Intellectual but not Thoughtful, Righteous but not Just:

1
Intellectual but not Thoughtful, Righteous but
not Just

• Trumping Hermeneutical A Prioris for the Sake of
  the Truth

2
(Introduction) A Parable1st C Family of God
Fearers

• Older Son
• Searched the Scriptures even deeper than his
  elders
• Flaunted his freedom
• Stumbled in his vulnerability
• Reacted to feeling Condemned?

• Second Son
• Walked in the ways of the Lord, yet more strictly
  than his elders
• Paraded his righteousness
• Stumbled in his brittleness
• Reacted to feeling Devalued?

3
(Introduction) Battles of Ideas

• Apologetics
• defense of the Faith against outsiders
• ajpologevtikoV / ajpologiva - to speak in ones
  own defense
• formal and reasoned justification
• Polemics
• battle for truth against insiders
• polevmikoV / povlemoV - battle
• strong written or verbal attack

4
(Introduction)Spectrum of NT Viewpoints

• Unorthodox Polarities
• Far Left - antinomian libertinism
• Far Right - Judaistic legalism
• Orthodox Authors
• Paul - salvation through grace and faith alone
• James - faith demonstrated through works
• Gods people may hold very different views, even
  on things that really matter.

5
(Introduction)NT Disagreements Gods Desire

• Painful Disagreements
• Paul withstood Peter to his face
• Paul parted company with Barnabas
• Wise Resolutions
• Priscilla Aquila met with Apollos in private
• James kept the 1st C church from splitting
• Gods desire is for the unity of his followers -
  John 1720-21.

6
(Introduction)Approach

• 1 Exegesis to Theology NT Case Studies
• Positions Taken, Presuppositions Held
• The Bigger Battle, the Higher Road
• 2 Illustration Application
• Other Issues in the Bible
• Contemporary Issues
• 3 Life Application
• A Christ-like Response

7
Case Studies 1 Meat Offered to Idols

• Those who KNOW
• The Intellectuals
• have a strong conscience
• resulting in freedom
• Can be arrogant and self-confident
• Put down the other for lack of understanding
• i.e., indict them of error
• Despise the other

• Those who DONT KNOW
• The Conservatives
• have a weak conscience
• lack of freedom
• Can be judgmental and self-righteous
• Put down the other righteousness
• i.e., indict them sin
• Condemn the other

8
(Case Studies) 2 Circumcision Salvation

• Those who KNOW
• The Intellectuals
• are a weak minority
• offer freedom
• Can be arrogant and self-confident
• Put down the other for theirlack of
  understanding
• i.e., indict them of error
• Despise the other

• Those who DONT KNOW
• The Conservatives
• are strong, hold the majority
• restrict freedom
• Can be judgmental and self-righteous
• Put down the other righteousness
• i.e., indict them of sin
• Condemn the other

9
(Case Studies) Presuppositions

• Intellectuals
• Value discovery and change
• Goals pursue enlightenment, progress, and
  freedom
• Role Seekers, Inquirers, Enlightened Ones
• Style curious, forward looking
• Susceptibilities permissiveness, imprudence,
  liberality, pride
• Intellectual but not thoughtful

• Conservatives
• Value tradition and security
• Goals preserve the past, perpetuate the status
  quo
• Role Guardians, Defenders, Protectors
• Style caution, fear the future
• Susceptible to being narrow-minded, inflexible,
  exclusive, judgmental
• Righteous but not just

10
(Case Studies)Trumping the Presuppositions

• Intellectuals
• Value discovery and change
• Goals pursue enlightenment, progress, and
  freedom
• Role Seekers, Inquirers, Enlightened Ones
• Style curious, forward looking
• Susceptibilities permissiveness, imprudence,
  liberality, pride
• Intellectual but not thoughtful

• Conservatives
• Value tradition and security
• Goals preserve the past, perpetuate the status
  quo
• Role Guardians, Defenders, Protectors
• Style caution, fear the future
• Susceptible to being narrow-minded, inflexible,
  exclusive, judgmental
• Righteous but not just

Trumping a prioris for the sake of the Truth.
11
The Bigger Battle

• Faith
• (working through
• Love)

12
The Higher Road

• Love

13
Case Studies Revisited 1 Meat Offered to Idols

• Those who KNOW
• The Intellectuals
• have a strong conscience
• resulting in freedom
• Can be arrogant and self-confident
• Put down the other for lack of understanding
• i.e., indict them of error
• Despise the other

• Those who DONT KNOW
• The Conservatives
• have a weak conscience
• lack of freedom
• Can be judgmental and self-righteous
• Put down the other righteousness
• i.e., indict them sin
• Condemn the other

X
X
Accept
Respect
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Case Studies Revisited 2 Circumcision
Salvation

• Those who KNOW
• The Intellectuals
• are a weak minority
• offer freedom
• Can be arrogant and self-confident
• Put down the other for theirlack of
  understanding
• i.e., indict them of error
• Despise the other

• Those who DONT KNOW
• The Conservatives
• are strong, hold the majority
• restrict freedom
• Can be judgmental and self-righteous
• Put down the other righteousness
• i.e., indict them of sin
• Condemn the other

X
X
Respect
Accept
15
Illustration Application Other Issues in the
Bible

• Old Testament
• Moses Being Forbidden to Enter the Promised Land
• Davids Being Permitted to Lead After Moral
  Failure
• To Eat or Not to Eat the Kings Meat in Exile?
• Israels Poor Performance at Proselytizing Pagans
• Ezras Command to Put Away Foreign Wives
• New Testament
• Contact with Samaritans (the unclean, the dead)
• Adultery of the Eye
• Equal Pay for All-Day Workers
• Reinstating the Prodigal
• Gods people may hold very different
  views, even on things that really
  matter.

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Illustration ApplicationContemporary Issues

• Slavery, Sabbath, War, and Women
• Ordination for Divorced and Remarried
• Human Rights for Homosexuals
• China should we support the government-sanctioned
  Three-Self churches or the un-registered Home
  Church Movement?
• What does it mean to be Pentecostal?
• What about Holiness?
• Interpretation of Tongues 2nd or 3rd Person
• Are there Apostles today?
• Gods people may hold very
  different views, even on
  things that really matter.

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Life ApplicationChrist-Like Response

• Non-Negotiable Principles
• COGNITIVE-ATTITUDINAL PRINCIPLE
• 1. Christs example is HUMILITY.
• THEOLOGICAL - IDEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLE
• 2. Gods call is to UNITY.
• BEHAVIORAL PRINCIPLE
• 3. Gods way is through LOVE.

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Life ApplicationChrist-Like Response

• An Invitation to
• Stop making room for the devil
• admit, apologize, forgive, refuse.
• Grant greater grace draw a larger circle.
• Watch your words guard your tongue
• mind your mouth.

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