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Explore complex Bible inquiries with Timothy R. Jennings, delving into moral dilemmas, historical conflicts, and theological mysteries. Gain new perspectives and insights.
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God and your Church PREPARING PEOPLE TO MEET JESUS Seven Levels of Moral Decision Making Becoming a Spokesperson for God: The Cosmic Conflict from Beginning to End Answering Difficult Bible Questions PRESENTED BY TIMOTHY R. JENNINGS, MD, DFAPA
ANSWERING DIFFICULTBIBLE QUESTIONS Timothy R. Jennings, MD, DFAPA President, TN Psychiatric Association President-Elect, Southern Psychiatric Association Author: Could It Be This Simple? A Biblical Model for Healing the Mind - 2007 The God-Shaped Brain: How Changing Your View of God Transforms Your Life – 2013 The Journal of the Watcher – 2014 www.comeandreason.com March 20, 2015
Overview • Why our beliefs matter ComeAndReason.com
Overview • Why our beliefs matter • Testable Parameters ComeAndReason.com
Overview • Why our beliefs matter • Testable Parameters • Why did God say cursed is the ground? ComeAndReason.com
Overview • Why our beliefs matter • Testable Parameters • Why did God say cursed is the ground? • Why did God say man would rule over woman? ComeAndReason.com
Overview • Why our beliefs matter • Testable Parameters • Why did God say cursed is the ground? • Why did God say man would rule over woman? • Why God killed in OT times? ComeAndReason.com
Overview • Why raise the wicked only to kill them again? ComeAndReason.com
Overview • Why raise the wicked only to kill them again? • What is the truth about hell and consuming fire? ComeAndReason.com
Overview • Why raise the wicked only to kill them again? • What is the truth about hell and consuming fire? • What is the Seal of God & the Mark of the Beast? ComeAndReason.com
Overview • Why raise the wicked only to kill them again? • What is the truth about hell and consuming fire? • What is the Seal of God & the Mark of the Beast? • Homosexuality in the Christian World ComeAndReason.com
Why Our Beliefs Matter ComeAndReason.com
Our Beliefs Alter Outcomes ComeAndReason.com
Our Beliefs Alter Outcomes • Body Response to Belief About Food1 1. Health Psychol. 2011 Jul;30(4):424-9; discussion 430-1. ComeAndReason.com
Our Beliefs Alter Outcomes • Body Response to Belief About Food1 • 46 people given a milkshake 2 weeks apart 1. Health Psychol. 2011 Jul;30(4):424-9; discussion 430-1. ComeAndReason.com
Our Beliefs Alter Outcomes • Body Response to Belief About Food1 • 46 people given a milkshake 2 weeks apart • 1 – 620 calorie decadent high fat shake 1. Health Psychol. 2011 Jul;30(4):424-9; discussion 430-1. ComeAndReason.com
Our Beliefs Alter Outcomes • Body Response to Belief About Food1 • 46 people given a milkshake 2 weeks apart • 1 – 620 calorie decadent high fat shake • 2 – 140 calorie low fat healthy shake 1. Health Psychol. 2011 Jul;30(4):424-9; discussion 430-1. ComeAndReason.com
Our Beliefs Alter Outcomes • Body Response to Belief About Food1 • 46 people given a milkshake 2 weeks apart • 1 – 620 calorie decadent high fat shake • 2 – 140 calorie low fat healthy shake • Ghrelin decreased with 1 but not 2 1. Health Psychol. 2011 Jul;30(4):424-9; discussion 430-1. ComeAndReason.com
Our Beliefs Alter Outcomes • Body Response to Belief About Food1 • 46 people given a milkshake 2 weeks apart • 1 – 620 calorie decadent high fat shake • 2 – 140 calorie low fat healthy shake • Ghrelin decreased with 1 but not 2 • Both shakes same 380 calories 1. Health Psychol. 2011 Jul;30(4):424-9; discussion 430-1. ComeAndReason.com
Our Beliefs Alter Outcomes • Body Response to Belief About Food1 • Asian Women and Math Exams2 Health Psychol. 2011 Jul;30(4):424-9; discussion 430-1. Haslam, SA et al, 2008 Mar;4; How Stereotyping yourself contributes to your success (or failure) Scientific American Mind. ComeAndReason.com
Our Beliefs Alter Outcomes • Body Response to Belief About Food1 • Asian Women and Math Exams2 • Elderly and Cognitive/Memory Exams2 Health Psychol. 2011 Jul;30(4):424-9; discussion 430-1. Haslam, SA et al, 2008 Mar;4; How Stereotyping yourself contributes to your success (or failure) Scientific American Mind. ComeAndReason.com
Our Beliefs Alter Outcomes • Body Response to Belief About Food1 • Asian Women and Math Exams2 • Elderly and Cognitive/Memory Exams2 • What Beliefs Do You Hold BEFORE You Examine the Evidence? Health Psychol. 2011 Jul;30(4):424-9; discussion 430-1. Haslam, SA et al, 2008 Mar;4; How Stereotyping yourself contributes to your success (or failure) Scientific American Mind. ComeAndReason.com
Our Beliefs Alter Outcomes • Body Response to Belief About Food1 • Asian Women and Math Exams2 • Elderly and Cognitive/Memory Exams2 • What Beliefs Do You Hold BEFORE You Examine the Evidence? • Our Challenge – To Examine the Evidence with unbiased Minds Health Psychol. 2011 Jul;30(4):424-9; discussion 430-1. Haslam, SA et al, 2008 Mar;4; How Stereotyping yourself contributes to your success (or failure) Scientific American Mind. ComeAndReason.com
Our Beliefs Alter Outcomes • Body Response to Belief About Food1 • Asian Women and Math Exams2 • Elderly and Cognitive/Memory Exams2 • What Beliefs Do You Hold BEFORE You Examine the Evidence? • Our Challenge – To Examine the Evidence with unbiased Minds • Do you view the questions through imposed law (levels 1-4) or Design law (levels 5-7) Health Psychol. 2011 Jul;30(4):424-9; discussion 430-1. Haslam, SA et al, 2008 Mar;4; How Stereotyping yourself contributes to your success (or failure) Scientific American Mind. ComeAndReason.com
Two Constants/Evidenced-Based Boundaries ComeAndReason.com
Two Constants/Evidenced-Based Boundaries • The Law of Love ComeAndReason.com
Two Constants/Evidenced-Based Boundaries • The Law of Love • The Law of Liberty ComeAndReason.com
The Law of Love ComeAndReason.com
Integrative Evidenced-Based Approach ComeAndReason.com
Integrative Evidenced-Based Approach • Scripture: • “God is love.” 1 John 4:8 • “The entirelaw is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:14 • “Love is not self seeking” • 1 Corinthians 13:4, 5 ComeAndReason.com
Integrative Evidenced-Based Approach • Science: • Respiration, water, pollination, citric acid cycle… ComeAndReason.com
Integrative Evidenced-Based Approach • Experience: • Adults who volunteer • live longer, have less illness, less disability, less depression, less dementia and live independently longer than those who did not. • Post, S. Altruism and Health Perspectives from Empirical Research, Oxford University Press, New York, 2007: p. 20, 21). ComeAndReason.com
Two Constants/Evidenced-Based Boundaries • The Law of Love • The Law of Liberty ComeAndReason.com
Integrative Evidenced-Based Approach • Scripture: • “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” Psalms 119:45 • “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2Corinthians 3:17 ComeAndReason.com
Integrative Evidenced-Based Approach • Science: • Violate Liberty Three Predictable Consequences ComeAndReason.com
Violate Liberty & Three Predictable Consequences ComeAndReason.com
Violate Liberty & Three Predictable Consequences • Love is damaged and eventually destroyed ComeAndReason.com
Violate Liberty & Three Predictable Consequences • Love is damaged and eventually destroyed • A Desire to rebel is instilled in the heart ComeAndReason.com
Violate Liberty & Three Predictable Consequences • Love is damaged and eventually destroyed • A Desire to rebel is instilled in the heart • Individuality is eroded/Shadow Person ComeAndReason.com
Integrative Evidenced-Based Approach • Experience: • Consider when you have been coerced ComeAndReason.com
Zechariah 4:6 • “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty ComeAndReason.com
Zechariah 4:6 • “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty • How does the Spirit work? ComeAndReason.com
Zechariah 4:6 • “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty • How does the Spirit work? • Truth • Love • Freedom ComeAndReason.com
Understanding This Commentators Write ComeAndReason.com
Understanding This Commentators Write • Rebellion was not to be overcome by force. Compelling power is found only under Satan's government. The Lord's principles are not of this order. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the presentation of these principles is the means to be used. God's government is moral, and truth and love are to be the prevailing power. E.G. White Desire of Ages 759 ComeAndReason.com
Understanding This Commentators Write • God could have destroyed Satan and all his sympathizers as easily as one can pick up a pebble and cast it to the earth. But by so doing he would have given a precedent for the exercise of force. All the compelling power is found only under Satan's government. The Lord's principles are not of this order. He would not work on this line… This principle is wholly of Satan's creation. E.G. White Review & Herald, September 7, 1897 ComeAndReason.com
How to Apply the Law of Love & Liberty ComeAndReason.com
How to Apply the Law of Love & Liberty • These are are interpretive boundaries – any interpretation of Scripture that violates either of these laws are ruled “Out of Bounds” or erroneous. ComeAndReason.com
How to Apply the Law of Love & Liberty • These are are interpretive boundaries – any interpretation of Scripture that violates either of these laws are ruled “Out of Bounds” or erroneous. • Our interpretations must harmonize with God’s Design law of love and liberty! ComeAndReason.com
Cursed Is the Ground ComeAndReason.com