| ABOUT GODIn determining why Christianity seems to | | | | you find in the Bible? But before this question is |
| have done so much harm in society (the crusades, the | | | | answered, you have to ask the question as to why |
| inquisition etc), one has to distinguish between people | | | | God can't be more obvious in what He really wants |
| who have a relationship with Christ, and the institution | | | | from us? The problem here is that even if He were, |
| which calls itself Christian. An institution can never be | | | | we probably would want to do our own thing anyway. |
| Christian.Suffering comes about mostly because of the | | | | There are several reasons for this. 1) The impression |
| gift God gave us, "free will", which is the gift that allows | | | | stupendous events have on us, such as miracles, are |
| us to choose whether to love, or hate, which if the | | | | never permanent and fade away with time. 2) There |
| latter is chosen could cause much suffering. Without | | | | are always other explanations available for anything |
| free will, however, we could not really love voluntarily. | | | | you observe. 3) Divine things are never as clear in this |
| And without voluntary love, you just become a robot | | | | world because of the spiritual warfare going on around |
| who cannot possibly love. Also with free will, God | | | | us. And 4) God only wants a loving trusting relationship |
| chooses to limit Himself as to His power as well as to | | | | with us, and this requires a moral decision by us, not |
| His foreknowledge of an individual's future, although He | | | | absolute proof which would require no moral decision |
| does know the over-all beneficial future of society. As | | | | having to be made whatsoever. Besides, nothing is |
| I say, most suffering is caused by our use of free will, | | | | ever absolute.Now getting back to the Bible. It's true |
| but some suffering is also caused by creation | | | | that there are some unbelievable stories contained |
| limitations, and spiritual warfare (because you can't see | | | | therein, but in a sense, you have to look at the Bible as |
| this really taking place, doesn't mean it's actually not | | | | a baby carriage carrying the baby, whereby the baby |
| taking place). But this free will is also somewhat limited | | | | carrage can have many defects in it, while the baby |
| for the individual in that one's free will is greatly | | | | cannot, although sometimes it's hard to distinguish |
| influenced by generation after generation of free will | | | | between the two. Also many of these so-called |
| decisions made by their ancestors. And from looking at | | | | defects are really not defects at all, but a way of |
| the world around us, one can see that many of these | | | | making a point allegorically that couldn't be made more |
| decisions went in the wrong direction.But then how do | | | | effectively in any other way. After all, the Bible is |
| you know that there really is a God overseeing all this? | | | | basically not an historical or scientific book, but a book |
| It's in the creation. It's illogical to assume that chance | | | | to show us how we could be redeemed. Now if you |
| really created rationality, so since we were actually | | | | consider the Lordship of Jesus as portrayed in the |
| created with a desire for meaningfulness, which is a | | | | Gospels as authentic, you have to consider the Bible |
| part of rationality and a creator is always greater than | | | | itself as being authentic, because Jesus uses so much |
| his creation, our creator must be greater in personhood | | | | of the Old Testament in His teachings In other words, |
| (a God) than we are. And our physical smallness | | | | the Gospels' authenticity lends itself to the authenticity |
| compared to what's out there in the universe should | | | | of the rest of the Bible. Besides the Bible seems to |
| be no criteria for our importance to God. After all, we | | | | have a unity of purpose despite the diversity of its |
| do have rationality. Another arguement for God's | | | | authorship, prophetic, and archaeological accuracy in |
| existence is that we being imperfect as we all know, | | | | many instances, and the Bible as a whole has given |
| but continually striving for perfection, must have | | | | many people tremendous spiritual uplifts thoughout the |
| developed this idea of perfection from someplace, and | | | | centuries. Therefore if you consider the Gospels as |
| the most logical place that we developed this from | | | | being historically authentic, you also have to trust the |
| seems to be from a higher power (a God, for | | | | Bible as a whole in being historically reliable as well. But |
| instance). And finally, can you imagine a planet spinning | | | | why so much violence in the Bible, especially in the Old |
| around the universe in perfect unison allowing human | | | | Testament, whereby sometimes whole groups of |
| life to evolve as it has for as long as it has without | | | | people are killed under a loving God's direction? One |
| completely breaking up with all its earthquakes and | | | | has to realize that one has to measure one kind of evil |
| volcanoes taking place without a God being in | | | | against another, especially if the particular evil you |
| control.So if there is a God, why doesn't He seem to | | | | want to stamp out is going to interfere with God's |
| answer prayer? This is a difficult question to answer, | | | | universal plan for redemption Besides, you still have the |
| but it's probably due to the consequences of sin and | | | | after-life to sort out what's right or wrong.But with one |
| spiritual warfare taking place around us, although in our | | | | authoritative Bible, why do we have so many Christian |
| prayers one can experience God being with us to | | | | denominations with different translations and |
| comfort and heal us in any of the suffering we're | | | | interpretations of the Bible? There are basically 3 |
| encountering. The basic function of prayer, however, is | | | | reasons for this. 1) Primarily because of the sinfulness |
| to build a faith relationship between God and ourselves, | | | | of the church, in that, despite the fact that Jesus |
| and petitionary prayer is only a small part of this faith | | | | prayed for unity among His children (John 17), our pride |
| relationship. But with petitionary prayer being the crux | | | | and arrogance insisted on our divisiveness. It's amazing |
| of the problem as to whether prayer works or not, | | | | that Jesus can still minister through this sinful church. 2) |
| you can never scientifically prove that petitionary | | | | Some churches view the authority of the Bible in |
| prayer really works, because there are so many | | | | different ways, such as the Roman Catholic Church |
| interconnected variables to look at in God's scheme of | | | | which views the Bible, Church Tradition and the Pope |
| things. Sometimes prayer seems to work, and | | | | as equal in authority, and the Fundamentalists |
| sometimes it doesn't, but here you have to realize our | | | | who view the Bible simply as a Supreme Legal |
| loving God has a much broader perspective as to | | | | Document. And 3) some churches have honest |
| what is really needed for society's betterment, than | | | | differences of opinion on how to interpret different |
| we do while we're here on earth. And as I said above, | | | | portions of Scripture, such as the role women should |
| you also have to take into account the consequences | | | | play in the church,, due to the fraility of our human |
| of sin, and spiritual warfareABOUT JESUS | | | | understanding. But the central message in all these |
| CHRISTWho is Jesus Christ? According to Christians, | | | | traditions is still the same in that Jesus Christ died for |
| Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is also our Savior in | | | | our sins and saved all of us who believe in Him. And |
| that He saved us from our sin by suffering and dying | | | | although the Bible is the prime source for this central |
| on the cross and being raised from the dead. He was | | | | message, God can speak to us in many other ways |
| God's sacrifice for us. It was like perfection saving | | | | as well.Now, what happens to those who aren't |
| imperfection. But we actually have to believe in all this | | | | Christians? I'm not sure, but you should investigate and |
| so that we can then become wrapped up in our belief, | | | | study the non-Christian's philosophy of life and belief, |
| or Jesus Christ, just like a Christmas package, so that | | | | and see how it compares with that of Christianity to |
| when God looks at us, all that He can see is His Son | | | | perhaps find out. Most belief systems do have much |
| (perfection), or Himself as if He were looking into a | | | | good in them, but do they contain as much truth in |
| mirror. Now how do we know all this? By reading the | | | | regard to this as Christianity does? I don't think so, |
| Gospels. But how do we know that the Gospels are | | | | because no other belief system provides an adequate |
| really trustworthy. To go into this, you have to look at | | | | solution in how to handle sin the way Chrisitnity does. |
| the Gospels, not as the literal Word of God, but as | | | | So whatever belief system you do choose, this will |
| historical documents. In doing this, you have to ask | | | | guide you in how you might want to live the rest of |
| certain questions about these documents . 1) Do the | | | | your spiritual life. But you really have to study all the |
| documents portray eyewitness accounts. The Gospels | | | | belief systems in order to discover what suits you |
| do. 2) Do the documents contain irrelevant material not | | | | best.ABOUT CHRISTIAN LIFE AND DOCTRINEMost |
| pertinent to the eyewitness accounts? Yes, they do. 3) | | | | belief systems feel that a Perfect God could accept |
| Do the Gospels contain self-damaging material? Yes, | | | | imperfect or sinful human beings into His Heavenly |
| they do. For example,the boldness of some of the | | | | Kingdom, because, after all, He is Perfect and He can |
| women during this time period, and the statement | | | | accept anybody He desires.. And those He desires |
| Jesus made from the cross when He cried out" My | | | | are those on balance who are better benefactors |
| God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me?" 4) Do all | | | | than sinners. But the question remains, "Can Perfection |
| 4 Gospels have a consistency as well as a | | | | ever accept imperfection, or sinners, into His Heavenly |
| divergency in perspectives? Yes, they do. 5) Do the | | | | Kingdom? If God does, wouldn't the sinners pollute His |
| Gospels increase their legendary exaggeration? No, | | | | Kingdom. just as dirty water would pollute pure water. |
| they don't, even though they do have some | | | | Many believe they wouldn't, but if they would, |
| supernatural events in them. 6) Is there any indication | | | | Christianity has a way around this. Christianity says |
| that the writers of the Gospels have an ulterior motive | | | | that God came down to earth in the person of Jesus |
| for writing them? No, there isn't. In fact they could have | | | | Christ, mingled with humanity for awhile teaching them |
| faced persecution for writing them. 7) Can outside | | | | about God, died on the cross absorbing our |
| sources from that time authenticate the Gospels? | | | | imperfections or sinfulness within Himself, and finally |
| Yes, they can and do. 8) Do archeological findings | | | | was resurrected as Perfection after only 3 days.. And |
| substantiate many of the Biblical events related to us in | | | | those who believe in this Jesus Christ have placed |
| the Gospels? Yes, they do. And 9) Were there many | | | | around themselves this perfection so that when God |
| opponents of the Gospels at the time that could | | | | sees us He only sees His son, Jesus Christ. In other |
| disprove the Gospels, but couldn't? Yes, there were. | | | | words, it's like our being wrapped up like a Christmas |
| These are all questions that should be asked to | | | | present, with the wrapping being our belief in Jesus |
| determine whether a document has historical merit or | | | | Christ, so that when God looks at us, He only sees the |
| not. And if the answers are all in the affirmative, | | | | wrapping or Perfection (Jesus Christ), and not our own |
| except for questions 5 and 6, then the document has | | | | sinfulness. It's similar to God looking into a mirror at |
| historical authenticity. In this case from the answers | | | | Himself. We still remain sinners, but God really doesn't |
| given above, the Gospels appear to be authentic | | | | see this. But as we put more and more of this |
| historical documents and can be used as historical | | | | wrapping around ourselves, the wrapping begins to |
| evidence for the life of Jesus Christ. But there still | | | | seap more and more into our hearts, and as this |
| seem to be many historical discrepencies within the | | | | happens we begin to change and become much more |
| Gospels. This actually can be explained away by | | | | loving and forgiving. But you have to believe in Jesus |
| realizing that the Gospels were never intended to be a | | | | Christ for this to happen and for you to enter into His |
| biographical sketch of Jesus Christ, although there was | | | | Heavenly Kingdom.But what about those who don't |
| much biographical material contained therein. The | | | | believe in Jesus Christ? Do they go to Hell as the Bible |
| purpose of the Gospels was really to convey a | | | | suggests? According to the Bible, Hell is described as |
| message of salvation for the readers. In doing this, the | | | | a gruesome place, and nobody in their right mind would |
| discrepencies then become irrelevent. And finally the | | | | want to go there. And being such a gruesome place, it |
| authorship and date that the Gospels were written are | | | | seems that only those who have committed the most |
| not essential elements to the credibility as to what the | | | | horrendous sins should ever go there. This creates |
| Gospels actually say, although from the Book of Acts | | | | quite a dilema for the Christian belief, because we |
| it does seem to say that at least the first three | | | | Christians believe that those who don't believe in Jesus |
| Gospels were written before 60 AD, and that the | | | | Christ go there, but we also believe that God is very |
| authorship of Luke is almost a certainty, whereas the | | | | fair and just, and that He wouldn't just throw these |
| authorship of the other Gospels are closer to a | | | | non-believers into such a horrendous place as Hell if |
| certainty than not. But the bottom line is that there is | | | | they're basically good people. After all, they never |
| enough historical authenticity in the Gospels to make | | | | committed such horrendous acts whereby they |
| them worth-while reading.As I say, in general, the | | | | deserved such horrendous punishment. God must |
| Gospels are historically reliable, but how about the | | | | have provided another alternative for them. Perhaps a |
| resurrection? Here too, you have enough historical | | | | type of Purgatory for them after death. Or perhaps |
| criteria to indicate that the resurrection actually took | | | | Jesus died for them on the cross also, even though |
| place. For instance, 1) There are 5 independent | | | | they did not consciously know Him or were incapable |
| sources to indicate that the event took place | | | | of knowing him, such as infants retards, or mental |
| (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul),with each giving | | | | incompetents but did God's bidding anyway to the best |
| individual eyewitness accounts of the occasion. 2) | | | | of their ability. But to make sure that they're accepted |
| Jesus's tomb was empty with His burial clothes neatly | | | | by God, we Christian should still continue to share our |
| folded inside the tomb. This could have been easily | | | | faith with others. Hell, as I see it, is really only for those |
| checked out at the time by those opposed to the | | | | who have commited horrendous acts, such as Adolf |
| story. 3) The church's sudden growth a few weeks | | | | Hitler, Josef Stalin, Sadam Hussein, unrepentent |
| after the resurrection. 4) The resurrection accounts | | | | criminals or assassins, and the political suicide bombers |
| also have many irrevelant material and some | | | | . And God's not really putting them there. They're |
| self-damaging material (such as the role of women in | | | | putting themselves there by their own free will of so |
| the event) that are common to early eyewitness | | | | much hate and cruelty. And at the end of time, |
| based accounts. 5) There is a total lack of theological | | | | according to the Book of Revelation, they will be totally |
| reflection in the narrative which is not true for most | | | | destroyed by God.I was born in New York City in 1931, |
| legendary accounts. 6) The conversion of Paul is | | | | grew up on Long Island, graduated from Roanoke |
| unexplained without the resurrection. 7)Paul lists over | | | | College in Virginia with a BA Degree in Political Science, |
| 500 witnesses to the resurrection (1 Cor 15) who could | | | | and from New York Theological Seminary with a |
| always be cross-examined. 8) The transformation of | | | | Masters Degree in Religious Education. I became a |
| the Disciples which was a miracle considering their | | | | committed Christian in 1958, and after a number of |
| character before the resurrection. And 9) There is no | | | | years became a committed Ecumenical Christian. |
| motive for the authors to fabricate the story. They had | | | | After my conversion though, my greatest sin of sexual |
| nothing to gain, and everything to lose (their lives). Now | | | | obsession was greatly relieved by my discovering that |
| does the resurrection prove that Jesus was also God | | | | being active in a social nudist (both sexes) camp for 3 |
| Incarnate? No it doesn't, but if you can take the | | | | years would do this for me. This changed my life most |
| Gospels as reliable historical documents, you find that | | | | dramatically. In the secular world, I worked as an |
| Jesus does make such statements in them as, "I and | | | | accountant in various companies for about 25 years in |
| the Father are one", "If you see Me, you see the | | | | New York City, then moved down to Argentina and |
| Father", and "He who believes in Me, believes in the | | | | worked for about 23 years as a Business English |
| Father who sent Me". This seems to show that Jesus | | | | conversationalist teacher with some of the top |
| really believed that He was God incarnate. And if the | | | | managers. I also became a Stephen Minister (trained |
| Gospels were fabricated, wouldn't the story have | | | | counselor) while down here. Married twice (the last to |
| ended differently before the crucifixion?ABOUT THE | | | | an Argentine) widowed once, no children, one cat. You |
| BIBLEWhat about the Bible? Can you believe all that | | | | can contact me via (). |