Argument Responses

{Reference to Speech Project/Nothing I Haven't Said Before}

These are the responses I received in class:

"Your argument is assuming that God exists and that justification is quoting the Bible."

"Who is to say the God of the Bible is Truth and the God of the Koran, or Gita, or other religious texts are not?"

"Most people use scripture all the time to prove their point, no matter if that is what the Bible says or not. How is your argument any different?"

First, after having a discussion about this argument I presented in class, there are some things I first need to clean up. There is nothing wrong with admitting "I wasn't right."

Let us refresh our memories with my argument:

P1) If God is for us, then nothing is against us.
P2) If nothing is against us, then we can do anything.
P3) We cannot do anything.
C) God is not for us.
P1)If God is not for us, then we must be unloved.
P2) If we are unloved then Jesus died for nothing.
P3) Jesus did not die for nothing.
C2) We are loved, but that does not constitute us the freedom to do anything.

The problem brought to my attention today is that I have a definition fallacy in P2 in my first argument; thus, giving me a false conclusion because I use the same word with a different meaning. This is called an Equivocation Error. That word being the problem is "anything." When I reference it in my first argument which my second one builds off from, the word anything is relating to "outside forces" because "nothing against us" is setting the tone. However, when we get to my second argument, the word "anything" used in my conclusion implies to "internal choices." For Phil. 4: 13 and 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 proves these differences. 

Also, I recognize that my C2 needs to be rewritten. For my first argument structure:

If A, then B.

If B, then C.

It is not C.

Therefore, it is not A

is invalid because we can not connect C immediately A due to the intermediate of B. Instead, I should have properly structured a Hypothetical Syllogism based upon my Modus Tollens. The new argument should have looked more like such:

If A, then B.

If B, then C.

It is not C.

Therefore, if not A then not C.

P1) If God is for us, then nothing is against us.

P2) If nothing is against us, then we can do anything.

P3) We can not do anything.

C) Therefore, if God is not for us then we can not do anything.

However, now since we have "fixed this" is the opposite true? "If God is for us, we can do anything?" I want to point out now that there is a major difference between "God for us" and "us for God." Scripture declares that God is omnipresent-some examples being Psalm 139: 7-12 and Deuteronomy 31:6; thus, God is always with us but us acknowledging that is a whole different story. So is the matter really being if God supports us or something else? God hates sin; thus He is not going to support you when you are camping out in Sin Valley-read Jacob and Esau's story in Genesis. 

To answer the question (in which it may seem like I may have a smidge of Circular Reasoning going on, in which I don't) the answer is yes. It may also seem backwards to say then I/we  have more freedom in God then without God but it is true.

Let us continue to the second part of my original argument now:

P1) If God is not for us, then we must be unloved.

P2) If we are unloved, then Jesus died for nothing.

P3) Jesus did not die for nothing.

C2) Therefore, if God is for us then Jesus did not die for nothing.   

The fact of the matter is that as mentioned many times before, God wants us to have the good, easy, well-lived, fulfilling, satisfied life. However, the question isn't in the matter of where you are or what you have...it's not about who has the most toys wins. It is about the heart, the inside, the core and soul of who you are. Acquiring the riches of this life will make you lose your ultimate freedom, but Jesus (God) has something no one or thing can take away (Romans 8:31- 38). It is interesting how with God you have the power and gifts to truly love, truly forgive, and truly live. Scripture also says this 

"So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free."

-John 8: 36

Free from what you may ask? Free from burdens, free from enslavement, free from judgement, free from sin (all internal motions that then reflect outwardly). Connecting these two arguments now, we have this:

P1) Either God is not for us and we can not do anything 

Or God is for us and Jesus did not die for nothing.

The first part is inaccurate as we pointed out; thus this now becomes a Disjunctive Syllogism.

P2) God is for us and we can do anything.

C) God is for us and Jesus did not die for nothing.

Jesus did not die for nothing because we are so loved as to have a God that has given us the freedom to do anything; however, those choices we make have eternal effects. We choose either to be a slave to sin or servant to Christ. Knowing God's love for you doesn't bind you or trip you up, that's what religion does.

Now to get back to those original objections given to me by other students. My argument may still have some issues, the biggest one you see being the Theological Fallacy. For that I can not argue, for no one is argued into salvation.  

"...At The Table..."

A Continuation of Re-Reading the Gospel 

How many of you still or have in the past eaten dinner together as a family? How many of you have then heard this statement to some extent: "Don't....at the table..."? or "At the table we do this...."? It's funny everyone had their favorite or maybe designated spot at the table. In addition, as you and your family gathered there was a unspoken or sometimes spoken culture that was set along with the food that was just prepared. Maybe one of those rules was you couldn't put your elbows on the table or maybe the rule was "no cell phones at the table." I remember growing up there were few times I ate with people at the table for dinner. One of the moments was when I lived with my cousin's family while I was in third grade. One of my Uncle's table rules that no one could leave until all the food on your plate was gone-a rule I am sure was passed down from my grandparents who were farmers. I also remember that my one cousin hated this rule, especially when there was something he didn't like was given. Was there anything about your family's culture around the table that you didn't like? Or how about that of which you loved?

Why am I taking about this?

Well, I thought it was a good transition into this scripture we are diving into today. The scripture is from Luke 14: 7-14.

Some of your Bibles may entitle this section "Teachings on Humility" but as my youth leader back in the day challenged us to do I now challenge you to do and that is rename it to what you think it is about. To me, I saw it much more than a teaching on humility (although that is very important), I saw it as an "At the Table Lesson."

When I first read these verses as a young believer I used to feel guilty because I would never want to invite people to my parties who weren't my friends or who couldn't invite me to their parties in return. Then again, I also felt bad because I never parties...I wasn't really part of the "popular kids" club. But it was in this memory something struck a cord with me. The Holy Spirit took me away from looking at what I didn't or don't do to what has already happened. What can I possibly mean?

Take a closer look at verses 12-14.

"Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

To emphasize this point a little bit more, let's take look at the rest of the chapter Luke 14: 15-24. This is the quite similar to the rendition we have read in Matthew 22: 1-14.

What is Jesus saying? Well, we can interpret His parable by using the rest of what He has said the in the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. God is the King/Jesus is the man, who has prepared this great and grand banquet with all the food you would have on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter combined! And He has invited you.

Before I continue, I want that to sink in. God invites you. He invites you to dine at His great table.

What are you feeling? What are you thinking? Are you filled with anxiety because you don't know what God's great table culture will expect of you or are you filled with enthrallment and awe that you get to dine with such Majesty?

Like humility, this point hits the core of who we are. Let us remember that humility isn't thinking less of ourselves but less about ourselves. However, what are to begin with that we should think less about ourselves?

What does our most prominent writer of the New Testament say of himself? He calls himself, "the worst of sinners." Check it out 1 Timothy 1: 12-17.

For those have been called and have actually heeded to that, we must recognize our humble position at the table and that is recognizing who we are, were we come from, what God calls us, and what God has done for us.

Don't forget your position

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong."

-1 Corinthians 1:27

"But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud

    but shows favor to the humble.”"

-James 4:6

I don't say these things to shame you, but remind you. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the "good Christian church-goer" life that we have lost touch with our position. Jesus told the Pharisees that it is enough for the servants to be like their Master, but they will never be above their Master. 

So we are the "poor, maimed, lame, or blind" and what does Jesus call us? He calls us blessed. Yes, in our frail and fragile state He calls us BLESSED. Why?

"But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."

-Matthew 13:16-17

Do you know what the word BLESSED means? It means "made holy." My Greek translation bible notes that the same word here in this verse can also say "happy." So "happy are your eyes because they see!"

Sometimes I get so bent out of shape because I can't ever repay my Savior back for what He has done for me. But He wouldn't want it any other way. For True Love doesn't say. "I give, you take and pay." No rather it says:

“Come, all you who are thirsty,

    come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

    come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

    without money and without cost.

Why spend money on what is not bread,

    and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

    and you will delight in the richest of fare.

Give ear and come to me;

    listen, that you may live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you..."

-Isaiah 55

Don't toil my brothers and sisters about where you come from or what you have done, He invites you to the table. He simply says "come." And if you so dare as to come, you will be BLESSED for He will renew your strength, give you peace, quench your thirst, and love you wholly, completely, forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever. 

Dead To Life To What?

Like cracks in the pavements
Are like the crevices in my arms,
Maybe if we're lucky
A flower will bloom there.
Maybe if I'm wise,
I'll seek some counsel up there.
Up in the sky, past the clouds
& past this disguise.
Up there came one who came right here,
One who beautified these scars.
That blade does damage to what
He claims free, forgiven & clean.
A tare on here,
Is a cut in there.
My heart is beating,
Beating another nail in His wrist-
So my Enemy says.
I must speak the secrets
Whispered in my chest.
Sprouting up hope & joy,
You're the reason I am alive.
I'm not alone in this,
We're not alone in this.
Your breathe makes me new,
Today is the day I chose you.
To be happy is one thing,
To have Happiness is another.
My body is brittle,
But the road You take care of.
My body is fragile,
But the path You choose to bare.
You look at me,
Beautiful frail me,
And You love me.
You love me.
You love me.