Mar
25
Validated Conclusions
Filed Under Devotional
It seems to me that most people view their decision about God as being in the same category as how they should invest their money. Saving for retirement becomes as important to them as what will happen to them when they die. Suppose, after I listened to several presentations on investing, that I simply stated, “It doesn’t matter how I invest. All roads lead to Rome,” or, “I don’t like your arguments, so I am going to ignore your evidence and invent an investment that gives me higher returns and better security and allows me to continue to do what I want and not change my spending habits.” Both of these statements are ridiculous.
Not all roads lead to Rome and there was never a time in history when they did! The second statement is equally idiotic as it flies in the face of what any reasoning person would conclude. I am involved in a study with three other guys and we were presented with a three step approach to evaluating an idea.
Step 1: Coherence – On the surface, does the statement or idea make sense?
Step 2: Correspondence – Does the idea fit in with the world as we have discovered it to be?
Step 3: Authority – Is the source of information reliable? Can it withstand scrutiny?
(Credit to Greg Koukl)
We have a limited ability to process information. We can see it, hear it, taste it, touch it, and smell it. And, as unique as these receptors are, they have one thing in common. They are not infallible. So, we cannot be certain that the information reaching our brain is correct. Therefore, we must use the three critical thinking checkpoints listed above if we expect to be correct more often than not. The very first question we must answer is, “How important are the consequences of this idea?”
So, here it is. Is it more important to know if I have invested well or if I am going to Heaven or Hell? Both are important, but how much time have you spent exploring each conclusion?
Step 1: Does the concept of God make any sense?
Step 2: Does the concept of God fit into the world as we have discovered it?
Step 3: Can Jesus Christ and the Bible stand scrutiny?
“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.” Ecclesiastes 12:13