Presuppositions

All human beings operate under presuppositions, beliefs we take for granted or hold as givens. This belief system under which we operate may be the result of conscious thought and study or it may simply have come about on a more instinctive, unconscious level as we act and react to life and its circumstances.

As a member of the human race, I too have certain presuppositions. In the name of honesty and openness, I want to share some of them with you.

• I believe in Almighty God. To adapt a phrase from our Declaration of Independence, I hold His existence to be self-evident. Honest, rational people throughout history have believed in a Supreme Being. The Bible never attempts to prove that there is a God; rather, it simply opens with this affirmation (Genesis 1:1, King James Version): "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
• I believe in God’s absolute reliability. Whenever there arises a disagreement between God and human wisdom (or science or technology or whatever else comes to mind) one is wise to side with God. In those situations, God will invariably (sooner-or-later) be shown to be right and humanity will have to recognize its error.
• I believe that the Bible is God’s Word. It is absolutely reliable and shows us how to live successfully on this earth, how to develop a personal relationship with God, how to relate to our fellow human beings, and how to prepare for eternity.
• Our reason for being on this planet is to walk humbly with God, love Him with our entire being and gladly obey His commandments. In any and all situations our primary concern should be, not to attempt to move God to take our side, but to make certain we are on His. It is commonly reported that Abraham Lincoln put it something like this: "Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right." Whether we are dealing with religion, politics, family issues, or any other topic under the sun, we must place God's viewpoint above all others.
• The pathway to God leads through the door of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ affirmed (John 10:7-10, King James Version), "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." By repentance and faith—by means of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (and through Him alone)—we have the promise of abundant life on earth and perfect joy and peace in eternity.