Posted on 07/23/2015 12:49:19 PM PDT by metmom
“. . . in your moral excellence, knowledge” (2 Peter 1:5).
Moral excellence cannot develop in an intellectual vacuum.
It’s a frightening thing to realize the extent to which our culture downplays knowledge in favor of emotions. These days people are more likely to ask, “How will it make me feel?” instead of, “Is it true?” Sadly, the church has bought into the spirit of the age. Many people go to church, not to learn the truths of God’s Word, but to get an emotional high. The focus of theological discussion also reflects the contemporary hostility to knowledge. To a shocking extent, truth is no longer the issue; the questions being asked today are, “Will it divide?” or “Will it offend?” To ask if a theological position is biblically correct is considered unloving, and those who take a stand for historic Christian truth are labeled as divisive.
But knowledge is inseparable from moral excellence and Christian growth. It should be obvious that people can’t put into practice truths they don’t know; we must first understand the principles of God’s Word before we can live them out.
Peter knew well the importance of knowledge in developing a stable Christian walk and the assurance of salvation that accompanies it. Therefore, he urged his readers to add knowledge to their moral excellence. Gnosis (“knowledge”) refers to insight, discernment, and proper understanding of truth. Lacking such knowledge, believers become “children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14). The resulting turmoil is not conducive to spiritual growth or the development of a settled assurance of salvation.
The Bible commends child-like (i.e., trusting, humble) faith, but not childish faith. Paul exhorted the Corinthians, “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking . . . in your thinking be mature” (1 Cor. 14:20). “So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord,” urged Hosea. When we do so, “He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth” (Hos. 6:3).
I pray with the apostle Paul, “that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment” (Phil. 1:9).
Suggestions for Prayer
Pray that God would enable you to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
For Further Study
Read Proverbs 23:7 and Philippians 4:8. What do those verses teach about the importance of godly thinking?
ping
Excellent point.
That’s a “boy howdy” statement how people no longer think, but are ruled by their emotions. But God did warn He’d turn the wicked over to a reprobate mind. That’s a worthless, non-functioning mind. (Rom. 1) That’s why the truth is foolishness to them:
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
here is a Ray Comfort video that drops right in to the theme of this thread: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJvottOv-7Q&list=PLA41i8AREkiYHnS2kg5mh3NhLDgoXHTqG&index=175
It certainly is. It can be hard to have a discussion with people (especially on Facebook, I hear), because they're not interested in whether a statement is true, or even if it has a possibility of being accurate, but only in how they feel about it.
Emotions are my biggest hindrance to godly living.
It’s so easy to be led by them and tempted by them because they are so strong and feel so real.
And they are real, but what you perceive reality to be through your emotions, is not necessarily what reality IS.
When I was really struggling once over something in which my emotions played a role, God told me, “Focus on what you KNOW to be true.” (The implication was as opposed to what I felt to be true.)
I hope that makes sense to you. Often the times God speaks to me, contains so much more than just the words that it’s hard to articulate all that a simple message like that can carry.
When feelings become the basis of what our reality consists of, chaos results.
Being female, we know what emotions can do to us on a regular basis. Simple hormone changes can change one’s perspective dramatically.
As my Weight Watchers leader says, we get about one good day a month. Those of us my age, at least! I get completely irrational if I don't eat at the right time, too.
This is a funny article that makes a similar point:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3315591/posts
These days people are more likely to ask, “How will it make me feel?” instead of, “Is it true?”
If HE told you; then it MUST be applicable to me; as well!
So THIS is my problem!
Poor scheduling!!!
Everything in the Bible on moral behavior and success in life can be proven in social studies.
There are clear consequences and risks with behavior and thinking contrary to what God has laid out for mankind. He created man; He gave us the user’s manual. We will suffer and crash if we ignore it or worse, are ignorant of it.
Homos have been lying about the their lifestyle. The consequences of homosexuality prove it to be grossly wrong. People would be grossed out if they were not stupid. The same goes for sluts - male and female.
Actually, it was more like what I felt to be true, or what seemed to be true.
...”what you perceive reality to be through your emotions, is not necessarily what reality IS”....
The same could actually be said by sight as well...things are not always as they appear as we live in an age of deception.
Same with feelings...they can deceive us...we might feel fear where there is no threat because of a past experience tripping that emotion from that time or event.....By the same token we might feel good being in a certain place because it reminds us of an event that we enjoyed.
So it’s significant to “know” there is a place to go to where our emotions can be calmed and we can think then....Jesus is always ready to listen...to all our emotions....
Are you not actually speaking of “discernment”...for this needs be regardless of where our emotions are?????
Maybe.
I’ll sleep on that can get back to you in the morning.
Ok...tomorrow then.
An example would be when things are going really wrong, and you’re in the depths of despair and feel abandoned by God.
Those feelings are really strong, and yet the TRUTH that we know is that He promised that He would never leave us or forsake us, that when we’re in the midst of the struggle, He’s right there by our side.
So we focus on what we KNOW to be true, that He is with us always, and not what FEELS to be true, which is that He’s not anywhere to be found.
That’s when we claim the promises of God and continue on.
THAT is faith.
http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2015/07/an-editors-note
I thought this might amuse you, on the topic of truth, feelings, and being women (or not).
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