Monday, May 14, 2007

Germs, Jesus and Santa Claus

With Mitt Romney and Al Sharpton facing off over religion, I have to say, I don't get it. As a Christian I was taught that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Light and that there is no other way to heaven. He said, and I read it, therefore; I am just repeating it.

The apostle Paul said this, if you confess salvation with your mouth and believe it in your heart, then you have it. (Romans 10:9-10) So where is the argument? The Christian; Sharpton, claims to know, but acts like he doesn't know better. Romney, a very nice guy, thinks that we need to be tolerant of all religious practices not just his. Sharpton may know the answer, but it was not presented with love. *Gong* both sides in error. Why? Defending the truth without love is being a clanging gong... see 1 Corinthians 13 to see what I am talking about. Not believing in Jesus as a savior is an eternal error. But who can prove it?

So, what is it that made Jesus say what He said? How could he say, I am the only way to heaven? Arrogance, culture, delusions, the "Messiah Complex", what? Let's just think for a minute... most things that we believe in, or want to believe in require proof or at least a very compelling theory. Here are a couple of examples. Evolution, Global Warming, Santa Claus, germs and Jesus. To believe in them requires a high degree of scientific logic or solid proof. I personally think evolution is a farce. Why? Not because I am uneducated. I studied it in high school and three times in college, where I got some pretty good grades in the biological, sociological and and anthropological views. Why doesn't this theory work for me? There are no "transitional" creatures, you know, half fish and half cow or whatever has the most "like" appendages that link them are. The evidence is not there. Period! And What amazes me is the scientific sounding inkhorn terminology that is somehow meant to impress us as being knowledge.

There too, was a time when germs were unknown and unseen. Today, we can see them under a microscope and so much research has been done that there would be few skeptics. Conversely, if we believe in Santa Clause, we are likely to wake up some night and catch mom and dad signing his name to a few gifts.

The world often sees Christianity in a negative light. Some because of theory, and other times because of the unloving and stupid acts of Christians. We have preached the gospel without power, without passion, without evidence, and worst of all, without love. Click HERE to read more. It's be said that we are better known for what we oppose, than what we stand for.

The big question, how does one know that God exists? I am going to answer that question. If no one sees God do anything, if no one feels His presence, then no one is likely to believe in a real God. They will be inclined to believe a philosophy, to worship the Bible or the church and not God; to see Jesus as a good man, a prophet, but not as a loving and powerful God that provides forgiveness for sin and an eternal destiny. They key? I think that it is signs and wonders. Sure we need character, but anyone can be good for a reason (I have a 3-year-old that can do that). Yes, we need faith in that which is not seen, but if God can't touch a life, or do something supernatural then our faith is simply beliefs, and there are lots of those. That is how we get other religions. People want to believe in something; something supernatural. Disney would be out of business if this wasn't true. Psychics and palm readers too!

The other important fact is how God presents Himself to us. He has chosen certain types of expression over the centuries, but signs and wonders are a huge part of His repertoire. From the Red Sea to those being raised from the dead in 3rd world countries, God is at work showing His handy work in supernatural ways. Just the way it used to be...

Acts 2:43 - Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
Acts 4:30 - Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
Acts 5:12 - The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people.

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