation, and légō , to speak.” Consequently, this compound word “dialégomai” means, “To speak back and forth or alternately, to converse with, reason, present intelligent discourse” SOURCE: Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Word Study Series). Moreover, Paul was in the HABIT of reasoning with people wherever he went, as it reveals earlier within the chapter (and in passages elsewhere, as well): ** Acts 17:2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” Again, the Greek word for reasoned above is this same term, dialégomai. And taking this a step further, the Greek word from which we derive the English word logic is logikós (which is used in the New Testament too, but I dont have time to elaborate upon those passages right now). However, this Greek word for logic is itself derived from the Greek word, logós. This latter Greek word is the primary word used in the New Testament to describe the Scriptures themselves, and logós literally means: “To speak intelligently. Intelligence, word as the expression of that intelligence…Word, as uttered by the living voice, a speaking, speech, utterance…Reason, the reasoning faculty that the power of the soul which is the basis of speech, rationality…” (same source as above). Thus, the Bible actually encourages logical reasoning and discourse (literally from Genesis to Revelation). So those who instead operate in violation of Gods laws of logic (i.e., are using fallacious thinking) are INCAPABLE (except by accident) of discerning true genuine doctrines of Christ. Even the Bereans knew how to use logic to discern the validity of what Paul preached (Acts 17:10-12), and we should do the same as listeners AND as those who propose to share doctrine with others, as Paul did. (2) DEPTH: Those people who seem to be incapable of understanding that there are often more sides of the same issue than just one, are blind to the full truth of that very subject. They refuse to give an inch in a debate (even when proven to be wrong multiple times) because they are essentially claiming that there is only one exclusive view of the issue. Meanwhile, the other person may be providing a fuller perspective that INCLUDES perhaps that view, but within its correct context. Case in point: While it is VERY TRUE that the Lordship of Jesus Christ is an established truth, and not mans vote is necessary for Him to be Lord of all, it is equally true that NOT every person ADMITS that fact: ** Romans 14:11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” ** Luke 19:11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ Jesus told a story that was clearly illustrative of Himself. Although EVERY human being is his subject, many refuse His Lordship every day. Thus, the time is coming when they will be FORCED at the Judgment to confess His Lordship, as they bow their knee to Him. Hence, those who argue that making Jesus Lord of ones life is in error, are not only ignorant of the requirement of Romans 10:9 ...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, but also MANY other passages in both the Old Testament AND the New. There are MANY people who refused to acknowledge God AS God (see Romans 1). Yet, He is still God, is He not? Likewise, there are MANY people who refuse to acknowledge Jesus as Lord. Yet, He is STILL the Lord, is He not? ONLY those who DO acknowledge Him as such IN THIS LIFE will know His salvation, however. Any doctrine in contradiction to this is ERROR (at best), or flat-out heresy (in the extreme). Those who push such an absurd denial of the Lordship requirement for salvation have only a surface understanding of the doctrine in question. They have no depth of knowledge of the term, or its use in the Scriptures. They certainly have a very poor understanding of The Fundamentals of the REAL Gospel too, for their extremely shallow understanding of the word faith betrays the fact that they have no idea where that faith is supposed to be POINTED when applied. It is to be pointed THROUGH repentance, toward the LORD Jesus Christ, and what He did on the Cross. It is a package, but those who refuse to think cannot see this fact. Thus, again, such people have arrived at false conclusions because they cannot see the forest for the tree. Caught up with words, they argue to their own hurt about trivial matters and do NOT see the Truth of Gods Word: ** 2 Timothy 2:14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Nevertheless, such people typically consider themselves theologically superior to those who can give a right answer: ** Proverbs 26:16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. Thus, one has to be capable of CRITICAL THINKING as well as having a grasp of sound logic. The two subjects are related, but they are separate sides of the same coin. Critical thinking implies analysis, investigation, consideration, etc., all of which requires logic in order to arrive at true conclusions. However, critical thinking skills enable a person to think 3-dimentionally instead of merely in a linear (1-D) or planar (2-D) fashion. Life is NOT a single line, nor is it a flat piece of paper. We live in a 3-D universe, so it is about time people start thinking with more DEPTH than they so often do, by applying themselves to UNDERSTANDING things beyond just the surface: ** Proverbs 2:1 My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; 8 He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. ** Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. ONLY through sound logic AND applied critical thinking skills, will you be able to have DEPTH of understanding AND arrive at true conclusions with regard to even the most basic doctrines of the Bible. If you have these, however, you are certainly on the right track and God will bless you for your efforts to learn His Word: ** 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. Always in Jesus, Rich Vermillion
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 06:36:09 +0000
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