El PESIMISMO

EL PESIMISMO DE ARTHUR SHOPENHAUER 

Este es otro de los filósofos más famosos de la última era, tanto que sus libros son muy buenos para todos quienes están suscritos al humanismo. Para otros que por razones académicas hemos tenido que pasar por algunos de sus escritos y que no podemos conciliar el sueño por las noches, rápidamente su redondeo hueco y vacío a las cuestiones de la vida torna pesadas las retinas de los lectores. Dentro de las obras más prominentes de este pensador están: el arte de siempre estar en lo correcto, el mundo como voluntad y representación entre otros pero el que más llama la atención es el de estudios sobre el pesimismo.  La óptica de shopenhauer es muy similar a la de Sigman Freud quien fue contemporáneo y que además compartía el mismo pesimismo. Tanto que estuvo por varios años esperando su muerte, al punto de llegar a rentar una habitación en un hotel para esperar la muerte. Uno de los críticos más fuerte que tuvo que confrontar fue C.S. Lewis quien tras una visita al Zoológico y unas cuantas conversaciones con amigos como J.R.R Tolkien quien era católico y luego abandonó su ateísmo a los 33 años de edad. El PESIMISMO

Regresando a Shopenhauer el trabajo que realizó fue en una línea consecutiva del pensamiento que dominó a Emanuel Kant sobre el mundo fenomenal y el mundo metafísico. La Biblia tiene mucho que decir con respecto a la certeza de la existencia de ese mundo. Tanto es así que lo que hagamos en esta carne tiene un impacto directo al Espíritu y también a las emociones. Cuando Caín mató a Abel en Genesis 4 es claro observar que aquellos requerimientos de carácter físico que Dios había pedido y la obediencia de su hermano en los mismos motivó a este hombre a matar a Abel por envidia y por que sus obras dice 1Juan 3:12 eran malas y las de su hermano justas. También en 2Cor.5:17 Pablo dice que es necesario compadecer al final de los tiempos ante el tribunal de Cristo para dar cuenta de nuestras obras sean buenas o sean malas. Así que por supuesto que todo lo que se haga en este mundo tendrá una afectación directa en el mundo espiritual. Sobre el pesimismo que gobernaba la vida de este Filósofo es obvio que no conocía a Cristo. De hecho no solamente el sino cualquiera que no ha nacido de nuevo observa la vida sin poder tener esperanza. En 2Co.5:17 Pablo dice que estar en Cristo significa haber experimentado una vida nueva. Su ejemplo es suficiente de hecho, pues en Filipenses 3:1-8 enlista los credenciales de su vida pasada los cuales consigna al final de la lista como “basura” cuando estos son comparados con la vida en Cristo. En 2Cor.1:9-10 leemos de la esperanza de ser librados de la muerte y esto es más profundo que la filosofía de Schopenhauer. En Gálatas 5:5 aquella ciudad gentil a quienes habían sido convertidos al Cristianismo les dice que los cristianos aguardamos por la fe la esperanza en la justicia. Si uno solamente observa el mundo fisico que nos rodea terminará amargado y con comentarios pesimistas como estos pensadores. Sientos de seguidores de Jesús fueron asesinados y perseguidos pero morían con fe, con esperanza y nunca maldiciendo a otros o cargados de odio. Quizás en contraste con la filosofía pesimista de Schopenhauer el texto en Hebreos 6:19 cobra mucho más sentido, pues temas como ancla del alma una segura esperanza que está firme. Tácito  historiador muy respetado será el único autor pagano que relacione el incendio de Roma y el anticristianismo de Nerón. Suetonio, en la biografía del emperador, se dedica a informarnos que el emperador persiguió a los cristianos por profesar una superstitio nova et maléfica.

Es muy probable que la comunidad judía de Roma empleara sus posibles conexiones en la corte imperial para que se culpara a la comunidad cristiana y así poder evitar algún tipo de reacción popular antijudía a pesar que los judíos estaban en una posición más privilegiada que los cristianos, al ser considerada su religión como religio licita.

Dado que los castigos reservados a los cristianos son conocidos estaríamos ante la primera matanza de cristianos “en masa”  empezando con Nerón quien posiblemente haya ejecutado a dos de los apóstoles de Jesús que más escribieron (Pablo y Pedro). En el caso del emperador Diocleciano, su persecución (año 95 d.C.) ha sido objeto de un fuerte debate historiográfico tal y como nos cuenta el investigador Jorge Cuesta Fernández ya que no encontramos una coincidencia entre autores paganos y cristianos en atribuir anticristianismo a este emperador tal y como sucede con Nerón, sin embargo no elimina la ostilidad que se mostró ante el Cristianismo.  La razón por la que traigo esto a colación es sencilla. Existe abundante evidencia documentada y tangible de las persecuciones de los cristianos y su voluntad para morir siendo inocentes de las maneras más brutales constituyen fuerte evidencia que su esperanza no se encontraba nada más en las comodidades de esta vida. Su esperanza en la vida futuro los llenaba de gozo, los escritos que fueron inspirados por Dios los alimentaban de esa esperanza como lo es el libro de Apocalipsis por poner un ejemplo. El pesimismo de Arthur y de cada ateo que existe en este mundo brota a raíz de la ausencia de Dios en sus vidas.  Juan Fox en su libro “ El libro de los Mártires” menciona lo siguiente en la página 11 de la versión en español, él dice:

Muchos fueron crucificados en el Monte Ararat, coronados de espinas, siendo traspasados con lanzas, en imitación de la pasión de Cristo. Eustaquio, un valiente comandante romano, con muchos Èxitos militares, recibió la orden de parte del emperador de unirse a un sacrificio idolatrico para celebrar algunas de sus propias victorias. Pero su fe (pues era cristiano de corazón) era tanto mas grande que su vanidad, que rehusónoblemente. Enfurecido por esta negativa, el desagradecido emperador olvidó los servicios de este diestro comandante, y ordenó su martirio y el de toda su familia.

En el martirio de Faustines y Jovitas, que eran hermanos y ciudadanos de Brescia, tantos fueron sus padecimientos y tan grande su paciencia, que el Calocerio, un pagano, contemplándolos  quedó absorto de admiración, y exclamación, en un arrebato: ¡Grande es el Dios de los cristianos! , por lo cual fue prendido y se le hizo sufrir pareja suerte.

Muchas otras crueldades y rigores tuvieron que sufrir los cristianos, hasta que Quadratus, obispo de Atenas, hizo una erudita apología en su favor delante del emperador, que estaba entonces presente, y Arístides, un filosofo de la misma ciudad, escribe una elegante epístola, lo que llevó a Adriano a disminuir su severidad y a ceder en favor de ellos.[1]

El emperador Adriano murió en el 138 d.C y el Cristianismo continúa de pie hasta la actualidad con presencia en casi todos los países del mundo entero. Como algunos de estos cristianos que han sido documentados hay cientos y miles que Dios si conoce y ha enlistado sus nombres en el libro de la vida. Ellos fueron gozosos en esta vida y serán llenados de gozo elevado al cuadrado cuando aparezca el Señor Jesús en el cielo (Hechos 1:9). 

Si usted es un estudiante universitario que está siendo expuesto a corrientes Filosóficas o la obra de estos señores en materia de la razón, le anímo a que mantenga en mente que ellos fueron buenos en sus aréas pero ignorantes (la gran mayoría) de las bondades del Señor y el verdadero gozo que proviene de seguir a Jesús. 


[1] http://ucis.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/El_libro_de_los_mrtires_-_John_Fox_28tronodegracia.com29_compressed.pdf

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A World of Distractions

A World of Distractions

We live in a world of distractions. Cell phones, television, romance novels, fantasy movies, electronic games, online videos, and many other diversions frequently shift our attention from where our focus should be. To be fair, not all distraction is bad. Sometimes we need distraction to rest our bodies, minds, and spirits from periods of intense work. Distractions may be unrelated to entertainment. We can be distracted by problems: at work, at home, financially, emotionally, physically.squirrel distraction

Distractions are problematic when they interrupt, delay, or prevent what is important; when we substitute the distraction for what is real;or when we cease focusing on what we need to be concerned about immediately. When we are driving, distractions are dangerous and deadly. When we are working, distractions create loss of productivity, delays in production schedules, and decreased income. When we are worshiping, distractions result in formalism, pharisaism, and heartlessness toward God (Matthew 15:9), which is not what Jesus wants.

How do we manage our distractions? First, we must have the right values. When we value the wrong things, we will be lured by distractions to do the wrong thing. Right values come from God’s word (Matthew 4:4). Prioritizing these values will reduce distractions (Matthew 6:33). Second, we must focus on others instead of self (Philippians 2:1-4). When we are just trying to entertain self, distractions become the main focus. Investing time in other people means we are not just thinking about self. Third, we need self-control and discipline (1 Corinthians 9:27). When we cannot control our behavior, we pursue distraction. When we have no discipline, distractions take over. Finally, we must spend time in Bible study and prayer (1 Thess.5:16-22). These daily activities will help us in all of the above.

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Hebrews, Faith, & Martyrs

Hebrews, Faith, & Martyrs

The writer of Hebrews could so easily see the dangers faced by those Jewish Christians. The nation that killed God’s Son turned its wrath on the church almost from the day it began. Jesus had warned them about the trials that were coming. Obviously, they persecuted those Gentiles who had become followers of Jesus, but their persecution was even more fierce on the Christians addressed in this epistle.

They had begun their walk with Jesus and faced many trials which came their way. Hebrews chapter ten describes this: “After you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings…you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations.” The author then adds, “You became a companion of those who were so treated” (10:32-33).

How did they emotionally respond to all of this? “You joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods” (10:34). Earthly possessions are meaningless when viewed from the eternal truth about our existence. They could so easily give up that which was temporal. “Knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.”

Living faithfully on this earth for many years is so difficult. We understand the faith of those who are martyrs for the cause of Christ. At that last moment they reached deep within their souls and their faith sustained. What we may have done is overlooked the depth of the faith of those who face not a momentary trial, but serve Him for years and years. We rightly honor the faith of martyrs, but perhaps it takes a deeper faith to serve Him for years and years.

When this letter was written their devotion was weakening. Look again at this chapter and the admonition given to them. “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God you may receive the promise…if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in Him” (10:35-38).

Now make the application in your life. How long have you been a Christian? Where is your faith in Him compared to what it once was? Remember how joyfully you served Him at first? Remember your routine of daily Bible study and prayer? Remember the joy of partaking of the Lord’s Supper and being part of worship, praising His name? Is it possible that we have become “tired” because the journey seems so long? It is not that we have walked away from Him, but have we lifted our anchor and are we slowly drifting away (Heb. 2:1)?  God help us to remember to view our life on this earth as being only a moment compared to eternity!

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Sarah Called Her Husband Lord

Sarah Called Her Husband Lord

Imagine starting marriage counseling by asking the prospective bride: “Are you ready to call him lord?” referring to her boyfriend.

The reaction you would likely receive would be visceral and immediate. After recoiling, they would likely inform you very quickly that the only Lord they serve is Jesus Christ. Well, some would. Others would likely sit and stew as they crossed their arms, revealing they aren’t about to allow anyone to take their current position of being number one in their own eyes. These narcissistic individuals have bought into the idea that the world revolves around them, and as such, they will serve no one.Abraham and Sarah

When you point out that God instructs the man to be the earthly head over his wife many ladies refuse, ripping Ephesians 5:21 out of context and demanding mutual submission. If one were to continue reading in Ephesians 5 theywould discover the Bible clearly depicts a hierarchy with Christ as the church, and the husband as the head of the wife.  In 1 Peter 3:6 “as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.”

The reason many women recoil at the very thought of calling their husbands lord is because they have been influenced and impacted by radical feminism and our culture. For more than fifty-years femvertising—that is, advertising that sells the concept of empowerment—has dominated our media. We’ve gone beyond Rosie the riveter’s message of “We can do it” to feminist author and tenured professor Vivan Gornick’s message of, “Being a housewife is an illegitimate profession…the choice to serve and be protected and plan towards being a family-maker is choice that shouldn’t be. The heart of radical feminism is to change that.”

At some point in this empowerment movement women began craving work outside the home. They longed for independent careers, claiming equal rights and equal pay. (Let me calmly point out a real biblical worldview clearly teaches fair compensation, “a worker is worth their wages.” 1 Timothy 5:18). But the unstated message that was being preached over and over is that a woman is incomplete if all she does is manages the home and rears children. They were silently—but effectively—brewing discontentment in the hearts of many Christian women.

Fast-forward 50 years and we see their revolution has been extremely successful in many ways. Women have abandoned the home. They are hiring others to raise their children. They are competing in every aspect of the workforce. They, too, are bringing home the bacon.

But has it really been a success? A recent American Family survey found liberals, especially liberal women, are significantly less likely to be happy with their lives and satisfied with their “mental health”, compared to their conservative peers aged from 18-55.

Survey after survey is finding women not really satisfied, as they realize you “can’t have it all.” Julie Bindel recently published an article in Aljazeera titled, “Liberal feminism has failed women,” pointing out that many of the crazy practices of feminists actually benefit men.

What all of the studies and articles fail to point out is that God’s plan—if followed—is both empowering and fulfilling. When you read about the virtuous wife in Proverbs 31 you do not get a sense of discontentment or a woman screaming, “My body, my choice.” Instead, we read, “She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her”  (Proverbs 31:27-28).

Christian women would do well tuning out the femvertising pushed on them by our culture, and instead look at women in the Bible like Hannah and Mary—women who humbly set about being good mothers. Instead of kicking against the goads in rebellion, we need to raise up a generation of women who realize their power comes from harnessing meek and gentle spirits that are willing to train up the next generation of warriors for Him!

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Canon of a Book of the Bible

Canon of a Book of the Bible

What makes a book of the Bible a book that belongs to the Bible? It has to be part of the canon. The canon of a book is the rule or standard by which something is judged. Oxford Dictionary defines it as thus: “a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged.”

Bible Canon

The canon of a book tells you whether or not something belongs in that book. So what is the canon for the Bible? There are two separate canons: one for the Old Testament, and one for the New Testament.

Old Testament Canon of a Book:

1. Since God is perfect and infallible (incapable of making mistakes), an inspired book must be perfect and infallible, in the facts and teachings of the original manuscript of the inspired writer.

Neh. 8:8: “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”

It is so perfect, it can be understood by all who take the time to study it.

2. Since God is perfectly holy and pure, an inspired books must present only pure and holy teachings.

Psa. 19:7-11: “7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”

Psa. 119:105: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

3. Since God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent, an inspired book should reflect those characteristics.

a. If a book of the Bible speaks of future events, those events MUST happen.
b. If a book of the Bible speaks of locations, those locations MUST be real.

By studying the Bible, archaeologists have found cities and nations no one had heard of until then.  The Bible was often laughed at for having stories of the “Philistines” and the “Amalekites,” nations thought to have never existed.  But in the end, God had the last laugh, when these nations and people were found to be real.

4. Since God is absolute truth, no Bible verse can contradict another.

5. Since God is absolutely just and fair, the Bible must be impartial to everyone without prejudice to anyone.

How might you tell a false prophet from a real prophet? If his words are true, then he is a real prophet (Jer. 28:9). How can you tell a false book of the Bible from a real one? If the words are true, it is a real book of the Bible!

New Testament Canon of a Book:

The New Testament has another set of rules on top of the rules we’ve already mentioned. The following four are the rules by which the New Testament books are judged.

1. Apostolicity: Did an apostle write the book?

If an apostle did not write the book, then did someone closely associated with the apostles write it? Mark, Luke, James, and Jude were not apostles, but they WERE contemporaries and friends. An example of this is found in each of Paul’s letters.

Eph. 1:1: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:”.

2. Authenticity/Accuracy: Is the book accurate and true in all that it says?

If the book speaks on anything historical, scientific, moral, anything about anything, then it must tell the truth on what is written.  If the book speaks falsehood, then it is not canonical.

3. Acceptance: Did the 1st century church accept the book?

2 Tim. 3:16-17: “16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

These books were used to guide the church in all spiritual matters (and are still used for the same purpose!).  If they were not accepted because they were not profitable, then they wouldn’t be profitable for us either! The New Testament church did not accept every writing given to them: they put time and effort into deciding which books should be accepted.

4. Genuineness/Inspiration: Was it “God-breathed?”

In 2 Tim. 3:16 (quoted above), the phrase “given by inspiration” is “theopneustos” in the Greek. In other words, we want to ask the question: Did God inspire this book?

1 Pet. 1:22: “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:”.

This truth that came through the Spirit is the truth of the Bible.  Did the Spirit guide the writer into writing this book?

 

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