I wonder if the majority of people have ever been told that there is a definite difference between having a “thought” and “critical thinking?” You might be very surprised, to know that the vast majority of people, especially the young, live one “thought” after the other. Case in point, drinking and then driving! Did the person that “caused the accident” have a “thought” or was he or she “thinking,” when they sat behind the wheel? Or we could go on and talk about “texting” and driving? The exact same thing occurs everyday and then the question still comes back to, “Were they thinking or simply acting on a thought?” I am sure the majority would say they were living according to a thought. “Critical thinking” requires one to soberly make a decision to not allow any distractions while driving, otherwise there could be an accident and someone could loose their life.
We must first understand that most vehicles are about a ton in weight. Then add the appropriate highway speed of 55 miles per hour, thus it would take a large number of feet to stop that vehicle. We must also understand that the law requires drivers to be responsible for their actions on the road and not allow distractions to occur in the first place. We could also take into account whether the vehicles are in good repair to operate on our roads and highways. Correct? Being drunk or texting behind the wheel takes our eyes away from what is most important things─the proper and safe operation of the vehicle, where we are headed and how fast we are moving. We must be able to realize the speed of traffic, stop signs and light systems, as well encounter an occasional pedestrian, and be ready to accommodate all in a safe manner. Considering the number of fatal accidents that occur in general, it is quite evident this is not the case! And this occurs far too many times, every day, all across the USA. As you are now able to see, the vast majority of people do NOT invest enough attention in their every day actions. Thus we are able to deduce that “thoughts” are distracting peoples’ attention, as compared to using “critical thinking”.
Accidents occur with people that would otherwise be very friendly and kind-hearted to others. They are then victims and perpetrators of “thoughts”─and others die. These same individuals, if they survive, are then taken to court and convicted of vehicular manslaughter or something to that effect. Lives are changed forever because someone did NOT “think” first! A family must deal with the loss of a family member and the perpetrator must deal with going to prison. In the end everyone looses. What a horrible lesson to have to learn! What we learn here is this: Everything in life requires “critical thinking.” We live every day of our lives making decisions, one after the other. If there is NO “critical thinking” then the individual is acting according to “thoughts.” I hope and pray that you agree with this!
“Critical thinking” shows us that there are many avenues we can follow, according to what we decide to do in any given situation. Mentally following each and every avenue as far as we are able shows there are some avenues we do NOT want to go down. Conversely, we see there are some avenues that hold promise of a good outcome, but we would never be able to see these if every decision was according to a simple “thought.” What would we loose if we took the time to consider these avenues, rather than acting on a “thought?” Simply…time! We always have the individual that says, “If I relegate sufficient “time” for each and every action, to thinking about it first, I’ll never get anything done!” Counter productive at best, right? Think on this for a moment or two and you’ll see I’m right. If you think about this every day long enough, you’ll see all that I have stated above is evident and truthful.
Romans 12.3: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
John 13.34-35: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
James 4.11: “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”
James 4.13-15: “Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
Yuppers…there I go throwing a monkey wrench into the mix of our lives showing us that we must be careful of what we “think.” The true student of God’s Holy Word, already KNOWS that the Bible is pure “critical thinking.” We must read it, research it, study it, then “think” on it! God designed this life to be a process of decisions and our every day lives are nothing more than thinking and deciding in a critical manner.
Salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, on the cross at Calvary to cover our SIN…requires us to think and then act. Every step of salvation requires us to know what our decision means, where we wish to be after we are saved and why. As you are able to see, thinking in a critical manner is paramount. We must also see everything we do is one way or the other, and there is NO way to escape it. God designed our lives to be an example, every day and in every way to this particular end.
When “critical thinking” is used in conjunction with the Word of God, we finally see the truth. We see the promises and the prophecies that verify each other. We are able to lead a life of true “faith” in Jesus Christ. We are able to see and recall the changes HE makes in our lives. We then KNOW and TRUST Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior! Heaven just got a little clearer, wouldn’t you say?!
Critical thinking proves Jesus Christ is everything!