No one comes to the Father...

I was recently handed a newspaper that contained the following question and answer:

Question: "No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6. I can't believe that the Jesus I accept as the hope for all humanity would even entertain such a thought. What are your thoughts on the matter?

In the pastor's response, he outright claims that the words of Jesus recorded for us in John's Gospel were not Jesus' actual words. He states that John and others scribed Christian words to Jesus. He even stated that John and others did this to ensure that people saw Christianity as the only way to God.

He concluded with:

"I agree with you that the Jesus through whom I found the way to God and the Jesus you see as the hope for all humanity would not exclude Jews or Muslims, Buddhists or Hindus who have found their way to God and seek to lead a life of love and justice. My salvation as a Christian does not depend on the damnation of others."

Although He is an ecumenical protestant minister, I was surprised that his answer went beyond ecumenicism to universalism (or at least a multiple religion stance).

Secondly, he seemed to take the Holy Spirit's preservation of Scripture out of the equation. In calling into question parts of the Bible like this, one could then reason that perhaps the verses we base our salvation on may not be accurate. I hope for our sake, they cannot.

Thirdly, he concluded that Christianity may not be the only way one can get to God and that the other religions can also lead one to God. His stance seems to be that Christians shouldn't be closed minded in regards to how one can get to God. However, the Jews believe that their way is the only way to get to God. Likewise, the Muslims and Hindus. Oh, and last I checked, Buddhists don't believe in God.

Unfortunately, each religion seems to want to conclude that their way is the only way or that all roads get us to God. However, from my study of the Scriptures, the only way is through a love for God and a relationship with Him (by believing in Jesus), thus the Judeo-Christian way.

Halloween, ghosts, and demons??

Since Halloween was Monday, I had posted on facebook the story about the Sceva House that was made up by the Skit Guys (Christian Comedians) as a way of starting the dialogue this time of year about the role of the supernatural and how Christians should handle the topic.

This caused one person to respond with questions about Christians:

• Do Christians believe in the supernatural?


• Doesn’t the supernatural contradict most of the heaven and hell beliefs?


• She also stated that none of the Christians [she has] known have believed in ghosts and such, because they did not like the idea of having your soul 'trapped' on earth.

Well, since I believe that Christians shouldn’t be afraid to address these types of questions, let’s get to them.

Let me start out by saying that some of the Christian views about these topics may go completely against the non-Christian’s views. Please hear me out and afterwards I will try to explain how I believe the differences came about.

Do Christians believe in the supernatural?
Why shouldn’t we? Webster’s gives a couple definitions for supernatural:

1. “of or relating to an order of existence beyond the visible observable universe; especially : of or relating to God or a god, demigod, spirit, or devil”
   Christians believe in God, angels, demons (those angels who rejected God), and the Devil. So, yes, we believe that definition.


2. “departing from what is usual or normal especially so as to appear to transcend the laws of nature”
   Christians who take the Bible literally know that God has done things outside of the laws of nature: He split the Red Sea; He made water gush from a rock; He caused the Plagues; He raised the dead; He caused a virgin to become pregnant, etc. So, yes, we believe that definition.

Doesn’t the supernatural contradict most of the heaven and hell beliefs?
      No. We believe that God has created hell as the final resting place of Satan, Satan’s angels (which are called demons), and those who reject God. So, it seems that hell exists for supernatural beings.

Now for the statement: She also stated that none of the Christians [she has] known have believed in ghosts and such, because they did not like the idea of having your soul 'trapped' on earth.
      Well, here’s where we will have differing views.

First, let me share what happened in 1 Samuel 28. In this chapter, King Saul seeks out a medium to bring Samuel’s spirit up so he can ask him a question. Well, the witch did bring up his spirit. There are varying views on what happened. Either Samuel’s spirit appeared or it was an angel (or demon) representing Samuel. Either way, there is a medium that got in touch with something supernatural (Samuel’s spirit or an angel/demon).

Second, let’s remember that angels (and demons) were created by God before the world began, so they’ve been around forever, basically. The Bible also tells us that there are some in Heaven and some on Earth. We find them appearing as men and interacting with several people in the Old Testament. We even find some interacting with man in the New Testament as well. Even Jesus exercised demons out of people.

Also, I do not believe the Bible teaches that our souls are trapped here. I believe the Bible teaches that if we are saved, after we die we’ll be in God’s presence. Those who are not saved will be in a hell (which is basically a waiting cell for final judgment and final sentencing to the Lake of Fire).

Also, where did man get the notion that “ghosts” are people’s souls that are trapped here on earth? I hear that a lot. I believe that if you deny the God of the Bible and the Biblical view of Heaven and Hell, then you are left with the following logical reasoning: Someone sees a “ghost.” Since you don’t believe in angels and it looks human, the only logical conclusion would be that it is a person’s soul.

 

In summary: God created angels (and demons). The supernatural is comprised of God and the angels. “Ghosts” that people see are either angels or demons.

Let’s use this truth to share with others that those angels who rejected God won’t have a second chance to be with Him. They’ve sealed their fate. However, we humans have unlimited chances this side of the grave to accept God. But since it’ll be too late when we die, and we don’t know when that will be, we should accept God today.

Visit from some Jehovah's Witnesses

So, on Saturday, just as I was adding some comments about the Jehovah’s Witnesses to my sermon (on the Rapture in 1 Thess 4:13-18), guess who shows up in my driveway? Well, as much as I wish it was Publisher’s Clearing house, with a big check, God had something better in mind. That’s right, we got a visit from the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

After greeting them at the door and exchanging greetings, I listened, almost impatiently, as they went through their opening. I say impatiently, since I knew who they were and what they wanted. I also know what I wanted to share with them (the good news of the Gospel). But I didn’t want to be rude and interrupt. After the guy got to a stopping point, I asked if he would mind me stepping inside and getting a Bible. He said he didn’t mind.

So, I went in and returned with a copy of my Greek New Testament and a copy of the New World Translation of the Scriptures. Now, why would I use such a bible and not a KJV, NKJV, NASB, NIV, and any other Bible? Why would I use a bible that I knew was faulty? Because I didn’t want the translation to be a stumbling block to my presentation of the gospel. I know from past experience that if you point out something to them from the Bible, and don’t use their version, they will simply say that your Bible is faulty and dismiss your point. (As a sidenote, at one point, as I pointed something out – no, I don’t remember what – the guy said, “well that’s what your King James says.” I said, “no, I’m using your translation, not the King James.”) [Also, isn’t this one way of “becom[ing] all things to all men, that I might by all means save some”? (1 Cor. 9:22.)]

After going back and forth with the guy, with each of us trying to prove our Gospel, he finally asked what I thought the good news was. What an awesome question! I said that the good news is that Jesus died on the cross, was raised to life, and that by believing in Him as my Lord and Savior, I know I have a home in heaven and am saved.

I also learned a few other interesting things from the guy about their beliefs:

• They believe that Jesus was not God but a sinless man


• They believe all people are born with a sin nature (no, I didn’t get to ask if Jesus was a man, was He born with a sin nature, making Him less than perfect?)


• They believe that Jesus’ death on the cross paid our ransom


• They don’t believe in a New Heaven and New Earth as the Bible states


• They didn’t explain what it meant to them to be “saved” – other than just said we need to study the Bible and live according to it

One question that the guy didn’t give an answer to (nor could a JW up north) was this:
John 20:28 says, “And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”
Then I stepped them through the Greek NT and showed them that it literally says, “the Lord of me and the God of me” showing that Thomas called Him God. Then I asked, if Jesus was not God, why didn’t He rebuke Thomas or correct Thomas?

Now that I think about it, I think that this shakes their belief. Since Jesus didn’t say anything to correct Thomas, than 1 of 2 things have to be true. Either 1) Jesus is God, and no correction was needed or 2) Jesus, in not correcting Thomas, sinned and is less than perfect.

Anyway, I let them leave the second time the guy said that he could see they were not getting anywhere and neither was I. As they were leaving, I said I would pray for them. They said it wasn’t necessary. I asked if I could pray for them then and there and they said no.

I do pray for them, that God will open their eyes.