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Archive for the ‘world view’ Category

Linguistic Levity

October 16th, 2011

It is true that by reading only our posts one would not perhaps learn of all the difficulties of living in a different part of the world.  However, we would prefer to emphasize the positive dimension and the adjacent joy that belongs to the Christian.  See my critique of joy versus happiness (inner/outer; independent/dependent/ meaning/chemical).  So, in this little post we shall narrate a fanciful moment that happened to us recently; make some comment about what resistance looks like when people reject the message; and, we will close with some photos of some Milanese students who have chosen to study the Scriptures with me on Friday afternoon.

 

Recently, I found myself standing in line at the local supermercato when the couple behind me, thinking that I was Italian, asked whether I knew if the chocolate that they were buying was an Italian chocolate.  Since the gentleman was English and his wife was Japanese, I pulled out my expression from The Three Stooges, Curly Joe, to be precise—

“Why certainly!”   The gentleman erupted into laughter.  Another foreigner, he thought.  His wife replied, “I was surprised when you spoke perfect English!”  I said, “Believe me, The Three Stooges do not speak perfect English.”

We have been learning from Jesus in John chapter 4 this past month.  Some of this data pertains to how the message of Christ is or is not received.  When it comes to resistance in the human experience, as pertains to the gospel message, we have come to realize that the classical defense mechanisms apply very well.  Resistance, at the end of the day, may very well involve at least some part of the following: regression (regresso), repression (repressione), and rationalization (razionalizzazione).  We mention these components to resistance because when one encounters resistance it is important (a) perceive it as such, and (b) possibly even to expose the fallacy to the individual  being taught.  Typically, we have found that people are not always aware of how overt these factors have become in their lives.  Pointing these out exposes potential barriers to “hearing” (akouein= to hear).  Hearing, in the gospel accounts, is a large issue with Jesus.  Some can hear, and some cannot.  Why?  Well, it appears that regression is a type of reverting to a former way of living or thinking.  This is not limited to children.  As to repression, this is distancing oneself from some aspect of the message.  We see this all the time; that is, choosing to relegate something about living for Christ into a remote something else—something else far a field from following the Master.  Then, we have rationalization.  This is sheer manufacturing of excuses (yes, even intellectual agnostic type avoidance of the Lamb of God).    Put this all together and resistance is, in brief, a blocking of the message.  Ciao!

La Cena

English Students

La Pranza

The Moon

March 21st, 2009

Do you have a Christian worldview about the Moon? Look up into the night sky with the following data in mind (Ps. 19:1-2; 2 Cor. 10:5,NASB).

1. Gen. 1:14-16 (the principal luminary of the night has interdependence with the sun)

2. Ps. 72:5 (both the sun and the moon are expressions of permanence)

3. Ps. 8:3 (the moon is the work of the Lord; set it in place by him)

4. Mk. 13:24 (portrayed as eclipsed at the coming of the Son of Man)

5. Matt. 4:24 (the moon is associated with mental affliction, literally “moon-struck” (from selena, the moon = lunatics, NASB Zondervan Interlinear.  Other translations interpret as epileptic, etc.)

6. Ps. 121:5 (the moon was once thought to influence the mind-loony thinking).

7. Job 31:26-28 (the moon is associated with idolatry-worship; Nanna, Sumerian/named Sin by the Assyrians)

8. The moon’s appearance is that of highlands (craters); maria (lava); mnt. ranges (debris); and, valleys (1000’s of km).  The moon is geologically dead.  Its average distance from Earth is 3.8 x 10.   It is the only satellite of the Earth.  Its diameter is 3,476 km./ .25 that of Earth’s.    All lunar rocks are formed by cooling lava (igneous).  Its gravity is 1/6 that of Earth’s.  Its period of rotation is 27 1/3 days; period of revolution is 29 ½ days.

9. Four Major Theories of Lunar Origin – (1)  Condensation (same material and time of formation as Earth)  (2)  Fission (the moon was once part of the Earth and split away)  (3)  Capture (a separate stellar object captured by Earth’s gravity, and (4)  Large impact theory (a Mars sized object hit Earth; splashed off and formed the moon).

-Robert M. Housby

Are All Beliefs and Churches Equally Valid and Scriptural?

September 9th, 2007

“…for the ways of the LORD are right…”

(Hosea 14:9)

Abraham’s servant bowed his head worshipfully and said—“…blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way…” (Genesis 24:48). Later, Moses, himself, would articulate a theology of the right way:

A. The right way is not based upon personally drawn conclusions (Deut. 12:8; 13:1-5; 18:19-22).

B. The right way is grounded in obedience to the documented word of the Lord (Bible) (Deut. 12:28; Ps. 33:4).

C. The right way is known through the commandments (mitvah) (Deut. 13:18).

The Major Post-Modern Assumptions Deserving Biblical Refutation:

1. All religions, churches, and philosophical systems are equally valid (Prov. 12:15; Matt. 15:9,13).
2. God is a purely arbitrary choice on the behalf of the individual (Prov. 16:25).
3. There is no historical/factual basis for Christianity (Lk. 3:1-2; Acts 26:26).
4. Human experience is the ultimate factor in determining truth (Deut. 12;8; Prov. 21:2).
5. There is no room for an exclusive approach to truth (Jn. 14:6; Deut. 12:29-32; Jude 3; Acts 13:10; 2 Pet. 2:15).
6. Sin is merely an outdated view of environmental and social injustices (1 Jn. 1:8).
7. Ultimate issues (origin of the universe; human meaning; salvation; etc.) have little or no bearing on the real world (Heb. 11:3,6).

– Robert Housby

Get A Christian World View

December 31st, 2006

world view – How one characteristically looks outward upon the universe.

“taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ”

(2 Corinthians 10:5,NASB)

All people have a world view. Some have world views that are skimpy, while others have developed their world view to reflect the creator-redeemer God. It is hoped that the following seven-fold structure will be helpful in the development of your Christian World View.

1. The Lord is God (Deuteronomy 4:35)

2. Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 4:15)

3. The Bible is the word of God (Psalm 119:160)

4. The church is the people of God (Acts 11:24,26)

5. The gospel is the plan of God (Romans 1:16)

6. Heaven is the calling of God (Hebrews 3:1)

7. Faith is the expectation of God [in all particulars](Hebrews 11:6)

We stand on the verge of a New Year. Will you stand with the Lord your God—regarding Jesus, Bible, Church, Gospel, Heaven, and Faith?

– Robert M. Housby