REASONS TO BELIEVE IN THE CHURCH

This is the twelfth and final in a series of blog posts with my sister Betty Haynie about what we believe. Our thoughts are intentionally brief on subjects that could fill volumes.

WHY I BELIEVE IN THE CHURCH

By Betty Haynie

The word “church” does not just mean a building, as I am sure you realize. It means the people who have accepted Jesus and are Christ’s “body” on earth, His “church,” spreading His message of love and salvation to all. Christ is the Head and we are all Members of or parts of His body - hence the word “Membership.” If your passion was golf you would need to go to a golf course in order to play, or at least a driving range. The same with bowling - you need a bowling alley and others with whom to bowl. Imagine a Barbershop Chorus where each member decides to stay home and work on their part alone. Hmmm? I don’t think I’d want to hear them sing. As a believer it is imperative to your spiritual growth to belong to a group of believers.

Those who believe in Him are His feet, hands, legs, and fingers serving Him through working together with other believers to accomplish the ministries put before us. A toe or finger cannot do much on its own - but, connected to the body, which is connected to “the Head” it can do its job! That’s why we need to belong to a body of believers. That’s why, when you believe, you must belong to a community with vital beliefs. They become just as much a family as our earthly family does when we are born into this world. Just as our mothers and fathers nurture, protect and care for our needs as babies, our church family nurtures, protects and cares for each of those who are “born” into the family of God.

I am sorry some of you have had bad experiences with church people. BUT… we (the mature church goers) are constantly seeking God and forgiveness and are far from perfect in every way, so please forgive those who behave adversely, in their ignorance, pettiness, whatever..., so that God can forgive you for the times when you may have been less than perfect. Don’t reject the message because of the messenger!

God wants a relationship with you. Of course you can have this by yourself, but most of us would not stick to the course alone. We would tend to revert back to old habits and procrastinate about reading the bible or praying. We need others with whom to bounce around our ideas and to learn from. We need others for love and acceptance. Birds of a feather.......you know the rest. It’s really hard to grow when you have no teachers or examples by which to measure yourself.

The practice of faith is personal as well as private, but we need one another for support and comfort. Real spiritual growth is produced through relationships and community; through loving one another and through your growing relationship with God Almighty! This kind of love is amazing, unselfish, truthful, kind, patient, loyal and more.

All of this in church! Not every one “gets it”! But everyone has the opportunity to!! Some think all they need to do is attend services every once in a while. That doesn’t cut it. You need to become involved! I’m sure you know that the more you put into something the more you get out of it.

Blessings, Betty

WHY I BELIEVE IN THE CHURCH

By Dottie Parish

Jesus began building the church while he was here on earth and he expected us to continue this work. (Matt.16:18) Scripture also urges us “to not give up meeting together” (Hebrews 10:25) and to “go into all the world” (Mark 16:25) and teach and witness. Jesus also promised the Holy Spirit to guide us.

When I returned to church after years away I was flooded with memories of my childhood and young adult experiences in church. I remembered singing “Jesus Loves Me” as a toddler. I remembered memorizing Bible verses. I remembered the smells of a church, the sounds of a church, the feel of wooden pews, the hymns, the scripture, and all felt precious. I remembered the teachers and youth leaders who had taught me, encouraged me and loved me. I remembered retreats where we sang, talked and learned to pray. I remembered my baptism at age 12 and my teenage joy one Easter in realizing Jesus is alive and is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Before my return to church there had been little music in my life. Now music fills my heart and soul every day and God’s presence brightens each day. As a church member I am no longer alone. I am part of the fellowship of Christ - a loving support group with a great mission. I have meaning and purpose in my life again. What greater cause than doing God’s will can there be? 

At least seven things minister to us and change us when we belong to a vital church. Here’s a short list.

Fellowship. We gain fellowship, like a warm family, a group united in purpose who know us and care about us. We worship with others, their worship encourages ours, and their experiences inform ours. We see people grow spiritually.

Prayer.  We pray together. “When “two or three agree as touching anything on earth.” Coming into God’s presence with others and interceding with and for others in need deepens our own faith and our care for others. Personal prayer is also available as others in church gladly pray for and with us.

Worship. We worship together lifting our voices in praise to God. This is not the same as singing along to a TV service or worshipping in nature (though these can also be valuable). Worshiping with my brothers and sisters in Christ and an open heart to God is life changing and fills us with his Holy Spirit.

                                                                                           

Giving. Giving enriches us. We give our time, money and our energy to build the church, to reach out to spread the Word, and to heal and help those in need.

Confession. Confessing our sins silently in prayer frees us to open our hearts to God and others. When we confess our sin and repent before God he hears us.

Communion. Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is a unique spiritual ritual in which we humble ourselves and give thanks for what Christ has done for us. And we remember that he gave his life for us.

Scripture. The church teaches us and our children the amazing and consistent truths throughout Scripture and that God is holy, loving and true.

Fellowship, Prayer, Worship, Giving, Confessing, Communion, Scripture. We gain spiritual wisdom from each of these things and it changes us. We go out into the world and live our faith, witness to others, and serve others. And we return to our church to keep the fire burning.

There are 100,000 or more Christian churches in the United States. These churches are often the heartbeat of a community. They are centers for charity, children’s teaching, family get togethers, Bible studies and missions around the world. Churches employ hundreds of thousands of people and spend billions of dollars on goods and services. And they fund 1.6 million social programs and gather 7.6 million volunteers.

As Betty said, real spiritual growth is produced through God focused relationships and community; through loving one another and through a deepening relationship with God Almighty! The church changes us and changes the world. Don’t miss out! Join the Church of Jesus Christ!

Blessings, Dottie

REASONS TO BELIEVE CHRISTIANITY CHANGED THE WORLD

This is the eleventh in a series of blog posts with my sister Betty Haynie about what we believe. Our thoughts are intentionally brief on subjects that could fill volumes. My thoughts follow her thoughts - be sure to read it all!

HOW CHRISTIANITY CHANGED THE WORLD

By Betty Haynie

One way that Christianity changed the world is that women in Christian areas are honored and respected, not oppressed. The truth is that, far from oppressing women, the Christian church has proved to be a liberating force. Women have achieved unprecedented status in nations where Christianity has had an impact. Jesus honored women among His followers. Mary Magdalene was the first to discover the empty tomb, see the resurrected Christ, and tell the other believers. Jesus stopped people from stoning the adulteress and treated the oft-married woman at the well with respect.

Throughout history women in non-Christian countries have been treated as property - chattel in some instances. Only in the Western countries and those in Europe and South America that embrace Christianity have women become more highly elevated and, in many countries equal with men. This is especially true in the United States, Canada, England and some of the European countries. In many countries women still cannot vote or voice an opinion.

In his book How Christianity Changed the World, Alvin Schmidt elaborates on how Christianity endorsed and promoted the following subjects:

1. The Sanctification of Human Life

2. Christianity Elevates Sexual Morality

3. Women Receive Freedom and Dignity

4. Charity and Compassion

5. Hospitals and Health Care

6. Christianity’s Imprint on Education

7. Labor and Economic Freedom Dignified

8. Science: Its Christian Connections

9. Liberty and Justice for All

10. Slavery Abolished

11. Christianity’s Stamp on Art and Architecture

12. The Sound of Music: Its Christian Resonance

13. Hallmarks of Literature: Their Christian Imprint

14. Additional Influence: Holidays, Words, Symbols etc.

I won’t go into each of these subjects, but this list is certainly something for Christians to take comfort in, knowing that without Christ this world would be a really sorry mess (even worse than it currently is). It is because we don’t acknowledge Jesus and live by God’s Word that the world is in such a mess. But without Jesus’ life and teachings it would be MUCH worse. If mankind would simply practice living as Jesus teaches us to, and follow His example, this world could be a heaven rather than the hell that it has become. The original name for the followers of Jesus was “The Way,” and that is what it really is, to those who believe.  

Blessings, Betty

HOW CHRISTIANITY CHANGED THE WORLD

By Dottie Parish

Did you read Betty’s list of how Christianity changed the world? What would the world be like if Christianity had never happened? Here are things I thought of that would be missing if Jesus had never lived and taught and died and rose again.

Marvelous music would be missing including Handel’s Messiah, all hymns, and great and beautiful classical Christian music. The same is true of art, such as the Sistine Chapel and the painting there by Michelangelo. Think of all the Christian literature, especially the Bible but also Pilgrims Progress by Paul Bunyan, Augustine’s Confessions, A Christmas Carol, and books by C. S. Lewis and Timothy Keller, and the Cost of Discipleship by Bonhoeffer and so many more.

There would be no Bible, no Lord’s Prayer, no Christmas holiday, no Easter, no Thanksgiving (the pilgrims started this to thank God), no churches, no Red Cross, no Billy Graham revivals, no missionaries, no homeless shelters. Many hospitals started as Christian institutions, many colleges did also. They would not be here. There would be no child labor laws. No Salvation Army, no putting your hand on the Bible in court to swear to tell the truth, children would not learn to pray or sing Jesus Loves me. No Sunday off work, no ten commandments. Would it be ok to steal, to commit adultery? Would children learn to honor their parents?

There would be no story of the Good Samaritan, no angels singing to welcome the new born babe, no overcoming of death, no resurrection as a fact, no miracles of healing.

Life would seem aimless, no purpose, just do your own thing. There would be more immorality, more stealing, sleeping around, contentiousness, less listening to others and more doing whatever you please, more lawlessness, more self-focus, less kindness.

Women would be subjected to the whims of men as men are stronger. Why not? (Jesus was accepting and honoring toward women contrary to the culture then.) Our calendar would not be divided into BC and AD. Infants and children would be abused more and discarded if not healthy; children would suffer more abuse and be put to work at a young age.

Christianity is responsible for providing us over the course of the last 2000 years a reasonable, faith that teaches us who God is and how he wants us to live. He teaches us that we will fail without him. We need God in order to live a humble, honest, kind and loving life. We need him to save us from our sinful ways and with his Spirit in us to help others. Whether you are Christian or not, we all should thank God for Jesus and the Christian faith. Christ Jesus has changed us and our world! 

Blessings, Dottie

Watch for our final Reasons to Believe post on WHY I BELIEVE IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH in late April by Betty and Dottie

REASONS TO BELIEVE: IS THERE ONLY ONE WAY TO GOD?

This is the tenth in a series of blog posts with my sister Betty Haynie about what we believe. Our thoughts are intentionally brief on subjects that could fill volumes.

REASONS I BELIEVE JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD

By Betty Haynie

I heard a story which described many pathways to God. Each pathway had its ups and downs, lessons about life strewn in the path etc, but from the eagle’s viewpoint, they all gradually merged closer and closer to each other. Finally they became one huge path. After walking this path for a while it was obvious that the path was getting narrower and narrower. Then, up ahead, there was a humongous boulder blocking any further passage. You couldn’t get over it, under it or around it. BUT, there was a door. The door was marked Yeshua. To continue on your path to God you HAD to go through the Rock - the Yeshua Rock.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.’” John 14:6

And remember, He only said what His father told Him to say.  

“Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.” John 14:10-11

I went through a period of doubt, wondering why God would condemn people to eternal separation from Him for not accepting His Son, Jesus, as divine. It seemed to me there should be more than one way or one path to heaven. Well I have come to realize that God is not willing that any should suffer eternity without love (God being “love”).

In an article from Focus on the Family, Del Tackett believes this issue (one way to God) is core to our faith and proof of God’s holy nature. We Christians believe in absolute truth - God’s truth. Therefore if it is in the Bible and we quote it, we are not expressing our own truth but that of God which we have accepted.

“Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

THE path to God, i.e. Salvation, is found in no one but Jesus. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

He was the sacrificial lamb who died for our sins so that through our confession of sin and acceptance of the gift of Christ we can avoid death. We who believe will simply go from this life to the next as if walking through a door.

John sees Jesus coming to him and says, “See, here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

The path for believers is full of love, hope, joy, peace, truth, growth, change, caring, acceptance, happiness, freedom from guilt and remorse and much, much more. The path of the world is full of competition, aggressiveness, dog eat dog, ulcers, cheating, conniving, lying, sexual promiscuity, greed, heartache, sorrow, fear, suspicion, etc., etc. Which kind of path are you on? Are you satisfied with your choice?

Blessings, Betty

REASONS I BELIEVE JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD

By Dottie Parish

There are many historical, factual reasons to believe that Jesus is the only way to God. Throughout the Old Testament there are over 100 predictions about the future Messiah. These were written by many authors, in numerous books, over a period of 1,000 years. For instance one of the prophets said the redeemer is to be born in Bethlehem. “As for you Bethlehem,.....from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2

Over one hundred prophesies about Jesus as the Messiah are fulfilled in the New Testament. What is the probability of that?

“Jesus said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law or Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Luke 24:44

In addition, all the books of the New Testament – written by men who knew Jesus, offer their own testimony about him. Here’s part of what Peter says:

“We did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’  We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” 2 Peter 1:16-18

So who did Jesus say he was? Mark Driscoll in a talk at the Crystal Cathedral listed seven statements of Jesus that are “earth shattering, history altering and life changing.”

1. Jesus says “I have come down from Heaven.” He says this repeatedly in the John 6 alone. This is an unprecedented and unparalleled claim.

2. Jesus says that He is God. “I and the Father are one.” John 10: 30 He is claiming equality with God the Father.

3. Jesus said his miracles proved he was God. “Why do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said I am God’s son? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father.” John 10:36-39

4. Jesus claims he is without sin. “Which of you convicts me of sin?” John 8:46 Jesus is either a boastful, arrogant man or the God-man he says he is.

5. Jesus said he could forgive our sin. “Your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5 Conflict erupted as people said God alone forgives sin. And they were right.

6. Jesus said he is the only way to heaven. “I am the way, the truth, the light (singular and exclusive). “No one comes to the Father but by me.” John 14:6

7. Jesus said he would rise from death. “The son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles. They will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him and three days later he will rise again.” Mark 10:33-34) He is the Redeemer, the Savior! He conquered death!

Jesus asks “Who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15 We all must answer this question. It’s the most important question in life. So….who do you say Jesus is?

Father, I pray for those who don't know you. I pray they will gain not just information but transformation today. Give them your Holy Spirit to dwell in their hearts and guide them, and to fill them with joy, peace and grace that never ends. And I pray they say, "Yes, Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God!" In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Blessings, Dottie

Watch for the next Reasons to Believe post on WHY I BELIEVE CHRISTIANITY CHANGED THE WORLD in late March by Betty and Dottie

REASONS TO BELIEVE THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GOD

This is the tenth in a series of blog posts with my sister Betty Haynie about what we believe. Our thoughts are intentionally brief on subjects that could fill volumes.

REASONS I BELIEVE JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD

By Betty Haynie

I heard a story which described many pathways to God. Each pathway had its ups and downs, lessons about life strewn in the path etc, but from the eagle’s viewpoint, they all gradually merged closer and closer to each other. Finally they became one huge path. After walking this path for a while it was obvious that the path was getting narrower and narrower. Then, up ahead, there was a humongous boulder blocking any further passage. You couldn’t get over it, under it or around it. BUT, there was a door. The door was marked Yeshua. To continue on your path to God you HAD to go through the Rock - the Yeshua Rock.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.’” John 14:6

And remember, He only said what His father told Him to say.  

“Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.” John 14:10-11

I went through a period of doubt, wondering why God would condemn people to eternal separation from Him for not accepting His Son, Jesus, as divine. It seemed to me there should be more than one way or one path to heaven. Well I have come to realize that God is not willing that any should suffer eternity without love (God being “love”).

In an article from Focus on the Family, Del Tackett believes this issue (one way to God) is core to our faith and proof of God’s holy nature. We Christians believe in absolute truth - God’s truth. Therefore if it is in the Bible and we quote it, we are not expressing our own truth but that of God which we have accepted.

“Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

THE path to God, i.e. Salvation, is found in no one but Jesus. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

He was the sacrificial lamb who died for our sins so that through our confession of sin and acceptance of the gift of Christ we can avoid death. We who believe will simply go from this life to the next as if walking through a door.

John sees Jesus coming to him and says, “See, here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

The path for believers is full of love, hope, joy, peace, truth, growth, change, caring, acceptance, happiness, freedom from guilt and remorse and much, much more. The path of the world is full of competition, aggressiveness, dog eat dog, ulcers, cheating, conniving, lying, sexual promiscuity, greed, heartache, sorrow, fear, suspicion, etc., etc. Which kind of path are you on? Are you satisfied with your choice?

Blessings, Betty

REASONS I BELIEVE JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD

By Dottie Parish

There are many historical, factual reasons to believe that Jesus is the only way to God. Throughout the Old Testament there are over 100 predictions about the future Messiah. These were written by many authors, in numerous books, over a period of 1,000 years. For instance one of the prophets said the redeemer is to be born in Bethlehem. “As for you Bethlehem,.....from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2

Over one hundred prophesies about Jesus as the Messiah are fulfilled in the New Testament. What is the probability of that?

“Jesus said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law or Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Luke 24:44

In addition, all the books of the New Testament – written by men who knew Jesus, offer their own testimony about him. Here’s part of what Peter says:

“We did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’  We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” 2 Peter 1:16-18

So who did Jesus say he was? Mark Driscoll in a talk at the Crystal Cathedral listed seven statements of Jesus that are “earth shattering, history altering and life changing.”

1. Jesus says “I have come down from Heaven.” He says this repeatedly in the John 6 alone. This is an unprecedented and unparalleled claim.

2. Jesus says that He is God. “I and the Father are one.” John 10: 30 He is claiming equality with God the Father.

3. Jesus said his miracles proved he was God. “Why do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said I am God’s son? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father.” John 10:36-39

4. Jesus claims he is without sin. “Which of you convicts me of sin?” John 8:46 Jesus is either a boastful, arrogant man or the God-man he says he is.

5. Jesus said he could forgive our sin. “Your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5 Conflict erupted as people said God alone forgives sin. And they were right.

6. Jesus said he is the only way to heaven. “I am the way, the truth, the light (singular and exclusive). “No one comes to the Father but by me.” John 14:6

7. Jesus said he would rise from death. “The son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles. They will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him and three days later he will rise again.” Mark 10:33-34) He is the Redeemer, the Savior! He conquered death!

Jesus asks “Who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15 We all must answer this question. It’s the most important question in life. So….who do you say Jesus is?

Father, I pray for those who don't know you. I pray they will gain not just information but transformation today. Give them your Holy Spirit to dwell in their hearts and guide them, and to fill them with joy, peace and grace that never ends. And I pray they say, "Yes, Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God!" In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Blessings, Dottie

Watch for the next Reasons to Believe post on WHY I BELIEVE CHRISTIANITY CHANGED THE WORLD in late March by Betty and Dottie

REASONS TO BELIEVE IN HEAVEN AND HELL

This is the ninth in a series of blog posts with my sister Betty Haynie about what we believe. Our thoughts are intentionally brief on subjects that could fill volumes. We decided to combine these two beliefs so you will get the bad news along with the GOOD NEWS. 

WHY I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN AND HELL

By Betty Haynie

God had a relationship with Adam and Eve. He walked with them in the Garden and all was wonderful. Earth was Paradise, Heaven here on earth. God was there in their midst. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, He left. This is what has made earth un-heavenly - the absense of God's presence. Now, if you have accepted God and have the Holy Spirit within you, you carry God every-where you go and life is full of unwarranted blessings and joy, as close to heaven as we can get while still in our bodies and grounded on this earth.

I believe that when we give our lives to God through Jesus we will spend eternity in a special place where there is no pain, no tears, no sorrows, only peace and love and God will be there with us. WOW!! In fact, once you accept Christ you are ALREADY in your eternity! Your “heaven” has already begun!! Of course it is still bound by your human experiences so there are trials and sorrows and illness, but your SPIRIT is in close relationship with God and THAT is heaven.

As far as Hell is concerned, I’ve heard some people complaining that God condemns millions of people to hell when He claims that you can only get to heaven by accepting Jesus as His son. Well, from what I’ve learned, and I believe, God does not want anyone to perish and spend eternity in hell. It grieves Him when one of His creations turns from Him and rejects His gift of Grace.

“The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any of us should perish, but that all of us should come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:9 

 If God offered me a free gift and I refused it, the consequences of that action are not God’s but mine. That seems logical to me. That offer is FREE to EVERYONE. There are no exclusionary clauses in His offer, so those people that you say He condemns to hell, are those who have refused His offer of eternal life. The absence of God is Hell!!

Heaven HAS to be exclusive. If anyone could get in no matter how they lived or what they believed it would be meaningless. In fact it would be just like it is here on earth!! The whole point is - everyone has a choice. Each person can choose to accept God’s gift or they can refuse it. The thief on the cross next to Jesus believed in Him and went to heaven because of his faith at the last moment!! But none of us can count on having a “moments-before-death” opportunity for acceptance.

So God is good! We are not! We try to be, but how good is good enough? I hear people all the time saying “of course I’m going to heaven. I’ve been a good person.” Well, folks, I hate to say this, but logic tells me you can’t get there just by being good. You can’t get there just by being bad either (wise guys).

The good news is, also, that God knows our hearts and IF we are truly sorry for our sins and accept Him as Lord there is simply no punishment - no condemnation!!

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1

What could be better than knowing that?

Blessings, Betty

WHY I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN AND HELL

By Dottie Parish

Hell is a difficult, even disgusting doctrine for Christians and non Christians to understand, much less accept. C. S. Lewis said he would remove this doctrine if he could. Many wonder why does a loving God condemn unbelievers to Hell no matter how good or bad they are? It is difficult to grasp the fact that being good does not get anyone to heaven – not even Mother Teresa. Every person is a sinner. We all fall short of the glory of God. He is holy and beyond us.

We wonder how a loving God can judge people, condemn people eternally and subject them to eternal torture. Many think of Jesus as loving in all he says and does and many believe the Old Testament to be full of God’s wrath and judgment. This is false. Much of the clear teaching on Hell is given by Jesus in the New Testament. For example Jesus is talking to his disciples about end times and tells what the King (God) will say:

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels….And these will have eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:41,46

Mark Clark in his book, The Problem of God, says that in other parts of the world people have the opposite view. They see evil being committed daily and wonder how God could be a God of Justice if there is no hell. The truth is, God is good and loving because he is also just. Clark says:

 “Hell is real. And scary. But in that there is a seriousness that can give way to security if we trust in the one who took hell on himself for us. God worked through his Son, driven by love and a desire for none to perish, to save us from hell to something glorious and wonderful.” Clark is referring to the fact that the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross is what enables those who accept him to go to heaven. His blood covers our sins and wipes them out.

C. S. Lewis says: “What are you asking God to do? To wipe out the past sins of the damned and at all cost to give them a fresh start, smoothing every difficulty and offering every miraculous help. He has done so in Jesus. Are you asking God to forgive them? They do not want to be forgiven. Are you asking God to leave them alone? Alas, I am afraid that is what he does.”

Hell is real and so is Heaven. Do you believe this life is all there is? Even Old Testament Scripture says: God has “set eternity in the hearts of men”. Ecclesiastes (3:11) Heaven is described throughout Scripture. Jesus repeatedly talks of heaven:

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26

“Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3

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

For a more complete understanding of heaven read Randy Alcorn’s and Joni Eareckson Tada’s books on Heaven. I read Randy Alcorn’s book about ten years ago and studied it with a Sunday school class. At that point I couldn’t believe what he said. Now I’m convinced! I had pictured heaven as a place where our spirits floated around on clouds and we sang praises to God. We were in His holy presence and it was wonderful with no more tears or sorrow. This last sentence is true but the floating around part is not according to Alcorn.

He maintains that Scripture promises a New Heaven and a New Earth and they will be like our physical earth and our universe. Our earth is physical and humans are physical creatures with physical bodies. The New Earth will be a physical one and will be united with the New Heaven, a new universe of stars and planets. Jesus will occupy the New Earth and we will help him rule it as he originally planned for Adam and Eve to rule our current earth.

R. A. Torry says “We will not be disembodied spirits in the world to come, but redeemed spirits, in redeemed bodies, in a redeemed universe.” We will keep our unique identities and will recognize friends and family members we have known. Billy Graham also spells our in detail the fact that heaven will be glorious, perfect, joyous, active, and certain.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

So, dear reader, what will you choose? No one is too bad to seek the Lord, ask for forgiveness and accept his offer of heaven. Study the book of John in the Bible and the books on Heaven noted here. Read The Problem of God by Mark Clark. Reread our Reasons to Believe blogs. Talk with a Christian who believes all this. Ask for forgiveness from God and tell him you want to know Him. Don’t miss the glory of heaven and being in the presence of God forever.

“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit living in you.” Romans 8:11

Blessings, Dottie

Look for the next Reasons to Believe post on WHY I BELIEVE IN ONLY ONE WAY TO GOD in late February by Betty and Dottie

  

REASONS TO BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS

This is the eighth of a series of blog posts with my sister Betty Haynie about what we believe. Our thoughts are intentionally brief on subjects that could fill volumes.

WHAT I BELIEVE ABOUT CHRISTMAS

By Betty Haynie 

  

The Christmas season is a special time of awe and wonder. Tune in to the miracle of life and the love of God. Enjoy Christmas events, specials on TV and inspiring worship. Be amazed by the greatest miracle of all, the incarnation - God as a new born babe. Jesus came as both the gift and the Giver - all wrapped up in one package.    

I’ve been thinking of what it must have been like for Mary and Joseph. Jesus’ coming had been foretold, not by physicians but by angels. If those angels were right - and how could they not be? - Here was a Messiah who had been the subject of poems, songs, dreams and prophecies for years. At least 800 years before Jesus was born a prophet named Isaiah predicted:

“Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

   
Savior? Prince of Peace? Messiah? Perhaps Mary and Joseph stammered when they tried to speak those words. It must have been hard to believe that their baby was going to save the world; that He was the Messiah, God incarnate. Imagine looking at their sleeping infant and realizing that, not only was He their son, which astounds most of us when we see our newborns, but He was also the promised Messiah.

The Hebrew people had no idea their Messiah would come as a baby. They believed that the Messiah would be the ultimate military commander. He would arrive on horseback, with sword held high, crying out for vengeance and redemption in the name of the Lord and his favored nation.

Yet here was a baby - just a helpless, little baby. Joseph and Mary had to admit that He was a baby who seemed like any other newborn child, but if this was just an ordinary infant how could he be the Son of God? 

       
Scripture tells us that Jesus is the One, like no other ever born, for he was 100% human and 100% God - simultaneously. Nothing about his humanity could take away from his Godliness; nothing about his Godliness could take away from his humanity. Only because of this truth can he reconcile the Father in heaven with his children on earth. He is the Man of both worlds; He came as the bridge by which God comes to earth and people come to heaven.
   

So what about the certainty of the virgin birth? The Hebrew word for Virgin (alma) is translated from “ha alma” meaning “the virgin” not just any virgin. The Greek, however, three centuries before Christ was born, used the term “parthenos” which means clearly, specifically and scientifically “virgin.” This word is absolutely unambiguous!!

So first, we see that the Virgin Birth is the sign of Jesus divinity. He was not conceived like the rest of us. He came to the earth from outside, pure and clean, for He is in no way a product of this world.
   

Second, we see that His infancy is the sign of his humanity. He was carried in Mary’s womb and born like we all are. He is one of us. He arrived from heaven with perfection and Godliness, of which no man or woman is capable - yet he takes the full human journey. 

 He was man and He was God. He came as a child to confront and conquer every challenge and every temptation common to humanity. We trust Him with our lives because he is God. We love him with our hearts because we know that once He was a tiny baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, and because He TOOK OUR SINS AWAY.

Blessings, Betty
      

WHAT I BELIEVE ABOUT CHRISTMAS

By Dottie Parish

Christmas is a happy, festive and joyful time. We celebrate Christmas with gifts, fancy meals, family gatherings and we enjoy marvelous, joyful worship. But in the busyness of the season do we miss the holy meaning of Christmas? Do we know what Christmas is really about?

It’s about the greatest miracle of all! The Incarnation of Jesus as a baby. As Betty said, Christ assumed human form in the person of Jesus and is completely God and completely man. The Son of God existed before the world was created. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things came into being through Him and apart from him nothing came into being that has come into being.” (John 1:1-3)

The divine Son of God existed with God and took on his human body in the womb of Mary. He was not the son of Joseph. He was the Son of God. Mary was a virgin and God impregnated her. Can you imagine this?

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel, which means, God with us.“ (Matthew 1:23) In this scripture Matthew is quoting from Isaiah 7:14. Scholars for centuries didn’t know this could be taken literally. As Betty said they were expecting a different kind of Messiah. This is a promise greater than anyone expected. Mary is pregnant with the Son of God!

Angels run all through this holy story. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said: ^“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.  He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.  And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” (Luke 1:31-35)

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:34-35) Have you ever seen an angel?  Can you imagine this happening to a teen-age girl? What an amazing revelation!

When Joseph learned Mary was pregnant he planned to quietly end their relationship. Then an angel appeared to him in a dream and said: “Do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And you will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21) And Joseph listened and married Mary in spite of what the neighbors must have said.

Another angelic appearance came at the birth of Jesus. An angel appeared to the shepherds and said, “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior – Yes, the Messiah, the Lord- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him. You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snuggly in strips of cloth!” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” (Luke 2:10-14)

How amazing that must have been for these shepherds to hear the angel’s message and then to see a vast number of angels praising God and announcing the Good News. Can you imagine the awe and wonder of this? Only Almighty God, Our Holy God could do this. Coming as a baby cost Jesus much. He gave up indescribable power and glory to become one of us.

There were witnesses to all these events and they have been studied and written about and pondered over for centuries. The star that guided the wise men from the East also attests to the divine nature of Jesus. He was both divine and human. He lived on earth, grew up and taught his disciples to love God and follow Him. And he died to save us. And he rose again! The Christmas “story” is the most amazing true story told and it is a TRUE story. It is His Story. Don’t miss this. Ask Jesus into your heart this Christmas.

“Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6

Blessings, Dottie

Watch for the next Reasons to Believe post on WHY I BELIEVE IN HELL AND HEAVEN in mid January by Betty and Dottie