Today, the value of logic and other finite tools for knowing are considered. The appropriate human tools required to process assumptions, recorded data, observations, propositions, and secular knowledge include intelligence, carnal reason, critical thinking, and recall. When asked to share sacred knowledge and to impart spirit content to others the appropriate tools to be used by Christian believers include divine law, doctrine, parables, enduring principles, promises, prophecy, proverbs, personal testimony, warnings, and texts from the holy writings. One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information appears) posted the following:
Why don't christians use their own logic instead of parroting what their pastors tell them?
I've never met a Christian that can use their own logic to prove that God exists.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2nd Peter 1: 2-11, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: On Being Too Smart (04/30/2017); How To Know GOD? (12/12/2016); The Best Starting Point? (09/13/2016); Possible For Intelligent People? (02/07/2016); The Correct Prescription? (11/19/2015); Knowing? (05/24/2015); Believers and Evolution? (02/02/2015); GOD in Schools? (12/20/2012); Naaman the Leper (12/21/2012)
“Anonymous”, your statement is illogical; do not be surprised that non-Christians and sinners can not think and perform like Christians. In effect you have shared a flawed syllogism like saying, “All cats are felines. Lions and tigers are felines. I’ve never seen a kitten that roars like a tiger.” In the same way we are to accept ABCDEFG “by definition” and as a fixed pattern in existence that also includes XYZ, sinners and those outside the system of Christian belief first must accept that GOD is an “active presence” who displays person and eternal purpose, and has put forth everything described as being in existence. Saying this another way, GOD is a breath (life essence, spirit, word), who is immortal, incorruptible, and invisible and must be known on the basis of ones own spirit substance. The process from mathematics that uses theorems, corollaries, and precise calculations for demonstrating what we call “proofs” can not be transferred to the Social Science of Theology. Similarly, Aristotelian logic and discursive thought are not the primary tools in the operations for knowing GOD, or for acquiring sacred knowledge.
To eventually function as mature Christians, the living must experience growth and permanent changes in their awareness and self-will by receiving inseparable spirit content from the makeup of divinity. Included are faith, holiness, hope, longsuffering, lovingkindness, wisdom, and wrath against sin. Faith is made up only of faith, holiness only of holiness, wisdom only of wisdom, etc. Where one appears all are present, however, not always in the same distribution, measure and proportion (so to speak, “you can’t separate the wet from the water”). Thus, there is a dynamic of balance, exchange, interaction, movement, and reconfiguration among these aspects of divinity.
Correctly understood, self-promotion is never the objective of a Christian whether sharing in the public forum or in private. The believer is to display the heart, mind, and spirit of Jesus Christ. The most correct responses for those sharing Christian belief will center in admonition, doctrine, instruction, ministry, and personal testimony (i.e., eye-witness accounts and verbal statements shared under oath that have weight as evidence in judgment as a full manifesting of the speakers integrity). Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) 2nd Timothy 3: 16-17, King James Version (KJV): 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
(2.) 2nd Timothy 2: 14-16, KJV: 14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
(3.) Psalms 119: 98-101, KJV: 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
(4.) 1st Corinthians 1: 9-10, KJV: 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) Romans 8: 5-9, KJV: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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