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