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January 29 Have You Tasted My Jesus?At the University of Chicago Divinity School each year they have what is called "Baptist Day". It is a day when all the Baptists in the area are invited to the school because they want the Baptist dollars to keep coming in. On this day each one is to bring a lunch to be eaten outdoors in a grassy picnic area. Every "Baptist Day" the school would invite one of the greatest minds to lecture in the theological education enter. One year they invited Dr. Paul Tillich. Dr. Tillich spoke for 2 ½ hours proving that the resurrection of Jesus was false. He quoted scholar after scholar and book after book. He concluded that since there was no such thing as the historical resurrection the religious tradition of the church was groundless, emotional mumbo-jumbo, because it was based on a relationship with a risen Jesus, who in fact, never rose from the dead in any literal sense. He then asked if there were any questions. After about 30 seconds, an old, dark skinned preacher with a head of short-cropped, woolly white hair stood up in the back of the auditorium. Docta Tillich, I got one question, he said as all eyes turned toward him. He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out an apple and began eating it. "Docta Tillich (CRUNCH, MUNCH), My question is a simple question (CRUNCH, MUNCH). Now, I ain't never read them books you read (CRUNCH, MUNCH) and I can't recite the Scriptures in the original Greek (CRUNCH, MUNCH). I don't know nothin' about Niebuhr and Heidegger (CRUNCH, MUNCH)..." He finished the apple. "All I wanna know is: This apple I just ate, was it bitter or sweet?" Dr. Tillich paused for a moment and answered in exemplary scholarly fashion: I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven't tasted your apple. The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into his crumpled paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich and said calmly, "Neither have you tasted my Jesus." The 1000 plus in attendance could not contain themselves. The auditorium erupted with applause and cheers. Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and promptly left the platform. Have you tasted Jesus? Please pass this on Saints! God has risen, and he's coming back one day! Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. If you have, rejoice in the hope of the resurrection that your faith in Him brings. Psalm 34:8 January 25 A Committed AtheistThis is a cool story I found while just randomly surfing around.. as i always do.. and since I've been getting bugged about updating my space, I thought I'd share it with you people! Enjoy!
 A Committed Atheist
This is a true story of something that happened just a few years ago at USC. There was a professor of philosophy there who was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester attempting to prove that God couldn't exist. His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his impeccable logic. For twenty years he had taught this class and no one had ever had the courage to go against him. Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever *really gone against him* (you will see what I mean later). Noboby would go against him because he had a reputation. In twenty years, nobody ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say, "Because anyone who believes in God is a fool. If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to prove he is God, and yet he can't do it." And every year he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom and it would shatter into a hundred pieces. All the students were convinced that God couldn't exist. Certainly a number of Christians had slipped through, but for 20 years they had been too afraid to stand up. Well, a few years ago there was a freshman who happened to get enrolled in the class. He was a Christian, and had heard the stories about this professor. He had to take the class because it was one of the required classes for his major. And he was afraid. But for three months that semester he prayed that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said or what the class thought. Nothing they said or did could ever shatter his faith, he hoped. The professor shouted, "YOU FOOL! If nothing I have said all semester has convinced you that God doesn't exist, then you are a fool! If God existed, he could keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!" He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleats of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. And as it hit the ground it simply rolled away, unbroken. The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man and then ran out of the lecture hall. January 17 The Crybaby ProphetThis is a short story i found in the teen section of http://www.christianitytoday.com/ and thought i would put it up here, coz i thought it was a rather good way of illustrating things. It talks about the story of Jonah, if you dont know this story, i'll bring you up to speed real quick:
Jonah was a prophet of God. God told Him to go to Nineva, a place full of evil, and tell them that if they didn't stip what they were doing, God would destroy the city. Jonah was scared, cos they were evil, so he tried to stowaway on a boat. So God caused a huge storm to come, which only settled down after the people threw Jonah off the boar. then when he was in the water, a large fish came and swallowed him. He then remained inside th whale for three days and three nights, until the whale spat him back out. After that he got the hint and went and delivered the message to Nineva, and to his suprise they actually listened, and they all turned to God... the story then continues into what is included below. Enjoy!
The Crybaby Prophet
Why the prophet Jonah was like a whining little kid. by Jarrett Stevens Ever see that kid in the mall whose parents say "no" to something he really wanted? This is the kid who screams at such a high pitch that dogs everywhere instantly begin barking. His whole body goes limp and his parents end up dragging him by his arms with his legs flailing. When it comes to not getting what I want from God, I am that kid. Sadly, I am not the only kid in the mall screaming. No doubt you've heard the story about Jonah and the big fat fish. It's a great story, but it's not the one we're gonna look at. I'm actually more interested in the story near the end of the book of Jonah. It's where we get a brutally honest look into the heart of God, the heart of Jonah and into our own hearts as well. By the third chapter of Jonah, our hero had been through a lot. He'd tried to run away from God; he'd been thrown off a boat; he'd spent a three-day weekend in a fish; he'd been puked up on a beach. He'd also been out telling the wicked people of a large city (Nineveh) they had 40 days to turn from their sins before God destroyed them (a message God had told Jonah to deliver). It was a full week, and Jonah needed some down time. So he decided to go out into the middle of the desert, pitch a tent (a good, safe distance from the city, of course), sit back, and get ready to enjoy the fireworks. He was convinced God would do something spectacular to bring down Nineveh. Maybe Jonah was hoping for fireballs from heaven, or maybe a giant dragon to swoop down and eat all of the people in the city! OK, maybe the dragon idea is a long shot, but I'm sure Jonah thought fireballs would be cool. Then the craziest thing happened … nothing. No dragons, not even a firecracker. Nothing at all. Well that's not entirely true. Something did happen. Something wonderful. After hearing Jonah's message, the people of Nineveh turned their hearts to God. "When God saw that they had put a stop to their evil ways, he had mercy on them and didn't carry out the destruction he had threatened" (3:10, NLT). Destruction diverted! Jonah was happy, right? Wrong. He became that kid in the mall and started whining because God hadn't blown Nineveh to bits. Then God did something completely unexpected. While Jonah pouted, God caused a huge vine to grow right there in the middle of the desert (talk about Miracle-Gro). It was so thick and full that it gave Jonah cool shade in the blistering heat. No doubt worn out by all his pouting, Jonah eventually fell to sleep under the vine. When he woke he saw that a worm had come in the night and eaten his beautiful vine. Not only was his shade gone, but at that moment, the winds kicked up and blew scorching desert heat into Jonah's face. That was it! First Nineveh, now this! Jonah was furious and let God know it. So God used this moment to give Jonah a piece of his mind. Here's what God told the tantrum-throwing prophet (4:10-11, NLT): "You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. And a plant is only, at best, short-lived. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness. … Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?" It's so easy to write off Jonah as just another screaming kid in the mall. But he and I are more alike than I care to admit. I worry about my own silly, little wants, but rarely think about the enormous needs of the world. Blinded by my own selfish perspective, I often miss what God sees. Jonah's story tells me something important: Life isn't really about me. Life is about what God wants for a hurting world. What about you? What are you complaining about right now? Not having an iPod? Not having a nice car? Not having a boyfriend or girlfriend? Those things are all fine, but take a second and reflect on a few things that break God's heart. Like the fact that so many people don't know him. Or the issues of starvation, poverty, slavery, victims of gossip, bullying or neglect, and the pain of people who don't feel smart enough, pretty enough or popular enough. How does your list of complaints compare to God's own list of concerns for the world? The more you look at the world through the eyes of God, the more you will see what he sees and care for what he cares about. Instead of pouting over withered leaves, you will learn to celebrate over cities redeemed. LogicI keep hearing recently the line about how faith, believing in God, and all things to do with Christianity are illogical. Then i read an entry in my book, that said "Being a Christian is incompatible with being illogical." So i thought I'd put this entry up, as i found it rather interesting! Also, I've had people bugging me to put a new entry up (you know who you are), and this is the best i could think of at the moment. Enjoy!
The following is a direct quote from the book 5 Minute Apologist by Dr. Rick Cornish. All scriptures mentioned will be listed below, taken from the New King James Version.
Catergory: Thinking
Logic
Introducing Logic
Dr. Spock of Star Trek was portrayed as the quintessantial logical thinker - precise, unemotional, a little boring. Without imitating Spock's lack of feeling or lackluster demeanor, we should strive to think logically. part of loving God with all our minds (Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27) is logically dicovering and dwelling on truth found in Scripture of His creation. C. S. Lewis once wrote that Christ wants us to have a child's heart, but a grown-up's head. That demands logic.
The foundational pillars for thinking, pursuing truth, and acquiring knowledge are the Laws of Logic. These weren't invented by Aristotle or anyone else. Like gravity, they just are - reflections of God's reality and the world He made. They govern the way we think, often assumed to be part of our God-given common sense. No moment goes by in which we so not use or assume logic. To deny it requires using it.
Thethree interconnected laws of logic are (1) The Law of Non-Contradiction - A is not non-A. Two contradictory statement cannot both be true at the same time and in the same respect. A person cannot talk and not talk at the same time and in the same way. (2) The Law of Excluded Middle - Either A or non-A. Something is either itself or not itself. It cannot be both at the same time and in the same way. Either you are reading this book or you are not. There's no middle ground. (3) The Law of Identity - A is A. Something is itself and not something else. God is God and not someone or something else. You are you and not someone else.
Some people contend that logic is a Western invention, having no bearing on Eastern philosophy or religion. But the laws of logic are universal, directing human thought in the Eastern mind as well as the Western mind. Those who say logic reflects only Western thought use it when they look before crossing the street. Rejecting it may lead to a quick death because either a truck is coming down the road or it's not, and they look because they know that.
Let's focus on Law #1, the law of noncontradiction - A is not non-A. Each time we think, we assume this las. The law of noncontradiction help us ditinguish between thoughts. when we think something, it's not something else we're thinking. To deny this law assumes it, for in denying it one is saying it's false. However, saying it's false implies a difference between truth and falsehood. But as distinction between truth and falsehood exists only because that law is true - A is not non-A.
As Christians we should be logical in our thinking, concerned with holding true rather than false beliefs, especially about our heavenly Father and what he says in Scripture. Sloppy, illogical thinking doesnot reflect spirituality, but the opposite. An irrational, illogical Christian reveals a lack of love for God, the basis of all logic and thinking. Being a Christian is incompatible with being illogical.
Scriptures:
Matthew 22:37. Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
Mark 12:30. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
Luke 10:27. So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind January 11 Be the Light! (added to)*Please note, to those who have anlready read this, the only change is that i added the verse at the bottom from The Message Bible.
I'm sure many of you who are Christians have heard the phrase 'Let your light shine!' or something along those lines. And you probably know of the verse "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14, NKJV), but have you ever wondered exactly what it means to be the "Light of the World"? Well, in April last year I attended a youth conference called 'Manifest'. The conference went for three days and had a large amount of guest speakers, including Joel Houston from Hillsong United. During his message, Joel told the story of a young boy from his youth, which i will add below. This entry is originally put up specially for one person in particular, but the message in it is something that all christians should hear! Keep in mind though, this is written in my own words.. and my memeory is a bit shaky, but i should be able to get the general idea of it right...
At the United youth group run by Joel Houston, they often like to get people from the youth to tell their testimony. Joel had asked one of the young men in his group if he would mind sharing his testimony. The guy agreed he would, but first he was required to write it down a bit, and run it by Joel just to be sure it was ok. this is what the guy came to Joel with:
Well, before i was a Christian, i still thought i was basically a good guy. I was into drugs or alcohol, i swore occasionally but not much, I'd never been in trouble with police or anything. But I didn't realise how badly i acted towards my parents. i was constantly getting into fights with them, and ignoring what they asked me to do. But, since I have become a christian, i have come to realise this behaviour, and as a result have been able to change it. I have never yelled at my mum or dad since then. I have tried to follow all their instructions, and have done things without being asked, just because i saw it needed doing, like washing my dad's car or tidying up, etc.
At this point Joel Houston thought the kid may have been exaggerating slightly, because he thought people expected him to be like this. But the kid insisted he wasn't, and went on to explain...
Neither of my parents are Christians, and while they say they will not stop me, they are against me being a Christian. I have arranged rides to and from every youth or church event because i didn't want to have to ask my parents, as i knew they were against it. At first this annoyed me, to the point where i almost got into fights about it with my parents. But then it hit me, if they see me still fighting with them, what kind of witness would i be for God? I realised, I was the only 'Jesus' my parents would see. If i didn't reflect Jesus, then they would never see Him until it was too late...
That is what it means to be a 'Light of the World'. We have to shine the Light of Jesus to those we come into contact with. Now, I'm not saying you have to do all the things this kid done, although I'm sure your parents would appreciate it! And if you're thinking this doesn't apply to you because you live in a christian family, you're wrong. We are all bound to come into contact with non-Christians, whether at home, school, work or down the street, and when we do we should remember, we could be that persons only hope of seeing Jesus. If we don't show Him to them through our actions and words, who will?
Matthew 5:14-16. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
Added: I like the way this verse is put in The Message bible, so i decided to add this to the end:
Matthew 5:14-16. 14"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 15If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. 16Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand--shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. January 06 2 for 1 special!Hey all! this entry is sort of a special request sort of thing. i've had some people new to christianity asking me about the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Mormons, and then book i have been reading and have alreasdy used in my blog has entries about each of them, so i thought i might put them both up in one blog!.
The following is a direct quote from the book 5 Minute Apologist by Dr. Rick Cornish. Once again all scriptures mentioned will be put down at the end of this entry from the New King James Verson.
Catergory: New Religions.
Jehovah's Witnesses
Can God's Prophet Err?
Most of us have answered th knock on the door to find a pair of Jehovah's Witnesses eager to do battle over the deity of Christ. The Jehovah's Witnesses are one of the world's most successful new religions with twelve million active and inactive members. The Watchtower Society claims to be God's sole source of revelation and understanding on Earth: "Jehovah's organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God's holy spirit or active force.... To it alone God's Sacred Word, th Bible, is not a sealed book." They further allege that they are Jehovah's prophet: "This 'prophet' was not one man, but was a body of men and women.... Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian Witnesses."
They were founded in 1879 by Charles Taze Russell when he split from William Miller, founder of th Adventist movement. For the next thirty-five years, Russell led the Witnesses despite his lack of theological training. During that time he wrote the seven-volume Studies in the Scriptures, which he asserted came trough divine inspiration. Though largely neglected today, these writings were th early source of th Witnesses' theology that continues today.
Unfortunately, the Witnesses have experienced repeated prophetic failure. For decades, they predicted that the Battle of Armageddon would be fought in 1914, followed by the end of the world. When 1914 passed without Armageddon or the end, tey recalculated their figures, resulting in future prothetic failures. Observers are right to wonder about repeated errors from a group that pressumes to be God's one, ture prophet. Something seems amiss.
Throughout their history, the Witnesse have alleged a level of scholarship in the biblical languages that matches their lofty claim as God's sole prophetic voice. But in 1954 this claim to scholarship was publicly exposed as a fraud. Jehovah's Witness President Frederick Franz was considered their most learned Hebrew scholar. But under oath in a court of law, he proved incapable of handling even the most basic Hebrew.
The Witnesses' main deviation from christianity is their view of the Trinity. They believe that Jesus was created by God, and thus not God Himself. They aso deny the reality of th Holy Spirit, believing this refers not to a person but only to the impersonal force of Jehovah acting in the world. And they teach salvation by works, believing that Jesus' death did not accomplish everything needed to save us. It merely gives us a second chance to earn salvation by performing the proper works.
To suppor their doctrines, they cite legitimate Bible translations when they can. But since the Bible does not generally endorse their views, they published their own translation in 1961, The New World Translation (NWT). As the product or their own people, none of whom are recognized as Greek or Hebrew scholars, it's full of predictable errors and obvious bias. Genuine scholars consider it seriously flawed, even dishonest - a mere tool for propagatin their nonblical teachings. Dr Julius Mantey, one of the world's leading Greek scholars, said of the NWT, "I hav never read and New Testament so badly translated.... It it a distortion of the New Testament." Witnesses' apparent fear of reading any material but their own makes them a hard group to reach. But, by using a King James Version or a 1901 American Standard Bible, we can challenge their interpretation of key verses in light of the larger context. Jehvah's Witnesses recognize those two translations, even though neither includes the Witnesses' peculiar interpretations. We can demonstrate even from their own translation that salvation is recieved by faith (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9), that Christ is God (John 5:18; John 20:28), and that the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3)
The most important preparation the Christian needs to engage a Witness is thorough study of Scripture. Biblical truth is the spiritual ammunition the Spirit ses in our conversations with groups that deviate from His Word. Daily immersion in His Word prepares us for the inevitable knock on the door.
Mormonism
Joseph's Kids
Slick TV and newspaper ads sell the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) as a Christian denomination. But is it? Are Mormons just another flavor of historic Christianity like Presbyteriansm, Lutherans, or Baptists?
The Mormon Church claims to be the world's fastest growing religion. Estimates put their global memberhip at ten million and their full time missionary roles at 65,ooo. Their explosive growth rate is matched by their vast wealth. Consistent tithing and indusrious work habits have reaped a multi-billion dollar operation with vast holdings in real estate, insurance, broadcasting, utilities, and agriculture.
Joseph Smith spent his early life dabbling with the occult and digging for treasure. At fourteen, he allegedly received a visit from God the Father and Jesus Christ telling him to restore "true Christianity." He claimed a second vision at age sventeen, this one from an angel named Nephi, later changed to Moroni. Moroni's visit was the first of several over the next four years, during which he told the young treasure hunter were to find some golden plated and the "Urim and Thummin," refering to two items worn in the breastplate of the Jewish High Priest (Exodus 28:13-30). They were thought by some scholars to be associated with receiving the Lord's guidance. Smith adopted the phrase to suggest that they would help him understand the writing on the plates. Smith then translated those "Reformed Egyptian" writings (as he called them) into what became the Book of Mormon, and soon founded his new church.
Along with the Book of Mormon, their scriptures include Doctrine and Covenants and The Peark of Great Price. The Bible is accapted, but only as far as it's translated correctly, that is, according to Mormon Doctrine.
Some obvious Mormon deviations from christianity, in their own words, are as follows:
1. Many gods have always existed. In the words of Brigham Young: "How many Gods are there? I do not know. But there never ws a time when there were not gods."
2. God is an evolved human and humans can evolve into gods: "As man is, God one was: as God is, man may become."
3. God the Father has a physical body: "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's...."
4. God the Father reproduces spirit children with His female counterpart: "Implicit in the Christian verity that all men are the spirit children of an Eternal Father is the usually unspoken truth that they are also the offspring of an Eternal Mother. An exalted and glorified Man of Holiness could not be a Father unless a Woman of like glory, perfection, and holiness was associated with him as a mother."
5. Jesus was born of the sexual union between God the Father and Mary: "His [Christ's] unique status in the flesh as the offspring of a mortal mother [Mary] and of an immortal, or ressurrected and glorified Father [Elohim].
6. Jeus was a polygamist who reproduced children through his own multiple marriages: "....Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee, that Mary, Marth, and others were his wive, and that he begat children."
7. Jesus is not the second Person of th Trinity as understood by Christians, but a lesser god and Satan's brother: "But both te scriptures and ther prophets affirm that Jesus Christ and Lucifer are indeed offspring of our Heaven Father and, therefore, spirit brother.... Jesus was Lucifer's older brother."
Humans preexist their physical birth and are the same species as God. Mankind's fall in the Garden of Eden, which was located near Modern Independence Missouri, was deliberat and good because it enabled us to make further spiritual progress. Christ's death ensures the redemption of all mankind, although in different levels of heaven. His atonement, however, id not remove our personal sins. It merely gives us the chance to do so by our own good works. Salvation is thus earned by our obedience.
Mormonism suffers from several major shortcomings. Joseph Smith changed the story of his visions several times. the Book of Mormon and doctries and covenants have been changed thousands of times, yet they still contradict one another. Mormon prophecies, including those of Joseph Sith, did not come true. Modern archaeolody and textual studies refute the writing and claims of mormon books.
Christians should beware that Mormons use Christian terms but give them different meaninggs. Therefore, asking for and giving precise definitions is a must for meaningful conversation. Whatever we might think of Mormonism, we should not mistake it for Christianity.
Scriptures:
Titus 3:5: On by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing and regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace yo have een saved throught faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast
John 5:18: Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
John 20:28: And Thomas answered and sais this to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
Acts 5:3: But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? January 05 Christians - By Maya AngelouThanks to the beautiful Natalia for this one! check out her space, she rocks! http://spaces.msn.com/members/nataliarnbchik77/ Quote Christians - By Maya Angelou January 02 Faith and ReasonThe following is a direct quote from '5 Minute Apologist' by Dr. Rick Cornish. Please note, any scriptures mentioned here will be listed below from the New King James Version bible.
Catergory: Thinking.
Faith and Reason
Divorcing Faith from Reason
Critics attack Christianity as unreasonable. Faith, they say, contradicts reason. You've heard the charges: "Faith is a blind leap in the dark"; "Faith requires one to sheck his brain at the door"; "Faith has been rendered meaningless in this age of scientific and intellectual enlightenment." Sadly, even some Christians divorce faith from reason. This view is neither biblically accurate nor consistent with historic, orthodox Christianity. The early Church Fathers, the Medieval Scholastics, and the Protestant Reformers belived that faith fits the biblical view of reason. As we consider the reasonableness of faith, let's remember that human intellect is not able to fully grasp infinite divine truth, But, the fact that something cannot be fully understood by reason does noe mean its unreasonable. Let's consider four points about the relationship between faith and reason.
First, our reasoning capacity is part of God's image in us. Human rationality reflects our Creator's rationality. Using our mind is a God-glorifying endeavor, revealing, if even dimly, His nature. The greatst commandment recorded in the Hebrew Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) and in Jesus application of it (Matthew 22:37), commands us to love God with all our being, including our minds. We love God by pursuing truth, reasoning well, and rejecting falsehood.
Second, faith in not unreasonable. Nothing is inherently irrational about believing Jesus Christ is God's Son who died to pay for our sins. NonChristians may call it foolish (1 Corinthians 1:18), but they can't demonstrate that charge (1 Corinthians 1:25). The Protastant Reformers rationally explained the three nature of saving faith: (1) knowledge - of the facts of the gospel, (2) assent - to the truth of the gospel, and (3) an act of the will - to trust Christ alone for justification. We are saved by faith but the mind plays a part in that faith. We hear, process, and respond to the gospel by using our minds. Faith and reason are not and cannot be seperated.
Third, the Christian faith is distinct from other kinds of faith, which are not so reasonable. Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and other world religions have a type of faith, but none hold up under serious scrutiny. Christianity, however, survives the most strenuous investigation, standing on hard facts which can be rationally judged. The God of the Bible exists; He sent His Son to this world to die; and by believing in Him a person recieves justification and eternal life. Faith is not a blind leap in the dark, but is supported by evidence for the biblical testimony.
Fourth, some Christian teachings are mysterious, beyond our finite understanding. Doctrines such as th Trinity (God's single yet threefold personhood) and the Incarnation (two natures, one divine, one human, in the one person of Jesus Christ) are profound mysteries. But even thought not fully understood, they're not contradictions. They violate no formal laws of logic. In the final analysis, however, the Triniy and Incarnation can never be fully understood through reason. But that does not render the Christian faith irrational.
In summary, faith and reason do not compete with one another as incompatible notiont. Thoughout history the church has held a high view of the use of reason in the life of the saved. The Christian should use her mind to glorify God by diligently pursuing and knowing truth, by thinking clearly and properly, and by rejecting falsehood. The Christian faith is a reasonalbe faith, and we should value the use of reason, one of God's greatest gifts to us.
Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 6:4-5: "Hear, O Isreal: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words whih i command you shall be in your heart."
Matthew 22:37: Jesus said to him, "You shall love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."
1 Corinthians 1:18: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:25: Because the foolishness of God is wiser then men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. |
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