A Rational Skepticism

When questions are answered for the skeptic which meet all the criteria of their challenge, the skeptic should discard the question as no longer relevant.  Check it off the list of objections, and throw it onto the rubbish heap, so to speak.  For a skeptic who is a rational thinker, this makes perfect sense.  But more often than not, today’s skeptic continues asking the same question to other people with an opposing view, presumably in hopes that they will trip someone up enough to say, “Aha!  Gotcha!  I knew you wouldn’t be able to answer this!”

In my mind skeptics can be divided into two camps; the Honest Skeptics, and the Agitators.  Honest Skeptics use their knowledge of philosophy and the world to reach rational conclusions based upon the evidence presented to them.  They may have a predisposition, but they are at least open enough to hear and consider new evidence which contradicts their own theory.  The Agitator takes his knowledge of the opposition’s argument and highlights the differences between his own conclusions and those with differences.  He then uses those points to ridicule the opposing view as not being as intellectually sound as his own, and then sites people who share his view as proof.

The Agitator is the most shortsighted type of skeptic because no matter how salient, no matter how rational the argument is against his own, he will not accept it.

“A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.” (Prov. 13:5)

But on the contrary:

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advise.” (Prov. 12:15)

Let us pray the Lord brings us those honest, rational skeptics, who seek out truth and knowledge no matter where it may lead them.

The Unseen World

Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.  2 Kings 6:17

The unseen world is at least as real as the visible, temporal world you are observing right now.  This is one of the major themes of the Bible, and is the guy line from which a Christian sets his camp.  And not only Christians believe in an unseen, spiritual world.  The fact is, most of the world religions believe in an unseen plane of existence of some sort.  Followers of Christ are not alone in this general belief.

The differences are apparent when one studies the nature of this “spirit world,” between religions.  For the Christian, it is an existential reality that cannot be denied.  Angels are real and are at work, according the scriptures.1 Heaven is that unseen place that God promises those who choose to accept His Son as their Lord and Savior.  The Holy Spirit is the spirit of the Living God who guides and resides in those who believe in Christ as Savior.

But the idea of evil in the world arises from the belief in the unseen.  The Bible also speaks of fallen angels, and their leader, Satan.  It is not hard to conceive that both of these forces exist in the world together and are at war with one another.  And though there is a clear winner, as evidenced by Jesus’ perfect life and His sacrifice on the cross for our sins, there is still a period of time where these evil, unseen forces have the ability to act out.

We are currently witnessing the work of these evil unseen forces.  For one cannot deny that the world has quite suddenly tilted in favor of hatred and obscenity.  What once was considered evil is now considered good.  The bible speaks of this phenomenon, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isa 5:20)

New television shows like, “Lucifer” depict Satan as misunderstood and wise.  The rise of Satanic masses in America and the planting of the new Satanic church headquarters in Salem, MA, give credence to the reality that evil is manifesting itself from the unseen into our visible reality.

As Christians we need to be aware of the work of the enemy.  We cannot be apathetic toward the various forces which are coming against Christ and His Gospel.  We must be vigilant and tell as many as possible to be ready, to fight against those forces which suppress the Truth, and to encourage believers to focus on what is good and righteous.