It's amazing to me the arrogance some have in their attempts to explain/deny the GOD of the Bible. If you have been on YOUTUBE lately and look up atheism in any sort of way you will see plenty of harsh videos mocking the God of the Bible. Everything from morality, creation, laws, marriage, etc. There is nothing about God the atheistic community will not attack. They say that the God of the Bible does not exist, yet they go out of their way to mock, ridicule, deny the maker of the universe. This is puzzling to me, yet not surprising. I have gotten over being offended by them. I have turned the feelings of offense to feelings of sadness. I have also come to the conclusion through what the Bible speaks about, deafness and blindness. If you truly did not believe in something, you would not waste your time with it, it seems. This fascination with mocking is peculiar. And that tells me this. They believe God is really there, yet, they do like what He tells them. They do not listen and they twist His words so that it excuses their actions, words, thought life, etc. It truly is sad.
I had a thought this morning after reading in JOB. God loves us. Yet, He will not answer to us. Ever. He is not under our control, jurisdiction, or thumb. He is not surprised by those who choose to mock Him. He keeps on loving and is sovereign. IF you wish to find God, go to the poor, the homeless, the needy, there he will be. Go to drug rehab, go to the sick, those in prison, those suffering, there you will find Him. You wont find him in University classrooms. You wont find Him at political campaigns. You wont find Him sipping Tea with the rich and famous, or cruising on a yacht with high highfalutin. God is on the ground with the poor and needy. To me this is so comforting. He not only meets us where we are at (and this takes humbling ourselves completely before Him) but He suffers with us. You will find God in orphanages, funeral homes, underground movements in China and other countries. God is not out to prove Himself. If looking in the mirror is not enough proof that God exists for you, then you better rethink. This is one of the most wonderful things about God. He is who He is. Not shaken. Not poked and prodded to anger. He is steady, unfailing, unmovable. He is the rock of my salvation. So keep it up atheists, keep mocking. What comes around, goes around. Every word, thought, action, is subject to God and in the end He will judge right and true.
So, don't let those who hate God get you down. Remember to always have an answer for the truth, and do it with respect and love. The Bible never says to give in or prove anything, it says to give an answer for the hope you have. If people don't like the truth, that is between them and God. And God is unchanging and is who He is.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Plug your ears
Recently, I got in an argument over the fundamentals of the Christian faith with an atheist. Well, the person claimed to be an atheist, but one really never knows with them. They say they don't believe in a god, or gods, yet atheism is a belief. That is a subject for another time. We were discussing a very personal issue regarding the right to life. I gave this person my view, which, was based on the biblical text. My view is, that life is absolutely precious, and that God knew us before He knit us in his womb (Jer 1:5). This says that before we were even thought of by our parents, before even the beginning of time itself that God knew us! This is a wonderful thought. I continued with my view on life and stated that its not HOW we were conceived, but THAT we were conceived. Any idea or plan to cancel out a life from human terms is wrong, period. God is the author of life, the giver and taker. The only exception to this problem would be the obvious risk to the mother involved.(insert here any situation where you must choose one life over another) If it comes down to mother or child to save, you do the best you can based on prayer and support. But prayer being #1. I find that in hard times going to God FIRST is key, not 2nd or 3rd, but FIRST. It makes sense, why? Because He is life, the author knows what to do. We don't. And, in any tough situation as I am sure you can make out from the scenario above, we are called by God to be over comers, to not let the pain and suffering of this world destroy us, or even consume us, but to call on the Almighty to hold us and see us through even though ugly and horrific things that can happen to us. Jesus is awesome, and He suffers with us, feels our deepest pains and sorrows, and gives us life and joy even in the midst of tremendous sorrow. He is the only one I can trust my life with.
So, back to the subject of plugging your ears. This person I was having a discussion with called me "sick" and "distorted", said that if I don't radically change my view about God they would never speak to me again. They even said that they would not want to be in heaven with me if that was my view of God. Interesting how people can conjure up "their" own idea of what heaven is. God calls us to be over comers, not of our own doing, but with Him in control. This is applied to all things that we as human beings confront. Think of the ugliest situation or problem that could happen to you. With God, it can be overcome. This does not mean it will be easy, or even something that you wont have to live with the rest of your natural life. Matter of fact, Jesus tells us that "we will have trouble in this world, WILL, but take heart, I have overcome the world." It does not say we are entitled to safety, we are not entitled to be free of crimes, natural disasters, you name it. We are all subject to pain and suffering. The book of Job is a great book to understand suffering. The key is to allow God to suffer with us, to put our trust in Him, to see the future and to focus on what He has in store. This life is but a blip on the screen, and to understand that God can and will overcome.
Reminds me of the story of Stephen in the book of Acts. Stephen was not afraid to tell those listening what the problem was and who to turn to. They rejected what Stephen said, gnashed their teeth, basically put their fingers in their ears and turned to hate. Stephen was stoned for speaking the truth in love. Fortunately, I was not stoned, otherwise I would not be typing this right now. But it was clear to me that the truth really stings people and they hate God. Stephen, before he died, saw Jesus on His throne just before he died. What does that tell us? That God is in control, that we are in His hands, and though many may want to crush us for our belief in the risen Savior, that Jesus has the final say, and to put our hope and trust in the LIVING GOD. Stephen is a hero of our faith. I say "is" because Stephen is in the real world right now, we are in a twisted and fallen world. Stephen is in glory, made perfect by our true hero, Jesus Christ.
A couple of thoughts. People believe things that are easy and surface ridden, they typically follow the easy path that society tells them. Its easy to believe things that make you comfortable, therefore, it must be correct. God calls us to a higher standard. When you hear something, digest it, compare it to scripture, pray over it, try to understand who said it and their motives, and really think the problem through to its logical conclusion. If you don't, you will fall prey to ease and comfort, which, disguised, will ultimately ruin you and make you callous to the truth. Lets be people who are open minded to what God has for us, not to what a sick and distorted world has for us, because everything is meaningless when in the context of a atheist worldview. Jesus is the ultimate answer to life's challenges. Why? Because Jesus is life itself.
Jay
So, back to the subject of plugging your ears. This person I was having a discussion with called me "sick" and "distorted", said that if I don't radically change my view about God they would never speak to me again. They even said that they would not want to be in heaven with me if that was my view of God. Interesting how people can conjure up "their" own idea of what heaven is. God calls us to be over comers, not of our own doing, but with Him in control. This is applied to all things that we as human beings confront. Think of the ugliest situation or problem that could happen to you. With God, it can be overcome. This does not mean it will be easy, or even something that you wont have to live with the rest of your natural life. Matter of fact, Jesus tells us that "we will have trouble in this world, WILL, but take heart, I have overcome the world." It does not say we are entitled to safety, we are not entitled to be free of crimes, natural disasters, you name it. We are all subject to pain and suffering. The book of Job is a great book to understand suffering. The key is to allow God to suffer with us, to put our trust in Him, to see the future and to focus on what He has in store. This life is but a blip on the screen, and to understand that God can and will overcome.
Reminds me of the story of Stephen in the book of Acts. Stephen was not afraid to tell those listening what the problem was and who to turn to. They rejected what Stephen said, gnashed their teeth, basically put their fingers in their ears and turned to hate. Stephen was stoned for speaking the truth in love. Fortunately, I was not stoned, otherwise I would not be typing this right now. But it was clear to me that the truth really stings people and they hate God. Stephen, before he died, saw Jesus on His throne just before he died. What does that tell us? That God is in control, that we are in His hands, and though many may want to crush us for our belief in the risen Savior, that Jesus has the final say, and to put our hope and trust in the LIVING GOD. Stephen is a hero of our faith. I say "is" because Stephen is in the real world right now, we are in a twisted and fallen world. Stephen is in glory, made perfect by our true hero, Jesus Christ.
A couple of thoughts. People believe things that are easy and surface ridden, they typically follow the easy path that society tells them. Its easy to believe things that make you comfortable, therefore, it must be correct. God calls us to a higher standard. When you hear something, digest it, compare it to scripture, pray over it, try to understand who said it and their motives, and really think the problem through to its logical conclusion. If you don't, you will fall prey to ease and comfort, which, disguised, will ultimately ruin you and make you callous to the truth. Lets be people who are open minded to what God has for us, not to what a sick and distorted world has for us, because everything is meaningless when in the context of a atheist worldview. Jesus is the ultimate answer to life's challenges. Why? Because Jesus is life itself.
Jay
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