Either/Or Fallacy

I found this great cartoon from Answers in Genesis that illustrates the logical fallacy of bifurcation, otherwise known as the either-or fallacy, that suggests one can be a Christian or a scientist but not both.  A bifurcation fallacy forms a false dilemma by implying there are only two possibilities when, in fact, more are available.  Let's learn to spot these unreasonable arguments and either politely set them straight and/or don't waste our time.

We've all heard this one?

"You can't live by faith and be rational."  This excludes that fact that faith AND rationality are not contrary and get along just fine.   Put them together and you have a third choice that is real, attainable and more desirable.  Why should we sell ourselves short?? 

 "The traffic light is either red or green."  This statement ignores the fact that the light could be YELLOW.  Okay, so this is a ridiculous example, but hopefully it helps us get the point 

We've heard debates encased bifurcately before: Scientist vs. Christians; Bible vs. science

Ummm... Is it possible one could be a scientist AND a Christian or believe the Bible AND science!!

Bifurcation is a sign one either CANNOT or, more likely, WILL NOT think with depth and possibility.  Isn't is ironic that Christians are often called closed-minded when their debater has limited  his/her rationale and will to reject any option that could include rationality, science, faith, religion and God?? Now that, my friends, is bifurcation.

Science makes most sense when viewed from a biblical worldvew.  Scientific laws are orderly, constant and predictable which conflicts with the popular theoretical pattern of a haphazardly formed universe.  The steadiness of scientific laws point to a Creator who upholds the universe in an orderly, constant and predictable manner.

Evolutionary arguments  use an assortment of logical fallacies.  Learning to spot them and to avoid making fallacious mistakes are a useful skills.

See Can Creationist be Real Scientist?

Sound Judgements

My daughter, who is 13, is currently reading The Personal Memoirs of US General Grant.  When relating to me what she is learning from this book, she expressed being struck by the respect and kindness General Grant bestowed to everyone, but most notably to his enemies of war. She was impressed that in his book he frequently commended opposing troops for bravery, wisdom and valor. 

After the war, he was able to kindle a friendship with Andrew Jackson, his former opposer.  They reminisced of an opportunity Jackson had not taken to capture Grant, revealing General Jackson practiced mercy, also.  Even though they fought on opposing sides, one did not view the other as a monster of sorts.  Perhaps, they recognized in one another that intelligence and honor was the reality of their nature- a reality in which they could be friends.

Rather than emotionally killing his enemies by cutting them out of his life, General Grant was able to continue a dignified relationship with his opponents if possible, as he did with General Jackson.  This conclusion reveals his attempt to approach dilemmas and disagreements with logical reasoning skills as opposed to the malicious, destructive nature of unharnessed emotions.  This is to be admired.

 It is a fallacious trap to be persuaded by the stirring of powerful emotions over logical appeal. George Washington describes the correct approach as governing passion with reason.  "Let your conversation be without malice or envy, for 'tis a sign of a tractable and commendable nature, and in all causes of passion permit reason to govern." – George Washington, The Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation,

It is worth noting that General Washington was close to my daughter's age when he wrote these rules of civility revealing our current low standards on youth these days

A wise parent teaches children to guard their minds from being deceived by irrational emotions, whether conjured from within themselves or by others, lest they create distorted caricatures that only exist in their own imaginations that don't represent truth.  Life is happier when problems aren't perceived  to be larger than necessary.  Imagined and exaggerated conflicts with people waste time and energy.  If issues are interpreted any differently than their face value, solutions might be misappropriated.  Taking time to hear the opposing case with sober and reasonable judgement maintained in the realm of reality and truth could prevent unnecessary battles. 

" Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.^{" ~Eph. 5:15,16}

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly...Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse...If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." ~Romans 12:2-21

"Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense." ~Proverbs 19:11

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." ~1 Peter 5:8

"Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach," ~1 Tim. 3:2

"So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober." ~1 Thes. 5:6

"Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness." ~Titus 2:2

"If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors...So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.  For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." ~James 2:8-13

Recounting!!

Psalms 9:1

"I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
    I will recount all of your wonderful deeds."

Reading history, studying music, pursing knowledge... one might assume I am describing our school day, but in fact, this is the scene in our home today- Saturday.  I am describing the way our daughters choose to spend their free time.  

WoW!!  I am overwhelmed with gratefulness!  The fruit of home-educating has been more bountiful than I predicted when we first started!  This is evidence that self-educating has become a way of life for them!

Let me recount...

A lesson I have learned through undertaking this homeschooling venture is that the promise of Matthew 11:28-30 is true indeed!.   

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

Obedience to God's word was our objective concerning godly education.  But I'll admit, the start up seemed a daunting task.   I have had many come-a-parts along the way.  What saved us was the enabling of the Holy Spirit to be courageous enough to break free from unnatural and unnecessary traditions by culling old strategies and habits learned from the current and unbiblical academic patterns.  We needed to bend and conform to the commands and principles the Lord provides to the Jews and Christians for teaching and training children.  We needed to get out from under our yoke with the world (2 Cor. 6:14) and accept the invitation to put on the yoke Christ is offering.  That is when we got a big surprise!!

Today, I humbly celebrate with all thanksgiving the fruit of our labor under the yoke of Christ.  Our children are self-educating as a way of life rather than a chore when so many have lost hope that this is possible.  

Who knew obedience and conformity could be so liberating!?!  This is one of the great paradoxical mysteries revealed to followers of Christ.  As we subject our pursuits under biblical scrutiny and modification, we find a treasure-- a manageable schedule rich with productive and rewarding outcomes beyond proportional measure.  The verse above describes this phenomenon as a yoke that is easy. 

Think of  it like swimming in a stream.  Rather than feeling the burden of swimming against currents of God's design, we get to focus our effort on staying afloat as we cooperate with the water's natural current to carry us to our destination.  I am not implying that homeschooling children doesn't require effort.  I am saying the effort is of a "gentle" sort.  It is rewarding, not draining.  It is motivating, sustaining and full of hope!!   The effort involved is more manageable than you would expect.

Some have said to me, "I don't know how you manage to teach your 4 children, all of them different ages!"  No doubt, it doesn't happen by osmosis, but I would like to challenge with this reply.  I don't know how folks have the patience to bear through government school for their children with all the trouble that comes with the package:  unpleasant habits, words, attitude learned from the other children and delivered right into your home;  misleading and, often, blatant lies taught in the text books; trying to keep up or slow down to a pace of learning that is not natural to your child's needs; not having time to let them pursue their particular interest;  Spending too much time on unnecessaries; protecting them the barrage of subtle and enticing humanistic philosophies that corrupt our understanding and society... I could not manage all that!!  I'm getting "weary and heavy laden" just thinking of it!

There is still much improvement needed in our walk with the Lord, but we see Him working!!  Our only hope is in Christ!! 

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Who are the "Whosoever"?

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
 
John 3:16 must be understood in harmony with the rest of the book which also states,  "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:10-13)

WHO are the "whosoever" in 3:16?  They are "whosoever will believe".  But WHO will believe? John 1:10-13 shows us that the world doesn't know him.  Those who receive Him and believe are born not of flesh or human will, but OF GOD.

John 10:24-30

 "If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
^" Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. ²⁶ But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.²⁷ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and My Father are one."

  "And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” (John 4:65)

It is quite clear to me that the "whosoevers" who come to Him are His sheep who have been granted to Him by the Father.

Why does this matter?  This gives us great assurance in several areas.  

First, we are assured that we are born of Him, not of our own will, and we understand that his power to sustain salvation and bring it to fruition is something that He is quite capable of when we are not. If my salvation were depending on whether or not I believed on my own initiative, I would constantly second guess myself.  Was I genuine; did I understand or did I accept Him with the right attitude?  Can I be sure I wasn't accepting Him for selfish reasons?  CERTAINLY NOT!!  I can see why so many are unsure about their salvation and why they repeatedly say a "sinner's prayer".  Because they think their salvation depends on their own contrived belief.

There is much hope that comes with the understanding that God is completely Sovereign.  Nothing or no one can thwart His plans for believers to prosper in salvation.  He has chosen us and "It is finished".  

Also, this gives us great relief and hope when we evangelize to understand that He has sheep in the world and they WILL respond to His call.  This takes the pressure off as we now understand that a friend's salvation doesn't depend on our sales pitch.  The power of their salvation is of God not the pitch.  Also, we should not be tempted to alter the truth of God's word to persuade someone.  We understand that all we have to do is speak the truth of God's word and his sheep will hear His voice. HE KNOWS WHO THEY ARE and THEY WILL FOLLOW HIM!!

To Him be ALL the glory!!

The Holiness of God

Isaiah 6:1-4

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;the whole earth is full of his glory!”

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

 "Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy."  Matthew 6:9

Holiness of God by Paul Washer

Hard Sayings

John 6:60- 69 

 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

    After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.

Let's look at modern churches:

Fruitful believers subject themselves under biblical teachings that are hard to hear--the "hard saying".  Our churches are so full these days that we can call them "mega" size, but most of them are not preaching the word in a systemic way that forces the congregation to face the difficult and meaty passages, but rather they pick a little here and there so they may offer their congregation only the food that is soft and easy to chew- baby food.  If their attenders were suddenly presented a plate filled with heartier foods, many would do as they did in this passage.  They would simply leave. 


Let's consider the successful TV broadcast preachers:


The reason most of them have high ratings??  Because they have filtered the substance of the word down until it taste like koolaid.  People like koolaid, ratings increase..

Shall we find those small circles that attempt to face the "hard sayings" of God's Word?  Shall we chew on the more difficult yet satisfying meat, and experience real spiritual growth and maturity?  

 If we "have the words of eternal life, and... believed, and have come to know... the Holy One of God" then the next step is clear.    YES, WE SHALL!!

A few sermons contrasting "hard sayings" of truth spoken by Paul Washer with the popular and deceptive easy-believism variety preached by Joel Olsteen: 

The Essence of Reformed Theology; Spurgeon Speaks

May I invite you to read Ephesians 2:1-10 very slowly and carefully:

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

 It is a good thing to understand we have nothing to do with our salvation because we were incapable, considering we were DEAD.  Totally, spiritually "DEAD"... as a doornail. Apart from God we cannot produce ANYTHING of eternal profit as stated by Noah Webster:

 8.  Unemployed; useless; unprofitable.  A man's faculties may lie dead, or his goods remain dead o his hands. So dead capital or stock is that which produces no profit.

As I comprehend how dead I was, can I more fully appreciate what God has done in my life.  He has raised me from the dead.  He moved me. He opened my blind eyes which could not by their own power see His provision for me.


How can I describe it more... Glory to God alone.

Hear Spurgeon and Piper speak in this short video, The Essence of Reformed Theology: