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Old 07-09-2009, 08:17 AM
magicref magicref is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: VA
Posts: 16
Default Defense of Critical Thinking

Boy, I hate to do this, but I'd like to come to a partial "defense" of Critical Thinking (CT), even though he has been banned.

I almost had the sense that he was playing "devil's advocate", and wanted to make sure we were thinking strongly about our positions. For example, on the other thread he was making the argument that the 1611 version was completely accurate, while the modifications can't be trusted. I think that BibleProtector responded quite well, and I value that those defenses are now available to me because of CT's arguments! <grin>

Now, does CT really believe the 1611 is perfect? I don't understand why he played around with this for so long, as it didn't server him (or us) in the long run. At one point he argues that the 1611 is the one true version (since it has Oaths vs. Oath's), but then he says "I think the KJV which exists right now is the complete, inspired and 100% true Holy Bible!" Now, I guess he could be referring to the 1611 version, since it does exist right now, but the impression this statement left me was that he was referring to a refined KJV that we would read today. In any case, it was strange how he kept wanting to keep us in suspense over his views.

Let's talk about Matthew 24:34-36: "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."

The plain context of this passage (in my opinion) is that Jesus is saying to the listeners that they can surely believe the prophecy that He has been making in Matthew Chapter 24. That "Heaven and earth shall pass away", but that His Word will come True - you can count on it!

CT seemed to be making the argument that none of our words "pass away", even those that aren't recorded. First, he correctly states that Jesus said many things that aren't recorded in Scripture, then CT points out that even we will be accountable for what we say, so that our words are recorded as well.

I would argue that for our own words, those that are idle words will "pass away" even if they are recorded. They are like straw, and when tested by the fire, they will burn and be gone. Our words certainly can't be seen in the same light as Jesus' Words that "shall not pass away."

But how about Jesus' Words that are not recorded in Scripture? Will they (have they?) passed away? In the one sense it is clear that whatever these words were, they were true and accurate at the time, but it is also clear that God did not intend for us to know what these words were. Also, in the context of this passage, it would be meaningless for Jesus to be saying that all the words he ever spoke would not pass away. For example, it is likely that as a child he asked for a second helping of dinner. These "words" have passed away in the sense that they are not important to us today (or during the time of Matthew 24) and have not been recorded.

Further, even though I believe in this passage that Jesus was referring specifically to the words he was speaking in this prophecy, I also think that God meant a dual meaning when these words were recorded. That is, I do believe this passage teaches that ALL God's recorded Words will not pass away.

I always thought it was interesting that Jesus lived before the days of video and audio recording devices. Rather, His Words were preserved and passed on to us in the written Word. We might not like the way it was done (why didn't God just start out with the Book already completed and hand it to Adam?), but God's ways are Good, True, and Best.

Doug A.