"Recently my boyfriend of 2 years and i had a religious discussion. he confessed to me that he is having a hard time believing in Jesus. All through our relationship i was confident that we were on the same page spiritually, but this news of him doubting Jesus has broken my heart. his main problem is that he is having a hard time believing that only those who believe in Jesus will have eternal life. for example, what about the random tribes in Africa that have never heard of Jesus and some zealous missionary explains it to the tribe in a way that the tribe immediately rejects it, but the tribe members live their lives in a relatively "good" way (as they've been taught), but when they die, they burn in hell bc that missionary didn't do a good job of explaining christianity. He believes in God, but the Jesus part is what he's havingtrouble with. He's very intelligent and researches everything. He's having trouble grasping that God could condemn people to hell because they've never heard of Jesus. I believe that Jesus is the way, truth and the light. only through Him is eternal life. and some things we cannot understand bc God is of a higher power that our brains cannot even fathom. i believe you have to have faith that God knows what he's doing. But he gets frustrated of my answer "you have to have faith." he sees it as a cop-out. I have encouraged him to find a church to attend regularly and bible study (he lives in another state). how can i help him through this? we had planned to get engaged in the next year or so and i told him if we don't have the same beliefs, i cannot be with him, or raise children on an unequally yoked system. I realize this is a self journey he has to conquer on his own, but i want to help him in the right direction. any suggestions?" ~Shannon
"Thanks for writing! The issue your boyfriend is dealing with is not uncommon. I think every Christian who seriously considers their faith has to deal with this at some time or other.
I can't say that I've got all the answers on this (like you said, God is beyond us Isaiah 55:9), still, here are some thoughts that I have learned from the Bible:
God's prerogative: God made us all. We are His creations, and so He has the authority to do with us whatever He wants as much as it's nobody's business but mine if I want to break all my furniture. When all the stuff happened to Job, and all he wanted was to know why, God's answer was basically "that's my business, not yours" (except much cooler - Job 38).
God's fairness: Though we can't understand why God does all He does, we can trust that He is fair (Deuteronomy 32:4), that He Loves us (1 John 4:10), and that He doesn't want anyone to go to Hell (Matthew 18:14). I don't know whether Jesus reveals himself to people at the moment of death (though the highest % of converts from Islam are because of "visions of Jesus" almost like Paul's encounter on the road to damascus), or if it is simply that they are only held accountable for the revelation to which they've been given (Matthew 11:22-24), but we can trust in the qualities of His fairness and love that He has a plan. God doesn't hide the truth from anyone. Matthew 7:7 says "seek and you will find". Romans 1:20 says that God revealed Himself through nature since the dawn of time, so nobody has an excuse to say they didn't know better. I believe that God has written the knowledge of Himself on our very hearts (Jeremiah 31:33) and that no one can honestly believe that He does not exist (they only deny it because it is inconvenient to the sin nature).
Condemning a good person: A lot of people don't understand how God could condemn someone who leads a relatively good life:
1. The problem is that God and Heaven are perfect, and only that which is perfect can be there. Unless we are willing to put down our sin (at Jesus feet) and be renewed, it doesn't matter how "good" we are, because we'll always be imperfect.
2. CS Lewis (author of Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe) once said "the doors to Hell are locked from the inside." What he meant was that it isn't God who condemns and rejects us, but we who ultimately choose to reject Him and so enter Hell (which is by definition "absence of God"). Lewis also said it this way, "There are those who say to God 'thy will be done', and there are those to whom God says 'very well then, thy will be done.'"
3. Even if God did condemn a "good" person, he is only holding them to their own standards. Think of it this way. If you had a tape recorder hanging around your neck every day of your life, and then they played it back to you at the gates of heaven, how many judgments of other people, or sweeping statements or standards that you couldn't live up to yourself would we hear come out of your mouth?
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any more questions, or if I didn't answer the question the way you meant. I'll be praying for you and your boyfriend!
PS For other people's perspective on this subject, type "never heard of Jesus" in Google. Be careful though, some people post some wacky stuff, so not every site is Biblical or even Christian.
PPS As for finding a good church fellowship for him, I can try to help if you tell me about where he lives, or you can look up churches in the area online or in the yellow pages, but he'll ultimately have to be the one to give it a try, and probably try a few churches until he finds a good one." ~Jeff
Friday, September 7, 2007
"Is Christianity Plagurized from Older Religions?" ~Debra
"hi, i've been discussing God's existance on a board with many atheists...one of them brought up the Hindu religion and Krishna as having been around before Jesus but claiming a bunch of similarities with Him, suggesting that the story of Christ was plaigurized later. i and another christian have been trying to refute this but as yet, have not been able to convince her.. i hoped you might have some information that may help. thanks and God bless you." ~Debra
"First of all, I respect your bold efforts to engage atheists for the sake of Christ's love! This is not an easy thing to do, and one thing you'll realize is that they are at varying "spiritual temperatures". In other words, some of them are genuinely curious and have just a few barriers to belief that you can help dispell. Others, however, are entrenched and embittered. Though God can change any heart, you may feel like you're banging your head against a wall when trying to debate with them. Certainly, facts are not what change them most often, but the experience of lovingkindness that surpasses our human nature. I actually just took a class on recognizing where people are at in the scale of receptiveness to hostility toward the gospel and how to engage them where they are at to encourage them in the right direction. I can tell you more about that if you're curious.
I believe the Hindu religion is older than Christianity (though I'm not sure about Judaism), and Krishna does have a self-sacrificial story to it. There are sacrifice myths in many ancient religions (like Greek and Egyptian mythology). However, the motivation behind the sacrifice and the need for it were much different than that of Christ. Also, there is an abundance of historical evidence for Jesus' life, teachings, death and resurrection. The same cannot be said for any other religion. For more on that, I suggest The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel or More than a Carpenter. The point is that history can't plagurize. The idea of self-sacrifice and even of defeating death is as inherent in humanity as the fear of death itself. These would creep into stories since the dawn of civilization because they are universal emotions. Carl Jung would call them "archetypes", memories or emotions that all humans have in common. The idea of God is also common to all men, as Jung would call it the "archetypal mother". The Christian take on that is that God wrote certain things on our hearts (Romans 1:20). Sin and forgiveness, grace and mercy are completely different. Though we all have a sense of morality and a knowledge that we fail to hold up to that standard, it is the Bible that explains why that is. That Jesus lived, died, and that his body disappeared are corroborated with secular historical documents. Why He died and returned is completely different than Hinduism (a religion which cannot agree with itself even on whether one, many or any gods exist at all).
I hope this helps. Carry on with the good fight, but realize also that logic is not usually what atheists are looking for from us. What really tends to open people's hearts to the gospel is a live filled with acts of love that defy human nature." ~Jeff
"First of all, I respect your bold efforts to engage atheists for the sake of Christ's love! This is not an easy thing to do, and one thing you'll realize is that they are at varying "spiritual temperatures". In other words, some of them are genuinely curious and have just a few barriers to belief that you can help dispell. Others, however, are entrenched and embittered. Though God can change any heart, you may feel like you're banging your head against a wall when trying to debate with them. Certainly, facts are not what change them most often, but the experience of lovingkindness that surpasses our human nature. I actually just took a class on recognizing where people are at in the scale of receptiveness to hostility toward the gospel and how to engage them where they are at to encourage them in the right direction. I can tell you more about that if you're curious.
I believe the Hindu religion is older than Christianity (though I'm not sure about Judaism), and Krishna does have a self-sacrificial story to it. There are sacrifice myths in many ancient religions (like Greek and Egyptian mythology). However, the motivation behind the sacrifice and the need for it were much different than that of Christ. Also, there is an abundance of historical evidence for Jesus' life, teachings, death and resurrection. The same cannot be said for any other religion. For more on that, I suggest The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel or More than a Carpenter. The point is that history can't plagurize. The idea of self-sacrifice and even of defeating death is as inherent in humanity as the fear of death itself. These would creep into stories since the dawn of civilization because they are universal emotions. Carl Jung would call them "archetypes", memories or emotions that all humans have in common. The idea of God is also common to all men, as Jung would call it the "archetypal mother". The Christian take on that is that God wrote certain things on our hearts (Romans 1:20). Sin and forgiveness, grace and mercy are completely different. Though we all have a sense of morality and a knowledge that we fail to hold up to that standard, it is the Bible that explains why that is. That Jesus lived, died, and that his body disappeared are corroborated with secular historical documents. Why He died and returned is completely different than Hinduism (a religion which cannot agree with itself even on whether one, many or any gods exist at all).
I hope this helps. Carry on with the good fight, but realize also that logic is not usually what atheists are looking for from us. What really tends to open people's hearts to the gospel is a live filled with acts of love that defy human nature." ~Jeff
"Is Jesus Equal With God?" ~Graydon
"Jeff, my church believes in the Trinity. Further it defines the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as one and co-equal in ever respect (my words). I can accept the Trinity concept but the co-equal part and that Jesus is the same as the "Most High God" of the OT, I have a problem with. I see Jesus as my High Priest, my savior and redeamer and a God but not the "Most High God, the Father. I think Jesus tells us time and again He is not the Father. Feel lost reading the Bible if I cannot differentate among the three. Please help me if you can." ~Graydon
"Great question! The Trinity is probably the most difficult concept in... well I was going to say Cristianity, but probably all of life!
To an extent, I agree with you. Jesus tells us to pray to and worship the Father, not the Son, but that doesn't exactly make Him less than the Father. Likewise, the Holy Spirit draws no attention to Himself, but points it all to Jesus and through Him to the Father, but still He is no less than the other two. They are one person after all, so it's like saying Graydon is not not co-equal with Graydon. The best way I've discovered to differentiate between them is to think of their roles the way a man can play different roles in his life too. At the same time you may be a brother, son, father, co-worker, etc. We can even be in several of these roles at the same time (if the right people are in the room). Obviously, the analogy runs a little short, since we can't be in three places (or infinite places) at once, but it's a start. So, here are some of the roles I see each of them playing, and I'm sure there are more:
God the Father: Maker, Creator, Master, Father, God over us
God the Son: Savior, Interceder, Role-Model, Brother, God with us
God the Holy Spirit: Sustainer, Interpreter, Motivator, God in us
CS Lewis (who wrote the Narnia books and Mere Christianity, which is my favorite book after the Bible) explained that when we pray, we become part of this amazing dance with God, wherein:
1. The Holy Spirit prays through us (prompting us to pray sometimes with "groanings without words")
2. The Son prays for us (as our interceding High Priest in whose name we pray)
3. The Father hears and responds to our prayers.
No part is more important than the other and, in fact no part has ever existed without the other. There's strong Biblical support that Jesus and the Holy Spirit existed during creation and even before time began.
I hope this helps. The Trinity really is something we aren't to fully understand until we are in our heavenly bodies, but it's enough to say that all demand our utmost respect, but each is to be treated according to His role. I'm off on a conference right now, but if you'd like, I can take some more time to find verses and such to go along with this. I welcome your feedback, whether you agree or not, and any more questions or input you have." ~Jeff
"Great question! The Trinity is probably the most difficult concept in... well I was going to say Cristianity, but probably all of life!
To an extent, I agree with you. Jesus tells us to pray to and worship the Father, not the Son, but that doesn't exactly make Him less than the Father. Likewise, the Holy Spirit draws no attention to Himself, but points it all to Jesus and through Him to the Father, but still He is no less than the other two. They are one person after all, so it's like saying Graydon is not not co-equal with Graydon. The best way I've discovered to differentiate between them is to think of their roles the way a man can play different roles in his life too. At the same time you may be a brother, son, father, co-worker, etc. We can even be in several of these roles at the same time (if the right people are in the room). Obviously, the analogy runs a little short, since we can't be in three places (or infinite places) at once, but it's a start. So, here are some of the roles I see each of them playing, and I'm sure there are more:
God the Father: Maker, Creator, Master, Father, God over us
God the Son: Savior, Interceder, Role-Model, Brother, God with us
God the Holy Spirit: Sustainer, Interpreter, Motivator, God in us
CS Lewis (who wrote the Narnia books and Mere Christianity, which is my favorite book after the Bible) explained that when we pray, we become part of this amazing dance with God, wherein:
1. The Holy Spirit prays through us (prompting us to pray sometimes with "groanings without words")
2. The Son prays for us (as our interceding High Priest in whose name we pray)
3. The Father hears and responds to our prayers.
No part is more important than the other and, in fact no part has ever existed without the other. There's strong Biblical support that Jesus and the Holy Spirit existed during creation and even before time began.
I hope this helps. The Trinity really is something we aren't to fully understand until we are in our heavenly bodies, but it's enough to say that all demand our utmost respect, but each is to be treated according to His role. I'm off on a conference right now, but if you'd like, I can take some more time to find verses and such to go along with this. I welcome your feedback, whether you agree or not, and any more questions or input you have." ~Jeff
"Does God Still Perform Miracles?" ~Cherise
"Hi, how are you? I wanted your opinion on whether you think God performs miracles in the world, and if so why doesn't he perform more especially since so many people are suffering. P.S Can you pray for me to get good exam results
thank you." ~Cherise
"Thanks for writing!
I will certainly pray for your exam results, but don't worry. As long as you're giving your best and keeping God's will as your priority, he'll give you the results you need to take you down the path He has for you.
Now, on to your question:
Does God perform miracles today?
In short, I definitely believe that God performs miracles today. To answer your full question better though, we have to first figure out what is meant by miracle. I believe that a miracle is a direct intervention of God that goes against what we understand to be the general laws of nature. A more subtle way that God intervenes we call "providence", where He uses the laws of nature and gently prepares things to accomplish His will (like using the weather patterns to snow us in on a day He wants people stuck together or something). Biblically and historically, God's preferred method has been providence, specifically through the work of His servants, but we still do see some miracles today.
Miracles tend to happen more in areas where there is less confidence in human science and ability. I have heard from very credible sources of people being bodily raised from the dead in front of witnesses in countries like Haiti and African nations. Both Satan and God seem to operate more subtley in 1st world countries though. I believe that is primarily because we have grown skeptical of such events. Where fear tactics might work for Satan in Djubuti, in the US he prefers to pretend he doesn't exist at all. Similarly, with so much hoax and flashiness in America and Britain, God tests our true faith through His silence (or at least his still small voice - 1 Kings 19:11-13).
God has never put a whole lot of stock in miracles to change our hearts though. He has seen how quickly the Israelites fell away from Him even after amazing acts like the parting of the Red Sea. Jesus said "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it" (Matthew 12:39). When a man begs Jesus for a miracle to cause his friends and family to believe, Jesus says "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead" (Luke 16:31).
Why doesn't God stop people from suffering?
That's a really good question, Cherise! It's a long answer though, so I'll point you to a website where I answered it for someone else: http://jeffgrant1stblog.blogspot.com/2007/02/i-was-just-wondering-if-you-could.html. Feel free to write back and let me know what you think!" ~Jeff
thank you." ~Cherise
"Thanks for writing!
I will certainly pray for your exam results, but don't worry. As long as you're giving your best and keeping God's will as your priority, he'll give you the results you need to take you down the path He has for you.
Now, on to your question:
Does God perform miracles today?
In short, I definitely believe that God performs miracles today. To answer your full question better though, we have to first figure out what is meant by miracle. I believe that a miracle is a direct intervention of God that goes against what we understand to be the general laws of nature. A more subtle way that God intervenes we call "providence", where He uses the laws of nature and gently prepares things to accomplish His will (like using the weather patterns to snow us in on a day He wants people stuck together or something). Biblically and historically, God's preferred method has been providence, specifically through the work of His servants, but we still do see some miracles today.
Miracles tend to happen more in areas where there is less confidence in human science and ability. I have heard from very credible sources of people being bodily raised from the dead in front of witnesses in countries like Haiti and African nations. Both Satan and God seem to operate more subtley in 1st world countries though. I believe that is primarily because we have grown skeptical of such events. Where fear tactics might work for Satan in Djubuti, in the US he prefers to pretend he doesn't exist at all. Similarly, with so much hoax and flashiness in America and Britain, God tests our true faith through His silence (or at least his still small voice - 1 Kings 19:11-13).
God has never put a whole lot of stock in miracles to change our hearts though. He has seen how quickly the Israelites fell away from Him even after amazing acts like the parting of the Red Sea. Jesus said "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it" (Matthew 12:39). When a man begs Jesus for a miracle to cause his friends and family to believe, Jesus says "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead" (Luke 16:31).
Why doesn't God stop people from suffering?
That's a really good question, Cherise! It's a long answer though, so I'll point you to a website where I answered it for someone else: http://jeffgrant1stblog.blogspot.com/2007/02/i-was-just-wondering-if-you-could.html. Feel free to write back and let me know what you think!" ~Jeff
"Doubting God for the first time" ~Chance
"thanks a lot for your time . I have never questioned myself or my beliefs before . I am having a dry moment if you will and having a hard time seeking god. I used to wake up and thank God for everything and now i wake wondering if he is real.. I am just being honest to myself.I know without a shodow of a doubt that this world didnt hapen by chance. I hope that this season doesn't last long. May god bless you and your co laborers in Christ." ~Chance
"Thank you for your blessings, Chance! Thanks also for your honesty.
I've gone through many dry spells myself, some of which happened while I was leading ministry. They still come back from time to time too, so you're not alone. I get afraid that it's my fault, because I know that unrepentant sin can cause that barrier. I get even more afraid that all my beliefs really were just wishful thinking.
The fact of the matter is, feeling God's presence and feeling Him to be true are not the basis of our faith. Feelings come and go, just as the feeling of love for my wife is not a firm basis for my marriage. Our feelings are swayed by so many variables that we can't possibly even count them all (relationships, chemical balance, barametric pressure, etc). When we place our trust in God, we are saying that we will be faithful and follow Him, even when we don't understand all the facts and even when we don't feel a desire or even a confidence in Him.
There are a couple of books that addressed this issue, which I read while I was going through this. The first, written by Oswald Chambers, is My Utmost for His Highest. It's a daily devotional that's not always easy to swallow. At one point, he talks about when God is silent in our lives. He says that it may be a sin issue (that we can't hear Him) but that it may be God testing us, a crucial step in our development. The second, by CS Lewis, is The Screwtape Letters. It's a compilation of fictional letters from one demon to another on how to torment a Christian. At one point, Screwtape explains that sometimes God ("the Enemy") hides His presence from us so that we can learn to walk on our own, like taking his hand off our bicycle seat. He explains that, while Satan wants to consume us and absorb us into himself, God desires to make us into little versions of Himself (more specifically His Son). In order to do that, He needs to put us through trials, and some of them involve facing situations without Him (like in the garden when God left Adam and Eve alone).
I've got two bits of advice, and you can take them or leave them but they come from the heart:
1.) Keep on doing what you know is right. Your relationship with God up to this point has probably been strong enough that you can tell what He wants from you even when He's not speaking (like knowing what your friend or relative would say if they were in the room with you). This period will pass once God has taught you what He needs you to learn (it may be someone else He's doing this for though, like He put me through it so I could talk to you).
2.) I once went through an "Experiencing God" Bible study, and found it quite helpful. One of the things it said was, "if you want to have God work in your life, find where He's at work already and join Him." This is one of the reasons I decided to become a missionary. I realized that all of life is not about me, but about God. He's the main character of the story of life, and He created us to be a part of His mission in the world. I believe our lives and the hours we spend within them are exactly as significant as the time we spend with God and a part of His mission. It makes sense that we would feel lost and unfulfilled if we are not doing what we were created to do, because we're malfunctioning creations. Try getting more involved in service. Seeing God change the lives of people around you is one of the clearest ways to see Him (just as you see the wind when you look at the leaves being changed by it)."
"Thanks again Jeff! I really needed your encouragement. I also would like to thank you for being obedient to the call on your life and your ministry. I was actually ashamed to admit it but I am in the ministry myself.
I feel and have felt a call on my life to get up and do something like go to another country and spend a couple of months. The problem is that I can’t see spending thousands of raised dollars to send me to dts when I can send that money to someone who is a missionary in lets say Africa and let them dig a well or feed some kids for a year or two.
Have any ideas I graduate in dec and really want to do something before I start a job. I know that sounds vain that I am only considering missionary work for a year or so but I do not want to be a burden for others who are working at home. I am not at all implying that I think that all missionaries are burdens but I am just confused about the whole support thing." ~Chance
"No problem, Chance!
You have no idea how uplifting it is to feel like I've made a difference for someone. Especially right now, as my wife and I are raising OUR initial support and are unable to get out on the campuses to reach students until that goal is reached.
There is no shame in doubt, not even for someone in ministry. When we step out to serve God more fully, we present ourselves as bigger targets to the enemy, who would prefer that we stay comfortable and ineffective.
International Missions: I too felt called to the mission field, and I thought it was overseas at first as well, but God kept closing doors and not saying why. I agree with you about the large % of support that goes to getting the missionary's body to the mission field. That is one of the reasons Campus Crusade is so appealing to me. Not only am I serving where I live, but their stance on international missions is very practical and good stewardship. We have campus ministry in 192 countries (74 more than McDonald's :), but most of the time the ministry is not run by Americans in say Africa, but by locals ministering to their peers. Students and staff are encouraged to take occassional stints to other countries, to provide added support and to broaden our own perspectives, but most of our mission trips are within the US (Katrina relief, beach outreach, etc). That was one way CCC blew me away, since my wife and I had no experience with them until about a year ago.
Biblical Support Raising: My own understanding about support raising has been a journey. I have felt for years that God wanted me to serve Him full time, but I always thought raising support would be a "necessary evil" part of that process. Campus Crusade spent a week of our new staff training talking about the support raising and at least a whole day of that was the Biblical support for what we're doing. God created the missionary support situation in the OT with the Levites. He said that they would minister to the people as priests, and they would have no land or food of their own. Instead, everyone would give a tithe to God, and out of that, God would take care of them. The prophets were likewise supported by the people, travelling from town to town and living with host families. It was a deep honor for the hosts to have the prophet choose them. The NT has a similar situation with Rabbis, that's why Zacchias was so blown away when Jesus chose him. When Jesus sent His disciples out two-by-two, He even told them how to pick the host, not to feel ashamed at their generosity and even how angry it makes God when people do not support them (Luke 10:7, Matthew 10:13-15). Finally, Paul and his cojourners were missionaries. Yes, some people point out that he supported himself through tent making, but that was only part of the time. Paul was also supported by churches. The book of Phillipians is basically a "thank you" support letter. In Phillipians 2:25-30, Paul alludes to the financial gift they sent through Epaphroditus, and in 4:10-19 he makes his intentions on that matter much more clear.
Mission Advice: This may sound biased, but have you thought about Campus Crusade? I don't think it's a coincidence that God brought you to me, while I am discovering this organization more fully myself. They have ministry needs all over the place (including right where you are) where you can see God at work in the lives of people who are discovering Him. You can take an internship with them for one or two years either right where you are, through an international stint, or at the Headquarters in Orlando. The first makes sense in terms of not raising support to cart you to some far-off place, the second is for your seeking God's will, and so is the third (because it gives you a taste of all the ministries going on and a good plug-in to wherever you might want to go next). That being said, take my advice with a grain of salt. There are plenty of wonderful organizations out there. It really needs to be between you and God that the decision is made. Pray about it (even if you feel like He isn't listening), then look at your situation, the talents and passions he's given you, the resources (including social connections) and what really bothers you (what you feel a calling to change in this world). Then, as long as God is your priority and the King of your decision, take a step and He'll stop you or redirect you (even with a whale) if He needs to." ~Jeff
"Thank you for your blessings, Chance! Thanks also for your honesty.
I've gone through many dry spells myself, some of which happened while I was leading ministry. They still come back from time to time too, so you're not alone. I get afraid that it's my fault, because I know that unrepentant sin can cause that barrier. I get even more afraid that all my beliefs really were just wishful thinking.
The fact of the matter is, feeling God's presence and feeling Him to be true are not the basis of our faith. Feelings come and go, just as the feeling of love for my wife is not a firm basis for my marriage. Our feelings are swayed by so many variables that we can't possibly even count them all (relationships, chemical balance, barametric pressure, etc). When we place our trust in God, we are saying that we will be faithful and follow Him, even when we don't understand all the facts and even when we don't feel a desire or even a confidence in Him.
There are a couple of books that addressed this issue, which I read while I was going through this. The first, written by Oswald Chambers, is My Utmost for His Highest. It's a daily devotional that's not always easy to swallow. At one point, he talks about when God is silent in our lives. He says that it may be a sin issue (that we can't hear Him) but that it may be God testing us, a crucial step in our development. The second, by CS Lewis, is The Screwtape Letters. It's a compilation of fictional letters from one demon to another on how to torment a Christian. At one point, Screwtape explains that sometimes God ("the Enemy") hides His presence from us so that we can learn to walk on our own, like taking his hand off our bicycle seat. He explains that, while Satan wants to consume us and absorb us into himself, God desires to make us into little versions of Himself (more specifically His Son). In order to do that, He needs to put us through trials, and some of them involve facing situations without Him (like in the garden when God left Adam and Eve alone).
I've got two bits of advice, and you can take them or leave them but they come from the heart:
1.) Keep on doing what you know is right. Your relationship with God up to this point has probably been strong enough that you can tell what He wants from you even when He's not speaking (like knowing what your friend or relative would say if they were in the room with you). This period will pass once God has taught you what He needs you to learn (it may be someone else He's doing this for though, like He put me through it so I could talk to you).
2.) I once went through an "Experiencing God" Bible study, and found it quite helpful. One of the things it said was, "if you want to have God work in your life, find where He's at work already and join Him." This is one of the reasons I decided to become a missionary. I realized that all of life is not about me, but about God. He's the main character of the story of life, and He created us to be a part of His mission in the world. I believe our lives and the hours we spend within them are exactly as significant as the time we spend with God and a part of His mission. It makes sense that we would feel lost and unfulfilled if we are not doing what we were created to do, because we're malfunctioning creations. Try getting more involved in service. Seeing God change the lives of people around you is one of the clearest ways to see Him (just as you see the wind when you look at the leaves being changed by it)."
"Thanks again Jeff! I really needed your encouragement. I also would like to thank you for being obedient to the call on your life and your ministry. I was actually ashamed to admit it but I am in the ministry myself.
I feel and have felt a call on my life to get up and do something like go to another country and spend a couple of months. The problem is that I can’t see spending thousands of raised dollars to send me to dts when I can send that money to someone who is a missionary in lets say Africa and let them dig a well or feed some kids for a year or two.
Have any ideas I graduate in dec and really want to do something before I start a job. I know that sounds vain that I am only considering missionary work for a year or so but I do not want to be a burden for others who are working at home. I am not at all implying that I think that all missionaries are burdens but I am just confused about the whole support thing." ~Chance
"No problem, Chance!
You have no idea how uplifting it is to feel like I've made a difference for someone. Especially right now, as my wife and I are raising OUR initial support and are unable to get out on the campuses to reach students until that goal is reached.
There is no shame in doubt, not even for someone in ministry. When we step out to serve God more fully, we present ourselves as bigger targets to the enemy, who would prefer that we stay comfortable and ineffective.
International Missions: I too felt called to the mission field, and I thought it was overseas at first as well, but God kept closing doors and not saying why. I agree with you about the large % of support that goes to getting the missionary's body to the mission field. That is one of the reasons Campus Crusade is so appealing to me. Not only am I serving where I live, but their stance on international missions is very practical and good stewardship. We have campus ministry in 192 countries (74 more than McDonald's :), but most of the time the ministry is not run by Americans in say Africa, but by locals ministering to their peers. Students and staff are encouraged to take occassional stints to other countries, to provide added support and to broaden our own perspectives, but most of our mission trips are within the US (Katrina relief, beach outreach, etc). That was one way CCC blew me away, since my wife and I had no experience with them until about a year ago.
Biblical Support Raising: My own understanding about support raising has been a journey. I have felt for years that God wanted me to serve Him full time, but I always thought raising support would be a "necessary evil" part of that process. Campus Crusade spent a week of our new staff training talking about the support raising and at least a whole day of that was the Biblical support for what we're doing. God created the missionary support situation in the OT with the Levites. He said that they would minister to the people as priests, and they would have no land or food of their own. Instead, everyone would give a tithe to God, and out of that, God would take care of them. The prophets were likewise supported by the people, travelling from town to town and living with host families. It was a deep honor for the hosts to have the prophet choose them. The NT has a similar situation with Rabbis, that's why Zacchias was so blown away when Jesus chose him. When Jesus sent His disciples out two-by-two, He even told them how to pick the host, not to feel ashamed at their generosity and even how angry it makes God when people do not support them (Luke 10:7, Matthew 10:13-15). Finally, Paul and his cojourners were missionaries. Yes, some people point out that he supported himself through tent making, but that was only part of the time. Paul was also supported by churches. The book of Phillipians is basically a "thank you" support letter. In Phillipians 2:25-30, Paul alludes to the financial gift they sent through Epaphroditus, and in 4:10-19 he makes his intentions on that matter much more clear.
Mission Advice: This may sound biased, but have you thought about Campus Crusade? I don't think it's a coincidence that God brought you to me, while I am discovering this organization more fully myself. They have ministry needs all over the place (including right where you are) where you can see God at work in the lives of people who are discovering Him. You can take an internship with them for one or two years either right where you are, through an international stint, or at the Headquarters in Orlando. The first makes sense in terms of not raising support to cart you to some far-off place, the second is for your seeking God's will, and so is the third (because it gives you a taste of all the ministries going on and a good plug-in to wherever you might want to go next). That being said, take my advice with a grain of salt. There are plenty of wonderful organizations out there. It really needs to be between you and God that the decision is made. Pray about it (even if you feel like He isn't listening), then look at your situation, the talents and passions he's given you, the resources (including social connections) and what really bothers you (what you feel a calling to change in this world). Then, as long as God is your priority and the King of your decision, take a step and He'll stop you or redirect you (even with a whale) if He needs to." ~Jeff
"Why did God choose to be so mysterious?" ~Chance
"Why did god chose to be so mystical (EX like other false Gods)?" ~Chance
"I'll do my best to share what I have come to believe, but with the knowledge that our 4-dimensional minds (4th being time) cannot fully understand an infinite being or His ways (Isaiah 55:9):
There are at least two reasonable answers to this one. The first is, as I said, that God is just a lot more complex than we are, so we just plain don't get Him. The second answer is slightly more complicated and involves free will and God's mission in the world:
The Bible explains that God created the world and people so that someone could enter into a loving relationship with Him of their own choice. In order to do that, we needed to be able to choose His way or our own (which is where evil comes from). However, God is so mighty and glorious that His full and undoubtable presence would annhialate any disbelief or disobedience. Example: If I tell you to keep your hand out of the cookie jar and then take the jar away somewhere, you aren't obeying because you want to. So, God communicates with us through His people, through nature and circumstances, and as a "still small voice" (1 Kings 19:11-13). We are not able to know things for certain, because God wants us to trust Him rather than trust our own knowledge. If I gave you directions to a place you could already see (or had been to before), you would have no need to trust me.
However, there are plenty of facts that support the Christian God well over false gods (even of the other major religions). Some of these that I can list are:
1.) the more than 100 prophecies in the Old Testament that were fulfilled to the letter by Jesus more than 400 years later (many of which were completely beyond a human's power to control)
2.) Jesus death recorded by non-Christian Romans, and His resurrected body witnessed by over 400 people at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6)
3.) the many disciples and followers who died rather than recant what their own eyes had seen
For more evidence (none of which will 100% garauntee and so eliminate the need for faith and trust), check out The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel and/or http://www.everystudent.com/ which has articles about it too."
"I'll do my best to share what I have come to believe, but with the knowledge that our 4-dimensional minds (4th being time) cannot fully understand an infinite being or His ways (Isaiah 55:9):
There are at least two reasonable answers to this one. The first is, as I said, that God is just a lot more complex than we are, so we just plain don't get Him. The second answer is slightly more complicated and involves free will and God's mission in the world:
The Bible explains that God created the world and people so that someone could enter into a loving relationship with Him of their own choice. In order to do that, we needed to be able to choose His way or our own (which is where evil comes from). However, God is so mighty and glorious that His full and undoubtable presence would annhialate any disbelief or disobedience. Example: If I tell you to keep your hand out of the cookie jar and then take the jar away somewhere, you aren't obeying because you want to. So, God communicates with us through His people, through nature and circumstances, and as a "still small voice" (1 Kings 19:11-13). We are not able to know things for certain, because God wants us to trust Him rather than trust our own knowledge. If I gave you directions to a place you could already see (or had been to before), you would have no need to trust me.
However, there are plenty of facts that support the Christian God well over false gods (even of the other major religions). Some of these that I can list are:
1.) the more than 100 prophecies in the Old Testament that were fulfilled to the letter by Jesus more than 400 years later (many of which were completely beyond a human's power to control)
2.) Jesus death recorded by non-Christian Romans, and His resurrected body witnessed by over 400 people at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6)
3.) the many disciples and followers who died rather than recant what their own eyes had seen
For more evidence (none of which will 100% garauntee and so eliminate the need for faith and trust), check out The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel and/or http://www.everystudent.com/ which has articles about it too."
"What came before God" ~Chance
"If god is real then who created him or how was he created there has to be some starting point. Right??" ~Chance
"This is a mind boggling issue that is one of the foundational questions of philosophy for all religions and atheistic worldviews. Either there is a beginning (a spontaneous something from nothing), or there has always been something. All sides pretty much agree that the latter is the case, those who believe in God and those who don't.
The most popular Atheist belief is that the universe is eternal, that it has been an infinite cycle of a "big bang" and a "big crunch" starting over and over and over again.
Christianity holds that God Himself is infinite and eternal (the "uncaused cause") and that He exists outside time. In Genesis, God created the universe, and He created time. So the answer to your question would be that noone created God. He is the starting point. If you believe "there has to be some starting point" it's Christians who agree with you, not atheists." ~Jeff
"This is a mind boggling issue that is one of the foundational questions of philosophy for all religions and atheistic worldviews. Either there is a beginning (a spontaneous something from nothing), or there has always been something. All sides pretty much agree that the latter is the case, those who believe in God and those who don't.
The most popular Atheist belief is that the universe is eternal, that it has been an infinite cycle of a "big bang" and a "big crunch" starting over and over and over again.
Christianity holds that God Himself is infinite and eternal (the "uncaused cause") and that He exists outside time. In Genesis, God created the universe, and He created time. So the answer to your question would be that noone created God. He is the starting point. If you believe "there has to be some starting point" it's Christians who agree with you, not atheists." ~Jeff
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)