What A Fool Believes

It recently occurred to me that some of the people who read this blog likely do not have a relationship with God.  It is equally likely that some readers call themselves Christians but have not ever really considered exactly what they believe or why.  I thought it might be helpful for me to share the thought process that led me to my faith.

When I was a child, the world and the universe were things that simply existed.  They needed no explanation, no consideration of their origins and meaning.  As I grew older I spent alot of time reading the set of encyclopedias at my grandparents' house and watching educational TV, typically the science and nature shows aimed at adults.  I learned how the big bang theory with it's definite beginning and subsequent universal expansion fits the available evidence quite nicely.  In biology, the idea of evolution was attractive to me at first, but the existence of certain inter-dependent organic systems (the symbiotic relationship between the Bullhorn Acacia and a particular species of ants is a good example) eventually made it seem unlikely to me that these organisms could come to be through an unguided, unintelligent process.

Once I came to the conclusion that the universe was created by something, I considered the type of being that would be capable of creation. This entity/force/whatever you want to call it would need some quite specific characteristics.  It would need to be intelligent, powerful and self-existent, otherwise it would simply displace the question of the ultimate origin of the universe.

Then, I learned of anthropology.  I found that most cultures throughout history have had some sort of religion.  Religion is often defined as man attempting to get in touch with a higher power; it seemed to me that anything that fit the criteria of "creator of the universe" would be something that man couldn't get to through mans own efforts; this being would have to contact us. This eventually led me to Christianity, which in its purest sense is concerned with God reaching to man.

Though I came to the decision to follow Christ, I still struggle with many facets of its practice.  We are devoted to a God who asks men to strive for a high (unfortunately unrealistic) moral standard but offers assistance and forgiveness when we inevitably fail.  This seems contradictory and inefficient, but I believe the purpose of this is to make men certain of the need to be saved.  As for hell, I freely admit I don't understand it or know what the nature of it is, but I am confident that the creator of the universe would not have gone through all the trouble to create intelligent beings only to condemn the vast majority of them to everlasting torment.  I am certain that God is completely just and will not condemn anyone to hell unless they deserve it.  No one will go to hell because of ignorance.  Everyone who has lived or ever will live will have the opportunity to accept or reject God.  Those who accept Him will be saved; those who do not will be condemned.  I don't claim to understand it, but I believe that this God I've been discussing has no reason to be capricious or cruel and many reasons to be just and merciful.

Now to the key problem with most religions, Christianity included.  Where is the proof?  I was recently discussing religion with an agnostic friend of mine, until we found ourselves at an impasse.  Without absolute proof, my friend was unwilling to accept that Christianity or any other religion had definite answers.  I am certain that as long as I am alive, I will continue to ask difficult questions and there will always be things that I do not understand.  The difference between my friend and I is that I was able to take a leap of faith and accept that God will care for me.  Not that there is anything special about me, the Bible is clear that faith is a gift from God.  I am extremely grateful for this gift and I intend to use whatever time God is gracious enough to give me on this Earth to serve His kingdom and spread His message.

Seeking Answers Facebook

Are you on Facebook?  Stop by and like the Seeking Answers Facebook page!

http://www.facebook.com/seekingmatt77

Who Is This God?

My last entry, “God is Wise” completed my 10 part series on the Attributes of God.  I pray that this series has helped some of you to gain a clearer understanding of who God is and what He is like.

I am compiling all 10 entries in a small book called “Who Is This God”.  These books will be available within two weeks for $5 each.  If you would like to order one, please contact me as soon as possible.  I'll be accepting payment through Paypal or by cash or check.  Thanks for reading
and God bless.

Attributes of God - God is Wise

There's just one attribute of God left for my series of blog entries; God is Wise.  At first, I wasn't certain exactly how to address it though.  Of course God is wise.  He's omniscient; He knows everything!  But then I started to think about the difference between knowledge and wisdom.

I was going to quote a Bible verse here, “Knowledge puffs up but wisdom builds up”. Unfortunately, this verse doesn't seem to actually exist.  I suppose I'll go a different direction...

Ever see the movie Rainman?  It follows an autistic man and his estranged brother on a cross-country road trip, but that's not important right now.  What is important, to my belabored point at least, is this.  The autistic character in this movie has incredible knowledge gained by obsessive observation of the world around him, but can't even cross the street safely without guidance.

In other words, knowledge is useful to a point, but wisdom is what guides the application of knowledge to its maximum effect.  God's omniscient knowledge was directed by His infinite wisdom with the effect being you and I and the universe we live in.  In His wisdom, God decided to create living, intelligent creatures that share many of His own attributes to a small extent.  Then, knowing that our free will allows us to make poor choices, His wisdom also directed the design of a plan for salvation for these beings He created.

Now, it is up to us.  We have knowledge about who God is and what He is all about; do we have the wisdom to ally ourselves with Him?

Attributes of God - God is Self Existent

There is one characteristic that every single thing in the entire universe shares.  Whether creature or thing, inanimate object or intelligent organism, every speck of matter in this universe was created by something.  Something caused everything in the universe to come into existence.  God, however was not.  No one and nothing caused God to come into being; He simply is.  Past, present, future, God is.

How can this be?  How can anything not have an origin?  Even the universe itself must have had an origin.  God exists outside of space and time, outside of the universe in a timeless manner that our limited human minds can barely conceive of, much less even begin to comprehend.


Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8

God is unchanging.  He exists yesterday today and forever concurrently.  This explains how the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross took the penalty for all the sin in the world, from the day of creation until the day that the old heaven and the old earth pass away.  This God who created the entire universe invites us to share in His manner of existence after a comparatively infinitesimal time spent in this life, for the cost of nothing more than our acknowledgment of His position of authority over the entire universe and our acceptance of forgiveness of our sins.

Dancing with Myself

If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century.
Martin Luther King Jr.

I've struggled with this issue for a long time.  How did we move from the powerful first-century church with its miraculous signs, incredible growth, and willingness for self-sacrifice to the modern church of the western world that has lost most of its impact on both society at large and its own members?  Far too many early Christians were tortured and killed and yet refused to renounce their faith; far too few American Christians are actively witnessing to their unsaved friends and neighbors.  Why not?  Because it's uncomfortable.  We don't want to be seen as judgmental, bigoted, or 'too religious'.

Does the church have a significant effect on society anymore; or has society had a much more significant effect on the church?  Try listening to a group of worshippers after a typical church service.  Certainly, some of the conversations are about the Lord or the recently concluded service, but many (or maybe even most of them) will sound like a typical secular conversation.   “Where are we going for lunch?”  “How is work?”  “Did you see American Idol?”   I myself am particularly guilty of this secularization of the mind.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

I often find myself wishing I knew God's will, but Paul said I need to renew my mind before I can “test and approve what God’s will is”.  Now, how do I do this?  I am very much concerned with the things of this world.  I am depressed by job-hunting; I worry about money.  I read the Bible nearly every day.  I've read through the entire Bible once this year and I plan to finish it again by the end of this year.  And yet, my mind doesn't seem much different.  I still struggle with many of the same issues I have struggled with for many years.

What is the solution then?  Prayer, lots of it.  Reading God's word is essential, but it is through prayer that we communicate directly with God.  Also, we shouldn't attempt to follow God in a vacuum.  We aren't alone on this earth, we have been given fellow Christians to both assist and be assisted by as we make our way through this life.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25

This is what we have been called to do; this is how we renew our minds and find God's will.