Is it Written? Pt. 1

Before we begin our study, let’s address a common problem we experience when we reason about the Scriptures together. This has been on my mind for weeks now and it needs to be said. Too often, I feel like Christians and non-Christians debate various controversial topics logically, but they build their arguments from different foundations so that neither side is proven to be absolutely right or absolutely wrong. Both sides have arguments that are logically valid (even if they’re not true), so the two people or groups debating never really get through to each other. Usually, it seems like the person on one side of the debate is left confused about his own convictions because he was defending a logical position, yet his ideology was torn apart and swept away by the person on the other side as though his logic was meaningless. Let’s be honest here: usually it is the Christian who is left feeling perplexed and doubtful about his position. If you’re a Christian and you’ve been made out to seem stupid by somebody in a study, discussion, or debate – I feel for you. I have too. There’s really a very simple answer to this problem but it is not immediately apparent to the inexperienced mind; it took me years to fully understand why it’s nearly impossible to debate controversial issues with so many people today.

You, as a Christian or non-Christian, probably find it unbelievably frustrating to debate controversial issues, especially in religion or politics – you feel like you’re going to scream because you laid it all out in front of them logically and the other person simply said “well that’s not the way it is” – because you’re trying to build the same house on different foundations. Allow me to demonstrate.

In order to fully understand the intricacies of Scripture, it is imperative that we first agree to build our rationale on a common foundation. Consider math, for example. If you say that 2+2 = 67.3 in the base-10 numerical system, but it’s been proven and demonstrated that 2+2 always = 4 in the base-10 system, then you should prove your claim. One of them is wrong or both of them are wrong, but they can’t both be right. They are inherently contradictory. By necessity, we must either both agree that 2+2 = 4 or we must agree that 2+2 = 67.3 if we are going to explore the depths of calculus together. Otherwise, numerically we will never reach the same conclusions. Similarly, we must both build our arguments from a similar foundation when we are exploring the “calculus” of Scriptures or we will never reach the same conclusions. It’s easy enough to see that the Bible says Jesus was crucified, but to understand something like when/if drinking alcohol is Scripturally wrong or what the Bible really says about homosexuality and love requires much more effort.

During the course of this study and subsequent studies, I will draw your mind through a series of conclusions based on some necessary and fundamental truths. These truths will be the foundation for our discussions. If you do not agree with these truths, please let me know. If you do not understand the reasoning behind each of these truths, I will gladly delve deeper into each of these truths in future blog posts. As I stated previously, we absolutely must start on a common ground or our reasoning together will be defeated before it even begins.

The fundamental truths around which we will base our study are:

1. God exists
2. God created everything
3. God is the God in the Christian Bible
4. God guided the hands and minds of various willing men to reveal his will by writing the things in the Bible
5. The Bible is absolutely flawless and there is no corruption in it.
6. The Bible can be understood by anyone.
7. The Bible is absolute truth.

Again, I implore you to tell me if you do not agree with these truths. I will probably do some work on them later on anyway, but if I need to move the studies to a sooner date then we’ll make it happen.

Now, to the study…

“The Bible doesn’t say homosexuality is sinful.” “The Bible doesn’t say that drinking is wrong.” “The Bible says that judging is wrong – don’t tell me that what I’m doing is sinful.” “The Bible doesn’t say that abortion is wrong.” “Jesus accepted everybody regardless of lifestyle – he preached a doctrine of acceptance.”

I know you’ve heard it before. You’ve heard somebody say something like the things I’ve listed above. Maybe you’ve also said or thought things like these. How is it possible that so many people could believe so many different things regarding so many controversial issues?

No seriously, how is it possible? Take a few minutes to think about the different viewpoints people have about the big issues of our day.

Based on what we have established regarding the necessity of a common logical foundation, in your opinion, why do you think that so many people could have so many conflicting ideologies?

I believe that the answer is pretty simple, but I’ve been wrong plenty of times in the past so if you disagree or agree with what I say now or in the future, please leave your comments at the end of the post you want to comment on. If you like what I have to say or if I have challenged you in some way, then you can type your e-mail address in the box on the left side of the blog (desktop version only, not in the mobile version) and it'll notify you anytime I post something new!

In our next study, we’ll take a deeper look at how and why people disagree, and what these disagreements imply for us as human beings. Until then, I’ll be praying for you and I hope you’ll do the same for me.

In Christian love,
Ethan