Brion McCalanhan, historian, Ph. D in American History from the University of South Carolina, and co-author of four books, says that we already have the standard by which we should judge every President and by which we should or should not impeach and remove him from office. (Impeaching and removing from office aren't the same thing, but that's another discussion.)
We ask Dr. McCalanhan, "Just what is that standard?"
He replies, "The standard is the oath of office he swore to uphold when he assumed the office of the presidency."
And we query, "What is that oath?"
He answers, "The completion of that oath is what ends one President's term and begins the next. It's required by the Constitution that before he can assume the office, he must take that 35-word oath."
We'd say, "You sound like a professor. Tell us, exactly, what is the oath?"
He knows it by memory. He recites: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
There it is, the standard by which we should judge the current and all past Presidents, be he Democrat, Republican, or Whig: Did he preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States?
That's refreshing; Dr. McCalanhan's proposed standard simplifies things and makes the standard objective, not subjective. Simplifying things is unusual for academic types; they love to complicate things because it makes them look intelligent while we look like dummies.
THE GOSPEL
Now, what about the gospel? When we ask, "What is the gospel," there's confusion and a lot of it. What we need is a standard, simple, to the point, and easy to understand, free from the explanation of the garrulous academic. And the good news is that we have exactly such a standard which meets all of those qualifications.
We find the standard in I Corinthians 15:1ff:
"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand . . . For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures . . ."
The content of the gospel is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for our sins, and rose from the dead. This content presents the 1) need of salvation (we are sinners) 2) the basis of salvation (the substitutionary death of Christ which paid the total penalty) and 3) the means of salvation (faith alone, "receive")
CRITICAL THINKING
Critical thinking should not be confused with being argumentative, rude, or critical of other people. (We already have enough of those "thinkers," so don't become one.) Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally about what to do or what to believe. It includes the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking.
Let's apply critical thinking to the question, "What is the gospel as defined by Paul in I Corinthians 15 and ask questions based on Paul's statement that salvation comes by faith in Christ alone.
1. Is a person saved by walking down an aisle? No (The apostles never asked anyone to walk down an aisle.)
2. Is a person saved by being baptized? No.
3. Is a person saved by making Christ the Lord of his life. No.
4. Is a person saved by keeping the 10 Commandments or the Sermon on the Mount? No.
5. Is a person saved by feeling sorry for his sins? No. ("Repent" in the Greek means, "Change your mind.)
6. Is a person saved by turning from his sin? No. (Impossible)
7. Is a person saved by forsaking all and following Jesus? No.
8. Is a person saved by praying a prayer? No. (Did the apostles ask anyone to pray a prayer to be saved?) No. There is no "Sinner's Prayer" in the New Testament.)
9. Is a person saved by making a public confession? No. (That has to do with being a disciple.)
10. Is a person saved by asking Jesus into his heart? No.
The critical thinker will evaluate every gospel invitation by I Corinthians 15 because that's the standard, just like the oath of office is the standard by which we should evaluate every President of the United States.
Therefore, when you read a Sunday school quarterly, read a tract, listen to your pastor, read VBS literature, watch a TV preacher, or listen to your Sunday school teacher, you evaluate their gospel presentation by I Corinthians 15.
APPLICATION OF CRITICAL THINKING
A critical thinker is able deduce the consequences of his thinking and make use of that thinking. For example, a critical thinker will evaluate the following gospel invitation of America's most popular preacher:
" We never like to close our broadcast without giving you the opportunity to make Jesus the LORD of your life.
“Would you pray with me? Just say -
“LORD Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make You my LORD and Savior.”
According to I Corinthians 15, the critical thinker understands why this "gospel" is a false gospel and saves no one. (The preacher does not mention of the death of Christ or the resurrection of Christ, both of which Paul says are part of the gospel. The pastor adds works to the gospel by telling the person that he must feel sorry for his sins, that he must pray a prayer; there is no mention that Jesus died to pay for the person's sins and that it's by faith alone in Him alone that one is saved. He also adds elements to the gospel the apostles never did, such as telling someone to ask Jesus into their heart and make Him lord of their lives. (Making Jesus the Lord of one's life is an act of discipleship, not for salvation.)
A critical thinker won't be a hypocrite; he'll act on the understanding and implications of his thinking. Once the critical thinker understands the implications of the definition of the gospel, he will not sit under nor write a check to someone who is presenting a gospel that saves no one. He will in no way encourage, help, attend, listen to, or recommend the ministry of such a person because that person falls under Galatians 1:6-9.
Wow, one must be very careful in following those who proclaim to teach the gospel, especially, those so well known. Thinking critically one understands that having a large following is not credence to salvation. Excellent blog.
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