| The
Reformed Analysis January/February 2001 “For the Commandment is a lamp; and the Law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” Proverbs 6:23 An Analysis Newsletter for the Serious Christian Educator |
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RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT
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There is a vast distinction between opinion and judgment. Opinion can vary depending on circumstance. Judgment, on the other hand is steadfast. For the most part, opinion does not reflect judgment. In fact, opinion is no more than a passing persuasion that is subject to change provided a better argument comes along.
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THE WAVERING OF MERE OPINION |
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| When Elijah indicted the
people of Israel as to their wavering between two opinions in 1 Kings
18:21, he used the word ca’iph. Ca’iph is translated
twice in the Scriptures as thoughts and once as opinion.
The implication of the word strongly suggests that the people were
fragmented in their thinking which consequently gave rise to wrong
conclusions. Once they were settled upon wrong conclusions, because of
popular opinion, they followed falsity and were indicted for idolatry.
Opinion is never conclusive, therefore it can never be convicting. It is merely a persuasion caused by either partial information, faulty information, traditional information, “group think” influences or a host of other variables. Everyone has an opinion about something. Some folks have an opinion about everything. Yet, there are very few that have come to a “personal judgment” or conviction. |
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THE MEANING AND APPLICATION OF JUDGMENT |
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| The word judgment holds
forth the idea of a trial or contest in determining the truth. Judgment
is also used in the sense of condemnation, or accusation.
This use is insightful if we apply it in making an important conclusion upon any given matter. In every proper decision making process, one must first gather all the data, then filter it through a barrage of tests, separating truth from error. Only in this way can a properly formed “judgment” be made. Thus, the ultimate judgment will be before the bar of God’s justice, when all error and wickedness will be “judged“ in the light of God‘s perfect Legal Standard, His Word. Whenever we approach an issue that needs proper judgment, we must bring it into the light of truth to see whether it will stand or fall. All decision making requires the passing of a sentence, either for or against an issue. It is the assessment of a thing as to whether it is profitable or destructive. |
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THE DEFINITION ITSELF |
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| Noah Webster defines this
idea of judgment in the following fashion:
“The act or process of the mind in comparing its ideas, to find their agreement or disagreement, and to ascertain truth; the process of examining facts and arguments, to ascertain propriety and justice; the process of examining the relations between one proposition and another.” Webster’s Dictionary 1828 What Webster also expressed in his definition of the term judgment was the idea that Godly judgment was necessary to make proper decisions: “In Scripture, the Spirit of wisdom and prudence, enabling a person to discern between right and wrong, good and evil.” “The righteous statutes and commandments of God are called His Judgments.” Out of the 18 distinct explanations of the word judgment, 11 are Biblically related and defined. It must be therefore properly concluded that proper judgment can only be arrived at through a definite process, using truthful and absolute criteria. If right and wrong are to be contrasted, then there must be an absolute notion of what is right and wrong. This standard of good and evil is established only by the Holy Scriptures. |
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GOD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE |
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| Since God is the Righteous
Judge, He can only Judge Righteously. Moreover, He judges everything
that is, and that is done.
When God created the universe, the earth and all the inhabitants of the earth, He did so by an act of perfect power. God’s creation was good by virtue of the One Who created it. Yet, after every act of God’s creative power, He passed judgment.
Also, in Genesis 1, verses 10, 12, 18, 21,25,31, and in Genesis 3:6, God passes a righteous assessment of that which had been done. The act of creation, and the creation itself, initially was “good” according to the Standards of God’s own perfection. Thus He is able to declare, “It was good.” Christ, in both the gospels of Matthew and Mark calls God good. IN fact He declares that it is ONLY God Who is good. The implication of such a statement is far reaching. Not only is God good in His nature and essence, but as a result of His righteous nature He can only DO that which is good and right.
One must conclude that, since God judged His own actions, He will also judge the actions of His creatures who are created after His image and likeness. |
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THE SCRIPTURES ARE GOD’S JUDGMENTS |
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If we follow this logic, we
then must conclude that everything proceeding out of God’s mouth is
the Word of Judgment. God’s Word reflects His will. His Will is His
command and His legislation to all inhabitants of His creation.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER JUDGMENT |
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| In a world of complexities, and the urgency of “on the spot” decisions, there can be little doubt as to the importance of making a proper judgment. This importance, however, is magnified significantly when we factor into the equation the painful truth that “the heart of man is desperately wicked1” and “the whole world lieth in wickedness2.” Thus, there is the great need to execute righteous judgment in all matters, and in every area of life. Sadly, the modern American Christian has failed to embrace this responsibility. | |
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LIBERTY AND JUDGMENT |
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| The American culture views liberty negatively, as being free from something. American liberty is seen as giving the citizens the freedom to pursue their private happiness without the tyranny of statist control and oppression. Yet, this is only a partial application of the true meaning of liberty. Liberty, in the positive sense, is the freedom to do something. True freedom also includes the freedom to take part in the shaping and refining of the culture. One of the most profound themes of the Holy Scriptures is the theme concerning liberty. Christ has come to “set the captives free.” To define this liberty as purely spiritual, that is to say heavenly, without a practical application, is to fall to the heresy of what is known as “monasticism”. The idea of liberty cannot be narrowly interpreted as pertaining only to the soul’s salvation and the pilgrimage of the Christian set free from the tyranny of sin. Such an application of Truth, is at best narrow and at worst, grievous error. | |
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FREEDOM FROM: FREEDOM TO |
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| All Christians would agree that the regeneration brings spiritual liberation. Yet, for many of the same Christians, liberation has no basis in time and history. Ironically, while they bask in the historical liberty of the 16th Century Reformation and the 18th Century American Republic, they fail to grasp the Providential Working of God to bring liberty to a people in time and history. This mindset has infected the Christian community to such a degree that they have established for themselves a doctrine of negative liberty, and a posture of non-influential involvement. | |
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EDUCATION AND JUDGMENT |
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| In light of the Biblical and
Covenantal education of the Christian child, both parents and church
leaders have invalidated the express commandment and commission of God
concerning him. On the one hand, they profess to be set at liberty from
the tyranny of sin and the oppression of evil. On the other hand, they
willingly bring their posterity into the bondage of Pharaoh,
which is represented by the state.
What is both necessary and urgent is the strengthening of the Christian Community in the process of proper judgment concerning education. The evils of the secular public system of teaching must be exhaustively paraded before the faces of each and every Christian parent and Ecclesiastic official. Only proper Biblical judgment can bring about a change in practice. |
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A HORRIBLE THING |
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| It is no great mystery that the public secularized education system is anti Christian. And yet, astonishingly, countless so-called Christian parents shuffle the inheritance of God, to be re-educated in the way of wickedness. Although these statements may be harsh, they are factual and very disturbing. | |
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ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF CHRISTIAN JUDGMENT |
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| The following assessments must be our conclusion in light of so many Christian children attending the public schools. Either the parent (s) are ignorant, or just down right unwilling to accept the depth of destruction which secularized education brings upon their children. It may be that the parents simply do not care, or believe that since they turned out “O.K.” that their children will also. I would hasten to ask the probing question, “By the very fact that these parents are sending their children to a godless intoxication program, what makes them think they turned out ‘O.K.’?”. Other parents have financial difficulties, or feel as if they are unable to “teach properly”. Still others need that “time away from the stress of the children”, so they send them to the temples of secular humanism to be trained in the ways of Molech and Egypt. In my humble estimation, these parents have given thier holy covenant children to the dogs of the earth. | |
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NEUTRALITY A MYTH |
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| Knowledge
hinges upon education. If we are to be equipped in proper knowledge, we
must be schooled by a proper education system. It is not so much an
argument about facts. All facts are interpreted facts. All reasoning is
based upon certain presuppositions. Facts are either interpreted from a
Godly perspective, or they are interpreted from a humanistic
perspective. Conclusions are either based upon the presupposition that
the Bible is true, or that it is false. All too often Christian parents
think education is neutral and benign. This is a grievous error, and a
trap. Nothing is neutral. Neutrality in any area of life is an absolute
myth.
In fact, secular education is extremely religious in nature, and expounds ideas that are antagonistic to Biblical Truth. It is from this humanistic bias that knowledge is dispensed to the child, thereby making that knowledge tainted, and inaccurate. Once a system of thought assaults the Standard of Truth, the Holy Scriptures, it has by definition attempted to assault the God of Truth. |
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INITIAL DIRECTIVES |
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| If there is
to be any advancement in the promotion of proper Biblical Judgment
concerning education, we must begin with a Scriptural education process.
There needs to be a more extensive consideration of the situation. Greater thoughtfulness must be encouraged. Too often Christian parents sacrifice their children to the secular humanist out of ease and convenience. There also needs to be a greater consideration of alternatives to specific problems each Christian household faces. This is where the clergy comes into play. Their commission is a pastoral one unto all those who desire to educate their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, according to His Holy precepts. |
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A GENUINE CONCERN |
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| There is an
overwhelming amount of “empty talk” among professing
Christians, which invariably leads to very little action. This is due
primarily to the lack of genuine concern for the issues at hand. It is
easy to talk about an issue and to debate it. Often, important issues
are discussed ceaselessly in order not to advance into action.
Many suppose that discussion is action. Discussion is not action.
Sometimes discussion is the prelude to action, when at other times it
takes the place of action. While research and the crucial
gathering of data is essential and very important, it alone cannot bring
conviction. Action is the true manifestation of conviction.
In conjunction with an intensified and genuine concern and engagement with the issues, there needs to be a further weighing of alternatives and strategies in order to bring about Godly solutions. This entails the careful and honest scrutinizing of the “status quo”. Historically, it has always been those who were willing to challenge the normative state of affairs who became the greatest influences. The Christian has been given a goal, a commission, and blueprint for Godly order. Unfortunately, it is the Modern Christian that has been given so much, yet has done so little. |
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THE MEANS TO PROPER JUDGMENT |
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| There can be
little question that the Holy Scriptures, as they concern the Godly,
Covenantal education of Christian children, hold the answer. It is not
so much that the answers and solutions are unattainable, but rather they
go against the secular status quo which so many nominal Christians have
embraced. This carnal mindset is anything but orthodox Christianity and
those who have fallen snare to the trap of secularized education, no
matter what the reason, will certainly reap bitter wormwood.
Christian parents who refuse to hear the Biblical argument concerning a Godly, Covenant based education, are following “mass opinion” rather than proper Biblical judgment. What is desperately needed is a series of arguments that will so illustrate the problem of the secular system, coupled with a myriad of practical alternatives, that no honest Christian parent could debate. Such an argument must engage both the conscience and the heart so as to bring about an uncomfortable Conviction. The statist schools are actually destroying the Christian heritage. Only through this realization, and a proper Biblical response can there be a significant shift in the status quo. |
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RESPONSIBILITY THE REAL ISSUE |
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| At issue is parental
responsibility. Such a responsibility extends to God, His Word, the
Gospel, and the children. We may further seek to establish the fact that
the Christian responsibility extends into the market place and the
community. Yet, hundreds and hundreds of Christian children are enrolled
into “Dagon’s temple” each year to be made impotent by the
secularist agenda. This carnage must end.
By taking a pro–active, God-focused, and Christ-centered stand for the Godly education of our Covenant Children, we will manifest a Biblical firmness and consistency to the mandate of Holy Scripture. It is that perfect and Holy Law that is both our Standard and our Tool for a Godly dominion and heritage. AMEN. RA |
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The Reformed Analysis
is written by e mail: The Reformed Analysis
is a Ministry of the Reformed Bible Institute For Christian
Education.
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