So I have recently become very intrigued on the thought process behind those who will fully say they are Christ followers and then believe that there is chance in the world, that coincidences happen. One of the biggest interest for me in this is because of a choice that needs to be made come September. We are going to be starting a student leadership team in the GCC youth and I have some names in my head who I think would be really good at taking on this responsibility. However, after going over some of the Biblical evidence for God using chance for His purpose. So I really struggle with this, because part of me really wants the names I have in my head because of pride and selfishness. But I know that God's ways are best so I know what I'm going to do. I'll go into a bit more detail now.
I read a very interesting article recently which takes the view that God created the realm of chance and then almost left it to fend for itself (God or Chance?). I definitely see where he is coming from as he is a statistician and a preacher. So it would make sense to pull both those two worlds and make one that is capable of compiling both worlds into one.
Now don't get me wrong, I totally agree and believe in probability and that we are capable of understanding that when you flip a coin there are only two outcomes and because of this you have a 50/50 chance. This is not chance but probability. Or that when you buy a ticket to the lottery you have a very very very small probability to win. But I don't believe in coincidences, lady luck, or chance itself.
So here's the dilemma though. When we believe in the God of the Bible, there are certain stipulations that you have to believe in as well or else you actually believe in a different god, and not the one portrayed in the Bible. See there are many places in the Bible where it shows that God governs the world, but moreso God even governs what we call chance. If we look at a few passages in the Bible, and these are not extensive, we can see that God even uses chance to His profit. The first is probably one of the most well known when it comes to the Church, however I could be very wrong. In Acts 1:20-26 we see that the 11 apostles are in the process to choosing a new 12th apostle. Now there were clear stipulations that were set in order for your name to be considered to be the new 12th, but in the end the 11 were left with two names, but instead of making the choice on their own they decided to allow God to choose through the action of drawing lots.
Another well known time in the Bible where choice is given to God through the action of drawing lots is in the story of Jonah. The story going that Jonah ran away from God and when he was on the boat heading away from Nineveh the sailors cast lots (Jonah 1:7) to see who was responsible for causing the storm and it ended being Jonah who got the short end of the stick.
One other time in the Bible where chance is shown as a use of God is told to us in Joshua 7:13-18. The story is that after the Israelites conquered Jericho they were told to not take anything from the land at all. However a man, named Achan, took a gold mantel and hid it away. Because of this the Israelites lost their next battle because God allowed them to lose. God told Joshua to take all of Israel and by drawing lots God will show them who was the cause of their defeat. So Joshua starts at the top, Israel to Judah to Zerahites, to Zabdi, to Achan. Through the choice of "chance" or what we would most likely in our day and age call coincidence.
So in the end I am really just struggling with my own pride and selfishness with thinking that my choices are better than God's. But through the Bible we really see that God Himself chooses and not some random god or fate called "chance."
So......do you serve the God of the Bible? Or do you serve the god of chance?
Friday, 2 September 2011
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
What if.......
So I've been really struggling lately with the whole deal of how many people come to church on a weekly basis and how many people are those C&E Christians (Christmas & Easter) and how it seems these people pay lip service to a God who they really don't know and don't want to get to know. However that isn't what eats at me most. I think the biggest thing is me......the whole idea that there are times when I go to church because it's the thing a Christian does and it is the "good thing to do."
It is interesting because I have been a Christian for the majority of my life (or that's what I'm told) and yet at age 27 I am just starting to realize and really dig deeper into the truths of this so called faith, Christianity.
I was listening to a little blurb on youtube by Francis Chan about how vital it is to make sure that we get the important things of the Bible right (Francis Chan - Erasing Hell). I'm not talking about the little things like when a verse in the Bible is so vague and two people have a different opinion on it. I'm talking about those important things to our salvation, what theologians would call the dogmas, the essentials to Christianity.
John Fairchild, another pastor at Grace Community Church, spoke towards this a bit this past Sunday in his sermon (You can listen to it here Sermon on Joel). It is interesting because when John spoke on this it really hit me hard again about just how much we need to make sure we have it right. It is quite scary sometimes if we read through the Bible and find out the scoop on us as Christians.
There are a few passages that point towards the fact that there are going to be people who didn't know they were Christians and at the judgement day Christ ushers them into Heaven, but there are also those who think that they are going to be saved but Christ says to depart from him because he never knew them (Matthew 25:31-46). That's scary stuff. Do you really know what group you're going to be in? Do I really know what group I'm going to be in? I can definitely say that I think I know which group I'll be in, but then again only God really knows fully. We also see in Matthew 7:21-23 that Jesus talks about this exact topic as well that there are people who will call Jesus Lord (which is master) and Jesus will still say depart from me.
There's another example from the Bible where some Jewish priests, people who followed the law to the T, were trying to cast out demons. This happens in Acts 19:13-17. These were probably the people who could have done what Jesus wanted because they followed the law rigorously and obeyed all the commandments (there are more than just 10, those are just the main ones, the "morality 101" if you will). However a demon possessed man that they tried to exorcise beat up 7 of them.
These are just a few parts of the Bible that really get me wondering and what the Bible would call "working out my salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil 2:12).
So do you feel safe? Do you really think your name is written in the book of life? I'll be honest, I do, however I also want to make sure every once and a while because I don't want to become arrogant thinking that there's no possible way I couldn't be saved when in fact there are so many ways.
So this is just something that has been going through my head and heart the last couple of days and weeks. Hope whoever reads this might get something out of it as well.
Blessings
It is interesting because I have been a Christian for the majority of my life (or that's what I'm told) and yet at age 27 I am just starting to realize and really dig deeper into the truths of this so called faith, Christianity.
I was listening to a little blurb on youtube by Francis Chan about how vital it is to make sure that we get the important things of the Bible right (Francis Chan - Erasing Hell). I'm not talking about the little things like when a verse in the Bible is so vague and two people have a different opinion on it. I'm talking about those important things to our salvation, what theologians would call the dogmas, the essentials to Christianity.
John Fairchild, another pastor at Grace Community Church, spoke towards this a bit this past Sunday in his sermon (You can listen to it here Sermon on Joel). It is interesting because when John spoke on this it really hit me hard again about just how much we need to make sure we have it right. It is quite scary sometimes if we read through the Bible and find out the scoop on us as Christians.
There are a few passages that point towards the fact that there are going to be people who didn't know they were Christians and at the judgement day Christ ushers them into Heaven, but there are also those who think that they are going to be saved but Christ says to depart from him because he never knew them (Matthew 25:31-46). That's scary stuff. Do you really know what group you're going to be in? Do I really know what group I'm going to be in? I can definitely say that I think I know which group I'll be in, but then again only God really knows fully. We also see in Matthew 7:21-23 that Jesus talks about this exact topic as well that there are people who will call Jesus Lord (which is master) and Jesus will still say depart from me.
There's another example from the Bible where some Jewish priests, people who followed the law to the T, were trying to cast out demons. This happens in Acts 19:13-17. These were probably the people who could have done what Jesus wanted because they followed the law rigorously and obeyed all the commandments (there are more than just 10, those are just the main ones, the "morality 101" if you will). However a demon possessed man that they tried to exorcise beat up 7 of them.
These are just a few parts of the Bible that really get me wondering and what the Bible would call "working out my salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil 2:12).
So do you feel safe? Do you really think your name is written in the book of life? I'll be honest, I do, however I also want to make sure every once and a while because I don't want to become arrogant thinking that there's no possible way I couldn't be saved when in fact there are so many ways.
So this is just something that has been going through my head and heart the last couple of days and weeks. Hope whoever reads this might get something out of it as well.
Blessings
Starting out, looking at identity
So to start this blog off I feel like I want to or even need to start back a couple of weeks when I was driving into work and I had one of those epiphanies which is more of a "duh" moment than a "holy crap!!" moment. It starts with looking at who I really am, what my identity actually is. So I wrote this a while ago and wanted to share it now as I start my journey through this whole blog thing.
so i had an idea driving into work today. not that it was anything new and actually it is quite old. it has to do with who i really am and not who i think i am. so my identity. i figured i'd put it up here for any of you to read who actually pay attention to these things.
son of God, brother of the Messiah, made in the image of God and an heir to the throne. since i am an heir to the throne all thing will be mine however i will never inherit the throne and therefore never receive any glory or honor, but i'm ok with that. And all of this is only possible through the work of God's grace in my life which i have no control over. that the grace of God is what sustains me and His mercy give me life every morning.
"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." Rev 4:11
So I hope that my adventure with this blog might help any of you who are reading it. Feel free to post comments whether it is you agreeing or even disagreeing. Please note though that if the comment is not made in a good manner I will delete it (if I can).
Blessings,
Nathan
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