#22: Is Science Our Only Source of Knowledge?

Is Science our only Source of knowledge?

With the rise and success of modern science (and these advances have been beneficial in many ways), some people have unfortunately come to believe that science, and science alone offers true knowledge of reality.

Famous atheist Bertrand Russell put it this way:

“Whatever knowledge is attainable, must be attained by scientific methods; and what science cannot discover, mankind cannot know.”

Initially, this sounds sophisticated and intelligent. The only problem is that if it’s true, we couldn’t know it to be true. Why?

Scientism is Self-Refuting

Because the statement (more…)

#21: How Do We Overcome Hurry Sickness?

How do we overcome hurry sickness?

Dr. Richard Swenson is a futurist who writes about the social and personal factors that afflict America. Swenson has diagnosed the problem of our day as “overload.”

If you were to take an MRI of our lives, here is what you would see:

“We have too many choices and decisions, too many activities and commitments, too much change creating too much stress. We have too much speed and hurry. We have too much technology, complexity, traffic, information, possessions, debt, expectations, advertisements, and media. We even have too much work.”

And all God’s people said — “Amen!”

When There Is No Margin

When we no longer have any margin in our lives, no space between our load and our limits, then we are in a constant state of overload. And that is not a healthy place to be.

There is perhaps no greater barrier to spiritual transformation and cultural engagement today than lack of time. If we are to be who God calls us to be, we must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from our lives. God’s word instructs us “to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 ESV).

Paul admonishes us to “look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15–16 ESV).

We can have (more…)

#20: Learning to Think in a Culture Ruled by Feelings

 

Learning to think in a culture ruled by feelings.

The words we use to talk about our faith shapes how the people around us approach Christianity.

Have you ever noticed how often people start talking about Jesus, the Bible, or God With “feeling” language?

“I just feel that Jesus would…”
“It doesn’t feel like God would…”
“I just feel that’s not what the Bible says…”

Feelings are great but they’re not the foundation of our faith

Now don’t get me wrong, feelings are great. But they’re not the foundation of our faith. And they certainly don’t determine what’s true.

Feelings come and go. They change.

Feelings are not wrong or right. They just are.

They’re a barometer of the soul. A snapshot of our internal life at a particular moment in time.

Thinking connects (more…)

#19: Why Listening Matters When Sharing Your Faith

Why listening matters when sharing your faith.

If you want to have more effective spiritual conversations, then learn to listen.

Francis Schaefer once said:

“‘If I have only an hour with someone, I will spend the first fifty-five minutes asking questions and finding out what is troubling their heart and mind, and then in the last five minutes I will share something of the truth.”

Our temptation is to unload all the facts we’ve ever learned in one conversation.

However, the (more…)

#18: What is the Role of the Holy Spirit in Interpreting the Bible?

What is the Role of the Holy Spirit in Interpreting the Bible?

Can a non-Christian grasp the content of the Bible? Yes and no.

Yes, if we mean the text can be understood by employing a sound approach to literature—to the basic grammar, context, and content of a passage.

But an unbeliever cannot fully appreciate and take to heart the truth of the Bible. God’s Spirit helps Christians discern the spiritual realities of the text and then apply them to their lives (see 1 Cor. 2:14).

Scott Duvall and Daniel Hays offer helpful insight here:

When it comes to biblical interpretation, having the Holy Spirit does not mean that the Spirit is all we need, since he will not make biblical interpretation automatic. He expects us to use our minds, valid interpretive methods, and good study helps. The Spirit does not create new meaning or provide new information, but he does enable us to accept the Bible as God’s Word and grasp its meaning. The Spirit will not change the Bible to suit our purposes or match our circumstances, but he will work in our lives as interpreters. He restores us to our senses and helps us grow up spiritually so we can hear his voice in the Scriptures more clearly.

(more…)