Are you consecrated?/Luke 14

Sicily: Google+

God-willing, the Courson text, often in parallel with his online preaching will be my biblical and theological book review, now that I am finished with the Pirie, philosophical text.

I am thinking that some readers (and listeners) will be pleased that I will focus more on bible after approximately two years of the Pirie, fallacy, text. I need to focus on my marketable academic skills (regardless of work status) which will at times be under the umbrella of philosophy. My worldview does remain the same...

The Courson commentary is three volumes and will not be page by page as the Pirie and Langer reviews.

I will continue with the review of Langer, and symbolic logic.

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

In his recent online sermon on Luke 14-15-35, Pastor Courson emphatically stated (paraphrased) that there is a difference between being a saved, born-again Christian and an actual Christian disciple.

From his commentary:

'...there is a difference between being a Christian and being a disciple. 'Disciple means 'disciplined one'-one who is committed to the cause of the kingdom.' (371).

Luke 14: 27 is referenced:

Luke 14:27 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:27 English Standard Version (ESV)

27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:27 King James Version (KJV) 27

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Pastor Courson, opines that to carry one's cross is not the typical modern, western sufferings such as a 'noisy neighbor' or 'arthritis'. (371). The way of the cross is to die to self, and to live in Christ, for others. (371). To put aside 'rights and privileges' (371) in order to see others do well. There is cost in discipleship. (371).

I can agree that a biblical, Christian, disciple, may find self at odds with society, certain family, friends, and co-workers. Certainly, many that claim the name of Jesus Christ for salvation today are not disciples.

Frankly, there is plenty of room for theological debate on whether or not a Christian that is not a disciple is actually regenerated (Titus 3) and born again (John 3). This has been a subject for research and analysis on my websites for years.

But Pastor Courson stated (paraphrased) in the recent sermon that salvation and justification was totally up to God, but being consecrated was up to us, as in those under the atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ via the triune, biblical, God.

Browning explains that consecration is the act of separating persons from the profane and instead dedicating self to God. (76). It is to render things to God. (76).

The concept of consecration is associated with sanctification. The 'Pocket Dictionary' opines that sanctification is two-fold: One, it is an aspect of salvation via Jesus Christ. Two, those in Christ are to strive for holiness through the Holy Spirit. (105).

As sanctification is an aspect of New Testament salvation, the atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ is applied to believers by grace through faith, not by works, but for good works (Ephesians 1-2). Within Reformed theology, by grace alone, through faith alone.

Titus 3:5-7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs [a]according to the hope of eternal life. 

This means salvific sanctification, biblically, is up to God alone, and not by human means. But, having listened to Pastor Courson since 1987, I reason he knows this theology as fact and accepts it.

The difference in view will be with the second proposed aspect of sanctification, which would include Pastor Courson's theology on consecration.

Today's typical evangelical, libertarian free will theology will assume this must be left entirely up to the persons in Christ, without simultaneous influence from God or any external force.

Within a Reformed theology and in my case, also via theistic philosophy within philosophy of religion, I reason that as God is infinite, eternal and omnipotent, God wills and causes all things as the primary cause, whether within his perfect will or his permissible will.

Within my Reformed view, God within either perfect or permissible will, would decide, noting Courson's theological idea, for my premise, which Christians would be disciples as opposed to saved believers only, and to what degree. But again, it is theologically debatable whether or not a true regenerated Christian could avoid being a disciple, at least of some sort.

Rest assured, limited free will does exist, within my Reformed theology:

Human beings embrace, as secondary cause (s) what God has caused and willed, or else this would be forced and/or coerced and would not include significant, human moral responsibility.

BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

GRENZ, STANLEY J., DAVID GURETZKI AND CHERITH FEE NORDLING (1999) Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill., InterVarsity Press.

In Three Minutes: Fascism (As opposed to conservative/conservatism)

Hoodie City, Wales

Via British philosophy texts, I provide academic definitions for fascism.

To be clear, I am a moderate conservative, Reformed, biblical Christian. I do not intellectually hold to or support any forms of fascism or communism. I never have and never will.

Fascism

Blackburn explains that from the Latin, this is fasces the bundle of rods carried before the Roman consuls as an insignia of authority. (136). This served as loose inspiration for the early 20th century political, military and government movements of Mussolini in Italy and Hitler in Nazi Germany. (136).

Elements of fascism include nationalism, hostility to ideals of equality, hatred of minorities and hatred of degenerates, deviants, elitism, liberalism and freedom of expression. (136).

Fascism focuses on a cult-like leader and the destiny of race. It embraces political symbolism, uniforms, emblems. (136). Fascism is idealized that it must take place through political energy and struggle. (136).

Cambridge explains that in National Socialism, this form of fascism featured anti-antisemitism and was militarist. (629).

STERBA, JAMES P (1996) 'Political Philosophy" in Robert Audi, (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

In Three Minutes (A little over)

This audio/video took several takes, how much worse it would be if I had to be concerned with how I looked! However, yes, I can acknowledge there are many American conservatives, and American Christian conservatives that are opposed to aspects of illegal immigration and legal immigration. Many of these favour a southern wall. But, I do not reason that being opposed to legal immigration is a distinct conservative premise that can be connected to fascism. Remember there are many conservatives and conservative Christians that also live in Canada, Europe and elsewhere that hold to more moderate views and many American conservatives and American Christian conservatives do as well. Hatred of immigrants and minorities, for the most part, is not a conservative premise.

Audio/Video: New Logitech h340

PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.

The end of this text review.

Why wasn't it done already?

There has to be a first time for everything. It is a fallacy to claim that anything worthwhile has already been done. (214). It should not should be assumed that new ideas are always wacky (214) or just always wrong.

My example:

Person X: One day medical science will be able to repair amputated limbs.

Person Y:  I am against it. It is a bad idea, let God's will stand!

It could also be God's will for a certain person to have a repaired amputated limb (s).

Wishful thinking

This is when premises are accepted because one would like them to be true, rather than because reasonable premises and arguments have been presented in support of premises. (215). This fallacy is not concerned with whether premises and conclusions are true or false. (215).

Pirie mentions philosopher David Hume and his views on the subject of the afterlife. It is opined that it is wishful thinking to believe in the afterlife for deceased relatives and friends. (216). Pirie mentions that some philosophers, such as Hume view (viewed) the afterlife as an absurd notion. (216).

Connected to wishful thinking, I view sentimental theology as often absurd in regard to death and the afterlife. (See sentimental theology in archives).

The biblical, historically revealed, Christian theology in support of the afterlife idea is based on the promise of everlasting life in Jesus Christ. This through his atoning and resurrection work applied to believers via the triune God.

This everlasting life as in heaven, takes place in two stages. For those in Jesus Christ and the Hebrew Bible covenant, prior to the atonement and resurrection work of Jesus Christ.

Paradise (2 Corinthians 12, Philippians 1) for disembodied spirits. Then upon the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15) within the culminated of Kingdom of God, the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 20-22).

This same biblical revelation reveals two stages of hell, also in an everlasting context. For those outside of Jesus Christ and the Hebrew Bible covenant, prior to the atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ.

Hades for disembodied spirits (Luke 16) and then ultimately the lake of fire (Revelation 20) for those outside of Jesus Christ. Those in the lake of fire are presumed to be resurrected by many within scholarship.

As secondary support, within philosophy of religion, it can be reasoned there exists the necessary. Within theism, the necessary equates to first cause, which parallels the biblical and theological concept of God, that existed prior to any matter, or anything else for that matter (Genesis and Revelation). The first cause and as well the infinite, eternal author of the initial earthly life can offer everlasting life, if God so chooses and to whom he chooses.

This is not an absurd notion, when not left to wishful thinking and speculation alone.
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It looks like my face is further thinning out with my fruit, vegetable, fish and natural peanut butter diet. If you do not mind me stating, my friends Darren and Kelly are correct, my arms do look muscular (Those 30 and 50 pound dumbbell curls and lifts.).

We must do something

PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.

'This fallacy consists in supposing that doing something ineffective is better than doing nothing at all' (213).

Based on the author's example:

Person A: I am getting a 'Love, Don't Hate' tat.

Person B: What difference will that make in the world?

Person A: I have to do something.

Person C:  Every little bit helps!

Random actions can be fallaciously justified by being connected to worthwhile causes. (213).

Actual human actions of love might make a difference in the world, where as a tattoo is not likely to.

Action is usually more useful and effective than symbolism.