Why Ligon Duncan is a Heretic in 8 Minutes
Video post by @PaulMDohse.
Why Hillary Will Win and the Future of Capitalism, Part 2
The standard philosophical theory for the caregiver industry is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (Hartman’s Nursing Assistant Care: The Basics, pp. 58, 59). Care targets are designed around this theory. In actuality, no pun intended, the elements of Maslow’s theory are evident in the milieu of caregiving. Regardless of the severity of disability, residents will seek to do things they enjoy; they will seek personal relationships, and will seek to have purpose and accomplishment. Even ones who cannot communicate and have use of one arm will use that one arm to help you dress them. As they are accustomed to the routine they feel upon their bodies and often cannot see, they will wait for their moment and spring into action to do their part. These are extremely meaningful moments for the caregiver and the top two hierarchies immediately come to mind, and maybe the need to love and be loved as well.
I have to give Democrats credit where credit is due; they seem to understand the significance of Maslow’s theory and how to utilize it to obtain their goals. We all know that national defense is often a hot topic during many presidential elections. Why? Because one of the basic human needs is safety and security.
Republicans usually tout security and peace through strength while Democrats seem to take a naïve and disarmed approach towards aggressive evil in the world. Why? Because aggressive countries share the same basic presuppositions regarding mankind that the Democrats possess; man must be ruled over by government for the common good. In their minds, there is only one thing worse than a bad statist; a good rugged individualist. They will side with the bad statist in a heartbeat. If Al Gore would have been President during 911 rather than George Bush, there would have been no retaliation of any significance. Expenditure of resources to protect a measured number of individuals does not benefit the state nor does it serve justice because the only real sin is against the state, not individuals.
This is why socialist countries like France respond passively to terror attacks. And regarding what benefits state commerce and not individuals we hear in the aftermath of a terror attack that people should go on with life normally because to do otherwise is to “give into fear.” Statist will then define “courage” as those who go on with life as if nothing happened without any precautions. This is because individuals are expendable and moralism is defined by one’s willingness to sacrifice for the state.
So, how do the Democrats get around the need for security? They shift the fear of annihilation from enemies abroad to trigger happy Republicans within. Is this card, the same one played against Barry Goldwater in the 60s not the same exact card being played against Trump in our day? Sure it is. Forget about ISIS, we all may die because Trump can’t wait to launch nukes against Russia and China over a Tweet. It worked against Goldwater, and it will work against Trump.
Presently, this will work because Americans still enjoy individual actualization and have the convenience of lazy thinking resulting in the idea that financial security comes from the government. Presently, more than 47% of all American households receive some sort of government benefits. Republicans are perceived as a threat to that security, and even more so Donald Trump being a hardcore get-it-done business man. This whole idea of “making America great again” will effectively send at least 47% of all Americans running for the Hillary lever—their food and water intake depends on it. “Making America great again” translates into rugged individualism that has no safety net. This is palatable for the time being because the dirty little secret follows: the Democratic ruling elite are not telling their followers what they really believe; the totality of self-actualization is defined by one’s contribution to the state.
Here is the good news that is really amazing: a little less than half of the American people still get it. Without a doubt, that is because of alternative media and the Information Age that we presently live in. But…it will not be enough to elect Trump.
How is this likely to play out in the future? We will look at that question in Part 3.
paul
Why Hillary Will Win and the Future of Capitalism, Part 1
Why in the world would the American people elect a known criminal for president of the United States? As you know, here at TANC Ministries, we are big on reminding people that the accusation of “stupidity” is an analytical shortcut; people ALWAYS do what they do for some reason driven by logic.
In this case, the logic is probably driven by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Anyone who has followed our ministry for a while knows that I am a proponent of this theory because its truths are evident for those who pay attention to what they experience in life; especially for those in the caregiver industry.
Colonial Americans were unique to human history because their logic was driven by the top of Maslow’s pyramid. Of course, their philosophy founded on Enlightenment ideas resulted in this emphasis. One’s basic logic, and in this case, presuppositions about mankind will determine the emphasis people put on basic human needs. For the Colonials, “Give me liberty or give me death” clearly reverses the order of Maslow’s pyramid.
By the way, the lynchpin, or windsock, is always FEAR which the Colonials lacked because mere human existence for the sake of existence was unacceptable to them. In this case, existence for the sake of the state in exchange for food and water was completely unacceptable to them. One element of this is high taxation.
Be sure of this: the only reason the Democratic political party exists is due to lack of education about these things. It’s a kind of “The only thing we need to know is Jesus died for our sins” mentality. It results in the whole consideration being twiddled down to who we trust to get our needed food and water: the individual, or the state. Is the state’s purpose to free the individual to pursue the top of Maslow’s pyramid or is the top of the pyramid purely defined by one’s contribution to the state’s ability to rule over the affairs of men?
The lie told by the Democratic Party while they slowly dismember Americanism is that trusting the state for food and water will not cost people the top of the pyramid still experienced by Americans. But it will, and it always has. Until America came along self-actuation was only found in one’s contribution to the state to rule over the great unwashed, and invariably, this is always found desperately wanting.
This November, a majority will trust Hillary for their food and water because right now Americans are getting their cake and eating it as well. Even hardworking Americans, via lack of truthful education, see the state as their safety net in case they fail which is likely because after all, we are all totally depraved. Even Billy Graham says so.
Therefore, yes, Hillary has her flaws, but at least she supposedly understands that we all need food and water. But what about Donald Trump? He’s despicable and immature? Well, sure he is, but more than that he represents pick yourself up by the bootstraps and do your job or you’re fired! And if I get fired, how will I eat? If I fail, Hillary will understand and make sure I still have my needs fulfilled by the nanny state. But under Trump, if I fail, he thinks I deserve to starve. It’s cold-blooded survival of the fittest.
Hence, Hillary’s ethics are completely irrelevant. Let me repeat that: this is why Hillary’s ethics are TOTALLY irrelevant. She understands that we are weak and may need help with food and water one day. But that is the lie of the ages. Sooner or later, self-actualization is totally defined by one’s contribution to the state for purposes of saving humanity from itself. Eventually, it becomes an existence totally defined by the state in exchange for food and water. History bears out the results of this miserable existence time and time again.
The antithesis is liberty. In the next part we will further examine this theory and then move on to the likely future of liberty economics: Capitalism.
paul
A Believer’s Personal Bible Study
Revised from an article originally published August 22, 2014
It is a sad reality that most believers over the past 500+ years have not and do not really know what the Bible says. I have been a believer for over 38 years, and I must regretfully admit, that up until about 7 or so years ago, I was included in that same lot. I was taught ABOUT the Bible. I was taught ABOUT doctrine. And I dutifully towed the line of orthodoxy. This, I think is indicative of most believers; they simply do not read their Bibles. (see also this article)
I think as Christians we intuitively know we should be reading our Bibles, but aside from the fact that the modern day institutional church purposefully seeks to keep the masses dumbed-down, one of the reasons I believe most Christians don’t read their Bibles as much as they should is that they don’t know where to start. And those Christians who do read their Bibles on a regular basis aren’t getting as much out of it as they should be. Their Bible reading time is ineffective because they don’t have a plan. In either case, the results are the same:
- boredom
- apathy
- distraction
- resentfulness
Bible reading becomes a chore rather than a delight. Do we simply trudge on ahead dutifully and have faith that the Spirit will work on us? That seems a rather bleak prospect. Or do we just rely on the work that others have done for us and expect them to feed us spiritual nourishment? What hope is there for any maturity whatsoever with that mindset?
There are two key truths found in the Bible itself that must be reconciled.
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
2 Timothy 2:15
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
- The Word of God is active.
Hebrews 4:12 uses the words “quick” and “powerful” to describe the Word. The word “quick” is the Greek word ζαω (DZAH-oh), and it means, “to live”. It is alive! It is also powerful. Here the word is ενεργης (en-er-GACE). The idea is that it is full of energy. God’s Word is different from any other written work in the world! As we read it, because it is alive and active, we can expect it to actively work on us. Its cuts are deep and clean, dividing and discerning. It reveals truth to us because it is truth. By it, we are sanctified (John 17:17).
But we don’t simply sit idly by and wait for the Word to work on us.
- Believers are to study the Word
The word “study” is the word σπουδαζω (spoo-DAHD-zoh). It literally means, “to use speed.” The implication is to make an effort, to be prompt or earnest. Study the Word with the result of being able to use discernment (“rightly dividing the word of truth”). The Bereans (Acts 17:10-11) were called “more noble” because they studied the Word. They earnestly and diligently searched the scriptures daily to be able to discern truth from error.
So if we are to be good students of God’s Word, we first need to actually read it so that its life and power can work in us. But we must also study it as well. This places an emphasis that goes beyond merely reading a chapter or passage or verse every day. This must include a dedicated effort to a searching for knowledge. But unfortunately, most believers don’t know how to begin.
Let’s start with the basics. And this is really very simple. Just READ your Bible! BUT…you must read with purpose. A daily devotional book just will not cut it. You are simply consuming someone’s pre-digested, pre-packaged orthodoxy. You are not studying. You must read the actual BIBLE yourself! And you must have a plan if you want your Bible-reading time to be most effective.
Most people will tell you that you need to read your Bible through each year. To some, that may sound like a daunting task, which is why many people will not attempt to undertake it. Also, the Bible is comprised of many different genres of literature: historical, poetic, biographical, instructional, prophetic. For this reason alone, simply reading your Bible straight through from Genesis to Revelation is not going to be an effective way to study scripture. Your understanding of a passage is only going to be relevant within that genre.
The key is to include passages from every genre in your study each day. There are many Bible-reading plans available to choose from, but there is one in particular that I use personally, and I highly recommend it. It is called Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading System (Click here to view the .PDF file). Now, I have no idea who Professor Grant Horner is. I don’t get any kickback for referring his system. No, I do not know what his doctrinal beliefs are. I don’t care. I do, however, think he has devised a very useful tool for Bible reading and study. Here is how it works:
This system divides the 66 books of the Bible into 10 lists.
- Matthew-John
- Genesis-Dueteronomy
- Romans-Colossians, Hebrews
- 1 Thessalonians-Philemon, James-Revelation
- Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Joshua-Esther
- Isaiah-Malachi
- Acts
With this system you read 1 chapter from each list every day. The next day, you go on to the next chapter in each list. When you get to the end of a particular list, you start again with the first chapter in that list. Since each list varies in length, the combination of 10 chapters you read each day will constantly change as you work your way through. By following this system, you can actually read every chapter in the Bible in just 250 days, less than 1 year!
Now, that still may seem like a daunting task, but reading 10 chapters from your Bible each day actually only takes less than an hour to accomplish. With practice, you will find that it may actually take less time than that. But is 1 hour of Bible reading each day too much to ask of someone who desires to “show themselves approved”, or who wishes to be able to “rightly divide the Word of truth”?
Following this system will result in the scriptures revealing themselves to you in ways you have probably never seen before. The Bible is its own commentary, and as you read through the various chapters each day, you will begin to see patterns emerge; phrases, and expressions repeated over and over again. Themes will develop and will become familiar to you. Prophesies given in the Old Testament will be expounded upon in the New Testament. You will see teachings in one section of scripture clarified and expounded upon in another. You will suddenly see connections throughout the Bible that you did not realize were there before! That is an exciting prospect, and that is a tremendous motivation. You will suddenly find that you cannot wait to get to the next day to find out what you will discover! Consider the words of the Psalmist:
Psalm 119:97-104
“O how love I thy law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies:
for they are ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers:
for thy testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the ancients,
because I keep thy precepts.
I have refrained my feet from every evil way,
that I might keep thy word.
I have not departed from thy judgments:
for thou hast taught me.
How sweet are thy words unto my taste!
Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through thy precepts I get understanding:
therefore I hate every false way.”
I exhort and encourage every believer to get deep into God’s Word. These are the instructions for life and godliness. You must know and understand them for yourself if you are to become a mature believer who is able to discern truth from error. And these words will equip you to go out and give these same words of life to a lost world!
Andy
The Reformed False Gospel of “As If”
Gospel Sanctification is the original false gospel of the Reformation that presently dominates the institutional church. Basically, it is the gospel of New Calvinism. It is often expressed by the t…
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
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