July 31, 2001
The Norwegian Pagan Society in Oslo, Norway is allowed to proclaim “God does not exist” every Friday for three minutes. In eighteen locations throughout the city, Muslims can issue calls to prayer five times a day, including the words, “God is the greatest.”
Both groups are convinced that what they are saying is true. This conflict is no problem for relativism. Relativism says that God is true for the Muslims but not true for the pagans.
When two statements clash, relativism may be unconcerned but those who believe in absolutes are mortified. They say two opposite and conflicting statements cannot both be true. For them, a door is either open or shut. It cannot be open in one person’s mind and shut in the mind of another.
Absolutes and relativism have nothing to do with preferences. My husband says “chocolate tastes terrible” even though nearly everyone disagrees with him. If thinking something is true makes it true, then those who like chocolate are hopelessly deluded. Instead, he needs to say “I think chocolate tastes terrible.”
This would clarify the issue of conflict between pagans and Muslims. If they said, “I think God does not exist” or “I think God is the greatest,” their statements would not be in conflict.
More simply put, those who decide “what is true for you is not true for me” have made a choice based on their preferences, not on what is true or not true. Because opinions vary on the taste of chocolate, there is no absolute truth about that issue. On the other hand, whether God exists or not cannot be an opinion. He either exists or He does not, just the same as Aunt Mary or any other person exists or not.
Pagans are in trouble if God exists. They need to rethink their philosophy and its resulting lifestyle. Muslims are in trouble if God is not the greatest. They must also do some rethinking. Believing in absolute truth and being an objective thinker requires work. Conflicting claims must be checked out. Merely forming an opinion will not do.
For example, if a person rings my doorbell and tells me that my house is on fire, I need to go and look. Even if I cannot see or smell smoke and there are no flames in sight, it would be dangerous to simply form an opinion. Saying something is “true for you” might be okay when it comes to chocolate or picking the color of your next car, but many matters require investigation and sound decisions. Forming an opinion without making sure could mean disaster.
Besides that, pagans and atheists have inflated egos. To say there is no God means they have all knowledge of all things, that they have searched the universe and verified no one is out there. No wonder Scripture says, “Only a fool says in his heart there is no God.”
The early Christians said there is a God and that Christ is His Son, resurrected from the dead. When they were accused of being deluded, they replied that if God is not real and the resurrection did not happen, then “we are of all men most miserable.” They had staked their lives on what they believed, taking Jesus seriously when He said, “He who saves his life will lose it . . .” They lived for the glory of God, not for personal gain.
God exists but the reality of His existence is made apparent only to those who know Him. This fits with the words Jesus said in a prayer to the Father, “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.”
If God is not real in the mind of an atheist, where lies the problem? Is it that God is not real? Or do they not want to obey Him? Or have they foolishly formed an opinion without checking it out?
Showing posts with label opinions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label opinions. Show all posts
Monday, April 9, 2018
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Facts rule over opinions ................ Parables 562
July 15, 1997
Children in a grade school crowded around their new school mascot, a furry little hamster. One asked the teacher if it was a boy or a girl. The teacher didn’t know. The children hotly debated the question until finally, one little fellow thought he had the solution. He said, “I know. Let’s vote on it.”
This amusing story is harmless because the children will soon learn that taking a poll does not change a hamster’s gender. However, what happens when we make vital decisions based on opinion polls rather than on established facts?
One example might be the trial of a person for a murder he did not commit. A decision must be made whether or not the suspect committed the crime even though innocence is already a fact. But if innocence cannot be defended with solid evidence, the suspect’s fate is left in to the opinion of a judge or jury.
All too often, spiritual matters are likewise tried in the courts of popular opinion. Consider statements like: “The Bible? Nobody believes that anymore.” Or “Christianity is just old-fashioned and not very popular.” Or “None of my friends believe in God so why should I?”
In polling Americans to find out their beliefs, results consistently show that about 85% of Americans and Canadians consider themselves to be Christian. The biblical definition of a Christian is someone who knows God, trusts Jesus Christ for salvation, and believes the Word of God. That is, Christians put their faith in what God says rather than in the opinions of people.
Being a Christian is a fact-issue. A person either believes God or they don’t. Yet another poll reveals that some of those 85% may have the wrong opinion of themselves. This poll asked questions about spiritual matters to those who claim to know God. Some were: Can a person who does good earn a place in Heaven? Is Hell an actual place or a state of separation from God? Is Satan a living being or a symbol of evil? Was Jesus actually resurrected from the dead?
In this poll, 57% said they think people who do good can earn a place in Heaven. In contrast, Scriptures say the opposite: “For it is by grace you are saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2).
Of course God wants everyone to do good, but the Bible makes it clear that not one person’s life measures up to God’s standard for heaven. If we want to have eternal life, He offers only one way to get it—through faith in Jesus. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one can come to the Father but by me.”
Those who entrust their eternal destiny to Christ are given His life and a new nature, out of which comes the ability to do the kind of good deeds that please God. Apart from Christ, whatever we call good cannot earn us a place in Heaven.
Another question in the poll asked people if they believe Jesus rose from the dead (as if such a monumental event could be decided by opinion). Despite evidence from Scripture, the testimonies of key witnesses, and other historical records, 45% of people interviewed believe that Jesus was not resurrected.
What if that had been a 100% decision against it? Or for that matter, a 100% vote for it? Would either one determine whether it happened or not?
Public opinion is not always reliable because many people do not always make decisions based on facts or a thorough examination of the evidence. In this case, everyone needs to examine the record and claims of Christ as they would a case in a courtroom. This is a vital issue that concerns eternal destiny and should not be left to public opinion but given serious investigation.
Children in a grade school crowded around their new school mascot, a furry little hamster. One asked the teacher if it was a boy or a girl. The teacher didn’t know. The children hotly debated the question until finally, one little fellow thought he had the solution. He said, “I know. Let’s vote on it.”
This amusing story is harmless because the children will soon learn that taking a poll does not change a hamster’s gender. However, what happens when we make vital decisions based on opinion polls rather than on established facts?
One example might be the trial of a person for a murder he did not commit. A decision must be made whether or not the suspect committed the crime even though innocence is already a fact. But if innocence cannot be defended with solid evidence, the suspect’s fate is left in to the opinion of a judge or jury.
All too often, spiritual matters are likewise tried in the courts of popular opinion. Consider statements like: “The Bible? Nobody believes that anymore.” Or “Christianity is just old-fashioned and not very popular.” Or “None of my friends believe in God so why should I?”
In polling Americans to find out their beliefs, results consistently show that about 85% of Americans and Canadians consider themselves to be Christian. The biblical definition of a Christian is someone who knows God, trusts Jesus Christ for salvation, and believes the Word of God. That is, Christians put their faith in what God says rather than in the opinions of people.
Being a Christian is a fact-issue. A person either believes God or they don’t. Yet another poll reveals that some of those 85% may have the wrong opinion of themselves. This poll asked questions about spiritual matters to those who claim to know God. Some were: Can a person who does good earn a place in Heaven? Is Hell an actual place or a state of separation from God? Is Satan a living being or a symbol of evil? Was Jesus actually resurrected from the dead?
In this poll, 57% said they think people who do good can earn a place in Heaven. In contrast, Scriptures say the opposite: “For it is by grace you are saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2).
Of course God wants everyone to do good, but the Bible makes it clear that not one person’s life measures up to God’s standard for heaven. If we want to have eternal life, He offers only one way to get it—through faith in Jesus. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one can come to the Father but by me.”
Those who entrust their eternal destiny to Christ are given His life and a new nature, out of which comes the ability to do the kind of good deeds that please God. Apart from Christ, whatever we call good cannot earn us a place in Heaven.
Another question in the poll asked people if they believe Jesus rose from the dead (as if such a monumental event could be decided by opinion). Despite evidence from Scripture, the testimonies of key witnesses, and other historical records, 45% of people interviewed believe that Jesus was not resurrected.
What if that had been a 100% decision against it? Or for that matter, a 100% vote for it? Would either one determine whether it happened or not?
Public opinion is not always reliable because many people do not always make decisions based on facts or a thorough examination of the evidence. In this case, everyone needs to examine the record and claims of Christ as they would a case in a courtroom. This is a vital issue that concerns eternal destiny and should not be left to public opinion but given serious investigation.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Will the world end? .............. Parables 274
July 3, 1991
Doomsday prophets aside, not too many people like to think about the end of the world. Most either fearfully project it beyond the foreseeable future or think it will never happen. A few souls are concerned. My neighbor is one of them. To her, the future seems insecure and without hope.
I just finished a study on some currently held views pertaining to Bible prophecies about “the last days.” Opinions abound, involving whether events described in Scripture are symbolic or actual and, if they are actual, what will be their sequence? Since there are no exact dates given for these events, we didn’t discuss “when” but did consider all the opinions.
Despite what the Bible says to the contrary, even some theologians maintain the world will never end. That is, they think the church will have an increasing influence for good, every person living will become a Christian, then Christ will return and all will enter an eternal state. Others are certain the world conditions will deteriorate but Christ will eventually return, separate the good from the bad, put the bad in hell, and everyone will live happily ever after.
Others think the church will be taken out of an increasingly evil world and wickedness will fully prevail for seven years. Then Christ will return from heaven, implement a theocracy and reign for a thousand years with His people. (These time spans have biblical support.) After that, all whose names are written in the book of life will join the Lord in eternity and the dead will be resurrected, judged and separated from God forever.
One thing my study revealed: anyone can find one or two Bible verses to support their personal opinion. No wonder there are so many opinions. It is like blind men describing an elephant: one thought it was like a tree -- he felt a leg; another was sure it was like a rope -- he had hold of the tail; another said no, it was like a large leaf -- he felt an ear; and so on.
Also, my study revealed that ALL of Scripture must be compared and considered to develop a reasonable view of any teaching, including what God says will happen in the future. We can’t just lift any verse off a page and think we have the last word on the issue. For instance, not every verse in the Bible is quoting God; some are a record of the words of sinful people!
Each verse must be studied in its context, considering who said it and why it was said. The Bible is actually its own best interpreter. If passages are carefully compared with similar passages on the same topic or with other passages written by the same author, the meaning often becomes clearer.
That sounds like work -- and it is. However, every occupation and pastime, including hunting and fishing, has its “Bible.” Engineers, doctors, lawyers, and all professionals study thick, complicated textbooks -- massive volumes of information written by experts in their various fields. Homemakers have thick childcare manuals and recipe books. Farmers have detailed manuals for machinery, livestock care, and building maintenance. Even an almanac can be fairly complex. Anyone wanting to be an expert on any topic has to study their subject.
Whether it is the end of the world or how to have eternal life, there is no other way to find out what God says about anything than to study His Word. Too many people simply pull information out of their heads or settle for an opinion made by someone who did only half their homework.
In case this topic of the end times is frightening, Jeremiah 29:11 offers hope: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” saith the LORD, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
God promises a glorious future for those who trust in Him.
Doomsday prophets aside, not too many people like to think about the end of the world. Most either fearfully project it beyond the foreseeable future or think it will never happen. A few souls are concerned. My neighbor is one of them. To her, the future seems insecure and without hope.
I just finished a study on some currently held views pertaining to Bible prophecies about “the last days.” Opinions abound, involving whether events described in Scripture are symbolic or actual and, if they are actual, what will be their sequence? Since there are no exact dates given for these events, we didn’t discuss “when” but did consider all the opinions.
Despite what the Bible says to the contrary, even some theologians maintain the world will never end. That is, they think the church will have an increasing influence for good, every person living will become a Christian, then Christ will return and all will enter an eternal state. Others are certain the world conditions will deteriorate but Christ will eventually return, separate the good from the bad, put the bad in hell, and everyone will live happily ever after.
Others think the church will be taken out of an increasingly evil world and wickedness will fully prevail for seven years. Then Christ will return from heaven, implement a theocracy and reign for a thousand years with His people. (These time spans have biblical support.) After that, all whose names are written in the book of life will join the Lord in eternity and the dead will be resurrected, judged and separated from God forever.
One thing my study revealed: anyone can find one or two Bible verses to support their personal opinion. No wonder there are so many opinions. It is like blind men describing an elephant: one thought it was like a tree -- he felt a leg; another was sure it was like a rope -- he had hold of the tail; another said no, it was like a large leaf -- he felt an ear; and so on.
Also, my study revealed that ALL of Scripture must be compared and considered to develop a reasonable view of any teaching, including what God says will happen in the future. We can’t just lift any verse off a page and think we have the last word on the issue. For instance, not every verse in the Bible is quoting God; some are a record of the words of sinful people!
Each verse must be studied in its context, considering who said it and why it was said. The Bible is actually its own best interpreter. If passages are carefully compared with similar passages on the same topic or with other passages written by the same author, the meaning often becomes clearer.
That sounds like work -- and it is. However, every occupation and pastime, including hunting and fishing, has its “Bible.” Engineers, doctors, lawyers, and all professionals study thick, complicated textbooks -- massive volumes of information written by experts in their various fields. Homemakers have thick childcare manuals and recipe books. Farmers have detailed manuals for machinery, livestock care, and building maintenance. Even an almanac can be fairly complex. Anyone wanting to be an expert on any topic has to study their subject.
Whether it is the end of the world or how to have eternal life, there is no other way to find out what God says about anything than to study His Word. Too many people simply pull information out of their heads or settle for an opinion made by someone who did only half their homework.
In case this topic of the end times is frightening, Jeremiah 29:11 offers hope: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” saith the LORD, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
God promises a glorious future for those who trust in Him.
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