Misconceptions - 3. I am not good enough to be a Christian

One of the most common things I hear people say, and it saddens me because it really isn't true, is this...

'I am not good enough to be a Christian'


Let me get this straight, none of us are good enough to go to Heaven. The standard for Heaven is perfection and only Jesus has lived a perfect life BUT


Jesus died for imperfect people


Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.


God doesn't just say He Loves us, He demonstrated it through Jesus. Christ gave up His perfect life on the cross in exchange for all of our imperfections. Martin Luther called it 'The Great Exchange'. 


John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.


This offer is open to anyone in this world.


Jesus helped imperfect people

• John 8:1-11 - Jesus defends a prostitute and forgives her when others want to stone her. 
• John 4:1-26 - Jesus speaks an adulteress who has been through five divorces.
• Luke 19:1-10 - Jesus eats at a Tax collectors house, even when others condemn Him for it (V7)

Jesus picked imperfect disciples

• Peter denied Him three times but was forgiven and went onto be a warrior of the early Church.
• Paul persecuted and killed early Christians and called himself the 'Chief of Sinners' and confessed hardship at doing right (Romans 7:14-15)
• Thomas doubted Him when He returned

God turns the bad into good

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I know that there have been lots of bad things happen in my life, but I can see how God used them for the greater purpose and some of my bad times have been a large contribution in the happiness I feel now. RT Kendall says that this is God showing us that we should not be guilty about the past, because it is forgiven and He has worked in into good. 

As you can see, the disciples all let Jesus down, King David messed up with Bathsheba and Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Did this stop God working and doing great things in their lives? NO :-)

God loves you and He has cleared the way for you to be a Christian and be good enough for Him through Jesus. Don't waste any more time, who knows when Christ will return to bring judgement and Eternity for those who believe.

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.

A Good Foundation

Matthew 7:24-29. The Wise and Foolish Builders

    ²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

 ²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

I think it's important to consider what the foundations are in our lives

For many people I know, the foundation is a relationship or success in an area such as Exams, Sport or just being popularity. The problem with these things is that relationships can end, success isn't always guaranteed and you can't be popular with everyone!

When I have bad things happen, it's hard and I struggle. But what always amazes me is how, even during this tough times, it doesn't seem so bad. I find myself happier in my hard times as a Christian than I was in my happy times without God.

God helps us make the most of our lives, even if our situations totally stink.

Hahaha

I am throughly enjoying my new book - 'Nonsense of a High Order - The Confused and Illusory World of the Atheist' by Rabbi Moshe Averick. (I highly recommend getting this book to Christians, interested Agnostics & truth seeking Atheists alike) The ideas that people such as Dawkins & Hitchens has brought up have been condemned to the trash by Averick and I wonder if they'll ever respond to this book and would be interested if they did, for this book is very very good in its criticism and its own ideas.

One thing, at the end of a chapter, Averick linked to is this, it made me laugh!

http://www.us.net/life/

On this website they offer a prize of $50,000 a year for the next 20 years for anyone who can propose a 'highly plausible mechanism for the spontaneous rise of genetic instructions in nature sufficient to gave rise to life. To win, the explanation must be consistent with empirical biochemical, kinetic, and thermodynamic concepts...and be published in a well-respected, peer-reviewed science journal'.

No 'highly plausible' explanation has been presented for the naturalistic origin of life. The evidence all points to a supernatural creator and once Scientists stop making assumptions that there is no God and start testing assumptions like they are supposed to then maybe they will find something they didn't want to find and thought they never could.

If you do have a highly plausible explanation, go and enjoy the $50,000 a year for the next 20 years!

Seek and you shall find

We took some of the young people to Ignite last week and something came to me afterwards. At Ignite there are about 500 young people and leaders there and whilst some sit in the middle where they can listen and participate easily, a percentage will sit around the main part of the hall talking and not really listening...I mean some of them listen & participate and not everyone can sit in the main bit anyway.

What I noticed and have been noticing a lot recently is this...those who put themselves into the presence of God, experience Him.

Often those who complain that they don't see God work or that God is not in their lives or helping them with anything have never truly looked for Him.

The Bible says:-

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.


Luke 11:9
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.


There are several ways I find useful in knowing God in my life...

• Consistent and dedicated Bible reading - because faith comes from hearing the Word of God
• Concentrated, faithful prayer - because God is always with us and when we still everything else, only He is left
• Fixing my eyes upon Jesus - in all situations of the day, because He is there and wants to help us
• Making the right choices - such as choosing to do something for Him or spend time with Him instead of doing worldly things
• Worship - not just singing but living my life for Him...because God is in the praises of His people

If there is anything I have missed out, as I am far from perfect, please comment it in!

I encourage you all to really seek out God, and experience the fullness of life through Him. I guarantee He will not let you down.

Picture of the Day!

This is my 100th post!! Hoooraaayyy!!

I love this picture! I took it yesterday when visiting my cousin Simon in Swindon. This is one crazy roundabout, and is just as confusing in reality as it is on the sign. It looked like a dodgem thing at the fair!

In reality, our lives are also very confusing and we have times where we have no idea where we are going and why we have to go that way once we go in a confusing direction.

One thing I do know is that God knows the future and Has Great Plans for us...

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


If you are fed up of that verse now...maybe it's because God sees you haven't truly believed it and experienced the freedom and joy it brings.


He is Good. He Loves You. He wants the best for you. Trust Him :-)