Opus 2026-346: Two First Two Questions

We are all philosophers.  I know.  I know.  You say you get bored by philosophy but that does not keep you from criticizing the behavior you see going on all around you.  I does not keep you from pondering whether it is time to move out of California, or way past time.  The fact is we are all philosophers and we all do philosophy.

Do you mean to say you have never pondered the meaning of life?  How about, “Why should I go to work instead of signing up for welfare?”  Again there are philosophical questions we ask on a moment by moment basis.  Some are more important than others.  Some impact what you buy and where.  Others determine the future of your children.

Two questions are more important than any others and form the foundation for answering the others.

First and most important, “What must I do to be saved?”  This is generated by other questions such as “What is wrong with the world?”  Modern society tries to say what is wrong is in society.  It is always someone else’s fault.  The victim culture thrives.  Of course when you blame society the answer always seem to be more government and more oppression.  

If people are honest they will eventually start wondering what is wrong within themselves.  They will then seek out all kinds of therapists to help them find the inner flaws.  Some with genuine disorders may find help.  Most, after many years and thousands of dollars, will see that approach as worthless.  

Eventually they will start listening to their grandparents or the radio preacher and realize that the problem is that they are sinners.  They will then decide if they really want to answer that question or just ignore it.

The second, and equally important in God’s eyes I think, is “How then shall we live?”  If you reject the Biblical solution to the first question you will still have to deal with this but you will have no foundation to answer it.  If theft if only wrong if you get caught you will keep trying to plan the perfect crime.  If you are a child of God you know what He expects.  To be honest, this path is clearly laid out and easy to follow.  You may not like the path but it is there.  How well you follow may not keep you out of eternal life but it may influence whether your children go to hell of heaven.  It may also determine whether God lowers the boom on the country you live in.

Know the first two questions and make sure you answer them correctly.  This is pretty much a pass/fail quiz.

homo unius libri