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Here's to making Lord Jesus' Name known far and wide.
QUESTIONS
Many questions cloud the minds of those who want to know why they believe what they believe, and those who are beginning their journey to knowing Jesus more also find many questions to ask about their newfound faith. I have been there too! Here are some frequent questions that I get asked or I often encounter when talking about the relevance of Jesus and His Word, and the answers He has made known to me through His Word and, other times, taught through real-life object lessons and experiences.
In 320 words or less...
How do I know that I am believing the right thing?
It's right when it's accurate at all times. No grey areas. No percentage of error. This takes us out of the equation. We cannot play god because no one is right all the time. Even news fails. The truth is very narrow and is unapologetic. It's firm and undeniable. When we look at our life, we will notice that there are three ways how we decide what is right. It's either based on familiarity (often reflected on the traditions followed), feelings (does something feel like it's right thing?), and circumstances (this is what worked out last time or in this situation). If we evaluate these in complete humility, we know none of these are infallible. None of these are true all the time. The world has fallen because of many traditions that are false. And many times we feel like something is the right call only to be proved wrong later on. And circumstances vary for each person that what may seem like a good decision at first may have consequences later on. The advice that worked for your friend will not work out for your cousin. This easily observed reality points us to the truth being out there but being quite unattainable if we are to depend on our own merits and limited knowledge. The Bible, a compilation of books (manuscripts unearthed across continents) have no error in it. Many attempt to add and remove content from the Bible but the correct copy remains. How did it survive all these years? It's the Word of God. It's consistent, cross-referencible, firm, powerful, and just. It's not easily understood but it is open to all. It points to the reality and promise of the way, the truth, and the life - Jesus.
If God is real, why are there sufferings?
Sufferings do not eliminate the existence of God. Sufferings point to the reality of evil and how we badly need a good, living God. Sufferings are never from God. I believe it's either from ourselves, the enemy, or the world. The god of this world is our adversary and his fingerprint is very clear in that what wrong he has planted many years ago you will see ruining homes today. It does not even matter which country. The root of it all is the same. In this subject, I have learned that there are many different kinds of sufferings and that the better question to ask is why God allows sufferings. There are many possible reasons why God allows sufferings to take place but we must not make the mistake to believe or claim that God fashions something out of spite because in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5) and we know from scripture that He is sovereign over the enemy's schemes. Now, when we look at sufferings, we often forget to see the miracles accomplished ending many sufferings (some of which are a result of our own actions). And in the midst of sufferings, we sadly fail to see in our limited human knowledge what our good God makes possible out of a seemingly bad, heartbreaking situation. Genesis 50:20 says, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." If we are going to apply "to see is to believe" before one believes this to be true, testimonies of those who have come to follow Christ are great accounts of truth in addition to the unmatched authority of the Bible. But if one will choose to dismiss the Word and the accounts of people who have experienced God's rescue, there's the grave danger of a heart hardening.
Why are there bad Christians?
The object of faith has to be Jesus. Christians are imperfect people saved by Jesus. They have surrendered their life to Christ and accepted the salvation Jesus offers through His finished work on the cross thousands of years ago. Whether or not there are Christians who seem to not be walking the talk in our lives, it does not change the message of salvation for all who hears and thirst for a meaningful relationship with God. Christians will remain imperfect until God changes them and so I have learned not to let Jesus be defined by the circumstances that I am in or the people who claim to worship Jesus because I do not know if they are a work in progress (what may be easy for some to overcome as a habit may be hard for others) or if they simply do not have a real, saving relationship with Jesus. James 2:26 says, "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." Matthew 7:21-23 say, "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ So if you encounter bad or wicked Christians, we cannot be certain they are Christians in the first place. Do not let them be a stumbling block to you.
How do we know the Bible is right?
By God's grace, I know this by faith. But additionally, it is noteworthy how the Bible is without error. It is logical (if you know me, you know how inquisitive my mind is and it's left in awe before the Bible). It is historically accurate and it does not speak of anything that anyone can debunk. It is infallible. Despite many attempts to have it destroyed, it remains indestructible. To believe it is not supernatural goes against all evidence that clearly demonstrates that no amount of might can rid of it. Many scientific facts and explanations complement the Bible as well and the same goes in archaeology. It honestly makes for a wonderful discussion in an honest and humble conversation. The Bible is also heavy cross-referencible and eliminates any possibility of bias from its content and the dates of when its manuscripts have been created. Many outstanding scientists like Blaise Pascal are Christians. And several outstanding men in the sciences who refuse to follow Jesus have themselves confessed Jesus is real based on evidentiary support. Dr. Simon Greenleaf of Harvard put Jesus' resurrection on trial by examining the evidence and He concluded that if anyone unbiased were to honestly examine the evidence, as in a court of law the way he did, the person will conclude that Jesus is risen.
Is my church okay? How do I know it's the right church?
The best thing to do is to pray and read about it. The characteristics of the church and those who are called to lead it are in the New Testament. From experience, I believe it's good to check if what you have your eyes on is a Bible-believing church (39 Old Testament Books and 27 New Testament Books)? A church is not simply some organization a bunch of people put together. It's supernaturally inspired. It focuses on Jesus and believes and teaches the Bible regularly. It's good to check their social media content and see what they focus on. If they focus on prosperity but not the Giver of the prosperity, then it misses the point. Do they have elders who can guide you in your growth? When you actually go, do people contact you and connect you to a small group? A small group is a biblical spiritual discipline that helps people grow in their walk. It's one thing to enter into a relationship with Jesus by accepting Him as one's Lord and Savior but that relationship also needs to be cultivated. More in Acts 42:47.
I am a good/bad person. Do I need this?
If we truly understand that there is a Holy God who sees our thoughts, actions, and deeds, then we know for sure no dirty laundry of ours goes unnoticed. Hence, knowing that we are sinners, we need to be reconciled to God but given our sin problem we cannot come to Him as our own. We need Jesus, who is Holy and has saved us from the wages of our sins (consequences are real!). So there is a need for each one to accept Him and follow Him sincerely. If we have been raised thinking we will be saved if we are good, that is a big error because we are not saved on our own merits but by the grace of God. No one can boast. More in Ephesians 2:8.
When in doubt, ask.
Ask God in prayer. One of my sincerest prayers is that none of us live aimlessly as if we do not have a Father in Heaven to talk to and depend on. So raise questions in prayer! It also helps to take the time to talk to someone about thoughts and questions that others may have very well experienced. One thing I have learned over the past years is that when unanswered questions remain unanswered over time, they can grow into strongholds. So when questions about God and His goodness cloud your mind, put it out in the light! I also implore you to ask Jesus for wisdom because He gives it without finding fault.
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James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."
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Hebrews 4:12: "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."