Q: Can God be all forgiving? Can He let serial killers and child molesters into heaven? Or is there a point that comes when even HE cannot forgive?
A: God can be and is all forgiving. He is the epitomy of grace and He tells us in the often quoted verse John 3:16 that He loves us SO much that he gave His only son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life. Nowhere in this verse does he make a stipulation...
on an individual’s history of sin.
Daniel did a message not long ago where he talked about “a little thing” he “likes to call justification by comparison.” It’s where we look at individuals and compare ourselves…”well, I’m not as bad as that person”. It is human nature to assess how bad certain sins are. When, in reality, God doesn’t set varying levels of sin. Sin is sin. Lying, using God’s name in vain, murder, cheating on your taxes, cheating on your spouse…it’s all the same. While the pain and earthly consequences of those actions are obviously different, the impact they have on our being righteous enough to enter heaven are the same. We are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. Without God’s grace, NONE of us are worthy of the Kingdom of heaven. But the beauty of it is…with God’s grace, ALL of us are capable of entering that Kingdom.
The hard part, I think, is recognizing the above statement as “beauty”. Jesus actually tells a great parable- the story of The Prodigal Son. (Luke 15:11-32) If you’ve not read it, take a moment and check it out. In the story, the older brother represents the Pharisees, who at the time were really angry and bitter that “sinners” were being welcomed into the kingdom of God.
I think it’s just as easy for us to fall into the same trap as the Pharisees – where we actually resent God’s forgiveness of others who are “way worse sinners” than we are. Instead, we are told to rejoice and celebrate when others come to Jesus. Our focus should not be on the past of others but rather on Luke 15:32 “…celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Serial Killers in heaven?
Forgiving the Unaware Offender
Q: When you are angry with someone, how can you forgive them if they don’t even know you’re upset?
A: Forgiveness is something we are told to do throughout the Bible – in fact we are told in Matthew 6:14-15 that if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive our sins. Forgiveness is an act of letting go. It is something you do for you as much as for someone else. Being angry with this person who doesn’t even know you’re mad is...
corrupting your heart, not theirs. It is creating an environment for bitterness, anger and hurt to fester…all the while having no effect whatsoever on your offender. Letting go of this anger, truly forgiving this person – in your heart - which means understanding the impact and working through it…not dwelling on it anymore…seriously letting it go – allows you to move on and creates room in your heart for love, peace and grace…the things that are supposed to be there.
When I find myself struggling with forgiveness or dwelling on something in the past that I allegedly had already forgiven, I always think of a line in The Lord’s Prayer that says, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us”. My interpretation of that line is – “Father, please forgive me for all of the things I’ve done to hurt You – the same way that I forgive those that hurt me.” In that context, it is more important than ever that I not only forgive those who hurt me, but I do so with the grace and compassion that I am asking for from my Father in heaven.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
What is Salvation?
Q: I don’t understand “being saved.” How do I know I’m ready? Can you shed some light on this? Can you fall from this and have to be re-saved?
A: "Saved" is one term among several that the New Testament uses to describe the change that occurs in a person's relationship with God after encountering and choosing to follow Jesus Christ. Other terms include...
... "made right with God," "justified," "peace with God," "born again," "converted," "redeemed." The noun is “salvation.” Salvation is deliverance from the power and effects of sin. To be saved is to be forgiven of our sins and placed in a right relationship with God.
We are saved by faith in God’s work in Jesus Christ. God’s just punishment for our sin is...
absorbed by Christ on the cross. To accept Christ’s payment is to be saved. It is what Bob Tuttle calls, the great “I give up.” We give up on our righteousness, on our own efforts to gain God’s approval, on all attempts to justify ourselves. We acknowledge we are sinners in need of God’s grace. We admit we need a Savior.
If you acknowledge you need God, that you can’t atone for your own sin, that your righteousness isn’t sufficient, then you are ready. Make no mistake, it is not a step to take lightly. It is unconditional surrender. With it comes all the benefits of being a child of God: forgiveness, peace with God, the joy of relationship with God, eternal life, a new power to live life as God wants it lived.
You are free to accept or reject this gift. This is true before salvation and after. No one in God’s creation can take God’s salvation from you. But, you can choose to walk away from Christ. Our love for God must be freely given from a willing heart.
What happens at death?
Q: When we die as a faithful Christian, does our spirit go right to heaven? When Jesus comes back, the dead in Christ will rise first so then our earthly body is lifted up?
A: When a follower of Jesus Christ dies, his or her spirit immediately goes to heaven. Paul said, "absent in body, present with the Lord." Jesus promised the thief on the cross who trusted in him, "Today you will be with me in paradise." You are correct in noting that the reference to "the dead in Christ rising first" (found in I Thessalonians 4) is to the resurrection of the body; when the spirits of those in Christ who have died will be clothed with their new bodies, like the body Jesus had after the resurrection. "Soul sleep," the belief that we sleep in the grave until the Day of Judgment, is not a biblical idea and is held by only a small minority of Christians.
Christmas
Q: I have heard conflicting reports about Christmas being a pagan holiday. I would like some clarification on that.
A: We do not know the exact date of Christ's birth. The December 25 date comes from the position that Jesus died on March 25 coupled with the Jewish belief that a prophet died on the same day he was conceived. Add nine months to the date of conception and you come up with December 25. There were pagan holidays celebrated around that time (like Saturnalia) and, because of that, the assumption is that it was originally pagan. There is some evidence that the Christmas tree was originally used in pagan settings. It appears first in the Christian community in the eighth century and continued to evolve over time. Legend has it that the Reformer Martin Luther began the tradition of adding lights to the Christmas tree. The history can be debated. The essential question is, "Can an object of this world be used for God's purposes and designs even if it was originally used for non-Christian purposes?" I believe the answer is yes. In the first century Christians wondered if it was acceptable to purchase meat from the marketplace since, in many situations, that meat was first offered to pagan gods. Paul said a believer was free to eat it. The Psalmist declares, "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it." If Christmas was originally pagan, that matters little now for what God redeems is holy.
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Dear readers-
Since we have started this blog, we have wanted to have it formatted so that just the first portion of the entry was shown with a link that says, "Read More..." on which you could click to read the rest of it. This way, if you didn't want to read or respond to that particular question, you didn't have to scroll down forever to find the rest of them. So, without any further ado, please click on the blue "Read More..." link below...
See what I mean? Now isn't that better. Our hope that this makes this blog more accessible and readable to you. If you have any other comments or suggestions, please let us know so we can take them into consideration.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
A Question About Questions
A: I’m not sure if this is a general question or one specific to this blog. Here, we have answered questions regarding creation, God’s existence, the Bible, homosexuality, abortion, suffering and suicide. I can tell you these are not easy topics to address; so if there is a particular question or topic you feel we are sidestepping, could you let us know through comment here? Thanks.
Judgment of Those Who Have Never Heard of Christ
A: In the first chapter of Romans, the Apostle Paul says that God, His qualities, have been clear to his creation from the beginning; God is imprinted on the heart so to speak. The implication that follows (and is given in a few other passages) is that the person who has not received the Good News of Jesus Christ will be dealt with gracefully by his or her response to that understanding of God. So, no, God does not send people ignorant of Jesus to hell based on a lack of acceptance to what they don’t know.
Someone may ask, then, “Why tell people about Jesus if those who never heard about him have a way outside of him to be judged?” The answer is twofold. First, we are told to do so by our Lord. Second, the Good News is not just for judgment day, rather Christ has the power to transform our lives with healing and truth. If we don’t send kids to school, their intelligence will never be evaluated the same way, but that doesn’t mean that education isn’t incredibly important to have.
Alcohol
A: There is nothing in the Bible that prohibits drinking alcohol. However, the Bible says quite a bit about drunkenness. It says that drunkenness leads to debauchery and ungodly living. Also, the Apostle Paul says that while there are things that are not wrong in and of themselves, they become wrong when they cause a brother or sister to stumble (fall into sin). I think a direct application of this is drinking around a recovering alcoholic.
Some Christians then make a decision that abstinence from alcohol is the best choice since drinking CAN lead to drunkenness (certainly more so than not drinking can) and since they can never be sure who might stumble because of their actions.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Be Fruitful and Multiply
Q: God said to man, "Be fruitful and multiply", yet his only son had no children. Does not God lead by example?
A: I have never actually thought about this before. But when you look back at the times that God told man to 'be fruitful and multiply,' it was not to man in general, necessarily. It was at specific times in which the earth or a people group needed to be populated. The first instance was during creation. God created all of the creatures and Adam and Eve, then empowered them to populate the earth by being fruitful and multiplying. The next instance was after the Great Flood. Every person and creature on earth was destroyed, save Noah and his family and the animals that were taken on the ark with them, so again the need was there to populate the earth. Finally, the line of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was to be God's chosen people, which would eventually be the line that Jesus came from. God promised Abraham that his descendants would outnumber the stars (Genesis 15:5). In order for them to do that, they had to be fruitful and multiply. So it was not a general command that God gave to people, such as worship Him alone or do not murder, but to a specific person/people in a specific circumstance.
Regarding Jesus leading by example, His whole life was the ultimate example. When He would tell people to follow Him, He was inviting them to do as He did and live as He lived. He showed us what it looks like to be a believer in God. If we call ourselves Christians, our primary goal should be to model His life. The fact that He wasn't married and didn't multiply physiologically is not necessarily an example that we should feel the need to follow, any more than Him being a carpenter or wearing robes are. It is simply a social construct that, in itself, neither violates nor fulfills God's commands or desires for life.
Wishy-Washy Jesus
Q: I keep thinking about Fitz’ comments about which Jesus you know and the “wishy-washy Jesus” whose followers that whatever people believe is OK (sic). I’m having trouble reconciling those thoughts with my beliefs in religious freedom and tolerance. Wouldn’t more tolerance be good, especially in terms of today’s topic? Is it tolerance versus acceptance? If so, how do you balance those?
A: Tolerance. Now there's a popular word in the common vernacular these days. It's a tough one, though. According to Dictionary.com, it means a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry. Taking that into consideration, what do you do with the person that believes differently than you do? Should you give that person the right to believe however they want to, be permissive about their beliefs? Yes, I believe that's fine. Anyone can believe what he/she wants. We don't have to force them to believe what we believe. However, that does not make an alternate truth that someone else believes to be equally true as the truth (which we believe is found in Jesus Christ, the way the truth and the life - John 14:6). There can only be one truth. Two opposing things can not be true philosophically. For example, you can not have someone who is a married bachelor. Each of those elements - married and bachelor - have a truth to them that can not be combined to the other without a violation of their inherent definitions. Along the same lines, two sets of beliefs that are contradictory to one another can not both be true. One has to be true, and the other false. As Christians, we believe Jesus to embody that truth. If another set of beliefs contradicts Him, then we believe it to be false. If that is intolerant, then Jesus was intolerant since He was the One that made the claim to be the truth. If someone wants to believe to be true what we believe to be false, they have that right. We do not, however, have to accept it as truth.
So, out of respect for the individual, we should let everyone choose for themselves what they want to believe, right? I would answer that with a no. Out of respect and love for the individual, wouldn't we want what is best for them? Let me make a ridiculous example to illustrate: If we have a loved one that believes that drinking a mixture of plutonium and acid will help them to live forever, and we know the truth to be that it will kill them - and rather rapidly - would we not want to tell them the truth? Of course we would. So if we know the truth, why would we be OK with our loved ones - and people we don't know, for that matter - to believe in and live with untruth? We shouldn't be. So while it seems to be more caring for the individual to allow him/her to believe as he/she wants, it is far more caring to them to show them what real truth is. Jesus didn't call us to be tolerant and accepting, but He did call us to love.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Freedom to Sin
Q: Just because people believe in God this seems to give them a free reign to do whatever they want. Steal—forgotten; treat others wrong—forgiven.
A: I would disagree that just because someone believes in God they are some how free to do whatever they want.
Granted, there are individuals that claim to believe in God that use their freedom to sin. However, Paul tells us in Romans that using our freedom to sin is not appropriate. Romans 6:1-4 says, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
The answer is clear in the Scripture; people who believe in God through Jesus Christ are expected to live lives worthy of that relationship. We do not sin so that grace will increase. Christians are forgiven because of what Christ did on the cross on our behalf; however, this is in no way a license to sin.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Chosen
Q: Why did God have a “chosen” people considering he created people to begin with?
A: It is a little difficult to understand the concept of “chosen.” However, it is important to understand that God chose Israel as part of a strategic plan to bless all nations on earth. It is in the covenant God made with Abram, in Genesis 12:1-3, that we can better understand all of the Bible and God’s purpose. God didn’t choose Israel in order to keep the promise with them, but as a way to reach out to all people.
“The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you."
The answer to your question is found here in verse 3, “and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” God chose Abraham to be the father of a great nation and it was through that nation that God was going to bless the entire world. It was God’s plan that through Israel everyone would be introduced to him. I think too often people forget the last part of the promise God made with Israel, the part that illuminates for us his grand purpose – that all people on earth will be blessed through God’s chosen. It was through the nation of Israel that Christ came into the world as the means of salvation for all people. Christ is the way for all of us to be grafted into the promise.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Abortion and Politics
Q: I am a registered voter, and I believe "abortion" is morally wrong. Would Jesus support abortion or a candidate who supports it?
A: They say that there are two things that you should never discuss with people: religion and politics. And here I go volunteering to answer a question that involves both. What am I, crazy?!? Probably.
I would have to agree with you, that abortion is morally wrong / sin. Psalm 139 tells us that it was God "who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed." This tells me that God knew us long before we were born, and even before we were formed in our mother's womb. It suggests that we are an individual before being born. And throughout the Bible, we see that God has a particularly soft spot for those individuals that can't defend themselves, and tells His followers that we should serve them and protect them. In the Bible, those individuals were the poor, the foreigners, the widows, and the oppressed. Today, they can be seen as the unborn child. So yes, to take the life of an unborn baby, I believe that God sees that as wrong.
However, I don't know that it should be elevated to a different level than other sins. There is so much that people do that God would frown upon, but we tend to blow up a few things that are so much bigger than the others, abortion and homosexuality being the two that come to mind. But we look past things such as slander and gossip, lust and envy, murder and hatred (OK, we probably don't look past murder, but we turn a blind eye to hatred), idolatry and lying, and so on. There are lots of sins that we commit in this world, and abortion, in my opinion, is one of them.
Now whether or not Jesus would support a candidate that supports abortion is another question altogether. If there was only one platform for the candidates - nothing else - and it was whether or not they support abortion, I believe Jesus would support the one that opposes it. However, there are many more than just one platform issue: poverty, war, health care, education, the economy, and so on. I think Jesus might look at some stances that a candidate takes with pleasure, and some others that he/she stands for with displeasure. The same with the opposing candidate. There are too many issues to choose from. I don't know that Jesus would support one candidate over another based on the wide varieties of issues.
I think Jesus might have a real problem with our political system as a whole. I was watching a debate the other night and wondered how people could be that mean and spiteful towards each other - and it was in public! Behind closed doors, I've heard people say some nasty things about others, and have probably said some myself. But they were on stage being downright malicious! And that's not to mention the slew of political ads that hurl insights and half-truths at the other candidate. I think Jesus would look at how we treat each other in the midst of political season with sadness. He might have a hard time supporting any of them after witnessing their interactions.
How should you vote? That is between you and God. I will pray for wisdom as you make your decision.
Why am I Different?
Q:How can you prove God loves us if he lets such terrible things happen? How does he let kids be so mean? Why did he make me so different - not like everyone else? Why doesn't he let me have a friend?
A: Wow, what a painful question! Before I try to address it - and note I said 'try' - I would like to say how sorry I am for the pain you must feel. To feel like you are all alone and that no one understands is not a fun place to be. I'm sorry for what you are going through. I wish I could help in some tangible way. I will try my best to answer your question and pray that it helps you out in some small way.
I would like for you to imagine two worlds for me. In each world, you have the ability to create things and beings:
- In the first world, you create a race of beings, let's say hamsters. Each one of them is different: some brown, some white, some brown and white, some fat, some skinny, some smart, some not-so-smart, and so on. In this world, you give the hamsters a choice: whether to love you or to reject you. It is completely their choice. Now, you can do whatever you want to help them make their choice: feed them, pet them, give them water, buy them a cool wheel to run around on, love on them. But you can't force them to love you. They can still reject you if they want to. And some do, but some don't. Some choose to love you.
- In the second world, you create a race of robots. Each one of them is the same: silver metal robots. In this world, you don't give the robots a choice: they are created with only the ability to love you. They can't choose anything different; they HAVE TO love you. You don't have to do anything to earn it. You can treat them horribly and it wouldn't matter. They would still love you, because they are forced to. They don't have any other option.
Our world is the same way. God created us to have a choice, and some of us - all of us, actually, at one time or another - use that choice to reject God. We use our freedom in not so nice ways. We lie, cheat, steal, and treat people pretty badly. I think that's what you are experiencing, people using their freedom in a bad way, to reject God and you. It's nothing you did wrong and nothing bad about who you are. It's simply people choosing to reject God and His desires for how people should treat each other.
About being created different, I think it shows the creativity of God. You might not like how you were created right now, but God thinks you are pretty cool that way, because He is the one that made you that way. The book of Jeremiah tells us that God knew us even before we were made in the womb. That tells me that you weren't an accident, that God knew what He was doing. Why He created you that particular way, I don't know, but He does have a plan for your life. Maybe this time is making you stronger for the stuff you have to deal with. Maybe later in life you will be able to deal with some stuff that others can't because you are having a difficult time now. Maybe you have a special calling because of how you were created. I remember hearing a guy speak to our youth group in Ohio who had basically no arms and no legs. He was REALLY different! But he still played football and basketball, and he used his difference as a platform to speak about his relationship with God. He might not have had that platform if it weren't for his difference. So yes, you were created different, just like the rest of us. And while it might not feel very good right now, it wasn't an accident and can be something great later on.
One last note of encouragement: Jesus knows what you are going through. Isaiah 53 tells us that Jesus didn't have anything special about Him that made Him particularly attractive, and that He would be rejected and abused for who He was. And He was. If you feel rejected, Jesus felt it. If you feel unattractive, Jesus felt it. If you feel abused, Jesus felt it. When you feel these things, talk to Jesus about it. He understands.
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Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Homosexuality
A: I don’t think God ever said homosexuality is a choice. God’s Word clearly says that homosexual practice - like many other things, including those I’ve struggled with – is against his will.
While I’ve never seen any hard scientific evidence of a “homosexual gene” or some genetic predisposition toward homosexuality, I don’t know for certain that we won’t find something along those lines in the future. Some believe that if such proof ever comes, then we could no longer consider it disobedience to God. I disagree and will say more about that later.
First, I think it’s important to note the strong correlation between childhood trauma and homosexuality established through a great deal of reputable research. Few would argue there is some link between sexual, physical and emotional abuse of children (or absentee parents) and these children’s later homosexuality. Even if it were proven that some people have a predisposition, it seems rather improbable that all practicing homosexuals are predisposed.
As Christians, we believe all of creation, including humanity, has been impacted by sin – disobedience to God. So much so that it is very possible we are born with predispositions toward certain sins. These predispositions do not make the acts themselves right (right in the sense that it is the will of the God who loves us and wants the best for us; wants us whole and healthy). It is true, regardless of the predisposition - homosexuality, chemical addiction (strong evidence for alcoholism predisposition), etc. - that the person could struggle with these predisposed urges all of his or her life. The urges, or temptations, are not sin – only the practice. Predisposition to homosexuality doesn’t make the practice of it right or healthy anymore than the predisposition to alcoholism makes perpetual drunkenness right or healthy.
Though the temptation may exist, what Christ offers us is forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live in God’s will, overcoming the effect of sin in this world. As we submit to that Spirit and are healed by God through the Spirit, through the church, through wise counseling, we are not condemned to live lonely lives. God’s grace and love are sufficient to those who may live single or celibate or sexually redeemed lives.
Those in the church have at times treated homosexuals with hatred. This is not what Jesus advocates. Jesus is the friend of sinners…sinners like me and sinners like you and sinners who are homosexual. In fact, Jesus was stern with his rebuke of spiritual sin such as pride, and very tender with those struggling with sins of the flesh. He loves us even when he hates our actions because they are harmful to the ones he loves. Christians should reflect this attitude as well.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Is Christianity true?
Q: What do you say when your children ask you, “How do you know that Christianity is real or right?”
A: There is only one way to know if anything is true or not. If it aligns with reality, it is true. If I say, “The Rams are playing the Patriots in the Super Bowl in a couple weeks,” I would not be right. I would be delusional! (Or perhaps prone to wishful thinking!) The statement, “The Giants are facing the Patriots in the Super Bowl” is right because it aligns with reality. My dislike of both teams matter little. It is what it is.
Do we sin less after conversion?
Q: Does a person's propensity to sin decrease after salvation?
A: Yes. Before conversion to Christ we are sin prone. It doesn't mean that we are always doing bad things. We are still made in the image of God, after all, and his goodness is not driven out completely. We all know many fine, morally upright people who are not believers. But, our natural bent is toward self and sin. When the Holy Spirit enters a human heart, that person is justified and given a new power to live for God. "Sin remains but no longer reigns," to quote Bob Tuttle. It is not due to will power or trying harder; it is due to Holy Spirit power ... what the Bible calls grace. To quote Tuttle again, "Grace, the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, changes our attitude toward God and sin so that we are now righteousness prone. Our inclination is to obey rather than disobey God."
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Why violence in the Old Testament?
Q: What is the connection between the Old Testament stories about war and God’s commanding to kill families and villages and the New Testament teachings of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount?
Friday, January 18, 2008
Is it fair to blame Judas if he was fulfilling prophecy?
Q: Judas betrayed Jesus to fulfill an Old Testament prophecy. Why is Judas considered a traitor?
Hypocrisy and the Behavior of Christians
A: Christians are imperfect humans with free will living in a broken and sinful world. We are tempted to do wrong just like other people and are quite capable of choosing poorly under our own power. We believe that Jesus Christ has offered complete forgiveness through his death and resurrection to everyone who believes in him. Unfortunately, many Christians stop at this offer – what we call justification. Justification is the act of God in Christ Jesus that saves us from the penalty of disobedience to God’s will.
But God has offered so much more. God has given those who believe in Jesus the gift of the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of God actually living in us. The work of the Spirit is to convict us of sin so that we are aware of our need for forgiveness, to testify to the truth and saving power of Jesus Christ, and to guide us and empower us so that we become increasingly like Jesus – the only human who didn’t do wrong. So by the Spirit’s power we are being perfected into the likeness of Jesus, though we are not yet perfect. This “being perfected” is called sanctification.
It is sad to say that many Christians know little or nothing of the work of the Spirit. The truth is that even those of us who do will sometimes choose our own will and power over the promptings and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit leads us into Christ-likeness, but the Spirit does not force us into Christ-likeness. The result is that we do wrong, and people get hurt.
Only when a Christian is claiming to be perfect or give off a thick air of self-righteousness does the label hypocrite really apply. But any such person is not thinking as a true Christian because we know that we are not perfect or righteous by ourselves. But because Christians speak about right and wrong, healthy and unhealthy, obedience and sin, the world can quickly use this cutting term.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Forgive AND Forget???
Q: What about forgiving and forgetting – do you have to do both?
A: Years ago, Pastor Ron did a sermon about forgiveness in which he touched on this topic. I remember it so clearly because I was having such an intense struggle with forgiveness issues at that time. I was becoming re-acquainted with my faith after years away from God and was allowing bitterness to creep into my heart, which played out in many of my actions, etc. I kept praying about forgiveness, but continued to struggle as I could not allow myself to reconcile a friendship with a person that had hurt me deeply.
What I learned during that message literally changed my life. That day, I learned that there is a difference in dwelling on past hurts and remembering past hurts. We are instructed to forgive, we are not instructed to forgive and forget. In fact, remembering is encouraged time and time again throughout The Bible. Remembering is a key component to growth.
During the message, Pastor Ron gave the example of a business person who discovered that an employee had been stealing from them and so they fired the employee. He made it very clear that there was a definite need on the part of the employer to forgive the employee. But, then he posed the most interesting question. If you truly forgive the employee, does that mean you would have to rehire them?
The answer was “no”. You have not forgotten what happened. You do not have to “forget” to use good judgment by not placing that person in a position where they have the opportunity to steal again. Forgiving them just means you have let it go. You are not dwelling on it anymore. You are not sitting around making a game plan on how you are going to get back at them.
After that day, I did reconcile that friendship…but on different terms. I have forgiven this person. I do not bring up the events that took place so long ago. I do not dwell on revenge. At the same time, I do not allow myself to be in the same situation I was in before when I got hurt.
Why?
Because I didn't forget.
If there is ONE God...
Q: If there is ONE God, then why are there so many different religions? If we believe in the same God, then why do I (a Catholic) feel out of place in a Methodist or Lutheran church, even though I get more out of them?
A: First and foremost, I hope and pray that you find La Croix to be a welcoming and open environment where Christians from all denominational backgrounds can come together and worship THE Lord, God Almighty. So many of our members come from different backgrounds and it is important to me that the weekend is not about denominations – it is about Jesus – and He doesn’t care what your background looks like.
My husband grew up Catholic. He was raised in a Catholic home, attended Catholic school, etc. When we started attending La Croix years ago, he too, expressed a sense of discomfort. For awhile, we couldn’t really pin down exactly what it was. I grew up Baptist, but never felt what he was describing to me. Over time, we realized that he wasn’t feeling uncomfortable because of anything that was happening at the church – he was uncomfortable because deep down he was feeling a sense of guilt. What it really boiled down to was that in his mind, he felt like he was letting his family down. They had invested a lot in his Catholic upbringing. In his family, besides being their faith, Catholicism was a tradition…a tradition that he was expected to carry on. Eventually, through a series of events, he was faced with the reality that Jesus was longing for a personal relationship with him – and he made the decision that if going to a Methodist church was where he felt like he could work on developing and nurturing that relationship, then that’s where he belonged. Please don’t misunderstand me – I am not saying that you are experiencing the same struggle or that people can’t find a relationship with Jesus in Catholicism - I’m simply letting you in on the simple truth – you are not alone in the feelings you are expressing.
Now, I want to back up and address the first part of your question: “if there is one God, why are there so many different religions?”
There are so many different religions because all religions do NOT believe that there is only one God. The belief that there is only one God is unique to Christians, Jews and Muslims, and even these three view this one God very differently. Hindus believe there are millions of gods; Buddhists technically don’t have a god at all.
I think from your question, what you are referring to is not different religions, but rather different denominations. There are three distinct groups of Christians: Roman Catholics, Protestants and Eastern Orthodox. Protestants then have many denominations (Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, the list goes on and on). There are a number of reasons these multiple denominations were formed – but the biggest reason was simply because everyone could not agree on the same interpretations of The Bible, causing several major theological differences between the different denominations.
However, all that being said, all groups mentioned in the previous paragraph agree that there is one God. The traditional theological view of each is that the road to him is through Jesus Christ. The subtleties of traveling that road vary from denomination to denomination. At La Croix, we believe that belief in Jesus Christ, a personal relationship with Him and accepting Him as the Lord and Savior of your life leads to a life of eternity – no matter which church building you hang out in on Sunday morning.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Turn the other cheek?
Q: How does defending ourselves and families relate to the teachings of Jesus? Do we turn the other cheek and let harm come to those around us? How does this relate to the war in
A: The duties and functions of the state are quite different from those of the individual. Jesus clearly tells us that we are not to take the law into our own hands. When it comes to personal injury, we must resist the urge to seek revenge and strike back. We must let it go. We must forgive (like Jesus did with those who harmed him). However, God has given the government the power to “bear the sword.” The state is “God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4). It is the state’s duty to defend its citizens from evildoers.
Turning the other cheek does not mean pacifism. Long ago Saints Augustine and Aquinas developed what is known as the “just war theory.” In it, they laid out the conditions of a just war. I would encourage you to dig a little deeper, do some research into this and come to your own conclusions about the war in
What about church & state?
Q: You mentioned (in last week’s sermon), “God never meant for religion and state to be combined… absolute power corrupts absolutely.” On the issue of separation of church and state what do you think of
A: Acknowledging our Christian heritage in
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Suicide - Ticket to Hell?
A: The short answer is that the act of suicide itself is not a “one-way ticket to hell.” There are a couple of reasons that many people think that suicide is an unpardonable sin; one that results only in eternal separation from God. The first developed within Catholicism from the combination of Augustine’s belief that suicide was a violation of the 6th commandment (murder) and Thomas Aquinas’ belief that confession of sin must be made prior to death. The logic is then that since suicide is murder that cannot be confessed to a priest afterward, it is unforgivable. The second is the association of suicide with Judas, the betraying disciple of Jesus Christ.
The Bible makes no claim about the eternal prospect of those who commit suicide. In the absence of such specifics it is reasonable to apply what we read about eternal life in the presence of God. The Gospel of John says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.” So, eternal life is the result of heartfelt belief and trust in Christ Jesus' redemptive death and resurrection, not in our actions - what we do or don’t do.
While we can get an idea of a person’s belief by their actions (“faith produces fruit”), we can never know for sure what lies in the heart, because none of us are made perfect in action by our belief. Scripture says, “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” Only God knows the motives and what is in the heart – belief or unbelief, acceptance or rejection of Jesus Christ – that determines our eternal future.
So the question really is, “what was the state of the heart of the one who committed suicide; the motives, beliefs, and relationship with Christ?” That is a difficult question for me to answer even for myself, but God knows the heart of each of us.
One of the questions regarding this topic also asked about life purpose, where God was when a loved one committed suicide, and why did God allow it to happen. I believe those questions will be addressed in other answers or in the series message entitled Where Was God?
Intelligence and Faith
A: I’m not positive that "more educated" and "atheist" have a direct correlation. Having come from the engineering world, it was drilled in my head to avoid finding a correlation between two variables based on limited evidence. In other words, I might run across a friend at a local coffee shop three times in a five week period and conclude that whenever I go there, he goes there. I may later learn that he goes there every day and therefore there is no correlation between his presence and mine. The fact is that there are many PhD’s who are Christian or believe in a god, so I’m not sure there is a direct correlation between smarts and faith.
On the other hand, there may be an indirect correlation. The more we learn, the more we rely on our learning and our own understanding. God never asks anyone to check his or her brain at the door, and Scripture encourages investigation and discernment. But the Bible says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes…” and “‘…my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” The wiser we become in our own eyes the easier it becomes to believe only what our minds can grasp.
It does seem that most of the PhD’s we see on TV or meet in person are University Professors &/or Scientists who are either atheists or agnostics. These are people who have spent and continue to spend a great deal of time in secular academia. This environment is not just neutral to the Christian message, but often hostile to it. In many cases there is very little respect for or tolerance of Christian belief in faculty members or researchers. This is especially the case in the area of hard sciences. So, the lack of belief in many who hold PhD’s may simply be the product of their environment.
Monday, January 14, 2008
The Bible - God's Word?
Q: I’ve been asked this question before and am unsure how to answer. If regular people, like Paul, wrote the stories of the Bible, how are we supposed to believe in God’s teachings when men wrote His word?
- The Bible was written by over 40 different authors, most of whom had never met each other: high government officials, peasants, military officers, fishermen, religious teachers, and many others
- It was written in three different languages on three different continents
- It was written over a period of 1500 years
- It claims to be God’s Word, not a claim made every day, and has withstood the test of time and attempts to disprove and destroy it
Take these facts into consideration when you consider one more fact: that the Bible is unified. The Bible was written over these many years by these various authors living in different lands and speaking different languages, and yet, it doesn’t contradict itself. That is a big deal, considering if I were to write a book the length and breadth of the Bible, I know I would contradict myself at least once, if not several times. And I am just one person, speaking one language, living in one land:
Who created God?
Q: I keep telling my daughter not to judge Christianity by looking at the flawed people who claim Christ. Judge it by going to the source. She says, “God can’t exist because…Who created God?” “How do you know that God is real and not just a bed time story from back in the day?” She is 14.
A: It seems like there are three really big questions wrapped up in this one statement. I will do my best to tackle the 2nd and 3rd ones, knowing that others will be addressing the question of the flawed people in Christianity.
If you have a car in your driveway or garage right now, take a glance at it, or think about it in your mind. Where did it come from? The car dealership, right? Where did they get it from? The auto manufacturer. Where did they get it from? Well, they got the various parts from all over: the tire manufacturer, the seat manufacturer, the glove compartment latch manufacturer, etc. Well, where did they get the materials to make those parts? From all over the place. But eventually, the line of where things come from has to end somewhere. For example, the tire manufacturers are the starting place for the tires. They didn’t get the tires from anywhere else. They created them. But still, they had to get the rubber from somewhere, right. The materials that go into rubber – not sure what those are, exactly – had to come from somewhere.
What I just described with the automobile is the end result in a long line of supply and demand. Someone has a demand for something, and they get it from somewhere. But if you follow that line back long enough, it has to end. Material doesn’t simply start to exist out of nothing. There has to be a First Cause, a being that creates out of nothing. As you look at the universe, it is clear that it had to come from somewhere, from something. The Christian worldview would say that there is a Creator, a God, that created all of it. Many in the scientific world would suggest that there was Big Bang that the universe was created out of; that there was a bunch of gasses that got together, forming a chemical reaction, setting off an explosion, from which the world and everything else in the universe was created (sorry for the simplistic way I stated this – not trying to offend those in the scientific world with the simple explanation; just trying to keep an already long post somewhat short). If that viewpoint is accurate, I have just one question: where did the gasses come from? Didn’t they have to come from somewhere? Matter doesn’t just start to exist, it has to be created. So even if the Big Bang happened like that, there still had to be a Creator that created those gasses. We put a name on that Creator: God.
Let’s dive into the 2nd question, that being the idea that God is a bedtime story. Step outside of Christianity and the Bible for just a moment, and let’s just talk about the generic idea of God. To address this question, I would like you to think about an iPhone. Cool, huh? As you think about an iPhone and all of the things it can do – surf the internet, make a phone call, give directions, play music, take pictures, play movies, make breakfast – you realize that it is a very complex instrument. Something that complex and intricate couldn’t have possibly just come into existence on its own, could it? It’s very evident that there had to be something that made that lovely piece of electronics (can you tell I want one?).
Friday, January 11, 2008
Judgment
Q: How do we interact with those Christians who behave in ways that are inconsistent with Christianity? How do we not judge hypocritical behavior?
A: I suspect that at various times in all of our lives, if we were honest, we would all have to admit that we have fallen short of what Christ would desire for us. In other words, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. It is important that we remember where we all have come from in this regard. We are all in need of a Savior.
However, I do believe the Scripture teaches that once someone has decided to follow Christ there is an expectation on that person’s behavior. It doesn’t mean that we will never mess up again. It simply means that our lives and behavior will increasingly reflect the beauty of Christ. He will increase in our lives and we will decrease (John 3:30). There is no doubt that the expectation of the Scripture is that we would live holy lives that reflect the example of Jesus Christ. We are called to live pure and blameless lives. We are called to reject anything that is evil or sinful.
The question asked mainly deals with the important issue of judgment. How do we interact or not judge those who are betraying their stated commitment to Christ?
Christians, a lot of the time, have a misconception of what the Bible actually teaches on judgment. I have noticed that many Christians are hesitant to give any judgment because they have been told that it is inappropriate for them to judge, and what’s more interesting is that they were told this by the secular community.
There is no doubt that it is God’s job to judge. This is clear in the Scripture. However, I believe that the Scripture allows us to decide or judge whether or not a behavior is in-line with the Scripture. Should a Christian gossip? The answer the Bible gives us is “no.” Is that a judgment? Of course it is. Our judgments should be in-line with the standards given in the Scripture.
A couple of practical suggestions on this question: (1) Judgment without relationship can be destructive. In other words, do you know or have a relationship with the person? If not, more than likely the person is not going to listen to you anyway. (2) Judgment is vital to right living. God has given us the Scripture so that we would know Him and know how to live. The Scripture gives us all kinds of instructions for living, but some of those instructions are implied or inferred; therefore, we must make judgments. (3) Duplicity is inconsistent with the Christian life, but many times we find ourselves or others living hypocritical lives. Therefore, we must lead with grace as God did for each of us; we must hold one another accountable to the standards of Christ; we must remember that we all have fallen short; we must remember that we all are at different places in our journey towards Christ; and finally we must never expect someone that doesn’t have a relationship with Christ to behave like some who does.
On Hearing God
Q: "Why doesn't God speak louder?"
A: I thought this was a really great question. I know I have wondered that myself; especially, when I was seeking answers to things. I often wished I had a secret phone that I could pick up and ask God questions and He could give answers to me audibly. I really think that would be cool.
There is no doubt in my mind that God is still speaking today. I think maybe a little better question would be "are we listening?"Our lives are so busy and chaotic sometimes I wonder if God was to speak audibly, would we hear Him? I suspect we wouldn't.
Throughout the Bible, God's "voice" is compared to many different things. Psalm 29:4-5 says, "The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon." In that same chapter, verse 7 says, "The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning." It does seem to me that the Bible is telling us that God has turned the volume down on his voice. It seems to me that God is speaking loud enough.
I really believe that most of the time we have trouble hearing God because we have not oriented our lives to really hear His voice. I am always surprised at the amount of people who desire to hear from God, that don’t seriously spend any time cultivating a relationship with Him.
How can we hear God and know what He is saying if we don’t know the God we are serving? One of the reasons reading the Bible is so important is that it helps us get to know God. And the better we know God, the better equipped we will be to hear Him speak in our lives.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Atheism & Agnosticism
Our new series addressing problems with belief in God got off to a great start this past weekend at La Croix. Not only did we have a huge crowd to start off the New Year, 64 people responded to our invitation to turn in questions. Considering there was no advance warning and little time to write anything, that’s an impressive response.
We’ll attempt to group the most-asked questions, answering specific questions that are representative of the whole. Five La Croix staffers will take turns posting and we promise to check the comments regularly, responding to comments if necessary. Here goes…
A: This question is a good starting point since it helps us define terms. The Greek word for God is “theos.” A “theist” is a person who believes in God or gods. Put “a” in front of it and it negates it; thus, an “atheist” doesn’t believe in God or any divine being. “Gnosis,” the Greek word for knowing, with an “a” prefix becomes “unknown.” An agnostic doesn’t claim to know if there is a God or not. Sometimes it’s because they personally haven’t come to a conclusion; other agnostics say it’s impossible for anyone to know.
Read More......Is it all made up?
Q: How do you know what is true or not? We have no proven facts of Jesus’ being on earth, so how do you know it really happened? Maybe it is a made-up story.
A: A number of submitted questions, like this one, fell under the “existence/proof” category. This question, at its root, is about history and how it can be trusted. A couple things need to be said about this: First, when it comes to ancient history, we should apply the same standards to the Bible that we do to other ancient literature. There is far more manuscript evidence for the Bible than many of the other accepted pieced of ancient literature. When it comes to historical figures, there is far more proof for the existence of Jesus Christ than Julius Caesar! In the end, it comes down to eyewitness accounts. If a newspaper or TV news crew is trying to get the scoop on a story, what do they do? They try to find eyewitnesses. This works in collecting news, in gathering evidence for the courtroom and in research by historians. The New Testament is filled with the testimonies of eyewitnesses. The Holy Spirit saw to it that we have not one, but four gospels, which are eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life. There is far less proof that Socrates actually lived, which few historians question. When the same standards are used for the Bible as all ancient literature, the Bible has much greater reliability if for no other reason that the sheer volume of eyewitness accounts.
Could it be “made-up?” At first glance one might think that is a reasonable alternative. But, as they say in the NFL, “upon further review…” it doesn’t add up. First, other eyewitnesses of the same era (folks who had a vested interest in the failure of this new movement) could have produced their own witnesses who contradicted the Christians’ view of events. The Jewish leaders vehemently disagreed with Jesus’ claims. The Romans were none too happy about the early Christians’ Christ-centered living since they refused to worship Caesar as god. Yet, they never claimed Jesus didn’t exist. They simply took issue with the meaning and nature of his existence.
Two, the stories ring true; they don’t sound or read like typical made up stories. Little details are passed along that are totally unnecessary, yet would only be mentioned if an eyewitness was telling the story. The writers are ok with seemingly contradictory accounts; people who are holding together a made up story are extremely careful to corroborate every detail. Made up stories are “slick” and seamless; not so the gospels. Finally, writers making up history tend to put themselves in the best possible light. The apostles are sometimes bumbling, other times faithless and oftentimes clueless. Take Peter for instance. He supplied Mark with the material for his gospel. Why would Peter let the whole world in on his great failure in denying Jesus? The only explanation is that it really happened.
Why did God create human beings?
Q: If God is perfection and needs nothing, why did He create us? He doesn’t NEED humanity. Sometimes it just seems like a game to play. I really don’t get why He made us in the first place.
A: It’s a game only if bringing children into the world is a game. Why do couples have children? Because they want to share their love for each other with someone of their own flesh and blood. Love always wants to share; it is never self-seeking but always others focused. God, who has forever existed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, has dwelt in perfect joy and infinite love. This “community of oneness” created human beings to share their love so others could be in on a very good thing.
Yes, it is true that God doesn’t need humanity. In that sense, I didn’t need my children before they were born. But, that isn't the way love looks at things. Love is never concerned with what it needs; it is only concerned with the beloved, the object of its affection. Why did God create us? So that we might know and love him forever!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Lots of Questions...
We received a lot of questions this weekend. It is really exciting to see people participating in this important dialog. We are going to be sorting through the questions and we will be posting responses from the Bull Pen throughout the week, so stay tuned...
Read More......Friday, January 4, 2008
The Bull Pen
We have several people fielding questions--Let's introduce them:
Ron is the founding pastor of La Croix. The church began in 1988, meeting nearly seven years in a local movie theatre. From the beginning, La Croix’s focus has been on "bringing and including" the unchurched and leading people to full devotion to Jesus Christ. Ron is a 1985 graduate of the Oral Roberts University School of Theology, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. He and his wife Linda have four children (Stephanie, Anthony, David and Ryan) and reside in Cape Girardeau.
Daniel joined the pastoral staff of La Croix Church in the summer of 2006. He graduated from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and he holds a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. Daniel's areas of responsibility include campus outreach, college and young adults, and preaching and teaching. He is married to his lovely wife, Gretchen, and they have a beautiful little girl named Svea Grace and rocking man-child named Caleb Wesley.
Rob joined the La Croix staff in 1999 from the marketplace where he worked as a chemical engineer in a large corporation and as the GM of a midsize company. He received his Masters of Divinity from Asbury Seminary in 2006. In this role, he provides leadership to ministries such as missions, education classes for adults, and small groups as well as managing staff, and developing volunteer leaders. Rob and his wife Kristy have 2 children (Stefan and Casey).
Mike ("Fitz") Fitzpatrick is the Youth Pastor of Student Ministries at La Croix. He has been here for four and a half years doing his best to point teenagers toward Jesus and to help them follow Him. Fitz holds his Masters of Divinity from Asbury Seminary and a BA from Kent State University. Outside of ministry stuff, he is married to the lovely Marcy, also on La Croix staff, and has one amazing son, Colin; he is a hard-core Cleveland and Ohio sports fan; and he loves watching movies and British TV shows and listening to podcasts.
Angel is a graduate of Southeast with a Bachelor’s in Accounting/Management. After 12 years working as an accountant, while being heavily involved at La Croix as a volunteer, she felt called to leave the business world and go into full-time ministry.
Since January 2006, Angel has been the director of adult weekend programming. She also manages the process in which creative planning, with regards to the arts (music, drama, video, media, stage design, graphic arts, etc), takes place and oversees the resulting projects through their completion. Her passion is to reach unchurched adults through compelling, authentic and relevant weekend worship experiences.
She lives in Cape with her husband of 12 years, Lee, and their 4 year old son, Nicolas.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
The Problem with God
A new series from La Croix Church dealing with various "problems" that people have with God. Have you ever heard...
“Why have there been so many wars in the name of religion?”
“What about all of the disturbing, violent stories found in the Bible?”
“Is God even real?”
“Why are there so many scandals in the church?”
“Where was He…when I was abused…when I was hurting…when I was suffering?”
Have a conversation with anyone wrestling with the existence of God, and these are just a few of the honest questions that are sure to be asked. Pastor Ron Watts will deal with these questions along with problems raised by today’s leading atheists.
Whether you are an atheist, an agnostic, or a believer…these messages are certain to challenge and inspire you. Bring a friend and join us for this provocative and relevant series.
Series Topics:
Flirting with Atheism (The Golden Compass, Dawkins & today’s atheist)
Religious Wars and Violence
Disturbing Stories of The Bible
Scandals
Where Was He?
Why I Believe
Read this from Pastor Ron:
"Last year was marked by an aggressively resurgence in atheism. Three books by atheistic writers made the upper tiers of the New York Times bestseller list and the year ended with the controversial movie, "The Golden Compass" and its death of God theme, making headlines. These developments have emboldened skeptics and shaken the faith of some believers. What do we make of all of this?"
"The titles of these in-your-face books say it all, The God Delusion (Richard Dawkins), The End of Faith (Sam Harris), God is Not Great (Christopher Hitchens). Their tone is strident and their message is clear: belief in God is infantile and religion, which "poisons everything," is the greatest source of violence in the world today. Are these authors breaking new ground or does their tone reveal desperation of a worldview losing steam?
Our new series, "The Problem with God," will tackle these issues and consider the points these and others are raising. For instance, we will address...Religious Wars and Violence...Disturbing Stories in the Bible. Scandals (in the church). The problem of suffering and evil. Historically, Christianity has survived similar frontal assaults from the likes of Voltaire, Nietzsche, and Marx. It will survive Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens, too. But, it is important that we, in the church, wrestle with the arguments they raise and arm ourselves with knowledge and wisdom.
