What is the bible?

There are three systems from which human thought springs: Humanism, Naturalism and Theism. It is doubtful anyone is a purist in any one train of thought - so, each holds some degree of a mishmash. When conflicting conclusions are reached on a subject, it may prove helpful to trace back each conclusion and identify from which fount it springs. The real question then becomes, “Which system is actually the most sound?” To answer this requires an understanding of each thought system - honestly pitted against each another - and honestly weighed.

Defined

Humanism is human opinion. It is an effort to formulate valid metaphysical constructs with no appeal to a power higher than man. Naturalism, on the other hand, confines itself to physical materialism. Naturalists think from a scientific base ... with any “values” or conclusions extrapolated in accordance with gathered physical data. As to Theism, if Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead, then the material that can be credibly connected to Him carries weight ... actually a phenomenally great weight. A Biblical Theist has determined the Protestant Bible of 66 “books” meets that test. The goal is to then accurately represent the position of the Bible’s Author on the given topic.

Humanism: The Weakest of All Human Thought

The bulk of humanity is not really serious about the deeper questions of life. Most are occupied with the present tense. Sometimes the struggle to survive forces this, but oftentimes people simply choose to fritter away their time in trivial pursuits. “Thinking” is not something to which they are inclined. There are many reasons for this state of affairs, but the reasons are ultimately irrelevant as the reality is all that matters. When pressed, “insights” might be forwarded, but when examined, the material drawn from is usually quite spurious or of uncertain origins. At one time, some “saying” may be forwarded that has been handed down through the family, or, at another time, some catchy phrase from a song or movie - or something they ran across that happened to “strike a chord.” Humanism, as a mental discipline, is dedicated to accumulating these opinions of man and seeks to assess and categorize them. In its mature form, Humanism boasts of its sciences, but these are the “soft” social sciences of man’s metaphysical pursuits. Things like Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Economics, etc. These studies are actually social observations, measures and assessments. The word, “science” should be reserved for the “hard sciences” of Naturalism - Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Biology, and the like.

When Humanistic values conflict with Naturalism or Theism, the Humanist chooses Humanism. But, if there is objective science (which there is) and if there is a valid Theism (which, based upon Jesus’ resurrection, there is), to then choose human opinion over either of these is an embrace of the most shallow and weakest of all human thought. Humanists occupy themselves in a kiddie pool. The most substantive abode they can construct beside this kiddie pool is a lean-to. Here are a few examples of the Bible’s assessment of Humanism. “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind (airing his own opinions)” (Pr 18:2). “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Pr 14:12). “Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your defenses are defenses of clay” (Job 13:12). The Bible is tremendously aggressive toward Humanistic metaphysical thought that conflicts with it. No quarter is given ... and it will not survive.

Naturalism: A Mud Hut ... by the Lake

Atheistic Naturalism promises objective truth - absent opinion. Its only concern is physical reality. An authentic, atheistic, evolutionary Naturalist does have some solid tools and building materials at hand. Unbiased application of scientific procedure and analysis does lead to accurate present-tense information. But, as the Creator of that truth is left unacknowledged - or denied - the best that can be constructed is a mud hut. But, at least the Naturalist scientist has left the kiddie pool and has built by a great lake. Unfortunately, interpretation of the discovered data often sours things. For example, while physicists may be accurate in their analysis of current physical law - it is error to assume these laws have always been ... or will be. I call this, “The Mother of all Errors” in a section of my Ebook, “Death and the Bible.” In summary, the Judgments in Genesis 3:14-19 ushered in tremendous physical changes ... with new physical laws. The impact has been immense - affecting all the organic and inorganic sciences. In fact, the entire universe has been immersed into a deep, but temporary, degenerative trough. At the other end of this trough is the re-created order. This will be an act of God that either restores the original creation, with its laws, or will perhaps be an even better order. By rejecting these Bible claims, the atheistic, evolutionary Naturalist explores in the great fresh water lake of scientific truth, but is operating without a full deck. At best, the Naturalist is playing with one card of the fifty-two ... and it is not a trump card. This mud hut - and all the others along that shore - will not stand a chance against the coming Tsunami.

When scientists are working in truth, they are working with God’s things. Any scientific discipline honestly pursued, evaluated and weighed with perspective - will run into “God.”

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