Reflection: Critical Thinking By Dr. Steve Porter The difference between critical thinking and gullibility is that the former is cautious, objective and asks questions about the source or credibility of something that is said while the latter is easily deceived and accepts things at face value without questioning. Christians very much need to possess the tools for critical thinking and hone their skills in how to use them. For example, I recently heard a very popular preacher recall a time when he and his wife traveled to a city to preach and were given the VIP treatment by the host church. The VIP treatment, as he called it, included being taken to the finest restaurant in town, attending a play with the best seats in the theater and being given first class accommodations at the finest motel in town. He made the transition from his personal experience to what he emphatically declared to be this spiritual truth: that when a believer is walking with God and pleasing to the Lord, God always gives him the VIP treatment. Critical thinking requires us to ask, “Is that true according to Biblical teaching?” Does God always give believers who please Him the VIP treatment as he defined it from his experience? If we base our answer on the Word of God, which is the believer’s primary tool in critical thinking, then the answer is absolutely “No!” One could scarcely call being thrown into a fiery furnace for not bending the knee to an idol (the three Hebrew children) or let down into a well and left to die for preaching the truth concerning God’s judgment (Jeremiah) or being called to lead a stubborn and rebellious people (Moses) or being beaten mercilessly for helping a demonized girl (Paul and Silas) or losing your family and possessions (Job) the VIP treatment as he described it. What may seem to be a minor deviation from the truth can lead to major problems. The first is that it builds false hopes. If I adhere to the evangelist’s definition of VIP treatment, I can expect wonderful things from the Lord if I please Him in everything I do. The second thing is that it leads to wrong conclusions. If I am experiencing the best life has to offer: good health, a good job, money in my checking account, money in my savings account and a virtually trouble-free existence, then I falsely conclude that I must be living a life pleasing to the Lord. If I am experiencing financial woes, personal or relational problems, am jobless and distressed, then I must not be pleasing to the Lord. Critical thinking based upon the Word of God will lead the believer to reject this kind of teaching. Let me hasten to say that the Lord does give each and every one of His children the VIP treatment because they are dearly loved by Him. We are more important to the Lord than we could ever imagine. We just need to redefine what the VIP treatment is. The skill of critical thinking will help us do just that.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 01:09:57 +0000
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