The power of persuasion has been around since the beginning of time. Satan himself used the power of persuasion to convince Eve to eat of the forbidden tree. Aristotle was a famous Greek philosopher who taught his students about the power of persuasion. He taught that there were three modes of persuasion. Ethos is a way of convincing your audience of your credibility. Pathos is the appeal to the human emotion. Logos is the appeal to our logical side. The credibility of Satan in the garden was seen in his form. The serpent was more cunning and crafty than any other beast of the field. His appeal to the emotions of Eve was seen in his argument. He said, “you want to be like God don’t you?” The logic of his argument was to be like God you must know both good and evil. The only way to know good and evil is to eat of the tree so that you can be like God. The argument that Satan made in the garden is the foundation for secular humanism which says we are our own god. Atheists would agree with this point of belief. How ironic that the foundation of their belief system was birthed from the record of the bible. Through Satan’s argument atheism was born.
We are confronted in nearly every aspect of life with persuasive arguments. Arguments are being made by people who are professed experts which people look at as credible. Arguments are being made that touch on the emotion of others. Arguments are being made that appear logical. What most arguments are missing is the truth. The world system teaches people how to make persuasive arguments. The bible teaches us to center our lives on truth. Colossians 2:3-4 says, “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.” Any argument on any issue that leaves out the wisdom of God cannot be centered in truth. Through the power of persuasive words, secular humanists will declare anyone who places faith in the written Word of God as ignorant.
It has been the agenda of Satan, in dealing with human nature, to destroy the credibility of God and His word since the garden of Eden. The promise however, is that heaven and earth will pass away but the word of God will stand forever. When man neglects to believe the authority of the bible they are left with no answers to any of life’s questions. The creation and all that is cannot be explained without the almighty wisdom of God. The purpose and meaning of life on earth is all found in God. Removing God and destroying the credibility of His word leaves people with nothing but a hopeless and fleshly logic to give purpose and meaning to their life.
Without the truth of the scripture humans are stuck with the adverse consequences of selfish and corrupt behavior. I’m praying for a revival of the Word of God. I’m praying for our faith to grow strong. I’m praying that we will be able to say that we are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation.
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