By Nancy Virden (c)2022

Jumping to conclusions seems to be a human sport worthy of the Olympics. I have, and no doubt you have been hurt by someone’s false accusations based on false assumptions. Often, people’s view of God is formed through baseless conclusions. This is covered in Jump #1 along with alternative ways to think more critically.

Jump 2: Jump when told to jump (or cave in to peer pressure).

New Jump: Consider the Intelligence of God

Social pressure here in the U.S.A. is powerful to accept only one popular theory at a time. We brag about being free thinkers with free speech, but woe to the one who tries to think critically and offer a new (or worse, an old) idea. This applies to education, church, politics, and social issues.

On the contrary, God speaks to us through what we may deem as foolishness. Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:20-21).

He has a reason for disallowing human “reason” to identify him and his plans. That is simply that he wants us to come to him in faith. Do you want people to believe what you say because others tell them to believe you? Or would you rather people trust what you say because you are trustworthy? God is not a liar and his knowledge supersedes that of his human creations.

Paul, who wrote 1 Corinthians under the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit (see Jump#1) said, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate’” (verses 18-19). Search for answers in a church where the Bible is taught as the inerrant Word of God. Why look for this type of church? It is spiritual teachers who cheapen the value of the Holy Bible that wind up supporting ideas contrary to it.

Many who call themselves Bible teachers are actually compromisers who: pick and choose what they like inside the Bible and ignore what they do not like; preach that the Bible contains myths, falsehoods, or errors; dismiss what they do not understand; or do not hold to the Bible alone as God’s Word but allow other writings or interpretations from humans to equal or supersede it. Any church that teaches a way to The Father [God] other than through the sacrifice and blood of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, (ie: there are many ways to heaven), is merely trying to fit-in with society, hoping to maintain some popularity rather than allowing the Gospel to hold its own. John 4:1-2 warns us, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

How about another less-popular jump? Hear what those inside the Creationist camp have to say. Those who are willing to neglect creation science for the sake of evolutionist theories are most likely willing to second-guess what else the Bible says about God’s intelligence. It is much easier (we think) to believe in a god who does everything our way, or at least how we can reason it out, than to understand our place in the care of a supernatural intelligence who made everything out of nothing. See Genesis 1.

Here are some scholarly links to start you on your search.

Got Questions?

TGL – The Wisdom of God

Answers in Genesis

Jump #3 is Jump Up and Down- check out my next post!

-COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

If you are feeling suicidal, or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or for a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room. In the EU call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here ). Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional, and speaks only from personal experience and observations. In no way is this website intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

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