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A Testimony: From Atheism to Faith (Video)

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:08:37 -0500

Lee Strobel's Testimony

Can All Religions Be True? (Video)

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:14:53 -0500

- Dr. William Lane Craig (Requires WIndows Media Player)

Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God? (Video)

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:51:36 -0500

- Lee Strobel, Deborah Caldwell, Hesham Hassaballa, Ergun Caner.

Dr. Ergun Caner, a Muslim who converted to Christianity, talks about the Christian concept of God vs. the Muslim. (Requires Windows Media Player)

How can I know that God really loves me, and cares about my life?

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 12:39:24 -0500

God doesn't just talk about love. He proves it by action. The Bible says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) The word, “commendeth” means “demonstrates.” God demonstrates His love toward us by the death of Jesus Christ. Think about this: God loves you so much that He gave His Son to come to earth to become a human being like you so that He could suffer and die for your sins on the cross. The death of Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of God's love for us. Whatever arguments men may have against God, they cannot argue with His love.

You can be sure that God loves you because He suffered in your place so that you would not have to die and be separated from Him forever in hell. You can know that God cares about you because He not only gave His Son Jesus to die for your sins, but He offers you eternal life with Him in heaven. You can be absolutely certain that God loves you because the requirement to receive this life is the simplest requirement on earth. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Simple belief or faith in Jesus Christ is the requirement for salvation. God gives eternal life to all who believe (trust, depend on) His Son as their Savior.

All of the religions of the world teach that we must do something to go to heaven such as joining a particular church, giving to the poor, receiving the sacraments, being baptized in water, etc. All religions teach this except for Biblical Christianity. God could have required many different things for mankind to do to go to heaven, but according to Jesus Christ, all that is required is simple faith. When I trust in Jesus Christ to forgive my sins and to take me to heaven; when I believe His promise that I will have eternal life if I simply believe in Him for it, that is all that God requires.

It is as simple as receiving a gift. The Bible says, “For the wages (the payment) of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Eternal life with God is a gift to be received. If someone offers me a gift, I will never receive it unless I believe the word of the giver. Someone might offer me a “free gift, no strings attached,” but if I do not trust that person or their word, I will never take it. I would be afraid they would want something from me. God wants to give us something. He wants to forgive our sins and to save our souls from hell. He wants to give us eternal life with Him and a changed life here on earth. Will you trust Him as your Savior today? Jesus Christ will save you, forgive you, and give you the gift of eternal life if you will trust Him to do it.

Is There Really a God? - Answers in Genesis

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:32:21 -0500

Do Christians believe in one God or three?

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:57:15 -0500

Sometimes Christians are misunderstood and thought to believe in three gods instead of one. This is because of their belief in the Trinity or triunity of God. If you want to know what Christians believe, it is best to ask Christians, not someone else. That is true of understanding anyone's beliefs. Christians do not believe in three gods. The Bible teaches that there is only one true and living God.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 1 Timothy 2:5

“... We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.” 1 Corinthians 8:4

The Bible also teaches that God is a Trinity, that is, that He exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Matthew 28:19

Even though the word "Trinity" is not found in the Bible, the doctrine is taught. The word "Bible" is not found in the Bible either, but I understand from reading the Bible that God is a Trinity, that is, He is one God in three persons.

JESUS IS GOD:

“And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:26-29

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD:

“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” Acts 5:1-4

THE FATHER IS GOD:

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” 1 Corinthians 8:6

Even though the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are all three God, there is only one God. An easy way to understand this concept is by using the idea of H2O. H2O is the formula for water, ice and steam. Water, ice and steam are all H2O, yet they are distinct. One is solid. One is liquid. One is vapor. Yet, all are one substance: H2O.

God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, yet He is one.

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, (another name for Jesus Christ) and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7

It is thought by many scholars that the verse we just quoted, 1 John 5:7, was not originally a part of the Bible, but was added later. While we disagree with this view, (here's why) the fact that this verse appears in the Bible, and the fact that it is quoted in Christian writings from the 4th and 5th centuries A.D. shows that early Christians believed the doctrine of the Trinity. Early Christian creeds and confessions also state a belief in one God who exists in three eternal persons. Christians understood this and believed it from ancient times because the Bible clearly teaches it.

The plain Bible teaching that there is only one God, when compared with the equally clear teaching that Jesus, the Father and the Spirit are God, leads us; and has lead Christians for nearly two-thousand years, to the logical conclusion that God is a Trinity.

If God is so powerful, why does He allow bad things to happen in the world?

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:47:18 -0500

This is a good question that many people have asked. There are two kinds of “bad things” that take place in the world: 1. natural and 2. man-made. Most bad things are man-made and take place because of wicked and sinful choices that human beings make. For instance, the holocaust was a horrible chapter in human history. Six million Jewish people died as a result of Adolph Hitler's atrocities. Was it God's fault that Adolf Hitler chose to hate Jews and to murder them? Was it God's fault that the people around Hitler followed his leadership? Was it God's fault that the German people at the time embraced Hitler as their leader? Does God's Word, the Bible, teach that we should hate Jews or murder them? One of the Ten Commandments says, “Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13) The fact is that God, in His power, has given us His Word. When we choose to disobey it, that is not God's fault. It is our fault. When leaders of countries slaughter their own people is that God's fault, or did they choose to disobey His Word? When a criminal breaks into your house and steals your stereo, did God do that, or the criminal who disobeyed God's command? In addition to His Word, God has set up several means to prevent bad things from happening, and to take care of those who violate His laws.

The Bible tells us in Romans chapter thirteen, that God has instituted the power of government on earth to prevent crime and punish criminals. “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” (Romans 13:3-4)

We must also remember that according to Scripture, judgment is coming. Those who have hated God and rejected Him will stand before His judgment seat. Adolf Hitler, who in the 1940's felt God's judgment through the governments of this world and their military powers will one day stand before God's judgment seat to experience His eternal wrath. So will every murderer, thief, adulterer and breaker of God's law who does not repent and turn to Jesus Christ for mercy and forgiveness. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27)

God punishes sin all of the time. He just does not always punish it immediately or in the way that we would expect. We might expect to see lightning bolts coming out of the sky to zap someone. Instead, we see a criminal sitting in a cell in the county jail. I work a lot in the jail and the men there will tell you that they are being judged for their sins. Could God stop sin from happening? Certainly He could, but He chooses rather to give us His Word, a conscience, and human authority. When we willfully and wickedly choose to violate these restraints, judgment will come.

Does the fact that God chooses not to judge sin in the way that we think He should mean that He is wrong? Is it possible that we are wrong? Could God perhaps know more than we do about running the Universe? I know that I'm being sarcastic, but dear friend, we would do well to think about these things before we jump to conclusions about God being unjust.

It is important, also, to remember several things.

1. God did not create the world this way. When God created the world, there was no sin, death, suffering or sorrow. When Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, choose to disobey God's law in the Garden of Eden; sin, death, sorrow and pain entered into the world.“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12 )

2. If we believe the Bible then we believe that there is a Devil and demons who are working against God in this world. So, they are the source of some of the bad things that happen.

3. God is not mad at you if you don't understand what He is doing or have questions. God is a big God; He can handle your questions. My mother became terminally ill and died several years ago. She was a good, Christian woman. She was in a hospital bed for six months unable to breath on her own and unable to swallow food or to get out of bed, then she died. Do I understand that? No. But that doesn't mean that I react to that by hating God and refusing to believe in Him or serve Him. I understand that God is more intelligent than me. When we cannot trace God, we must trust Him. If that is hard for you to do, pray like a man did in the Bible, “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:24) There is nothing wrong with asking God to help us to trust Him. We cannot understand all of the natural disasters in the world. The Bible teaches that the earth itself has been, for lack of a better term, “messed up” because of sin. According to Romans 8:20-22, the whole creation is under the curse of sin. God certainly did not create the world this way originally. Suffering, death and even an imperfect environment came because of Adam’s Original sin. As a result, there are tornados and hurricanes, tsunamis and floods. We do not understand why God allows those things to happen. One day, the Lord Jesus Christ will set up His Kingdom upon the earth and straighten everything out. The Bible teaches this. We will understand “why” some day, but for now we must trust the Lord. Believers in Jesus Christ who have lost their homes and possessions to flood, fire, tornado, etc. continue to find great peace and comfort in their belief in God.

We can either choose to go through life bitter at God, thinking He is a cruel tyrant who finds pleasure in hurting people, or we can find peace and hope through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I would, personally, rather live a life of peace and hope.

I'm an Atheist. Can you prove to me that there is a God?

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:46:20 -0500

First, let me ask you this: Is that a rhetorical question, or do you really want an answer? You see, the Bible never attempts to prove the existence of God, and most people who question His existence do so because believing that there is a God has moral consequences associated with it. If I believe in God, then that means that I cannot be my own God. I cannot create my own system of morality. It means that there are such things as absolutes, etc.

If you really want to know whether or not there is a God, ask yourself these questions: 1. “Can I prove that God doesn't exist?” And, 2. “Is there more evidence for God's existence than for His non-existence?” For instance, how do you explain the human body without God? If I were to tell you that the computer that I am typing this article on evolved over millions of years without any intelligent design, you would say that I had lost my mind. Let us suppose that I told you that one day, millions of years ago, plastic began to form into the shape of a laptop. The plastic itself appeared with no intelligent design, and as it took on the shape of a laptop, a screen formed, and a hard drive. Amazingly, a CD burner evolved in the side of the laptop, and it was just the right size to hold a writable CD that evolved over a period of millions of years as well. A processor evolved inside of the laptop and, most amazing of all, an operating system formed on the hard drive to operate the computer. It evolved so precisely, that it was able to install and run the word processing program that I am using to type this article. Of course, the word processing program also evolved without any intelligent design. That is foolish isn't it? So why would we believe that a human being who is a billion times more complex than a computer evolved over millions of years without intelligent design? Brilliant men like Sir Isaac Newton and Blaise Pascal believed in God. They, and other scholars, scientists, kings and common folks believed and do believe in God because faith in a Creator is logical. The idea that there is no God takes a great deal of faith to believe because it defies common sense.

Think about this: If man evolved from lower forms of life, where did the lower life forms come from? If you believe that they came from an ancient earth that was rich in substances that could form life, where did the substances that could form life come from? If you believe that millions or billions of years ago, that they originated after the “Big Bang,” where did the substances to cause the “Big Bang” come from? Matter cannot have always just existed. It had to come from somewhere. If you keep asking the question, “Where did that come from?” you will eventually come to the conclusion that there had to be a Creator.

In the account of creation given in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, the phrase, “after their kind” is repeated over and over again to describe the reproduction of life. For instance, “And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:21) This law has never been violated. Things always reproduce “after their kind.” You cannot cross a chicken and a sheep and get an offspring. A human being cannot mate with a monkey and produce a child. Creatures do evolve or change within their own kind. Human beings come in many different skin tones, with different eyes, hair, height, weight, etc. However, the idea that one kind can evolve into another kind, macroevolution, is not provable. Does the fact that monkeys are similar to men prove that they have a common ancestor or that they have a common Creator? A table, chair and cabinet made in a master-designer's workshop have many similarities. They did not evolve from one another. They had a common creator. If you will look at the world around you, there is so much evidence for creation that you would have to consciously choose to hold to an unreasonable faith in order to deny the existence of God.