Notes Pt1: Sola Scriptura or Sola Cultura Conference @SWBTS

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I just got out of the first day of the Sola Scriptura or Sola Cultura conference at SWBTS and it was a great time discussing how scripture and culture collide.

I have attached my notes for those of you who could not go. I hope they are clear enough to get the main points. [Dr.Geisler was going so fast with so much good info. that I could not get it all down. A very brilliant man for sure.]

>Daniel 1-3 = Nebuchadnezzar takes Judah captive and removes the Hebrews that were gifted to become skillful leaders of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom
>Daniel 1:7-8 = Their names are changed

+All their Hebrew names are the names of their God
+All their new names are names of Babylonian deity’s
+Most likely they are made eunuchs when placed in the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar

>How The 4 Captive Hebrews Respond

1- They Appropriated the Wisdom of the Host Culture (Daniel 1:4; 1:17)

+Ability to interpret visions and dreams was most important in the Chaldean empire
+WE MUST NOT AVOID THE CULTURE! But must appropriate the wisdom of the host culture.

2- They avoided moral compromise in the Host Culture (Daniel 1:8)

+ Daniel knew that it would require a purpose of heart to avoid spiritual compromise

+WE MUST SET OUR HEARTS ON THE MORAL PRECEPTS OF GOD!

3- They understand that they cannot do this without the intervention of God (Daniel 2:17-18)

+The Hebrew children understand that they cannot get through this without seeking God’s provision.

+WE CANNOT STAND ON OUR OWN PROVISION BUT MUST COME TO GOD FOR EQUIPPING!

4- They Praised God for His provision (Daniel 2:19-23)

+ WE MUST APPROPRIATE THE KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM OF THE HOST CULTURE THROUGH GOD’S PROVISION TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE!

5- They intercede for the people who are involved in the deception (Daniel 2:24)

+WE MUST INTERCEDE FOR THE CULTURE WE ARE MINISTERING TO!

-For Protection of the people

-For the limitations of the culture (if they do not understand the ways of God, how can they be faithful or true to God?)

6- They Boldly Affirmed the Adequacy of God in Faith (Daniel 2:28 – “There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets” Daniel 3:16-17)

+WE MUST BE WILLING TO STAND AGAINST WHAT IS UNHOLY AND UNGODLY!

+The Bible alone in Faith and Practice!

Session 2_Dr.Norman Geisler_Defending unchanging truth in changing times>The Problem– The Church the truth is not relative while culture says that truth is relative>The Solutions– Defend the truth

=Phil 1:16; Col 4:6; 1Peter 3:15; Jude 3

=We cannot effectively evangelize in our day without first pre -evangelize

-Our message does not make any sense unless there is a God
=How can we evangelize a world who is Non-Theistic?
-Almost half of the world is Non-Theists
>Relativism – Conversational Evangelism
=You cannot talk about truth without having an understanding of what truth is
=Process Theology – we are all in process and there is nothing stable, including truth
=Truth is/does…
– tells it like it is
– corresponds to reality
=Common arguments for relative truth
-”Truth is relevant” > Arn’t you proclaiming truth?
-”there is no truth” > is that absolutely true
-”maybe its true for you and not for me” > is that true for everyone?
=Everything demands absolute truth > If you demand absolute truth for everything, then why would you leave eternity up to relative truth
-your bank balance does not depend on how you feel about it
-a doctor cannot poison you just because you feel good about it
=The Law of NON-CONTRADICTION – you cannot have a contradicting reality > the Earth is round or is not
-you can have contradicting beliefs but no contradicting truth
>Pluralism
=Just as you wouldn’t argue with someone that is trying to save you from a burning building, you shouldn’t argue with God who is trying to save you
-Jesus Claimed it – John 14:6
-Jesus Proved it – No other religious leaders have done this!
1-Fulfilling Prophecies
2-Lived a sinless and Miraculous life
3-His Death and Resurrection
>Naturalism
=Objection =
1- Natural law is by definition a description of regular occurrence
2-Miracle by definition is a rare occurrence
3-Evidence for the regular is always greater than that for the rare
=Problem = Big bang theory
1-How many times did it bang? ONLY ONCE
2-Origin of Life? ONLY ONCE
3-Macro Evolution? NEVER
=If this were correct, and he was standing in front of the resurrection he could not believe it because it has not occurred more than once

Dr.Geisler has several new books out on Amazon and I am going to pick a few up once I have some time to read them. You can see them HERE.

Notes Pt2: Sola Scriptura or Sola Cultura Conference @SWBTS

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