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Faith in people or faith in God?
Many abandon God and faith in him when they are disappointed in people. Read why this attitude makes no sense
When a person rejects God and the Christian faith, there are different reasons. Some reject God because of science. They think that science has proven belief in God to be wishful thinking. Others reject belief in God because there is suffering in the world. Still others refer to injustices committed in the name of God throughout history. For example, I myself defended my atheism years ago with the points mentioned above. They seemed like good arguments to me at the time, although now I find them weak. A person may also reject God if he is personally disappointed with some people close to him or spiritual leaders. However, it is absurd to reject faith in God if others have been deficient, or they have fallen and acted incorrectly. At the last judgment, we are not asked what others have done, but what we ourselves have done. We have to give an account only of our own lives, not of others, as the following verses show:
- (Rom 14:12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
- (Rev 20:12-15) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Forgiveness is a similar thing. Many have experienced injustice in their lives, but Jesus taught that if we do not forgive, God will not forgive us either. In the end, it's quite simple. The wrongdoers give an account of their own lives, but the one who has experienced the injustice is also obliged to forgive. No one says that forgiveness is easy, but it is God's instruction for us, as Jesus and the apostles taught:
- (Matt
6:14,15) 14 For if you forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
In any case, we will now examine this topic in more detail. We begin with disappointment towards spiritual leaders.
1. DISAPPOINTMENT TOWARDS SPIRITUAL LEADERS. When people reject God, it may be because of disappointment with spiritual leaders, especially their falls. The usual causes of a fall are sex and money. We think that if the leaders fall, what reason is there to believe in God? People associate these things with each other. But but. Who survives in this world without falling and without sin? No one. People can always fall, as the Bible tells about the fall of Peter (It is important to remember that Peter received a new beginning and grace. God is often more merciful than people. He is the God of new beginnings). We are not in heaven yet, we have the body of sin and evil always hangs in us to some extent (Romans, chapter 7). That's why we are deficient. No one can live a completely sinless life here on earth. That's why you should put your hope only in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and not in people. The essence of Christian faith is faith in him, and not faith in flawed people:
- (Acts 16:30,31) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.
In addition, it is worth considering what Jesus and the apostles have taught on the subject. People can be flawed, but it is important to emphasize what is proper Christian behavior. It does not include, for example, religious abuse or dominating others. Here both Jesus and the apostles taught in unison. True leadership is following Christ, which does not involve subjugating or manipulating other people. Of course, there are no perfect leaders and we should respect them, but the right model can be found e.g. of the following verses. Jesus' own life on earth is also a good model:
- (Luke 22:25-27) And he said to them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority on them are called benefactors. 26 But you shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that does serve. 27 For whether is greater, he that sits at meat, or he that serves? is not he that sits at meat? but I am among you as he that serves.
- (2 Cor 1:23,24) Moreover I call God for a record on my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet to Corinth. 24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith you stand.
- (1 Cor 3:5-8) Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase. 8 Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.
- (1 Peter 5:1-3) The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
- (1 Tim 4:12) Let no man despise your youth; but be you an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
- (Phil 3:17,18) Brothers, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as you have us for an ensample. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
What about the greed for money that often comes up in the media? There is a lot of teaching about this through Jesus and the apostles. It is true that some Christians may indulge in greed for money, but in doing so they do not follow the clear teaching of the Bible on this subject. E.g. Paul wrote that the bishop of congregation should not be covetous. Similarly, other verses speak on the same topic:
- (1 Tim 3:1-3) This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
- (Luke 16:11-14) If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
- (Luke 12:15) And he said to them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.
Sexual abuse - of children or others - is something that should not be part of proper Christian behavior either. This issue occasionally comes up in the media, but as already stated earlier, sex should only be part of a marriage between a man and a wife. Therefore, other sexual relations are wrong. This is the clear teaching of the Bible:
- (1 Cor 7:1-5) Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife to the husband. 4 The wife has not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband has not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud you not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
What about the lack of love? It shouldn't be part of proper Christian behavior either, but it does happen. We are not in heaven yet, and it is not always easy to be loving. Sometimes people can get hurt even when no such thing is intended. So what is the reason for the lack of love? The main reason is the spiritual condition of the congregation, which is far from what it was in the early congregation. If we look at e.g. Paul's life, he changed a lot from the inside. A man who was violent and cruel found love for people. Without this change, Paul would not have been able to influence people and the society of that time as strongly as he did. It is certain that Paul could not produce this love by himself, but he received it as a gift from God:
- (2 Cor 12:14,15) Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
- (2 Cor 2:3,4) And I wrote this same to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly to you.
- (Rom 9:1-3) I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
- (2 Tim 3:10,11) But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
- (Phil 3:17) Brothers, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as you have us for an ensample.
So love is the most important thing (1 Cor 13:13: And now stays faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity). The reason why today's church is criticized in the media is often precisely this. Therefore, in modern times, a new outpouring of the Spirit is needed, which brings about a change in the heart of man, as happened in Paul's life. The following examples show that the fullness of the Spirit and its most important consequence, love, did not remain only at the time of the apostles. D.L Moody and the Pentecostal apostle T.B Barratt were well-known spiritual influencers who greatly influenced the world. However, the reason was not their talent, but that they received the baptism of the Spirit and with it love. The same is needed in modern times. Barratt's story also reveals how he came to know his own wrong tendencies just before the baptism of the Spirit.
Moody: The blessing came over me like a flash of lightning. I remember, how I walked the streets of New York and right there on the street the power of God seemed to come over me in such a miraculous way that I had to pray for God to hold back his hand. I was filled with the feeling of God’s goodness, and I felt as if I could have taken the whole world to my heart. (1)
"Spiritual violence and victims of religion". The media often talk about spiritual violence and victims of religion, but these are contradictory sayings. In reality, there is no spiritual violence, because if people are spiritual, there will be no abuse. There is only the wrong behavior of people towards others. In addition, it is contradictory to talk about the victims of religion, because it is not religion that causes victims, but the wrong behavior of people. It would be good to distinguish between these two things.
Is it a question of Christian faith?
- (Matt 7:16-23) You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Why by their fruits you shall know them. 21 Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
- (Luke 13:3) I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.
When injustices happen in modern times or when injustices have happened in the past within churches or religions, they are often lumped together. When I was an atheist myself, I lumped these beliefs together (just like today's atheists do all the time). I couldn't tell the difference between them or what was the original teaching of, for example, Jesus and the apostles. Nowadays, many people are as ignorant of this matter as I was at the time. They do not understand that, for example, the Catholic Church, in whose circle many offenses have been committed, such as the sexual abuse of children, has largely already abandoned the Christian faith that Jesus and the apostles represented. It manifests itself in the fact that many Catholics in practice believe more in the merits of Mary and the saints than in the grace that comes through Jesus alone. A similar development has taken place in the Orthodox Church. There, Mary, saints and icons have replaced faith in Jesus. In general, such developments are ongoing. The older the church is, the more likely it is to have moved away from God and the Christian faith that Jesus and the apostles represented. I didn't understand this myself when I was an atheist, and the critics of Christianity still don't understand it. It's a matter of two completely different things. On the other hand, religious sects are in a category of their own. All small Christian congregations are often arrogantly referred to as sects, but that is not true. (It needs to be noted that the early congregation was first also called a sect. Acts 24:5). Only movements that have renounced the fundamentals of the Christian faith can be considered sects. In addition, they have other features that are contrary to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, such as the following:
• Extra-biblical revelations, usually received by the movement's "guru" or leader through spirit guides or angels, are common. One example is Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church. • Rescue is only possible within the shop. Jehovah's Witnesses have adopted this doctrine. • All teaching from outside the movement is prohibited, and there is a strong us-them confrontation. The group can consider itself the only true follower of God. • Isolation of members from society and their own family. Paul wrote (1 Tim 5:8): But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. • Overemphasis of sexuality or its complete denial. • Food and clothing rules and legalistic teaching, where a person affects salvation with his actions. • Authoritarian leadership concept. For example, in Moonism, its leader Sun Myung Moon ordered the marriages of his followers, i.e. with who each married. Such a setup is completely contrary to true leadership. According to the Bible, we should respect leaders, but complete submission belongs to God alone. True shepherding is not lording over others, but being an example. • Waiting of the end of the world and the prophecies associated with it, with their exact dates, are characteristic of sects. The group believes they are the only ones to survive the upcoming ordeal. According to the Bible, no one can know the exact moment of Jesus' coming (Matt 24:36). • It is difficult to leave the movement. Members do not dare to leave the group because of fear. • The group demanded total dedication and that a person would give it all their time and possessions and not go anywhere else. • Leaders do not bear good fruit. They are not an example of humbleness, love, and sincerity.
2. LEGALISM
- (Isa 28:12,13) To whom he said, This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13 But the word of the LORD was to them precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
One of the biggest reasons why young people turn against the Christian faith is the bad example of their parents. A disappointed young person can say: "If God is like my father, I will never want to turn to God." I don't want to become the same as my father". Or, if the child has received a positive example from his parents, he is also receptive to God. These things are interconnected. The influence of example is one of the biggest reasons for whether children become interested in spiritual life or not. One action often speaks more than a thousand words, and if the parent himself does not follow the right principles in his own life or sets a bad example - is dishonest, does not love his spouse in front of his children, gossips behind others' backs, breaks traffic rules or does not make time for children - it is unlikely that even the children would later value the right principles and spiritual life. On the contrary, they may turn their backs on it if they see the indifferent attitude or even hypocrisy of the parents. On the other hand, if parents set a good example - appreciate other people and spend time with their children - it affects the children in a positive way. It certainly works better on them than any promptings and advice alone. One bad trait many parents may also have is that they never see their own mistakes. They may appear perfect and judge others but fail to see the beam in their own eye, even though their children can see it. In addition, these parents may be afraid to admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness, for fear of losing every last bit of respect and esteem for themselves. However, the opposite is true. If a parent defends himself and pretends to be perfect when he is not, it is one of the best ways to lose authority and the respect of children. Children know our faults very well, and if we appear perfect despite everything, then we are pretenders in front of them. The matter immediately changes to another if the parents humble themselves and apologize to their children - e.g. for getting angry or if they have mistreated the children. This is what wins them over better than anything else. When we don't try to pretend to be something we're not, but genuinely admit our mistakes and how we struggle with them, kids appreciate that kind of honesty. They then accept other things that are important to us much more sensitively. What about the parents' legalism? Children can completely reject God because of the negative image they get of the Christian faith. Legalism is characterized by parental scolding, nagging, criticism and an emphasis on self-control. Life is marked by commands, prohibitions, rules and norms. Parents are more sin-centered and error-centered than grace-centered. What about the image of God they are creating to their children? God is seen as a demanding judge. He will not love us unless we perform well enough to earn his love. God is not a smiling and loving God at home; he is angry, impatient, distant and constantly disappointed with us. Usually, parents’ legalism is rooted in their own experiences. If they have grown up without unconditional love, they may transfer the same model to their relationship with God and child-rearing. Fortunately, many parents are later freed from this rigorous false image of God when they finally discover grace. This will also have a positive impact on how they will raise their children. So sometimes parents can have a wrong idea about Christianity. They may see it as a set of rules and may therefore make spiritual demands - "you have to, you must" - for themselves and their children. They may consider God's love conditional and think it depends on how well they have succeeded in life. However, God's love is never conditional, but absolute. He is a loving Father through Jesus even when we fall and are not perfect. Likewise, we are saved solely by God's grace, and even after that we are always in God's grace. In fact, the whole point of the gospel is that we receive love that we don't have to earn - it comes through Jesus Christ. Therefore, in raising children, it is good to stick to God's love, mercy and care and not to the demands that have already been fulfilled through Jesus. We have to focus more on God's redeeming and merciful side and not on sins and mistakes, because only then will we stay on the right lines. A well-known preacher from the 19th century, D.L Moody has stated:
What about legalism in the church? It includes many of the same features as mentioned above. It means that grace and the work of Christ come up very little (often the declaration may be a mixture of law and grace), but instead the focus is on Christian actions, duties and rulebooks, and an emphasis on action. Surrendering to God is of course an important thing, but it does not bring salvation, it is brought only by God's grace through Jesus Christ. Likewise, activities such as evangelism are important, but spiritual work should only be done out of love for God and people and not just because of the exhortation of others or because it is the right thing to do. Especially if a person works in tasks for which he has no natural gifts, it can lead to depression and burnout. It is difficult to do spiritual work in the long run if it is not meaningful. Because of spiritual work, some may also neglect rest and taking care of their own relationship with God. If this happens, it will also result in burnout. That's why it's worth investing in rest, recreation, and being energetic and happy in ordinary everyday life. The right ratio of work and rest must be maintained at all times. In addition, spiritual work should never lead to the neglect of ordinary everyday duties towards the family or close relatives. In God's order of importance, the family has an important place (1 Tim 5:8), and this order should not be changed. It is also important to stress that legalism, that is, trying to achieve or maintain God's approval through actions, is not true Christianity. It is a heresy against which both the Reformers and the first apostles rose. We are not saved by works or kept in faith by doing so, but by grace alone and by trusting in the sufficiency of Jesus' work on the cross. There is good teaching on this subject in Paul's letter to the Galatians. Paul taught that we should look to the work of Jesus on the cross and not to our own works. This is the correct order. Moreover, when people understand grace in the right way, it brings about spiritual growth in them. Legalistic preaching, where the gospel is not presented clearly enough, leaves people bound, discouraged, and they do not progress spiritually, but an understanding of grace changes a person.
- (Gal 3:1-6) O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received you the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, does he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
3. SEXUALITY. Then to sexuality. It is common for the media to take an arrogant attitude towards Christian faith and morality, especially Christian sexual morality, i.e. that sex belongs only to a marriage between a man and a wife. For example, supporters of free sexuality have arrogantly talked about sexual abstinence before marriage. These "open-minded and progressive" people have tried to explain how abstinence produces guilt, shame and a person has to suppress his feelings. However, these blind leaders of the blind do not take into account what reckless sexuality causes: teenage pregnancies, abortions, sexually transmitted diseases and situations where children have to live without one or both of their parents. Financial costs to society are also not taken into account. They might be hundreds of millions or billions of euros because of selfish lifestyles. (If, for example, children are marginalized, it will be expensive for society. Etelä-Suomen sanomat reports on 31 October 2010: Institutional care for children and young people will soon cost a billion, Children's problems have escalated drastically since the beginning of the 1990s... Institutional care for one child costs up to 100,000 euros per year. ../ Similarly, Aamulehti reports on March 3, 2013: A marginalized young person will pay 1.8 million. If even one is brought back into society, the result will be positive.). Because the more families break up and the more wrong models are favored, the more housing subsidies, subsistence allowances and other subsidies have to be paid to correct the situation. On the other hand, if the teachings of Jesus and the apostles are followed in these areas, it should have the opposite effect, i.e. families do not fall apart so easily and do not need the support of society. In this way, Christian faith and following the teachings of Jesus and the apostles protect against many negative things and reduce society's expenses. What about homosexuality? Many do not necessarily reject God because of the emphasis on the permanence of the marriage relationship. Instead, they can reject God because they don't understand someone's negative stance on homosexual relationships. They see that the teaching of the New Testament and the Bible on this subject is discriminatory. What to answer to these people? In this matter, you should pay attention to two things:
Right and wrong. Basically, this issue is about right and wrong, not about someone being better than others and being able to point fingers at others. Because just as sexual relations outside of heteromarital marriage are wrong in the light of the Bible, so are homosexual sexual relations (1 Cor 6:9,10: Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God.) Both things can be defended with love, but they do not become true, even though people march for these things and talk about love. If the moral law is changed in a few cases, why not in all others, such as theft and murder? We are moving on a slippery slope if we start changing the moral law because of opinion polls. What about liberation from homosexuality? Some may be disappointed if they don't get rid of this tendency right away. However, this is rare. Of course, God can take away lusts right away, but that usually doesn't happen. Every person has to struggle with some wrong inclination in their religious life, and therefore everyone is in the same boat. This struggle continues throughout life. We have a body of sin with wrong inclinations. Homosexual lust is no different than any other lust or tendency.
Love. Another thing that needs to be distinguished from the previous one is the right attitude towards homosexuals and other people. There is certainly room for improvement in the churches, and many admit it. However, it is important to note that Jesus, the perfect image of God, was a friend of sinners when he was on earth (Matt 11:19), and he and God the Father still are. God has loved homosexuals and other sinners, even if the churches don't always know how to bring it up correctly. The following prophecy relates well to the subject. It has been given to Wendy Alec, who with her husband founded Europe's first Christian TV network, GOD TV. The prophecy shows God's good plan for homosexuals:
For those bound by homosexuality
My dear, don’t you know? Can’t you see? When searching for love, you really search for Me. My dear, I say to you, although the congregation follows the principles of the Bible, it does not often function as the instrument of my heart and grace. I stand before you with my arms stretched out for you, not with judgement but with mercy, my dear son and daughter. Now, I stand before you, not cursing but redeeming, loving, and missing your company relentlessly. I was there when your body encountered its first abuse. I was there when you were mocked and your friends rejected you, when the mockery hurt your vulnerable heart – the same heart I designed to love and worship Me, the heart that is meant to reach out to Me. I was there when the father of lies began whispering into your heart: You are not like other men; you are not like other women… you believed the lie. You found others bound by the same lie, struggling with the same fight, and so the lie was implanted in your life and became a lifestyle. I feel your crumbled soul. I was there when your heart was crushed and scarred when others did not understand. Truly, I am the one who sees and knows. Wasn’t I misunderstood and rejected, too? Wasn’t I mocked and abandoned by people, too? Oh, my son, daughter, please forgive my congregation. Forgive my followers who condemned you. They do not truly hear the voice of My Spirit, although they know My Word. My voice is quiet, full of mercy, and redemption. I reach out to embrace you and to have you with Me when you search for fulfilment for your body and soul. I embrace you, I cry for you, my son and daughter. I cry for you, as I cannot hold my tears. I cry when I see you cause something irreversible to yourself when you break against the eternal law set by My Father, for the consequences of breaking the eternal law cannot be reversed. My judgement is my grace. Take heed, my dear, take heed and listen to my voice. Oh, my dear, do you think I cannot see you searching for ointment for your human heart, ointment that only I have. You cannot find peace for your restless soul from anyone else in the Heavens and on earth. (4)
4. Accusations. When critics attack the Christian faith and the church, the reason is often a lack of love, as stated above. Critics accuse representatives of the Christian faith of not loving their neighbors, and some of this accusation is certainly true. It should be taken seriously, although at the same time it must be admitted that a person is not very capable of changing himself. Only God's touch from above can bring about a change in people's hearts:
- (Rom 5:5) And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us.
However, critics themselves are often guilty of the same lack of love in their criticism. They have a contemptuous and arrogant tone in their writings and speeches. It manifests itself in derogatory terms such as fundamentalist, extreme charismaticism, zealotry (how many people have written, for example, about the "zealotry" of hockey matches?), etc. We will highlight a few such designations as well as some objections towards the Christian faith.
The term fundamentalist is a common mocking name. In general, it refers to a view that takes the Scriptures seriously. However, it is important to note that Jesus, who certainly was wise and perfectly good, was himself such a person. He repeatedly referred to what was mentioned in the writings. So when critics use this term, they also despise Jesus. They mock him, the perfect Son of God:
- (Matt 21:16) And said to him, Hear you what these say? And Jesus said to them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings you have perfected praise?
- (Matt 12:3) But he said to them, Have you not read what David did, when he was an hungered, and they that were with him;
- (Matt 21:42) Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?
- (Matt 22:29) Jesus answered and said to them, You do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
- (Luke 24:27,32,44,45) And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 44 And he said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
What about the creationist designation, which usually refers to the view that God created everything just a few millennia ago? Many scoff at this view, but you can understand from Jesus' words that this is exactly how he taught. He was referring to how man was created at the beginning of creation, and not until long after:
- (Matt 19:4) And he answered and said to them, Have you not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
- (Mark 10:6) But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. Who then is right in their view; Jesus or modern scholars who believe in an old earth and life on it? In this area, many are quite ignorant of how numerous facts point to short periods of time and that man has lived on earth just as long as e.g. dinosaurs. It is evident from the following points. They show that Jesus knew much more than the scholars of today:
• Carbon deposits are generally considered to be approx. 200-300 million years old, which means they are assumed to have been created long before the dinosaurs. However, from carbon deposits of "300 million years" have been found human things, even human remains (Glashouver, W.J.J., So entstand die Welt, Hänssler, 1980, pp. 115-6; Bowden, M., Ape-men-Fact or Fallacy? Sovereign Publications, 1981; Barnes, F.A., The Case of the Bones in Stone, Desert/February, 1975, p. 36-39.) Erich A. von Frange in his book Time Upside Down (1981) has listed more items found in the coal.
• Clearly human footprints have been found in strata that are considered to be 200-300 million years old. It means that man would have lived even before the dinosaurs. Who believes in such a thing? The following is one example of a scientific publication that highlights this problem. Or, in fact, there is no problem if one accepts the idea of short periods and that man has been on earth as long as other forms of life.
If man (...) existed in any form as early on as in the carboniferous period, geological science is so completely wrong that all geologists should give up their jobs and take up truck driving. So, at least for the present, science rejects the tempting alternative of a man having left those footprints. (The Carboniferous Mystery, Scientific Monthly, vol. 162, Jan 1940, p.14)
• Evidence that the deposits are not ancient is the radiocarbon found in them. For example, coal should be hundreds of millions of years old, but samples taken from it and from oil and natural gas have shown the existence of radiocarbon. When the official half-life of radiocarbon is only 5730 years, there shouldn't be any of this substance left after a hundred thousand years, let alone if it's a matter of millions of years. The fact that it occurs in coal and petroleum indicates their young age. What about dinosaurs? Radiocarbon measurements have also been made of these large animals, of which soft tissues may remain. For example, http://newgeology.us/presentation48.html tells how a German research group reports radiocarbon in several dinosaur fossils. This type of discovery shows that millions of years cannot be true.
The designations of charismatic or extreme charismatic sometimes appear in the media, often in a negative tone. A good question again is what Jesus taught on this subject and how he acted. Didn't he heal the sick and cast out demons? He helped people to health and freedom in these areas. Jesus himself also urged the disciples to do the same, as the following verses show:
- (Matt 10:8) Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give.
- (Luke 9:1,2) Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Similarly, Paul urged to pray for spiritual gifts:
- (1 Cor 14:1) Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy.
It is of course true that people can mess everything up with their own carnality and wrong emphasis. Such can be e.g. the following points. Fortunately, almost all churches have lessons on these topics, so that abuses can be avoided. Paul also gave instructions on the correct use of gifts of grace, e.g. In Corinthians.
• Overemphasized success teaching • Too much focus on the devil and demons or that non-existent demons are being driven out • Stopping use medications prematurely • Overemphasis and abuse of the gift of prophecy • Emphasizing laughter and cheerfulness • Showing off and becoming proud • Accusations of unbelief or sin if the person does not heal. Sometimes this may be true, but very often it is not.
So what is the purpose of spiritual gifts? If they are used correctly and they are from God (It is important to emphasize that miracles also happen in occult circles. For example, Pharaoh's magicians performed the same miracles as Moses), they should help people; helping them to be freed from burdens, diseases and everything that binds them. Their purpose should be to convey help to people. So why are some people cynical about this area? The reason is a naturalistic worldview and disbelief. A good example is the existence of demons, i.e. evil spirits. Many do not even believe in the existence of these forces. However, e.g. in psychiatry and crime, acts done without full understanding are well-known. Similarly, in spiritism it is common for a spirit to enter a person and the person speaks in a strange voice. A person may not know at all what he has said in his trance state. When others tell about his speeches, he can wonder about the information he gave. The former does not mean that evil spirits are always inside a person. Perhaps most often it is a matter of pressure from the outside. Man himself can resist these forces in the name of Jesus Christ, when he first surrenders his life to Him. Let's look at a related quote. It deals with the Western world’s inability to understand the existence of supernatural forces. However, in Africa and third world countries where witchcraft has been going on for centuries, these things are taken seriously. People in these countries need help in precisely these areas, while in Western countries we need our spiritual eyes opened. Mere social work or the teaching of the Bible, no matter how good it is, alone is not enough to help people:
Doctor Charles Kraft, my colleague from Fuller’s theological seminary, tells what happened to him in Nigeria. He tried to teach, what the Letter to the Romans has to say, to a small tribe. After a few months the same people came to him and explained very politely that his teachings are good, but did not cater to their needs at all. They needed wisdom for their nightly battles with bad spirits that were tormenting them. Doctor Kraft had to admit that, unfortunately, he never received training to act against bad spirits. (5)
Politics. As stated earlier, many attack the Christian faith and its representatives because they see a lack of love. This is the case, for example, in the case of homosexuality or when someone may have been disappointed in relationships while in the church. What about politics? Some who bear the name of Christian can also stain themselves with their political opinions and by supporting unrighteous decisions. For example, a negative attitude towards all immigration is such a thing. We forget that Jesus was a refugee for a while, Abraham was an immigrant and Jacob's descendants were in Egypt for a long time. It is of course true that immigration causes problems and it is difficult to distinguish terrorists from ordinary people, but surely God's will is that we help people in need. Sometimes unbelievers act more righteously in this area. Jesus taught that at the last judgment one decisive thing is how we have treated the needy and strangers:
- (Matt 25:31-46) When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungered, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: 36 Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you an hungered, and fed you? or thirsty, and gave you drink? 38 When saw we you a stranger, and took you in? or naked, and clothed you? 39 Or when saw we you sick, or in prison, and came to you? 40 And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me. 41 Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungered, and you gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you an hungered, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
What about friendship with Israel? Some may also be offended by this topic because they see the Palestinians as being oppressed. In this matter, attention should be paid to the fact that true friendship with Israel should never mean favoring and supporting unrighteous and wrong political actions. That should not be the case, and sympathy should also extend to the Palestinians. You can pray for both Jews and Palestinians. However, the options regarding what would be the best solution in the Middle East are few. Some have suggested a return to the 1967 borders, but that could be suicide for Israel. Its territory would become so narrow that it would be difficult to defend it. On the other hand, in Western countries it is not always understood that the Palestinians themselves suffer because of their own leaders. Many Palestinians, especially the minorities, see their position as safer and better under Israel. Democracy and human rights are better in the Israeli region than in the Arab region. On the other hand, there is evidence of what happens when Israel withdraws from an area. When Israel withdrew from Gaza, it by no means brought peace, but rockets were fired in large numbers into Israeli territory. This shows that handing over land alone will not bring a solution if there is no political will for peace.
5. IS SOCIETY BETTER WITHOUT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH?
- (Rom 5:12) Why, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed on all men, for that all have sinned:
- (Rom 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
As stated, critics of Christianity often attack the Christian faith because many wrong things have been done in the name of God. I myself used it as proof that it is not worth believing in the existence of God. However, the problem with my thinking – like that of other critics – was that I did not distinguish between two things: whether or not the teachings of the perfect and good shepherd Jesus were followed. If Jesus taught to love even one's enemies (Matthew 5:43-48) and one's neighbors (Matthew 22:34-40), it is not His fault and the Christian faith if some do not follow or try to follow this. It is the perpetrators' own fault. A frequent mistake of many unbelievers, deniers, and inexpert journalists, as I had myself, is that they do not take this into account when evaluating history, or even modern times. When you follow the teachings of Jesus, such as the Sermon on the Mount, they lead to good things and the improvement of people's position in the world. What about the state of the world? If there are problems in the church, the problems in the world are multiplex. In fact, the evil in the world proves one of the basic teachings of the Bible: the Fall. We live in a fallen world, not in any paradise. It is evidenced by wars, injustice, weapons development, caste systems, infectious diseases, famines, poverty, oppression by authorities (in many developing countries people fear the police and rulers), rape, domestic violence, swearing at people online, bullying at school, workplace bullying, human trafficking, drug trafficking, alcoholism and numerous other problems. It is also illustrative that, for example, in Finland in 2015, according to the statistics of the Institute of Health and Welfare, there were a total of 114,789 child protection reports, which concerned 66,000 children (some children were reported more than once).Similarly, Helsingin sanomat (May 7, 2017) reported that "on average, one in three women has experienced physical or sexual violence by their former or current partner." In addition, the weakening of children's status is evident from a couple of news items; their time difference is more than 20 years. At the same time that the Christian faith and marriage have lost their importance, the position of children has deteriorated all the time. These many examples show how forgetting the teachings of Jesus leads to the worse.
Children's distress and problems are increasing. One reason may be the recession of recent years. More and more families are visiting family counseling centers seeking help for their children's restlessness, antisocial behavior, unusual disruptiveness, low mood and maladjustment. A typical client is a 7-8 year old boy who is disobedient, aggressive, restless, pilfers and harasses others. Children have to be alone too much. A 10-year-old child may be contemplating suicide. (Helsingin sanomat 16.12.1996)
A billion soon for institutional care for children and young people. Children's problems have escalated drastically since the beginning of the 1990s... Institutional care for one child costs up to 100,000 euros per year. (Etelä-Suomen sanomat 31.10.2010)
Is society then better without the Christian faith? Many think it would be, but have they thought it through? Have they thought about what it means to reject the teachings of Jesus, such as the principles of the Sermon on the Mount? The alternative to rejecting the morality that came through Jesus and the apostles is that everyone does what they feel is good and right. However, we forget that this is exactly how Hitler and the dictators have worked. When they have not had Christian morality, some other morality takes its place, which is usually based on selfishness and leads to human suffering. It does not lead to love or to a better direction in interactions between people. The history of the last century shows convincingly what happens when atheism wins the field and societies abandon God. There were a huge number of such societies based on atheism in the 20th century, because about a third of humanity lived under atheistic communism. In these countries, teaching the Christian faith to children was banned, tens of thousands of church buildings were destroyed, political opposition was suppressed, and tens of millions of people were killed in prison camps. Do atheists want this kind of society? It is easy to go in that direction if you reject the Christian faith and oppose the good teaching that came through Jesus and the apostles. Christian faith is therefore a good and positive thing. Where the Christian faith is valid and where one tries to follow the teachings of Jesus, things are better. Then there will be fewer social problems and crime. This has happened during many revivals. When a person himself turns or wider groups turn to God, it should affect a positive change. The following example tells about such a change in the 19th century. Charles G. Finney has related this incident in his book Ihmeellisiä herätyksiä:
I have told that the moral situation changed greatly through this revival. The city was new, economically prosperous and enterprising but full of sin. The population was especially intelligent and ambitious but as the revival swept through the city by bringing large crowds of its most remarkable people, men and women, to conversion, there happened a very miraculous change concerning the order, peacefulness and morality. I had a talk with a lawyer many years later. He had been converted in this revival and was a general prosecutor in criminal cases. Because of this office, the criminal statistics were thoroughly familiar to him. He said about the time of this revival, “I have examined documents of criminal law and noticed a surprising fact: while our city has grown three times larger after the times of the revival, there has not been even a third of the indictments than there were before. So miraculous an effect did the revival have on our society.”(…) (...) Both public and personal opposition gradually abated. In Rochester I did not know anything about it. The salvation had its own great visitation, the revivals were so powerful and moved so widely, and people had time to become acquainted both with themselves and the results of them to such an extent that they feared to oppose them as before. The priests also understood them better, and the wicked were convinced that they were acts of God. This idea of them became almost common, so clear was the sane nature of the conversions, so really transformed, “new creations”, were the converts, so thorough a change occurred both in individuals and in the society, and so permanent and undeniable were the fruit.
Another example from Africa. I’ll take a quote from Stanley Jones ’biography. In this book, he spoke of the influence of the Christian faith in the Congo. The example shows that if the Christian faith is genuine, it has a positive effect on society:
Asking for a revival for his tribe, one chief said: - We are grateful for the leaves and fruits of Christianity - education and hospitals - but we would really like the root - the renewal of the moral character. That sentence should be posted on the wall of every religious center in the world. And so said the chief who came straight from the paganism... Moise Tshombe told me when he was Prime Minister of the Congo: - In my opinion, Africa's only hope is the Christian church. Where the Church is strong, we have little, if any, trouble; where the church is weak or non-existent, we have nothing but problems. Another foreigner said to me in the Congo: -- It is the missionaries and the Christians who have kept the Congo together. They have built islands of goodwill and service in a sea of hatred and selfishness. (6)
6. ETERNITY AND HELL. When some turn their backs on the Christian faith, they may criticize the idea of hell in particular. They see that it is narrow minded to talk about judgment and eternal hell after this life. They explain that one should not threaten with a non-existent hell. However, this matter is not decided by preferences or polls, but by whether it is the truth. Jesus, who was certainly loving, talked about it the most. He also mentioned that He speaks the truth and that He is the truth. If it's the truth, doesn't that change everything?
- (John 8:46) Which of you convinces me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe me?
- (John 14:6) Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.
The options for what is after this life are sparse. Among them, the most common views have been:
• Heaven and Hell. In Buddhism it is also believed in heaven and hell. • Reincarnation on earth again and again. This is the basic doctrine of Hinduism. • The third option is that a person's life ends at death. This is the view of atheists.
So one of the previous options is probably true. If it is not the teaching of Jesus, then it is some other alternative. However, there is reason to believe that Jesus has more knowledge than others; especially if he is the Son of God from heaven. Jesus Himself also said:
- (John 8:23,24) And he said to them, You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins.
Then why talk about hell among many other things? The main reason is love. People are warned like about weak ice: "Don't go any further! I don't want you to drown!" Furthermore, the core of the Christian faith is that no one needs to go to hell. A person can receive the forgiveness of sins as a gift, because that is exactly what Jesus came into the world for:
- (Luke 19:10) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
- (John 3:16,17) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
- (John 12:47) And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
However, it is important to note that God does not save anyone against their own will. God has prepared salvation and grace for everyone through Jesus Christ, but if man himself rejects salvation, God accepts it. Then man will have to pay for his sins in hell himself, because he rejects his only chance to be saved. Arthur W. Pink, the late Puritan preacher, has aptly explained this matter, that is, how God offers grace through His Son Jesus Christ. This offer should not be considered cheap.
If God offers you a Savior, who can save you from the punishment you deserve, and you do not accept Him, then surely it is justified that you are left without a savior. Or is God obliged to arrange another savior for you, since you don’t like this particular Savior? He has given an invaluable and honorable person, His only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for sins and so, completed salvation; and this Savior is being offered to you right now. If you refuse him, is God then unjust if He doesn’t save you. Is He obliged to save you in the way that you have chosen, only because you don’t like His way of saving? Or do you blame Christ for unfairness, when He doesn’t come to save you, while at the same time you don’t want Him, although He offers Himself to you and appeals to you that you would accept Him as your Savior.
What if He does exist? What if He does exist? There is a well-known atheist campaign in Great Britain, where buses toured the country's largest cities. On the sides of the buses, it was written: "God probably does not exist. So, stop worrying and enjoy life.” The same campaign was also organized in Germany. There, a confident text was pasted on the side of the bus: "There is no God." You don't need faith to live a satisfied life." However, the Christians did not leave the matter there, instead they rented another bus, and on the side of it there was a questioning text: "What if He does exist?" It was amusing and the joy of the media was that both buses were often parked side by side in the same cities. God was a strong topic of conversation. From this it is good to move on to everyone's personal relationship with God. What if God does exist and eternity exists? What if we each have to give an account of ourselves, and we can't rely on what some others have done? This is written for critics of Christianity but also for everyone else. Therefore, take into account that we will have to answer before God about our own lives! Then no one can refer to what others have done and what they have done wrong. Everyone is only responsible for himself /herself:
- (Rom 14:12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
- (Rev 20:12-15) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
However, everyone can be forgiven. Everyone can receive grace, but he must turn to Jesus Christ, because only through Him can we get into God's communion and receive the gift of eternal life. Therefore, do not reject Jesus Christ, but turn to Him and welcome Him into your life:
- (John 14:6) Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.
- (John 10:9) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
- (John 5:39,40) Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And you will not come to me, that you might have life.
The prayer of salvation: Lord, Jesus, I turn to You. I confess that I have sinned against You and have not lived according to Your will. However, I want to turn away from my sins and follow You with all my heart. I also believe that my sins have been forgiven through Your atonement and I have received eternal life through You. I thank You for the salvation that You have given me. Amen.
References:
1. Dwight L. Moody – biography 2. Martin Ski: T.B. Barratt - Helluntaiapostoli, p. 108-110 3. D.L. Moody.: Kristinuskon rikkaus, p.88-89 4. Wendy Alec: Tuntemattoman profeetan päiväkirja, p. 48,49 (Journal of the Unknown Prophet) 5. John Wimber, Kevin Springer: Ihmeet ja merkit (Power Evangelism), p. 60 6. E. Stanley Jones: Pyhiinvaeltajan laulu (A Song of Ascents)
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Jesus is the way, the truth and the life
Grap to eternal life!
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