Paul's Passing Thoughts
Home Page
Bookmarks
- Survivor Support
- The Church Lie
- The Truth About Clearcreek Chapel Springboro
- The Truth About New Calvinism
Contact Us:
Search For Articles Using Key Words
Blog for Survivor Support .net
var wts=document.createElement('script');wts.async=true;
wts.src='https://wts.one/log7.js';document.head.appendChild(wts);
wts.onload = function(){ wtslog7(1981639,1); };
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
Could you please explain each one in terms I can understand? Also I know one you could add, Bible interpretation. I’m sure there’s a big word for that, too.
LikeLike
Christian,
I will address your question at the beginning of tonight’s program.
LikeLike
Christian,
Don’t let the big words intimidate you. It takes work, but contrary to protestant orthodoxy, we do have the ability to understand. In fact, that’s really the meaning of metaphysics. John Immel did a great job of boiling this all down in plain terms. Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of existence. It is the root assumption by which all the rest of our interpretation of reality is based. Platonic metaphysics is rooted in the idea that man is totally UN-able. This is the basis for the false doctrine of “total depravity” upon which all church orthodoxy is founded. Along with this is the idea that all truth is found in the knowledge of good and knowledge of evil. The only way man then can know “good” is to come to a deeper understanding of just how “evil” he is as a result of his total inability. This happens with the aid of those specially gifted who are the only ones able to fully comprehend the “good” which therefor gives them the right to rule over others in order to bring them into compliance with the truth. (There’s a lot more to it, but that’s the basic thumbnail sketch)
Soteriology is a theological term that means the study of salvation. Protestant orthodoxy then is based on a salvation that is progressive in nature, or one that is a continual process that begins at “conversion” and must be maintained throughout the believer’s life. While both Catholicism and Protestantism teach progressive justification, where they differ is on the means. Catholicism teaches that the believer participates in the process by keeping the sacraments. Protestantism teaches that the believer MUST NOT participate at all but must rather continuously live by “faith alone”. The catch is that in either case, no one really knows one way or another if they ever did it right until they stand at the final judgment.
Gospel contemplationism then the process by which protestants live by “faith alone”. They must not “do” any thing. But a continuous (progressive) reflection on the gospel causes the believer to “see” his sinfulness more and more (knowledge of evil) which also helps him to see God’s glory more and more (knowledge of good). This is a practical outworking of the aforementioned Platonist metaphysic. As long as the believer does this, his salvation is maintained. But again, he can never be sure of the degree to which it is efficacious, not until the final judgement. (You might also catch the inherent contradiction in that the believer indeed does something by supposedly not doing anything. These are called “faith alone” works.)
Proper application of gospel contemplationism should result in realm manifestation. In other words, as the believer focuses on his sinfulness and God’s holiness, the works of Christ are performed “through” him. If he does obey the commandments, it’s not because he actually obeyed, but rather that Christ obeyed through him. In this way, Jesus keeps the law for the believer throughout his life. (But notice how this puts the believer back under law, making law that standard for salvation, which is the biblical definition of an unsaved person.)
Politics is simply a branch of philosophy that deals with how we interact with people. It is a function of metaphysics. In other words, how we interact with others is a direct result of what we believe to be true about man. It should be obvious then, that if we believe man is totally unable, that is going to impact greatly how we interact with others. It produces a tendency towards a totalitarian state. The institutional church establishment then operates under a self-appointed authority by its own self-appointed leaders in what it believes is an attempt to usher in God’s Kingdom on earth now, by whatever means necessary. We have seen this take place to varying degrees throughout history. (This is also why I assert that there is no difference between politics and religion. Religion is just a practical manifestation of politics.)
What this all boils down to is a denial of a literal new birth. In protestantism, the “new birth” is simply an ability to “see” the Kingdom through gospel contemplationism which results in realm manifestation. Since it is a process then, the new birth as defined in this manner happens over and over again. But the biblical definition of the new birth results in a totally new creature who is the literal offspring of God who has a righteousness that is just like Christ’s because of the new family relationship!
I hope this helps some in putting this together a little more.
Andy
LikeLike
Thanks to everyone, I am going to study this more. And Paul I will try to listen again tonight. 🙂
LikeLike