What’s Missing in Your Life?
What’s Missing in Your Life? I imagine that’s a question many people ask. More than once. But how often do we give ourselves a good answer?
What’s Missing in Your Life? More
believer
Do you believe in God? Yes. I think. Don’t I?
I believe in God. That’s a common answer when someone is asked, “Do you believe in God?” But, is that really true? I’ve been amazed by survey results that appear to show a belief in God but then has so many contradictions in the questions that follow. That’s the reason for the second part of the title – “Yes. I think. Don’t I?”
Do you believe in God? Yes. I think. Don’t I? More
The problem of “church words” no one else understands
Church words.
They are a problem.
A big problem.
We (Christians) use words that we learn in church. We know what they mean.
But that doesn’t mean everyone else does.
It’s like slang words/phrases – figures of speech.
The problem of “church words” no one else understands More
Are we supposed to Believe God, Believe in God or Follow God?
Are we supposed to believe God – believe in God – or follow God? Are those three sets of words all different? Or do they all mean the same thing? Well, it depends. When were you born? What culture do you live in / come from? Most important, are you willing to learn what they meant when they were said? In some cases, that’s almost two thousand years ago. In others, several thousand years ago. We need to look at what they meant when they were said, in order to understand what they mean today.
Are we supposed to Believe God, Believe in God or Follow God? More
I will never forgive. But if you do not forgive …
We’ve also told Jesus that His death wasn’t good enough. Sure, we’ll quick to accept His death as payment for our own sins. But when we refuse to forgive, we’re saying that Jesus’ death of the cross wasn’t good enough to pay for the sin of the person that we’re refusing to forgive!
I will never forgive. But if you do not forgive … More
The problem of “Receive the Holy Spirit”
And with that he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. This verse is from John 20:22. Yes – John’s Gospel. This is one of those verses that just makes you want to ask, “What is going on here? Didn’t that happen later? Wasn’t that in Acts? On Pentecost?”
Let’s start someplace unexpected. In the middle. At the very beginning of the book of Acts, written by Luke.
The problem of “Receive the Holy Spirit” More
Let the dead bury the dead
Let the dead bury the dead. What does that even mean? How can one dead person bury another one? Actually, the more common translation is “let the dead bury their own dead”. But still – we’re not talking a horror movie here. This is a quote from the Bible. From Jesus. I don’t remember ever reading about this verse in a book. Don’t remember hearing it in a sermon either. I only remember reading it in the Bible. Right now though, I feel like I’m living it.
Let the dead bury the dead More
The problem of faith, hope, belief and knowing
The concern here is that when we say things like we “know” certain things because the Bible says so, we run the risk of turning people off to the message we are trying to give. Something that was meant to be caring and loving can be construed as something that sounds uncaring and insensitive. I think we need to remember that we believe God meets us where we are, and so when we talk with others who faith isn’t as strong as our or maybe have no faith at all, we also need to meet them where they are – not where we are.
The problem of faith, hope, belief and knowing More
Evolution debate will soon be history?
One of the warnings we get from Jesus is this – Mt 10:32 “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” Like I said – the question of who gets credit for “evolution” – whether it’s atheistic or theistic evolution – is a huge deal. Who gets the credit, from your point of view?
Evolution debate will soon be history? More
Can we know if God still cares about us?
Can we know if God still cares? Of course, that assumes that God did exist in the past. And it assumes that God still exists now. And it assumes that at least at some time in the past – God used to care. That’s a lot of assumptions. Whether you care to make none of them – some of them – or all of them – please read on and see what you think at the end.
Can we know if God still cares about us? More