It is natural for any thinking person to question some beliefs. In fact it is healthy. Most of us at times struggle with hard questions: Why so much suffering? Why are my prayers not answered? Why does the Bible seem to contradict itself?
In the previous blog mentioned two perspectives that help as we face spiritual doubts and questions. The third perspective I shared with the teens on Friday night was this:
Stay centered on Jesus. No one has answers to all of the questions that can be raised about Science and the Bible; the Person of God; the psychological aspects of religious belief and about Christian faith specifically.
But we do have solid eyewitness accounts of Jesus: what He taught, how He treated people, how He died. We do have solid evidence for the resurrection. We know the early disciples were radically changed almost immediately after Jesus rose from the dead. And hundreds of millions of people have found in Jesus powerful life change. Focus on Jesus. Grow your relationship with Him. Peripheral questions may bother us, but if the Center remains firm, the life of faith is not rocked.
Beware of the evidence that temptation and the sin that easily follows often lead to spiritual doubts. Though I may not admit it, when tempted to a lifestyle dishonouring to God, I will also be tempted to reject some or all of my beliefs. If I can do that, I will enjoy sin more and an ease my conscience. A Christian moving into a sinful lifestyle is subconsciously motivated to deny the faith.
The fourth thing I shared while on this topic was:
Remain realistic about the choices. More on this in the next blog.
I hope you can worship our Lord with other believers tomorrow.
In the previous blog mentioned two perspectives that help as we face spiritual doubts and questions. The third perspective I shared with the teens on Friday night was this:
Stay centered on Jesus. No one has answers to all of the questions that can be raised about Science and the Bible; the Person of God; the psychological aspects of religious belief and about Christian faith specifically.
But we do have solid eyewitness accounts of Jesus: what He taught, how He treated people, how He died. We do have solid evidence for the resurrection. We know the early disciples were radically changed almost immediately after Jesus rose from the dead. And hundreds of millions of people have found in Jesus powerful life change. Focus on Jesus. Grow your relationship with Him. Peripheral questions may bother us, but if the Center remains firm, the life of faith is not rocked.
Beware of the evidence that temptation and the sin that easily follows often lead to spiritual doubts. Though I may not admit it, when tempted to a lifestyle dishonouring to God, I will also be tempted to reject some or all of my beliefs. If I can do that, I will enjoy sin more and an ease my conscience. A Christian moving into a sinful lifestyle is subconsciously motivated to deny the faith.
The fourth thing I shared while on this topic was:
Remain realistic about the choices. More on this in the next blog.
I hope you can worship our Lord with other believers tomorrow.
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