I was driving home from work today and I was thinking about the pitiful immoral state of society. The entire conversation of my co-workers all day centered around immorality or unethical behavior. And these are America’s finest - police officers. Driving home thinking about how society has degraded, I drove through a bad part of the city. Seeing what appeared to be a prostitute walking down the street my attention was drawn. Driving past her I saw a group of contractors who had stopped their labor and stared at her as she walked away to look, jest, and no doubt make verbal their filthy thoughts.
It was here that it struck me that this is the clarion call to the Church of Christ. The morals of our society is in a deplorable state. The lower class to the upper class is saturated with lust and greed or are being eaten away with bitterness, anger, and depression. There is no standard set for what is right and wrong but what the true Church of Christ lives and preaches. But how can we do this if we live silent and closed lives. As the Bible says, “How can the people hear if there is not a preacher.” How can we set an example to this dying world if we live like them. Drink alcohol like they do. Listen to Rock and Roll like they do. Talk dirty like they do. Don’t stand up for the truth when no one else will, even if it means damage to our “career”.
What does God think of us when we partake or even just stay quite when we should say something. We are it. We are the only representatives/ ambassadors of Christ in this world. If we do not stand up for truth, no one will. Their immorality is our clarion call. Don’t ignore it!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Science of Deduction Part 2
Observation
One of the most important things to do is to not to see but to both see and observe. Sherlock Holmes once asked Watson in the Scandal in Bohemia how many steps there were leading from the ground floor to their room upstairs. Though he walked them hundreds of times Watson said that he did not know their number. Sherlock Holmes provided the correct answer and made that statement. “You see but do not observe. I see and observe.”
Observation is more than seeing. I could see someone walk into the room. I will observe to a certain degree as well. I will make an assumption as to their gender and age. But outside of those observations the average person stops his analysis. Why is this? It is because we have not trained ourselves to be able to use other information that is equally as obvious to tell us about the person.
Observation alone is not enough you may observe something without deducing from it. For example, in the Scandal of Bohemia Sherlock Holmes observes several lacerations on the side sole of Watson’s shoe and deduces that Watson has recently been out in the foul weather and has a sloppy and careless maid. Now, seeing would just show us Watson wearing shoes. Observing would show us the cuts in the side of his shoes. Deduction would tell us he has been in bad weather and that he has a careless maid. This is the process the famous detective used.
During this process and especially when using this process in a criminal investigation there are certain rules which must be followed. Yes the above process is simple. So is driving a car. But just as there are rules for safe driving so you do not ere, there are rules governing seeing, observation, and deduction so that you do not ere in your conclusion.
Do Not Try to Deduce Without Proper Facts
This works hand in hand with the next rule. If one tries to understand the truth without all the proper facts your mind will have to fill in the blanks and will lead to improper conclusions.
Do Not Guess
It should be emphasized that guessing will skew your ability to see objectively. By guessing one brings conclusions into the equation that could not have been brought in with mere observation. Violation of this rule happens most often when you neglect following the first rule. But it must be noted that this can also happen once you gather all the facts. It is natural to man to surmise events without truly knowing if the facts allow for such a theory. These two rules are the easiest to break and should be carefully followed.
One of the most important things to do is to not to see but to both see and observe. Sherlock Holmes once asked Watson in the Scandal in Bohemia how many steps there were leading from the ground floor to their room upstairs. Though he walked them hundreds of times Watson said that he did not know their number. Sherlock Holmes provided the correct answer and made that statement. “You see but do not observe. I see and observe.”
Observation is more than seeing. I could see someone walk into the room. I will observe to a certain degree as well. I will make an assumption as to their gender and age. But outside of those observations the average person stops his analysis. Why is this? It is because we have not trained ourselves to be able to use other information that is equally as obvious to tell us about the person.
Observation alone is not enough you may observe something without deducing from it. For example, in the Scandal of Bohemia Sherlock Holmes observes several lacerations on the side sole of Watson’s shoe and deduces that Watson has recently been out in the foul weather and has a sloppy and careless maid. Now, seeing would just show us Watson wearing shoes. Observing would show us the cuts in the side of his shoes. Deduction would tell us he has been in bad weather and that he has a careless maid. This is the process the famous detective used.
During this process and especially when using this process in a criminal investigation there are certain rules which must be followed. Yes the above process is simple. So is driving a car. But just as there are rules for safe driving so you do not ere, there are rules governing seeing, observation, and deduction so that you do not ere in your conclusion.
Do Not Try to Deduce Without Proper Facts
This works hand in hand with the next rule. If one tries to understand the truth without all the proper facts your mind will have to fill in the blanks and will lead to improper conclusions.
Do Not Guess
It should be emphasized that guessing will skew your ability to see objectively. By guessing one brings conclusions into the equation that could not have been brought in with mere observation. Violation of this rule happens most often when you neglect following the first rule. But it must be noted that this can also happen once you gather all the facts. It is natural to man to surmise events without truly knowing if the facts allow for such a theory. These two rules are the easiest to break and should be carefully followed.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Merciful Judgment- A Good Idea or Impossible
I apologize for the length of time it has taken me to post. Our internet has been out and has only started working last night late.
It has been some time since I have thought about this topic in a specific way. I suppose I live my point of view on this topic daily, but I haven’t discussed it as an ideal for some time. I have had many a debate on this topic and have offended many people by my point of view. But, it is very important for the Christian to have a proper understanding of this topic so that they will be able to be judged in good conscience and judge others in good conscience.
I will not go into an argument regarding whether or not we have the authority to judge. It is clear in the Scriptures that we are to judge those in the church (1 Corinthians 5:12). This is generally understood by the relatively mature Christian. What is not so readily understood is how we are to judge them.
What brought this topic to my attention was reading a letter that stated in so many words that it was wrong to “Judge without mercy”. This once again brought the topic to my mind and spurred me to write a dissertation on this largely misunderstood topic.
As the title of my post says, there is a possibility that there is no such thing as merciful judgment. This is true. There is no such thing as merciful judgment. There should be no such thing as fair judgment. There is righteous judgment. There is equitable judgment. There is mercy instead of judgment. But you will never see something called merciful judgment in the Bible. This is a fictitious idea that a majority of Christians believe because they are to soft or to liberal to want true righteous judgment. Well I assure you that if you believe that you are pleasing God by giving merciful judgment you are wrong. This is an abomination to God. We will see this in due time.
Now that I have said this, let us look at the facts in the Word of God.
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I was debating this topic with a lady once, and when I mentioned that the Biblical mandate was equitable judgment she looked at me and said, “The Bible never says Equity in relation to judgment. Where are you getting this?” I found this amusing as ALL the Bible references is equitable judgment and never merciful judgment.
If you look up the words “mercy” and “judgment” appearing in the same verse all through the Bible you will find many verses. All of them separating judgment and mercy as two separate entities. If you look up “equity” and “judgment” the same way you will see God links the two as inseparable. One follows the other and if you don’t have one you can’t rightly have the other.
Why is this?
We must look to the definitions of these words to understand this. Mercy is a term that means to refrain from passing judgment. It is not a partner to judgment it is the opposite of judgment. When the slave in the parable fell down before the king and pled for mercy he was requesting the king to forbear judgment. He was not asking for a kind judgment. You either pardon someone or you punish someone. Saying someone is guilty and then giving an improper punishment is a sin. Proverbs 24:24 says “He who says to the wicked, ‘You are righteous,’ peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him; but to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight and a good blessing will come upon them.”
To give an improper judgment is a sin. But to show mercy and no judgment when we have the jurisdiction to, is a very Christian practice.
The term judgment means to execute right on someone who is acting wrong. Equity means to dispense correctly. So to have equitable judgment is to have righteous judgment. It is giving to the person what they deserve, no more and no less.
In common law England there was a court of law and a separate court of equity. This brought about rash and ungodly rulings because God had always designed the two to be together. When our founding fathers wrote the Constitution they made one superior court, one that judges both Law and Equity- the United States Supreme Court.
For a Christian to say that we are to only have mercy and gentleness do not understand what it is to imitate the true nature of God. God is judging us daily. He is going to send many people to hell. He is the same God in the New Testament as He was in the Old Testament. Judgment is required in the Church.
To try and make merciful judgment is an oxymoron. It is impossible and is evil. God is a righteous God. He abhors evil. Christians who do not like the thoughts that we are still obliged to follow the Law of God do not like the fact that there is right and wrong. We don’t determine that, God does. He is the decider of right and wrong. He establishes the principle of judgment in the Church. If we try to use our own standard we are sinning against God.
So, don’t forget that we have a responsibility to judge. So prepare yourself for that responsibility.
It has been some time since I have thought about this topic in a specific way. I suppose I live my point of view on this topic daily, but I haven’t discussed it as an ideal for some time. I have had many a debate on this topic and have offended many people by my point of view. But, it is very important for the Christian to have a proper understanding of this topic so that they will be able to be judged in good conscience and judge others in good conscience.
I will not go into an argument regarding whether or not we have the authority to judge. It is clear in the Scriptures that we are to judge those in the church (1 Corinthians 5:12). This is generally understood by the relatively mature Christian. What is not so readily understood is how we are to judge them.
What brought this topic to my attention was reading a letter that stated in so many words that it was wrong to “Judge without mercy”. This once again brought the topic to my mind and spurred me to write a dissertation on this largely misunderstood topic.
As the title of my post says, there is a possibility that there is no such thing as merciful judgment. This is true. There is no such thing as merciful judgment. There should be no such thing as fair judgment. There is righteous judgment. There is equitable judgment. There is mercy instead of judgment. But you will never see something called merciful judgment in the Bible. This is a fictitious idea that a majority of Christians believe because they are to soft or to liberal to want true righteous judgment. Well I assure you that if you believe that you are pleasing God by giving merciful judgment you are wrong. This is an abomination to God. We will see this in due time.
Now that I have said this, let us look at the facts in the Word of God.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was debating this topic with a lady once, and when I mentioned that the Biblical mandate was equitable judgment she looked at me and said, “The Bible never says Equity in relation to judgment. Where are you getting this?” I found this amusing as ALL the Bible references is equitable judgment and never merciful judgment.
If you look up the words “mercy” and “judgment” appearing in the same verse all through the Bible you will find many verses. All of them separating judgment and mercy as two separate entities. If you look up “equity” and “judgment” the same way you will see God links the two as inseparable. One follows the other and if you don’t have one you can’t rightly have the other.
Why is this?
We must look to the definitions of these words to understand this. Mercy is a term that means to refrain from passing judgment. It is not a partner to judgment it is the opposite of judgment. When the slave in the parable fell down before the king and pled for mercy he was requesting the king to forbear judgment. He was not asking for a kind judgment. You either pardon someone or you punish someone. Saying someone is guilty and then giving an improper punishment is a sin. Proverbs 24:24 says “He who says to the wicked, ‘You are righteous,’ peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him; but to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight and a good blessing will come upon them.”
To give an improper judgment is a sin. But to show mercy and no judgment when we have the jurisdiction to, is a very Christian practice.
The term judgment means to execute right on someone who is acting wrong. Equity means to dispense correctly. So to have equitable judgment is to have righteous judgment. It is giving to the person what they deserve, no more and no less.
In common law England there was a court of law and a separate court of equity. This brought about rash and ungodly rulings because God had always designed the two to be together. When our founding fathers wrote the Constitution they made one superior court, one that judges both Law and Equity- the United States Supreme Court.
For a Christian to say that we are to only have mercy and gentleness do not understand what it is to imitate the true nature of God. God is judging us daily. He is going to send many people to hell. He is the same God in the New Testament as He was in the Old Testament. Judgment is required in the Church.
To try and make merciful judgment is an oxymoron. It is impossible and is evil. God is a righteous God. He abhors evil. Christians who do not like the thoughts that we are still obliged to follow the Law of God do not like the fact that there is right and wrong. We don’t determine that, God does. He is the decider of right and wrong. He establishes the principle of judgment in the Church. If we try to use our own standard we are sinning against God.
So, don’t forget that we have a responsibility to judge. So prepare yourself for that responsibility.
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