Search This Blog

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Let Me Tell You What I Don't Know

I believe every word of the Bible. I read it, study, and apply as much of it as I can to my life. I'm not alone, there are people who believe it just as much as I do, who disagree with my take on some of it. We agree on the main points though. Peter said "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."  He probably said this because moments after being told he'd be the foundation of the church Jesus called him the devil. That I understand, but there's a lot of the Bible that's a total mystery to me. For example, God seems to complicate some solutions that seem rather simple to me for all-powerful master the universe. I mean, why did Noah need to preach for 120 years for absolutely no one outside of his family to be saved? Or, why in the world did God allow His people to become enslaved in the first place? How was Jesus a man and God when at the same time He was God's son? Did God conquer death from heaven, the cross, the grave, hell or all of the above? Just under the top of that mysterious list is predestination verses free will. It's a conundrum over which many a Christain has worn out a brain cell. The Bible clearly indicates repentance is a choice while saying we are chosen by God himself. How can both Paul be right in Romans 9, if Jesus's right teaching in John 3? How do I respond to those kind of questions? I don't know. I don't know if it's one or the other or both at the same time. Oh and I don't believe you know either. If you do know, praise The Lord, but don't waste your time trying to explain it to me. It's obviously over my pay grade. I've seen members of the body Christ come to almost blows arguing over this issue. They cite bible verses driving home their point of view in the name Jesus.  If both sides were honest, they'd admit there's more questions than answers concerning this issue. When Christian discussion turns into a Christain doctrine debate, charity goes out the window. Someone said we are supposed to love one another just like Jesus loved us. Who was that guy? That's hard enough with God's help and impossible without it. Jesus said that the world would recognize us because we loved one another. Yet, who in there right mind would blame the fact we stink at it on God even if He's in control and has a plan? Or, do we stink at it because we aren't the real thing?  Perhaps, the world doesn't believe us because we act as if we don't love one another. If we act like everyone else, then there's nothing special about us, is there? Meanwhile, widows and orphans... Aren't there enough demonic forces to battle here without arguing with one another? It saddens me we spend so much time debating trivial matters rather than doing the things God asks us to. The kind of things no one can argue or find fault with like we are commanded to do throughout the Bible.  Like the verses found in Romans 12:18, Galatians 5:22-23, or Titus 2:8 for example .
God never promised us we'd have all the answers. The greatest mystery of all is found in the sacrifice of Christ. Nope, I don't know why He did. I don't know how He did it. I don't know why He chose me or how It works. I don't know much. But God knows. He has His reasons. You can debate how or why He did it. You can even debate who he does it for. When? Where? I've read it and I'm still don't know.  Because He loves me and I love Him, I will work as if it depends on me. I believe, hope, and pray it depends on Him. One things for sure, someone else's salvation doesn't depend on you or me.  Nevertheless, I'll leave the mysteries to Him and the debate to someone else. As Job says "God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. (Job 37:5 KJV)". 






Sunday, March 23, 2014

Are you listening?



"Proofs in the pudding" whatever that means.

Check out the link above. So scientist have discovered more evidence to support the Big Bang theory. Before creationist roll their eyes, with this new evidence comes strong support for a creator. To make a long story short, the new evidence suggests in addition to a starting point of the universe, the Big Bang had to have a starter. A catalyst, a pusher if you will. Something outside of time, space, and matter had to pull the trigger. Exciting as that may be for believers, you can rest assured much time a research will go into finding a more logical explanation. Some people won't listen to reason. What if science actually proved the existence of God? Would that make more people have faith? I don't think so. In fact, I don't think even seeing God would change a thing since we tried to kill Him the last time He was here. Apparently, God puts more stock into listening rather than seeing. "Seeing is believing " but the bible says " faith comes from hearing". After all, if you can't see that there's a creator, you are visually impaired and ain't no amount of magnification gonna fix it. In order to have faith in something you don't have to see it, or understand it but you got to listen to it.  Witness to enough people and you'll find most don't want to listen to it. Jesus said they wouldn't listen even if someone came back from the dead then He did just to prove it.  Take Romans chapter one. We have. "Clearly seen" and are "without excuse". Mankind knows the truth yet we have rebelled since the garden. Do we have to have data from the telescope to tell us how big God is? Is He hiding so well we need a microscope find Him?  Believing is not equivalent to faith for even Satan believes in God. Belief is something you can develope by understanding what you know. Faith is believing in something you know you can't understand. And God is too wonderful to understand, don't you know.