GSI Articles:
Theological
and Philosophical
© Sid Galloway BS, M.Div.
Just an old sheepdog of the Good Shepherd
Genesis 1:1
Communicating conclusions from 100's of PhD scholars
Supporting the authority of His Word & the consistency of His character
Human Rights? Slavery? - Animal Rights? Cruelty?
What about God's right to command compassion for all of His creatures?
* see related articles from Non-GSI Authors
* Racism: My Surrogate "Black" Grandfather
* Biblical Biology Course & Scores of Biology Notes/Lessons available online
* Animal Nephesh & the Application of Ethology (Biology Lesson)
* Your Persecuted Family: Modern Martyrs Paying the Ultimate Price
* Church Discipline: When God's Holy Love Requires More Than Words
* Open Appeal to My Homosexual Friends (Homoagapic not phobic)
* Money & Ministry: Should Biblical Family Counselors Demand Fees? No.
* Eucharist or Lord's Supper (Transubstantiation or Memorial)
* Church Planting Fellowship NEWSLETTERS (from Family Bible Church)
PAST articles from the OLD GSI website
will be linked soon . . .
* "Simple, Systematic, Chronological Theology"
* "When is a Church: Not a Social Club or Entertainment Center"
*"Reformed? Non-reformed? Transforming?
*"Eschatology: A Huge Yet Simple & Beautiful Jigsaw Puzzle"*
* Why Trust the Bible as the Inerrant Word of our Creator / Rescuer
* Dispensational or Covenantal
*
Why Generic Spirituality Cannot Heal the Human Spirit
* Racism's Root: Sin Always Leads to Slavery
* Man the Glory of God - Woman the Glory of Man (Equally Different)
* Hypocrisy Hurts His Honor
*
* etc .........
* Repetition is an effective learning method, so below are summary thoughts repeated throughout the GSI website: What is KNOWLEDGE? What is the source for accurate knowledge?The Greek term for "knowledge" is gnosis, which is why a person who is not yet convinced that God exists is called an agnostic, meaning one "without knowledge". There are numerous realms of knowledge, therefore many fields of study, such as cosmology, biology, geology, psychology, sociology, philosophy, etc. Consider for a moment, even if you do not yet believe in God our Creator, what it would mean if a Creator God really does exist. If He does, then learning and knowing accurately who our Creator is (what kind of person, what kind of character) would directly impact every other realm of knowledge and study. The study of God's character and his purpose for "his" creation would then logically overshadow and necessarily direct all other areas of knowledge. The "logical study of God" is called "Theology" (from Theos & logikos). Therefore if our Creator God exists, then our first and foremost academic effort should be, theology, that is to "know" God in order to most accurately and fully know anything else about His universe. When the secular (agnostic and atheistic) perspective speaks about their source of knowledge for "scientific" study, it is called the "philosophy of science". However, if a Creator God does exist as discussed above, then the true source of knowledge for scientific study must begin not with mere philosophy but with theology. In fact, the starting source of knowledge for any specific field of study would then be best described as a subset of theology. For example, the best study of "science" in a universe created by a Creator God, an Intelligent Designer, should begin by understanding the "theology of science", not just the philosophy of science. Similarly, in order for any branch of "Psychology" (that is, the study of the the psyche; Greek for study of the soul) to be the most accurate possible, it would logically need to be based upon a careful "theology of the psyche". The same would be true for cosmology, biology, geology, and sociology. Each field of study or realm of knowledge should fit under the overarching realm of "Theology". The existence of God and subsequent priority of theology would not negate man's ability to discover some of the "what" or "how" about limited data regarding the Creator's world. However, it does negate man's ability to know fully and most accurately the "WHY" regarding the creation (its past and current form and function) - apart from the Creator's revelation about Himself and His purpose for His creation. [* Maybe this is why our amazing, technological advances have not produced World Order, peace, unity, and security, but rather World Disorder, wars, ethnic holocausts, and now the threat of biological, chemical, and nuclear annihilation.] Please consider one more thing before we go on. Suppose that in addition to the existence of our Creator, it is also true that one of his most powerful and intelligence creatures (for example an angelic creature) had turned in free will, self-serving rebellion against its Creator God. If this were also true, then that rebel angel's most strategically effective attack launched and maintained historically against the Creator would be to deceive others by distorting our Creator's true character. Is God the designer of "survival of the fittest", pain, fear, suffering, and death, or is He the Good Shepherd? |
New Articles Requested and in Progress:
While traveling and speaking to various groups around the country, a number of people have asked for research and writings on specific subjects. So hopefully as God allows, the following articles will be completed -
- as time allows:
(It won't so if a topic interests you - then go for it and do your own study :-)
The Way of the Good Shepherd: Never "Survival of the Fittest"
If our Creator deliberately desired and designed the horribly violent process of survival of the fittest - pain, fear, suffering, and death among nephesh creatures, then what kind of Being would He be? Such a "god" sounds more like a malevolent monster not the biblical Creator - thus undermining trust in our Maker. The Good Shepherd is always better than our minds and traditional imaginations can fathom.
* For related articles from others see:
- "The Carnivorous Nature & Suffering in Animals", R. Gurney MD
- "The Fall: A Cosmic Catastrophe", Dr. Sarfati PhD
- "Cosmic & Universal Death: Exegesis of Romans 8", H. Smith
- "Romans 5: Paul's View of a Literal Adam", Lita Cosner
Why No Record of Jesus Laughing?: Because 'It's' Not Funny
Scripture records Jesus crying (for others in grief over their pain), angry (about the cruel misuse and abuse of power), and of course actively compassionate (toward all). The fact that the Bible never records Jesus as laughing does not mean that He never did. However, the Bible’s silence about Jesus laughing is a loud statement about the expression of His loving character, since God simultaneously sees all things in this infected world. God is constantly aware of all the horrible suffering experienced by billions of humans and trillions of nephesh animals. Why is there no record of Him laughing? The most obvious and logical reason is that “it’s” not funny. By “it”, I mean the current state of His creation and His church as a result of the rebellion chosen by angels and man.
Your Pets Will Go to Heaven: Are you sure you'll be there with them?
Above all other requests when I travel and speak, more people have asked me to write a lengthy article on this subject. It will be an expansion from one of my old seminary - master's degree - research papers stimulated by John Wesley's message on the "General Deliverance". It will include many fun animal stories from years working with elephants and carnivores (literally lions, tigers, & bears) at the Audubon Zoo, rescuing and rehabbing wildlife, as well as "animal-assisted" ministry (i.e., counseling, education, etc) (AAM Video). The Good Shepherd is always better than our minds can fathom.
How God's Animals Help Heal Hearts Hurt by Predatory People
This work in progress is almost complete and focuses on the created ability of some nephesh animals to reach beneath mere words to the hearts of children and adults who've been so hurt by abusive people that they've closed off normal channels for counseling. Until the heart is willing to risk trusting and loving again no amount of counseling can work. The Good Shepherd is always better than our minds can fathom.
The Old Testament God: Not the Monstrous Medieval Myth of Movies
Since the original rebellion of angels and man, both unwitting ignorance and deliberate distortion have portrayed a false image of the one true God. A careful, comprehensive understanding of the Old Testament in light of the New, reveal God to be an all loving, Good Shepherd. He is not the malevolent monster of the serpent's slander in Eden, nor the terrorizing tyrant of medieval Catholicism, and certainly not the vindictive Dictator of recent movies and novels.
What does the Bible really say about who directly causes pain, fear, suffering, horror, and death? Certainly God is revealed to be the Sovereign over all events, each of which He has allowed. Which is the most biblical statement about God, to say that He "does" bad things or that He allows and orchestrates the consequences? Did God directly shove the waters of the Red Sea onto the Egyptian army that boldly sought to kill his people? Or is it more accurate to say that God held the waters up for those who embraced His Way of Messiah and let go of the waters when the rebellious Egyptians said they didn't need Him?
. . . .
Two Decades writing - 100's of articles - 1,000's of files -Not gone
- The OLD resources are not gone, just retired (archived).
* As I upgrade the site piece by piece, trying to teach myself Dreamweaver CSS :-), some pages could temporarily not work well . .