Month: May 2013

Post Modernism Deafeated… Once and For All


You know, I recently did an internet search on Post-Modern thinking. One thing I found out that really bugs them is when you tell them the argument that Post-Modernism is self refuting.

I’ll tell you why it bugs you – because it’s right, and you know it.

it is self refuting when you say dumb things like, “Well, we can’t know the truth. What’s true for you may not be true for me.”

Post-Modernism is as good an example I can think of for Biblical Separation. It starts out in teenagers minds because they are hanging out with unSaved kids, and the unsaved kids spout this nonsense because it sounds good and rational. And you think, “Well, I really like Josh or Chelsea, and I don’t want to hurt their feelings. and it sounds good and rational. And I like them, and it sounds like they thought about it for a long time, and I haven’t, so I’m going to agree with them.” And you nod your head.

And then later you’re talking to Bryan or to Brittany (By the way, I just randomly picked from the most common names for today’s youth), and you’re talking about truth. So to sound smart, you try this phrase. “Well, maybe that’s true for them. What’s true for you may not be true for them.”

And now you feel smart.

Did you stop and really think about it logically?

Truth is not relative, by definition. Truth is an absolute. Here’s the phrase that bugs post-modernists – Post Modernism is self refuting. Bottom line. Your experiences and desires may be relative, but truth is NOT relative. I shall demonstrate.

Truth is an absolute statement by definition. “Two plus two equals four.” I realize there’s a very bad piece of Calculus equation floating around that states two plus two equals Pi. That’s why I deliberately chose this example. “If you have two dollars, and I give you two dollars, that makes four dollars you have.” It doesn’t matter what the equation says, the end of the day is it equals four dollars in your hand. Modern tax laws make the Pi equation more likely – but you haven’t paid taxes on it yet! Two plus two equals four. Bottom line. That’s true for you and true for me.

Am I arguing from bad analogy? I know I’m quick to accuse people of this, but no. We’re not dealing with a philosophical argument here, we’re talking about tangible truths. There are truths, and errors (using the contrast of the particular definition in question.)

What this boils down to is good hearted people. Yup. I just said it. If you’re post modern, the odds are very good that deep down inside, you’re probably a very good person. You don’t like hurting other people’s feelings.

You don’t like having to say to someone, “Hey, you know, the religion you’re following, it was made up by a man or woman. It’s not truth. It says in John 14:6, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh to the father but by me.’ If you don’t repent and accept the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ for your sins, you’re going to suffer for all eternity in unbearable torment and agony. Let me show you from the Bible how to be born again.”

Not many people like saying that. But if you’re NOT saying that, you’re utterly condemning that person to an eternity in Hell, in a burning torment that has no end. Hell right now is unbearable, to the point that getting a single drop of water from the tip of a finger sounds like an immense relief.

So let’s examine this through logic. Let’s drop the arguing from analogy approach that everyone uses.

We can demonstrate from numerous proofs that there is a God. So, since we know there’s a God who created everything, there must be a way in which He wants a relationship with us.

To have a relationship with Him in any way other than the way He has chosen is not truth. It is error.

To make matters worse, a common theme in religions is the “true religion” stance. “We are the true way.” The fact it can be found in so many religions shows that mankind recognizes this fact, that one must have the right relationship with the Creator God.

Another common theme of most religions is the “salvation” understanding. Simply put, it recognizes that all persons are sinful beings, and we must in some way overcome the sin barrier between us and God. Following the logic trail from the beginning of our argument, if God describes only one right way to have a relationship with Him, and most religions share an understanding of Exclusivity, then God would have only one way to overcome the sin barrier between ourselves and God.

Only Christianity insists that we cannot overcome that barrier by ourselves. Our understanding of God elevates God to a level so high that He cannot bear to look upon sin. God realizes that sin barrier is impenetrable. Nothing can breach that barrier. Our sins utterly separate us from God. So God Himself paid our sin debt. This is the meaning of the word Propitiation. All we have to do is accept.

Now everything rests on this point. did you think it through to this point? Doesn’t feel Good or rational, you say? Well, this was the flawed premise you started with in the first place. Who ever said, “You will know by your feelings”? Nobody.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Romans 7:18 (KJV)

Your feelings can lie to you. Have you ever bought something on an impulse, and then found out later that it wasn’t as good as you thought? Or that person you met you thought was it, and started seeing them – only to find out, “Ooh, not good!” Or that new friend you thought was so cool, but quickly found out would get you into nothing but trouble? Did you rely on your feelings before that? You sure did. Oh, wow, your feelings can lie to you! You know, if you’d just read your Bible, the answer was right there.

So, the truth is that we’re all sinners. We have all sinned before a Holy God. Our sins doom us to an eternity in Hell. Without any way to save our selves, we are utterly helpless. So the Lord Jesus Christ came to live among us, wholly God and Wholly man, perfect and sinless. He died for us, was three days in the grave, then rose bodily from the dead. Can I prove that? Well, yes, there’s this empty tomb in Jerusalem. When Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross, our sins were nailed with Him. And when He died, He paid the penalty for us.

This is the literal truth. It is true for you, for me, for Buddhists, Hindu’s, Atheists, Agnostics, Roman Catholics, Shintoists, Jains, Sikhs, and for everyone else on the face of the earth.

33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. Matthew 14:33 (KJV)

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17 (KJV)

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:23 (KJV)

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32 (KJV)

What’s true is true, for everyone. And here’s another truth for you. If someone does not repent of their sins, and never gets born again, they will in no wise enter the Kingdom of Heaven. They will go into the lake of fire to burn for all eternity.

Go tell your friends that. It’s true for you, and for me.

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The Atheist Mind


Atheism.

The stipulated belief that “There is no God.”

IT is an untenable position.

Why?

Because as John Ankerberg points out, one must have ALL KNOWLEDGE to assert there is no God. In other words, to dogmatically assert there is no God… you must be God.

Now that we dealt with that, let’s move to analyze the positions of Scientific Agnostics.

The Scientific Agnostic usually goes by the term “Atheist”, which we just dealt with.

The usual religious affiliation of a Scientific Agnostic is Evolutionist. The Scientific Agnostic is usually offended by that appellation. I’m sorry, and have no intent to offend, but… that’s how we see it.

So before I begin the specific refutation of the tenants of the Evolution religion, I must first define a religion.

The basic beliefs of a religion must answer:

  1. Who am I?
  2. Why am I here?
  3. Where did I come from?

One of the religious broadcasts of this religion, a TV series/movie series/genre called “Star Trek” posited these three beliefs in a movie in which the question was phrased in this way:

  1. Is this all I am?
  2. Is there nothing more?

It’s hard to disagree with my summation of the beliefs of religion, when indeed one of your own prophets (Gene Roddenberry) summarized the argument so succinctly.

Evolution answers all these questions for the “Atheist” or “Scientific Agnostic.”

Cosmic Evolution answers, “Where did I come from?” It states you are stellar dust, organized through the Big Bang. In reality, it also claims you’re descended from a rock.

Macro-Evolution answers, “Why am I here?” You came from apes, it claims. Well, it also makes the inconsistent claim that we are descended from a common ancestor (wait- is it one or the other???). It claims those came from rodents left alive after the dinosaurs died. Before that, your ancestors were dinosaurs, who originally were lizards, then amphibians, then fish, then amoeba, then a pre-biotic soup (whatever that was). Before that, the pre-biotic soup was rain, that fell on rocks. Yes, evolution teaches you great-great grampa was a rock.

and Darwinism (the philosophy behind Evolution) teaches you that you are GOD! And this is why you are here. You rose to the top of the evolutionary chain, and are destined to continually evolve into higher and higher beings, until you are a GOD!

Essentially, the argument of Lucifer in the Garden of Eden.

5 “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5

So, I take up the challenge and examine all of this in light of both Scripture and science.

lookout below! Coming soon to a blog near you.

Bible Software Review


problems.

I’m forever on the search for the perfect Bible software. I like something that gives me not so much flexibility, but allows me to write my own commentary.

For the last year, I’ve used Bible Explorer 4, which is a very good program. But – it seems to place most of its abilities on its library. For the Wordsearch people, you’re only as good as your library. Many people have described how its the best. And in may ways I like the setup. But you’re limited to its default setup. Update – Bible Explorer 4 is now discontinued, and has been replaced by Wordsearch Basic 10.

Bible Analyzer. Its biggest drawback is how slow it is to start up. I suppose if I had a mega laptop that was designed for music and video editing (the massive amounts of video memory and the large RAM supply, plus much faster processor) and used it solely for Bible programs – I wouldn’t notice. And I really don’t have a lot loaded into bible analyzer right now. Aside from that… I wish it would load my own commentary in the commentary windows first. I’m sure that’s something I could choose in settings once I figure out how.

I really like how in E-Sword I’ve got the layouts at the click of a button, and can maximize my commentary window to use it. Lo and behold, Bible Analyzer does it almost as well. I can maximize my commentary window, and then with a click of a button I can… have to reload the default window settings I’d made once I downloaded the program.

Bible Analyzer has features that will benefit the King James Only believer, and will do nothing more than confuse a MVO believer. I really like it for some things.

I think in terms of neat appearance and uncluttered layout, it’s the closest to Swordsearcher. I rate the two of them so far at the top in terms of uncluttered, good looking interface.

E-Sword. Mega-slow. I got a little frustrated when trying to write commentary on 2 Tim. 3:2 and was on a good rant when the program… … … …. … locked up. And then it… … … … cleared up. So I began to type again when it… … … … … locked up and… … … … …. In some frustration, I’m wondering if I should port all my commentaries to other programs, and empty out E-Sword? Then maybe it wouldn’t… … …

I really had just been thinking since yesterday that I was ready to move back to E-Sword full time, completely over my frustration with it, when I tried using it. And again, I remembered WHY I went to Bible Explorer in the first place. And what irritates me is that I’d spent some more time, learning how to do things in E-Sword. And then I start typing, and the temporary lockups started again. “Oh, yeah. I remember why I switched.” How can I write commentary, when the program is timing out like an old DOS computer program? Forget writing to Rick about it – he’s already shown that he does what he does and if you don’t like it, there’s always TheWord Bible program.

TheWord. In many ways the best of the Bible Programs. The only thing I dont like is the interface. It looks so cluttered! This is something I have control over, how the layout is. I just don’t want to have to spend a long time learning how to really use a program. It looks like a messy room.

I don’t like my layout or colors, or even the fact that the minimize, maximize and close buttons in the upper corner are not the default size, or in the default location. When I’m in the ridiculous position I’m in every day of having 5 Bible programs open at once and I’m trying to minimize them all… TheWord takes an extra seconds to minimize.

SwordSearcher. I have this as a time limited shareware program. So far I like the speed of it, the ease… The big problem with it is the issue with not enough user modules. I’m sure if I went online today and looked, I could probably find all the user modules I need. Like B. H. Carroll’s commentaries, Edersheim’s writings, the Webster’s 1828 dictionary, Vine’s, the Thompson Chain Reference Bible (which I don’t own for any other program, but it would be nifty…) Update – i looked. Still not that many.

So far Swordsearcher is the easiest to use, and the neatest, cleanest layout. It almost feels like an extra step to write my commentary on it. But if I decide I want to use this, I’d need to go to Way of Life and buy it from David Cloud – that way I can get his add on works for Swordsearcher.

The major drawback of Swordsearcher is – it costs money. $70. That’s twice as much as Wordsearch 10. And they don’t give you a free version with limited features. So, I was limited to a month’s use, and gone.

Update – Wordsearch 10. Looks better than Bible Explorer 4 did. I like some of the added features. It does look like they’ve spent a little time analyzing TheWord. I’m seeing some familiar features, but without the untildy look. I like the multiple notebook feature a lot, and it still has the bookmarking feature of Bible Explorer I liked, although I ended up using it not as much as I originally intended.

The Verse List function has been a great way for me to compile lists of verses on particular subjects. I may even offer some of these for free download later on!

Good news is that all my books were immediately imported. And I have much more control over my sermons and how they show up in the left hand windows. I’d still like to see the sermons moved from HTML to DOC format, and much more in the way of word processing functions added. Indeed, one of the strengths of Visual Basic is simply, how easy it is to write a word processing program. It’s the second thing you always learn how to do besides making a clock!

My bible notes and bookmarks did not import over. This is a major annoyance. It also looks like my markups were not imported either. I do like how I can notate which highlight color stands for what meaning? I can name what the purple highlight stands for. Green has always stood for God’s judgment in my Bible, simply because not being a word-faith person, I simply have little interest in marking anything the Bible has to say about money! I can always later on make a notebook that allows me to write notes on verses about money and wealth. But that’s just not a priority for me.

The “Save Desktop” feature of both Bible Explorer and Wordsearch is poor at best, and needs addressing.

I do wish that they could find ways to combine some of the good features of E-Sword (topic notes, verse notes, journal, multiple underlining styles), the ease of note writing (Bible Analyzer, Swordsearcher), find a way to integrate Robert Langer’s Pastoring software, and more resources for Fundamentalists. I’ve written to them about this, but heard nothing back. UPDATE: They answered me, and are already in the process of including many of my suggestions into Wordsearch 11!

Essentially, if Wordsearch were to implement all my suggestions, I feel they could finally produce the stand out Bible package, the ultimate. The question is, are they far more willing than all the other Bible software writers to take suggestions and implement them?

Bottom Line for me: Wordsearch will ultimately end up the winner, I think.

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Responding to the Pentagon


I’m dumbfounded by the announcement from the Pentagon yesterday that the military will court martial any personnel that share their faith. The charge is likened to “spiritual rape” – which has to be the most offensive term I’ve ever heard – and will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

In other words, one unnamed religion in particular will get little or no punishment because it’s the darling of the intellectuals right now, and Christians will face jail time.

The ability to share your faith in America is being stripped away. Losing our freedoms is one thing – astoundingly, it seems America is resigned to losing our individual rights and freedoms. But the ability to keep a soul from Hell is being taken.

American Christians, share your faith now while you still have time.

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