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Posted by SH
on 6/28/2009, 10:45 am, in reply to "Backwards"
174.21.101.247
Can we properly say that IF we don't hear the word "FORE" on a golf course we can never be hit with a golf ball?
The syllogism is:
1. Major Premise: Every time we hear the word "FORE" yelled out at a Golf Course, there is necessarily a golf ball in flight.
2. Minor Premise: I heard the word "FORE" being yelled out while at a Golf Course.
3. Conclusion: When I heard that word, there was a golf ball in flight.
We can not prove there was no golf ball in flight by denying the antecedent thus: I know there was no golf ball in flight because I didn't hear anyone yell "FORE".
The error comes when we try to invert an affirmative statement. The affirmative under discussion is that Peter new some Gentiles were filled FOR (because) he heard them speak in tongues.
The inverse of the statement is not necessarily true. It's similar to saying "There can be no golf ball -- then walking into the middle of the driving range and getting hit with a dozen or so golf balls.
Silence does not demand anything, the negative can not be derived from the affirmative. Denying the antecedent therefor does not work.
1. Major Premise: Those who speak in tongues are necessarily Filled with the Holy Spirit.
2. Some Gentiles spoke in tongues.
3. Some Gentiles were filled with the Holy Spirit.
This is similar to saying:
All kittens are playful.
Some pets are kittens.
Some pets are playful.
A logical syllogism is true (termed sound or valid) only if the conclusion can be demanded from the premises. To be valid, any logical statement must also be falsifiable.
Back to the topic, we can not properly say that because we have not heard someone speak in tongues we can know they are not filled with the Holy Spirit. This is not even close to what Peter said in Acts 10:45-46.
There is no need to go further and consider Paul's instructions to the Corinthians about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Remember statement #1 is true and Scriptural:
1. Speaking in tongues == Evidence of BHS
Statement #2 May or may not be true, but it is not demanded by Scripture:
2. We know they were not baptized in the Holy Spirit because we didn't hear them speak in tongues.
Have you heard me speak in tongues? Did Peter hear me speak in tongues? Can you draw any proper conclusion about me? Am I filled? Are there not golf balls in flight at this very moment on golf courses across this nation (even though you didn't hear the "sign", even though you didn't hear the word "FORE!")???