Intellectualizing God - Should We Do It?

 

There are times when it seems as though we are fighting a losing  battle with intellectualism, but we have the victory already. The victory is evident in our faith. We see changes according to our faith and miracles that the world can never explain intellectually.

Neural Connections In the Human Brain

God is not our brains. Our brains were given by God and are subject to decay, illness, and deterioration. God is spirit and exists in multi dimensions and levels without flaws or an end. God is omnipotent, everlasting, and exists beyond any human interpretation or understanding. God is not an energy force, an angel, or a human--He is that He is--the Father of all existence.

However, the world is arrogantly bent on diminishing the evidence of God's existence and minimizing life to what we can see, feel, hear, smell and taste while using the fragile, sinful, passing bodies and brains we inherited.

All the better to kill you, my dear. If the world can convince you that there is nothing beyond the natural, you lose hope, live destructively for today, lose faith, do whatever feels good to you without considering the consequences, and pass on a paganistic approach to tomorrow. Human reasoning is flawed at best and all the good a human does without God is like filthy rags.

Not all scientists relegate existence to chance, evolution, and human brain reasoning, however. These are the scientists whose evidences should become part of our understanding and knowledge. Some links below.

A view of the cloister garden and statue of Jesus from one of the walkways at Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers, Georgia

5 Biblical tips to understanding beyond:

1. Get to know your Bible. Don't take someone's word above God's word, but allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.

John 4:24 God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality). John 4:23 A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers.

John 6:63 It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life.

2. Check everything out with the word of God which has existed and prophesied accurately for thousands of years.

John 1:1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word ( Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.

1 John 1:1 [We are writing] about the Word of Life [ in] Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our [own] eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for ourselves] and have touched with our [own] hands.

3. Choose the input you receive wisely. A world on the edge of ruin will create a fantasy regarding the reality of God's existence and life after our fragile bodies. However, God is clear in his word about the evidence of his existence and the life beyond our skin.

2 Peter 3:5 For they willfully overlook and forget this [fact], that the heavens [came into] existence long ago by the word of God, and the earth also which was formed out of water and by means of water,

4. Do not disregard the evidence of Jesus and witness of his resurrection, his glorified body, and ascension when you hear a partial and flawed report on heaven, hell, or the existence of God or spirit.

John 14:23 Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.

1 John 5:7 So there are three witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One;

1 Corinthians 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

5. Submit to, expect, and experience God's guidance. Without submitting humbly to God you will never know the truth. The intellectual without wisdom and godly understanding is only reporting what they hear, see, feel and learn in the natural. God will not be and is not with them.

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka.

Further your research:

• Reasons To Believe : Where Science & Faith Converge www.reasons.org/

• Discovery Series
• Answers to Tough Questions
• A Former Atheist Explains God

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Pola | July 7, 2012 at 12:24 pm | Tags: Bible, Christian Authors, Christianity, Existence of God, God the Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Pola Muzyka, Religion and Spirituality | Categories: Bible, Biblical Advice, Faith, Overcoming Lies, Paganism, Pola Muzyka, Religious Spirit, Stronghold | URL: http://wp.me/p21eyo-XR

Free to Be a Joyful Servant

Although joyful and servant seem to be an oxymoron when put together, the ideal life on earth according to Jesus Christ is of servitude. Imagine a world where we all are helping each other, where we actually enjoy serving, and where being responsible for ourselves and others, is normal. That’s a world where selfishness does not exist, love and giving take priority, no one is left out, everyone does their part, respect prevails, and peace and harmony always permeate the atmosphere.

Philippians 2:5-7 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

The joy of giving of ourselves in servitude to God and others brings heaven to the natural world. God is not surprised by our actions whether in giving, loving, sharing, and helping or in taking, hoarding, hating, or walking away from the needs of others. When we reach out in love we fulfill the command of Christ to love, our lives take on new meaning, and we walk joyfully.

Dorfkrippe von Baumkirchen Nativity

The only problems we might encounter in a world where servitude is a priority in life would come if God were not considered. In that case, our servitude would be distorted at best and subject to our control according to our own thinking, desires, needs, and opinions. Servitude without God is manipulative at best.

The unfolding sky (Photo credit: badjonni)

Isaiah 64:6 For we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousness is as a polluted garment: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

5 Biblical tips to the joy of serving:
1. Pray. Prayer is the most important service we can give our fellow man. If we pray for the needs of others and pray for God to open our hearts to know and give what is truly needed, the Holy Spirit will guide us.

1 Samuel 12:23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing,

2. Ask. Reach out to your neighbor and ask if there’s anything you can do to help them.

1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

3. Be receptive and grateful. When others serve us they receive a blessing from God in return.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

4. Love your family. God has given us a family for a good reason and a service of love toward your family, whether wife, husband, brother, sister, mother, father or family in Christ is expected and desirable.

1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Proverbs 11:29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be a servant to the wise of heart.

1 Peter 2:17 Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Have a respectful fear of God. Honor the emperor.

Romans 12:10 Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other.

5. Bless your enemies. As difficult as it may seem, another way of serving God is to forgive and love even our enemies.

Luke 6:27 “But I tell everyone who is listening: Love your enemies. Be kind to those who hate you.
Written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka.

Related Articles:

• Free to Celebrate Christmas
• • Free to Have Peace on Earth
  • Free to Have True Joy

Go Ahead! Celebrate Christmas, Celebrate Jesus

Jesus never told us not to worship him. Nor did he [Jesus] tell us not to celebrate a day for his birth. In fact, he never told us not to celebrate birthdays. The stronghold of religion should not be allowed to overtake joyful Christian [Christ centered] celebrations.

         The gift of Christ's birth.
Remember, a religious spirit does not glorify God. It attempts to oppress, distress, depress, suppress, and otherwise harm God’s people. This stronghold of religion is found in many different types of religious groups. We should not allow it place in our lives. If we do, it will permanently give Christmas and other Christ-centered holidays over to a pagan spirit. A spirit of darkness will replace a time of joyfully celebrating Christ.

Gift giving at Christmas time is a God thing. God gave us the greatest gift of all. When we share gifts at Christmas time or in the celebration of Hannukah, we symbolically celebrate the gift of salvation and the gift of light. Just like when we take communion, we symbolically celebrate our oneness with Christ.

Although Jesus was not born on December 25th, the day of his birth celebration shouldn’t matter. What should matter is that he is the reason for the celebration.

Technically, Jesus was born during the time of taxing. The Jews were to be taxed in on the New Year in the old calendar. If we give this day to Satan it will be distorted and twisted to take glory away from the one and only savior and light of the world.

God gave us this life. In the very least, the day of our birth, and particularly that of the birth of Christ, should be a day of praise, re-dedication, and retrospect of this great gift of life we’ve all been given.

Where's the Line to See Jesus?

5 Biblical tips to overcome antichrist in Christmas:
1. Know what you believe and believe what you know. Don’t ever allow anyone to deceive or confuse you with modern anti-Christ thinking.

Matthew 28:8-10 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, Who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through [His] grace (unmerited favor),  ¹⁷Comfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them [make them steadfast and keep them unswerving] in every good work and word.

2. Keep Christ in Christmas. Take your stand.

John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the world’s Light.

John 12:46 I have come as a Light into the world so that whoever believes in Me [whoever cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] may not continue to live in darkness.

John 6:32-33 Jesus then said to them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Moses did not give you the Bread from heaven [what Moses gave you was not the Bread from heaven], but it is My Father Who gives you the true heavenly Bread. ³³For the Bread of God is He Who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.

John 6:35 Jesus told them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never become hungry, and whoever believes in me will never become thirsty.

3. Move. A church that won’t allow a time to celebrate Jesus, his birth, resurrection, or his goodness, could be an anti-Christ church, false religion, or a church filled with a religious spirit. Some religions actually believe that Jesus is an angel.

John 1:1 In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Acts 26:18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Matthew 4:10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ”

Matthew 2:11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense, and myrrh.

Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son he [God] says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

Colossians 2:18 Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit,

4. Don’t put the focus [of celebrating] on your gift to someone else or from someone else. The gift of Christ is the reason for the season. The gift(s) you give are symbolic of the greatest gift. Never teach your children to focus on what they get but instead to focus on what Jesus gave.

2 Corinthians 5:18 But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with
Him].

5. By all means, decorate. But decorate with celebrating Christ in mind.
Psalm 118:27 The Lord is God, Who has shown and given us light [He has illuminated us with grace, freedom, and joy]. Decorate the festival with leafy boughs and bind the sacrifices to be offered with thick cords [all over the priest’s court, right up] to the horns of the altar.

Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath.  ¹⁷Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ.

Luke 2:11 For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord!

Matthew 2:16 When Herod saw that the wise men had tricked him, he became furious. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys two years old and younger in or near Bethlehem. This matched the exact time he had learned from the wise men.

Luke 2:8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka

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• Free to be Tolerant (polamuzyka.wordpress.com)
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Free from the Stronghold of Imaginings

Before we can destroy or remove a stronghold from our lives we must recognize what the stronghold is. In this case, imaginings are ideas, stories, and thoughts held in your mind but that are not true or real. Things you imagined may take place or that may have taken place may or may not be real.

So how do imaginings become a stronghold? We know that when we create in any way, we need to imagine the project first. The bible talks about visions as the first step in a calling or mission, as in:

Habakkuk 2:2-3 “Write the vision. Make it clear on tablets so that anyone can read it quickly. ³ The vision will still happen at the appointed time. It hurries toward its goal. It won’t be a lie. If it’s delayed, wait for it. It will certainly happen. It won’t be late.

NYC – Metropolitan Museum of Art – The Vision of Saint John 

 So, how can imaginings be so bad and how can they become a stronghold?

The truth is that they aren’t bad when the imaginings are used to inspire, encourage, create, or otherwise glorify God with good. When do we recognize how this gift of imagination has turned into a stronghold against God’s will? The bible talks about vain, dark, empty-headed, vengeful, and evil imaginings.

Farmer plowing (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Of course we are human, but we don’t fight like humans. ⁴ The weapons we use in our fight are not made by humans. Rather, they are powerful weapons from God. With them we destroy people’s defenses, that is, their arguments ⁵ and all their intellectual arrogance that oppose the knowledge of God. We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ.

What can be done to avoid a stronghold of imaginings from entering our lives?

5 Biblical tips to overcome a stronghold of imaginings.
1. Be aware of your drifting thoughts? Are they pulling you closer to God and his will or further away? Do they glorify God? Or do they dishonor God?

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super-abundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

2. Resist and rid yourself of any hateful, evil, vain, or hurtful thoughts which are the beginning of imaginings against God’s will.

James 4:7 So place yourselves under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.

3. Replace any influence that may be encouraging your dark imaginings with positive, affirmative, joyful, loving, and godly influences available.

2 Timothy 2:21 So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.

4. Be diligent in the things of God. When God has given you a mission or a vision, set your heart and life on it immediately. You know it comes from God if you have the peace of God and if it lines up with his word.

Proverbs 11:27 He who diligently seeks good seeks [God’s] favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come upon him.

5. Refuse to spend any more wasted time on vain imaginings.

Romans 1:21 Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and ^[a]godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.

Written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka.

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