Thought Questions Test Christian Faith

Questions that Test Christian Faith

Dear friend, if one person has a right to their beliefs, we all do, as we’re a common humanity. But I realize we humans are afraid of truth for it may make demands upon us we dislike. I believe with all my heart people neither are soulless dirt nor recycled energy but beings of dignity and destiny.

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I’m commissioned to share this and to obey and honor the Lord I love most who loves me. We must speak truth in love but unavoidably some take offense. If you understand and are interested in crucial life issues and people being saved rather than just light chitchat, send these articles to others selectively. Encourage them to work through the questions. It will enable them to see the logic and foundation of the Christian system of beliefs or worldview.
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Your honest  answers and working through this list of questions will give you a clear understanding of some of the most crucial issues of life. http: //www. goodnewsmessengers.blogspot.com

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Challenging Question One-line Summaries of Many of My Articles

1.       Is the opposite of true- false, and of right- wrong?

2.       If truth is NOT what corresponds to reality, can there be a lie?

3.       Aren’t true statements (e.g. the earth is round) the same for everybody, everywhere, at all times?

4.       If the universe constantly changes with no outside source, can any statement be absolutely true?

5.       Does the universe operate on the principle of cause and effect and can it give what it doesn’t have?

6.       Did the universe originate without a cause, order from an explosion, life from nonlife, mind from the mindless, personality from the impersonal, information without an informer, or morality from the amoral?

7.       If the universe is an effect, could its cause be an unlimited, eternal, all-powerful unchanging, self-existing God?

8.       Do the parts of things that change go out of existence?

9.       Can man made gods of wood, metal or stone know, care, or do anything in our behalf?

10.   Can world religions that claim many gods, two gods, one god, a limited god, no god, or the universe is god, all be logically true?

11.   Can there be two or more  identical gods, or more than one Almighty?

12.   Is treating others, as you would want them to treat you (the golden rule) practical expediency, an absolute law, or what?

13.   Does an ethical act require an absolute ethical standard to be more than human opinion and be judged ethical?

14.   Can mindless molecules arrange themselves into men if useful  energy of the universe dissipates, only life produces life, no experiment shows one life form can change into another (worms to snakes or monkeys to men), the gene pool is fixed, mutations are destructive, millions of needed transitions don’t exist, a common designer can explain evolution, and it’s only basis is a naturalistic preference that denies God?

15.   If survival of the fittest is nature’s law, does that encourage people to live lovingly and ethically?     

16.   Does the dependent dissipating universe give evidence of an infinite personal ethical God?

17.   Does beauty in nature and conscience in man suggest anything about God?

18.   Is there design in nature (e.g. DNA arrangement & the anthropic principle), and could it suggests a great designer--a mind and will?

19.   Does denial of a personal ethical God and of an afterlife destroy the basis for human dignity, absolute morals, truth, and lead to chaos, a tyrannical police state of laws, and maybe a blood bath of dissenters?

20.   Should we base our lives upon sayings of a wise man, Hindu holy man, someone who claimed an angel spoke to him, or a sinless God-man, who fulfilled many ancient prophecies, performed many miracles, promised believers eternal life, died to save sinners, and arose from the dead?

21.   Do human evils (sins) and natural evils (plagues) prove there’s no God, or are there better explanations? What might they be?

22.    Does what we learn from nature (universe) correspond largely with what the Bible says about God?

23.   If God knows everything past, present and future so that to Him all is predestinated, does that have to mean we have no free will, or only that God knows our free will choices in advance as may Bible prophecies seem to establish? 

24.   Are we in large part the cause of our problems but blame other people and things for our mistakes, bad choices, and wrong doings?

25.   If God were the infinite ethically perfect person and standard, would these be sins against His nature and will-- ingratitude, self-righteousness, rebellion, idolatry, demon worship, Wicca, fornica- tion, adultery, divorce, homosexuality, sex with animals, human abuse, incest, to lie, cheat, steal, lust, rape, murder?

26.   If God made us for a love-trust relationship with Him issuing in obedience, would just admitting His existence or worshipping Him occasionally be all that’s required or constitutes relationship?

27.   Could a Creator come among us as a sinless God-man with a message of love, forgiveness, and eternal life?

28.   Are pangs of conscience just social conditioning, just guilt feelings, or the effect of real evil actions against an absolute standard and knowing Person?

29.   If a loving God controls nature, could miracles and revelations sometimes suit His purposes?

30.   If centuries earlier Jewish prophets said their coming Messiah would be virgin born, in Bethlehem, sinless, perform miracles, be God with us, die for people’s sins, arise again, and if Jesus alone did such things, wouldn’t that be good evidence Jesus alone is the Messiah and a God-man?

31.   If Jesus claimed to come from Heaven, exist before earth, forgive sin, return to earth some day, judge all men, and was crucified on charge of a mere man claiming to be God, doesn’t all  that show he did claim to be God?

32.   If Jesus walked on water, turned water to wine, healed every disease immediately, raised the dead, said he was God, and ascended into Heaven before many eyewitnesses, wouldn’t that show he is God?

33.   If Jesus’ apostles were astonished at his miracles, repeatedly rebuked for unbelief, given power to do miracles themselves, risked rejection and persecution for writing about them, and experienced torturous deaths for claiming it true, wouldn’t that be good evidence it is true?

34.   Does any sacred literature describe a founder of religion that says anything like the Bible says of Jesus--sinless God-man, atoning risen Savior and coming Judge?

35.   If Jesus showed he is God from Heaven, claimed to be God's only way to Heaven, died to save and cleanse sinners for Heaven, arose and ascended before 500 eyewitnesses into Heaven, then aren't Christians unbiased, fair, tolerant, truthful, and most loving to insist only repentent believers in the Lord Jesus Christ go to Heaven?

36.   If Jesus died on the cross, was buried in a sealed guarded tomb found empty 3 days later then appeared 12 times to skeptical disciples who touched him, ate with him, discussed God’s kingdom, and 500 eyewitness saw him ascend into Heaven, doesn’t that assure us (1) he is the sinless God-man, (2) all he said is true, (3) and all who trust in Him have eternal life?     

37.   Would an all-powerful morally perfect God approve of evil doers or allow them to corrupt His perfect Heaven?

38.   If the Lord Jesus gives us forgiveness, love for others, power to serve Him, and Heaven-- is anything better?

39.   If the Bible teaches true faith decides Heaven or Hell, but our acts and motives decide our degree of rewards in Heaven or torments in Hell, then isn’t every moment of life abundantly purposeful?

40.   If we earn Heaven by our good deeds and lifestyle, why does the Bible say it’s God’s gift, not good deeds, one sin condemns us, makes us unacceptable to a perfect God, unfit for a perfect Heaven, that Jesus is the Savior, the only way, His death paid for our sins, we must trust Him alone, and be born again of the Holy Spirit to go to Heaven?

REMEMBER these articles may put persons in danger. If you know interested persons, prayerfully and selectively email, mail, phone, or fax them these articles. You may thereby do the greatest thing of your life and for eternity.

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Let me select just a few good books that discuss the topics above. The Bible. Without a Doubt, by Kenneth Richard Samples. Many Infallible Proofs, by Henry M. Morris. The Case For A Creator, by Lee Strobel. Defeating Darwinism by Opening Minds, by Phillip E. Johnson. What Darwin Didn’t Know, by Geoffrey Simmons.The Collapse of Evolution, by Scott M. Huse. The Christian Combat Manual; Defending Your Faith, both by Dan Story. Handbook of Christian Apologetics, by Peter Kreeft & Ronald K. Tacelli. Why I Am A Christian, Edited by Norman L. Geisler & Paul K. Hoffman. True For You, But Not For Me, by Paul Copan. Exploring The Myths That Could Destroy America, by Erwin W. Lutzer. World Religions, edited by Dean C. Halverson. Cults, World Religions, And You, by Kenneth Boa. The Kingdom Of The Cults, edited by Ravi Zacharias. Islam And The Bible, by David Goldmann. They Must Be Stopped, by Brigitte Gabriel. He Walked Among Us, by Josh McDowell & Bill Wilson. I’m Glad You Asked, by Kenneth Boa & Larry Moody. The New Atheism and the Erosion o f Freedom, by Robert A. Morey. What IF The Bible Had Never Been Written? and What IF Jesus Had Never Been Born? both by D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, by Norman L. Geisler & Frank Turek. The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics, edited by Ed Hindson & Ergun Caner.

Is There Life After Death?

                                                     Is There Life After Death?
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One issue of greatest concern to every person is whether there is life after death. Graves have been found to contain foods and weapons left for the dead person to use in life in the next world. Egyptians built large pyramid tombs for their pharaohs containing all kinds of precious objects for their use in the next life. Obviously, people thought or hoped we can live again in another life. But how can we know? Let's devote serious thought to this issue.

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What We Believe About Life After Death Influences our Present Lives.
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It's depressing and demeaning to think death means our extinction. For no matter what abilities, contributions, or efforts we put into living, we're on the same footing with the animals. There's nothing special about human life and person hood. It's just to do whatever it takes to survive as long as you can. Our legacy may consist only in a tombstone marker showing our name and dates if even that. Many die unknown and are thrown together into a common grave. We hardly count.

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It's destructive to personal relationships and ethical incentive. If animals be all that we are, then logically we live like animals meaning a survival of the fittest. Life's great purpose is survival and depends largely on who gets power over their peers. It promotes selfishness and destroys ethical value. Since life is short, is a struggle, with temptation on every hand, and desires oh so strong, why not limit myself to what advances me or seems to fulfill my desire at the moment. If what I think and desire verses what you think and desire, then I'm for me and you are of little if any concern. To cheat, lie, steal, rape, even murder really doesn't mean much when our only contest is our self and our survival. And yes we might get caught, injured or killed, but what is that since our only law is survival and we animals may cease to exist at any time?

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Non Biblical Faith Has No Objective Foundation or Evidence for Life After Death.

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A multitude of religions exist worldwide. They're based upon what one supposedly wise man thinks verses what another supposedly wise man thinks. He may show valued insights, arguments, possibilities, and have a following who highly respect his opinions as true. But can he show a cold stiff dead corps can come back to life, or that a dead person is alive even if taken another form in another life? The sprouting spring vegetation, birthmarks, and past recollection is no proof of reincarnation as pantheist religions suppose as all have better explanations. Dying persons seeing the death angel, and out of the body experiences may prove it to those who have such experiences but these too are subjective experiences. They can be given other interpretations depending on one's worldview. These religions do not give tangible visible evidences that can be objectively verified.   
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Biblical Believers Have Assurance of Everlasting Life in the Lord Jesus and His Promises.
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What's the evidence? Christians have objective evidence and assurance of everlasting life beyond the grave.  Eyewitness knew Jesus was cold stiff dead when taken down from the cross and  they  saw him alive after just three days. At Pentecost only fifty days later it was known in many languages and spread abroad (Acts 2:23-28).  It was published in less than thirty years (1 Cor. 15:1-8). His resurrection was predicted by ancient prophet (Psalm 16:10), and by Jesus himself to unbelieving disciples, who died to verify it. Here's the evidence--Jesus who claimed to be God was seen alive from the dead by hundreds of people (1 Cor. 15:1-8). See my article, Did Jesus Arise from the Dead?
for further details.
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What decides whether heaven or hell? Sinners faith in or rejection of the Savior decides whether they exist eternally in Heaven or in Hell.  Jesus promised that "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life" but also warned, "and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36). So whether we trust in or reject the Savior makes the difference whether we go to Heaven or to Hell. 
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The Kind of Life We Have After Death Is Our Choice.
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It's simply the principle of justice. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Gal. 6:7). It would be so unfair for someone living for God most of his life and a new convert to get the same heavenly reward. Likewise it's unfair for an unemployed grocery thief who only wanted to feed his starving family to receive the same punishment as a serial killer. We all do good or evil in different areas and to different degrees. Scripture mentions repeatedly that each person is judged according to THEIR OWN works or deeds (Psalm 62:12; Matt. 16:27; Luke 12:47-48; Rom. 2:6; 1 Cor. 3:8-15; Rev. 20:13) and a multitude of other passages.

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So rewards of Heaven and punishments of Hell are somewhat different with each person. Saints are said to receive crowns which they throw at Jesus' feet. I believe the crowns are metaphors acknowledging that they could perform these services only in their Lord's strength and direction. Rebel sinners are said to be caste into a lake of fire where the worm never dies and fire doesn't go out. I believe this too is a metaphor that represents the all inclusive wrath of God (John 3:36) or else it seems to teach all will be punished alike instead of according to their particular sins as clearly taught in above passages. Bible mentions degrees of sin John 19:11, and of reward 1Cor. 3:9-15.

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Dear reader, this is the most crucial decision of life. We can't know all the answers but Scripture is clear on essentials. Jesus and what we decide about Him makes the difference between heaven or hell. Won't you pray, Lord come into my life, be my Savior and help me live a holy life for You. Then share this wonderful news with loved ones and others. Tell them about these important blog articles. Thank you. God bless.
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Unconcerned Anti-intellectual Christians

                                     Unconcerned Anti-intellectual Christians

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The American President Barack Obama said on public TV that Americans are fat and lazy. I agree  that many are undisciplined in both mind and body. Many Christians are indifferent toward vital spiritual issues. But is life  just fun and party when people's health, well-being and very lives are at stake? Spiritual matters are the foundations that have momentous consequences for our everyday lives. The big question is: How far should we limit our concern on spiritual matters?

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Should We Limit Our Concern to Our Own Family?

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Our families are our immediate concern. There may be no time for the porch rocking chair to watch the grass grow. Dad's making a living takes us most of his time and he flops down to rest when he comes home at night. Mom wants to socialize. Daughter is concerned whether she looks well at school in her jeans. Son wants to be on the winning team at school. And if they feel up to it, they may make it to church or mass this Sunday. Of course, limited finances  can curtail  many activities. It's me, my wife, my son, my daughter, us four no more.  But that's not the Bible teaching.
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But should family be our only concern? Don't we largely take time for the things we give priority too? According to the Bible, we will all face God one day and give account of how we spent our lives and how we used our God-given time, talents, and opportunities. Does our concern go any further than ourselves, our family, our local situation? Jesus said regarding helping others, "Assuredly, I say to you inasmuch as you did it to me of the lease of these My brethren, you did it to Me" (Matt. 25:40). What will the real important issues be when we face God?

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Should We Limit Our Concern to Surface Issues?

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Persons hold widely different views today. With so many divorces, a  marriage license is just an unnecessary piece of paper. Different beliefs between couples isn't really important as people have a right to their own thinking. Those rich guys should pay all the taxes to support us nonworking people. The government will take care of us if we be politically correct.  I'm not sure  atheism is wrong since I haven't seen God and if He exists there wouldn't be so much evil in the world. The Bible warns, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Rom. 12:2). Shouldn't Christians be more concerned with the Lord's biblical instructions than what the world thinks?
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Do our beliefs have a logical factual beneficial basis? Have we thought about how such beliefs affect other persons?  Do we consider  our behavior  honest, fair, and compassionate? Do we want others to treat us in these ways? Where do such beliefs lead? Do limited, fickle, selfish desires and opinions lower us to an animal level?
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What if we're overlooked something and atheism isn't right? Can we prove no personal ethical God exists? Don't government dictators enclave and impoverish their citizens? Do we just die like dogs, lights out?  We may realize one day too late we were absolutely wrong! The Bible warns, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Prov. 14:12). Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

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Further, isn't there a definite connection between creed and conduct? If the Bible's God doesn't exist, then how we believe and behave has no moral significance. We're just evolving soulless dirt or recycled energy. No authoritative foundation exists to guide our lives or give us hope of life after death. It's just each person's feelings, opinions, and preferences. But according to the Bible, we are made in the mental, moral, immortal image of God. And if a personal ethical God exists, that calls for our personal ethical decisions based upon God's Word (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16).

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Should We Limit Our Concern to Our Own Religious Connection?

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Isn't religion a personal private matter? I'm of the -----------------------------  faith. I've been that all my life. I'll never change. My dead parents would turn over in their graves if they knew I changed my beliefs. Besides, my family would persecute, or disown, or murder me. I could lose my job, my good standing in the community. I would be thought a fool or fanatic.
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According to the Bible the King of kings said, "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell . . . and he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me" (Matt. 10:28-39). With all the different beliefs, how can we know and show our particular beliefs alone are correct? In Christ alone we have divine claims and definite eyewitness evidences.

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But what about non Christians religions? They can have some good principles we can agree with --for example the negative Silver Rule: Don't do things to others you wouldn't want them do to you. They may even have arguments there is only one true personal ethical God, though revelation alone shows that one God is a Trinity. 
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We should always be respectful and caring about persons and their right to their religious beliefs as long as they're not humanly hostile or destructive. When believers don't support each other's right to their beliefs, persons opposed to such beliefs will eradicate each group one by one. Strength and security is found for all in unity.
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Christians are to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:13-15). But unlike other religions, Jesus gave definite visible evidences that show He alone is the sinless God-man.  He alone died to save us from sin and give us life eternal. His resurrection is the only real proof of an afterlife.
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After His resurrection, Jesus said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always to the end of the age. So be it." (Matt. 28:19-20).

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Shouldn't We Christians Limit Our Chief Concern to Clear Christian Essentials?
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I mean what C.S. Lewis called "Mere Christianity." What are the essentials on which Christians can stand? So-called authorities in many fields disagree somewhat on issues and Christians are no exception. May I suggest some biblical essentials clearly taught by the apostles of the Bible?
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We Christians  believe  our expanding cooling dependent universe shows its Creator's eternal self-existence and  glory.  He made us directly in His mental, moral, immortal image. God revealed Himself in history as one God in three personal distinctions called Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Jesus the Son is the God-man born of a virgin, who lived a perfect life, died to atone for our sins, and arose from the dead. Before many eyewitnesses, He fulfilled ancient prophecies, performed numerous miracles, claimed to be God with us, promised to return, and ascended into Heaven.
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All who trust  Jesus as their Savior and Guide will live a more Godly life, escape Hell, and one day dwell with Him in the new Heaven and earth. Though imperfect, we should strive to live holy lives in accord with the Scriptures.  In God's grace and for His glory, we declare this apostolic teaching absolute truth. See Col. 1:17; John 1:1-5, 14; Matt. 1:23; 3:16-17; 1 Cor. 11:7; Eph. 4:23-24; Col. 3:10;  2 Cor. 5:21; John 21:24-25; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Cor. 15:1-8; 1 John 4:1-7; 1 Peter 1:18; 2:24; 3:15-18; 2 Peter 1:16-18; Rev. 21:1-8, 27;  Gal. 5:16-26 and numerous others .

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I suggest a few books from time to time but can't possibly include a bibliography and footnote everything in a 3-4 page article. Moreover, so-called experts can be quoted on both sides of an issue. I'm more interested in facts than in so-called expert opinions.

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God's Gospel Truth

                                       God's Gospel Truth

 #Truth #Gospel #God #Salvation 

I'm a good person. I pay my taxes. I obey the laws. I treat people right. I work to support my family. My granddaddy was a preacher or priest. I'm a lot better than those judgmental so-called Christians and church people. They're just hypocrites anyway. If anybody goes to Heaven, I think I will because I'm a good person and I deserve it. God will appreciate me and I will tell everybody about my good accomplishments. It's all about me.

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When we give reasons like those above for going to Heaven could we have overlooked something? Does our thinking agree with what God says? Shouldn't it be His Word, His criteria and His right to say who enters His Heaven? Is it just about us, or really all about Him? I will discuss this under the following three questions.

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                                                        What Is God's Gospel Truth?

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It's Christ's death, burial and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-8). Ancient peoples feared their gods, sacrificed to them, but never loved them. Soldiers sacrifice themselves for love of country. Mothers die for children they love. But Jesus showed supreme love giving his human life for us guilty rebels in his death on the cross (John 15:13; 2 Cor. 5:21). Though innocent, Jesus was rejected, condemned, severally beaten, ridiculed, slapped, spit on, and hung naked before staring eyes. Ancient prophets foretold it (Gen. 3:15; Psalm 2; 22; Isaiah 53). Jesus predicted it (Matt. 17:9; 27:63; Mark 8:31).  Miracles testified to it--darkness, earthquake, temple vale torn, resurrections (Matt. 27:51-53; Luke 23:44). It announced, "God so loved the world that He gave His unique Son (sinless God-man) that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). But it would be a dead hope apart from Jesus' resurrection.

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Jesus' resurrection established the most crucial things. There's life after death. Jesus is the God-man with power of life and death. As God, all Jesus taught in and of Scripture is absolute truth.

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Humans created in God's mental, moral immortal image have dignity and freedom. Ethics make sense--our thoughts, words, deeds are accountable to God so life has purpose. Our conscience, justice and love make sense. As created and controlled by a rational God, the world is meaningfully moving toward a climax. Experimental science is possible. No other religions provide a basis for these things.

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Jesus divided our thinking about history into Before Christ and After His Death. This personal ethically perfect God offers us wayward rebels forgiveness, cleansing, and eternal life with Him forever through faith in Jesus, the Lord and Savior of us sinners. Spreading this hope and love is imperative education--without it, all is lost.

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It transforms societies in many beneficial ways. Persons in Christ are new creations with new desires, a new outlook, a new hope, a new concern for human well-being (2 Cor. 5:17). And because of this, they established great universities, brought education to the masses, put in writing many of the world's languages as people needed to know the gospel. They engineered capitalism and free enterprise to raise the standard of living everywhere. They devised representative government for civil liberties to abolish slavery and oppressive elitest state dictatorships.

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They experimented with nature as God created a rational world for human benefit. They elevated the dignity and value of life, of women, children, and all people in God's image. They established the Good Samaritan ethic, organizations of charity, benevolence, and rescue missions. They built hospitals to heal persons suffering from injury and disease. They sought to make laws that would eliminate destructive human behaviors such as adultery, polygamy, incest, homosexuality, prostitution, rape, sex slavery and sex with animals. They developed beautiful art, music, and literature. And most of all they sought to spread the gospel that is the power of God which is the basis and incentive to all the above.

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                   "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God

                              to salvation for everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).

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                             Why Then Are Some Persons Ashamed of God's Gospel Truth?

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 It tells the ugly truth about us. We love our sin that brings us pleasure for a season, and makes us popular and accepted with other sinners. When confronted with our sins, we excuse our guilt blaming it on our genes, the environment, the devil, parents, even God for creating us. We take pride in our supposed moral accomplishments, never mind our sins, rebellions, and need for the Savior of us sinners. See Hebrews 11:25; Romans 1:18-32; First Corinthians 6:9-10.

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It separates us from the evil world system opposed to God. Friendship with the world is enmity with God. Love of the world is evidence we don't know God or do His will. Satan will tempt us but we're to resist him by knowing and abiding by God's Word. We can gain the whole world and lose our own soul. To be without Christ is to be without God and without hope. Christ came to save us from the world's evils and we are to be as salt to prevent sinful decay and as light to dispel the darkness of ignorance and evil. Many persons love neither Christians nor Christ but love the evil world and ignore or deny the consequences. See James 4:4; Matthew 4:1-11; 9:50; 1 John 2:15-17; Mark 8:36: Ephesians 2:12).

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It exposes our human guesses, opinions and preferences. If God is omnipresent eternal spirit as the Bible teaches, He surrounds us and our human senses never detect His presence. Atheists can shake their fist toward Heaven and demand God appear and perform a miracle for them to believe. But if God is Lord, there is no rule He must do it for their amusement. Atheism is a foolish excuse to live a Godless life just as the Bible says (Psalm 14:1).

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Reincarnation religions are based upon nature's yearly vegetation cycles, thinking birth defects unjust, and feeling we have lived former lives. But the earth's yearly revolution, genetic defects, and imagined past life recall better explain such things. Besides, karma is a brainless principle that can't know good or evil.

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Muslims and Mormons base their religion upon an angel who they claim gave their founder God's revelation. Nobody but the founder has knowledge of the angel. Couldn't anybody make such a claim? God's apostle Paul warns of alleged angel gospels (Gal. 1:8-9). So such religions have no eyewitness testimony or fulfilled prophecies, prophetic miracles, or God verifications--they're just our guesses, opinions, and preferences.

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It's so simple yet so difficult to believe. It doesn't matter if we live in Australia, Africa, or America, we're taught the same thing. From childhood, we're taught that if we were good, we will be rewarded, but if we were bad, we will be punished. So we grow up feeling if there's a good God and some kind of good place we can go to after death, then surely we must try to be good to go there--that seems so reasonable. Just trusting in a Savior of us sinners seems too easy. But could there be some things we don't know or haven't thought about?

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Yes! The biblical God is morally perfect who regards us as unacceptable self-centered rebels. God's prophet Isaiah says, "We are all like an unclean thing and all our righteousness are like filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6; Gal. 5:19-21). Further, the biblical Heaven is perfect excluding unclean defilers (Matt. 5:48; Rev. 21:27; 22:15). The biblical teaching is that we're saved by God's grace (unearned & undeserved favor) and not by our good deeds (Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Cor. 1:29-31; Titus 3:5). So God's ways and our ways go in different directions which make sense with an all-knowing perfect God and ignorant wicked people (Isa. 55:7-9; Rom. 11:6; Gal. 2:16). The Bible is abundantly clear and rational to all willing to receive God's message that Jesus alone is our Savior (John 1:29; 3:36; 7:16; Acts 4:12; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 1:18; 2:24; 3:18).

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                                                    Why is the Gospel Such Good News?

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The gospel is God's authoritative Word supported by rational fact. We could not know God's salvation except given us by God's apostles and prophets who saw the risen Lord (Eph.2:20; 3:5). People were living at the time Scripture was published who knew Jesus, his fulfilled prophecies, miracles, claims to be God, and resurrection.

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Secular writers also wrote details about his life. Archaeologists uncovered artifacts verifying Scripture. His disciples were tortured and murdered for their faith. No world religion has any Scripture or any founder like Jesus. The Bible is history, not some made up stories centuries later. (Luke 1:1-3; Acts 1:1-3; 2:22-24; 4:33; 1 Cor. 15:3-8; 2 Pet. 1:16). Moreover, it's translated from comparative copies of early original languages with the highest degree of accuracy of any ancient documents. We have every reason to trust in the Bible as God's authority and truth, and in Jesus as the sinless God-man sent to give us abundant life and save us from Hell (Luke 19:10; John 10:10; 3:36; 7:16; 8:24).

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The gospel is God's power for worship, walk and witness. The harder we try to do right, the more aware we become that we cannot be perfect. God's great apostle Paul, admitted he couldn't fulfill God's law and that we have deliverance only through Christ (Rom. 6). Realizing our sinful estate and God's forgiveness, love, and sustaining grace in Christ, lifts us up to worship, walk, witness for Him (Rom. 8). God is our power in the gospel to live and share the love of Christ.

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The gospel is God's offer of abundant life now and of Heaven's reward after death. This is the gospel truth and the best news ever. It respects our dignity and freedom of choice. There can be no better offer than abundant and eternal life. The alternative is the self-chosen eternal death of darkness, despair, tears, and torments. Won't you pray, Lord Jesus I trust You as my Lord, Savior, and Guide forever? Now share God's gospel with those without Christ, without God, and without hope. Ephesians 2:12-13. Be a good news messenger. God bless.

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Will Postmondernism Destroy Us?

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College Students Question Biblical Christianity!

                        College Students Question Biblical Christianity!  
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We've grown up hearing what our parents and religious teachers said was true.  College professors often challenge that view. We want to base our beliefs upon good evidence and logic?
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 Too often, we base what we think upon hearsay, bias, misunderstandings, or falsehoods. That's not fair or right with any ones beliefs. Honest thinking persons' ask these questions and they deserve good answers. They concern the most serious issues of our lives so we should give these questions our utmost attention and thoughtful consideration.

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What Are the Consequences of Denying Existence of the Biblical God?

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Affirming the biblical God has seriously good consequences. Nature, an impersonal force,  carved pieces of wood or stone, can be called gods But they are dead objects that can neither know nor care about us. But the Bible's God is a Creator and Upholder of the universe who is personally and ethically aware of everything we think or do. His will is that we live in obedience to Him. We will one-day kneel before Him who will either condemn or commend our every action. Biblical Christianity makes all life purposeful and bursting with meaning. It gives people dignity, freedom, ethical responsibility, security, purpose, hope, love, joy, and a destiny of their choice.

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Denying the Bible's God has terribly serious consequences. It means as far as we know there's no life after death. Ethics has no higher authority than each person's preference--some eat chicken, others prefer to eat people. The world will one-day be destroyed and our lives have no purpose except to satisfy our own desires. Everything is evolving so there's no final or ultimate truth--my truth verses your truth. We're all just evolving animals waiting to die--lights out!

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What  Arguments Supposedly Show Non-existence of the Biblical God?

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One major argument is that evil disproves God. If there is a good and powerful God, then why is there so much evil? If God were good, He would destroy evil, and if He is almighty, He could destroy evil, but evil remains--so no good or powerful God exists. But if so, why do some atheists seem to hate a non-existent deity? Do they demand God tailor all life to their interests? Is it the true God they hate? Could God have a good reason for delay?

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Several replies deserve mention. First, God didn't bring evil into the world--man did and still does. Evil is a corruption of the good world God made like blindness in an eye made to see. We often blame God for the evil and suffering we cause. Second, if there is no God, evil has no meaning--it's just the way things are. Third, evil is always an alternative option when we have free choice. But our having free choice gives us dignity and is far better than being robots. Fourth, if God destroyed evil, he would have to destroy us all since we're none perfect. And, any degree of evil is always up for objection. Fifth, our Lifegiver, Owner, and Lawgiver's purpose and plan is sovereign over all. Finally, our infinite Creator may have a purpose we self-centered limited people have overlooked--such as His greater glory. Apart from our fall into sin and salvation in Christ, we're unable to understand experiencially God's great forgiveness, purity, goodness, mercy, love, peace, truth, joy, or even our need of Him. Praise the Lord for His gracious provision for our limited understanding!

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The other major argument is that evolution makes God unnecessary. Evolution is the belief that all life originated by chance over time from one primary life form. In other words, molecules arranged themselves over time  into all life forms including man. Evolutionists claim we don't need God since evolution explains everything. Just a thought: If there's no God, does anything we think or do ultimately matter? 

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But does evolutions explain everything? Evolution destroys human dignity reducing us to soulless evolving dirt. It destroys hope for life after death. It reduces ethics to each person's preference--deception, adultery, rape, murder, incest, sodomy, sex slaves, sex with animals--there can be no absolute law against them. It destroys absolute truth as everything is in flux. It results in the irrational chaotic destructive world that we see increasing today. Doesn't evolution ultimately make us mindless matter? 

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The evolution claim ignores all the facts that disprove it. First, this dependent universe with all its galaxies and design didn't pop into existence from a powerless nothing--it took a cause that is eternal, self-existent, intelligent all-powerful will or person or God to bring it about. Second, we know scientifically that heat energy is cooling and that we can't backtrack eternally. Third, we know life doesn't arise from non-living chemicals over any amount of time but requires a Life-giver. Four, we know that life forms left alone don't improve but break down which shows evolution impossible. Fifth, we know life forms show specified irreducible complex systems and organs working together. Animals can't exist with partly developed reproductive or digestive systems, eyes and legs. Such had to exist and be functional at the outset. They cannot be attributed to blind mindless chance, but require an intelligent mind and will--God.
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Sixth, no known mechanism exists for evolution to take place--natural selection doesn't add anything new to the gene pool and mutations are destructive mistakes like a monkey wrench thrown into a machine. Seventh, breeding is selective design. we do observe small adaptations within microbes, monkeys, and men, but they don't change into different life forms. And, of course, some life forms didn't adapt to a changing environment and died out. Eight if true science proves its theories by experimentation, what experiment proves evolution? NONE! Nine, the real proof of evolution would be thousands of intermediate fossils showing each step in the evolutionary process. But with millions of fossils found since Darwin only a handful are claimed to show anything and even they are disputed. Tenth, what we actually know is best explained by a Divine Designer throughout life's forms rather than by a common ancestor. Evolution is based upon naturalistic philosophy, not true scientific research. Moreover, it takes away everything good biblical Christianity gives humanity--the biblical God is the most reasonable.
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Why Couldn't a Creator of the Universe Take on a Human Nature, Body and Walk Among Us?
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In agreement with the above, the Bible says, "All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist (Col. 1:16-17).  The Creator and Upholderer of this vast universe of matter, space, and time can do anything that suits His purpose. He is an infinite, self-existent, perfect Spirit everywhere present with all power, knowledge, wisdom, goodness, and truth. The Bible further says, "God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27). So while God created all things, only man was created in God's image because God wanted relationship with us.
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God walked and talked with man in the garden paradise and gave him instructions to test his obedience whether he would trust and love God above all else. But man failed. So God set in motion His plan and purpose to save us self-centered rebellious persons hinted at in Genesis 3:15. Satan's seed is unbelievers (John 8:44), and the woman's seed is Christ and believers who will one day defeat them (Rom. 16:20; Heb.2:14-15; Rev. 20:10). God tests us human beings every day in the thoughts we allow and decisions we make for or against Him. Are our thoughts of love and gratitude for our Life-giver and one day Judge?
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Why couldn't Jesus the God-man die for sinners and arise from the dead it that's His will? "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians. 1:7). There's no problem for man's Maker to take on a human nature and body in a holy virgin birth (Matt. 1:18-23). Jesus walked among us experiencing firsthand all that we do, yet without sin qualifying Him to be our Savior. Jesus" death for our sins was God's plan and purpose. Foolishness calls  Jesus bearing our sin and counting believers righteous unjust. As our omniscient Creator, He alone qualifies as the standard of justice and the Judge to execute it. Limited, conflicting, changing human opinions amount to very little.
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What benefits does Christ's resurrection mean for our world? There's life after death. Jesus is the God-man with power of life and death. As God, all Jesus taught in and of Scripture is absolute truth. Humans created in God's mental, moral immortal image have dignity and freedom. Ethics made sense--our thoughts, words, deeds are accountable to God so life has purpose. Our conscience, justice and love make sense. As created and controlled by a rational God, the world is meaningfully moving toward a climax. Experimental science is possible.
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Jesus divided our thinking about history into Before Christ and After His Death. This personal ethically perfect God offers us wayward rebels forgiveness, cleansing, and eternal life with Him forever through faith in Jesus, the Lord and Savior of sinners. Spreading this hope and love is imperative education--without it, all is lost.
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We decide how we want to live whether for self, the world and the devil. or for the God who loves us and died to give us abundant and eternal life. We're never going to be perfect in this life (Jn.  8:7; 1 Jn. 1:8-10). We're never going to understand everything (Isa. 55:6-9; 1 Cor. 13:12). We can experience peace, love, joy in Christ but should not depend upon feelings but upon our love-trust relationship with Him that issues in obedience (John 15).
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Won't you say, Lord Jesus Christ, I turn from sin to trust in You as my Savior, Lord and Guide throughout life? If you pray this honestly trusting in Him, you will become a child of God. Then grow in Christ through prayer, study of God's Word, worship with His people, and sharing this good news with others. NOW, God bless you on your journey to the promised land, Heaven.
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Is Postmodernitry Subjective Suicide?

               Is Postmodernity Subjective Suicide?

A foreboding crisis of faith darkens the Western world. Traditional institutions seem unable to reach their goals. Capitalism hasn’t reduced disparity between the wealthy and the poor. Wasteful throwaway societies trash earth’s resources and environment. Science and technology haven’t solved our problems. Governments tax citizens into poverty taking their money, or wasting it on ineffective projects. Special interests usurp democratic systems making them unresponsive to citizens. Nations hoard weapons of mass destruction threatening to devastate each other. Greed and corruption appear everywhere. Traditional religions don’t improve the situation and fight among themselves. We fear global warming, an asteroid from space, or that aliens among us may destroy us. We no longer believe in absolute authority, truth, and morality. Let’s look at five stages of change. Change can be either progressive or regressive and in different ways.

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Pre-Christian Barbarism.

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 Before Christ, it was a brutal world where human life had little value. Half the world were slaves of no concern, dignity, or rights. They could be beaten, raped, sold or killed at their master’s will. They usually were put to death when their master died. Women were considered their husband’s property and animals might be thought more valuable.
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Unwanted babies were thrown away to be starved or eaten. Children could be put to death without pity or not live beyond the age of eight. Women could die in childbirth and men in war. City-states, tribes and empires fought all the time and authority rested in whoever had superior weaponry and army to dominate the others.
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People thought killing was the way to gain your enemies strength. Cannibalism, human sacrifice, sexual orgies, sometimes sex with animals were part of many people’s lives and used in worship of their gods. Their gods were as brutal, indifferent, jealous and cruel as were their worshippers. They knew of the one high God but felt estranged from him as isolated peoples do today. Plato (350 B.C.) made an amazing statement, “We wait for one be he a God or an inspired man to instruct us in our duties and to take away the darkness from our eyes.”

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The West’s Hope in Jesus and the Bible until 1960.

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The death and resurrection of Jesus as taught in the Bible radically changed the Western world’s thinking. Ancient peoples feared their gods, sacrificed to them, but never loved them. Soldiers sacrifice themselves for love of country. Mothers died for children they loved. But Jesus showed supreme love giving His human life for us guilty rebels in his death on the cross (2 Cor. 5:21).
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Though innocent, Jesus was rejected, condemned, severally beaten, ridiculed, slapped, spit on, and hung naked before staring eyes. Ancient prophets foretold it (Gen. 3:15; Ps. 2; 22; Isa. 53). Jesus predicted it (Matt. 17:9; 27:63; Mark 8:31). Miracles testified to it—darkness, earthquake, temple vale torn, resurrections (Matt. 27:51-53; Luke. 23:44). It announced, “God so loved the world that He gave His unique Son (sinless God-man) that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). But it would be a dead hope apart from Jesus’ resurrection.

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Jesus resurrection established the most crucial things. There’s life after death. Jesus is the God-man with power of life and death. As God, all Jesus taught in and of Scripture is absolute truth. Humans created in God’s mental, moral immortal image have dignity and freedom. Ethics make sense—our thoughts, words, deeds are accountable to God so life has purpose. Our conscience, justice and love make sense.
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As created and controlled by a rational God, the world is meaningfully moving toward a climax. Experimental science is possible. Jesus divided our thinking about history into Before Christ and After His Death. This personal ethically perfect God offers us wayward rebels’ eternal life with Him forever through faith in Jesus, the Lord and Savior of sinners. Spreading this hope and love is imperative education--without it, all is lost.

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We could not know all this except for the Bible. Christians collected the Gospels written about Jesus and the letters of His apostles before A.D. 100. People were living at the time Scripture was published who knew Jesus, his fulfilled prophecies, miracles, claims to be God, and resurrection. Secular writers wrote details about his life. His disciples were tortured and murdered for their faith. No world religion has any Scripture or any founder like Jesus.
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The Bible is history, not some made up stories centuries later (Luke 1:1-3; Acts 1:1-3; 2:22-24; 4:33; 1 Cor. 15:3-8). Moreover, it’s translated from comparative copies of early original languages with the highest degree of accuracy of any ancient documents. We have every reason to trust the Bible as God’s authority and truth and in Jesus as the sinless God-man sent to give us abundant life and save us from Hell (Luke. 19:10; John 10:10; 3:36; 7:16; 8:24). All the unparalleled benefits Christianity bring without commitment to Christ and the Bible will pass away to pre-Christian barbarism.

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Modernity’s Self-sufficient Rejection of the Christian Worldview by 1990.

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Like waves pounding shoreline rocks turning them to sand, unbelief relentlessly pounds Godly faith intent on beating it to pieces. We decided we don’t need God—evolution explains everything. Scientific method and logical reasoning will lead us to truth and progress. Our objective thinking can make things right, save us, and make us free. Jesus, the Bible, and divine authority haven’t worked. Though imperfect, we quickly excuse ourselves pointing the finger at persons struggling to live God honoring lives.
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We blame the world’s evils and sufferings upon superstitious belief in God though we bring them about ourselves. We decided the Bible’s miracles were only imaginative tales of later prescientific writers--it contains numerous absurdities and contradictions—never mind checking out any facts. We were confident our new gods of science, technology, democratic government, law, diplomacy, a good economy, and a strong military could correct any adverse conditions. But then adverse conditions seem to pile up to overwhelm us without relief and without faith.

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Postmodernity’s Lost Faith in Human Achievements from 1991 to today.

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Loss of faith in the personal ethical God demonstrated in Jesus and the Bible has brought about loss of faith altogether. If we’re only evolving animals that return to dirt, we have no great dignity or destiny. If no personal ethically perfect Creator exists who knows and guides our lives, each person’s purpose is freedom to please them self. But it’s a freedom to destroy us. God warns us, “All who hate me love death (Prov. 8:36).
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To follow Darwin, Marx, Muhammad, or some other dictator will lead us to poverty, virtual slavery, and possibly a blood bath. Check it out in history. When we have no objective authoritative guide, we call good evil and evil good. C. S. Lewis in Christian Reflections warned us of the poison of subjectivism that can remove all restraints to evil. Politically correct lays the groundwork for government takeover and imposition of tyranny. It destroys honest objective thinking.
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Science and technology cannot save us and may even destroy us. It is what has enabled us to build weapons of mass destruction but gives no guidelines about using them. Terrorism increasingly stalks our lands. Could the real problem be that we ignore the selfishness, greed, overindulgence, injustice and indifference of our rebellious hearts? With little thought for others, all we care about is our being happy and having life’s good things on our terms. Is our self-occupation and self-sufficiency all we need to make things right? Where are our limited, conflicting, self-centered lives leading us? Those who make the subjective claim there’s no absolute truth and morals, believe they’re making a true statement, and that makes them liars and opens the door to every evil.

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What Does the Future Hold?

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As I see it, we have three options. One, the West can avoid barbarism and return to its former glory of the Christian worldview with serious commitment to Jesus as Savior, Lord, and the Bible to Guide us as we are so prone to sin. Sin is the basis of all our problems. Then, the Lord will hear and bring healing, renewal, and restore us as light to the nations (2 Chron. 7:14; Isa. 55:6-7). God may rise up strong godly national leaders such as Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Daniel.
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Two, it may be that since the West turned its back on the Lord, God will give the East opportunity it’s not had before (Rom. 1:28; Acts 16:6-10). Many in the East are coming to Christ. Three, many believe we’re near the rapture, the revealing of the Anti-Christ, and world domination and persecution of everything Godly. Then, the Bible predicts a Golden Age like the Garden of Eden ending in a final conflict of good over evil. More will be said about these things in God’s later articles.

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Dear friends, thank you for reading my articles and for your concern. Let me plead with you again. We never know how much time we have left. Turn to the Lord Jesus who can save us sinners and be our Guide for life. He alone has given us evidence He’s real, not just conflicting human guesses, opinions and preferences. He’s humanity’s only hope, authority, and absolute truth. Everything else is subjective suicide. Pray, Lord Jesus, save me and control my life.

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