The Foundation

Everyone has a world view - a set of beliefs that color the way they see things around them. Most of us take these things for granted in our lives, rarely questioning them unless we are faced with a traumatic event that doesn't seem to fit in with those core convictions. In is because of the differences between these world views that two people, presented with the same evidence, can come to completely different conclusions. A single fossils may at once tell one observer that evolution is clearly true and another that it is clearly false, because the people examining it start with opposing views and see everything they come in contact with through those filters.

With a blog like this one, I think it is only fair that I start with a description of my core, foundational beliefs. These will affect all of the other beliefs I hold, and since many of those may seem strange to someone with a different world view I hope that this explanation of my perspective will help in understanding everything that follows. In short, I believe the following:

The various parts of the Bible, as they were originally written, are 100% God-inspired and absolutely truthful. I know the basics of how our modern Bible was assembled, that it was penned by dozens of human hands and has passed through centuries of meticulous copying, and while I am willing to accept the possibility that there have been minor errors introduced over time or that certain translators have twisted God's Word (intentionally or not) I have to believe that with all that God is capable of He also kept the truth of His teaching intact throughout the ages. Therefore it is my belief that modern English translations of the Bible I have available to read, at least those made by people who genuinely sought after God's Word and His wisdom, are accurate and reliable for teaching and rebuking.

There are quite a few reasons why I believe that, and some of them stem from the Bible itself (which I realize is technically circular reasoning). However, in the time that I have spent studying this greatest of books, and what other contemporary authors have written about it, I find that it holds together remarkably well. The number of transcripts we have of passages of scripture, the accuracy in matching other historical records, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in the events of Jesus' life here on Earth, and a number of other logical arguments draw me in this direction. For those interested in more of those reasons, I strongly suggest reading Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell - it should prove insightful for those who share my world view and any interested in understanding it better.

I also feel compelled to state that my personal relationship with God, and His son Jesus Christ, has given me an assurance on a more emotional level that His Word is truth. I can't explain it well in words, as I am no poet, but I simply *know* this to be true. I don't expect anyone who isn't a Christian to understand what I mean, but it is necessary for me to state that up-front.

Because I believe in the veracity of the Bible, I also believe that God has made us (humans) in His image: that we are spiritual beings as well as physical, and that we have mental acuity enough to understand the basics of His truth. It is that truth, and the conclusions that flow from it, which I will examine in future posts.