Christian Faith:  Belief In a Living God

Belief in A "Higher Power" and "Intelligent Design": A Beginning
     These forms of faith are most easily justified and proved by the use of scientific discoveries and in the world we see around us.  There is more to what is in the world that surrounds us than what we can experience with our five senses.  Science has proven that our "common" pets- dogs and cats- can hear sounds humans cannot and smell particles so diluted that we need special equipment to detect their presence.  Birds find their way over thousands of miles of migration routes using a navigation system we still do not fully understand, leaving and returning at approximately the same times every year.  Some scientists suggest that cats and other animals may even be able to predict storms and earthquakes due to some type of perception they have that we do not.  If animals can perceive things in this world that we are unable to, does this suggest there are many different dimensions and levels of perception that humans simply weren't given the "equipment" or discernment to perceive fully?  Einstein and other physicists seem to suggest this may be true.

    The existence of life on Earth can only be rationally explained by some sort of "Intelligent Design," as the odds of all of the necessary ingredients coming together to form even a single-celled animal are astronomical- billions and trillions to one- that it can be agreed that Someone had to have at least "gotten the ball rolling."   The retina of the human eye, or even the hemoglobin in our blood, are complex mechanisms that will not work unless their structures and chemical compositions are exactly as they are, without any variance.  The odds of either of these two wonders- the human retina or blood hemoglobin- occuring by random chance are even greater than that of single-celled life appearing by chance.  One can infer from these scientific facts that Someone had these designs in mind, and Someone created them.
"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how life enters the body being formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. "  Ecclesiastes 11:5

Our God is a Personal God
    If we can agree that Someone designed us and gave us life, we may also come to the conclusion that He cares for the creation he so carefully crafted.  We see a common thread throughout humanity in the concept of "natural law-" all cultures and nationalities have certain moral rules, that stealing, lying, greed, and sexual misconduct are generally considered wrong, while acts of charity, helping one's neighbor and living a chaste lifestyle are generally considered right.  Most human cultures understand the concepts of "good" and "evil" though there is often dispute as to which actions or conditions are good or evil.  Even those who disdain religious faith admit to the fact that some things are good while others are evil.

    God loved us enough to give us the choice to choose Him and His teachings.  But He didn't want to play the "Sims" game (a popular CD-Rom game in which people can create families, neighborhoods and situations and make the characters act according to the players' whims) with His creation.  God gave us discernment and passion to pursue knowledge in the hope that we would use that discernment and passion to choose Him and grow in faith.  Yet many are deceived.  As Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the beginning and brought humans the knowledge of evil, humans have to make the choice between good and evil.  Evil cannot exist without good: as evil is only a perversion and corruption of what is good.  However, we have more than sufficient evidence that since the first "original sin" all humanity has been tainted by evil and is incapable of "perfect good." " Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before You."  Psalm 143:2

The Integrity of Scripture:
   Pamela Binnings Ewen is an attorney and former agnostic who wanted to believe the Good News of Jesus Christ, but found her logical and analytical approach to life got in her way.  She decided to look for evidence that would either prove or disprove the claim of the Gospels and the authenticity of Scripture.  After treating the Gospel testimony as if it were evidence in a trial, she came to the conclusion that there is compelling and definitive evidence that the writers of the Gospels did in fact witness the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that He fulfilled the words of the Old Testament Prophets.  Her work is eloquently outlined and ruthlessly documented in the book Faith On Trial.   Needless to say, Ms. Ewens is now a committed Christian.  Her book is readily available on Amazon and from Christian bookstores for those who need to take the analytical approach to justify their faith. " Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the Lord . "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. " Isaiah 66:2

    Knowledge combined with prayer serves to help clear away doubt.  The more one learns about scientific and archeological evidence that justifies and coincides with the Word of God presented in the Bible, the more one's doubts will vanish.  This is why we are encouraged to pray, read and study the Word, and to use God's gift of discernment to learn more about Him and His divine plan for us.

God Sent His Son to Save:
     As beneficial as study, prayer, reading the Word and trying to follow God's laws are for us these disciplines won't "buy our way to Heaven."  We are all sinful and cannot be justified by works no matter how noble or extensive they may be.  God made a Provision for saving us from the sin that keeps us from Him.  As a pure and holy sacrifice for the sins of humanity, He sent His only son to suffer and die for our sins.  "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and and they will call him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

     Jesus Himself knew that people would struggle with doubt, therefore He sent the Holy Spirit:  "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26   The Holy Spirit will remind us of the lessons we learn, if only we ask for His counsel and guidance!

Why Accept Christ?

    "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."  Acts 2:37-39
All the world's major religions agree on the concept of a Creator God, and in the concept of good and evil.  Even most agnostics and atheists have at least some sort of moral code.  But the saving difference of Christianity is that we believe in a Living God.  We don't put our faith in man-made idols, or in our own good works, nor do we visit the burial sites of our gods. Our God defeated death and arose from the tomb!  Christians aren't condemned to eternity in nothingness, or endless cycles of reincarnation as we try to justify ourselves in good works, or to damnation in hell.   Mohammed is dead, Buddha is dead, but only Jesus Christ conquered death and rose from the grave!  Only Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life!

    If you wish to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, the One Who conquered both death and the grave, you need only ask Him.  "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." John 10:9   No other belief system or person or philosophy holds the kind of power that Jesus does- to save people from eternal damnation and the displeasure of God.  Jesus does more than just rescue us from Hell, He makes us alive in Him.  He alone has the power to transform, to change, to renew the human condition.  " Praise the Lord , O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-  who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases"  Psalm 103:2-4

   All good things come from the Lord.  I cannot count all the blessings He has given me and I cannot thank Him enough for all the times He has carried me through trial:  even through times when I questioned my faith in times of duress such as in the untimely and tragic death of loved ones, chronic pain and disease, spousal abuse and divorce, financial distress, depression and so on.  Yet even through trial and difficulty He was there, He will be there in the future, and He sees me through.  The promise of Jesus, the Risen Lord, is like no other:  "Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6

Tonya Price