Dr Werner Gitt, in his book, In The Beginning Was Information, outlined five Levels of Information :
1. Statistics
Lowest level of information but is not detailed enough to communicate anything of value.
Ex. tt tt tt tt tt tt; t13t t13t t13t t13t t13t
2. Syntax
Next level of information where the sequence of information is more intelligible but do not communicate anything of value.
Ex. grand the, eats letting
3. Semantics
Higher level of information whereby the communication generated is understood and of value. It communicates basic fact and is notable for the fact that a response is not needed.
Ex. grandpa is eating
4. Pragmatics
Higher level of information that requests action; communication of basic fact that requires a response from the receiver that may or may not be given.
Ex. grandpa let's eat
5. Apobetics
Highest level of information whereby the communication given is expected a response; a response is necessary in order for what was communicated to proceed or commence.
Did you notice one obvious flaw of information unto you read about Apobetics? The critical flaw of information is that unless it can commence an object or species to respond in the way in which that particular information was given, information itself is both futile & powerless. As a consequence, it does not matter whether or not you have such information or if it cannot promote, commence, or proceed with its necessary instruction in order to stimulate the necessary response. Thus, response is crucial to the understanding of the value & validity of information.
The Christ speaks to the Apostle John about the concern of the distortions & the blurring of the message of Jesus Christ — His Gospel Message :
Revelation 2:14
14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel
In the Book of Numbers chapters 22-24, we have the full accounting of this particular story that Jesus is mentioning. Balak is the King of Moab & he has become alarmed at the growing might of the Israelites in the Transjordan, for they have defeated the Amorite armies of King Sihon & the armies of King Og of Bashan. Balak sends messengers to a non-Israelite prophet from Beor by the name of Balaam. He sends back word to Balak that he must only speak the words that Yahweh, God, Himself have put into his mouth. Three (3) times, Balak sacrifices on altars dedicated to Baal & pleads with Balaam to curse the Israelites. Yet three (3) times Balaam refuses to curse the Israelites speaking only the words of Yahweh God that blesses Israel.
We have in this story a distortion of information — Balak seeks one form of communication to curse the Israelites in the hopes that such information would produce profound fatal consequences for the people of Israel. Yet through the agency of Yahweh God another entirely opposite form of communcation is produced — not from the desiring heart of Balaam himself nor engineered from the lips of Balaam rather profoundly communicating the words of God of such powerful significance unto the people of Israel. A man, attempted to engineer a response from information yet was foiled by the power of God.
There exists distortion in the way in which humanity communicates information. A distortion that can have tragic & critical consequences if responded in a certain way. It is merely not enough to retain information but also the value of understanding such information & how to respond appropriately. The church of Pergamum were being stumbled by a similar word from a someone who was claiming to promote information that stood apart from the Gospel of Christ. Indeed, a promotion of a word that pronounced the needlessness of Christ — that salvation did not require Christ; that spirituality can be obtained through contemplation of such speculative reasoning.
What does Christ say in response? Repent — the church has turned its back from the salvation of Jesus Christ; they have accepted the distortion of the truth of Scripture; they have invalidated the word of Christ by validating the word of a human. Information itself is meaningless; even the words — Jesus Saves — can do little. But the power in the words comes not through the letters in a particular order so that language is communicated & understood. Rather, there is a Spirit that enables humans to understand — Jesus Saves — not as a collection of letters but salvation in a divine person. The words have both meaning & power because we derive our salvation from such words. And at the same time, the same Spirit that enables saving Grace upon us is the same Spirit that enables us to reflect His image.
Information at its most powerful extent is when the individual receiving information seeks to respond in an appropriate manner. In such a way, we receive the information of Jesus Christ as Lord, The Christ who did die & did resurrect on the Third Day. Then we respond in an appropriate manner — genuflecting ourselves in repentance & faith through the Agency & Power of His Spirit that now indwells all believers in Christ. This is the message of the power of the Cross — that it enables incapable people such as ourselves to respond in a way that incapable people, who are neither spirit nor spiritual, inherently, do not possess.
ALL THE WAY my Savior Leads me; who have I to ask beside? Through Repentance of our daily washing & cleansing in the mercies of His Blood & through the maturing of Faith, that He, Himself assures by the Spirit.
