Please click
below to watch the video. Below we also have some Frequently
Asked Questions about Christianity.
Son Dies Giving Others Life!
SUMMER 1937 MISSISSIPPI:
Rail bridge operator John Griffith took Greg, his eight year
old son, to work with him. Greg was interested in his father?s work, so he
brought his son to work so he could see what it is like being a bridge
operator. The boy poked around the office and asked dozens of questions - just
like little boys do. The bridge stands over the great Mississippi River and
whenever a ship came, John would open the bridge to allow the ships to pass.
However, on this day after John opened up the draw bridge to allow a ship to
pass. A moment or two later, he realized his son wasn?t in the office and as he
looked around, to his horror, and saw his son climbing around on the gears of
the draw bridge. He hurried outside to rescue his son, but just then he heard a
fast approaching passenger train, the Memphis Express, filled with 400 people.
He yelled to his son, but the noise of the now clearing ship and the oncoming
train made it impossible for the boy to hear him. John realized his horrible
dilemma. If he took the time to rescue his son the train would crash killing all
aboard, but if he closed the bridge, the boy we be crushed in the gears! John
chose to sacrifice his son. After making the unfathomable decision, the father
pulled the lever and closed the bridge. It is said, as the train went by John
could see the faces of the passengers, some reading, some even waving, all of
them oblivious to the sacrifice that had just been made for them. John began to
weep crying out, ?Don?t you people realize that my son was sacrificed for
yours!??
To the best of my knowledge, the above story is true. It illustrates for us an
eternal truth.
We are separated from God.
The Bible says that we have sinned against a holy God (Rom 3:23).
In other words we have committed a crime against the God of the universe. He gave us His law
(i.e. 10 Commandments). We have broken that law by lying, stealing, coveting, lustful thoughts,
hate etc. The Bible says there is a price to be paid for our sin ? eternal death known as hell (Rom 6:23).
Danger! Bridge ahead out.
Our good deeds, religious activity, or even our morality are not
able to save us. To be in the presence of a holy (pure/perfect) God, means we
too must be perfectly pure. This isn?t because God is cruel or unreasonable,
but because He is just. If God were to overlook our crimes, then he would be a
corrupt Judge. His justice demands that sin be punished. In a similar way to
the above story, the bridge to God was out, as our sin had made a separation
between us and God (Isa 59:2). The reality is 10 out of every 10 people die and
thus all of mankind is steaming down the track toward a bridge that is up which
means certain death.
God has built a bridge.
However, God sent His Son who willingly came to die in our place
for our sin (Rom 5:8). Jesus bore the punishment of our sins on the cross. He
did this because He loves us. The Bible says that those who put their faith in
Jesus as their Lord and Saviour will have eternal life. It is by Jesus? death
on the cross that we are then able to cross over to eternal life. Jesus said,
?I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me? (John 14:6). You see, He is the only bridge to heaven.
The purpose of the section is not an attempt to ridicule those who question the
Christian faith. In fact, we hope this section encourages honest seeking. The
five questions posted are example questions under the five most common
categories of objections regarding the Christian faith. Some consider it
sacrilegious to question the Bible, assuming "God doesn't want us mere mortals
to actually think, but only believe". Others consider seeking real answers a
waste of time as "faith has nothing to do with knowing". But the God of the
Bible actually commands us to love Him with our minds, Mark 12:30).
He
is not afraid or even offended at our questions. "Come now, let us reason
together," says the LORD, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be
white as snow?" Isaiah 1:18 emphasis mine). If you are looking for excuses not to believe, you'll find them anywhere.
If you are looking for reason to believe, we pray you'll find some here.
1. ORIGINS
"Hasn't evolution proven that 'God' is just another myth invented by man?"
This question assumes that evolution is true. If that is your assumption, you are not alone.
The theory of evolution is taught as scientific fact in most schools. However, you can't refer to any theory
about the origins of the universe as scientific fact. For something to be
established as "scientific fact" it must be scrutinized through the scientific
method. The scientific method involves the recognition of a problem, (i.e.,
"where did we come from?"), the collection of data through observation and
experimentation, (fossils, chemicals, soil conditions, etc.) and the formulation
and testing of hypothesis. Testing involves repetition in a controlled
environment. How can you repeat "the Big Bang" or "In the Beginning God"? You
can not, and therefore both creationism and evolution have to be taken on
faith. In fact there are many credible scientists, both Christian and
non-Christian who reject the theory of evolution as an explanation of origins on
a scitentific basis. There are also scores of scientists who vehemently defend
the theory of evolution on the basis of philosophy alone. Consider this quote
by Harvard University Bio-chemist George Wald, "When it comes to the origin of
life there are only two possibilities: Creation or spontaneous generation. There
is no third way. Spontaneous generation was disproved one hundred years ago, but
that leads us to only one other conclusion, that of supernatural creation. We
cannot accept that on philosophical grounds; therefore we choose to believe the
impossible: that life arose spontaneously by chance!" (emphasis mine) (George
Wald, "Scientific America", 191:48, May 1954). When one looks at the evidence, it seems that evolution is the
myth.
2. TRUTH
"How can you say there is only one way to God? What's true for one isn't true
for all, right?"
This question is a reasonable one. "Who do Christians say that
theirs is the only way?" However, the truth is Christians didn't say this, Jesus
Christ did. In John 14, Jesus is preparing the disciples for His death,
resurrection and ascension back to Heaven. These were predicted events that
they didn't "catch on to" until after they witnessed them for themselves. If
you read the context, it is obvious Jesus wanted to comfort the hearts of His
disciples with the reality of Heaven. But his disciples, (like ourselves), were
slow to understand plain truth so when they questioned Him about "the way" to
heaven He answered thus: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me."(John 14:6).
The word for "the" in the Greek language (the New Testament was originally written in Greek), is only used when the speaker/writer wants to make
an emphasis; as in THE one and only. Jesus is clearly stating the exclusivity of faith in Him. This is not the only scripture that states this. I would
encourage everyone to look up the following scriptures just for starters, (Isaiah43:11 ; Hosea 13:4 ; Luke2:11 ; John1:29 ; 4:42 ; 8:24 ; 1 Timothy 4:10 ; 2 Timothy 1:10 ; 2 Peter 1:1 ; 1 John 4:14).
Every other religion or philosophy in the world says you have to do something to "get to God". But the Bible teaches that God came to us and gave
Himself on the cross that we might have a relationship with Him. God has made the message of the scriptures plain. Jesus is the only way.
3. SCRIPTURES
"How can you say the Bible is 'God's Word' when it is written by men?"
This is one of those questions that require much more space than
we have available here. Not because it is difficult to answer, but because the
evidence is so extensive. But from a philosophical viewpoint consider this: If
we assume there is a Creator, (if you can't start with this assumption go to Q.
1), then it is reasonable that He is greater than ourselves. If He is greater
than ourselves, then it is reasonable that we are dependent upon Him for an
accurate revelation of both His Person and His will. It is also reasonable that
He would be revealed, in part, through what He's done, (i.e., the Creation). If
He has revealed Himself, then it is reasonable that we would be accountable to
that revelation. If we are accountable to His revelation then it is reasonable
that the revelation could be 'tested' in objective way, (i.e., the written
word). This is confirmed by the fact that most religions/philosophies have some
sort of holy book. However, because these books strongly contradict and/or
refute one another, it's reasonable to assume that they cannot all be the
revelation of God. So what makes the Bible unique?
1. Science:
Though
not a scientific book, when compared to what we know about history, archaeology,
and cosmology, among religious writings, the Bible stands alone as being
accurate.
2. Content:
The
Bible contains 66 books written by 40 different authors over 1500 years and yet
contains one message- God's redemption of mankind.
3. Prophesy:
the
Bible not only has several predictions about the future, but it also sets a very
tough standard for knowing if a particular prophesy is from God. What's the
standard? 100% accuracy.
4. Message:
the
Bible alone balances freedom of choice with responsibility for actions. Al
thei yard can be a depressing place. It testifies of abuse, neglect, destruction and
even death. But what it doesn't testify of is bad manufacturing. Unless you could see each vehicle being used as it was designed, you can't stand in the
scrap yard and accurately say, "Man, Toyota surely doesn't design cars very well." So it is with this world we live in. The Bible clearly states that God created everything and it was "very good" (Genesis 1:31).
The Bible also clearly testifies to the "wreck" Adam and Eve got in. Part of the 'good' God put into the world was man's ability to choose. Choice enables us
to love, to think and to grow.
God gave us this choice because He wants a love relationship with us.
Unfortunately, for choice to be valid, one must be able to choose wrongly.
That's what Adam did. And each on of us has followed suit. There is so much evil
because we continue to choose it. So why doesn't God do something about it? He
has. He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sinful choices. The punishment that we
deserve, He took on Himself. What He suffered as the innocent Man is more than
we can imagine. "But that was 2000 years ago," you say, "and evil still
continues." True. But Jesus said He would come again, (see John 14:1-3 ; Acts 1:11).
And when He comes again He will rid the world of all injustice, sin and evil,
(read the book of Revelation). Until then we still choose. We choose who we are
going to trust. We choose how we are going to view the world. We choose who we
are going to live are lives for. The question is; do our lives prevent evil or
promote evil? If you come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ,
you'll find that evil is overcome by good, (Romans 12:21). If you choose to ignore His offer of forgiveness and freedom,
you'll experience evil eternally. (John3:36). It's good that you recognize evil. He question is; what are you
going to do about it?
5. JUSTICE
"What about all the good people? Doesn't God reward good?"
It's true that God rewards good. But He also punishes evil.
Everybody, even those who say that all morality is relative, still have an
innate sense of justice. (Which is why they ask such a question.) We see
injustice everywhere and it makes us angry, (or at least it should). So who
determines what is right and wrong? Who determines justice? If you say the
"majority of society" or "the educated elite", than how can you justify that
position in light of the last hundred years of history alone? The Truth is
either absolute or non-existent. The Bible teaches that God Himself is the
standard of right and wrong. If you need a concise, written definition of Truth,
look at the Ten Commandments, (Exodus 20:1-17). If you want to see Truth lived out in the practical,
look at the Person of Jesus Christ in the gospels. When we measure our goodness
or even our sincerity by God's standards, we find ALL OF US falling short. For
those who desire to do good, the best thing is start by admitting that you are
not good. God calls that humility and it?s a very good thing, (see James 4:1-10).
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