Clean Christian Jokes
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Christians can use good clean jokes as a means to gain a warm reception for the good news of Christ. Expressive body language and a surprise punch line ensure a good laugh and help establish friendships. I’ve found this true many times. But not knowing what jokes you might receive in return, it’s good to set the right relationship with a big friendly smile, introducing yourself and asking if your acquaintance would like to hear some good clean jokes. Almost invariable they do. Afterward, ask if you may share the greatest news you’ve ever heard. You have earned a chance to present the good news of Christ. Of course, always be in prayer for God’s grace, wisdom, leading and power. When appropriate, ask if you can lead your new friend in a definite prayer of commitment. Have him or her repeat phrases of the gospel. For example--

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---Lord, I’m a sinner deserving Hell. But you died on the cross to pay for all my sins and make me right with a perfect God. I trust you now to save me, make me a child of God, and give me your gift of eternal life. Thank you Lord. Amen (so be it). Share assurance passages—Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 16:31. Invite him or her to a Bible believing church or take them to yours. Give them a Bible if they need one.
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Young Girl Who Married Her Hero.
This young lady admired this young man for his broad shoulders. She thought I've got to have him to be my hero. So she married him and discovered he was as dumb as a brick! Her hero turned to zero.
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The lesson here is that we need to ask thoughtful relevant questions about our relationships, not jump into a relationship, and not let our emotions overwhelm and reason. We will learn things in marriage about our spouse that we may never think of in dating.
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Jesus Is Watching You. A man was robbing a house in the dark with his flashlight. He heard a voice behind him say, Jesus is watching you. He turned around but didn't see anyone. Continuing to put treasures in his bag he again heard the voice say, Jesus is watching you. Turning quickly around he saw a parrot in a cage. He thought it's just a dumb parrot. Again collecting items he heard, Jesus is watching you and felt a warm breath on his neck. Turning around quickly he saw this big black bull dog with big menacing white teeth snarling at him. Jesus truly was upon him.
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Yes, Jesus is watching and we all will see Him one day at the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive our rewards for service, or at the Great White Thrown that decides our just degree of punishment for preferring our way to the holy perfect will of God. I sincerely hope and pray you my friend, will choose Jesus who in love died to save us sinners. 
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THE MAN WITH THE HICCUPS.

This man in a crowd of people asked the guy next to him if he knew how to stop the hiccups’. He said yes he could help him and to come with him. He took him around the corner away from the crowd. Then he slapped the fire out of the man. With face stinging bewilderment, he asked why in the world did you do that? "To get rid of your hiccups," the man replied, “But it’s my wife who’s got the hiccups.” May I share some good news with you?

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No matter how well intentioned, we all make mistakes that can cause harm. We live in an imperfect world and can’t live a perfect life. The perfect God who created us knows all about it. That’s why we need his Son the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Savior. What we can’t do, the God-man demonstrated He can do for us. Jesus’ death in our place on the cross displayed God’s love and satisfied God’s justice. Only in trusting Christ can we be sure to one day have perfect bodies, live in a perfect world, and not make mistakes and sins even when not intentioned. My friend, would you like to make sure you enter this new world by trusting the Savior today? May I lead us in a commitment prayer of faith and repentance? Repeat these words after me if you really mean it.

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JONAH AND THE WHALE--GREAT FISH.

Student told teacher a whale swallowed Jonah. No, teacher said a whale couldn’t swallow a man.

Student said the Bible says the whale swallowed Jonah. Teacher said I don’t believe the Bible.

Student said Jesus said the fish swallowed Jonah. Teacher said I didn’t believe in Jesus.

Student said when I get to Heaven I’ll ask Jonah. Teacher said but what if Jonah went to Hell.

Student said then you ask him. My friend, may I share with you the greatest news I’ve ever heard?

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I’m no theologian who has all the answers. I know only that one day I trusted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. It made me a child of God and I have God’s assurance that when absent from this body, I will be with my Lord. And anyone who honestly admits his sinfulness and asks Christ to be his Lord and Savior, will find God’s forgiveness, peace and love are real. The Bible says all who call upon the Lord will be saved. Can I lead you in a prayer to be saved?” “Not today.” Then, thank you sir, for your time. May I give you this gospel tract?

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THE NICEST LITTLE LOVEBIRD.

Two ladies discussed their parakeets. One said she had the nicest little lovebird that has a wonderful vocabulary. He says, let’s pray. Let’s pray. Other lady said her bird has a terrible vocabulary. She says, “Let’s neck. Let’s neck.” First lady said she would bring her bird over to teach the other lady’s bird a better vocabulary. She did the next day. When she opened the cage doors, the male lovebird hopped up on the perch next to the female. He looked at her and she looked at him and said, “Let’s neck, let’s neck”. He said, “My prayers have been answered.” My friends, may I share with you the most wonderful loving thing I know?

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You know many persons have honestly acknowledged they fall far short of God’s perfect moral standard. And they offered this simply prayer with sincerity. Lord, I know I’m a sinner deserving hell. But the Lord Jesus in love died to save me from all my sins. Lord, right now I trust Jesus to save me, give me His gift of eternal life, make me a true child of God to live for and serve Him the rest of my life. Amen. This is the best thing of my life. I want to share Jesus with my loved ones and friends.

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AN EVIL MAN’S WALK IN THE WOODS.

This wicked man went for a walk in the woods and came upon this big ferocious bear. He was so scared he fell on his knees and prayed—“Lord if you’ll save me from this big ferocious bear, I’ll trust in Jesus and try to be a good Christian”. Looking up he saw the bear with folded hands and bowed head praying. The sinner said, “never mind Lord it’s a Christian bear”. Then he heard the bear pray thank you Lord for bringing this good meal to me today. My friends, may I share with you the best news ever? It wonderfull changed my life.

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We don’t know when our end will come. But we can know we will go to live in the new Heaven on the new earth. Quote First John 5:11-13 and Revelation 21:4. Now Roman 6:23 says it all.

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THE POST-MODERN CHURCH.

A Bible believing seminary student on school break attended a post-modern church. He knew he had made a mistake when he heard the pastor say, "All religious beliefs were true." The seminary student squirmed in his seat feeling most uncomfortable. The pastor again assured his congregation that all religious beliefs were in fact true. Sermon over, the student hoped to slip quietly out the door unnoticed. But the pastor grabbed him, gave him a bear hug, and asked if he lived in the area. The student said, “No sir, I’m a seminary student attending your church during school break.” “Seminary student, wonderful!” said the pastor. And what do you believe young man.” “I’d rather not say sir," was his reply. Oh, you can tell me the pastor insisted, “I believe all religious beliefs are true.” “Alright then” the student respectfully leaned toward the pastor and whispered, “Sir, I believe you are going to hell.” Shocked and red faced, the pastor said, “Well, I guess I don’t believe all religious beliefs are true after all.” That's true of all who don't know Jesus. And, we can show people the way to heaven and eternal life. What greater news is there in all the world?

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Apart from the Bible’s God visibly shown to us in the God-man, Jesus Christ, we have no assurance we’re anymore than perishing animals. God, absolute truth, freedom, human dignity, moral standards, life after death, and ultimate purpose of life are crucial human needs. But, we know they are true only if Jesus, the God-man, died for our sins on the cross and arose again. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). That’s not our way, but it’s God’s way. And all who trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior from sin find it’s true. We can be God's faithful servants just telling others about this blog.

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THE MAN WHO FELL OFF A CLIFF.

Standing at the edge of a cliff with a two-hundred foot drop, Adam admired the beautiful scene below. Suddenly the rocky edge gave way and he felt himself plunging to his death. He grabbed a hanging limb and held on for dear life. Looking up he called. “Is there anybody up there who can save me?” “Yes, a powerful voice said I’m the Lord and I can save you.” “Thank you Lord, throw me a rope, yelled the doomed man.” But the Lord said, “To save you, you must TRUST ME AND DO WHAT I SAY”. “Oh yes, I’ll do whatever You say Lord. “ Then let go of the limb,” said the Lord.” After some hesitation, the limb hanger said, “Is there anybody else up there that can save me? Of course, it’s a fearful thing to trust the Lord. My friends, May I share with you what I’ve discovered in thinking about this subject?

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I know it’s scary to trust God. But I’ve discovered many good reasons to do so. Jesus left Heaven to show us God is love and really cares about our well-being. And since He experienced trial and temptations similar to us, He understands our needs. He defeated every evil and promised that in Him, we can too. The greatest love anyone can show is to give their life for another—that’s what Jesus did for us even as imperfect unworthy sinners. Nothing in this world is worth having or doing, if we lose our own soul. I trusted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. He’s given me forgiveness of sin and assurance of heaven. Wouldn’t you also like to trust Jesus to receive His forgiveness and gift of eternal life? I can lead us in a prayer of commitment. (Have him or her repeat phrases of the gospel after you as given above in green. Then give her\him this blog address so he can share how to learn Bible teaching and share this good news with the world.) Your doing that will count more with God and for eternity than having the winning lottery ticket.
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 A Boy and A Dog.
Upon coming to the store, Mr. Assume saw a boy sitting in a chair beside the door and a dog lying beside him. He casually asked, "Son, does your dog bite." The body looked him in the eye and answered, "No sir, my dog doesn't bite." Mr. Assume reached out to pet the dog who bit his hand. Surprised! his hand drew back, "You said your dog doesn't bite." The boy said, "That's not my dog."
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Can we make some false assumptions? Consider these examples: Nothing can evolve into everything, so no eternal self-existent Creator exists.  A Creator of the universe wouldn't take human form as Jesus to tell us He loves us. No heaven and hell exist. Death means our spirits die with our bodies.  We can earn our way to heaven by being good. A little sin won't keep us from heaven. Jesus was just a good man. Christians can furnish evidence all these examples are false assumptions not true. Check it out in the articles in this blog.

 Dear friend, won't you bow your head and say this in your heart--Lord Jesus, I trust you now and forever to be my Savior, Lord, and Guide throughout life. Amen.
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 Now get a Bible and study it to learn God's will for your life. And, meet to worship with God's people to be encouraged and show your faith is real. You can share these blog articles with others and lead them to know the Savior. You can even link them to your blog. In reading and sharing them, we not only learn answers to the crucial questions of life, not only have logical factual evidence absent in other faiths, but we can win others to the Lord, and make this a better world. We may one day rejoice to meet others on heaven's streets and discover God used us to introduce them to the Savior. What could be better? Praise God! Lord, bless and use this Your servant's ministry.
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Please understand: I don't write all my articles the same way (genre), or at the same specified length of time. My older articles are good too. I depend upon God's way, God's time, God's glory. Please pray with me that they be God's articles and God's will--I'm human. Thank you.
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Dear friends, please, please, please help me by giving others the address of these blog articles. I greatly need U to help me tell your friends and for them to tell their friends. I'm limited to the few friends I know in my immediate area. If they don't share the life giving message, it stops with us--we may go to Heaven and others who could not go at all. We have the greatest opportunity in the history of the world to share God's love in Christ through modern technology. Playing computer games and idle chit chat is fun, but being computer missionaries is what will count at the judgement seat of Christ and for all eternity. Others use the computer for evil, let's use it for good. Thank you for your commitment and courage. "Lord, bless your faithful computer missionaries with abundant fruit."
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World Religions Ten Question Quiz

World Religions Ten Question Quiz

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A world religion is a recognized system of beliefs or official group statement about God, man, ethics, man’s problem/solution and the afterlife. I use the term Biblical Christianity or Bible Christians to differentiate it from beliefs called Christian but that deny plain Bible teachings.

1.      Which religion denies reincarnation?

Hinduism; Biblical Christianity; New Age; Buddhism; Unity School of Christianity.

2.      Which religion denies a personal God, says man’s problem is desire & solution eightfold path and nirvana. Transcendental Meditation; Hinduism; Buddhism; Taoism; New Age.

3.      Which religion below denies belief in more than one god?

Popular Hinduism; Mormonism; Biblical Christianity; Greek Mythology; Shinto.

4.      Which persons deny that we can be saved or liberated by performing good deeds?

Jehovah’s Witnesses; Bible Christians; Mormons; Hindus; Jews.

5.       Which group believes in the human soul and eternal existence after death?

Naturalists; Atheists; Marxists; Materialists; Bible Christians.

6.      Which religion believes in Muhammad, the Quran, Allah, angels, prophet Jesus, jihad, Paradise, & Hell?

Islam; Unity School of Christianity; Christian Science; Wicca; Confucianism.

7.      Which religion says that things are illusion and ultimately god is the energy of the universe?

Hinduism; Buddhism; Transcendental Meditation; New Age; All of them.

8.      Which belief gives objective visible proof that there is life after death?

Hinduism; Islam; New Age; Biblical Christianity; Humanist Atheism.

9.      Which religion says imperfect people are unacceptable to a perfect God & unfit for a perfect Heaven?

Mormonism; Jehovah’s Witnesses; Islam; Unification Church; Biblical Christianity.

10.  Which religion says Jesus is God, took a human body, died to save sinners, & arose from the dead?

Unification Church; Christian Science; Secular Humanism; Bible Christianity; Marxism.

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I recommend these materials for class & discussion. For summary of key beliefs: Christianity, Cults & Religions by Rose Publishing. For more in dept study the classic: The Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Martin. And more critical: The Compact Guide to World Religions by Dean C. Halverson.

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Answers: 1. B.C. 2. Buddhism. 3. B.C. 4. B.C. 5. Bible Christians. 6. Islam. 7. All of them. 8. B. C. in Bible’s accuracy, trustworthiness, historical Jesus, his claims to deity, fulfilled prophecies, sinless life, miracles. 8. B.C. in Jesus’ resurrection. 9. B.C.—Matt. 5:48; Rom. 6:23; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Rev. 21:8, 27. 10. B.C. 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Cor. 15.

What Did Muhammad Say About Jesus?

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#Muhammad
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Surprising to some persons Muhammad taught things which both Muslims and Christians agree. Unlike secular society, both Muslims and Christians believe in God, heaven, hell, angels, prayer and absolute truth. Muhammad taught that Jesus was a great prophet of God, the Messiah, the Word of God, performed miracles, and even was virgin born but like Adam.

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So far tyrants don’t rule Western governments forcing persons to hold a particular religion, both committed Muslims and committed Christians protest Western culture’s appalling moral decay. Fragmented homes, drunkenness, disrespect shown old people, gambling, pornography, immodesty of dress, sexual promiscuity, homosexuality and same sex marriage evidence such decay. Ideally, in Western governments, a separate but cooperative relationship exists between church and state for mutual benefit.

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Please understand that I believe all human beings have the right to think and seek the truth. I affirm the human right to disagree and be unharmed. I have no ill will against Islam, Muslims, Muhammad or the Qur'an. I don’t believe all Muslims are terrorists but that most are descent, respectful, law-abiding citizens who only want to make a living, raise their families and enjoy the freedoms Western nations allow. And I believe Christians should show Muslims the same respect they would want Muslims to show them. But I find some teachings of the Qur'an, Islam’s holy book, difficult to believe as follows.

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Muhammad believed the angel Gabriel told him to recite the Qur'an while alone in a cave. He first thought Gabriel was a demon, but a favorite wife convinced him he was truly God’s chosen prophet. Muhammad then preached he was seal or final authoritative prophet of the one true God--Allah.

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The first five books of the Bible were complete for eighteen centuries before Muhammad and known today to be very accurate. They differ from what Muhammad said in the Qur'an. He said Noah’s Ark rested on Mt. Judi, not Mt. Ararat (Surah 11:44). Abraham’s father was Azar, not Terra (Surah 6:74). Not Pharaoh’s daughter, but his wife adopted Moses (Surah 28:8-9). Abraham attempted to sacrifice Ishmael, not Isaac (Surah 37:100-112). Abraham was not a Jew, but a Muslim because Allah, not Yahweh, is the only true God. Dozens more deviations exist from the Jewish Torah or Christian Pentateuch. I’m using Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s English translation whose notes tries but fails to explain away these difficulties.

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Jewish scribes, however, meticulously preserved and transmitted Israel’s history, the Torah, going back to Moses’ time around 1400 B.C. The Dead Sea scrolls discovered in 1948 dated back to the  time before Christ verify biblical accuracy. Scribes had carefully counted the letters in a line, the number of lines, and discarded any scroll found with a mistake. Muhammad at first favored Jews and Christians as people of the Book. But when he didn’t correctly explain the Torah, Jews rejected him as a false prophet. Muhammad claimed the Jews were wrong and he corrected their biblical mistakes. He then had his followers bow toward Mecca rather than Jerusalem. But surely Jews knew their own teaching and could easily recognize whether Muhammad was correct, confused or misinformed. Some persons Muhammad recited the Qur'an to, died before it was compiled  twenty years after his death. Moreover, some Qur'an teachings are abrogated by other later teachings.
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Crucial conflicts between the Qur'an and the Christian New Testament also abound. Christians believe the Creator of the universe is bigger than limited human minds can conceive and who revealed Himself as ONE GOD in three persons--the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But Muhammad said three gods is unforgivable blasphemy (shirk) because Allah has no companions (Sura 4:171; 5:72). Further, it seems Muhammad believed the Trinity was the Father, Mary and Jesus (Sura 5:73, 116).  Moreover, Allah doesn't fellowship with or love sinners. Allah commands you obey his rules and he might decide you can go to paradise.  Men in paradise have abundant sexual partners.         

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Astonishingly, as a baby in his cradle, Jesus said he was the servant of Allah, and not God himself or his son (Surah 19:29-30). Jesus was born under a palm tree, not in a cave (Surah 19:22-23). It was only as Allah’s servant that Jesus performed miraculous healing, raising the dead, and unknown to scripture formed clay into a bird (Surah 3:49; 5:110). The Qur'an claims Jesus, son of Mary, promised to send Muhammad to his disciples (Surah 61:6). But how can this be since not Muhammad but the Holy Spirit came to Jesus disciples. The Christian foundation is the death and resurrection of Jesus, but the Qur'an denies Jesus’ crucifixion and that Allah took Jesus directly into heaven (Surah 4:157-8; 3:55).  See book list below & my other articles: They have come for us, Claiming America for Islam. 

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Honest, logically thinking people realize such conflicting views can’t both be correct. Further, the Mormon, Joseph Smith Jr., around 1800 A.D. claimed an angel likewise revealed the golden plates to him making him God’s final prophet. Which man are we to believe? Moreover, since no one else saw either angel, how do we know but that both men were somehow mistaken?

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It’s impossible to see how Christians could be mistaken about the Trinity with Bible manuscripts written just decades after Christ. All three names are mentioned together and called God. And many times each name is separately called God. Centuries before Muhammad, the church fathers who followed the apostles, Polycarp, Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian and others discussed the Trinity in their writings. The Apostles Creed, the Council of Constantinople and then the Council of Chalcedon all before Muhammad arrived on the scene confirmed the Trinity teaching.

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Further, abundant evidence exists for Jesus’ death and resurrection. Old Testament prophets predicted the Messiah’s death for sinners and resurrection, which only Jesus could have fulfilled. Jesus himself predicted these events several times. There was no time either Judas or Simon of Siren substituted for Jesus as Muslim traditions suppose. People who knew Jesus watched him die on the cross, including his disciple John and his mother. They never could have been deceived about his identity and death. Moreover, the guards securing his burial, the tomb found empty, the separate grave clothes, the angel's announcement that he is risen, his many appearances, the transformed disciples, the established church, martyrs dying for the truth, the changed calendar, the fact that no theory has disproved His resurrection--all seem to establish Jesus arose and is the Son of God as he claimed.

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In conclusion, Muhammad acknowledged Jesus a prophet who performed miracles while he did not when asked several times. Miracles would conclusively have established Muhammad as a true prophet of God. But abundant early historical, visible, supernatural eyewitness evidence establish Jesus to be God—his claims to be God, prophecies, miracles and resurrection. With Muhammad, however, all we have is his empty claim that an angel spoke to him which he even doubted as first and which anybody can make as Joseph Smith Jr. coming after him in fact did. Considering the abundant evidence, who must be deceived?
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Peter says of Jesus, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" Acts 4:12. That means Jesus is our only way to God and Heaven. We are needy sinners before a perfect God and unfit for a perfect Heaven. Won't you trust Jesus the living Savior for forgiveness and eternal life. There is no greater love or greater hope given to everyone who trusts in Him. Jesus came to give us life eternal (John 3:36; 10:10).
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Now God can use you to share this message of eternal life with Muslim friends and others. Just link this blog with yours and tell others about it. God bless  you in telling others of the living Lord and Savior of all willing to enter a love-trust relationship with Him. Jesus said to put away the sword of endless hatred, death, and despair and accept Him who offers us love, forgiveness and life eternal. God bless your ministry of faith, hope, and love.

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Understanding Reincarnation

                                            Understanding Reincarnation

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#Reincarnation

Reincarnation is the belief of Western religions stemming from Hinduism and Buddhism. Variations exist in different religions but generally, it means that after death the soul inhabits another body and carries with it karma or the result of what happened in the former life. Souls inhabit as many bodies as it takes to become perfect and attain release from the cycle of death and rebirth (samsara). In other words, each new life reaps what it sewed in the former life until released from the cycle.
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According to one American survey, about one in four Americans believe in reincarnation, one in three college students and one in five persons who attend church regularly. It’s the belief among popular American stars such as Shirley MacLaine, Glenn Ford, Anne Francis, Sylvester Stallone, General George Patton, Henry Ford, Mark Twain and John Denver. Let me answer some important questions about reincarnation.

What Religions Teach Reincarnation? 

The Eastern religions Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Sikhism and Hare Krishna teach reincarnation. It took form in new Western religions such as Christian Science, Unity School of Christianity, Theosophical Society and New Age. One big difference with the West is that souls only go into human bodies. Unlike the Easterners, the Westerners can’t accept souls going into the body of a worm, roach, rat, snake, monkey. The ancient Greek philosophers Plato and Plotinus taught reincarnation as do the famous modern philosophers of religion Geddus MacGregor and John Hick.

How Do Reincarnationists Argue For Their Belief? 

Reincarnationists give three lines of argument for their belief: immortality of the soul, evidence of past lives, and that reincarnation achieves justice.

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First, Plato believed the soul immortal--it existed before birth and continues to exist after we die. But others believe eventually the soul will be either absorbed into the World Soul as a wave returns into the sea or annihilated in nirvana. “Christians” who believe in reincarnation think that if a person trusts in Christ that at death he will go immediately into God’s presence without further lives. 

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Next, they appeal to psychological evidences of past lives. They claim phobias, abnormal tendencies, sexual identity confusion, birthmarks, déjà vu, past life memories, deformities and inherited diseases are a carryover from their former life. Reincarnation is like the cycles of nature as vegetation comes to life in the spring and dies in the fall.

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Third, they claim reincarnation achieves justice. “Christian” reincarnationists feel an eternal Hell incompatible with God’s love. Further, it’s cruel, harsh, unjust punishment for a finite amount of sin. But if our sufferings can work off the bad deeds committed in our former life, it removes the damnation of Hell. It relieves God’s responsibility for our sufferings. It protects our freedom by giving us more lives to accept Christ--his love it not forced upon us. And it assures everyone’s eventual salvation. Besides, it’s unjust for innocent Christ to pay for our sins, unjust when we don’t pay for them, and unjust for us to pay for Adam’s sin.
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Now Christians respond to these three lines of argument in this way. Plato couldn’t know the soul is immortal. But even supposing the soul immortal, there’s no empirical evidence it takes on multiple bodies. Souls may inhabit only one body, as theists believe. Unknown to ancient peoples, hereditary and environmental factors can best explain cultural influence, hypnotic suggestion, forgotten childhood memories and fears, defective genes and diseases, and the earth’s tilt that causes the seasons. 
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Further, reincarnation doesn’t solve the problem of justice; it merely pushes it back to the first bad act and can give no explanation why it occurred. Besides, the impersonal law of karma is an act-consequence process devoid of moral content. It’s very unjust to punish someone for actions in a former life when they haven’t a clue as to what the actions were or how to rectify them.
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Doesn’t the Bible Teach Reincarnation?
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Reincarnationists claim three main biblical proof texts. In Matthew 11:14, Jesus said John the Baptizer had already come or been reincarnated in the form of Elijah. In John 3:3, Jesus told Nicodemus that unless he was born the second time he would not see the kingdom of God. And in John 9:1-3, Jesus claimed the man born blind has not sinned nor his parents so he had to have sinned in a former life. These are clear Bible teachings and it’s wrong of Christians to distort or deny that they teach reincarnation.
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Reincarnationists overlook numerous facts. First, it’s known that Jews of Jesus day believed in resurrection, not reincarnation (Dan. 12:2; Matt. 22:28; John 11:24; 1 Cor. 15). Second true interpretation doesn’t snatch phrases out of context and impose on them a different meaning. Third, many practical and biblical teachings we’ll discuss shortly show reincarnation simply unacceptable. 

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Now let’s look at these texts carefully. Jesus didn’t say John came in the form of Elijah but in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). Actually, Elijah never died, so he couldn’t have returned in another body (2 Kings 2:11). And when the Jews asked John if he was Elijah, he promptly and emphatically denied it (John 1:21).

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When Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again (John 3:1-8), he meant spiritual birth as plain in verse 8 contrasting the physical birth with the spiritual. Moreover, we are never said to be born repeatedly, but born once physically and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

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In John 9:1-3, Jesus said the purpose of this man’s blindness was so that he could heal him to glorify God. The glory of the Creator and our Life Giver transcends everything else. The blind unconscious force reincarnationists call god is no basis for either life or ethics, and reduces us to animals fighting for survival in a meaningless world.   

 Why Do Bible Believing Christians Reject Reincarnation?

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Christians reject reincarnation for practical reasons. (1) Reincarnation has no moral basis or way to tell good from evil. It doesn’t matter ultimately if you give persons a drink of water or slit their throats. Pantheistic systems may encourage voluntary rules of expediency such as don’t steal, lie or kill. But an impersonal force has no such ethical standards. Without some absolute right, nothing can be actually right or wrong. (2) It has no social compassion. India’s streets, littered with poor, crippled, maimed, homeless, starving people, if helped would only extend their sufferings to the next life. (3) It has no scientific basis. We know when a male sperm penetrates a female egg that a new individual develops with both body and soul who never existed before. (4) It shows no evidence of moral progress. If reincarnation were correct, we should see improvement. Instead, we’ve gone from fighting with sticks and stones to ballistic missiles with atomic warheads—human hatred, cruelty, and barbarism are alive and well. (5) It requires either an infinite regress of lives or a first life with free will. But we know an eternal regress of time is impossible or we would not be here at its end today. And, to acknowledge a first life with free will is what theists believe. 
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But Christians not only have practical reasons for rejecting reincarnation, but biblical reasons as well. (1) Unlike non-Christian religions, our Creator has come into our world as the God-man and Lord Jesus Christ demonstrating supernatural evidence (Gen. 1; John 1:1-3, 14; Heb. 1:1-4; 2 Pet. 1:16). This immediately voids all subjective imaginations, myths, guesses, preferences and claims to authority in other religions—what the real God says is final and every man will one day bow the knee. (Phil. 2:10). (2) At death, the soul passes into the spirit world awaiting the resurrection (2 Cor. 5:8). (3) At the resurrection, the soul receives its new permanent incorruptible body making us a soul-body unity (1 Cor. 15). (4) Human beings die only once followed by judgment (Heb. 9:27). (5) The one judgment is final not a series of judgments of each life (Luke. 16:26; 2 Thess. 1:9). Grace is God’s forgiveness and gift of salvation as opposed to the law of karma that is self-effort (Titus 3:5; Eph. 2:8-9). (6) The end of reincarnation is absorption into universal energy or annihilation while Christian resurrection is eternal joy and love with the Lord and his redeemed servants that biblical Christians find eternally better (Rev. 21: 1-4).
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Pantheistic systems (monism) are utterly opposed to Christian theism and offer none of the Christian advantages. And some “so-called Christians” are very mixed up or likely aren’t Christians at all. God decides what’s just as based upon his holy nature. Apart from the biblical God, there’s no basis for justice, truth, love, or life after death. Only Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
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If you don't know Jesus as Savior or Lord, won't you pray, Lord, I'm a sinner unacceptable to you and unfit for a perfect Heaven. Lord, I trust you now to transform me by your Holy Spirit into a child of God and be my Lord and Guide until I go to be with Your or You come for me. Amen. Show love to unbelievers & help them come to know the Savior who alone is life eternal.

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Three Major Ways People Understrand Life

Three Major Ways People Understand Life

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Is the world moving toward a grand climax? Are we humans just evolving animals that return to soulless dirt, or mere cyclic energy awaiting absorption, or beings of eternal dignity and worth? Can we have a good life beyond the grave if we try to live a good life now? Does life have any ultimate meaning? Honest thinking people deserve good answers. There are three major ways people worldwide view these issues. Let me explain them.
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                                                               The Atheist View

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Atheists are called by many names: secular humanists, evolutionary naturalists, socialists/ communists, materialists, antitheists. They all mean that there is no God of any kind, or angels, supernatural revelations, miracles, human souls or anything beyond nature. We are merely evolving animals that return to soulless dirt and life’s meaning is whatever you can make of it. There can be no absolute truth and ethics since everything evolved by chance over billions of years. So we are shut up to conflicting human opinions, preferences and guesses as man is his own highest authority and savior—hence “anything goes” leading to chaos and anarchy unless wise strong persons take control to keep the peace and dictate policy. An atheist plan of big government and economic control becomes imperative to wipe out religious ignorance and force compliance through education, law and police surveillance for the general wellbeing of humanity. The government has the wealth and power and the population must obey or be penalised or eliminated.

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Atheists claim science and reason demonstrate nature is everything. They know scientifically that the material universe had a beginning—it’s expanding, running down and since nothing creates nothing it couldn’t have created itself. They know (anthropic principle) well over a hundred precise conditions for human life to exist are unique to planet earth. Such conditions as earth’s position, size, distance in the galaxy to other kinds of stars, one moon, earth’s revolution, rotation, gravity, water, air composition, crust thickness, temperature, magnetism, seismic activity, and multiple others. But atheists’ dogmatic naturalism won’t allow them to admit the material universe and earth is the effect of an eternal, unchangeable, infinite, self-existent Mind rightfully called God and who can best explain everything.

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Atheists know, but won’t admit other crucial scientific facts. Life forms don’t spontaneously pop into existence from nonlife and all have genetic limitations. Acquired characteristics and mutations cannot change one life form into another. Unconscious blind molecules have no mind to arrange themselves into men. Life forms show design of an intelligent cause. And to destroy a major organ or system is to kill it so it had to be complete and functional from the start. Randomness results in chaos not order. Living cells are enormously complex and compact, a literal city of machines demonstrating design implying an infinite Designer or God. No scientific experiment demonstrates evolution. Fossils’ showing each step of change is necessary to prove evolution but exists nowhere except in the evolutionist’s mind. Not true science and reason, but an entrenched naturalistic philosophy has been deceiving the public about such things for decades.

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The Pantheist View
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Pantheists (or monists) believe the universe is reoccurring cycles of energy that can take any form such as stars, planets, gods, plants, animals and people. What our senses perceive as real is ultimately illusion without permanent substance like a wave that returns into the sea. Justice is shown in karma or what is sown in one life is reaped in the next life. So sickness, pain, good, evil, death, life have no real or abiding existence. Giving aid to someone only interrupts and delays the inevitable cycle. The only hope to get off the endless cycle is absorption into nothingness (liberation). Thus, all history and life, people and experiences are meaningless changing cycles.  

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This is a general pantheist view and there are varied versions and religions. I wonder how nothing became a universe of illusion. Science is pointless and impossible if the material universe is illusion without real existence--it operates on the premise that’s its real. Calling ourself god confers no special dignity above anyone else. Further, what dignity if we’re all simply a small piece of universal energy that may be a maggot or dirt in the next life. Pantheists act as though the world is very real—they wear clothes, look in the mirror, eat, bathe, avoid oncoming vehicles and obey prescribed rules. But if pantheists are correct, it makes no ultimate difference if we minister to persons or murder them. Pantheism is an abstract system devoid of human dignity, compassion, forgiveness, and hope. Is there a more hopeful realistic view of life?
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The Biblical Christian View
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Any religion claiming to be Christian that denies the original church teaching of Christ and his apostles is not Christian. Historians accept three independent sources as authentic history while the four Gospels, Acts, and the New Testament letters are six independent sources giving double evidence of Christ as the incarnate God-man. And only an anti-supernatural prejudice can deny a universe’s Creator can take on human form and walk among us. Jesus’ resurrection established Christianity and that all his teaching is true. See my article on Jesus’ resurrection.
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THE BIG QUESTION: If a personal ethical God exists, what would it take to prove his existence? We know nature acts in unalterable fixed patterns. What would we think if someone appeared who could altar these known patterns? Wouldn’t we be astonished? And wouldn’t our good sense tell us this person has power over nature beyond mortal men? And what if he told us many times and many ways he is our God and Creator? Do we have any honest reason to say it’s impossible? But it would take abundant repeated eyewitness evidence to be established fact.

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This is exactly what Jesus did. He walked on water, raised the dead, cured diseases immediately, caste out demons all the while explaining that he was our God and nature’s Lord. He did such things perhaps hundreds of times before astonished disciples and hostile critics who couldn’t deny them. Moreover, accounts of Jesus’ miracles were published within thirty years while persons still living and knew the events would have disputed them and prevented Christianity from being established. Disciples even asked unbelievers to acknowledge the truth they knew about Jesus.

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The whole thing seems utterly impossible to us today, but must God appear in like manner to every generation? These first century Jews and Christians were not stupid people. The fact they were always astonished at Jesus’ miracles shows they knew natures laws as we do today. They too were put out of the synagogues that in their view condemned them to Hell. Moreover, they and their families were ridiculed, tortured and murdered for their new belief. Jewish rituals and Gentile polytheism was transformed—both peoples went everywhere preaching Christ is the Son of God and Savior of sinners. The New Testament is incredible unless its many details are solid fact. Further, history can’t be discounted since it’s written down and passed on from person to person and not buried in dirt as monists might claim.

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With all our sophisticated weather technology, we can’t always predict just when and where disaster might strike. What about our predicting details about persons and events centuries in advance? The Christian Old Testament mentions numerous predictions of the coming Jewish Messiah (Christ). He was to be God, and man, born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, perform miracles, die for the people and arise from the dead. These are specific details many which the rabbis recognized. And they mention supernatural things only God could accomplish. No guessing, postdating, artificial fulfillment and ambiguity can explain them away. Jesus’ miracles and fulfilled prophecies can establish truth to open-minded persons.
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Jesus resurrection proved he is our God and all he said is true. He is the basis for human dignity, truth, ethics, justice, love, that history will have a great climax, life exists after death and has ultimate purpose—Heaven and Hell are realities. Intellectual belief is good, but it takes an act of faith and repentance to become a child of God. The ball is in your court. Rejection of the Savior is your choice of Hell.
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“God . . . commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).
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Friend, won't you say, Lord Jesus, Son of God, I don't understand everything. But I know I have done many things I'm ashamed of and deserve to be punished for. You loved unworthy me enough to die in my place on the cross to satisify God's justice and deliver me from Hell. Lord, I trust in You right now to save me the sinner and make me Your child forever. Lord, be my Master and Guide from this day until I walk the golden streets in Heaven. Thank you Lord.

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The Christian Worldview: Nonsense, Or Good Sense?

What are the basic beliefs of the Christian worldview? They’re sensible explanations of life, more logical, scientific, intellectually satisfying and defensible as Jesus publically claimed and demonstrated He was the God-man in this real world. Unless we have all knowledge of space and time, it’s an unwarranted assumption to claim no personal ethical God exists. To claim the Christian worldview arrogant, one must provide evidence to show their alternative view superior. Or, to claim we can’t know absolute truth is itself a truth claim. Look at the evidence and be objective.

The infinite personal, ethical Creator and Upholder God of the Bible is the only source, foundation, and unifying factor that makes sense of everything—truth, logic, life, mind, freedom, love, justice, human dignity, human rights, ethics, a meaningful world, history, a life of purpose and life after death.

Put another way, science operates on a cause and effect basis meaning atoms didn’t just pop into existence. Everything began must have a Beginner. So this finite dependent changing universe requires an eternal infinite Creator. We know also that an infinite regress of time would prevent me being here today. But here I am a living thinking person writing this article—it’s a God thing.

. THEOLOGY. There is only one true eternal, personal, ethical, triune God who is Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer and Judge revealed to us in creation, conscience, Christ, Scripture and history. Human belief in atheism, deism, dualism, pantheism, panentheism (process thought), and a finite God give us no hope of a real God who acts in our world for our good.

·   PHILOSOPHY. Thought is not composed of matter. The universe had a non-material origin. So mind necessarily precedes and explains matter. Intelligent design and irreducible complexity throughout nature points to a personal God. Mindless molecules can’t arrange themselves into life and mind in any amount of time. We destroy ourselves to deny God.

·  ETHICS. Right and wrong are universal, knowable, objective absolutes only if based upon one infinite, personal, holy and loving God.  Human judgment is faulty not knowing all the facts, being biased and unable to make right decisions. Conscience is a guide but can be suppressed and nullified. We will one day face our Maker and Judge who as man in love sacrificed himself to pay for our sins and give us eternal life. That's the only basis for responsible unselfish living.

·   BIOLOGY. An infinite, eternal Creator fits the evidence better than spontaneous generation or macro-evolution. Life must exist to produce life and life has genetic plans with limitations—nature’s random selected characteristics and mutations are inadequate mechanisms. Life forms exhibit a planed complex rather than slow natural process—it’s the faces on Mt. Rushmore compared to the water eroded Niagara Falls. A complete fossil record would establish a slow blind process of evolution, but we find only a few hoaxes and simultaneously sudden major complex changes in life forms suggesting creation. Evolution is naturalistic speculative theory, not scientific experimental fact.

.  PSYCHOLOGY. Humans are both material and spiritual, body and soul in God’s image, immortal with dignity, but fallen needing a Savior and Lord. A guilt free humanity building a perfect utopia is contrary to all history and sinful human nature.  Both human dignity in God's image and human depravity as a fallen self-centered rebel is crucial to true understanding.

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·  SOCIOLOGY. Family consists of father, mother and children for human protection, provision and stability. Trial marriage, polygamy and same-sex marriage defies fairness and common sense. Compatibility, commitment and love in marriage do make sense. Homosexuality is not nature’s design and carried out consistently would destroy the human race. What is learned can be unlearned. 'I can’t help it,' is an unacceptable argument--a thief or murderor could say the same thing.

·  LAW. A holy or perfect God has set just standards that promote justice, order, law-abiding citizens and a safe and secure society. God mandated capital punishment. Godly living promotes a healthy and happy citizenry without excessive laws and force. To pamper criminals, abort unborn human beings, and ration health care produces crime, death, heartbreak, guilt and despair. We are both victims and perpetrators. Citizens should know and hold lawmakers and courts accountable to their constitution.

·  POLITICS. All men share human rights equally given by their Creator and as descendant from one original couple. The state can’t give human rights and has no business taking them away. A clear conscience makes practical sense of natural law (what I call universal human law), but apart from the biblical God makes no ultimate sense. Overpaid politicians serve themselves and special interests, not the citizens. Positive law of finite, fickle, conflicting, selfish human interests leads to chaos, anarchy and tyranny. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

·  ECONOMICS. Private property, free enterprise and responsible use of money glorify God and prosper nations. State ownership, welfare and central planning can’t accommodate supply and demand. It destroys citizen freedom, responsibility and incentive to work. Secular governments pretend to help citizens, but tax them into poverty and hardship. Its theft and violates human dignity and rights. To attain the classless society, the state must eliminate opposing classes. It’s a bloody nightmare people risk their lives to escape. Compare the Marxist and free sides of the Berlin Wall.

·   HISTORY. Fulfilled Bible prophecies show God’s in charge of his world no matter what men do. History’s not meaningless cycles, or utopian schemes men attempt, and always fail bringing devastation and death. History as God’s providence began with Creation and the Fall, continued with the God-man’s incarnation, atonement and resurrection, and will climax in the renovated heavens and earth. Understandings of God’s actions are as diverse as the five parties who viewed our Lord’s crucifixion carrying out his Father’s will. Everyone will bow the knee and confess our righteous Judge is Lord Jesus Christ. I’ve read to the end of God's Book. You’d be wise to do likewise. God connects the dots for his glory.

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I’ve adopted and modified these points from David A. Noebel’s excellent book Understanding The Times, p. 129. I highly recommend it for persons wanting a clear presentation of five views: Islam, secular humanism, Marxist-Leninism, Cosmic Humanism, and Postmodernism. Further, the five views are discussed under each of the above headings. This book is an excellent college text.
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Please do yourself, others, and your country humanitarian service by sharing this article to others. Jesus alone is the way, truth, and life--trust in Him. Thank you & God bless.
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Can We Admit The Truth About Religion?

  Can We Know The Truth About Religion?

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There are so many different religions in the world. How can we be sure any one of them is right? Couldn't the one we favor be right for us? Don't they all have good and bad persons? Don't people more or less choose what they like about a religion? We can never examine them all. It just seems narrow-minded, intolerant, even arrogant to say only one religion is right and all the others wrong? So if a person is sincere and tries to do what he or she thinks is right, isn't that enough? But if Christians have a reasonable factual basis for their beliefs, I will give it my sincere, open-minded examination.
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                    Aren't World Religions Based Upon Limited Human Reasoning. 
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World religions are claims to what seems ultimate about life and the world.

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Hinduism—Knowledge of Escape from this Miserable Illusory World.

Buddhism—Buddha’s Plan to Escape Pain in nirvana.

Confucianism—Confucius’ Ethical Wisdom, Ancestor Worship, & Spiritism.

Zoroastrianism—Zoroaster’s Hope the Good God Will Defeat the Evil God.

Islam—Muhammad’s Claim Allah’s Angel Taught Him the Qur'an.

Communism—Marx’s Claim Economic Equality Will Achieve Utopia.

Secularism—No God Means Man Must Save Himself.
Bible Christianity--Jesus is the God-man Come into the World to Save Us.

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I agree there is truth in what are called the world’s religions. Hinduism is right that we are ignorant about god. But I don’t see that nature’s cycles and human defects are proofs of reincarnation and absorption into universal energy. Such things have better explanations. Buddha rightfully said pain is a universal problem and desires or attachments can cause it. But the desire to follow his eightfold path is contradictory and can be undesirably painful. Confucius, the Chinese politician, gave wisdom about human relationships and ethical values showing that even apart from a personal ethical God we have a conscience and practical (not ultimate) sense of moral responsibility. Muhammad said an angel spoke to him. Anybody could have said that which Joseph Smith Jr. did centuries later. Marx claimed economic equality would achieve utopia but that's only one factor and it reduces all but government elites to poverty. Secularism denies God making limited human opinions and the state the authority and whoever gains control dictates policies his way and kills nonconformists.
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I AM saying human reason is limited to speculation, mysticism and mistake. One person’s knowledge is but a speck represented upon the huge circle of universal knowledge. With fragmentary knowledge, poor reasoning, and often just plain guessing, we’re always subject to make mistakes. And even supposing someone’s philosophy or program seems logical and workable, we have to test it to be sure. Claims by alleged prophets or mystics to talking with God or an angel may in fact be true--but crazy men claim as much and supposed prophets can say conflicting things. Apart from visible tangible objective evidence, we have no way to know what people claim about God is anything more than their imagination, faulty thinking, or outright deception--period.

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 I AM saying non-Christian religions are contradictory which means not all can be true. My point in all the above is that these world religions are man’s philosophies, man’s attempts to solve what they regard as our crucial human problems. They are limited human reason and philosophy. They conflict in claims about God, man, ethics, man’s problem, the solution, and life after death. They furnish no objective visible basis of any higher authority than limited human contradictory thinking, which so often leads to chaos, anarchy and tyranny. Is there a higher authority than limited, conflicting human speculative opinion and reason? Yes, Christian faith bassed upon visible historical eyewitness testimony of men who gave their lives for what they knew was God acting in our world (John 1:1-3; Luke 1:1-4; Acts 2:22-23; 1 Cor. 15:1-8; 2 Peter 1:16).

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Christian faith has a reasonable empirical basis for belief in a personal, ethical God. As C.S. Lewis pointed out, if nature’s forces and chance is the whole show, we can never know our reasoning is correct. Unbelief that denies absolute truth inconsistently assumes its denial is true and lives on the basis that truth exists. Contrary to Kant, our senses do accurately convey reality not just appearances, or science and reason would be confused if not impossible. Moreover, experimental science assumes truths established only by the Christian worldview of a rational Creator who created an intelligible world with persons in his image to understand it. While a rock is mere matter, a living mind is required to know that. Christianity saves us from being hypocrites claiming the truth that truth doesn't exist. If the universe be an accident of chance, nothing can be known as certain.

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True science and reason work on the premises that from nothing nothing comes, and that effects must have an equal or greater cause. Thus, this dependent material universe must be the effect of an independent or necessary self-existing source or Creator we rightfully call God. This Creator of the space-time material universe would necessarily be outside space-time, and be an infinite, immaterial (or Spiritual), eternal, unchangeable Mind. The expanding universe, energy depletion,  general relativity, decay of radioactive elements, and the impossible backtracking all confirm a point of beginning which show that this dependent universe is not eternal as atheists like to think.

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In addition, the observable data that only life begets life, its DNA programming, irreducible complexity and integrated relationships, genetic limits, climatic cyclical shifts, innumerable missing links and varied reconstructions in no way suggest evolution. A Common Designer rather than a common ancestor far better explains this observable data. Moreover, if science is verified by experiment, the fruit fly experiment demonstrated that fruit flies don’t mutate into anything but defective fruit flies. So don't evolutionists show a most unscientific naturalistic bias?

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It’s the old controversy: which came first, the chicken (creation) or the egg (evolution)? It’s now resolved that hen eggs won’t hatch by themselves and shells won’t form without a chemical found in chickens. Our conscience tells us not to ignore the truth, but we suppress its voice when we want our own thing. When so much is at stake my friend, don't reject what's obviously true.  

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Christian faith has an empirical historical basis that Jesus Christ is the God-man. Historians accept three independent agreed sources as establishing past events. With the four Gospels, Acts and Bible epistles, we have six independent historical sources of Christ’s life, his claims to be God, numerous fulfillment of a divine Messiah and hundreds of miracles of all kinds. Secular know Bible persons, places, events are true history but show an unjustified unwillingness to God acting in our world.
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Yes, some variances of testimony exist, but that only proves authenticity and not collusion. These documents were published within the lifetimes of persons who knew Jesus—hostile critics would have disputed and destroyed the Christian claim at its outset had that been possible. Always astonished at Jesus’ miracles and at first doubtful of his resurrection, his apostles later underwent torture and death to vouch for its truth. Jewish and pagan sources of that time testify often in derision to details of his life.
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If we can put aside our bias that no personal, ethical Creator God can act in our world, then we can admit the facts clearly show Jesus is the God-man and the Lord and Savior of every honest believing sinner. Is the truth that Christians are really narrow-minded, or rather that unbelievers are closed-minded? Which way does the evidence point?

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On the worldview level, Christ’s resurrection assures us life exists after death, Jesus is God and all he taught is true. In Jesus, we have a sure basis for human dignity, rights, ethics, justice, love, ultimate purpose, experimental science and the choice of Heaven or Hell. No other religion provides grounds for these basic human needs. Deniers claims make us either soulless dirt or recyclic energy awaiting absorption.  Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”  Please trust Him for life eternal!
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My friend, what’s your decision about Jesus, the God-man? He alone forgives our sin and saves us from eternal darkness and torment. Trust him to receive His abiding presence and His gift of eternal life. Eternity in Heaven or Hell--it's your choice. Lord, help this person to choose You and life forever with You. Then fervently share his God-given faith with friends on the www.

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