Ah, but you assume those who follow Jesus have abandoned reason and evidence. Quite the contrary. If one examines the order of the universe and of nature on Earth -- really understand how things work -- I believe you must at least conclude there is a higher power, a creator, if you will. To buy the theory that what we see today happened over time by chance is, IMO, ludicrous. Now at this juncture, most "religions" are on an equal footing. Then if you study how the best minds in our world define what can be accepted as true history in the absence of movies, pictures, first-hand testimony, or actual dated written, multiple accounts, I, at least from my own study, have concluded, overwhelmingly, that there was a man named Jesus who lived. Not only that, but this same man also claimed to be God, the Creator. He also claimed to be able to forgive sins and get those who believed in Him into a place called Heaven some day that would last forever -- the alternative He said was "forever" without His presence -- Hell. So many same accounts also say, or "prove" that He was hung on a cross and that He died and that He came back to life. Sprinkled amongst this were large numbers of accounts of complete miracles that He performed -- not like the "healers" today that make people's aches and pains "go away" or fuzzy eyesight "improve" -- but things like controlling the weather, making completely blind people see.
So with my own reasoning, I examine and study this evidence in great detail, with much thought. But there is more -- and that is where faith comes in. While I think it would be easier to believe if God would send an angel to speak directly to me as proof, he does speak to your heart. Everyone "knows" the difference between right and wrong. I believe everyone "knows" there is a God, but they suppress it. Remember, there were many accounts of people living at the time who actually saw Jesus perform miracles, and yet, many would not accept Him for who He said He was. You must know how prideful and selfish every person is. We all gravitate towards what will benefit us in secret, at least. This nature must be held in check if we are to accept Jesus' three basic rules. The first will get you into Heaven -- to accept Him as God (actually believe it) and ask Him to forgive your sins and save you. The next two are simple rules for living. True Christians will not always keep them, but they will continually TRY. Because of sin's pull and our own heritage, it may be a lifelong struggle, but we never give up in our hearts. The rules are -- have no other gods before me -- not power, money, political persuasion, sex, family, good works, church, whatever. Let nothing consume more time and thought than pleasing and worshipping God -- and rule two -- love and treat other people as you would "want" them to treat you. Do any of the so-called "religious" faiths of which you speak practice this? Just because a person or group calls, or has called themselves "Christians", does not mean they were by Jesus' definition. You are correct that many groups have taken small portions of the Bible and other "religious" writings to justify their obvious sinful behavior which clearly violates Jesus' main two rules for living. If someone or any group is violating these two rules, they are most certainly not true believers, and though we are not to judge, being a gambling man, I'll bet they will not be in Heaven someday. What kind of world would we have if everyone practiced this simple teaching? Would we have hungry people? Would people worship sport and hollywood figures? Would vast amounts of money be wasted on such trivial things? Would people be lazy and refuse to work and want governments to "take care" of them? Would anyone have to commit crime? Would there be wars? Would anyone have an "excuse" to be a terrorist?
The problem is not an abandonment of evidence and reason. It is man's sinful nature. But one day, IMO, very soon, all will be made whole in the twinkling of an eye. Because if it has been "proven" that Jesus was actually God, and God cannot lie, then He is coming again to this earth to take every true believer in HIm to that place called Heaven -- a place where there will be no selfishness, no greed, no hate, no sickness, no hurt feelings, no "bad luck".
Study for yourself. But, please hurry. Because if you study prophecy, the time could be very short indeed. Don't let other's inconsistencies determine your eternity. Decide for yourself what is real truth. You will only answer for yourself. So many people refuse to even examine the evidence for themselves because Bob or Mary is a "Christian" and they are selfish and treat others poorly. Bob and Mary will deal with the true God one day, as will Bin Ladin, George Bush, and everyone else.
Forget everything. Let's say the "scientists" and "intellectuals" who "prove" that the Bible is made-up stories have you convinced. What is the alternative? Is it enough for you to believe Oprah that we are all gods or nature is god? Is it enough for you to have 100 years, at most, of life and then nothing? What is the alternative to the story the Bible presents? Is there something more compelling? Why has Jesus persisted for all of time? Why have so many people been willing to give up this 100 years for a chance at an eternity that our great intellectuals say does not exist? Why do people in other countries go to their death but will not deny Jesus existence? This is over great amounts of time and millions of people. You can't compare this to a Jim Jones or a Charles Manson following. Has anyone changed so many lives and the world as Jesus -- all in a non-violent way? If you will just read the Bible, God will speak to you. I can't explain it, but 100 years is not enough for me. I don't want to take that chance. I pray for you.
I remain,
SOROS |
