The Truth has always had a way of offending people. Despite all the evidence that support the radical claims of Christ, most folks can't be "talked into" believing in Him. I suppose it's like trying to talk someone into falling in love with someone else. Skeptic's arguments usually mask deeper issues of either intellectual pride, emotional scars or a self-focused worldview where they don't want to be held accountable by anybody's set of absolute moral truths. Sadly, oftentimes their skepticism is a direct result of seeing hypocrisy or experiencing harsh judgment from so-called Christians.
So how should we respond?
We should never respond to hostility with hostility. Jesus always responded with love. As Christians, the best thing we can do is live out our faith by loving and serving in a way that gets the attention and earns the respect of a very skeptical world. Once we have their attention, God will give us the words to say. Saint Francis of Assisi once said, "preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words."
When it is time to "use words," there are some great resources to equip you for these types of conversations. Start and end with the Bible of course, because it is the Living Word of God and the source of Truth. In addition, books such as "The Case for Christ" and "The Case for Faith" by atheist-turned-Christian, Lee Strobel are solid tools. Above all, pray for those who are far from God. Prayer changes our hearts and often the hearts of those for whom we pray.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
What happens to people who never hear about Jesus?
Will someone go to Hell just because they never heard about Jesus? The first two chapters of the book of Romans deals with this specifically and I encourage you to read that to get a Biblical explanation. There are different interpretations, but the way I see it, God's ultimate plan is for every human being to have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and make a choice to respond to Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In Christ alone can we have the fullness and purpose God intends and it through Christ alone that God's wrath towards our sin is turned away.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the benefit of hearing the Gospel. For those folks, my understanding of Scripture is that they will be judged in accordance to how they responded to God based on what they knew of God and His Laws. This is a basic knowledge availalbe to every human being, so some have called this the "Universal Law". As creatures created in God's own image, we are made to recognize His existence and His natural laws. These things are a shadow of the fullness of His plan with is ultimately made known through Jesus. As Christians, it should be our goal to take the message of Jesus throughout all the world so that everyone may have the benefit of the Gospel. The bottom line is this...God is Loving, God is Just and God wants all the World to hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." Romans 1:20 (NLT)
Unfortunately, not everyone has the benefit of hearing the Gospel. For those folks, my understanding of Scripture is that they will be judged in accordance to how they responded to God based on what they knew of God and His Laws. This is a basic knowledge availalbe to every human being, so some have called this the "Universal Law". As creatures created in God's own image, we are made to recognize His existence and His natural laws. These things are a shadow of the fullness of His plan with is ultimately made known through Jesus. As Christians, it should be our goal to take the message of Jesus throughout all the world so that everyone may have the benefit of the Gospel. The bottom line is this...God is Loving, God is Just and God wants all the World to hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." Romans 1:20 (NLT)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Why should we "fear" a loving God?
There is often a confusing distinction between God being Love (1 John 4:8) and God being someone we are commanded to "fear". I don't think there's a clean, cookie-cutter answer to this because it deals with the nature of God which is something bigger than the mind can grasp. It helps me to think about it like this...the one command in the Bible given more than any other command is simply "be not afraid". We are told countless times and in countless ways that God has not given us a spirit of fear and that through Him, we can be courageous in all circumstances. Jesus Himself said that we should not fear man but God because God is the one who has power not only over this mortal life, but eternity.
It is as if God is telling us that the only healthy outlet for our fears is to direct them to Him alone. I also believe that a healthy fear can help mold our immature hearts towards a deeper love and faith. When I was very young, I had a healthy fear of my Dad. I knew that if I crossed the line, I would pay for it. I also knew that he loved me more than I could imagine. As I grew, there was much less need for fear as my heart and mind had matured under the loving guidlines he enforced and made possible in part by the "fear" I had of his wrath. I now see that even when I was punished, it was motivated solely out of his love for me.
No parent is perfect, so those parallels will always break down at some point, because God is perfect. His love is perfect. His mercy is perfect. I believe that even His wrath is perfect because it is an extension of His Holiness and it is used to bring us to Him where we ultimately discover his loving and tender Grace. The Bible has much to say about all this and philosophers and theologians much more qualified than me have discussed these thing for centuries, but I wanted to share a few thoughts I've had along the way. I hope it helps.
It is as if God is telling us that the only healthy outlet for our fears is to direct them to Him alone. I also believe that a healthy fear can help mold our immature hearts towards a deeper love and faith. When I was very young, I had a healthy fear of my Dad. I knew that if I crossed the line, I would pay for it. I also knew that he loved me more than I could imagine. As I grew, there was much less need for fear as my heart and mind had matured under the loving guidlines he enforced and made possible in part by the "fear" I had of his wrath. I now see that even when I was punished, it was motivated solely out of his love for me.
No parent is perfect, so those parallels will always break down at some point, because God is perfect. His love is perfect. His mercy is perfect. I believe that even His wrath is perfect because it is an extension of His Holiness and it is used to bring us to Him where we ultimately discover his loving and tender Grace. The Bible has much to say about all this and philosophers and theologians much more qualified than me have discussed these thing for centuries, but I wanted to share a few thoughts I've had along the way. I hope it helps.
Friday, August 14, 2009
How to Make Good Choices
When you come to a crossroads and you have to make a choice, please consider these instructions:
1. Trust God. Often we get into trouble because we think we know better than God how to run our lives. Trust your life and your choices to Him and He will guide you. (see Proverbs 3:5-6)
2. Be Wise. Wisdom is more than intelligence, education or even common sense. Wisdom comes from God. Seek it and you will find it. Godly wisdom can and should become the basis for all of your decisions. (see Proverbs 8:33-36)
3. Listen to Godly People. One of the main differences between wisdom and foolishness is that a wise person will consistently seek out and listen to wise counsel while a fool will do his (or her) own thing and resent anyone who tries to tell him what to do. Seek out wise people who can help you make the best decision possible. Once you’ve found some wise friends and advisors, listen to them. (see Proverbs 15:22)
4. Be Patient. In every major decision, realize that good discernment usually comes with time, thought, prayer and patience. In big decisions, your first instinct isn’t always the best option. (see Proverbs 16:32)
5. Check your Motives. Any choice made from an authentic heart to please God will ultimately lead to success. (see Proverbs 16:3)
6. Calm down. Never make a decision in anger. It will almost always be the wrong choice. (see Proverbs 29:11)
7. Be Courageous. The most consistent command in all the Bible is “Be not afraid”. As God’s child, fear should never be your motivation to make any decision. (see Proverbs 29:25)
8. Think it Through. Every wise choice will create future opportunities and every poor choice will limit future opportunities. With every choice, ask yourself how will I feel about this decision I’m making ten days or ten years down the road? Your choices today will either build or destroy your life tomorrow. (see Proverbs 19:3)
9. Listen to your Wife. All the other Proverbs have been for all people in all walks of life, but this one is just for the blessed men who have a Godly wife. Guys, when it comes to big decisions, listen to your wife! Trust me on this one. (see Proverbs 31:10-31)
10. Don’t second guess. Once you’ve gone through the process and made your decision, follow through and don’t look back. “What might have been” is a waste of time! (see Proverbs 4:25)
1. Trust God. Often we get into trouble because we think we know better than God how to run our lives. Trust your life and your choices to Him and He will guide you. (see Proverbs 3:5-6)
2. Be Wise. Wisdom is more than intelligence, education or even common sense. Wisdom comes from God. Seek it and you will find it. Godly wisdom can and should become the basis for all of your decisions. (see Proverbs 8:33-36)
3. Listen to Godly People. One of the main differences between wisdom and foolishness is that a wise person will consistently seek out and listen to wise counsel while a fool will do his (or her) own thing and resent anyone who tries to tell him what to do. Seek out wise people who can help you make the best decision possible. Once you’ve found some wise friends and advisors, listen to them. (see Proverbs 15:22)
4. Be Patient. In every major decision, realize that good discernment usually comes with time, thought, prayer and patience. In big decisions, your first instinct isn’t always the best option. (see Proverbs 16:32)
5. Check your Motives. Any choice made from an authentic heart to please God will ultimately lead to success. (see Proverbs 16:3)
6. Calm down. Never make a decision in anger. It will almost always be the wrong choice. (see Proverbs 29:11)
7. Be Courageous. The most consistent command in all the Bible is “Be not afraid”. As God’s child, fear should never be your motivation to make any decision. (see Proverbs 29:25)
8. Think it Through. Every wise choice will create future opportunities and every poor choice will limit future opportunities. With every choice, ask yourself how will I feel about this decision I’m making ten days or ten years down the road? Your choices today will either build or destroy your life tomorrow. (see Proverbs 19:3)
9. Listen to your Wife. All the other Proverbs have been for all people in all walks of life, but this one is just for the blessed men who have a Godly wife. Guys, when it comes to big decisions, listen to your wife! Trust me on this one. (see Proverbs 31:10-31)
10. Don’t second guess. Once you’ve gone through the process and made your decision, follow through and don’t look back. “What might have been” is a waste of time! (see Proverbs 4:25)
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