NowTHINK!AboutIt

Avoiding Hackneyed...Making Sense

14 Thoughts On Gay And Trans Issues

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Even if you don't believe the Bible, it's still an ancient document that sheds light on the past.

No One Fits The Pattern
Of God’s Original Design

When people argue over gay and transgender issues, the arguments are often taken from two different sources: The Bible and science.

Between the two, Bible arguments are the ones that vary the most and those differences come from the way people view it.

  • Some don’t believe the Bible at all and dismiss it entirely.
  • Some accept the Bible as significant and take a vigorous approach to interpretation.
  • Others take the Bible so fanatically, every word is taken literally, no interpretive effort required. This third type is usually referred to as Fundamentalist.

Those who don’t believe the Bible usually avoid any conversations involving the Bible. But there is a very important idea that non-believers need to consider.

The Bible is an ancient document, and we study ancient documents to understand how cultures of the past handled social, cultural issues.

And since the Bible factors largely in discussions about moral and even political issues today, it is imperative that everyone join the discussion, not so much to bash the Bible but to understand the what and why of Bible content.

So even if you don’t believe the Bible, it’s important to be mindful of what it says.

That’s reason for any person, even non-believers, to engage the discussion.

But whatever the case, there’s no question that the biggest problem is interpretation. The Bible is a book. It conveys a message, but what the Bible literally states is not always what the Bible intends to teach and everyone believes that even when they say they don’t.

The answer to this dilemma is for everyone to consider relevant cultural and historical issues for the time period in which laws were given before trying to apply those laws. That is the interpretive process and it should be exercised every time we approach any passage in the Bible. [Read more…] about 14 Thoughts On Gay And Trans Issues

6 Proofs The New Testament Kingdom Is Not A Theocracy

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If no theocracy has ever succeeded in the past, why do we think it wil work out well now?

We Have No Idea
When The Kingdom Is Coming
And We Haven’t Been Commissioned
To Make It Happen

One form of Old Testament government, studied curiously by Christians and surprisingly entertained in recent times, is a Theocracy.

In simple terms, the word means the rule of God. Sounds intriguing but that definition is rather slim. It provides no detail and in practice has proven to be nightmareish depending on the parties forming such a government.

The idea provokes many questions.

Who will lead in a theocracy? What religious activities will it require? What prohibitions will it enact?

Those are just a few of the questions and the answers could and probably would change depending on who is in office. Religious rules can be quite obsessive and any new Pharaoh could change the rules at will based on how he or she perceives God.

If the JW’s win out, we won’t be allowed blood transfusions. If the Catholics win out, we won’t be allowed birth control.

Remember, a theocracy is a state, a religious state, governed by the rule of God. Because God is the understood Ruler, but cannot be seen, the leader’s connection to God is presumed and legislation, about which questions wouldn’t be allowed, neither needs nor requires consensus.
[Read more…] about 6 Proofs The New Testament Kingdom Is Not A Theocracy

Faith Basics Should Be The Same For Everyone

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It's one thing to be true to your faith. It's entirely another to claim your faith is absolutely true.

Differences Are Inevitable
Conflict Is Not

First a brief definition.

Faith refers to anything you believe which cannot be irrevocably proven or widely accepted. I believe in God. I can’t prove Him.

Unfortunately, that is the nature of faith. We call it faith because it cannot be tested in a lab. The only evidence we have is circumstantial.

And it isn’t the same for everyone. There are so many different varieties of faith it’s easy to see that faith tends to morph.

Therefore, when it comes to relationships based on faith, we must be careful. Before joining hands with anyone just because they have faith, we must determine exactly what they mean by the term.

Faith isn’t equal. Faith ideas can be polar opposites.

Even when faith ideas are similar, they can be very different. One person believes Jesus is all one needs to get saved. Another adds baptism to the formula. Both believe in Jesus but the two ideas can’t be reconciled.

The uncomfortable truth is faith (the idea, the concept, the stance) tends to migrate depending on whose adopting it, how they promote it and on what they base their faith conclusions.

And since we can’t prove what we believe, it is entirely possible to become emotionally reactive when others respond derisively to the ideas we hold most strongly.

Buddhism, for example, is based on the teachings of Buddha. He excites attention because many of his teachings are at least thought provoking if not obvious. Some are easily accepted by all.

One of his popular statements illustrates the point:

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present.

Easy to grasp and accept.

I’m not sure Buddha was the first to advocate for such an idea. In fact, Paul said something similar:

Behold, now is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Paul’s focus was salvation, not life in general, but the application was the same. If it didn’t happen in the past, don’t focus on the future, it can happen right now in the present.

Many have said something similar but Buddhism probably popularized it and the only ones to disagree are the disagreeable.

Ideas of this nature are sensible. They compel us to think and that’s a good thing.

One important observation is the fact that every religion promotes some ideas that are easy to see and accept. They all have an element of faith (that which can’t be seen) and sense (that which can be easily recognized).

But the balance between faith and sense is not fixed and because of that problems can surface. [Read more…] about Faith Basics Should Be The Same For Everyone

Why Faith Is Such A Problem For Christians

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Faith is liberating, opens doors and creates opportunities.

We Are Anchored
As Much By People
As We Are By Faith
And That Can Be A Problem

We usually think of faith as a problem for non-believers and that is true but it’s also a problem for believers. Let me explain.

Faith and Christianity are almost synonymous.

  • You can’t become a Christian without faith.
  • You can’t live like a Christian without faith.

The Bible makes very clear statements to drive those points home:

For by grace are you saved through faith. (Epheisans 2:8)

We walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

And the book of Hebrews confirms:

Without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

Christians know this. Living by faith is their mantra. We wear it on tee shirts, broadcast it on bumper stickers and declare it verbally and endlessly for anyone close enough to hear.

All of that is understood.

Christianity’s most notable quality is faith and those who have it can’t stop talking about it. It’s a good thing but it’s also a problem not because we don’t have it but because we do.

What Are We Talking About

First, a brief explanation of faith. Faith involves three things: mindset, focus and manner.

What it means to have faith is simple. The word means trust, confidence, assurance in something unseen or not yet proven. The dictionary puts it simply:

Confident or unquestioning belief in the truth, value or trustworthiness of a person, idea or thing.

The first part of that definition gives us the mindset: trust, confidence, assurance.

The second part features the focus: person, idea or thing.

Having faith is one thing but it only counts if you place your faith in the right person, idea or thing.

Believing in the wrong idea will not make the idea right no matter how strongly you believe.

Faith is important but it cannot and does not stand alone. It will always have a target and if the target is wrong, the faith will do you little good.

But if the object of your faith is correct, it will be followed by an appropriate manner. That is, you’ll act accordingly. If I believe I will lose credibility if I don’t pay my bills, that belief will effect how I manage my money.

So faith is three things:

  • Unsubstantiated confidence
  • Placed in the appropriate object
  • Followed by sincere actions

Why is that a problem for Christians? [Read more…] about Why Faith Is Such A Problem For Christians

When Demagoguery Replaces Democracy

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When the religious can't make an argument, they resort to making laws.

Beliefs Are Unproven Ideas
That Can Only Be Accepted
By Faith

A New York Times article reports that the Trump administration is planning to burn $9.7 million dollars worth of contraceptives.

The contraceptives, stored in Belgium and part of the USAID program, “were destined for clinics in the poorest countries in Africa.” That is, until the USAID was dismantled leaving these stored drugs in limbo.

But what do you do with $9.7 million worth of contraceptives once the program under which they were commissioned is dismantled?

The answer depends on who you ask or better yet whose in control because, as far as I can tell, there was no discussion over the matter. [Read more…] about When Demagoguery Replaces Democracy