"seeing is believing" or is it the other way around?

You've often heard the phrase, "seeing is believing." You probably even have used it yourself many times. This saying sounds harmless enough, but it is one of the most treacherous deceptions of the human condition. In its rhythmic, "feel good" way, it assumes that what we trust to be true is determined by what we perceive is. This notion suggests we can trust what our physical senses tell us.

The best I can see is that our senses are generally biased to see things AS WE BELIEVE them to be. We likely have embedded beliefs that flow naturally from our self concept to protect and support how we think life works best. This is a vicious loop. We believe things are a certain way and then we interpret life to support what we believe. This is the source of our biases. This is why we cannot see certain things as they really are.

For example, many Christians have a view of God that fits their self-concept. It is not necessarily the view God has for us. Take this plaque from Romans 8:28 that some Christian shared to encourage others.

This looks right and in "seeing this," many Christians feel encouraged. It fits their self-concept of being a Christian. God is going to make their situation better at some point, so just hang in there long enough and one day He will cause circumstances to go their way, even if it doesn't happen until they go to heaven in the end.



However, there are two phrases this person added to this verse that are not actually there in order to make the scripture they see fit the belief they have.The phrase "God CAUSES" and the phrase "the good OF those" are not in the original text. This person sees something because they believe something. They do not believe because they see.

Here are the key phrases of this verse and what they mean in the original language for
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

"we know" - 'i see what you mean', what we see physically flows from and supports what we believe, not vice versa
"all things" - every piece of the whole, all the parts
"work together" - cooperate completely and perfectly
"good" - the intrinsic goodness OF God not the extrinsic benefit TO us (benefit of outcome is a different notion of GOOD than is used in many scripture verses about good)
"love God" - we know God's love for us is unmerited, but we don't always consider that our love for God is also unmerited (agape), which means CAUSE and effect is immaterial to our thinking and 'why?' is unquestionably the wrong question
"called according to His purpose" - set apart by (called) and for (according to) His will

This verse is best translated and understood this way:
"I see what you mean now (we know from what we have just learned), every piece of God's big picture (all things) cooperates perfectly (work together) to provide the very nature of God (good) to all people (TO those) whose affections for God are seen through the lenses of unmerited favor (loving God) and whom He has set apart (called) for His purposes." 

This is an amazing statement about the author and His story, not the characters and situations of the story. Simply put, a story is not about how the author CAUSES actions, events and outcomes, but how he/she weaves all of this to convey his/her story. Everything exists within the power of the mind of the author. That is what this verse explains. It claims everything in God's story fits together perfectly as the characters are invited to participate just as He intends (purposes). The characters and events then experience the reality of His intrinsic quality of goodness.

When what we believe is influenced by our human nature ('walking by the flesh'), WE SEE things, even scripture about walking by the Spirit, through the eyes of circumstances in this world and how that affects us. WE SEE through the eyes of one who believes its the "outcome of things" that matter.

When what we believe is influenced by our spiritual nature ('walking by the Spirit'). WE SEE things, especially scripture about walking by the Spirit, through the eyes of the Sovereign King and how we fit into His will. WE SEE through the eyes of one who believes its the "source of things" that matter.

You SEE, regardless of how we think we operate, "seeing is NOT believing". We first believe what our nature tells us and then "we see because we first believe."

PONDER THAT ......  Things are not always what they seem to be. Maybe that is the best message of Easter? I can celebrate that!!

"Thy will be done on earth ..."

"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" is a favorite verse for churches to cheer their congregations on to do great things for God. This is especially popular today to try and get Christians to be more active in conforming our culture to God's wishes. Representing God well in our lives on this earth is surely admirable way to think, but there are some pitfalls in thinking this way. In fact, what if this is not what this verse really means? Interpreting scripture has its risks since humans are a threat to bias their understanding based on starting assumptions they may not even be aware of.

Let's examine this verse in two ways.
First let's just do a word study and see what Jesus is literally saying.

"on earth" is the Greek word 'gẻ', which means "the arena humans live in which operates in time and space to prepare us for eternity"
"will" is the Greek word 'thelẻma', which means "best offer which can be accepted or rejected."
"let be done" is the Greek word 'ginomai', which means "transitioning from one realm to another."

If we put these together, maybe Jesus is saying, "God, please send Your best offer from heaven to Your representatives on earth"? Why would we seem to think Jesus is praying to us? NOOOOOO WAY! Jesus is petitioning God, not us. Now, what is meant by His "best offer"? Grace, Glory, Goodness? That's a tough choice. Seems hard to go wrong.

I'd go with His glory. Why? It seems that God's glory is His most prized attribute. It is what Jesus wants Him to gladly share with us or we would have no hope. This would suggest that anything we read into this verse that places value on the outcome of what we do is off base. This would deny the intent of Jesus, who is asking God to send His glory across realms for us to share. Its not about what we can accomplish in this realm. It is not asking anything of us. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" is about the source of all we have that is worth anything. Jesus wants His "best deal" to come out of the infinite realm into the finite realm humans occupy. In fact, Jesus Incarnate is just that. Maybe this verse is just Jesus affirming what God has done already in Jesus?

Second, let's look at how our human nature or our flesh wants to see things. Our carnal mind is oriented to "the outcome of things." We have to make sense of everything through cause and effect lenses. Its very natural for us to think God wants or needs us to accomplish things for Him. Its also natural to think that God causes things through His action. A divine nature would be oriented differently. We would be oriented toward "the source of things." We would not try to understand what is happening by answering the question "why?" Instead, we would rest comfortably that all is about His will. He is Sovereign. He wills and that's it.

Jesus is simply praying that this Sovereign will transcend heaven and occupy earth. What an amazing request!

I wonder if that is what the congregations are hearing when churches emphasize that Jesus is praying to us for us to do great things for God?

You should at least ponder this I would think ..... 

DEFEAT the doubt

Recently I heard a politician say, "it's perfectly clear in my mind, I have no doubt." This caught my attention because as a psychologist I was trained to think that the human mind can not remove doubt because of biases and other limitations. Then I read an article that explained how "tribal loyalty" has taken over our culture, especially in politics.  In other words, the truth does not matter. It's all about loyalty. Absolute allegiance ushers out all doubt.

Or does it?

Actually, this phenomenon is neither new nor reserved only for politicians. It's a condition Christians deal with as well and have for 2 thousand years. Doubt creeps in when my circumstances don't go so well. I can't seem to find the fairness in forgiving someone who has hurt me really badly. The suffering in the world doesn't fit my idea of a loving, Sovereign God.

The intellectuals take a little different path than "blind loyalty" of tribal allegiance. They prefer to use the endless and futile ways of science and philosophy to reason away doubt. Anti-intellectuals, as they are often called, are the ones who use full allegiance without proof, that's why some call it 'blind faith', to reduce effects of doubt. The fact is, both approaches repress, not resolve, doubt.

The question remains, how do I DEFEAT doubt, not just "stick on the back burner" only to jump up and bite us at inappropriate and unsuspecting times? The answer lies somewhere in between.

Faith is not unreasonable, just unseen.

The team at b4worldview has identified SIX STEPS that can guide you to resolve uncertainty and confusion about what you believe. We call this “DEFEAT the doubt.” We agree that transformation in your life requires the work of the Holy Spirit, but Scripture suggests many times that we participate. To “repent” is to change our minds completely. The question is “from what to what” and “how”?
“DEFEAT the doubt” is a transformative process in the tradition of Romans 12.

Taken together these six steps can protect you in the storms of life by reducing your uncertainty about what God wills for you to believe deep down in your soul. This is the solid rock of faith (Matt 7) when the storms come. DEFEAT can create a firm foundation for further studies on Christian worldviews.

Discover the beliefs you actually hold dear to answer the ageless questions “how do I know?”, “who/what do I trust?”, and “am I OK?”

Explore uncertainty in your beliefs by contrasting the benefits and appeal of grace to the futility you inherited from the fall.

Find a “common sense” reason to believe there is a more excellent way.

Establish in your heart that God is the only source and authority that is trustworthy for all things good.

Alter worldviews to become a clear and defendable perspective, anchored in the mind of Christ and understandable to the culture.

Take ownership of biblical beliefs in common language that helps you control narratives at school and at work, strengthening your testimony when you might otherwise be confused about your faith.

Uncertainty and confusion in your life is doubt. This is Jesus' warning to all Christians. In a biography of Martin Luther, Eric Metaxas finds Luther’s quest for a deeper understanding (heart knowledge) of Scripture afforded him this - “at last a way out of the miserable doubt that had plagued him.” For example, Luther experienced a sense of freedom when an understanding of faith moved from his head to his heart.  He discovered that contrary to a prevailing influence of his human nature, faith is not unreasonable, just unseen - an interesting place right between intellectualism and anti-intellectualism.

b4worldview, a Christian education organization,has developed an online course that takes you slowly and surely though these steps. The b4worldview course helps put you in that same place as Luther.

Also, the b4worldview team will shortly begin emailing tips weekly that help you DEFEAT the doubt. If you wish to receive these tips, email us at info@b4worldview.com with the words "DEFEAT tips" in the subject line and we will be delighted to include you in each week's distribution of tips.

Not a dime

Sometimes we look to back at heroes who came before us as a way of understanding ourselves. We may reflect on a historical character who changed the world, a political figure like a founding father, famous athlete or often a family member like a parent or grandparent. As I have spent time studying Martin Luther during this half millennial celebration of The Reformation, I have found myself identifying with much of what I read about him.

You might think that is a bit prideful since Luther is recognized as a man who changed the world. Its not his magnificent impact with which I feel a kinship, but its his thought, skepticism and disruption he used as his weapon instead of wealth, political power, or physical feats. It wasn't in his circumstances that he was motivated to act. It was his insight. Luther looked at his world in light of what God was revealing to him and he thought, "this is not right." It was not easy to buck the system and often he was lonely. It was easier if he didn't question those in charge, if he wouldn't make waves. But he was compelled. My south Ala definition for compelled is "can't not do it." At this point in my life, I can identify with how he feels. Its easier to just let the institutional norms of the day remain as is. But, I just can't let go of this this nagging unction in me.

Luther received not a dime for his efforts. Others have benefited financially from his writings and memorabilia of his life. I'm sure Luther would liked to have been paid for his work. After all, he preferred to be treated fairly, as we all do. I can see how Luther would have wanted more rewards for his efforts, but reciprocity was never a motivation for taking ideas where others wouldn't. Luther was intrinsically motivated where the rewards are internally supplied.


At the heart of Luther's passion was the question of authority. He lived at a time where the Pope was recognized as the final say in church matters and monarchs were the unquestioned head of government. Luther sought truth in scripture and found the prevailing norms of authority in his day were in conflict with God's way. His dissent was to restore man's reliance on faith and grace as the source of an abundant and virtuous life.

In studying the history of thought through philosophy and psychology, I find that while Luther unknowlingly ushered in a protestant reformation, man has continued to attribute authority everywhere he/she can except in the sovereignty of God. While Luther ended ungodly practices of indulgences and Papal infallibility, nothing really changed in secular and religious thinking about how truth is determined and what governs man's conduct. What existed for thousands of years prior to Luther and the hundreds since are just variations of how man can view utility (usefulness) or logic (reason) as the ultimate authority for truth.

Without over simplifying the many great minds that have dedicated themselves to the questions of knowing, here is a brief summary of the collective knowledge of man's authority for truth about the abundant and virtuous life:
1. empiricism - the human mind can determine knowledge of truth obtained from sensory perceptions either through experience or experiment.
2. sentimentalism - humans have within themselves emotional responses to experiences that guide them to know what is right and wrong
2. reason - humans use innate "common sense" about universal principles established by some detached creative super natural power that governs the natural order of the universe
4. deism - man recognizes that the super natural source is God, who is the creative power that provides laws man can search to know and obey what is true (using 1, 2, or 3 above)

There's not a dime's worth of difference between these four when it comes to knowing truth. Regardless of the approach, man sets himself up as the authoritative source for knowing and acting correctly.

Luther saw a different source than human's for truth, the authority of scripture. There was an important caveat, however. Luther concluded we must hear (receive) the Word of God, not just read the words of God. Heeding Luther, shouldn't we look to scripture to inform us about how God intends for us mere mortals to "hear God"? We can start with what Jesus' told Peter as Peter claims that Jesus is the Son of God. "Flesh and blood did not reveal this but my Father in Heaven." Flesh and blood is man's way. It seems that revelation may be God's way. That doesn't appear in the list above. Romans 8 tells us several times that the Holy Spirit bears witness to us. That doesn't appear in the list above. Jesus tells Thomas that he believes because he sees (in the list above), but blessed are those who believe and yet do NOT see (not in the list above). How did Philip KNOW what to do when he met the Ethiopian eunuch (not listed above)?

Why then do we not train our young people to use reason and see their emotions through revelation they receive rather than become experts in one or more ways listed above? How do we teach our young people to be secure in what they understand based on what they know from the grace bestowed on them more than how to find truth on their own? How do we train our young people to trust a Sovereign God rather than seek cause and effect explanations for their experiences in the world from techniques listed above? How do we encourage young people to be the Luther of their day and act intrinsically on insight GIVEN to them by God rather than concern with rewards and what others think?

Can we transform our young people to believe that none of the ways in the list above are worth a dime regarding God's way to the life He has called them to? This is our challenge. This is where I feel like Luther, calling the church to revisit it practices in light of what Scripture really says about determining truth.

And like Luther there's not a dime in "beating this drum", but the intrinsic return on an investment in this mission is "out of this world." This is my passion. This is what I ponder in my times of reflection. This is how I understand myself.

I'm excited

No, this is not a picture of me being excited, although many who know me think it could be. I am not noted for being excited about much. People ask, "are you excited about your trip?" or "are you excited to see your grand kids?"  My response is usually, "well, I enjoy traveling and seeing my grand kids but I wouldn't say I'm excited." So, why would I blog about being excited?

You know me, there are no simple answers to simple questions.

First, let me say this is actually a picture of Thomas Reid. He was a very famous philosopher of the 18th century. Some say he coined the phrase "common sense." One definition of common sense is "self-evident truths." Recognize that phrase? Jefferson went straight form Reid to the Declaration of Independence with it. You would think being that famous would make Reid more excited?

Reid didn't think about "self-evident truths" on his own however. He borrowed the idea from Aristotle several thousand years before him. Aristotle had another idea that made its way to Jefferson, "the pursuit of happiness." So, I'm thinking, this Aristotle guy must be worth studying. So I did. Its in these studies my excitement began.

There is way too much from this era of Greek philosophy (600-400 BC) to include here. However, being the word nerd I am, there are a handful of words from this period of Aristotle that merits attention. The words are
       eudaemonia - happiness
       nomos - natural law
       teleos - the goal of a perfect life
       dunamis - power, usually associated with the faculty of the will
       exousia - the power of authority

Basically, Aristotle claimed that the perfect life (teleos) was found in the pursuit of happiness (eudaemonia), which was a life whose faculties of the will (dunamis) directed the person toward virtue as defined by natural law (nomos) which was the authority (exousia) for virtue. Aristotle had two caveats: you can never be sure and you can never fully arrive at perfection. 

There are two reasons this little synopsis of Aristotle excites me. First, most, if not all, philosophy since 400 BC is some extension or variation of Aristotle. He especially influenced directly or indirectly the Declaration of Independence, arguably the most influential document of our time. Second, and more importantly, there was a 400 year silence when God is not recorded as speaking that matches the 400 year period from Aristotle to Jesus. This may be a coincidence but I argue differently. Why? and this is what is really exciting.

These five key words from Aristotle are explicitly addressed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. These passages from Matthew have been written about and preached on maybe more than any other. Its likely the most famous and well liked of all of Scripture. However, until I studied them within the context of Aristotle as the dominant thought leader for the past 2500 years, I didn't fully get what Jesus was saying or why He said what He did.

For sake of time (hopefully not 'short sheeting' your excitement), let me summarize.
 1. Jesus contrasts 'eudaemonia' (happiness) with 'makarios' (blessed or fortunate) in the Beatitudes as  He explains the joy guaranteed, not pursued, for the Kingdom dweller
2.  Jesus claims He fully, 100% fulfills nomos (natural law), no more guessing
3.  Jesus shares with us that our teleos (perfection) is exactly like our heavenly Father's because he gives us Himself
4.  In the Lord's prayer Jesus says our power (dunamis) comes from Him
5.  In the final verse of Matthew 7, we read that everyone was really excited because Jesus taught as the one with authority (exousia).

When I read how excited the disciples were to hear Jesus' kind of "in your face Aristotle" and understand the context of why He focuses on these five important concepts: happiness, law, perfection, power and authority, I GET EXCITED.

So, there, I said it, now its your turn to ponder it. You can take it or leave it, but if you leave it, you are likely to remain guessing along with Aristotle and all of his minions. I invite you to share in my excitement. It's the best way I know to love you.

Note: The journey to discovery of the core assumptions of Jesus is found in the course I wrote and our team produced and markets called b4worldview @ http://www.b4worldview.com/