Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for November, 2024

Epistemology

Posted in Assurance, Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Faith, General, God Thoughts, Questioning, theology, Truth, Work of the Holy Spirit, tagged , , , , , , , , , on November 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »

How do we know? How do we know we know?

I would like to propose a definition of “know”: to perceive and be convinced of truth. Since truth is what is in accordance with fact or reality rather than what is thought to be, knowing something that is not true is not knowing but believing something to be true that isn’t. This definition of truth accepts that truth is an absolute, not a perception or belief apart from reality.

So, back to the question: How do we know? How do we know that what we believe and claim to be true is in fact true? Not being omniscient, we must rely on (believe, hold presuppositions) sources of truth. Evidence for the truthfulness of a source is important. There are two types of evidence: internal and external. Question 5 of the Baptist Catechism gives both concerning the Christian’s source of truth.

Question 5: How do we know that the Bible is the Word of God?

Answer: The Bible evidences itself to be God’s Word by the heavenliness of its doctrine, the unity of its parts, and its power to convert sinners and to edify saints. But only the Spirit of God can make us willing to agree and submit to the Bible as the Word of God.

The internal evidences are “heavenliness of its doctrine” and “the unity of its parts”. The former points to its high view of God and accurate view of man. The latter demonstrates its internal consistency even in the light of 40 authors in 66 books over 1500 years.

The external evidences are its “power to convert sinners” and “[power] to edify saints”. Lives are changed. This is the reason that personal testimony is so important and persuasive. The Bible is not just a set of facts and rules. It is a life-giving change agent. Other external evidences such as scientific discoveries, archaeology, logical arguments, historical confirmations, and answers to prayer, are useful, removing barriers to open-minded skeptics, but the Word of God opened to us by the Spirit of God is our only solid, unchangeable, ruling source of truth and knowledge.

Read Full Post »

Practical Physics

Posted in Capentry, General, Project, Random thoughts, tagged , , , , , , , on November 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Working alone on carpentry projects has its challenges, especially when it involves 16′ treated lumber (1) I was building a double beam from two 2″ x 8″ x 16′ treated boards that needed to span 13 feet. I set clamps in place to retain the boards as I set each one in place one at a time, one end at a time. When it came time to screw the two boards together for increased strength to support the carport roof, I wanted the tops of the two boards to be flush. One had a crown (arch along the board) of over 1/2″. The other one had no crown, being amazingly straight. They were far too stiff to force flush by hand while I screwed them together. I decided to let gravity do the work for me. I extended an 8′ 2 x 4 about 7′ over one side and clamped it in place. It did the trick (See the set-up at “Leverage“.)

Later, I was curious how much force the 2 x 4 was exerting on the boards to straighten them to flush. Given that 1′ of the 7′ was canceled out by the 1′ hanging over the other side, I had 6′ of board torquing on the 2 x 8’s. Torque = force x lever arm. The center of gravity of the 6′ or torquing board was at 4′. That is the lever arm. The weight of 6′ of 2 x 4 (really 1 1/2 x 3 1/2) varies with exact species and water content. This board was kiln dried but laid in the rain the other day. There are online calculators for board weight (2). Mine was somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 lbs. Therefore, the torque = (6 lbs) x (4 feet) = 24 foot-pounds. That would be the same as hanging my 150 lb person on a board extending about 2 inches from the board. I was actually surprised that it took no more effort than that. I would have only had to exert a little over 20 pounds at the base of my fingers at 14 inches on a lever arm (3). However, that is more challenging than it appears since I am standing on a ladder and needing to force the screw into the board and hold this pose, which involves some core strength, while I use my driver to install at least 1/2 dozen screws. I was not able to get into a position to merely lean on the board. Gravity assist was much easier.

  1. My wife and some of my friends say that I should ask my friends for help, but they would stand around most of the time while they waited for me to prep for the heavy lifting. My wife and a few of my friends also think that I have too much time on my hands, since I have time to write blog entries like this one.
  2. https://www.builderscalculator.com/lumber-weight-calculator
  3. My forearm is a standard 18″ cubit (elbow to middle fingertip). The pads at the base of my fingers are one handbreadth (4″) less.

Read Full Post »

Infallible

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Experience, Faith, General, theology, tagged , , , , , , , on November 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Can you think of anything infallible? There are certainly things that are trustworthy and consistent, but only two things are truly infallible, God and His Word.

Question 4: What is the Word of God?
Answer: The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, being given by divine inspiration, are the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 5:17- 18; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Psalm 19:7-8.

Contained in a limited 66 books of Old and New Testament as witnessed by internal evidence (1), these were then confirmed by the church fathers and counsels as the whole of the Bible, the Word of God (2).

This communication from God is most narrowly declared to be the “only infallible rule”. Only is quite the exclusive word and declaration. Cannot experience or conscience or reason or observation or evidence also be used? These may only be used as they agree with and confirm what the Word of God says, but all of these other rules are fallible. They do not hold a candle to the brightness in trustworthiness of God’s Word. We must submit to this Bible as our rule, our guide, our instructor and manager, the very words from our King.

To what part of life does the Scripture apply? It should have full reign over “faith and practice”, belief and conduct, which includes perspective, intention, speech, emotion (3) Right practice arises from right belief and right belief arises from right teaching which arises from truth which arises from the Word of God. If you base your faith and practice on any other foundation, you will be led astray and ruined.

God’s Word is declared to be truth by Jesus: “Your Word is truth.” (John 17:17b) The source of God’s Word is the inspiration of God resting upon the biblical authors (2 Timothy 3:16), directed or moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).

In a world awash with truth claims from Empiricism to Historicity to Existentialism to Spiritism, the Bible stands out by boldly claiming to have an exclusive corner on truth. Jesus, as its author and defender, claims Himself to be “the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him.” (John 14:6) All other truths, for the devout follower of Christ, are considered true to the extent that they line up with the Word of God.

May our practical (actual lived out) theology grow in alignment to our stated (what we argue for) theology.

  1. “Thus says the Lord”, 2 Peter 3:14-16, “The word of the Lord came to me saying”, John 5:37, 12:49, etc
  2. https://www.historyinthebible.com/supplementary_pages/church_fathers.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_of_the_New_Testament_canon
  3. In all of this list, our ability to perfectly align our faith and practice to God’s Word is beyond our capabilities, and no more so that in our short-term emotional responses, but we can do as David did, pour out our woes and come around to declaring God’s goodness, righteousness, and provision.

Read Full Post »

Three Books?

Posted in General on November 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The second blog entry that I ever wrote was published on July 24, 2007, called “Two Books“. It is an introduction to a set of articles about Naturalism vs. Christianity as they relate to Science, or in a narrower sense, Creation vs. Evolution. Since the time of Augustine, scholars have spoken of two books of revelation, the Book of Nature and the Book of Special Revelation, the Bible.

Recently, I was considering the 3rd question of the Baptist Catechism (Collins, 1693), which asks, “How do we know there is a God?” The answer gives three reasons (three books?): “The light of nature in man, and the works of God, plainly declare that there is a God; but His Word and Spirit only, do effectually reveal Him unto us for our salvation.”

Which is it, two or three? The works of God, the Creation, and the light of nature in man are in actuality two volumes of the Book of Nature. Upon deeper inspection, the volume of the light of nature in man has two sections, the moral code written on the conscience and the ability of man to reason. These are strong pointers to the reality and attributes of God.

The Book of Nature in all of its parts cannot bring a person to salvation. It does, however, bring a person to account before God: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) In a more positive sense, this accountability can be used in pre-evangelism to open the heart of the skeptical to hear the Gospel. I know of a professor at LSU who was challenged by a Christian student as to how he knew what he was claiming to be true about evolution. It so set him to thinking about the subject that he went searching and eventually found Christ.

Read Full Post »

First Things

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Blessing, General, God Thoughts, theology on November 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

As we began the catechism questions in the worship service, The Catechism starts off with questions of highest import.

Question 1: Who is the first and best of beings? Answer: God is the first and best of beings.
Isaiah 44:6; Psalm 8:1; 96:4; 97:9, 1 Samuel 2:2

First has more than one meaning. Chronologically it means first in time, or in this case, eternity. Additionally, it means first in position, rank, or accomplishment, as it says in Isaiah 44:6-7a: “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me. Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it…”

He is best: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!” (Psalm 8:1) Being best of beings extends far beyond power and glory. “There is no one holy like the Lord…” (2 Samuel 2:2a) Holy is so unreachable and unfathomable to us. We can better understand and appreciate a best being who “…is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.” (Psalm 145:17)

He is best at being best, that is, He is best at any and all areas of which you may think.

Question2: What is the chief end of man? Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. 1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 16:11, 37:4, 73:25-26; Isaiah 43:7

What is our purpose for existing, our reason to remain alive, the goal around which we should center our lives? The answer given is twofold when the question asks for just one. I think that they are really one answer given from two perspectives, God’s and ours. Enjoying God, while obviously a great benefit to us, is the ultimate way to glorify God. Our passion of enjoyment of Him communicates more solidly than words that He is valuable and worthy of my attention, worship, witness, relationship, obedience, and our whole life. The more I cherish and desire Him, the more He is glorified. Therefore, do not look at your belief in God as a responsibility to be fulfilled but a relationship to be sought out.

Read Full Post »

Unexpected Delight

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Education, Faith, God Thoughts, God's Word, tagged , , , , , , , , on November 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Having heard catechism questions read in a worship service several times and done well, I thought it might be of benefit for our church to do so. I volunteered to the pastor, receiving an enthusiastic confirmation.

Following is how I introduced the subject to the church:

“Considering that “the Word of God [is] the only infallible rule of faith and practice” (1), why are confessions, creeds, and catechisms useful and prudent (though not necessary)? The truths about God, man, and the way of salvation are scattered throughout the Scripture like nuggets in a quartz vein of a goldmine. Many do not have the skills or inclination to dig so hard, tough that is no excuse to not learn and acquire them. So, a catechism is a systematic, focused, concise set of questions and answers to train the young, the uninformed (2), and the forgetful in the overall message of the Scriptures. We are accused of indoctrination. [Certainly,] the world continually teaches and persuades of its lies, so we must counter with truth carefully and consistently conveyed.”

I did not grow up with confessions and catechisms and only occasionally recited the Apostle’s Creed in church. In fact, when I first came in contact with them, I thought they were unnecessary and even detrimental since they could be a source of division. Furthermore, why not just study Scripture so that you get it right? That is more complicated than it may first appear. There are the matters of Hermeneutics (3) and Exegesis. Throwing around big words and saying it is complicated throws up red flags for many people to avoid the subject and claim agnosticism concerning truth. That is a cop out. The Scripture encourages and enjoins with these words: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth…” (4)(John 16:13), and “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). So, you can know and must avail yourself to know. Having a tool to point you to the major points of truth in Scripture, like a confession or catechism with Scripture references to look up, is very helpful for the “young, uninformed, and forgetful.” They are also useful to parents and teachers of the Word in order to convey the basics and crucials of Scriptures while pursuing the study of the details in Bible Study.

God has no grandchildren, that is, each generation must be convicted, repent, and believe on the Lord Jesus, but that does not absolve the church, the teacher, and the parent from indoctrinating their hearers in the truth. All belief systems indoctrinate (5); we best not fall behind.

  1. This quote is part of the answer to question 4 of the Baptist Catechism of 1693 (Collins), which makes the rest of the sentence somewhat of an irony.
  2. I originally wrote “ignorant” which is not wrong, but I thought better of it since many people would be insulted by the term, though accurate.
  3. Three good articles on biblical hermeneutics: https://www.apologeticsindex.org/5846-biblical-interpretation-rules#hermeneutics; https://www.logos.com/grow/biblical-hermeneutics-guide/?msockid=091b1c02a8ee649603de0914a9f96573; https://seminary.grace.edu/what-is-biblical-hermeneutics/
  4. Since context is king and this Jesus was speaking to His disciples, it is proper to understand that the truth they were to be guided into was the inspiration of the Scriptures. However, immediately after Jesus prays the Father “sanctify them in the truth;…” (John 17:17), He continues with “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word” (v.20). You, believer, are included.
  5. A fact I know all too well from having studied Biology at a secular university

Read Full Post »

Myrela

Art, health, civilizations, photography, nature, books, recipes, etc.

Overflows from the Heart

"But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart…" Matthew 15:18

CreatorWorship

Pointing to the One who made, saved, and sustains