When tactics of the dialectic have been used in a dialogue, as on this thread, then when an attempt has been successfully made to shift the focus from that of the original topic, that tactic of shifting the focus can be seen to be just another tactic of the dialectic, which is sometimes successful.
The focus of this thread is Paul's warning about false teachers teaching false doctrines by a type of argument which he refers to as "the anti-thesis (oppositions) of knowing falsely called."
Christian Zionists on this thread have so far been unable to deal with this topic directly, and so they side step the topic and try to change the focus to something else.
A part of the problem is that many Christian Zionists do not understand what the dialectic is and how it might relate to other scripture.
Antithesis is Strong's Exhaustive Concordance number 477, which is said to mean "opposition, i.e., a conflict of theories. In the Hegelian dialectic there is an opposition of two positions (theories, if you wish).
Those who operate with the dialectic - which is now almost everyone -
try to justify themselves before men Luke 16: 15 "And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15.And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."
The dialectic within dialogue is only an argument between men. That argument does not change a doctrine of God. Man try to justify themselves in following some doctrine that is not of God by use of the dialectic in a dialogue with another man.
From
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/didactic
The English word didactic is said to mean "Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive..........Origin, Mid 17th century: from Greek didaktikos, from didaskein 'teach'........."
The English word didactic has much the same meaning as the Greek word didasko translated as teach, taught, etc in the New Testament.
The didactic method of teaching is based upon a concept of truth, that there is truth which can be learned. The didactic teacher teaches that truth to others. But the Socratic method of teaching, or of debate, is a form of dialogue between individuals, based on asking and answering questions.
But in the Hegelian Dialectic, there are two opposing positions. One position is called the thesis and the opposing position is called the anti-thesis. The result of the clash between the two opposing positions, called the synthesis. This is not just an abstract philosophical concept, but the Hegelian Dialectic has been used to create methods of argument. The Hegelian Dialectic influences the way people think.
The dialectic often develops out the conflict between an emotional relationship and an
absolute truth. It could also be an absolute morality that a
relationship comes into conflict with. The relationship is often with a man-made
theology, the church, and one's own denomination, his or her own congregation,
the minister, and friends within that congregation.
The dialectic is found in use in Genesis 3: 1-6 where Satan deceived Eve into accepting the exact opposite of what God had said to Adam and Eve, tat if they ate of the tree they would die. It is also found in John 8: 32-44 where the Pharisees made an argument which is the direct opposite of what Christ was teaching.
Revelation 13: 11 says the second beast has two horns like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon. "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon."
A lamb has two horns? How does the dragon speak? In Genesis 3 the "serpent" "was more subtle than any beast in the field," and he used the dialectic on Eve, saying in effect lets talk about you eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. "Lets have a dialog." "And come to a consensus." The big mistake that Eve made was to enter into a dialog with Satan.
There is no absolute truth or absolute morality in the dialectic mindset. But in that mental attitude a kind of pseudo "truth" is found through dialogue and argument and often that "truth" is just a consensus of the people arguing or of a group at any one time, or a following of any particular man made tradition of doctrines, and not an unchangeable truth from scripture.
Many present day Church doctrines are based on dialectically argued positions and the result is the more recent mega Church movement, the Emerging Church, the Purpose Driven Church - or older 19th century false doctrines that are now dialectically promoted.
God's way of communicating has always been the didactic, not the dialectic. When Satan tempted Christ in Matthew 4: 3-11, the dialectic didn't work on Jesus. It didn't move him one inch off his absolute truth. He answered the devil with the didactic, "It is written" (Matthew 4: 10)
"It is written" is absolute truth. It is fact; if scripture is not considered as facts, one does not have faith.
. The dialectic depends upon a dialogue being created. . The didactic way of
talking to others does not invite the dialectic as strongly as does a
dialogue, often on what is your opinion, how do you feel, I think, it
might be, it could be in my humble opinion...
In engaging in a dialogue with a defender of Christian Zionism the one who is like Jude "...earnestly contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" runs the risk of himself being lured into using dishonest ways of disputing.
The tactics of the dialectic argument vary, but it often avoids a
direct focus upon the main teachings of whatever absolute truth - from
Scripture - is the issue, and hits at it from the side.
"For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by
us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in
him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him
Amen, unto the glory of God by us." II Corinthians 1:19-20
In Jesus Christ there are no shades of grey, no double mindedness,
only absolutes.
"But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven,
neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be
yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation." James 5: 12
