image from commonwiki.org
Much of my teaching career, at both the university and high school levels, focused on critical thinking, to delve below the surface to underlying truths, that we explore the world and its values, and to evaluate it all in light of a God-centered worldview. That requires teaching them to identify and evaluate arguments, particularly to look for logical fallacies, where the use of evidence or reasoning or personal attacks yield weakness arguments. By the way, academically “arguments” doesn’t refer to being argumentative, but the case you make for your point.
A common fallacy is bifurcation, also known as false dichotomy or being caught on the horns of a dilemma. Basically, this fallacy gives only two options, forcing the reader to choose one. Obviously, this constitutes a fallacy when more than two alternatives exist. For instance, is vanilla or chocolate ice cream the best. What happened to raspberry fudge? Or, how do we start our day with God? We have an abundance of options; let’s just find what works best for us. \
But this can also be a good argument—some issues yield only two choices. I’ve found this concept abounds in growing closer to Jesus. Sometimes, options are limited to two. Only with pain did I learn that.
Caught
the first time
in a morass of sin
grief and conviction
brought overpowering shame
nearly destroying all I held dear
But this forced me
to acknowledge the sin abiding in me
to change
to move a bit beyond
never to return
(I dreamed)
Slowly
I released the guard
that allowed my purity to grow
and as a small hole
breaches a dam
temptation poured back in a torrent
Shall I be
caught twice?
And complete the destruction
so narrowly averted before?
Or shall I
again
seek purity and the restoring
grace to grow?
Let me learn
without a doubt
my only choices are these
Let’s look at the last stanza. Sin and God are antithetical, opposites, choosing to follow God means we choose to move away from sin. We won’t do this perfectly, we’re still human. But what is our heart? What is our direction?
Jesus made that pretty clear—“He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30), and “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).
So, the essence of knowing Jesus comes when we intentionally set our lives in his direction, when he becomes our #1 option in life. Anything less minimizes the importance of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Kick Starting the App
Where does Jesus rank on your list of priorities? Why? Are you content with that? Is God content with that? What most keeps you from making him #1? Do you see that Jesus clearly defined our spiritual options? Why do you think he was so blunt?