But within that era, there are differing understandings of what, if anything, may be left in God’s revealed timetable to be fulfilled before Jesus’ return is “imminent.” The view I hold understands that there is nothing yet remaining, and that therefore the end of this world, and the cataclysmic events that mark the day of Christ’s return and the final judgment, could come at any time. Any time that remains, does so due to the longsuffering of God. What this means for us is that we should by no means delay responding to God’s grace and embrace Christ in faith.
One often hears Christians talk about the fact that we are living in the last days. That phrase has a technical meaning in the bible, where it refers to the entire time between Jesus’ first and second coming. In that sense, we are most certainly living in the last days.
But within that era, there are differing understandings of what, if anything, may be left in God’s revealed timetable to be fulfilled before Jesus’ return is “imminent.” The view I hold understands that there is nothing yet remaining, and that therefore the end of this world, and the cataclysmic events that mark the day of Christ’s return and the final judgment, could come at any time. Any time that remains, does so due to the longsuffering of God. What this means for us is that we should by no means delay responding to God’s grace and embrace Christ in faith. I would ask them if they also believe they can live a healthy physical life without attending regular meals.
It is in the context of the weekly worship service that Christians are strengthened for our daily walk. The Lord knows our weaknesses and our needs, and so established this pattern. It is there that his people do many of the things that publically mark them out as God’s people, and by which they are reminded and learn many of the things necessary for the Christian life. As we publically and corporately give thanks to him, call on him in prayer, sing praises to him, and have him speak to us through his word we acknowledge his glory and our dependence upon him. Christians who think they can, or try to, neglect that great resource will find themselves missing out on those blessings and outlets for spiritual service, and suffering from spiritual malnutrition. Do you think it's morally right to teach children about one specific religion, but not others?2/18/2017
If parents have a settled conviction that their religion is true, and not just one viable option among several, and especially if that conviction is that their religion is exclusively true, as Christianity teaches, then it is not just morally right, but morally incumbent for them to do so. This is nothing different than what we do with other aspects of our value system; if we believe that it is absolutely wrong to steal, we don’t teach our children that it may or may not be wrong. If we believe that personal integrity is an essential virtue to maintain we don’t present personal integrity as a take-it-or-leave-it proposition.
That being said, I would actually teach my children about other religions, but only in the context of Christianity, and in the light of Jesus’ statement that he is the only way to God, which renders all other religions as idolatry. First, we should use proper terms. “Crimes,” in our question is properly referring to what the Bible calls sin.
“Sin,” the Westminster Shorter Catechism tells us, “is any want (lack) of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God” (Q&A 14). To an infinitely holy and righteous God, any such lack or transgression is infinitely detestable and deserves, in fact requires, eternal punishment. God is to pure to look upon evil, and his perfect justice requires that sin, any sin, be so punished. That is why the death of Jesus Christ is so important, because it was in that act that Jesus bore the curse of sin in the place of those who believe in him. He took on himself God’s wrath against our sin. He set himself as a substitute for believing sinners. It is only in that way that God’s holiness, his justice, and his grace to sinners could come together. One of the great gifts that God has given to us is a mind, with the desire and the capacity for self-realization, self-reflection, and learning.
The focus of Christianity regarding learning is not so much whether it is formal or informal, but in subjecting all of our thoughts to God’s word; to viewing all aspects of life, education included, through the prism of the Christian worldview. Today, public education and many private institutions, especially at the higher levels, have become not only openly hostile to Christianity, but even to critical thinking, and while there is not one single commanded biblical model of education, many Christian parents have chosen, I think rightly so, to go the home-school route, which may be to a greater or lesser degree “formal,” but allows parents to be sure that their children’s education is submitted to God’s word. We promote unity and equality among all races, ethnicities, genders etc. by simply looking to God’s word and following it and encouraging others to do that as well.
The Bible assures us that all men (and women) are made in the image of God and are, because that fact alone, worthy of equal treatment and respect. Beyond that, we, in seeking to be imitators of God, are reminded that God is no respecter of person, and it is him that we serve; each in different ways, in the roles that God has given. Should they be allowed to? I do not see a good reason why not. But should they offer such comments, endorsements, and perspectives? That is not so easy to answer. While I cannot speak to the function or purpose of “spiritual leaders” of other religions, I can say that the task of Christian ministers is not a political one, but a spiritual one. Their comments should direct people to Christ, not to this or that candidate, cause, or party. Their endorsement is of Jesus Christ, his perspective is that of the Bible, regarding faith and life.
Yes, there are some moral positions that the church must comment on and speak out against, but it does so as an agent of righteousness, not of any political agenda. Individual Christians can be involved in politics and make any political statements they would like, but the churches focus is the kingdom of God. Aside from your religion's holy book, what evidence do you have that your faith is true and correct?12/24/2016
At the outset, we have to be clear that if the question is, “what evidence is there that will convince someone of the truth of Christianity,” the answer must be that there is none. Man does not just suffer from a lack of information concerning God. He suffers from deadness of soul. The Bible, which cannot be disregarded as evidence, says that man in his natural capacity cannot accept things concerning God, unless and until God himself makes himself savingly known to them.
That being said, there is abundant evidence for the God of the Bible. Perhaps most importantly is that only the existence of the Christian God makes sense of the things that we all take for granted, among which are the regularity and dependability of natural laws and processes and a universal morality. If God can create a peaceful and blissful afterlife, why is Earthly life so filled with suffering?12/17/2016
Well, truth be known, God also created a peaceful and blissful earth in the beginning; Paradise. No suffering, no pain, no hostility. Man had perfect knowledge and righteousness. He served and worshiped God blissfully, and completely, and enjoyed unhindered communion with God.
The suffering which is the common experience of mankind today came about when sin entered the world. Sin is the intruder, the interloper, universal and ruinous to man’s relationship both with God and with his fellow man. It is so deeply rooted in our nature ever since it first made its appearance that the Bible says “there is no one who does not sin,” and “there is none righteous, no, not one.” Only through the divinely powerful work of Christ can sin be overcome, because he himself has overcome it. And only in the end will God remove the last vestiges of sin in the new heaven and new earth. There will likely be many of the contributors today who will say that man is basically good, but I submit that both biblical declaration and honest observation give abundant, though sad, evidence that man is inherently sinful.
The most compelling are the biblical declarations, which trump observation because they are the word of God. The Bible says that the heart is desperately wicked, that there is no one who does not sin, and that from conception we are sinners (Psalm 51:5). This is the one universal inherited trait, passed down from Adam to each of us. And observation agrees with the Bible. As soon as a baby is able to express itself it does so in sinful ways. Among the first words a baby learns are typically the words, “mine,” and “no,” and their actions are right in line with those words, expressing the self-centeredness and rebellion that proves all people to be children of Adam. |
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