Christlike 2.0

That great Teacher, who claimed divinity, has set a standard for all to follow. As many consider Jesus of Nazareth, they say that he was just a good teacher with many good thoughts, nothing more. However, his radical statements and his claims postulated can only give him only one of the following three titles. Either he was a liar, a lunatic or Lord. He was either a master at deception, he was crazy because of his statements or else he was who he said he was.

This should give us pause, if he really is who he said he is, God, we must make him our Lord and Master. In other words, his is not just the great teacher, but God, deity incarnate. We need to obey his teachings and follow him.

In a previous post (here) I gave thirteen attributes of Christ that we need to follow. Here are nine more that come to mind when one reads Jesus.

1. Clarity - He had clarity, telling use how the world really is.
2. Gave a defense with evidence - Being God incarnate, even he did not just expect people to believe with out evidence. He gave it through miracles, Scripture and testimony.
3. Interacted with sinners - Not only did he preach the gospel of the kingdom, but he personally interacted with sinners one-on-one. This is a messy job, he preformed masterfully.
4. Disciple maker - He was not self-centered focusing on himself only. Nor did he attempt to interact with others for only their salvation, but rather made them disciples. 
5. His fathers business - His focus was not on an occupation, vacations, clothing, houses or you fill in the blank, but rather his father's business.
6. Children - While some look down on children as being almost of lesser value than adults and in the way, Christ did not agree. He placed high importance on carrying for children. He even used them in his examples and took time to care for and listen to them.
7. Wise - His questions and statements were well placed, making people think and helping refocus their concerns. He was always gracious. He was compassionate to the humble but critic to the proud and self-righteous. In other words he showed mercy to the humble but presented the law to the proud.
8. Knowledgeable - Christ was full of knowledge. In fact, even at age twelve he amazed the teachers at the temple with his understanding, questions and answers. This attribute did not relinquish with age.
9. Bold and confident - Being about his fathers business, he was bold and confident with his message with wisdom and knowledge. Of course he was sagacious, evading those who wanted to persecute or even kill him - that is until his final act. However, through it all, he was confident of the truth and was bold in his presentation.

That thing that smells

A humans Nose (2)

OK, you know that thing that at times looks ugly, sticking out from your face? Yes, that thing that is messy when you have a little cold and has those few annoying hairs that stick out? Good, we are talking about the same thing here, just to be sure.

So let's ponder here, how many different smells do you think one's nose can discriminate? What would be your guess? Maybe three hundred, maybe a thousand? 

Try something over one trillion (1)! Yes, that is this number here: 1,000,000,000,000 or 10¹². Again, that is one trillion different smells! Can't comprehend the large number, don't worry, you are not alone, most politicians can't either.

So, here's the moment of truth, the core question...how does this type of technology randomly evolve through natural processes? Design is apparent, it is self evident.

(1) Humans Can Discriminate More than 1 Trillion Olfactory Stimuli. http://www.sciencemag.org/content/343/6177/1370
(2) Image source: Wikipedia

OK, I Admit, I'm Biased

One issue that gets me chuckling is the "bias argument". It goes something like this, some scream "bias" on a source you present, which gives them liberty to ignore what you are saying. Now there may be a case made for questioning bias at times, but refraining from commenting on the argument seems to be the main goal.

However, there's more, it gets interesting here. Within a comment that gives bias as the reason to not assess the argument, that person is themselves being biased. How? Think about it, they are "biased" against people who are "biased." In other words, taking their own standard, how can you take them seriously if they are biased? A self refuting statement is raising its ugly head again (see here and here for more).

Those biased biblical writers

For example, let's take the Bible. Some atheists and others have said that we should not trust the biblical writers since they believed in God, they had a bias toward God. Let me show how foolish this sounds. It's like saying that we should not trust a scientists because she has studied science and is a scientist. In other words, she is biased towards science. Sounds silly doesn't?

In addition, this is called a genetic fallacy - an iconic logical fallacy. We ought not judge an idea from its source, rather judge it by its merits. Going back to our negative biblical critic, he falls into the same fallacious argument trap, using his logic, we should not address his views because he comes from a biased atheistic perspective. This argument again sounds silly.

Creator 

Here is another perfect example of one using this fallacy. When talking science, some who hold that life on earth arose only through random process will not address or discuss arguments that come from creationist sources. Why? Because these sources are biased, with a attitude of "case closed, you are stupid for even bringing it up."

Apply the claim to itself

Again, we need to apply the claim to itself. OK...someone, let's call him Joe, is biased against the intelligent design perspective...since he is biased, shouldn't I totally disregard his thoughts whenever he speaks against intelligent design?

I think you see my point, first overtly I have made the argument that not hearing another because they are biased is many times self refuting. Second, more subversively, we all have biases and just because someone has a biases does not necessarily mean they are correct or not - we ought judge ideas by their merits, not source.

I have a biased against ingesting poison...OK...stop listening to me...I'm being biased.

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Please, Don't Act Like a Christian

Here is a challenge, don't act like a Christian. Rather be a Christian. OK, I know this word act is a trick word. But really, if we are true Christians, we would not have to try to act the part, it will be us.

Think about it, if one is acting, it is implying they really are not that way. If I am trying to act like a Christian, isn't it saying that I'm really not one? I am just feigning it.

If we are Spirit led, we'll not fulfill fleshly lusts. If we are Spirit led we will be keeping inline with the Spirit. That means our life will be full of the fruit of the Spirit, not an act.