Assumptions Matter

Kurt,

Over the years, we’ve talked long and hard about what is true, and what is not true about the meaning of life. Most of our discussion has center on the Jesus, Paul, and the Bible. We both read the same verses but come to very different conclusions. It’s like people looking and describing the Golden Gate bridge (in the earlier post).

I want to illustrate what I feel is our lack of communication with the following illustrations.

If I write, “10” and ask how many coins that represents some will say ten, and some will say two, and some will say sixteen and they can all be right.

If I write, “11” and ask the same question some will say eleven and some will say three, and they both can be right.

If I write, “14” and ask the same question some will say fourteen and some will say twenty, and they both can be right.

If I write, “10+4” and ask for the answer some will say fourteen and some will say two, and they both can be right.

The point is, no one can agree on the ‘right’ answer until they agree on their assumptions.

We usually assume people use a decimal system for numbers. But computer programmers work in both binary (base 2) and hexadecimal (base 16).

Decimal	Binary	Hexadecimal
0	0000	0
1	0001	1
2	0010	2
3	0011	3
4	0100	4
5	0101	5
6	0110	6
7	0111	7
8	1000	8
9	1001	9
10	1010	A
11	1011	B
12	1100	C
13	1101	D
14	1110	E
15	1111	F
16	00010000	10

This principle applies to many areas of life, but none so important as the assumptions we make about Jesus and the Bible.

The difference you and I have Kurt, is we don’t agree on the assumptions we bring to the Bible. Until we can agree on those assumptions, then we will not be able to agree on our understanding and application of what the Bible says.

If you will allow me to cherry pick a verse – (so I don’t have to quote the whole Bible) I will give you a basis for my understanding:

2Pe 1:16-21 NLT  For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We saw His majestic splendor with our own eyes  (17)  when He received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to Him, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy."[Jesus is the Son of God]  (18)  We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 

(19)  Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the [Old Testament] prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. 

(20)  Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet's own understanding,  (21)  or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

I assume from those verses, and a lot of others, and from the extra-biblical historical records, and from my own personal experience, that the Bible is reliable and is for us the word of God.

I don’t think we have a problem of agreeing that there is a God. And we can agree with Paul:

Rom 1:20 NLT  For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

The problem we seem to be having is what do we do about/with the God that created us.

I assume that God has given us his word to help us be conformed to the image of his son, and that his word is:

Heb 4:12 NLT  For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Because of my understanding, I like Joshua, have decided, “That for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” And I’m like Peter:

Luk 9:20 NLT  Then He asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You [Jesus]are the Messiah sent from God!"

Luk 9:20 ESV  Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

Also, I try to learn from people that have made the same decisions I have made, paid the price that I want to pay, and that will continue helping me to become conformed into the image of Christ.

Perhaps we should spend more time on our assumptions, what we bring to the Bible, and less time discussing conclusions and meanings when they are not derived using the same assumptions.

If we don't agree on the facts, we'll never agree on the conclusions.