What is the difference, the real, semantic difference between the words of and from? According to grammar books, both are prepositions. The binding law of our great, free country is stitched and held together by the Constitution of the United States of America. One of the highest contested, most controversial issues of the Constitution is the freedom of-not from religion. Some under the guise of tolerance and liberty appear to want to champion causes that protect the rights of all save as some believe the rights of the Christian citizen. One of the reasons why America became America according to history is the desire for and concept of religious freedom. People did not like the Church of England being if you will excuse the expression, the one true church imposing rites and practices. In America, we are free to practice or not practice religion. We as a people are free to express or not express out values to others. That was true until The ACLU vs. Sumner County, Tennessee case came to an agreement.
The Associated Press and News Channel 5 posted the following statement from the ACLU:
"In accordance with the settlement, school officials can no longer promote their personal religious beliefs to students. Religious symbols and items may not be displayed in a place publicly visible to students. Teachers may supervise student clubs but can no longer participate in their activities and school officials cannot encourage or solicit prayer at school functions. School events may not be held in religious venues except under certain limited conditions and the schools can no longer take field trips to religious sites. Only family members will be permitted to visit schools at lunchtime. Groups wishing to distribute materials to students, such as members of Gideons International, must do so in a neutral way, minimizing contact with students and no groups will be given preferential access to students. Non-religious clubs shall not have "chaplain" positions and all course materials and choral music must have a clear pedagogical purpose."
Instead of quoting case after case where either the ACLU or the forces of Christianity won or lost, I want to focus on an issue that many may have forgotten. Where in the Constitution is religion or religious expression prohibited? The supporters of tolerance and liberty will quickly answer that the Constitution’s Establishment Clause answers that. The what? You may never have heard of that until now. A closer look at it clearly shows what it supports and does not support. According to law2.umkc.edu:
At an absolute minimum, the Establishment Clause was intended to prohibit the federal government from declaring and financially supporting a national religion, such as existed in many other countries at the time of the nation's founding. It is far less clear whether the Establishment Clause was also intended to prevent the federal government from supporting Christianity in general.
The majority of the Founding Fathers held Christianity as their practice. They did not however want to set up a government entangled with the church like the one they fled from in England. School systems and school employees are state employees, i.e. government workers apart of the government, so following this line of thinking, teachers or government officials should not in their capacity declare their beliefs or moral code onto others as the only way of thinking. If a student asks the teacher a “religious” question privately or publicly, it is the teacher’s First Amendment right to answer the question without fear of reprimand from some offended party thinking Suzie may become an intolerant, Bible thumping, bigot if the name of a certain carpenter is spoken. Now that I have said that, allow me to make the following statement as well:
“Little Jimmy’s civil rights and liberties are not going to be devastated or trampled upon if he sees his second grade teacher wearing a crucifix.
We as a people do not have the right to speak to others forcing our morals on them. We do not, cannot, and should not be so bold. There is but one, that certain carpenter from Nazareth that did and does have the right to do so. He is known as the Cornerstone, the Lion of Judah, the Bishop of Souls, The Alpha and Omega, Bread of Life, Fountain, King of Glory, King of Kings, Lamb of God, and The Lord God Almighty, Jesus the Christ. Jesus Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.” The words of Christ predate the Constitution, folks. Regardless of the legal rhetoric, case statues, and semantically, well developed arguments, in life, despite all the cultures, morals, beliefs, religions, and differences, there are only two types of people. Those who do and those who do not (accept Christ). We accept Christ as the Lord and hold His words true like where He taught that He would deny all of those who deny Him before men. On the contrasting side, we are like those who deny Him, His word, and the symbolic cross usually calling it tolerance or protecting liberties.
The Constitution does not forbid Christians from expressing their beliefs; however, it does forbid creating, establishing, one religion for the nation must follow. Teachers should teach and not use their classrooms to preach; however, a life lived for Christ will be reflected in words and actions. It is grossly unfair and hypocritical for the ACLU to strip away from Sumner County teachers the very things they say they promote: civil liberties. David French, ACLJ, American Center for Law and Justice, Senior Counsel and lawyer for the Board says, “Protecting student and teacher rights was and is a top priority of the Board, and the Board is pleased that this agreement accomplishes its primary goal.” French goes on to say, “The settlement clarifies the distinction between official and personal conduct, protecting personal conduct while ensuring that teachers use their taxpayer- provided positions to teach their subjects in accordance with their legitimate pedagogical judgments.” Just so, we are all clear, the ACLJ attorney is in theory on the side of the Christian.
Let me just ask, “How are teachers’ rights protected by a settlement that says again from the ACLU, ‘School officials can no longer promote their personal religious beliefs to students’?” Again, no government official should abuse their authoritative position, but again, AS STATED EARLIER, if Kid A asks Teacher B about Christ or any aspect of religion, the teacher should be able to answer without fear. All it takes is one, offended person to take the teacher’s words and present the teacher’s answer as promotion when in reality, it is not promotion, but an answer to a question.
One final thought that again predates the ACLU’s legal victories, torts, Jefferson’s letter, and the Constitution itself are the instructions of Christ to go and preach the Gospel. The Christian, a real Christian that reflects Christ will share the Gospel message, but never force the cross onto anyone because Jesus never did. Jesus invited and still does invite all to come to Him. Where are you today? Will you deny Jesus in the name of tolerance and fear of a lawsuit? Will you stand firm in the faith, ready to share the shadow of the cross, boldly proclaiming the King of kings to a lost, dying, politically correct, holiday program promoting, winter break fiesta taking, X-MAS present giving, world?
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Gospel Q AND A
This is not written in a grammatical correct fashion. I know, English teachers are supposed to always write correctly; however, for the most part, this is written in a conversational tone. This is a real conversation.
Q: What evidence will you accept to trust my faith in Christ?
A: Show me God's fingerprint, and we'll talk.
When looking at a painting, most of the time the author’s name is sprawled across the canvas. So, how illogical is it to say when looking at a painting, “Wow, this Mona Lisa picture speaks to me. I wonder how the colors came together to create it?” We look at the painting and we know there was a painter. It is not possible for the various paints to be splashed together and suddenly, a classic picture is displayed. The concept can be applied to buildings as well. When looking at a building, do we not know that first; the building’s material did not suddenly come together without a designer? In other words, did a random tornado or other weather event sweep by and pick up wood, concrete, and nails twirl it around and set a completely built, well-designed house down? No, it did not. Every building has a builder, an architect if you will.
God’s fingerprint is found on all of creation. The skeptic will argue that my statement only works in a figurative sense, but science and what we know proves God’s fingerprints are all around and on us. The skeptics’ argument of if you can’t see it, it doesn’t exist is a logical fallacy in that by their admission, if you can’t see it, it doesn’t exist , so say, the human brain doesn’t exist because typically, we don’t see or touch our own brains. Without the aid of a device, you have not touched or seen your own brain, so if you have to see it to believe it, then perhaps the brain does not exist. Let us look at the Earth.
The Earth's size and corresponding gravity holds a thin layer of mostly nitrogen and oxygen gases, only extending about 50 miles above the Earth's surface. If Earth were smaller, an atmosphere would be impossible, like the planet Mercury. If Earth were larger, its atmosphere would contain free hydrogen, like Jupiter. The Earth is located the right distance from the sun. Consider the temperature swings we encounter, roughly -30 degrees to +120 degrees. If the Earth were any further away from the sun, we would all freeze. Any closer and we would burn up. Even a fractional variance in the Earth's position to the sun would make life on Earth impossible. The Earth remains this perfect distance from the sun while it rotates around the sun at a speed of nearly 67,000 mph. It is also rotating on its axis, allowing the entire surface of the Earth to be properly warmed and cooled every day. The Bible’s oldest written book, Job 26:7, teaches about the Earth, and how it is suspended long before scientists proved it. There is a place in the North where no stars exist, which cannot be seen with the naked eye. How did the writer of Job know this? In addition, the same verse declares that God hangs the earth on nothing. We know this is true, but we have only known it for about 350 years. God's inspired writer told us over 3000 years ago that the earth is held in place by gravitational forces!
Are we going to say that a random bang or any other school of thought other than a Living Creator created our Earth? The Big Bang Theory is in direct conflict with the proven Laws of Thermodynamics, but that is a different thing all together. Let us look at DNA.
A computer program is made up of ones and zeros, like this: 110010101011000. The way they are arranged tell the computer program what to do. The DNA code in each of our cells is very similar. It is made up of four chemicals that scientists abbreviate as A, T, G, and C. These are arranged in the human cell like this: CGTGTGACTCGCTCCTGAT and so on. There are three billion of these letters in every human cell. Evolution’s validity is no longer an issue because its theories are flawed and have been for the most part discarded by the scientific community outside liberal college professors. The human body with all of its complexities was not formed by an explosion or an evolutionary cycle that hasn’t been proven. So what are we left with?
God’s fingerprint is found on all of creation. The skeptic will argue that my statement only works in a figurative sense, but science and what we know proves God’s fingerprints are all around and on us. The skeptics’ argument of if you can’t see it, it doesn’t exist is a logical fallacy in that by their admission, if you can’t see it, it doesn’t exist , so say, the human brain doesn’t exist because typically, we don’t see or touch our own brains. Without the aid of a device, you have not touched or seen your own brain, so if you have to see it to believe it, then perhaps the brain does not exist. Let us look at the Earth.
The Earth's size and corresponding gravity holds a thin layer of mostly nitrogen and oxygen gases, only extending about 50 miles above the Earth's surface. If Earth were smaller, an atmosphere would be impossible, like the planet Mercury. If Earth were larger, its atmosphere would contain free hydrogen, like Jupiter. The Earth is located the right distance from the sun. Consider the temperature swings we encounter, roughly -30 degrees to +120 degrees. If the Earth were any further away from the sun, we would all freeze. Any closer and we would burn up. Even a fractional variance in the Earth's position to the sun would make life on Earth impossible. The Earth remains this perfect distance from the sun while it rotates around the sun at a speed of nearly 67,000 mph. It is also rotating on its axis, allowing the entire surface of the Earth to be properly warmed and cooled every day. The Bible’s oldest written book, Job 26:7, teaches about the Earth, and how it is suspended long before scientists proved it. There is a place in the North where no stars exist, which cannot be seen with the naked eye. How did the writer of Job know this? In addition, the same verse declares that God hangs the earth on nothing. We know this is true, but we have only known it for about 350 years. God's inspired writer told us over 3000 years ago that the earth is held in place by gravitational forces!
Are we going to say that a random bang or any other school of thought other than a Living Creator created our Earth? The Big Bang Theory is in direct conflict with the proven Laws of Thermodynamics, but that is a different thing all together. Let us look at DNA.
A computer program is made up of ones and zeros, like this: 110010101011000. The way they are arranged tell the computer program what to do. The DNA code in each of our cells is very similar. It is made up of four chemicals that scientists abbreviate as A, T, G, and C. These are arranged in the human cell like this: CGTGTGACTCGCTCCTGAT and so on. There are three billion of these letters in every human cell. Evolution’s validity is no longer an issue because its theories are flawed and have been for the most part discarded by the scientific community outside liberal college professors. The human body with all of its complexities was not formed by an explosion or an evolutionary cycle that hasn’t been proven. So what are we left with?
In the 1900s, oceanographers found the sea had many deep valleys or canyons. The deepest canyons were called trenches. The Marianas Trench in the Pacific is so deep that if Mt. Everest (29,000 feet high) were dropped into it, the peak would still be a mile below the water’s surface. There are also underwater mountains. The Atlantic Ocean contains an undersea range of mountains 10,000 miles long. The Bible spoke of the valleys and mountains of the sea thousands of years before scientists discovered them.
Dinosaurs are referred to in several Bible books. The Bible describes the circulation of the atmosphere and principles of fluid dynamics.
Dinosaurs are referred to in several Bible books. The Bible describes the circulation of the atmosphere and principles of fluid dynamics.
The Bible describes biogenesis (the development of living organisms from other living organisms) and the stability of each kind of living organism.
The Bible describes the chemical nature of flesh.
Furthermore, The Bible has statements that are consistent with Anthropology, Hydrology, Geology and Physics.
The Bible was written over a period of 1400 years. This 1400-year-period begins with the writings of Moses, the first five books of the Holy Bible. These writings include a time recorded prior to Moses' lifespan. It started out at the actual creation of the cosmos. By the time, Moses completes the teachings found in Deuteronomy, we learn about the very beginning of mankind. The final writer was probably John when he was on the Isle of Patmos and wrote the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Between the days of Moses and John, a period of about 14 centuries transpired, but the Holy Bible covers over 4000 years of history. It has been nearly 2000 years since the last of the writers lived. The Old Testament remained in Hebrew until c.280-150 B.C. when it was translated into Greek at Alexandria, Egypt. This was known as the Septuagint. The next language change occurred when Jerome (c. 383-405 A.D) translated the Holy Bible into the Latin Vulgate. This was used by the clergy for nearly 1000 years.
The first English translation was completed by John Wycliffe and soon after, King James authorized the English version that has come to be known as the King James Version. This was in 1611. Before this, Nero and other tyrants attempted to eliminate all copies of scripture and references to Christ. All of these attempts failed. How is that possible for 66 books to survive so long in tact? If the Gospels were written by men that just wanted to have the Jesus legend remembered, why would all the doubters and unbelievers be mentioned? How could all the stories be accurate without detractors saying, “Hey, that’s not true” if it is not? Why would opposition toward Christ be presented? This book has been translated from Hebrew to Greek to every other language known to man. The facts are these: The continuity between the timelines between the events that occurred in what we call the Old Testament and New cannot be disputed. All of the prophecies that were recorded by the prophets of old concerning the virgin birth, life, death and return of Christ came to pass as true in the new. There is no way at all in this world that all of the old prophecies could have been recorded and saved all those years just to have some come true by coincidence.
The Bible is not a geography book or an archaeology book. However, whenever the Bible makes a statement relating to these sciences, it is completely accurate. Notice the Lord's statement for example, in Luke 10:30. 30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead." Now, Jericho is Northeast of Jerusalem, and normally we do not speak of going down when we refer to going North. We generally speak of going down South and up North, don't we? Why did the Lord say the man went down from Jerusalem? It is because Jerusalem is some 2500 feet above sea level. When one leaves Jerusalem in Palestine he goes down to go anywhere in the area. Therefore, our Lord's statement is completely accurate, and is recorded accurately by inspiration. No, the Bible is not a geography book, but it is geographically accurate in every instance.
Many archaeologists have explored the land of Palestine. Has any one of those scientists ever discovered anything that disproves the Bible? No. Many archaeological discoveries have confirmed the Biblical record. However, none has ever contradicted the Word of God.
The Bible describes the chemical nature of flesh.
Furthermore, The Bible has statements that are consistent with Anthropology, Hydrology, Geology and Physics.
The Bible was written over a period of 1400 years. This 1400-year-period begins with the writings of Moses, the first five books of the Holy Bible. These writings include a time recorded prior to Moses' lifespan. It started out at the actual creation of the cosmos. By the time, Moses completes the teachings found in Deuteronomy, we learn about the very beginning of mankind. The final writer was probably John when he was on the Isle of Patmos and wrote the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Between the days of Moses and John, a period of about 14 centuries transpired, but the Holy Bible covers over 4000 years of history. It has been nearly 2000 years since the last of the writers lived. The Old Testament remained in Hebrew until c.280-150 B.C. when it was translated into Greek at Alexandria, Egypt. This was known as the Septuagint. The next language change occurred when Jerome (c. 383-405 A.D) translated the Holy Bible into the Latin Vulgate. This was used by the clergy for nearly 1000 years.
The first English translation was completed by John Wycliffe and soon after, King James authorized the English version that has come to be known as the King James Version. This was in 1611. Before this, Nero and other tyrants attempted to eliminate all copies of scripture and references to Christ. All of these attempts failed. How is that possible for 66 books to survive so long in tact? If the Gospels were written by men that just wanted to have the Jesus legend remembered, why would all the doubters and unbelievers be mentioned? How could all the stories be accurate without detractors saying, “Hey, that’s not true” if it is not? Why would opposition toward Christ be presented? This book has been translated from Hebrew to Greek to every other language known to man. The facts are these: The continuity between the timelines between the events that occurred in what we call the Old Testament and New cannot be disputed. All of the prophecies that were recorded by the prophets of old concerning the virgin birth, life, death and return of Christ came to pass as true in the new. There is no way at all in this world that all of the old prophecies could have been recorded and saved all those years just to have some come true by coincidence.
The Bible is not a geography book or an archaeology book. However, whenever the Bible makes a statement relating to these sciences, it is completely accurate. Notice the Lord's statement for example, in Luke 10:30. 30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead." Now, Jericho is Northeast of Jerusalem, and normally we do not speak of going down when we refer to going North. We generally speak of going down South and up North, don't we? Why did the Lord say the man went down from Jerusalem? It is because Jerusalem is some 2500 feet above sea level. When one leaves Jerusalem in Palestine he goes down to go anywhere in the area. Therefore, our Lord's statement is completely accurate, and is recorded accurately by inspiration. No, the Bible is not a geography book, but it is geographically accurate in every instance.
Many archaeologists have explored the land of Palestine. Has any one of those scientists ever discovered anything that disproves the Bible? No. Many archaeological discoveries have confirmed the Biblical record. However, none has ever contradicted the Word of God.
Jesus Christ. He is the most famous, well known, ignored, and mocked man in all history. Professor Emeritus of Science at Westmont College, Peter Stoner, has calculated the probability of one man fulfilling the major prophecies made concerning the Messiah. The estimates were worked out by twelve different classes representing some 600-university students.
For example, concerning Micah 5:2, where it states the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah, Stoner and his students determined the average population of BETHLEHEM from the time of Micah to the present; then they divided it by the average population of the earth during the same period.
They concluded that the chance of one man being born in Bethlehem was one in 300,000, (or one in 2.8 x 10^5 - rounded),
After examining only eight different prophecies (Idem, 106), they conservatively estimated that the chance of one man fulfilling all eight prophecies was one in 10^17.
They concluded that the chance of one man being born in Bethlehem was one in 300,000, (or one in 2.8 x 10^5 - rounded),
After examining only eight different prophecies (Idem, 106), they conservatively estimated that the chance of one man fulfilling all eight prophecies was one in 10^17.
Stoner gave this illustration:
If you mark one of ten tickets, and place all the tickets in a hat, and thoroughly stir them, and then ask a blindfolded man to draw one, his chance of getting the right ticket is one in ten. Suppose that we take 10^17 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They'll cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would've had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time, providing they wrote them in their own wisdom (Idem, 106-107).
In financial terms, is there anyone who would not invest in a financial venture if the chance of failure were only one in 10^17? This is the kind of sure investment we're offered by god for faith in His Messiah.
From these figures, Professor Stoner, concludes the fulfillment of these eight prophecies alone proves that God inspired the writing of the prophecies (Idem, 107) - the likelihood of mere chance is only one in 10^17!
Another way of saying this is that any person who minimizes or ignores the significance of the biblical identifying signs concerning the Messiah would be foolish.
But, of course, there are many more than eight prophecies. In another calculation, Stoner used 48 prophecies (Idem, 109) (even though he could have used Edersheim's 456), and arrived at the extremely conservative estimate that the probability of 48 prophecies being fulfilled in one person is the incredible number 10^157. In fact, if anybody can find someone, living or dead, other than Jesus, who can fulfill only half of the predictions concerning the Messiah given in the book "Messiah in Both Testaments" by Fred J. Meldau, the Christian Victory Publishing Company is ready to give a ONE thousand dollar reward! As apologist Josh McDowell says, "There are a lot of men in the universities that could use some extra cash!" (Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, California: Campus Crusade for Christ, 175).
How large is the number one in 10^157? 10^157 contains 157 zeros! Stoner gives an illustration of this number using electrons. Electrons are very small objects. They're smaller than atoms. It would take 2.5 TIMES 10^15 of them, lain side by side, to make one inch.
If you mark one of ten tickets, and place all the tickets in a hat, and thoroughly stir them, and then ask a blindfolded man to draw one, his chance of getting the right ticket is one in ten. Suppose that we take 10^17 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They'll cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would've had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time, providing they wrote them in their own wisdom (Idem, 106-107).
In financial terms, is there anyone who would not invest in a financial venture if the chance of failure were only one in 10^17? This is the kind of sure investment we're offered by god for faith in His Messiah.
From these figures, Professor Stoner, concludes the fulfillment of these eight prophecies alone proves that God inspired the writing of the prophecies (Idem, 107) - the likelihood of mere chance is only one in 10^17!
Another way of saying this is that any person who minimizes or ignores the significance of the biblical identifying signs concerning the Messiah would be foolish.
But, of course, there are many more than eight prophecies. In another calculation, Stoner used 48 prophecies (Idem, 109) (even though he could have used Edersheim's 456), and arrived at the extremely conservative estimate that the probability of 48 prophecies being fulfilled in one person is the incredible number 10^157. In fact, if anybody can find someone, living or dead, other than Jesus, who can fulfill only half of the predictions concerning the Messiah given in the book "Messiah in Both Testaments" by Fred J. Meldau, the Christian Victory Publishing Company is ready to give a ONE thousand dollar reward! As apologist Josh McDowell says, "There are a lot of men in the universities that could use some extra cash!" (Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, California: Campus Crusade for Christ, 175).
How large is the number one in 10^157? 10^157 contains 157 zeros! Stoner gives an illustration of this number using electrons. Electrons are very small objects. They're smaller than atoms. It would take 2.5 TIMES 10^15 of them, lain side by side, to make one inch.
Even if we counted 250 of these electrons each minute, and counted day and night, it would still take 19 million years just to count a line of electrons one-inch long (Stoner, op. cit, 109).
With this introduction, let's go back to our chance of one in 10^157. Let's suppose that we're taking this number of electrons, marking one, and thoroughly stirring it into the whole mass, then blindfolding a man and letting him try to find the right one. What chance has he of finding the right one? What kind of a pile will this number of electrons make? They make an inconceivably large volume.
This is the result from considering a mere 48 prophecies. Obviously, the probability that 456 prophecies would be fulfilled in one man by chance is vastly smaller. According to Emile Borel, once one goes past one chance in 10^50, the probabilities are so small that it is impossible to think that they will ever occur (Ankerberg et. al., op. cit., 21).
With this introduction, let's go back to our chance of one in 10^157. Let's suppose that we're taking this number of electrons, marking one, and thoroughly stirring it into the whole mass, then blindfolding a man and letting him try to find the right one. What chance has he of finding the right one? What kind of a pile will this number of electrons make? They make an inconceivably large volume.
This is the result from considering a mere 48 prophecies. Obviously, the probability that 456 prophecies would be fulfilled in one man by chance is vastly smaller. According to Emile Borel, once one goes past one chance in 10^50, the probabilities are so small that it is impossible to think that they will ever occur (Ankerberg et. al., op. cit., 21).
As Stoner concludes, 'Any man who rejects Christ as the Son of God is rejecting a fact, proved perhaps more absolutely than any other fact in the world.
Here, at the end, is the ultimate question all have to answer. Jesus Christ was either a liar because he claimed to be God and convinced so many to follow him. He was a loon because he believed himself to be God, or He is Lord. He is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. Faith in Christ is so simple. He is recorded as saying, “Blessed are those who believe and have not seen.” One definition of faith is misleading: belief that is not based on proof. We have The Bible that has withstood the test of time, tyrants, and tests. It is complete and introduces salvation to all you can hear.
Here, at the end, is the ultimate question all have to answer. Jesus Christ was either a liar because he claimed to be God and convinced so many to follow him. He was a loon because he believed himself to be God, or He is Lord. He is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. Faith in Christ is so simple. He is recorded as saying, “Blessed are those who believe and have not seen.” One definition of faith is misleading: belief that is not based on proof. We have The Bible that has withstood the test of time, tyrants, and tests. It is complete and introduces salvation to all you can hear.
Q: I've read all your evidence and tried not to be biased, to assess the facts. You have a good case, but you know I have follow up questions.
What keeps the bible from being historical fiction? There a genres of books and movies that are based in reality being completely factual, but it never happened.
Say, the book is true. That Jesus did all that is said. The odds are pretty steep of that happening, but what do we say when we look up to space?Aren't there countless people, I being one of them, that believe that it is technically impossible for there NOT to be other life out there? If you consider infinite space and infinite time, can't anything happen? Wouldn't that even be the case for our creation as well, if God is not the answer?
What you said about the bible withstanding the test of time. It makes me think of fossils. Dinosaur fossils, bones that should have just dissolved like every other piece of the creature, were preserved for millions and millions of years. There wasn't even anyone fighting to preserve them, yet somehow they litter the entire earth today. Compared to that, the preservation of the bible does not seem as astounding to me.
This here is just a side note, but what about the Crusades? A war greatly concerning Christianity that spanned over 200 years. Why would God allow that? Is he that self absorbed? I wouldn't assume so.
I'm not trying to debunk your statements. I'm just trying to clarify.
I find the strength in your faith interesting, that you would try to show me why I should believe.
I hope you know this is like trying to describe a beach at sunset to a blind man that has never even seen the light of day. No, it's more like trying to tell Yoda there is no Force.
What keeps the bible from being historical fiction? There a genres of books and movies that are based in reality being completely factual, but it never happened.
Say, the book is true. That Jesus did all that is said. The odds are pretty steep of that happening, but what do we say when we look up to space?Aren't there countless people, I being one of them, that believe that it is technically impossible for there NOT to be other life out there? If you consider infinite space and infinite time, can't anything happen? Wouldn't that even be the case for our creation as well, if God is not the answer?
What you said about the bible withstanding the test of time. It makes me think of fossils. Dinosaur fossils, bones that should have just dissolved like every other piece of the creature, were preserved for millions and millions of years. There wasn't even anyone fighting to preserve them, yet somehow they litter the entire earth today. Compared to that, the preservation of the bible does not seem as astounding to me.
This here is just a side note, but what about the Crusades? A war greatly concerning Christianity that spanned over 200 years. Why would God allow that? Is he that self absorbed? I wouldn't assume so.
I'm not trying to debunk your statements. I'm just trying to clarify.
I find the strength in your faith interesting, that you would try to show me why I should believe.
I hope you know this is like trying to describe a beach at sunset to a blind man that has never even seen the light of day. No, it's more like trying to tell Yoda there is no Force.
A: What keeps the bible from being historical fiction? There a genres of books and movies that are based in reality being completely factual, but it never happened.
The Bible is essentially a religious history. Even those who wrote the Bible made it clear it was not a secular history, even though secular events are referred to. It is a book about God and his relationship with man. People and events mentioned in the Bible might be found in the historical writings of other nearby countries and in the historical records of the Israelite nations other than the Bible.
The earliest records of the Israelites were written on papyrus, rather than clay tablets that were used by other cultures at that time. Many of those papyri have been destroyed. The ancient Israelites, while they loom large in our eyes, were a small city state for the most part.
There is little proof of the use of slaves in Egypt or of the Exodus, of the conquering of the Canaanites by the Israelites or of King David’s reign. But absence of proof is not proof of absence. It only takes one find to change that picture.
For example, until 1993 there was no proof of the existence of King David or even of Israel as a nation prior to Solomon. Then in 1993 archeologists found proof of King David's existence outside the Bible. At an ancient mound called Tel Dan, in the north of Israel, words carved into a chunk of basalt were translated as "House of David" and "King of Israel" proving that he was more than just a legend.
In 1990 Frank Yurco, an Egyptologist at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, used hieroglyphic clues from a monolith known as the Merneptah Stele to identify figures in a Luxor wall relief as ancient Israelites. The stele itself, dated to 1207 B.C. celebrates a military victory by the Pharaoh Merneptah. “Israel is laid waste” it reads. This lets us know the Israelites were a separate people more than 3,000 years ago. The Smithsonian Department of Anthropology has this to say about the Bible.
“Much of the Bible, in particular the historical books of the old testament, are as accurate historical documents as any that we have from antiquity and are in fact more accurate than many of the Egyptian, Mesopotamian, or Greek histories. These Biblical records can be and are used as are other ancient documents in archeological work. For the most part, historical events described took place and the peoples cited really existed. This is not to say that names of all peoples and places mentioned can be identified today, or that every event as reported in the historical books happened exactly as stated.”
R.D. Wilson who wrote “A Scientific Investigation of the Old Testament” pointed out that the names of 29 Kings from ten nations (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and more) are mentioned not only in the Bible but are also found on monuments of their own time. Every single name is transliterated in the Old Testament exactly as it appears on the archaeological artifact – syllable for syllable, consonant for consonant. The chronological order of the kings is correct.
The Bible is essentially a religious history. Even those who wrote the Bible made it clear it was not a secular history, even though secular events are referred to. It is a book about God and his relationship with man. People and events mentioned in the Bible might be found in the historical writings of other nearby countries and in the historical records of the Israelite nations other than the Bible.
The earliest records of the Israelites were written on papyrus, rather than clay tablets that were used by other cultures at that time. Many of those papyri have been destroyed. The ancient Israelites, while they loom large in our eyes, were a small city state for the most part.
There is little proof of the use of slaves in Egypt or of the Exodus, of the conquering of the Canaanites by the Israelites or of King David’s reign. But absence of proof is not proof of absence. It only takes one find to change that picture.
For example, until 1993 there was no proof of the existence of King David or even of Israel as a nation prior to Solomon. Then in 1993 archeologists found proof of King David's existence outside the Bible. At an ancient mound called Tel Dan, in the north of Israel, words carved into a chunk of basalt were translated as "House of David" and "King of Israel" proving that he was more than just a legend.
In 1990 Frank Yurco, an Egyptologist at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, used hieroglyphic clues from a monolith known as the Merneptah Stele to identify figures in a Luxor wall relief as ancient Israelites. The stele itself, dated to 1207 B.C. celebrates a military victory by the Pharaoh Merneptah. “Israel is laid waste” it reads. This lets us know the Israelites were a separate people more than 3,000 years ago. The Smithsonian Department of Anthropology has this to say about the Bible.
“Much of the Bible, in particular the historical books of the old testament, are as accurate historical documents as any that we have from antiquity and are in fact more accurate than many of the Egyptian, Mesopotamian, or Greek histories. These Biblical records can be and are used as are other ancient documents in archeological work. For the most part, historical events described took place and the peoples cited really existed. This is not to say that names of all peoples and places mentioned can be identified today, or that every event as reported in the historical books happened exactly as stated.”
R.D. Wilson who wrote “A Scientific Investigation of the Old Testament” pointed out that the names of 29 Kings from ten nations (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and more) are mentioned not only in the Bible but are also found on monuments of their own time. Every single name is transliterated in the Old Testament exactly as it appears on the archaeological artifact – syllable for syllable, consonant for consonant. The chronological order of the kings is correct.
History itself validates The Bible’s claims. I’ll explain. How do you know your name? Were you born knowing your name? Let me answer that, no. You were taught your name. Think about The Bible as just a book, a historical fiction like you said. How is it possible first for over forty authors to compose any volume of work much less something the size of The Bible without compiling contradictions in the work itself? Any atheist set on denying anything other than their own thought will list hundreds of items and call them contradictions, I was one of them, but the truth is, there are no contradictions. So, the point is, how can these authors, when they ranged from kings to fishermen write so much about things they had no business knowing about? Things and events secular history and science have proven accurate by the way.
Secondly, how is it even conceivable that The Bible in the oldest written book stated the world was round when the general population swore it was flat? I touched on this earlier concerning how The Bible speaks of scientific knowledge and truths long before their “discoveries.” Not to be repetitive, but look back at what I said concerning the other schools of thought that are listed in The Bible from Geology to Hydrology.
Secondly, how is it even conceivable that The Bible in the oldest written book stated the world was round when the general population swore it was flat? I touched on this earlier concerning how The Bible speaks of scientific knowledge and truths long before their “discoveries.” Not to be repetitive, but look back at what I said concerning the other schools of thought that are listed in The Bible from Geology to Hydrology.
The fact that so many historical, well-documented events written about and expounded on in The Bible have been proven by other, secular sources says a lot that cannot be ignored.
Q: Say, the book is true. That Jesus did all that is said. The odds are pretty steep of that happening, but what do we say when we look up to space? Aren't there countless people, I being one of them, that believe that it is technically impossible for there NOT to be other life out there? If you consider infinite space and infinite time, can't anything happen? Wouldn't that even be the case for our creation as well, if God is not the answer?
A: Before looking at the concept of Jesus doing stuff, let us look at the concept of infinite time and space. By definition that which is infinite cannot be applied to any finite creature, even though the creatures themselves may participate in the infinity of God. Notions of infinite time and infinite space tend to be self-contradictory and confusing because space and time, being finite, cannot be extended infinitely. It is only when infinity is attributed to God alone that the concept has precise, plausible, and a consistent meaning. Since the beginning of time we as a people have always looked up at the stars and wondered. Just because we have the answer in front of us, The Bible, doesn’t mean people will not continue to look and wonder. Let us look at the concept of creation. When was the last time you witnessed something being created from nothing? Creations have a creator. From the onset of the first sentence so many cannot believe because The Bible says, “In the beginning, God created.” For the Christian, it is not difficult to comprehend because the entire cannon of scripture supports the very first main point that “In the beginning, God created.” We can believe that because the rest of scripture is without error or contradiction not because we really want to believe it, but because it is what it is. In reality The Bible does not need a defense, but more on that later.
A: Before looking at the concept of Jesus doing stuff, let us look at the concept of infinite time and space. By definition that which is infinite cannot be applied to any finite creature, even though the creatures themselves may participate in the infinity of God. Notions of infinite time and infinite space tend to be self-contradictory and confusing because space and time, being finite, cannot be extended infinitely. It is only when infinity is attributed to God alone that the concept has precise, plausible, and a consistent meaning. Since the beginning of time we as a people have always looked up at the stars and wondered. Just because we have the answer in front of us, The Bible, doesn’t mean people will not continue to look and wonder. Let us look at the concept of creation. When was the last time you witnessed something being created from nothing? Creations have a creator. From the onset of the first sentence so many cannot believe because The Bible says, “In the beginning, God created.” For the Christian, it is not difficult to comprehend because the entire cannon of scripture supports the very first main point that “In the beginning, God created.” We can believe that because the rest of scripture is without error or contradiction not because we really want to believe it, but because it is what it is. In reality The Bible does not need a defense, but more on that later.
Now on to Jesus and all His stuff. You said, “The odds are pretty steep of that happening.” Not to repeat what was written earlier, let us look at the list of just some of the prophecies Christ fulfilled.
Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled in One Person:
1. Betrayed by a friend. (Psalms 41:9; Matthew 26:49).
2. Thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15).
3. Betrayal money cast to the floor of the temple (Zechariah 11:13; Matthew 27:5).
4. Betrayal money used to buy the potter’s field (Zechariah 11:13: Matthew 27:7).
5. Forsaken and deserted by his disciples (Zechariah 13:7; Mark 14:50).
6. Accused by false witnesses (Psalms 35:11; Matthew 26:59-60).
7. Silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12).
8. Wounded and bruised (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 27:26).
9. Hated without a cause (Psalm 69:4; John 15:25).
10. Struck and spat upon (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67).
11. Mocked, ridiculed and rejected (Isaiah 53:3; Matthew 27:27-31 and John 7:5, 48).
12. Collapse from weakness (Psalms 109:24-25; Luke 23:26).
13. Taunted with specific words (Psalms 22:6-8; Matthew 27:39-43).
14. People will shake their heads at Him (Psalms 109:25; Matthew 27:39).
15. People will stare at Him (Psalms 22:17; Luke 23:35).
16. Executed among “sinners” (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38).
17. Hands and feet will be pierced (Psalms 22:16; Luke 23:33).
18. Will pray for his persecutors (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34).
19. Friends and family will stand afar off and watch (Psalms 38:11; Luke 23:49).
20. Garments will be divided and won by the casting of lots (Psalms 22:18; John 19:23-24).
21. Will thirst (Psalms 69:21; John 19:28).
22. Will be given gall and vinegar (Psalms 69:21; Matthew 27:34).
23. Will commit Himself to God (Psalms 31:5; Luke 23:46).
24. Bones will be left unbroken (Psalms 34:20; John 19:33).
25. Heart will rupture (Psalm 22:14; John 19:34).
26. Side will be pierced (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34).
27. Darkness will come over the land at midday (Amos 8:9; Matthew 27:45).
28. Will be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60).
29. Will die 438 years after the declaration of Artaxerxes to rebuild the temple in 444 BC (Daniel 9:24).
30. Will be raised from the dead (Psalms 16:10; Acts 2:31), ascend to heaven (Psalms 68:18; Acts 1:9) and be seated the right hand of God in full majesty and authority (Psalms 110:1; Hebrews 1:3).
Professor Peter W. Stoner who authored “Science Speaks” stated that the probability of just eight particular prophecies being fulfilled in one person is 1 in 1017, i.e. 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000). The eight prophecies used in the calculation were:
1. Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; fulfilled in Matt. 2:1-7; John 7:42; Luke 2:47).
2. Messiah is to be preceded by a Messenger (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; fulfilled in Matthew 3:1-3; 11:10; John 1:23; Luke 1:17).
3. Messiah is to enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; fulfilled in Luke 35-37; Matthew 21:6-11).
4. Messiah is to be betrayed by a friend (Psalms 41:9; 55:12-14; fulfilled in Matthew 10:4; 26:49-50; John 13:21).
5. Messiah is to be sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; fulfilled in Matthew 26:15; 27:3).
6. The money for which Messiah is sold is to be thrown “to the potter” in God’s house (Zechariah 11:13; fulfilled in Matthew 27:5-7).
7. Messiah is to be silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; fulfilled in Matthew 27:12).
8. Messiah is to be executed by crucifixion as a thief (Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 12:10; Isaiah 53:5,12; fulfilled in Luke 23:33; John 20:25; Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27,28).
Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled in One Person:
1. Betrayed by a friend. (Psalms 41:9; Matthew 26:49).
2. Thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15).
3. Betrayal money cast to the floor of the temple (Zechariah 11:13; Matthew 27:5).
4. Betrayal money used to buy the potter’s field (Zechariah 11:13: Matthew 27:7).
5. Forsaken and deserted by his disciples (Zechariah 13:7; Mark 14:50).
6. Accused by false witnesses (Psalms 35:11; Matthew 26:59-60).
7. Silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12).
8. Wounded and bruised (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 27:26).
9. Hated without a cause (Psalm 69:4; John 15:25).
10. Struck and spat upon (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67).
11. Mocked, ridiculed and rejected (Isaiah 53:3; Matthew 27:27-31 and John 7:5, 48).
12. Collapse from weakness (Psalms 109:24-25; Luke 23:26).
13. Taunted with specific words (Psalms 22:6-8; Matthew 27:39-43).
14. People will shake their heads at Him (Psalms 109:25; Matthew 27:39).
15. People will stare at Him (Psalms 22:17; Luke 23:35).
16. Executed among “sinners” (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38).
17. Hands and feet will be pierced (Psalms 22:16; Luke 23:33).
18. Will pray for his persecutors (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34).
19. Friends and family will stand afar off and watch (Psalms 38:11; Luke 23:49).
20. Garments will be divided and won by the casting of lots (Psalms 22:18; John 19:23-24).
21. Will thirst (Psalms 69:21; John 19:28).
22. Will be given gall and vinegar (Psalms 69:21; Matthew 27:34).
23. Will commit Himself to God (Psalms 31:5; Luke 23:46).
24. Bones will be left unbroken (Psalms 34:20; John 19:33).
25. Heart will rupture (Psalm 22:14; John 19:34).
26. Side will be pierced (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34).
27. Darkness will come over the land at midday (Amos 8:9; Matthew 27:45).
28. Will be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60).
29. Will die 438 years after the declaration of Artaxerxes to rebuild the temple in 444 BC (Daniel 9:24).
30. Will be raised from the dead (Psalms 16:10; Acts 2:31), ascend to heaven (Psalms 68:18; Acts 1:9) and be seated the right hand of God in full majesty and authority (Psalms 110:1; Hebrews 1:3).
Professor Peter W. Stoner who authored “Science Speaks” stated that the probability of just eight particular prophecies being fulfilled in one person is 1 in 1017, i.e. 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000). The eight prophecies used in the calculation were:
1. Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; fulfilled in Matt. 2:1-7; John 7:42; Luke 2:47).
2. Messiah is to be preceded by a Messenger (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; fulfilled in Matthew 3:1-3; 11:10; John 1:23; Luke 1:17).
3. Messiah is to enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; fulfilled in Luke 35-37; Matthew 21:6-11).
4. Messiah is to be betrayed by a friend (Psalms 41:9; 55:12-14; fulfilled in Matthew 10:4; 26:49-50; John 13:21).
5. Messiah is to be sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; fulfilled in Matthew 26:15; 27:3).
6. The money for which Messiah is sold is to be thrown “to the potter” in God’s house (Zechariah 11:13; fulfilled in Matthew 27:5-7).
7. Messiah is to be silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; fulfilled in Matthew 27:12).
8. Messiah is to be executed by crucifixion as a thief (Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 12:10; Isaiah 53:5,12; fulfilled in Luke 23:33; John 20:25; Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27,28).
The American Scientific Affiliation validated this statement. This number has been illustrated as follows:
If we take 1 X 1017 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas, they'll cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one?
Professor Stoner went on to consider 48 prophecies and says, “… We find the chance that any one man fulfilled all 48 prophecies to be 1 in 10157.
“This is a really large number and it represents an extremely small chance. Let us try to visualize it. The silver dollar, which we have been using, is entirely too large. We must select a smaller object. The electron is about as small an object as we know of. It is so small that it will take 2.5 times 1015 of them laid side by side to make a line, single file, one inch long. If we were going to count the electrons in this line one inch long, and counted 250 each minute, and if we counted day and night, it would take us 19,000,000 years to count just the one-inch line of electrons. If we had a cubic inch of these electrons and we tried to count them it would take us, counting steadily 250 each minute, 19,000,000 times 19,000,000 times 19,000,000 [nineteen million times nineteen million times nineteen million] or 6.9 times 1021 years.
This is approximately the total number of electrons in all the mass of the known universe. In other words the probability of Jesus Christ fulfilling 48 prophecies is the same as one person being able to pick out one electron out of the entire mass of our universe.
If we take 1 X 1017 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas, they'll cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one?
Professor Stoner went on to consider 48 prophecies and says, “… We find the chance that any one man fulfilled all 48 prophecies to be 1 in 10157.
“This is a really large number and it represents an extremely small chance. Let us try to visualize it. The silver dollar, which we have been using, is entirely too large. We must select a smaller object. The electron is about as small an object as we know of. It is so small that it will take 2.5 times 1015 of them laid side by side to make a line, single file, one inch long. If we were going to count the electrons in this line one inch long, and counted 250 each minute, and if we counted day and night, it would take us 19,000,000 years to count just the one-inch line of electrons. If we had a cubic inch of these electrons and we tried to count them it would take us, counting steadily 250 each minute, 19,000,000 times 19,000,000 times 19,000,000 [nineteen million times nineteen million times nineteen million] or 6.9 times 1021 years.
This is approximately the total number of electrons in all the mass of the known universe. In other words the probability of Jesus Christ fulfilling 48 prophecies is the same as one person being able to pick out one electron out of the entire mass of our universe.
Such is the chance of any one man fulfilling any 48 prophecies. Yet Jesus Christ fulfilled not just 48 prophecies, not just 61 prophecies, but more than 324 individual prophecies that the Prophets wrote concerning the Messiah. I haven’t been able to find the statistical projection representing the possibility of Jesus Christ fulfilling 324 prophecies but I really don’t think it matters given the illustrations set forth above.
Does it really take faith to come to salvation through Jesus Christ? Absolutely but that faith is not a blind faith as some would want you to believe but instead, it is a faith based upon facts. How much faith? Maybe not very much if one really takes the time to look at the facts and take into consideration the statistics and probability of the prophecies concerning the Messiah.
Does it really take faith to come to salvation through Jesus Christ? Absolutely but that faith is not a blind faith as some would want you to believe but instead, it is a faith based upon facts. How much faith? Maybe not very much if one really takes the time to look at the facts and take into consideration the statistics and probability of the prophecies concerning the Messiah.
When someone tries to tell you that Christianity is a religious faith based upon ignorant acceptance of certain precepts that have no basis in fact, they are sadly mistaken. Christianity is a faith that not only can be an emotional faith (which it is); it is also an intellectual faith.
If you still happen to be unconvinced that the baby born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago was anything more than just an ordinary human baby, let me challenge you with a few of “the odds” in that regard.
1. To begin with, did you know that the Old Testament prophet Micah, writing circa 700 B.C., out of the hundreds and hundreds of cities in the scores and scores of nations in existence all over the world even in those days, designated Bethlehem of Judea as the birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2)?
2. And that at about the same time, Isaiah (7:14) said that the Christ would be born of a virgin?
3. Or that a prophecy made in 1012 B.C. specified that the Messiah's hands and feet would eventually be pierced--a clear reference to death by crucifixion--800 years before the Romans ever even instituted crucifixion as a form of capital punishment!
4. Malachi 3:1, penned in about 425 B.C., specified that the Messiah would be contemporary with the temple in Jerusalem--a temple that was destroyed in 70 A.D. and has never been rebuilt.
5. Well, if all this impresses you even a little bit, you ought to go compare Zechariah 11:11-13 (written over 500 years before Christ) to Matthew 27:3-10 (written some 25-30 years after Christ). Only coincidence?
1. To begin with, did you know that the Old Testament prophet Micah, writing circa 700 B.C., out of the hundreds and hundreds of cities in the scores and scores of nations in existence all over the world even in those days, designated Bethlehem of Judea as the birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2)?
2. And that at about the same time, Isaiah (7:14) said that the Christ would be born of a virgin?
3. Or that a prophecy made in 1012 B.C. specified that the Messiah's hands and feet would eventually be pierced--a clear reference to death by crucifixion--800 years before the Romans ever even instituted crucifixion as a form of capital punishment!
4. Malachi 3:1, penned in about 425 B.C., specified that the Messiah would be contemporary with the temple in Jerusalem--a temple that was destroyed in 70 A.D. and has never been rebuilt.
5. Well, if all this impresses you even a little bit, you ought to go compare Zechariah 11:11-13 (written over 500 years before Christ) to Matthew 27:3-10 (written some 25-30 years after Christ). Only coincidence?
What you said about the bible withstanding the test of time. It makes me think of fossils. Dinosaur fossils, bones that should have just dissolved like every other piece of the creature, were preserved for millions and millions of years. There wasn't even anyone fighting to preserve them, yet somehow they litter the entire earth today. Compared to that, the preservation of the bible does not seem as astounding to me.
What about the fossils of creatures past? They are here as a physical record due to biological processes. Allow me to clarify: The Bible has physically survived despite all those who would silence it through burning or banning. When The Bile was being constructed, it survived by never having anyone other than the Jews dispute it. Christ’s contemporaries surely would have cried out in error if what was written or passed down were wrong or at least out of order. The Bible speaks of fossils. Did you know The Grand Canyon is a testament to Noah’s flood? There are a number of fossils found at the top layers of the canyon that modern scientists cannot explain other than to attribute the said fossils to a flood of huge proportions.
This here is just a side note, but what about the Crusades? A war greatly concerning Christianity that spanned over 200 years. Why would God allow that? Is he that self absorbed? I would not assume so.
God is not self-absorbed by any means. Misguided men in the name of God waged the crusades. George Carlin joked once that more wars were started in the name of God than anything else. He was right. Hitler when he began his tirade tricked the Germans by invoking the name of Christ and Christianity. Most history books probably do not mention that fact. Bad things happen all the time in the name of God. After 911, church attendance soared. Why does God allow this? How arrogant I would be if I said I knew. I know only what The Bible says. It says, God is sovereign and in control regardless of how bad it seems. Many Old Testament prophets asked the question, “Why?” all the time.
What about the fossils of creatures past? They are here as a physical record due to biological processes. Allow me to clarify: The Bible has physically survived despite all those who would silence it through burning or banning. When The Bile was being constructed, it survived by never having anyone other than the Jews dispute it. Christ’s contemporaries surely would have cried out in error if what was written or passed down were wrong or at least out of order. The Bible speaks of fossils. Did you know The Grand Canyon is a testament to Noah’s flood? There are a number of fossils found at the top layers of the canyon that modern scientists cannot explain other than to attribute the said fossils to a flood of huge proportions.
This here is just a side note, but what about the Crusades? A war greatly concerning Christianity that spanned over 200 years. Why would God allow that? Is he that self absorbed? I would not assume so.
God is not self-absorbed by any means. Misguided men in the name of God waged the crusades. George Carlin joked once that more wars were started in the name of God than anything else. He was right. Hitler when he began his tirade tricked the Germans by invoking the name of Christ and Christianity. Most history books probably do not mention that fact. Bad things happen all the time in the name of God. After 911, church attendance soared. Why does God allow this? How arrogant I would be if I said I knew. I know only what The Bible says. It says, God is sovereign and in control regardless of how bad it seems. Many Old Testament prophets asked the question, “Why?” all the time.
There will always be those who doubt no matter how many proofs are given. The decision to accept Christ as Lord is intellectual yes based on the historical, scientific, and even mathematical probability of Christ’s deity, but it is at the core, a decision based on faith. Christ asked Peter once, “Who do you say I am?” All of us have to answer that. It is more than amazing to think that God gave up His own life to save us, the world from Hell. If you look at The Bible with the skeptic eyes, you may not see, but if you read with eyes and a heart that says, “What if,” perhaps you will see what I see, hear what I hear, and feel what I feel. You said:
I find the strength in your faith interesting, that you would try to show me why I should believe.
How can I not share with you if I truly believe that Christ is the way to Heaven? I would be a hypocrite if I acted any other way. It would be like saying, “I have the cure for cancer, but I’m not telling anyone!” I love you enough to tell you that Jesus loves you.
How can I not share with you if I truly believe that Christ is the way to Heaven? I would be a hypocrite if I acted any other way. It would be like saying, “I have the cure for cancer, but I’m not telling anyone!” I love you enough to tell you that Jesus loves you.
Friday, June 3, 2011
JESUS CHRIST AND MATH
So many people refuse to believe in something bigger than their own existence. They look to learned knowledge and facts that they cling to in order to validate either belief of disbelief. Let’s look at the facts today, the facts of Christ. It is my contention that once understood, even the most cynical will shed the skepticism. The book, The Case For Christ, presents a detailed explanation and timeline. I suggest everyone pick a copy up regardless of your stance. Since I am not an educated theologian, but a rather humble man, I will present the material to you that I have been led to give. Historically, it must be allowed that Jesus Christ lived. Religions of the world deny the deity of Christ, but they cannot exclude Him from existence. So there again, we have Jesus alive as a man. For a time we are not going to think about The New Testament. Let’s look to the Old for the facts that we seek. The Old Testament as we call it contains over three hundred references in regard to the coming Messiah. The Jews did not disagree with the prophecies until Jesus came on the scene looking and acting not as they imagined. This is one of the reasons they rejected him (Isaiah 8:14; 28:16; 49:6; 50:6; 60:3; Psalms 22:7-8; 118:22). The Messiah’s death is foretold in what we call Psalm 22. Crucifixion death was not a Hebrew tradition. As a matter of fact, this kind of death had not been practiced by the Hebrew people at the time Psalm 22 was written. It came later under Roman rule although some scholars date the practice to Egypt. How were all the ancient writings concerning the coming Messiah fulfilled? How did the Psalmist know to write about the crucifixion and dividing of the garments? How did the prophet Micah seven hundred years prior to the birth of Christ “predict” where the Messiah’s birthplace would be? It is ludicrous for skeptics to answer coincidence to each question. There is no way. The following is not my own creation, it comes from biblebelievers.org.
The science of probability attempts to determine the chance that a given event will occur. The value and accuracy of the science of probability has been well established beyond doubt - for example, insurance rates are fixed according to statistical probabilities. Professor Emeritus of Science at Westmont College, Peter Stoner, has calculated the probability of one man fulfilling the major prophecies made concerning the Messiah. The estimates were worked out by twelve different classes representing some 600 university students.
The students carefully weighed all the factors, discussed each prophecy at length, and examined the various circumstances which might indicate that men had conspired together to fulfill a particular prophecy. They made their estimates conservative enough so that there was finally unanimous agreement even among the most skeptical students.
However Professor Stoner then took their estimates, and made them even more conservative. He also encouraged other skeptics or scientists to make their own estimates to see if his conclusions were more than fair. Finally, he submitted his figures for review to a committee of the American Scientific Affiliation. Upon examination, they verified that his calculations were dependable and accurate in regard to the scientific material presented (Peter Stoner, Science Speaks, Chicago: Moody Press, 1969, 4).
For example, concerning Micah 5:2, where it states the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah, Stoner and his students determined the average population of BETHLEHEM from the time of Micah to the present; then they divided it by the average population of the earth during the same period.
They concluded that the chance of one man being born in Bethlehem was one in 300,000, (or one in 2.8 x 10^5 - rounded),
After examining only eight different prophecies (Idem, 106), they conservatively estimated that the chance of one man fulfilling all eight prophecies was one in 10^17.
To illustrate how large the number 10^17 IS (a figure with 17 zeros), Stoner gave this illustration
If you mark one of ten tickets, and place all the tickets in a hat, and thoroughly stir them, and then ask a blindfolded man to draw one, his chance of getting the right ticket is one in ten. Suppose that we take 10^17 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They'll cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would've had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time, providing they wrote them in their own wisdom (Idem, 106-107).
In financial terms, is there anyone who would not invest in a financial venture if the chance of failure were only one in 10^17? This is the kind of sure investment we're offered by god for faith in His Messiah.
From these figures, Professor Stoner, concludes the fulfillment of these eight prophecies alone proves that God inspired the writing of the prophecies (Idem, 107) - the likelihood of mere chance is only one in 10^17!
Another way of saying this is that any person who minimizes or ignores the significance of the biblical identifying signs concerning the Messiah would be foolish.
But, of course, there are many more than eight prophecies. In another calculation, Stoner used 48 prophecies (Idem, 109) (even though he could have used Edersheim's 456), and arrived at the extremely conservative estimate that the probability of 48 prophecies being fulfilled in one person is the incredible number 10^157. In fact, if anybody can find someone, living or dead, other than Jesus, who can fulfill only half of the predictions concerning the Messiah given in the book "Messiah in Both Testaments" by Fred J. Meldau, the Christian Victory Publishing Company is ready to give a ONE thousand dollar reward! As apologist Josh McDowell says, "There are a lot of men in the universities that could use some extra cash!" (Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, California: Campus Crusade for Christ, 175).
How large is the number one in 10^157? 10^157 contains 157 zeros! Stoner gives an illustration of this number using electrons. Electrons are very small objects. They're smaller than atoms. It would take 2.5 TIMES 10^15 of them, laid side by side, to make one inch. Even if we counted 250 of these electrons each minute, and counted day and night, it would still take 19 million years just to count a line of electrons one-inch long (Stoner, op. cit, 109).
With this introduction, let's go back to our chance of one in 10^157. Let's suppose that we're taking this number of electrons, marking one, and thoroughly stirring it into the whole mass, then blindfolding a man and letting him try to find the right one. What chance has he of finding the right one? What kind of a pile will this number of electrons make? They make an inconceivably large volume.
This is the result from considering a mere 48 prophecies. Obviously, the probability that 456 prophecies would be fulfilled in one man by chance is vastly smaller. According to Emile Borel, once one goes past one chance in 10^50, the probabilities are so small that it is impossible to think that they will ever occur (Ankerberg et. al., op. cit., 21).
As Stoner concludes, 'Any man who rejects Christ as the Son of God is rejecting a fact, proved perhaps more absolutely than any other fact in the world (Stoner, op. cit., 112).'
Neither Guttenberg nor Kinkos were around. The written accounts that Christians call The Old Testament was written by hand on scrolls, but were sadly scattered all around. The chances of a group of men in this time period that span (400 years time distance between the Old and New Testaments) without the aid of said mentioned devices and the internet keeping all the Messianic prophecies straight are laughable. If Jesus is not the Christ, the Messiah, there is no way that he could have fulfilled any much less all of the prophecies concerning His life, death, and resurrection. Furthermore, Jesus the man was either a liar because He claimed to be God, a lunatic, for the same reasons, or He was/is Who He says He is; The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
So many people refuse to believe in something bigger than their own existence. They look to learned knowledge and facts that they cling to in order to validate either belief of disbelief. Let’s look at the facts today, the facts of Christ. It is my contention that once understood, even the most cynical will shed the skepticism. The book, The Case For Christ, presents a detailed explanation and timeline. I suggest everyone pick a copy up regardless of your stance. Since I am not an educated theologian, but a rather humble man, I will present the material to you that I have been led to give.
Historically, it must be allowed that Jesus Christ lived. Religions of the world deny the deity of Christ, but they cannot exclude Him from existence. So there again, we have Jesus alive as a man. For a time we are not going to think about The New Testament. Let’s look to the Old for the facts that we seek.
The Old Testament as we call it contains over three hundred references in regard to the coming Messiah. The Jews did not disagree with the prophecies until Jesus came on the scene looking and acting not as they imagined. This is one of the reasons they rejected him (Isaiah 8:14; 28:16; 49:6; 50:6; 60:3; Psalms 22:7-8; 118:22).
The Messiah’s death is foretold in what we call Psalm 22. Crucifixion death was not a Hebrew tradition. As a matter of fact, this kind of death had not been practiced by the Hebrew people at the time Psalm 22 was written. It came later under Roman rule although some scholars date the practice to Egypt. How were all the ancient writings concerning the coming Messiah fulfilled? How did the Psalmist know to write about the crucifixion and dividing of the garments? How did the prophet Micah seven hundred years prior to the birth of Christ “predict” where the Messiah’s birthplace would be? It is ludicrous for skeptics to answer coincidence to each question. There is no way.
The following is not my own creation, it comes from biblebelievers.org. The science of probability attempts to determine the chance that a given event will occur. The value and accuracy of the science of probability has been well established beyond doubt - for example, insurance rates are fixed according to statistical probabilities.
Professor Emeritus of Science at Westmont College, Peter Stoner, has calculated the probability of one man fulfilling the major prophecies made concerning the Messiah. The estimates were worked out by twelve different classes representing some 600 university students. The students carefully weighed all the factors, discussed each prophecy at length, and examined the various circumstances which might indicate that men had conspired together to fulfill a particular prophecy. They made their estimates conservative enough so that there was finally unanimous agreement even among the most skeptical students.
However Professor Stoner then took their estimates, and made them even more conservative. He also encouraged other skeptics or scientists to make their own estimates to see if his conclusions were more than fair. Finally, he submitted his figures for review to a committee of the American Scientific Affiliation. Upon examination, they verified that his calculations were dependable and accurate in regard to the scientific material presented (Peter Stoner, Science Speaks, Chicago: Moody Press, 1969, 4).
For example, concerning Micah 5:2, where it states the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah, Stoner and his students determined the average population of BETHLEHEM from the time of Micah to the present; then they divided it by the average population of the earth during the same period.
They concluded that the chance of one man being born in Bethlehem was one in 300,000, (or one in 2.8 x 10^5 - rounded),
After examining only eight different prophecies (Idem, 106), they conservatively estimated that the chance of one man fulfilling all eight prophecies was one in 10^17.
To illustrate how large the number 10^17 IS (a figure with 17 zeros), Stoner gave this illustration
If you mark one of ten tickets, and place all the tickets in a hat, and thoroughly stir them, and then ask a blindfolded man to draw one, his chance of getting the right ticket is one in ten. Suppose that we take 10^17 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They'll cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would've had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time, providing they wrote them in their own wisdom (Idem, 106-107).
In financial terms, is there anyone who would not invest in a financial venture if the chance of failure were only one in 10^17? This is the kind of sure investment we're offered by god for faith in His Messiah.
From these figures, Professor Stoner, concludes the fulfillment of these eight prophecies alone proves that God inspired the writing of the prophecies (Idem, 107) - the likelihood of mere chance is only one in 10^17!
Another way of saying this is that any person who minimizes or ignores the significance of the biblical identifying signs concerning the Messiah would be foolish.
But, of course, there are many more than eight prophecies. In another calculation, Stoner used 48 prophecies (Idem, 109) (even though he could have used Edersheim's 456), and arrived at the extremely conservative estimate that the probability of 48 prophecies being fulfilled in one person is the incredible number 10^157. In fact, if anybody can find someone, living or dead, other than Jesus, who can fulfill only half of the predictions concerning the Messiah given in the book "Messiah in Both Testaments" by Fred J. Meldau, the Christian Victory Publishing Company is ready to give a ONE thousand dollar reward! As apologist Josh McDowell says, "There are a lot of men in the universities that could use some extra cash!" (Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, California: Campus Crusade for Christ, 175).
How large is the number one in 10^157? 10^157 contains 157 zeros! Stoner gives an illustration of this number using electrons. Electrons are very small objects. They're smaller than atoms. It would take 2.5 TIMES 10^15 of them, laid side by side, to make one inch. Even if we counted 250 of these electrons each minute, and counted day and night, it would still take 19 million years just to count a line of electrons one-inch long (Stoner, op. cit, 109).
With this introduction, let's go back to our chance of one in 10^157. Let's suppose that we're taking this number of electrons, marking one, and thoroughly stirring it into the whole mass, then blindfolding a man and letting him try to find the right one. What chance has he of finding the right one? What kind of a pile will this number of electrons make? They make an inconceivably large volume.
This is the result from considering a mere 48 prophecies. Obviously, the probability that 456 prophecies would be fulfilled in one man by chance is vastly smaller. According to Emile Borel, once one goes past one chance in 10^50, the probabilities are so small that it is impossible to think that they will ever occur (Ankerberg et. al., op. cit., 21).
As Stoner concludes, 'Any man who rejects Christ as the Son of God is rejecting a fact, proved perhaps more absolutely than any other fact in the world (Stoner, op. cit., 112).'
Neither Guttenberg nor Kinkos were around. The written accounts that Christians call The Old Testament was written by hand on scrolls, but were sadly scattered all around. The chances of a group of men in this time period that span (400 years time distance between the Old and New Testaments) without the aid of said mentioned devices and the internet keeping all the Messianic prophecies straight are laughable. If Jesus is not the Christ, the Messiah, there is no way that he could have fulfilled any much less all of the prophecies concerning His life, death, and resurrection. Furthermore, Jesus the man was either a liar because He claimed to be God, a lunatic, for the same reasons, or He was/is Who He says He is; The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
SO YOU HAD A BAD DAY?
HOW IS YOUR DAY GOING?
We, the people, the people of God, His children, the ones who have accepted God’s Grace, the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, are at times, a people that are so full of ourselves, we forget to be humble in reverence to God Almighty. We, in essence, are very much like Job in the midst of his trials.
Job was a righteous man that found favor in God’s sight. Chapter one of the Book of Job begins detailing Job, his number of servants, children, livestock, and such. Job’s children liked to party. Perhaps they partied too much.
Job 1:5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.
Job would go give an offering and essentially pray for the sins he was sure his kids committed. Job is a loving father because he is consistently praying for them. So here is where the story starts to get good.
Job 1:6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
The angels and Satan appear before God. I suppose we can think of that as a Monday morning briefing. As a kid I wondered why Satan appeared with the angels. Didn’t God already kick him out? The reason I believe Satan is with the angels as they appear before God is that, he, Satan, is inferior and still has to answer to God. If God allowed him to be there, who am I to question or you to question? God, the creator of all and if I may be so bold, master of the rhetorical question, asks Satan, “Where have you been?” God knows. HE knew before asking, but a careful study of scripture shows many times God asks the questions just so we have to answer not for his benefit, but for ours. Satan replies, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
Satan for lack of a better word has free roam over this world. Scripture calls him everything from a lion roaming about to the prince of the air. So old Satan is roaming around. Notice now in the conversation that it is God who brings up Job. It was not Satan. Everything with God is a teachable moment. God uses his servant, the righteous Job as a teachable measurement of faith.
Job 1:8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
Satan, the constant accuser dares to question God.
Job 1:9-11 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."
Satan is saying here, “Oh God, he only fears you because you have protected him all all his stuff. If you allowed stuff, calamity, bad problems, and garbage to fall on him, he would cuss you and not believe!”
He was right. Yes, you read right. Satan, for the most part, was right. Not about Job exactly. Job as we will look at did question, but in general, there are “CHRISTIANS” that love to play the part of Jesus freak, Bible thumper, and scripture know it all. However, when the storms of live cause friction or one thing does not go their way, their so-called relationship with God goes out the window. Everybody loves to be seen or thought of as a strong Christian leader, but when the chips are down, we go plum off the deep end demanding from God answers as to why the bad stuff happened to us. Why not old so and so. I’m a much better person. What about old Joe down the road. He cheats, drinks, cusses, why did this happen to me, God? Sound like anyone you know? Satan had no idea that God was playing him for the fool. God of course has the answer to Satan’s boast.
Job 1:12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
“Go ahead. You can have all his stuff, but you can’t touch him.” After God gives authority to Satan to attack Job’s material things, Satan leaves. Verses 13 through 18 details what occurs.
A. Some livestock is taken and servants killed
B. Fire from the sky falls killing 7000 sheep and servants.
C. Raiders took camels and killed the servants.
D. His children were killed as they partied. A wind came and destroyed their home.
All of this happened simultaneously. Think you have had a bad day? The stock market crash has nothing on this bad day. Job does something that non-Christians and sadly I think many Christians do not comprehend. He praised God.
Job 1:20-22 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
It’s hard for any parent to understand how a man could praise God under the circumstances that he just lost everything including the most precious of all, his children. I think it’s a testament that Job at this point was truly exalting God above all. He knew his place in the universe.
The second chapter of Job finds a repeat of the angels and Satan coming before God. God again asks Satan if he has considered Job. God in his description of Job in verse three adds, “And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."
Satan retorts like a spoiled child, “Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."
Satan knows the human condition doesn’t he? Take away his health and he’ll cuss you! How many times how we seen or actually have done this ourselves? How many times do we see folks who we call the salt of the earth, good people, fall to Cancer or some other disease? We spend time praying that our loved ones are healed then blame God because they aren’t. we use the flawed, human reasoning that, “Well, I prayed. I’m a Christian, God should help us.” I’m human. I feel the same way at times. The way of our flesh is flawed. But you know, here is the trick of trade so to speak: God and only God knows why some die from disease when prayers were consistently given. Remember Jesus told Paul when Paul complained of a physical problem, “My Grace is sufficient for you.” God is constantly drawing his children closer to him.
God replies to Satan essentially, “Go ahead. Give it a whirl. You just cannot kill him.”
Job 2:7-10 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. 9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" 10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Job’s children are dead, the livestock dead and or stolen, his skin is covered in sores, but by the Grace of God, amen his wife is still with him. She chews him out. His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" I don’t believe old Job had life insurance, so it’s a bitter pill to read that the wife just wants him out of the picture. “You just need to die!” Job responds with true philosophic words. "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" It goes back to what I said earlier. Are we a people that praise the God of the living, the King of kings when our health is good, the bills are paid, and we got a steak on the plate, but curse his holy name when one thing does not go our way? I have. There I admit it. Chances are I may not be the only one admitting it now. The Bible is clear that God allows the rain to fall on the just and unjust. Satan attacks us. He goes after the Christian more than the non-believer I believe. However many times Satan attacks, we have to remember that the accuser does not have any real power over us, the children of God. The Bible teaches that we are to resist the devil and he will run from us. The Father is still in command, the Son, Jesus Christ is on the throne.
Job, a righteous man, in the eyes of God had his entire life turned upside down. His servants, animals, and children were taken away. Satan infected his body with sores. He listened to his wife tell him to curse God and die. Scripture teaches that Job did not sin up to that point. But old Job throws himself a pity party. Starting in chapter 3 he poetically says, “Why me? Why? Why? Why? Oh me. I should have never been born.” The Book of Job starting with chapter three until thirty-seven in great detail showcases four individuals and their take on Job’s situation. The situation resembles that of a debate throughout the rest of the book save the ending. The friends each have their say and Job in kind responds. While each one speaks from their own view, their speeches possess various bits of truth.
Job stood steadfast in his faith until he was influenced by three friends. Sound like anyone you know? We look to the self-help books and those idiot doctors and self proclaimed media kings and queens on television to dispense advice and wisdom for all of our problems.
Eliphaz says that he has had a secret revelation from God. He informs Job that Job’s suffering is a direct result of sin. The Bible teaches that we indeed reap what we sow, but we know that is not the case with Job. Job has his reply to that accusation. Basically Job tells his “friend” to take it (the accusation) back.
Bildad is a jerk in my opinion. He appears angry, well maybe self-righteous, is a better word. He is mad that Job clings to his innocence while questioning God. Bildad speaks under the thought train that God could not be unjust and would not punish a “just” man. Job’s response was in Chapter 10:2 “I will say to God: Do not condemn me, but tell me what charges you have against me.” You see the change?
After listening to his peers and their take, their opinion on God’s view, Job started to question. It is not slightly, it is arrogant for Job or anyone of us to say much less think that we will tell God anything.
Zophar’s thoughts were based upon his belief that good old Job was a hypocrite. Job responds again, in my opinion, he sounds a bit arrogant. He, Job, is assured he will be vindicated.
Elihu a younger man speaks to Job and says that the suffering is a tool used by God to train and mold us. I know that if we think about our own lives and the trials we have endured, most will agree with Elihu. Earlier I said God is always drawing us closer. I believe that he is also teaching us. Everything, every horrible situation to the best of times can be a teachable moment for us from God.
Finally, God speaks to Job in chapters 38-41. For lack of a better phrase, God Almighty lets the fur fly so to speak. God blasts him with rhetorical questions. Recall from earlier I referred to the Father as the master of these. Here are some of the questions albeit a bit paraphrased from chapters 38-39:
“Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?”
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!”
“Where does darkness reside? Have the gates of death been shown to you? Does the rain have a father?”
“Does the eagle soar at your command?”
Beginning in chapter 40:2, God Almighty says, “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him.”
The answer to God’s question is me, you, your friends, your uncle, your sister, your aunt. It goes back to what I said earlier. “Why, WHY, WHY, God? It’s not fair, God! She wasn’t supposed to die! The baby wasn’t supposed to have Cancer!” We all ask why at some point.
Job replies starting with verse 3. Job covers his mouth after admitting he was unworthy. God proceeds to begin anew with the rhetorical questions. This continues until chapter 42.
Job 42:6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.
If we look back at the “heroes” of the Bible, the men God blessed, we see righteous men that were flesh and bone complete with their failures. Peter, David, Paul, Solomon, and Job are some of the examples. Each repented then was lifted up by the Almighty. We too, my friends, can be like that. We can be righteous in the eyes of the Almighty by repenting and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior. A life lived for Christ is free of sin in a way. Yes, we are human and even as new creations, Christians will fail, but the moment we sin, the Christian will be convicted by God’s Holy Spirit, the Great Comforter and we will then repent to the Lord. There is no condemnation in Christ. He, Jesus Christ, died for the sins of the world so that any and all who believe in Him will have eternal life. Repent today friends if you have never given your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. Today is your day, the day of salvation. Come to Jesus, turn away from your sin. Let Christ, the Son heal you today as God the Father healed and restored Job so many years ago.
There’s nothing special about this prayer. It just expresses the desire in your heart to help you understand that you need the Lord Jesus Christ.
Father God,
Lord I know that I am a sinner. I know that Jesus Christ is your son. I know He died for me on the cross so I can spend eternity in Heaven with you. Father, today, I repent, turn away from my sins. Lord I want Jesus to come into my life. Lord, I know He died and rose on the third day. Lord I will live my life for you and be the best Christian example I can be to the world. It is in the precious name of Christ, I pray.
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