Series on Logic Part 8 – Argumentum Ad Populum

Ok, beloved, let’s continue our series on Logic with the fallacy entitled Argumentum Ad Populum. This is when someone argues that their point is true based on how many agree or believe it to be so. For example “everyone knows evolution is a fact” or “9 out of 10 dentists recommend this brand of tooth paste.” Of all the fallacies we’ll discuss, I would wager that this one is the most popular today.

We are a people who love statistics, we love to see points made with pie charts and diagrams. This becomes fallacious when we take the popular opinions and use it as an argument. It’s important to remember that a majority does not make something true. When an atheist or evolutionist argues against Christianity using the ‘all scientists agree’ argument you can show them the fallacy by reminding them of Darwin’s time. When Origin of Species was written, Darwin’s opinions on historical science were the minority. Therefore, arguing from that same point of view, that a majority of scientists can’t be wrong, Darwinian evolution must have been wrong. Let’s not forget that most of the scientists of Darwin’s day disagreed with him at first, it took nearly a decade before he won over popular opinion.

In today’s era of relativism most people you share the Gospel with will end with ‘you have your truth, I have mine’. Ironically, at the same time, they’ll argue for the truthfulness of evolutionism. Nevertheless, this means that you and I must firmly plant our feet on the authority and inerrancy of Gods Word. If your truth is that a foot measures five inches, and my truth is that a foot measures twelve inches, one of us is wrong, we can not both be right. How can we be absolutely sure which of us is correct? Not by arguing that ‘everyone agrees it’s twelve inches’ that would be Argumentum Ad Populum. Instead, we can point to a ruler, which can give an absolute truth. Gods Word is the worlds moral ruler, that’s what we must stand on.

Dear ones, we also need to avoid using these fallacies. We have the Truth, and we lovingly share it with the lost as if they were blind men stumbling towards a thousand foot cliff. We don’t need fancy arguments, evidence, or lengthy words, we just need to warn them of the danger they’re in. Nor do we need to fear offending them because their lives are in danger, it would be irresponsible not to warn them. We can point them to the straight and narrow path, far away from that thousand foot cliff of sin and death. I pray this series is a blessing to you all, as you grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. As always, beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

Thursday Book Review – If Animals Could Talk

Beloved, I’m very excited to review this book today! A while back I heard brother Todd Freakishly Tall Friel read portions of this book on his radio program Wretched and immediately went and purchased the kindle version for Kayliegh. Most of you know we homeschool, and apart of our homeschooling routine is the devouring of books. We literally read chapters in at least 7 books each day, including the Bible. Very rarely are we so blown away by a book that we drag daddy into the room to hear it. This, friends, is one of those books.

If Animals Could Talk by Dr. Werner Gitt is written in first person, as if the animals were talking. Each animal takes time to detail the majesty and wonder of its make up, the fascinating characteristics that were given to them by God and why. It’s so loaded full of facts that you could turn every paragraph into a lesson! But it doesn’t feel like work when you’re reading it, it feels like you’re adventuring with each creature in its own habitat. This book pulls you from your couch and casts you into the ocean with blue whales, or into the depths with the earthworm. Each chapter shows you the tremendous care and attention God has given to His creation, while glorifying God for His handiwork.

I recommend this book to everyone, young and old. This book would make a wonderful gift for any little one celebrating a birthday, especially with its beautiful pictures. You can find the kindle version here and the paper back version here. I’ve got a whole stack of little ones that are getting this book for Christmas this year! Beloved, if there’s a book out there you’d like to recommend for us we’re always open to suggestions! As always, dear friends, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

Fighting a Head Cold

This week is only half way through, and I’m still fighting a head cold. I had hoped by now to be getting better, but unfortunately my head is cloudier than yesterday. So, I hope you will all allow me to be a little sillier than usual today. Ordinarily I like to edify you, my beloved brethren, or encourage with a testimony on Wednesday’s. Today, instead, let us laugh together!

Some great marriage advice in there, right friends? I hope that brought a smile to your faces today. As always, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

Twisted Scripture – Exegesis VS Eisegesis

Last week, beloved, we discussed hermeneutics and it’s roll in protecting us from twisting Gods Word. Today I’d like to talk about exegesis in comparison to eisegesis. These are big, fun words to say, like hermeneutics, but they’re actually very simple concepts to understand and apply.

Exegesis is the careful study of the meaning in each verse based on its context, the grammar used, the original language it was written in, and syntax. For proper exegesis of Gods Word we use the whole counsel of the Bible to form our beliefs. When I became a Christian I had to take everything I had been taught, everything I believed and set it aside, pick up the Bible and let God instruct me. How I felt, my experiences, and my previous training were not allowed to overshadow or muddy the scripture. Still today, when I hear something I don’t understand, or haven’t heard before, I take it to Gods Word. Not to bend Gods Word to what I’ve heard, but to be sure it agrees with Gods Word. If it doesn’t, it goes out the window.

Eisegesis, on the other hand, is reading into the text what you think it says. In this way, you come to the Bible with your own belief and seek to prove that belief with scripture. This is where most of the misuse of scripture begins. There are two ways we see Eisegesis, firstly when a Biblical truth is wrongly applied to a verse like Jeremiah 28:11. God does have a wonderful plan for all our lives, although what God deems as wonderful might not be what we had in mind, like Peter who was crucified upside down, or John the Baptist who lost his head. Either way, this verse in its context has nothing to do with you or me, it’s specifically directed to ancient Israel. The second way we see this is erroneous views applied wrongly to verses, making it twice as incorrect. We see this with Proverbs 23:7, where the Charismatic Movement wrongly applies the unbiblical belief that our words have power to a verse used out of context. Eisegesis is usually masked with emotionalism making it popular in a feelings oriented world where truth is relative.

With proper hermeneutics and exegesis you can avoid errant, heretical, or blasphemous views on the Bible. God has blessed us with His holy, inspired, inerrant Word, we have to treat that Word with great care. None of us enjoy being taken out of context, or misquoted in any way. How much more so should we take care not to do this to God, our Creator, or Savior, Lord of Lord and King of Kings? So as always, beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

Hymns from the Past – Almighty Maker, God!

Almighty Maker, God,

How wondrous is thy name!

Thy glories how diffused abroad,

Through the creation’s frame.

Nature in every dress

Her humble homage pays,

And finds a thousand ways t’ express

Thine undissembled praise.

My soul would rise and sing

To her Creator too;

Fain would my tongue adore my King,

And pay the worship due.

Create my soul anew,

Else all my worship’s vain;

This wretched heart will ne’er be true,

Until ‘t is formed again.

Descend, celestial fire,

And seize me from above;

Melt me in flames of pure desire,

A sacrifice to love.

Let joy and worship spend

The remnant of my days,

And to my God, my soul, ascend

In sweet perfumes of praise.

– Isaac Watts

Thursday Book Review – The Rescue

The past few weeks Kayliegh and I have been reading through the six-part book series The Truth Chronicles. I’ve been reading ahead, as I usually do, as I’ve found there are parts of any book that a 7-year-old is not ready for. This week I finished the third book, titled The Rescue. I’ve found that this book series just gets better and better, filled with excitement, adventure, science, apologetics, and evangelism.

In the third book, the friends make a daring rescue and bring a fifth person along with them on their next trip back in time. A third member of the four-person teen team comes to faith in Christ, leaving one lone friend still holding out. This book brings apologetics face to face with evangelism, while bringing the flood of Noah into the mix. There’s also more discussion of astronomy, which is yet another scientific field where Creationists have made some pretty fantastic points against evolutionism.

With a surprise ending that warms the heart, this is my favorite book so far in the book series. I’m so thankful that the writers put the Gospel into each book, while also answers more and more of the questions and refutations against the Bible. It’s as if they took the Answers Book series and turned it into a grand adventure! I can imagine no better way for young people to be encouraged to share their faith, educated about Creation, and equipped to answer evolutionists. I highly recommend this book to all youth groups, young people, or adults who work with children. This would be a great summer read for teens and preteens, or mature younger children. I haven’t had this much fun reading since my first time through Pilgrims Progress. You can find book three here, and the full set here. I pray these books are a blessing to you, beloved! As always, dear brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

Wednesday Testimony – Frank Jenner

Below, dear ones, is a short video detailing the amazing life and impact of Frank Jenner the George Street Evangelist. Often times we can become discouraged, and grow weary of doing good. If you’re anything like me, it can be particularly frustrating with lost family and friends. Most of the time, and for good reason, we’re not shown the fruit of our labors. First, and foremost, everything we do is to glorify God and make Him known. So He receives glory whether we see the fruit or not, like Mr. Jenner. Secondly, how easily tempted are we by pride when we often see the difference made by our obedience? Beloved, success is not numbers, success is obedience to God.

I pray this testimony is a blessing to you all! If you listened to Frank Jenner’s story and realized that you are ‘playing the hypocrite’ like one of the men Jenner witnesses to, please repent of your sins and ask God for forgiveness. Put your faith in Christ alone, who lived a sinless life and was crucified in our place, bearing the wrath we deserved, paying the sin debt owed.

As always, beloved friends, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

Twisted Tuesday – Defense Against Twisting Scripture

Beloved every Tuesday we talk about a verse in the Bible that’s been twisted, taken out of context, or misused in one way or another. How do we determine what the context is of a verse? Why can’t we all just interpret like the pragmatists do, like the liberal theologians suggest, reading out of the Bible whatever we want? The greatest defense against twisting scripture is good hermeneutics.

Hermeneutics is how we interpret the Bible, and it is sadly missing from many churches. I would love to see churches gathering together any day of the week to study how to interpret the Bible accurately. Until that day comes, here is a 15 part lecture series by Dr. Rosscup at The Masters Seminary covering hermeneutics.

There are few things as important as this, God has spoken and millions are using His Words to justify their own belief rather than bending their belief to Gods Word. We need to continue to learn and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, as I encourage you all daily, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

Noah’s Flood Series – Part IV

Today, dear ones, we’re going to continue our series through the flood of Noah. Last week we talked about the legends found all over the world that reference a global deluge. Today we’re going to discuss the layers of rocks that were laid down by the flood. Like with our previous series on the molecular machines, I hope this information glorifies God in His majesty, while encouraging you all to have confidence in the inerrant Word of God.

This clip summarizes everything I was going to type out in this article. It’s well said, and with a much cooler accent than my Texas twang!

We see rock layers laid down all over the world, with two clashing world views disputing how they got there. Both groups of scientists, secular and creation, are looking at the same information but coming to vastly different conclusions. A secularist looks at rock layers and repeats what was suggested a couple hundred years ago, that the layers take deep time to build up to what we see today. Creation scientists suggest that these layers we see today were laid down by a global flood. Now, for full disclosure, many secular geologists have come to the conclusion that rock layers do not need deep time, while some Old Earth Creationists still suggest they do. This is not a black and white issue, but it’s very encouraging to see so many scientists across the board re-examining all the evidence, particularly in light of Mt. Saint Helens. While it’s clear, and obvious, that many of these layers which span continents were laid down by water based on their makeup, old beliefs die hard. Many who are not geologists, but we’re taught rock layers take long periods of time in school, continue to hold to their faulty belief simply for lack of research into the subject.

We need to remember that science is always changing, but Gods Word never will. When we lean on the truth of God’s Word, we know that we have built our house on the rock. We often forget how many times secular scientists have set themselves up against the Bible, and been wrong. From astronomy to geology, and even archeology, Gods Word stand the test of time. If you’re reading this and it’s the first time you’ve heard that science has not proven Gods Word wrong, then please feel free to ask any questions you might have.

Understand, friend, that Gods Word is inerrant, and it tells each and everyone of us that we’ve sinned against a very real God. You should know that God counts lust as adultery, and hatred as murder. Liars will have their place in the lake of fire, and no idolator will inherit the kingdom of God. God was not willing that any should parish, so He condescended to become man. God the Creator entered His creation, sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place. He paid a debt He didn’t owe, because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay. After living a sinless life He went to the cross of Calvary, and had the wrath of God stored up from our sins poured out on Him. Now, if we will humble ourselves, repent of our sins turning away from them, ask God to forgive us for those sins, put our faith in Jesus Christ, then God will input Christ’s righteousness, from His sinless life, to us. That means when we face God on Judgment Day He can declare the sin debt we owe ‘Paid In Full’. This truly is Good News, and Amazing Grace!

If you want more technical details on this subject I recommend this Lecture. Next Monday we’ll talk about the fossils and what they mean for the flood. As always, beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

Hymns of the Past – A Broken Heart, my God, my King

I had sweet fellowship this morning with saints who stood together, with the lights on, and lifted up their voices together in praise to the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s. I spent year after year having private moments of worship in darkened church pews, where I mostly tried to sing as loud as I could to get as much glory for myself as I could. Fog machines and laser shows can hold no torch next to the church coming together in unity to offer up a sweet hymn to the one we are all eternally grateful for. Oh friends, what a day it will be when we gather together, from every tribe, tongue, and nation, to praise the Lord our God! I pray this Hymn blesses you all, and please remember our brother Pastor Jim in your prayers as he has begun his missions trip! God bless you all, and as always, my beloved brethren, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

A broken heart, my God, my King,

Is all the sacrifice I bring;

The God of grace will ne’er despise

A broken heart for sacrifice.

My soul lies humbled in the dust

And owns Thy dreadful sentence just;

Look down, O Lord, with pitying eye

And save the soul condemned to die.

Then will I teach the world Thy ways;

Sinner shall learn Thy sov’reign grace;

I’ll lead them to my Savior’s blood,

And they shall praise a pard’ning God.

O may Thy love inspire my tongue;

Salvation shall be all my song,

And all my pow’r shall join to bless

The Lord, my Strength and Righteousness.

– Isaac Watts