- As Christians, we have the Paraclete Indwelling Spirit (John 14:17). The Paraclete speaks to our consciences (Romans 8:16). This is not a physical sound wave to be heard in your ears. It is not a voice in your head either. It is an intuitive discernment in your spirit. You can sense the rhema-word quietly. It is like a spiritual antenna
- We hear from the written word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Read the Bible every day. I employ a disciplined logical approach to interpret the Bible.
- We hear from mature spiritual Christian brothers and sisters.
- A lot of the time, God does not have any particular rhema-word for us. Then, let the peace of Christ guides us. This is the practice of walking in the Spirit.
- Pray daily. Make your prayers your prayer life.
These are not theories. I practice them daily for my spiritual growth.
John 14:26 But the Helper [
Paraclete], the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
In some extremely rare cases, God actually speaks audible words in human ears, mostly to the prophets of the OT.
God sometimes speaks in a dream. If it does not come true, then it isn't God speaking.
This is a very curious question.
There are all sorts of hidden topics (that would be suggested by areas of discussion in Philosophy).
Such as...
Ontology
Epistemology
Moral theory
Formal Logic
(Theology)
There are realities that are very difficult to meter, or to identify with authority, publicly.
There are realities that are intellectually verifiable, but that some anti-intellectual groups
are unable to verify, because during the European enlightenment (1680-1790) they rejected
the goodness of the mind, and logic.
Note that the Christian denominations that REJECTED the goodness of the mind during the
European Enlightenment, have largely lost their ability to use core philosophical reasoning
to support their own beliefs, and expose the weakness of contrary beliefs.
Another great DIVIDE in denominations, is those who uphold that the Apostolic leadership
is an ongoing guidance to the Church, maintaining a tradition of Apostolic teaching, that
goes beyond the content that is written in the New Testament. This changes what different
Christian groups appeal to, as a valid authority (to decide this question).
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Note that some denominations assert basic philosophical definitions and arguments, that
could only lead to their own denominational theologies. An example would be hard
determinism is some theologies, which requires divine revelation by God for anyone to
recognize truth, and be affected by it. These theological groups differ in what it means for
a human being to choose, or even to have "free will."
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But, REGARDLESS of a group's theology, I approach the question through the Bible's
presentation of what it asserts is OUR SHARED REALITY. This presentation, is connected to morality,
in that the biblical authors present "bearing true witness" and "bearing false witness" in relation
to representing our shared reality. And, those who are continuing liars, will not enter the kingdom
of heaven. God created hell, for the father of lies.
And this approach through the biblical view of our shared reality, brings up the question of
what the components in our shared reality, are.
Denominations may construct their own theologies, based on what they believe (perhaps
unconsciously), are the components in our shared reality. And, whether or not we are all
morally-ethical responsible to recognize those components.
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-- I would assert that the physical universe, and biological life, are part of our shared reality.
-- I would assert that valid methods of reasoning are part of our shared reality. (This would
mean that the anti-intellectual Christian groups, are living out a continual lying against
one of the components of our shared reality.)
-- The text of Scripture, is part of our shared reality.
-- The logical nature of human language, is part of our shared reality. (Critical Bible study
methods are based on logic, and the logical nature of human language). This means that
the anti-intellectual approach of some christian groups, to biblical interpretation, is a form
of lying.
-- I would assert that applying valid methods of reasoning, to analyze the natural world, is
the basis of sound science, and should be recognized by Christians.
-- I would assert that the human conscience, is part of our shared reality. This also means
that recognizing global values, can be consistent with Christian teaching.
-- Abstract concepts are part of our shared reality. An example would be the concept of
ownership. Without this abstract concept, you cannot have "You shall not steal."
...
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You can suppose that God directly and miraculously puts knowledge into our minds.
This is the approach of some anti-intellectual denominations.
While this is possible, it is not the NORMATIVE WAY in which the Bible presents
knowledge and wisdom, and how we are to search for it and acquire it. (And the normative
method is shown by Jesus coming, in the Incarnation, and TEACHING in the Gospels.)
The wisdom literature in the Bible, has much language involving personal effort, discipline,
and learning through the use of our mind. Denying this, gets into all sorts of anti-intellectual
theologies.
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Note the many problems of an anti-intellectual approach to trying to understand
Scripture...
-- The critical Bible study skills are completely undercut. What replaces them is an
undefined process of trying to figure out the "literal meaning" of the Bible. And, as it
turns out, this often abuses high quality biblical scholarship.
-- Hard sciences are undercut, and anti-intellectual denominations feel compelled to
develop their own "alternative" sciences, that do not rely on valid reasoning methods.
-- While valid reasoning methods are quite easy to monitor, and logical errors are
quite easy to detect and point out, there is not builtin "decision algorithm" to decide
whether or not someone who claims to be given a message by God, really was given
that message from God. (If someone prophesies an event will happen, and it does not,
then we KNOW that they are not a prophet of God. But if someone essentially
prophesies that a text of Scripture means such-and-such, there is no builtin decision
algorithm to indicate when they are wrong. Once you throw out critical Bible study
skills, that are based on logic, then what is left is mere assertions of personal opinions.)
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As an example of what happens when you abandon valid methods of reasoning as a
component of our shared reality, is the modern conspiracy theory mess. Conspiracy
theories are based on story-telling, and "explanations". But they seriously downgrade
the careful evaluation of evidence, based on our shared reality. The actual definition of
"evidence" is morphed into making up explanations, that supposedly could support one
another. But this redefinition of "evidence" means that no fair rule of law would work
any more, and the due process of a fair rule of law would not work. This means that
there could be no such thing as justice, any more.
People who have bought into conspiracy theories (such as many who live in the Middle
East, who are sympathetic to the terrorist group Hamas), will no longer consider
sound evidence from our shared reality.
Middle Eastern Arabs who are sympathetic to Hamas, will not consider real evidence
that it was errant missiles from Hamas, that destroyed the Gaza hospital in which
hundreds of patients were killed. Those who believe that a certain politician won the
last presidential election, but the election was stolen through massive fraud, cannot
produce any evidence of massive electoral fraud, but WILL NOT believe that the
evidence strongly suggests that this was the most honest election America has held.
Those who believe the persistent lies of Alex Jones, that a school massacre was not
carried out by a screwed up American citizen, but was carried out as a "Deep State"
conspiracy to manipulate the judgments of Americans, will REJECT huge amounts of
evidence from our shared reality.
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While this post addresses what we SHOULD NOT DO when looking to interpret Scripture,
it is necessary to go through the huge anti-intellectual mistakes that many Christians
in America are currently embracing.
