Fry-ing my brain

I have nothing against Stephen Fry. I don't enjoy any of his TV programmes but I have no beef with those who do. It's opinion, subjective to each person to his and hers own personality.

However I take great issue with his recent comments about God. 

This argument is often trotted out and it's falls very quickly and easily and here is how - You cannot make a moralistic judgement on anything without a undisputed set of absolute right and wrongs to stand on.

If you ask most unbelievers the rather difficult question of where morality has come from you'll, in my experience, get one of these answers:

'Morality evolved' - this is scary because it means that nothing is absolutely wrong, only wrong at that stage of it's evolution. Rape and murder could have been okay in the past and could be okay in the future.

'We make our own morals' - This is subjectivity of the highest order and not the good kind such as whether we prefer to watch QI or Have I Got News For You on the Dave channel. If we make our own morals we cannot be angry at anyone else because they have a different set of morals. If someone punched me in the face I couldn't be upset because it might not be wrong to them even if it is to me.

'Morality is defined by society' - this has the same issues as both of the above two.

Morality is such an evidence for God because it definitely exists yet there is no reasonable explanation for it's existence outside of a Higher Power. Without God we are simply like animals, it's dog eat dog and the fittest will win. Cats don't feel guilty after killing a mouse and if there is no God why should we feel guilty about anything we do?

Without a Higher Power, morality is subjective as no one persons opinion is bigger than another. However a Higher Power's, who is described as Holy, Perfect and All Loving,  moral judgements are bigger and there is none that can compete.

In fact, the much envied British justice and legal system is actually built upon the Bible, most of our law stems from the Ten Commandments or Biblical principles which are usually always based upon fairness to all.

God is Good and Has all knowledge and wisdom whilst loving all He has made. He made everything, including a perfect morality which we can never keep up with but can only live up to with the grace of God Himself, shown so amazingly through Jesus Christ on the cross dying for our sins so we could be reconciled to Him.

If you have no grounds for moral belief, you cannot even define the words 'evil' and 'monstrous' let alone accuse someone of it. Often people will use the wipeouts of entire groups of people in the Old Testament as an excuse to say God is evil. These groups were far worse than IS, some of them sacrificed children, and there isn't many people who think IS shouldn't be wiped out.
Some say that God was cruel letting Christ die for our sins, I'll let you in on a secret. God was Christ and He chose to do it. Because He loved us that much.

God is only one with the character to justify the creation of morality. Morality is unchanging, immaterial and universal, just like God and nothing else could account for those aspects.

The other thing that irks me is this idea that everything on earth should be perfect. Fry mentions insects that burrow through eyes etc. Anyone with an ounce of knowledge of Christian belief would know the Bible pretty much begins with the corruption of the whole world and ends with the promise of a perfect new heaven and new earth for (the Bible describes it as a place with no more tears) those who have simply acknowledged their own sin and accepted the grace of God offered through Christ. God never said that our world as it is now is perfect and Christians would never claim that.

It's amusing how often people such as Fry and Richard Dawkins criticise God whilst showing a complete lack of understanding of Him. It's sad how many people think that what they are saying is great.

I pray that Stephen Fry, Richard Dawkins and everyone else can join me in the world with 'no tears' on the great and glorious day.

Blessings,

Michael

Our Cross

I spent most of last week with my family in Saundersfoot and whilst there we went to nearby Oakwood theme park. I think following Jesus is a lot like going to Oakwood and this is why...

Theme parks divide opinions, there is those who love it and will go on anything and the scarier the better (me haha). There are those who have a limit,  they will go on a lot of the rides but some of them are just too much for them...or they go on ones they don't want too but don't enjoy them much and are glad when they get off. Then there are those who point blank refuse to go on anything remotely scary (used to be me! Which are you?).

I used to be really scared of theme park rides and would not go on anything too bad and wouldn't even enjoy those that were slightly bad. I got a bit ill but it was mostly in my head that I would happen to be on the ride that kills someone and it would be me. I had false preconceptions about how risky the rides were and what they were like. I was blind to how fun they were.

I don't know when I began enjoying rides but I know it began with me swallowing my fear and going for it and thus having my eyes opened to how good it was by how much I enjoyed it.

Christianity is like this. People have so many wrong ideas, that it is untrue, that it is boring, that it restricts you from having fun. I had some wrong ideas and only by swallowing my own ideas and going for it did I find that it was true and the most exciting, wonderful thing.

Luke 14:27
And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.


Jesus doesn't ask us to literally be crucified here, He is asking us to swallow our wrong ideas and trust Him, even when you think it won't be that good. The cross seemed like a huge defeat for the Disciples and followers of Jesus. Two days later, with Jesus having returned from the dead, it looked perfect.


I promise that if you choose to trust Jesus and swallow your doubts and fears, you will find a whole new reality and it will be so much better than you ever imagined.

Misconceptions - 6. Stuff people say about the Lord Jesus

1. Jesus didn't even exist


No serious historical scholar of any faith will deny that a man called Jesus of Nazareth existed. Roman historian Josephus and over 30 other non Biblical accounts suggest He existed also. The Gospel of Luke, which records some of His life, is one the most accurate historical records ever written.

2. Jesus was a criminal


Jesus was wrongly convicted of blasphemy by the religious leaders, who abused their power to meet their own ends. Jesus ministry was turning people away from their legalistic rituals and they obviously were deeply unsettled. Jesus, as God Himself in human form, had the power to get away but chose to die to pay the price for the sin of all mankind.

3. Jesus was just a good man


Make no mistakes, Jesus was a good man...He was perfect, He was the best man ever. But He was so much more than just good. He was God Himself in human form. He is the bridge between man and God. Our sin seperates us from God and we are condemned but Jesus stepped in and paid the price for it all so that we can have a relationship with God. Jesus also claimed to be God. A good man doesn't lie and if Jesus was just a good man then He was also a liar in a major way and led many people astray and to death (the Pharisees didn't stop their executions at Jesus, they executed His followers as well) for nothing, which doesn't make Him a good man.

4. Jesus was a madman
Jesus said some of the most incredible and insightful things ever said. His Words are not the words of a madman.

5. Jesus isn't for me


Luke 19:10
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."


No matter how far away you are, Jesus came to find you. If you feel an urge to be saved and change your life, just ask Him tonight to forgive your sin and help you repent. It is the best decision I ever made :-)

Misconceptions - 2. Evolution disproves God

This morning when I was driving to work I saw a fish symbol on the back of someones car - except with a difference. This fish had 'Darwin' written in the middle of it and also had two legs...inferring the concept of Evolution, that we have a common ancestor and evolved through time to become what we are now.

Personally, I disagree with Evolution because of one simple fact...there is no proof that any specie has ever evolved into another specie. There are two types of Evolution, micro and macro. Micro is species changing but remaining one specie. This accounts for the variety in many animals such as cats & dogs but not for how human beings or cats and dogs themselves came into being. (Genesis 30:25-43 describes this kind of evolution happening in Jacob's flock).

However, I do understand that some Christians accept Evolution and actually that doesn't bother me too much because...

Evolution does not explain the origin of life


For Evolution to work, life already has to be there to evolve. People who do not understand this issue tend to assume that Evolution is how life began when that is not even what any well educated Evolutionist would argue.

What I am saying is that even if we evolved, God is still a explanation for life's origin. These Christians would argue that Evolution is part of God's plan. However, as I have written already, I have serious reservations regarding Evolution.

So is there any alternative Scientific explanations for the origin of life?

I wrote about the dearth of knowledge and fact in this area the other day but let's see what a few major Atheist scientists say courtesy of Rabbi Moshe Averick's book, Nonsense of a High Order.

Dr Stuart Kauffman - 'We do not, in fact, know how or where life started...clearly none of theories are adequate'

Dr Richard Dawkins - 'but how did the whole process start?...nobody knows how it happened.

Dr Chris Willis - 'the biggest gap in Evolutionary theory remains the origin of life itself'

Dr Stanley Miller and Dr Leslie Orgel - 'It must be admitted from the beginning that we do not know how life began.'

Dr Robert Shapiro - 'The difference between a mixture of simple chemicals and a bacterium is much more profound than the gulf between a bacterium and an elephant.'

Dr Christopher McKay - 'The origin of life remains a scientific mystery...we do not know how life originated on the earth'.

I am confident enough in God to say that these guys will never find an explanation of how life could have occurred without God, because God created everything we stand/sit on today. Praise Him Indeed!

Misconceptions - 1. Faith is blind and without evidence

To be honest, I've really been struggling for ideas but I have now found something that will keep me going for a while. I am going to address ten of the most common misconceptions about Christianity. Society today says a lot of negative stuff about Christianity and a lot of it isn't actually true so I hope to answer a few questions and resolve a few moot points in this blog. I haven't totally decided much of the ten so please comment your suggestions!


Firstly I will address this argument - Faith is irrational and not based on evidence.


My pastor spoke a great sermon this morning and he quoted the following bit of scripture:


Romans 10:17 - Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.


Faith isn't a blind jump. It comes from hearing what God has to say and putting it into practice. 


When God tells me in His Word that 'If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.' (Romans 10:9) I can trust Him because of who He is. I know that He has never let me down before, that there is countless evidence of Biblical prophecy coming true and that I know He is real because of what He has done in my life and because I have felt His Presence many, many times.


It's like if my Mum told me she will be okay to make me breakfast before University on Tuesday. I know that she has done this many, many time (thanks Mum!) and that I don't see any evidence of her not telling the truth in other things that she says. From my life experience I know I can trust her and it is the same with God. 


Faith isn't a blind leap, it is a confident prediction based on previous experiences and promises made. Actually, it almost sounds like how you would describe Science! Put your faith in Christ, He will never let you down.