THE shocking, heartbreaking news of suicide does not end in the lives of relatives and friends. Rather, it opens up a new storyline of jumbled feelings of compassion and anger, pain, sadness and guilt. And it begs the question: Can we have any hope for our friend or family who took his or her life that they may receive a resurrection?
Why are there so many religions? Are all religions acceptable to God? Is it proper to leave the religion of one’s parents? What is the Bible’s viewpoint as to interfaith? Is belonging to an organized religion necessary? Is having a personal relationship with God the really important thing? If we personally read the Bible, is that sufficient? How can a person know which religion is right?
Some Bible critics seem, to begin with, the belief that if the originals were inspired by God and fully inerrant, the subsequent copies must continue to be inerrant in order for the inerrancy of the originals to have value. They seem to be asking, “If only the originals were inspired, and the copies were not inspired, and we do not have the originals, how are we to be certain of any passage in Scripture?” In other words, God would never allow the inspired, inerrant Word to suffer copying errors. Why would he perform the miracle of inspiring the message to be fully inerrant and not continue with the miracle of inspiring the copyists throughout the centuries to keep it inerrant?
The apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 4:4 that the Father “sent forth his Son, born of a woman.” How did the laws of heredity work with this union of perfection (the life of the Son) with imperfection (the ovum or egg cell in Mary’s womb)?
How was the life of the Son transferred from heaven to earth to be united, in the fertilization of an ovum or egg cell in Mary’s womb? How could Jesus, as the actual son of Mary, a genuine descendant of forefathers Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and King David and legitimate heir retain the same identity that he had in heaven?
“FAITH is a negation of reason,” writes British philosopher A. C. Grayling.
“The relation of faith to reason is of utmost importance for the thinking believer. The problem of how to combine these aspects of personhood has existed from the earliest apologists. Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian all struggled.” – Norman L. Geisler
As you read this article, take note of how true faith and reason are compatible.
This is the first day of the year. Let us make the resolution that we will defend the faith but that we will do so with gentleness and respect.
A Christian should not attempt to ram the truth down someone’s throat or to speak patronizingly or critically to them.
