Preeminent VS The Obscure

I think scripture tells us to make the best of the cards we are dealt. According to testing for IQ, there is a range of results that take the form of a bell curve. Not very many below 80, and not very many above 120, and so doing our best within the group seems like a sound approach. I have personally known less than a dozen individuals who belonged in the gifted group, and I have not had to provide for people in the challenged group.

Credentialism, like royalty bestows unmerited favor on the well connected and well funded among us. But like many cultural norms, it will take time to move away from our outdated norms and adopt a more effective form of meritorious reward.

I had a sister who tested on the south side of the bell curve, but she was, according to my assessment, one of the finest persons I have ever known. Jesus taught about someone with not much but gave all. I will stick with His instruction.

 

Perhaps you might consider other words to describe your concept, as my understanding of preeminence is very different from the concept of a purpose driven life for Christ.

 

Drive that rewards efforts to succeed sounds like a purpose driven life, not a life of preeminence. Just saying...

 

Apparently you think some Pastor "invented" a purpose driven life. Not that the view is superficial.

 

You meant she exuded love to the best of her ability.

 

What does scripture say about "preeminence?"

First, in verse after verse scripture declares the preeminence of Christ, for He was in the beginning, and is the first born from the dead, the head of the body of believers.

Second, we, those born anew because of His sacrifice, are called to be the opposite of preeminence.

Mark 9:35
And sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”​

 

Creating doctrines of two types is generally a prejudicial game, that is, judgment is inserted at the outset by the one formulating the division.

The judgment of the Lord is predicated on the principle, “To whom much is given, much will be required” (see Luke 12:48). Thus the admonition to be careful in judging. The only true measure of a man is God’s

 

OK, let's play the game.

1. Who are the "less fortunate"?

2. What is "this predominant footing"?

3. Whence "superior intelligence"?

4. Whence “a burning desire to make your mark in this world"?

5. Whence the being “extremely gifted”?

6. What does it mean to “obtain the rewards”? What rewards?

 

OK, then actually take it seriously and answer the questions.

And then get ready to defend the thesis, whatever it is.

 

The problem is that the supposed observations have no clear anchor, no explicit basis. Calling the direct questions posed (which directly quoted the OP) inane and illegitimate, among other things, calls into question the validity of whatever the thesis is supposed to be.

How about clearly spelling out the thesis, defining terms that are being used, showing how they apply? It’s OK to give examples, but explain how they apply. Expecting mind reading is hardly a bona fide method.

As for the “shut up” (really?) that’s pretty much what you’ve done to yourself so far. Out of fear perhaps? Maybe because to actually engage might expose your own hidden agenda? Funny how that works.