This is gonna be another mirror thing; another “Who’s in the mirror?” when you look at yourself. Some direct, in your own face, introspection. This will be a scary journey for many because many seem to not have the wherewithal to look themselves directly in the eyes and ponder these things. So, find some courage my friend because you’re gonna need it if there is a modicum of humility in you to open yourself to this type of self-evaluation.
Let’s start with a couple of definitions from Webster’s 1828 1st edition dictionary. Here are the definitions for both presumption or presume and know. Both of these words have very long entries and different applications, so I’ve provided the definitions relevant to this discussion. I’m just stating that up front so you understand that I’m not trying to hide anything. Just streamlining things a bit in the name of brevity; not that I’m very good at that.
Presume:
To take or suppose to be true or entitled to belief, without examination or positive proof, or on the strength of probability.
Presumptuous:
Arrogant; insolent; as a presumptuous priest.
Unduly confident; irreverent with respect to sacred things.
Know:
To proceed with certainty; to understand clearly; to have a clearer and certain perception of truth, fact, or anything that actually exists.
To be informed of; to be taught. It is not unusual for us to say we know things from information, when we rely on the veracity of the informer.
So, what exactly does it mean to know something? I mean, really know something to the deepest part of your being? Again, for the sake of brevity, I’m not gonna dissect this subject like no one reading this has ever pondered what it means to know something. My approach to these two words is certainly in context of the Bible, the Word of God, Scripture, what have you.
For simplicity, let’s consider these words in terms of two groups of people; those who presume to know and those who know. Obviously, that’s a very broad spectrum with some at the extremes and some in between. But, for sake of argument and to focus this discussion, let’s consider these words as they apply to the two groups I refer to in the title of my book, Cows in the Pews, and the Atheists Too. And for additional context, I think those who presume to know or who are presumptuous, generally speaking, come from both the churchgoing camp and atheist camp while those who know don’t necessarily come from those sitting in the pews or the atheists too. In other words, I think the cows in the pews and the atheists too both have a tendency to presume to know the things they avow in their lives. Allow me to demonstrate.
From the definition, to presume to know something seems to include certain aspects of our character indicative of an attitude that goes hand in hand with people who fall into that group. We certainly possess the ability to recognize an arrogant attitude when we see one; it’s also pretty easy to spot over-confidence and irreverence. And if we have any scriptural/spiritual understanding, we also recognize these traits as works of the flesh as described in Galatians, chapter 5.
On the other hand, the first definition of know suggests first-hand knowledge, a genuine understanding of something stemming from a deliberate pursuit to do just that, to know something. We certainly are able to recognize someone who “knows what they’re talking about”, like a teacher or an expert in whatever subject comes to mind.
However, I find the second definition of know interesting because I think it describes many, many people in between the extremes of knowing and presuming to know. That is, people who by and large would have to acknowledge that what they think they know is predicated solely on reliance upon “the veracity of the informer”, whoever it might be whom they’ve opened themselves up to throughout their lives. In other words, they put their “faith” in the informer to have taught them truthfully. In context of knowing (first definition above) the word of God and placing your faith in the knowledge that results from that direct, one-on-one exchange between God and the individual, do you see the precarious position they’re in; the peril of their souls? Remember, people can make the Bible say anything and they will, and do.
II Timothy 4:1-4
I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
All of that’s a nice way of saying, if honest introspection places you in this “in-between” group, it means to me that you don’t really know anything for yourself…. You only know what you’ve been taught. Moo… Mooing here is not an insult, it’s the truth. Well, it’s likely that I offend many by mockingly suggesting that many churchgoing “Christians” are like cows. Cows being herded through “systems of worship” like an assembly line of sorts. To me, it’s an apt description for many people enslaved by the denominational doctrines of the typical “Christian” organization. Try to understand the depths of what they truly know for themselves and it’s not much more than the version of Christian doctrine they’ve been taught.
The question everyone should be asking themselves, and I mean in a deep, “from the bottom of my soul” kinda way is, “Is what I presume to know, in truth, what God wants me to know?” And if the answer is, “I’m really not sure” then all you’re doin’ is mooin’. There I said it… I’m glad I got that out on the table… I really don’t mean to hurt anyone’s feeling, I’m just trying to get people to think about these things and assess their own conviction, their own standing, the depths of their faith. Is it real? Is it genuine? Is it based on what you truly know or is it based on hearsay?
Admittedly, much of my argument is based on anecdotal evidence stemming from numerous personal experiences throughout my life; many of which involved family members and friends. I don’t know what it is… People, be they family, friends, acquaintances, don’t seem to take too kindly to someone coming along in their life suggesting they don’t know what they think they know; that they only presume to know what they think they know. I don’t know what it is… Flesh? Pride? Carnality? The spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience? I don’t know…
When I started writing this post, I wasn’t really sure where I wanted to go with this topic. But now, I do. I have a friend who’s been reading my book who calls me from time to time to ask me where I’m going with it. It’s taken him a long time to get through it and he finds himself wondering what’s the point? What is the overall point I’m trying to make by writing it? At the same time, we’ve had several discussions about his own understanding of the bible, religion, churchgoing, etc. and he’s told me he really isn’t sure of his salvation. I’ve suggested repeatedly that the only way he will be able to overcome that uncertainty is to know what the bible says for himself.
He says, “But it’s to hard to understand. There’s so much information there, how can I ever know what it all means much less be confident that I understand it how it’s supposed to be understood”?
I’ve suggested to him time and again, “You read it”.
He says, as do so many, “But, where do I start?”
I said, “That’s the whole and entire point of my book”.
It’s intended to show you where to start, to show you who you are in God’s “good news” for the world today, your identity, as it were, i.e. are you a Jew or a gentile. And with that understanding, to suggest a starting point to read the word of God in context of that same identity in order to learn how to study the bible, how to understand it, and how not to interpret it. And for what purpose? To ultimately know what to believe in, with certainty and confidence for yourself.
And the whole time, what I know is what I’m claiming in this post, he told on himself, which is fine and demonstrates humility before God, not me. He let it be known that to this point in his life all he’s been doing is presuming to know what he thinks he knows.
In one of our many conversations, I told him that I believed water baptism isn’t required for salvation and he looked at me like I had two heads; as if I was some kind of heretic or something. And went on to tell me that since Jesus himself was baptized with water, it made sense that water baptism was necessary for salvation. Again, he told on himself, his understanding of water baptism wasn’t based on books, chapters, or verses from the written word of God, it was something he cobbled together from the information he was exposed to while in church. After all, the necessity of water baptism is certainly something taught in most “Christian” churches.
Now, I’m not picking on him. The fact is, he’s simply one of many examples of the type of person I’m describing. Someone who thinks they know but all they really know is second-hand information at best. I’ve known him for the better part of my life and have been blessed to even have the opportunity to talk with him about these things, for which I am thankful. And as such, he also represents a good example of a person who presumes to know something about God, faith, Jesus Christ, etc. when in truth, he has put his faith in the “veracity of the informers” he’s known throughout his life and I would guess he views me as just another “informer”.
So, the point of this whole discussion? Which type of person are you?
Are you an atheist presuming to know things like, “there is no God”. “There is no after-life.” “There is no soul, no spirit.” Speaking in absolutes as if that’s the answer, and that’s all there is to it… Case closed.
I ask: “Have you read the bible?”
Is your answer: “Don’t need to.” “I reject the premise of a God, so there’s no need to read the bible in the first place.”
At the extreme, someone who thinks this way, presumes to know, without any deliberate consideration of the word of God or should I say, testimony of God, that God doesn’t exist and all they needed to figure it out was their own intellect.
Or are you someone like my friend who on one hand, is not quite sure what he believes, yet thinks he understands water baptism well enough to know whether he should be baptized or not? Again, putting his faith in the “veracity of the informer”, not the written word of God directly from the page to his mind.
I Corinthians 2:9-16
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
