Thursday, January 27, 2011

RENEWAL: Change of Paradigm

   See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
-- Colossians 2:8

   Our common reaction when someone tell us to "change" are expected to be associated with painful process. That is normal for human being, since our early experiences of change as a child usually came from parental figure who employ reprimand with penalty attached. There's nothing wrong in them, and the Bible support and teach such method. “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly” (Proverbs 13:24)
   What I would like to emphasize here is the importance of "change" in connection with discipline. Change will require from us a painful process and a total reversal from the old habit into new perspective, or a brand new outlook in life.  Before we reach the first level of Realizationism, most of our "core" beliefs will have to be re-evaluated. Before we can truly "see" the path of this evolving artform we must make a thorough assessment of where we stand, who we are, and what are the basic beliefs we hold.
   David R. Reid wrote "Whoever heard of being kidnapped through philosophy? We've heard of people being brainwashed or programmed to swallow the doctrines of revolutionary movements, but never through the free study of philosophy! Why, philosophy is the love and pursuit of wisdom and knowledge. How could the pursuit of wisdom ever result in a kidnapping? But the Bible says that it is possible to be kidnapped through philosophy." (Kidnapped Through Philosophy)
   Most of us have been formed, nourished, and reformed with various principle and often the process had been very slow accompanied with struggle and aches. Now here I am , introducing you to another "change" so it is expected to be questioned and may even received hostile remarks.
   Colossians  2:8 points what we should take into consideration...."Hollow and deceptive" philosophy. Therefore, careful discernment is necessary whether Realizationism Art is not misleading. David Reid explain what the verse warns: "What the Bible is saying here, however, is that all philosophy which is not Christ-centered is "hollow and deceptive." Therefore a Christian student should continually be on guard when he or she does study philosophy, because it is usually written or taught from a non-Christian perspective--and here is precisely where the danger lies." (ibid)
   On earlier post, Did The Bible Tell You So? I pointed out very clearly that I adhere to Bible principle and not reforming another ideology to follow but is actually just an amplified version of specific Bible teaching and applying them in my art. Are we on the right track when I mention that we begin using Proverbs 16:3 as the starting point. There are other passages in the Bible that you can hold on to, which the Lord may reveal to you. Pray for it and ask for it.
   Realizationism as a terminology rooted from the word "Realized" or Real; it is 'to realized' and an awakening, a serendipity--or unexpected discovery while searching for something else. Once something is realized, we take action either tackle the process for possible change or let it slip away like nothing happen.

Conscious  Critical Thinker
   Have you heard about the line "intellectual suicide" or "corruption of beliefs"? Most of us are unaware that we had been a poor victim of these unknowingly. In fact, the first human being had made all humankind captives because of these mistakes. Let us recall what happen in the Garden of Eden:  Notice Eve response when the serpent approach her in Genesis Chapter 3....
 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
   Now let us process her answer the "Critical Thinkers" way....Did God really gave those instruction? Let us examine the original commandment (on this scene, I presume Eve was not yet created) he gave to Adam.
16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
   Eve was clearly not AWARE of the original commandment, she ADDED something God did not say. "and you must not touch it" gave the serpent an opportunity to debunk the ordinance. We can imagine Satan taking the cue and perhaps say something like this "Look at me, I will touch it....what happen I did not die, God is hiding something away from you....He does not want you to have wisdom." From there of course, the rest is history."You will become like God."
   Critical thinking is endorse by man of God, Acts 17:11 mentioned about the people called Bereans, who was not easily swayed by any teaching but confirming what they have heard from Paul and Silas  base on the written record of God's word. Many intelligent people still become prey in the same framework applied by Satan. Even Faithful Christians get deluded and acquire in them the "wisdom" presented by non-biblical philosophy. Most of our school text book, education systems, or traditional views are sad to say base on "Hollow and Deceptive" principles.
   Charles Darwins' idea of evolution is Not being taught the way it should be presented. It is more often presented as Factual and not a Theory. A theory is an explanation that is subject to change when new information comes in. To my point of view, Darwin's model of evolution is still a hypothesis to be considered, since it is still an unproven theory. (We will be discussing more about this deceptive theory in future blog) What I am trying to say here, is that people have already adopted a thinking that is Not yet proven, and in truth, a deception.
   A Critical Thinker, does not necessarily have to be a skeptic in any idea being presented.  It is having an Open Mind on any given situations.     An intensive examination before making a conclusion.
   
  

1 comment:

  1. Give me the time to reflect on this matter. It will require much time, dissecting your proposition. For now, let me quote "St. Augustine" usually get his explanation of The Bible from Pagan sources like Aristotle, Plato, Hermes and even Egyptian theology. That approach prove to be wrong, he consider some part of the Bible as allegorical instead of literal and making literal interpretation to something that is symbolical. One false move from him resulted into confusion with the truth about the nature of Earth, 6 days creation theory, etc...all of which are proven wrong. Instead of letting the Bible explain itself. He uses non-biblical sources.

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