Tag Archives: Cross

Logical Gal – Our major premise affects our eternal destiny

1 Apr

The pastor employed tight logic to make his point about who gets to enjoy eternity with God after death.  A simple 3-component syllogism (2 reasons leading to an assertion or conclusion) could summarize his core teaching.

Eternal life with God

Here is the syllogism with just the minor premise. (When we don’t explicitly articulate any of the 3 parts of the syllogism, we have an enthymeme).

Premise 2 went like this:

P1

P2 – I’ve led a horrible life of evil that would shock you if you knew

C – Therefore, I …….

What I found interesting was that the conclusion would vary depending on the first or major premise!

What possibilities exist?  There might be more than these 2, but let’s look at the polar opposites:

  • All those whose performances and record on Earth meet God’s standard are ushered into heaven with God
  • All those who ‘call upon the name of the Lord’ (Romans 10:13) are ushered into heaven with God

Do you see what I mean?  The pastor’s point was that the one who despairs that his wicked, wasted past has totally disqualified him from a forever life of fellowship with God doesn’t understand the Biblical God.  And if he insists that his past is too dark and unworthy actually puts HIS despair and past in the sovereign place of God as being supreme.  It’s arrogant to insist on one’s ability to trump God.

God has so set up the ‘system’ that only those who accept His offer of mercy as a gift are welcome.  That way, no one can take credit for either

a) being sorry enough for one’s past

b) being good enough to qualify for Heaven

The pastor’s encouraging sermon grew out of this syllogism:

P1 – All those who call upon the name (the character) of the Lord, regardless of their past shall be saved

P2 – Even though I am wicked beyond measure, I am calling on God to save me.

C – Therefore, God will welcome me into His Eternal Kingdom

Easter

May you find rest for your soul this Easter, based on both his sinless life and the righteous work that Jesus did on the cross. He has paid for those evil thoughts and deeds of His children and God and met every standard of righteousness during his time on earth. Therefore, God is just to embrace those who take up His righteous offer of mercy.  Be at peace!

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Logical Gal and Communicating via symbols

4 Jun

Today is our middle school end of year celebration where we recognize high achievers in character and scholarship and fête the 8th graders who are moving up to high school.

As I was dressing this morning, I fastened my small cross necklace around my neck.  I was thinking what I would say if someone were to ask me what my cross means.  It’s a good question.

cross necklace

Part of being a Logical Joe or Jane is being able to think carefully about the content of one’s knowledge and beliefs and then to articulate them clearly and in a way that connects with one’s listener.

So here goes:

  • I wear a cross because it reminds me that I belong to a ‘Loser’.…..at least that’s how the world viewed Jesus of Nazareth at the time.  Execution by crucifixion was the ultimate in shame and degradation.   Rome had mastered this method of torture and capital punishment to dispatch slaves and criminals.
  • I wear a cross so I won’t fall into thinking that there is something ‘better’ or more ‘moral’ about me.  Christianity is a religion FOR losers.  And we are all losers.
  • I wear a cross so I won’t forget that Christianity is not about what WE do, it’s about what was done FOR us.  This places Christianity in a completely different category.  For in each of the other religious communities, it’s spiritual power from a person or force PLUS one’s works.  Grace and/or faith PLUS deeds or  letting go or mindfulness or....

Skitch comparison of Christianity & all other religions

One of the conclusions to be drawn from a religion whose founder the world viewed and views even today as a Loser is this:

Premise 1: If the leader is mocked, persecuted and even killed, then his followers will likely be treated the same

Premise 2: Jesus was mocked, persecuted and murdered

Conclusion: Therefore, His followers should not be surprised when they are mistreated by the world

If...then statements

The above syllogism is the classic  ‘Conditional Hypothetical Syllogism‘. The 1st or major premise is the If/Then statement. And the argument is considered VALID if the 2nd or minor premise either AFFIRMS the antecedent (what precedes the ‘then’) or DENIES the consequent (what follows the ‘then’).

Back to the symbolism.  Wearing a cross also reminds me of another way that Christianity is different. It represents a counter-intuitive system of thought.  Jesus’ helplessness on the cross and His willing submission to His Father shows how God is different.  Jesus saved sinners, aka LOSERS by His seeming passivity.  God prevailed through allowing His Son to suffer and not help himself.  When Jesus was raised, His resurrection to life WAS substantiation of God’s ways and His approval and pleasure with this beloved Son.

We don’t EARN God’s approval by anything we do.  God is pleased with us to begin with, before we were born. Then He rescues us and trains us to walk in the School for Losers also called ‘Life with God as His adopted child’.

When I fasten that little cross around my neck and look in the mirror, that is what I am reminded of.  I need to practice articulating what I believe FIRST for my benefit and THEN for anyone who might ask me.

Question:  What symbol do you display in or around your home, on your car or on your person?  Can you clarify what it means?

Tatoo - Hope and anchor

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