Category: Discernment

Worldview of Unforgiving Piety

by LeeS, posted in Discernment, Nihilism

Worldview reduces complex concepts
Into meaningless rhetoric

The current political rhetoric has devolved into pietistic moralistic charge and counter-charge as each talking head seeks to capture the high moral ground while illustrating that the other side spews forth the rhetoric of hate. Yes, it is time for another presidential election cycle to begin. The charge of hate is the latest concept being used to discredit anyone and anything with which you disagree, regardless of the historical period or circumstances. Continue reading “Worldview of Unforgiving Piety” →

Your Virtual Reality Worldview

by LeeS, posted in Discernment, Existentialism, Nihilism

Purpose of the movie The Matrix:
Was Choice or Non-choice

One’s worldview is difficult to grasp if this is a new concept. The movie, Matrix, believed that people, reality, were captives of machines, computers. These computers controlled people by giving them a false reality. The majority of people were docile but a minority refused to believe in the reality of the matrix; thus, they rebelled; exercised choice. In reality, they had no choice at all; it was simply another form of illusion. One’s worldview is the interpreter of perceived reality; thus, one’s worldview is one’s matrix or interface between self and all else.  In one sense this is very true: Welcome to the Bible. Continue reading “Your Virtual Reality Worldview” →

Can You Define Your Worldview?

by LeeS, posted in Discernment, Philosophy

Everyone has a worldview
Few think about their worldview

Worldview is the “overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world” (Wordnik). This standard definition has little meaning to the average person. I was not familiar with this term until about ten years ago and I have discovered precious few people who give any thought to their worldview. Yet, the worldview is the lens by which each person interacts with political, social and physical environment. Can you elucidate your worldview? Continue reading “Can You Define Your Worldview?” →

Which Gospel?

by LeeS, posted in Discernment, Doctrine

The Answer depends on One’s Definition
Law of Identity Can Force a False Dilemma

Paul used this phrase, “…according to my gospel…” in his Roman epistle {letter} (Ro 2:16). Scholars have debated the meaning of this phrase down through the centuries. As is true of most discussions, one’s position is defined by the very definition one chooses to apply {Law of Identity}. The term gospel simply means good message in the Greek {εὐαγγέλιον}. Many scholars have postulated that Paul was indeed preaching a different gospel from Jesus’ message in the four books commonly referred to as the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. What does gospel means to you? Continue reading “Which Gospel?” →

Importance of Two

by LeeS, posted in Discernment, Doctrine

Marriage is often the brunt of jokes
Denoting our causal approach to union

I often wondered if God had actually made an error in making man without also making woman simultaneously. Genesis chapter one gives a general synopsis of God making only man (Ge 1:27-28). Yet, in Genesis chapter two God seems to have remembered that He made only man who was now lonely (Ge 2:7-8, 15-18). Then God dawdles before making woman as man names all the animals he encounters. To the Western mind this section of Scriptures appears disjointed with God appearing confused and indecisive. Yet, upon closer introspection a different picture emerges that shapes the Gospel for the remained of the Bible. Continue reading “Importance of Two” →

Justice or Nihilism

by LeeS, posted in Discernment, Doctrine

Schematic of Man’s Conception of
Good and Evil from the same tree

I read an article on Facebook in which a college-age woman confronted an open-air preacher asking why does not God just forgive everyone? To answer her question means we must understand the underlying assumptions hidden in her question. It is these types of questions many Christians cannot answer because they do not look at assumptions and implied consequences. Continue reading “Justice or Nihilism” →

Why You Are Totally Depraved

by LeeS, posted in Discernment, Doctrine

Can You See the Logical Fallacy?
Classic False Dilemma of Choice

Paul tells his readers quite clearly why every person is guilty of sin and thus condemned before God. How is this possible? Paul describes the process but it does not translate clearly into English. We will look at Paul’s answer in some detail and discover the absurdly simple process is automatic. This becomes the basis for Total Depravity; the belief that man is born without any goodness, already destined for Hell. The answer to the graphic will be given at the end of the post. Continue reading “Why You Are Totally Depraved” →

God Gave Them Up

by LeeS, posted in Discernment, Doctrine, Nihilism

The Question Hanging Over Truth:
Whose Truth; God’s or Men’s

Paul writes in Romans that “God gave them up” (Ro 1:24). In fact, Paul repeats this phrase three times meaning that God completely gave them up; but, who did God give up, why and what does this phrase even mean? To answer that means we must go to the Old Testament before the Cataclysm {Flood} or “Back to Genesis”. Continue reading “God Gave Them Up” →

Worshipping the Sun on Easter

by LeeS, posted in Discernment, Holidays

Christians Annually Worship Paganism
Ignorantly Claiming to Worship Christ

I allowed myself to be talked into attending an Easter sunrise service this year. It was pretty much as I expected. Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) praising each other for praising Jesus, attendance cards to gather more people into the mega-church holding the function and a sermon designed to bring converts into the church via a simplistic, feel-good message of salvation. Since it was a cloudless day I received an added bonus: sun shining directly into my eyes so I could not see very much. Though I was blinded by the sun, it saddened me to think how many people were being blinded by the service into thinking they were worshiping the risen Christ when in fact they were actually worship Satan (1Co 10:19-22). Continue reading “Worshipping the Sun on Easter” →

Propaganda: Staple of Life

by LeeS, posted in Discernment, Indoctrination, Nihilism

Propaganda is such a loaded word
People rarely define it except as lies

What comes to your mind when you hear the word, propaganda? I was told the other day that it is only propaganda when it contains lies. But, it this true. “In the twentieth century, the term propaganda has often been associated with a manipulative approach, but propaganda historically was a neutral descriptive term (Wikipedia).”  For a republican form of government to work effectively requires an informed voter; but, can the voter find clear unbiased information? Continue reading “Propaganda: Staple of Life” →