Saturday, April 27, 2013

Let's Address the Elephant(s) in the Room



Time to address the Elephant in the RoomMore good questions that we do not want to tip toe around.  Rather, this particular posting is simply a stimulation to dive deeper.  Each Q & A below are merely addressing the surface.  The bible goes much deeper into all these questions, In the coming weeks we hope to break the surface and dive a little deeper into many of the biblical perspectives that lend various focal points into these tough questions and more.

How Do You Know There Is a God?


You can’t prove there is a God.
They can’t prove there isn’t one.
Both involve faith.

The odds are 50/50
If I am wrong I lose nothing.
If I am right I gain everything.
If you are wrong you lose everything.
If you are right you gain nothing.
Either way you don’t gain a thing.
Even a wise gambler would go with the one that has the highest return


Don’t All Religions Take You To God?

All Religions don’t teach the same thing.
1.       The Claims of Jesus argue against this.
·         John 14:6 – Jesus said he was the only way to God.
·         Also in John 3:16-18
2.       Other claims in the Bible argue against this
·         Acts 4:12 – No other name by which people must be saved.
·         1 Peter 3:18 – Only Jesus can bring people back to God.
3.       The claims of other religions argue against this.

You have probably heard the expression, 
"grab the bull by the horns",
 this is more like 
"Pull the Elephant by the Trunk"
 


Isn’t the Bible Just a Book?

People will often say it has mistakes and contradictions.  Ask them to show you one?  Remember, very few people have ever even read the Bible.
A Few facts they should know about.
1.       The Bible is historically accurate.
·         Archaeological discoveries prove this
2.       The Bible is prophetically accurate.
·         100% success.
·         Example: Micah 5:2 birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
3.       The Bible has unity and consistency.
·         66 different volumes.
·         40 different authors.
·         Written over a 1500 year period.
·         Written from 3 different continents.
·         Involved 3 different languages.
4.       The Bible has endured.

 
Can we Trust the Bible?

NO
                It’s Reliability
·         14000 N.T. manuscripts
·         No Contradictions
·         Archeological Evidence
·         N.T. is 99.5% pure
It’s Uniqueness
·         40 authors
·         1500-1800 year time span
·         Many attempts to destroy it
·         Makes claims like no other book
It’s Beneficial Effects
·         It changed history
·         It continues to change lives

IT HAS IT’S PROBLEMS

                From God?
·         The Bible claims this (Lk. 24:44; 2 Ti. 3:16)
·         300 prophesies fulfilled in life of Jesus
Scientific Problems?
·         Bible deals more with the “Who” of creation rather than the “How”.
·         Many reputable scientists believe in it
Apparent Errors?
·         Where are they?
·         Most are easily explained
Miracles ?
·         If there is a God, miracles are “no problem”
·         Historical proof
(eyewitnesses & written accounts)
                Different Interpretations ?
·         Most Christians agree upon key areas
(God, man, sin, salvation)
               
YES
                Claims of Jesus
·         God’s Son
·         Pay for all peoples sin
·         Came back from dead
Decision
·         Everyone must make a decision to personally accept or reject him.

How Dumbo really lost his MOM ...
 


What About those who have never heard?
Points to remember:
1.       God is fair.
·         Romans 2:11
2.       God doesn’t want anyone to go to Hell.
·         2 Peter 3:9
3.       God makes Himself known to all people.
·         Romans 1:18-22
4.       All People distort and reject the true knowledge of God.
Romans 1:22-25
5.       People are held accountable for what they know, not for what they don’t know.
·         Those who haven’t heard about Christ aren’t judge for this but for rejecting him and God
·         Those who have heard about Christ and reject him are judged for both rejecting him and God
6.       God responds to those who respond to Him.
·         Acts 8:26-40 the Ethiopian man.
·         Acts 10 – Cornelius.
·         Acts 11:6 – God rewards those who seek him.
·         Matthew 7:7 – Seek and you will find.
7.       No one can be saved without Christ.
·         John 14:6

Why does God allow So Much Suffering?
1.       God Created a world free of suffering
·         Genesis 1-2
2.       People are the cause of suffering, not God
·         Genesis 3
3.       For God to remove suffering He would need to remove the cause of it - people
4.       For God to completely stop suffering He would need to take away our freedom of choice.
5.       If it weren’t for God there would be much ore suffering.
6.       God promises a time will come when there will be no more suffering for those who are His children.
·         Revelations  21:4