What is Truth?
Pilate had a problem. The Jewish leaders kept bringing Jesus Christ before him and demanding his crucifixion. He could not find any justification for it, but he needed to keep the peace between the Jewish people and the Roman government. Pilate's brief interrogation of Jesus brought little clarity to the problem because Pilate was viewing things from a human perspective while Jesus was operating on a spiritual level.
Pilate asked Him about the accusation that He claimed to be a king.
"You are right in saying I am a king," Jesus replied. "In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
Frustrated, Pilate responded with a common philosophical question of the day, "What is truth?"
Some things never change. For over 2000 years, mankind has asked, "What is the truth?" And, like Pilate, so many people have missed it (even though it was right in front of them) because they were asking the wrong question. The question is not what is truth, but rather who is truth.
Jesus made it very simple for us. He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life." But instead of asking, "Who is truth?" we continue to echo Pilate's words, "What is truth?" As long as we ask that question, we will continue to leave as empty-handed as Pilate.
A non-Christian friend of mine once remarked, "All you Bible-thumpers act like you are the only ones that know the truth." I responded, "We do. It's Jesus." Like Pilate, this made no sense to him because he viewed the truth as a what, not a who. The simple, yet profound, shift in our thought process changes everything.
I should differentiate between "what is true" and "truth." While it's true that grass is green and hot air rises, we wouldn't say that grass and hot air are "Jesus." That's clearly not the meaning of Jesus' claim. Our English word for truth comes from the Old English trēowth which means "fidelity." It is akin to the Old English trēowe, meaning "faithful." One modern definition is "conformity to reality or actuality."
Jesus is the source of all truth. He is dependably correct in all matters. He is the reality to which we must conform. Since Jesus is the truth, he is the most reliable source for the truth. He routinely began his teachings in the New Testament with the phrase, "I tell you the truth." ("Verily, verily" in King James parlance.)
In that light, it's interesting to look at other scriptures related to truth and substitute Jesus' name:
"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth Jesus and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." (Psalm 25:4-5)
"I have chosen the way of truth Jesus; I have set my heart on your laws." (Psalm 119:30)
"They perish because they refused to love the truth Jesus and so be saved." (2 Thessalonians 2:10b)
"This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:3-4)
It's also interesting to look at famous quotes from philosophers and others throughout history, to gauge whether or not their perception of the truth has any merit:
"The truth Jesus is incontrovertible; malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is." —Winston Churchill
"Whenever you have truth Jesus, it must be given with love, or the message and the messenger will be rejected." —Mahatma Gandhi
"The love of truth Jesus has its reward in heaven and even on earth." —Friedrich Nietzsche
"There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth Jesus: not going all the way, and not starting." —Buddha
"Anyone who doesn't take truth Jesus seriously in small matters cannot be trusted and large ones either." —Albert Einstein
"Truth Jesus is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away." —Elvis Presley
It even works to disprove some foolish statements regarding truth:
"There are various eyes. Even the Sphinx has eyes and, as a result, there are various truths Jesuses, and as a result there is no truth Jesus." —Friedrich Nietzsche
"Say not, 'I have found the truth Jesus,' but rather,'I have found a truth Jesus.'" —Kahlil Gibran
"The words of truth Jesus are always paradoxical." —Lao Tzu
Since these last three quotes are wrong in light of truth as a who instead of a what, it's an indication that their views of truth are flawed. Even those whose statements are true, such as Gandi's and Buddha's, were like Pilate; truth stood in front of them, but they couldn't grasp that it was in the form of a person, Jesus Christ.
Philosophical theories of truth often attempt to answer the "nature question": What is the nature of truth? Properly stated, it should be: What is the nature of Jesus Christ? People look to the stars or the hills for truth, but they are focused on creation instead of the Creator. Some look inside themselves to find truth, but given our sinful nature, that's like looking in an oil drum for drinking water. In the worst cases, people look toward unholy spirits for guidance. But Jesus clearly said that He is "the truth," not "a truth," and followed it with "no man comes to the Father but by me."
That's why Paul warned the church, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (Colossians 2:6-8)
Truth, according to the world, is relative or unobtainable. Jesus, however, is an absolute. He is present and he is faithful. He is the only way. Any other "path" to truth leads to destruction. But when you know The Truth, He will set you free.
tisdag 21 september 2010
torsdag 16 september 2010
Jesus and the Children
One thing to watch for when assessing a person's spiritual fitness for ministry is how he or she relates to children. Put a child in the room and watch. This is what Jesus did to make his point. Children are the litmus paper to expose the presence of pride.
You might think that the main thing Jesus would do is to say, “Don’t be proud, become like children.” He did say essentially that in Matthew 18:3, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” But he said something else even more striking. When Jesus saw that his disciples were arguing over which of them was the greatest, “He sat down and called the twelve. . . .And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.’” (Mark 9:34-37).
Receiving a child into your arms in the name of Jesus is a way to receive Jesus. And receiving Jesus is a way to receive God. Therefore how we deal with children is a signal of our fellowship with God. Something is deeply amiss in the soul that does not descend (or is it really ascend?) to love and hold a child.
Therefore, it may be good to call to mind the ways Jesus related to children. Ponder these and let them stir in you the longings of Christ. What could be more significant than receiving Christ and receiving God the Creator in him? Amazingly, Jesus says we may do this in ministry to children.
1. Jesus was a child.For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. (Isaiah 9:6)
2. Jesus took children in his arms and blessed them.“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them.” . . . And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. (Mark 10:14-16)
3. Jesus healed a child of a foreign woman.“O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:28)
4. Jesus cast a demon out of a child.And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. (Matthew 17:18)
5. Jesus raised a child from the dead.Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”And immediately the girl got up. (Mark 5:41-42)
6. Jesus used a child’s loaves and fish to feed five thousand people.“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” (John 6:9-10)
7. Jesus said you should become like a child."Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3-4)
8. When Jesus came, children cried “Hosanna!” to the Son of David.The chief priests and the scribes saw . . . the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:15)
9. Jesus predicted the terrible days when fathers would give their children up to death."And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child." (Mark 13:12)
10. Jesus said that if you receive a child in his name, you receive him and the one who sent him."Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." (Mark 9:37)
May the Lord teach us this profound truth—that loving children in the name of Christ is loving God the Son and God the Father. Indeed it is more: It is welcoming and receiving and communing with God. Nursery work “in the name of Christ” is no small wonder.
You might think that the main thing Jesus would do is to say, “Don’t be proud, become like children.” He did say essentially that in Matthew 18:3, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” But he said something else even more striking. When Jesus saw that his disciples were arguing over which of them was the greatest, “He sat down and called the twelve. . . .And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.’” (Mark 9:34-37).
Receiving a child into your arms in the name of Jesus is a way to receive Jesus. And receiving Jesus is a way to receive God. Therefore how we deal with children is a signal of our fellowship with God. Something is deeply amiss in the soul that does not descend (or is it really ascend?) to love and hold a child.
Therefore, it may be good to call to mind the ways Jesus related to children. Ponder these and let them stir in you the longings of Christ. What could be more significant than receiving Christ and receiving God the Creator in him? Amazingly, Jesus says we may do this in ministry to children.
1. Jesus was a child.For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. (Isaiah 9:6)
2. Jesus took children in his arms and blessed them.“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them.” . . . And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. (Mark 10:14-16)
3. Jesus healed a child of a foreign woman.“O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:28)
4. Jesus cast a demon out of a child.And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. (Matthew 17:18)
5. Jesus raised a child from the dead.Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”And immediately the girl got up. (Mark 5:41-42)
6. Jesus used a child’s loaves and fish to feed five thousand people.“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” (John 6:9-10)
7. Jesus said you should become like a child."Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3-4)
8. When Jesus came, children cried “Hosanna!” to the Son of David.The chief priests and the scribes saw . . . the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:15)
9. Jesus predicted the terrible days when fathers would give their children up to death."And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child." (Mark 13:12)
10. Jesus said that if you receive a child in his name, you receive him and the one who sent him."Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." (Mark 9:37)
May the Lord teach us this profound truth—that loving children in the name of Christ is loving God the Son and God the Father. Indeed it is more: It is welcoming and receiving and communing with God. Nursery work “in the name of Christ” is no small wonder.
Christ's Letter to the Church in Ephesus
The Lord Jesus Christ speaks to this church in the midst of crass materialism, degraded animalism, base paganism, and dark heathenism. Note this carefully, because I consider this message to be one of the most important of all.Unto the angel of the church of Ephesues write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. (Revelation 2:1)
Notice that He holds in His hand the church. It is under His control. He doesn’t have that control now, but He did then. “He walketh” literally means that He is walking up and down. I believe that He is still walking up and down in our day and that He is still judging the church. He has seven words of commendation for this church:I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. (Revelation 2:2, 3)
1. “I know thy works.” We need to understand that He is speaking to believers. The Lord Jesus does not ask the lost world for good works. For example, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). In Romans 4:5 Paul says, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Christ is talking to His own. After you are saved, He wants to talk to you about good works. He has a lot to say about this subject. In Ephesians 2:8-10 we read, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Paul could write to Titus, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:16). Someone has said, “The Christian ought to be like a good watch—all gold, open-faced, well-regulated, dependable, and filled with good works.” The Lord Jesus is saying to the church in Ephesus, as Paul had said, “…be filled with the [Holy] Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). And Paul went on to tell them what they could do as Spirit-filled believers. And now the Lord Jesus commends them for their good works.
2. “I know…thy labour.” What is the difference between work and labor? The word labor carries a meaning of weariness. In the gospel record it says that Jesus became wearied with His journey. That was the weariness which Ephesian believers experienced. They suffered weariness in their labor for Him.
3. “I know…thy patience.” Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
4. “How thou canst not bear them which are evil.” They would not endure evil men.
5. “Thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.” They tested everyone who came to Ephesus claiming to be an apostle. They would ask them if they had seen the resurrected Christ, and they soon found out whether or not they were really apostles. If they were not, they asked them to leave town. The Lord Jesus commended them for testing men, and I feel this is more needed today than it was even then.
6. “Hast borne…for my name’s sake hast laboured.” For His name’s sake they were bearing the Cross. They preached Christ. They believed in the virgin birth of Christ; they believed in His deity; they believed in His sacrificial death and resurrection. And they paid a price for their belief.
7. “And hast not fainted.” More accurately, it is “hast not grown weary.” What does He mean by this? Earlier He said that they had grown weary, and now He says they have not grown weary. Well, this is one of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith. I can illustrate it by what Dwight L. Moody once said when he came home exhausted after a campaign and his family begged him not to go to the next campaign. He said to them, “I grow weary in the work but not of the work.” There is a lot of difference. You can get weary in the work of Christ, but it is tragic if you get weary of the work of Christ.
These seven words of commendation, which the Lord Jesus gave to the local church at Ephesus, also apply to the period of church history between Pentecost and A.D. 100, which the Ephesian church represents. Now He has one word of condemnation:Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Revelation 2:4)
They had lost that intense and enthusiastic devotion to the person of Christ. It is difficult for us to sense the state to which the Holy Spirit had brought this church. He had brought the believers in Ephesus into an intimate and personal relationship to Jesus Christ. He had brought them to the place where they could say to the Lord, “We love you.” This may seem like a very unimportant thing to us today, but their love for the Lord was very important to Christ. He was saying to the Ephesians, “You are leaving your best love.” They hadn’t quite departed from that love, but they were on the way. It is difficult for us in this cold, skeptical, cynical, and indifferent day in which we live to understand this. The world has intruded into the church to such an extent that it is hard for us to conceive of the intense, enthusiastic devotion the early church gave to the person of Christ. The early church first went off the track not in their doctrine but in their personal relationship to Jesus Christ.
Ephesus was a great city, and it had many attractions that were beginning to draw believers away from their first love for Jesus Christ. This was the church that became so potent in its evangelism in that area of about twenty-five million people that even the Roman emperors and the nobility of that day had an opportunity to hear the gospel. In that area there was such a mighty moving of the Spirit of God that it has probably never been duplicated since.
My friend, a personal relationship is all-important. We are so involved in methods—I am rather amused at some of the Band-Aid courses which are being offered—and they are making Band-Aid believers. Generally, the course is some little legal system that gives you certain rules to follow and certain psychological patterns to observe which will enable you to solve all your problems. They try to teach you how to get along with yourself (that’s a pretty big order!), with your neighbors, and especially with your wife. All of those relationships are very important, and a great many people think that if they can follow a few rules, they will have the key to a successful Christian life. My friend, let me put it in a nutshell by asking one question: Do you love Jesus Christ? I don’t care what your system is, what your denomination is, what your program is, what little set of rules you follow, they will all come to naught if you don’t love Him. Although some systems are better than others, almost any system will work if you love Christ. An intimate relationship with Christ will make all of your relationships and all of your Christian service a joy.
Notice that He holds in His hand the church. It is under His control. He doesn’t have that control now, but He did then. “He walketh” literally means that He is walking up and down. I believe that He is still walking up and down in our day and that He is still judging the church. He has seven words of commendation for this church:I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. (Revelation 2:2, 3)
1. “I know thy works.” We need to understand that He is speaking to believers. The Lord Jesus does not ask the lost world for good works. For example, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). In Romans 4:5 Paul says, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Christ is talking to His own. After you are saved, He wants to talk to you about good works. He has a lot to say about this subject. In Ephesians 2:8-10 we read, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Paul could write to Titus, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:16). Someone has said, “The Christian ought to be like a good watch—all gold, open-faced, well-regulated, dependable, and filled with good works.” The Lord Jesus is saying to the church in Ephesus, as Paul had said, “…be filled with the [Holy] Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). And Paul went on to tell them what they could do as Spirit-filled believers. And now the Lord Jesus commends them for their good works.
2. “I know…thy labour.” What is the difference between work and labor? The word labor carries a meaning of weariness. In the gospel record it says that Jesus became wearied with His journey. That was the weariness which Ephesian believers experienced. They suffered weariness in their labor for Him.
3. “I know…thy patience.” Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
4. “How thou canst not bear them which are evil.” They would not endure evil men.
5. “Thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.” They tested everyone who came to Ephesus claiming to be an apostle. They would ask them if they had seen the resurrected Christ, and they soon found out whether or not they were really apostles. If they were not, they asked them to leave town. The Lord Jesus commended them for testing men, and I feel this is more needed today than it was even then.
6. “Hast borne…for my name’s sake hast laboured.” For His name’s sake they were bearing the Cross. They preached Christ. They believed in the virgin birth of Christ; they believed in His deity; they believed in His sacrificial death and resurrection. And they paid a price for their belief.
7. “And hast not fainted.” More accurately, it is “hast not grown weary.” What does He mean by this? Earlier He said that they had grown weary, and now He says they have not grown weary. Well, this is one of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith. I can illustrate it by what Dwight L. Moody once said when he came home exhausted after a campaign and his family begged him not to go to the next campaign. He said to them, “I grow weary in the work but not of the work.” There is a lot of difference. You can get weary in the work of Christ, but it is tragic if you get weary of the work of Christ.
These seven words of commendation, which the Lord Jesus gave to the local church at Ephesus, also apply to the period of church history between Pentecost and A.D. 100, which the Ephesian church represents. Now He has one word of condemnation:Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Revelation 2:4)
They had lost that intense and enthusiastic devotion to the person of Christ. It is difficult for us to sense the state to which the Holy Spirit had brought this church. He had brought the believers in Ephesus into an intimate and personal relationship to Jesus Christ. He had brought them to the place where they could say to the Lord, “We love you.” This may seem like a very unimportant thing to us today, but their love for the Lord was very important to Christ. He was saying to the Ephesians, “You are leaving your best love.” They hadn’t quite departed from that love, but they were on the way. It is difficult for us in this cold, skeptical, cynical, and indifferent day in which we live to understand this. The world has intruded into the church to such an extent that it is hard for us to conceive of the intense, enthusiastic devotion the early church gave to the person of Christ. The early church first went off the track not in their doctrine but in their personal relationship to Jesus Christ.
Ephesus was a great city, and it had many attractions that were beginning to draw believers away from their first love for Jesus Christ. This was the church that became so potent in its evangelism in that area of about twenty-five million people that even the Roman emperors and the nobility of that day had an opportunity to hear the gospel. In that area there was such a mighty moving of the Spirit of God that it has probably never been duplicated since.
My friend, a personal relationship is all-important. We are so involved in methods—I am rather amused at some of the Band-Aid courses which are being offered—and they are making Band-Aid believers. Generally, the course is some little legal system that gives you certain rules to follow and certain psychological patterns to observe which will enable you to solve all your problems. They try to teach you how to get along with yourself (that’s a pretty big order!), with your neighbors, and especially with your wife. All of those relationships are very important, and a great many people think that if they can follow a few rules, they will have the key to a successful Christian life. My friend, let me put it in a nutshell by asking one question: Do you love Jesus Christ? I don’t care what your system is, what your denomination is, what your program is, what little set of rules you follow, they will all come to naught if you don’t love Him. Although some systems are better than others, almost any system will work if you love Christ. An intimate relationship with Christ will make all of your relationships and all of your Christian service a joy.
Did Jesus Christ Claim to Be God?
"I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!"-Revelation 1:17-18
When Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples the mother of all questions, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20). Mormons answer this question by saying that Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer; Jehovah's Witnesses answer by saying that Jesus is the archangel Michael; New Agers say Jesus is an avatar or enlightened messenger. Jesus, however, answered by claiming that He was God.
First, Jesus claimed to be the unique Son of God. As a result, the Jewish leaders tried to kill Him because in "calling God his own Father, [Jesus was] making himself equal with God" (John 5:18 NIV). In John 8:58 Jesus went so far as to use the very words by which God revealed Himself to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). To the Jews this was the epitome of blasphemy, for they knew that in doing so Jesus was clearly claiming to be God. On yet another occasion, Jesus explicitly told the Jews: "'I and the Father are one.' Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, 'I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?' 'We are not stoning you for any of these,' replied the Jews, 'but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God'" (John 10:30-33).
Furthermore, Jesus made an unmistakable claim to deity before the Chief Priests and the whole Sanhedrin. Caiaphas the High Priest asked him: "'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?' 'I am,' said Jesus. 'And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven'" (Mark 14:61-62 NIV). A biblically illiterate person might well have missed the import of Jesus' words. Caiaphas and the Council, however, did not. They knew that in saying he was "the Son of Man" who would come "on the clouds of heaven" he was making an overt reference to the Son of Man in Daniel's prophecy (Daniel 7:13-14). In doing so, He was not only claiming to be the preexistent Sovereign of the Universe but also prophesying that He would vindicate His claim by judging the very court that was now condemning Him. Moreover, by combining Daniel's prophecy with David's proclamation in Psalm 110, Jesus was claiming that He would sit upon the throne of Israel's God and share God's very glory. To students of the Old Testament this was the height of "blasphemy," thus "they all condemned him as worthy of death" (Mark 14:64-65).
Finally, Jesus claimed to possess the very attributes of God. For example, He claimed omniscience by telling Peter, "This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times" (Matthew 26:34); declared omnipotence by not only resurrecting Lazarus (John 11:43) but by raising Himself from the dead (see John 2:19); and professed omnipresence by promising He would be with His disciples "to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Not only so, but Jesus said to the paralytic in Luke 5:20, "Friend, your sins are forgiven". In doing so, He claimed a prerogative reserved for God alone. In addition, when Thomas worshiped Jesus saying "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28), Jesus responded with commendation rather than condemnation.
What Credentials Back Up Jesus' Claim to Deity?
"When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?' Jesus replied, 'Go back and report to John what you hear and see; The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.'" - Matthew 11:2-5
Jesus not only claimed to be God but also provided many convincing proofs that he indeed was divine.
First, Jesus demonstrated that he was God in human flesh by manifesting the credential of sinlessness. While the Qur'an exhorts Muhammad to seek forgiveness for his sins, the Bible exonerates Messiah saying Jesus "had no sin" (2 Corinthians 5:21). And this is not a singular statement. John declares, "and in him is no sin" (1 John 3:5), and Peter says Jesus "committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth" (1 Peter 2:22). Jesus himself went so far as to challenge his antagonists asking, "Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?" (John 8:46)
Furthermore, Jesus demonstrated supernatural authority over sickness, the forces of nature, fallen angels, and even death itself. Matthew 4 records that Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching, preaching "and healing every disease and sickness among the people" (v.23). Mark 4 documents Jesus rebuking the wind and the waves saying, "Quiet! Be still!" (v.39). In Luke 4 Jesus encounters a man possessed by an evil spirit and commands the demon to "Come out of him!" (v.35). And in John 4, Jesus tells a royal official whose son was close to death, "Your son will live" (v.50). In fact, the four Gospels record how Jesus demonstrated ultimate power over death through the immutable fact of his resurrection.
Finally, the credentials of Christ's deity are seen in the lives of countless men, women, and children. Each day, people of every tongue and tribe and nation experience the resurrected Christ by repenting of their sins and receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. Thus, they not only come to know about Christ evidentially, but experientially Christ becomes more real to them than the very flesh upon their bones.
When Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples the mother of all questions, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20). Mormons answer this question by saying that Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer; Jehovah's Witnesses answer by saying that Jesus is the archangel Michael; New Agers say Jesus is an avatar or enlightened messenger. Jesus, however, answered by claiming that He was God.
First, Jesus claimed to be the unique Son of God. As a result, the Jewish leaders tried to kill Him because in "calling God his own Father, [Jesus was] making himself equal with God" (John 5:18 NIV). In John 8:58 Jesus went so far as to use the very words by which God revealed Himself to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). To the Jews this was the epitome of blasphemy, for they knew that in doing so Jesus was clearly claiming to be God. On yet another occasion, Jesus explicitly told the Jews: "'I and the Father are one.' Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, 'I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?' 'We are not stoning you for any of these,' replied the Jews, 'but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God'" (John 10:30-33).
Furthermore, Jesus made an unmistakable claim to deity before the Chief Priests and the whole Sanhedrin. Caiaphas the High Priest asked him: "'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?' 'I am,' said Jesus. 'And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven'" (Mark 14:61-62 NIV). A biblically illiterate person might well have missed the import of Jesus' words. Caiaphas and the Council, however, did not. They knew that in saying he was "the Son of Man" who would come "on the clouds of heaven" he was making an overt reference to the Son of Man in Daniel's prophecy (Daniel 7:13-14). In doing so, He was not only claiming to be the preexistent Sovereign of the Universe but also prophesying that He would vindicate His claim by judging the very court that was now condemning Him. Moreover, by combining Daniel's prophecy with David's proclamation in Psalm 110, Jesus was claiming that He would sit upon the throne of Israel's God and share God's very glory. To students of the Old Testament this was the height of "blasphemy," thus "they all condemned him as worthy of death" (Mark 14:64-65).
Finally, Jesus claimed to possess the very attributes of God. For example, He claimed omniscience by telling Peter, "This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times" (Matthew 26:34); declared omnipotence by not only resurrecting Lazarus (John 11:43) but by raising Himself from the dead (see John 2:19); and professed omnipresence by promising He would be with His disciples "to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Not only so, but Jesus said to the paralytic in Luke 5:20, "Friend, your sins are forgiven". In doing so, He claimed a prerogative reserved for God alone. In addition, when Thomas worshiped Jesus saying "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28), Jesus responded with commendation rather than condemnation.
What Credentials Back Up Jesus' Claim to Deity?
"When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?' Jesus replied, 'Go back and report to John what you hear and see; The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.'" - Matthew 11:2-5
Jesus not only claimed to be God but also provided many convincing proofs that he indeed was divine.
First, Jesus demonstrated that he was God in human flesh by manifesting the credential of sinlessness. While the Qur'an exhorts Muhammad to seek forgiveness for his sins, the Bible exonerates Messiah saying Jesus "had no sin" (2 Corinthians 5:21). And this is not a singular statement. John declares, "and in him is no sin" (1 John 3:5), and Peter says Jesus "committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth" (1 Peter 2:22). Jesus himself went so far as to challenge his antagonists asking, "Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?" (John 8:46)
Furthermore, Jesus demonstrated supernatural authority over sickness, the forces of nature, fallen angels, and even death itself. Matthew 4 records that Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching, preaching "and healing every disease and sickness among the people" (v.23). Mark 4 documents Jesus rebuking the wind and the waves saying, "Quiet! Be still!" (v.39). In Luke 4 Jesus encounters a man possessed by an evil spirit and commands the demon to "Come out of him!" (v.35). And in John 4, Jesus tells a royal official whose son was close to death, "Your son will live" (v.50). In fact, the four Gospels record how Jesus demonstrated ultimate power over death through the immutable fact of his resurrection.
Finally, the credentials of Christ's deity are seen in the lives of countless men, women, and children. Each day, people of every tongue and tribe and nation experience the resurrected Christ by repenting of their sins and receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. Thus, they not only come to know about Christ evidentially, but experientially Christ becomes more real to them than the very flesh upon their bones.
What did Jesus mean?
WHAT DID JESUS MEAN?
Certainly the young man meant well. And although the medical staff in the emergency room questioned his sanity, his commitment and sacrifice were undeniable. He arrived at the hospital with a bloody stump where his hand had been. In response to questions he explained that he was following the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, “And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, . . .”(Matt. 5:30).[1] The man with the severed hand knew the words of Jesus. But did he know their meaning? Sincere Christians may be at risk today because they want to follow the teachings of Jesus but are confused about their intended meaning. What did Jesus mean when He said, “Take up your cross and follow me” (Matt. 10:38)? What is the lesson behind His words, “Do not throw your pearls before swine” (Matt. 7:6)? Was Jesus offering Christians instant gratification when He said, “Ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).Some of Jesus’ words and teachings seem puzzling, at best, and nearly impossible for us to obey. Yet he came to reveal the truth (John 8:32). And we know that He wanted to be understood and followed. God gave us the Bible so that we would understand spiritual truth and apply it to our lives (Psalm 119:130, 1 Timothy 3:15). The biblical writers clearly assumed that their readers would understand what they had written. This is the basis for the doctrine of “the clarity of Scripture.” Christians believe that “the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who will read it seeking God’s help and willing to follow it.”[2]Yet Peter himself acknowledged that there are some things in Scripture that are “hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16). So how can we go about making those “hard” sayings more readily understandable? Here are some practical suggestions: 1. Identify the problem. Is it textual, theological, ethical or practical? It is sometimes helpful to put the problem in the form of a question. For example, “Did Jesus endorse an attitude of self-depreciation when He announced, “Many who are first will be last” (Matthew 19:30). “Should we denigrate ourselves on earth to gain honor in heaven?” 2. Carefully examine the text. Sometimes a problem can be resolved by a closer reading of the text, as in the case of the supposed execution of Achan’s children (Joshua 7:22-26). The Hebrew text indicates that they stoned Achan (“him”) and then apparently burned the stolen goods (“them”). 3. Compare Scripture with Scripture. Many difficulties can be resolved when we consider the clearer and more direct teachings of other biblical texts. Does God punish children for the sins of their parents? Reading Exodus 20:5 may lead to this conclusion unless you compare the statement in Jeremiah 31:29-30 where such a viewpoint is strongly refuted. Comparing the two texts suggests that Exodus 20:5 refers to the natural consequences of a parent’s sinful actions rather than divine punishment falling on children. 4. Consult the authorities. Often a commentary can assist in clarifying the problem and offering and reasonable solution. My book, Answers to Tough Questions is an example of the kind of resources available to help interpret the difficult teachings of Scripture.5. Rely upon the Spirit. As believers, we rely upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit to illuminate the text (John 16:13, 1 John 2:27). Our reliance upon the Spirit is expressed through an attitude of love, obedience and submission. God’s Spirit will clarify God’s truth to those who are ready and willing to obey (John 14:23).6. Select a solution. The best solutions are those that reflect a straightforward interpretation of the text. But don’t close your mind to further study. You never know when you will discover an additional insight that will shed new light on the “hard” saying.
Certainly the young man meant well. And although the medical staff in the emergency room questioned his sanity, his commitment and sacrifice were undeniable. He arrived at the hospital with a bloody stump where his hand had been. In response to questions he explained that he was following the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, “And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, . . .”(Matt. 5:30).[1] The man with the severed hand knew the words of Jesus. But did he know their meaning? Sincere Christians may be at risk today because they want to follow the teachings of Jesus but are confused about their intended meaning. What did Jesus mean when He said, “Take up your cross and follow me” (Matt. 10:38)? What is the lesson behind His words, “Do not throw your pearls before swine” (Matt. 7:6)? Was Jesus offering Christians instant gratification when He said, “Ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).Some of Jesus’ words and teachings seem puzzling, at best, and nearly impossible for us to obey. Yet he came to reveal the truth (John 8:32). And we know that He wanted to be understood and followed. God gave us the Bible so that we would understand spiritual truth and apply it to our lives (Psalm 119:130, 1 Timothy 3:15). The biblical writers clearly assumed that their readers would understand what they had written. This is the basis for the doctrine of “the clarity of Scripture.” Christians believe that “the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who will read it seeking God’s help and willing to follow it.”[2]Yet Peter himself acknowledged that there are some things in Scripture that are “hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16). So how can we go about making those “hard” sayings more readily understandable? Here are some practical suggestions: 1. Identify the problem. Is it textual, theological, ethical or practical? It is sometimes helpful to put the problem in the form of a question. For example, “Did Jesus endorse an attitude of self-depreciation when He announced, “Many who are first will be last” (Matthew 19:30). “Should we denigrate ourselves on earth to gain honor in heaven?” 2. Carefully examine the text. Sometimes a problem can be resolved by a closer reading of the text, as in the case of the supposed execution of Achan’s children (Joshua 7:22-26). The Hebrew text indicates that they stoned Achan (“him”) and then apparently burned the stolen goods (“them”). 3. Compare Scripture with Scripture. Many difficulties can be resolved when we consider the clearer and more direct teachings of other biblical texts. Does God punish children for the sins of their parents? Reading Exodus 20:5 may lead to this conclusion unless you compare the statement in Jeremiah 31:29-30 where such a viewpoint is strongly refuted. Comparing the two texts suggests that Exodus 20:5 refers to the natural consequences of a parent’s sinful actions rather than divine punishment falling on children. 4. Consult the authorities. Often a commentary can assist in clarifying the problem and offering and reasonable solution. My book, Answers to Tough Questions is an example of the kind of resources available to help interpret the difficult teachings of Scripture.5. Rely upon the Spirit. As believers, we rely upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit to illuminate the text (John 16:13, 1 John 2:27). Our reliance upon the Spirit is expressed through an attitude of love, obedience and submission. God’s Spirit will clarify God’s truth to those who are ready and willing to obey (John 14:23).6. Select a solution. The best solutions are those that reflect a straightforward interpretation of the text. But don’t close your mind to further study. You never know when you will discover an additional insight that will shed new light on the “hard” saying.
What did jesus do?
What Did Jesus Do?
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Every night, my wife and I have the same snack just before going to bed: a sliced apple and peanut butter. More times than not, as Gina is cleaning up some paper work she was doing, I am the one preparing the snack. And every night I face the same appalling battle. You see, no two apples are exactly the same size. When they are sliced and placed on the plate, the question of which apple belongs to me must be answered. And there the battle starts. It's not one of those life-altering battles that define the destiny of nations. It is, however, the type of daily battles that define the character of a man.I'd like to think that I would take a bullet to save Gina's life. I'd like to think that I would gladly trade my own freedom if it would provide for hers. However, when it comes to apples, somehow doubt and selfishness erupt out of my heart.Such is the battle for being a godly husband. It doesn't often occur on the battlefield of major issues; it is on the battlefield of thousands of minor ones. How do we determine what decisions, perspectives and actions are best? We could ask ourselves the popular bumper-sticker question: "What would Jesus do?" But let's answer the question that the Bible seems to pose: "What did Jesus do?"The Standard is SetPaul is the one who nudges all husbands in this direction. In the book of Ephesians, he gives this amazingly weighty command:Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church … (Ephesians 5:25) The command goes out to all husbands, everywhere and at all times. So, as we wrestle with the weight of such a command, we all must ask the obvious question. It is not: "How would Christ love the church?" It is: "How does Christ love the church?" We needn't wonder or postulate. All we've got to do is observe. Throughout the pages of Scripture, Christ actively loves His church. We could never contain all of the ways He does so in a single article. So let's proceed in answering this big question by asking three more, first of Christ, then of us:
What does He do for the church? (What should I do for my wife?)
What does He think of the church? (What should I think of my wife?)
What has He become for the church? (What should I become for my wife?) As we answer these questions, we will all understand more fully not what Jesus would do, but what He did do. In that, we have our living model for how we are to love our wives. Don't let the size of the journey ahead of us discourage you. Every journey begins with one step. Let's have the courage to take that first step together.What does He do for the church? It has been widely accepted that Christ's activity on behalf of the church can be summarized in these three functional titles: Prophet, Priest and King. A brief look at each will give us keen insight into our role as husbands.Christ as Prophet: A prophet is someone who brings forth the Word of God to mankind. He is responsible for accurately discerning what God is saying and communicating that to others. Christ performed this prophetic role perfectly in two ways. First, He accurately spoke and taught the Word and words of God to others. Second, He was the actual expression of God and the Word made flesh.
The Husband as Prophet: We have the amazing privilege of bringing forth the Word of God to our wives. While this might involve some actual Bible-teaching time, we need to see the various other forms this should take. We can proclaim His Word and His will as we counsel our wives, as we make family decisions and as we plan for our family's future. The common ingredient in all of its forms is God's Word. Without the Word of God, a prophet has nothing to say; his words are empty and meaningless.In addition to bringing forth the Word in our actions, we too must personify the Word made flesh in us. We must model the truth we are teaching. We must personify what we desire our wives and our marriages to become. Without personally living the truth we proclaim, we can expect no higher praise from Christ than the Pharisees received. (Matthew 23:2-4) Christ as Priest: A priest is an intercessor: someone who seeks God on behalf of someone else. As Priest, Jesus is constantly seeking God on our behalf. Through Him, we are made holy, righteous and acceptable to God. Yet, this Priest is different from all others in that He did not sacrifice a lamb, dove or bull. This Priest sacrificed Himself on our behalf.
The Husband as Priest: As we love our wives, we must serve as priest. Our wives and marriages need prayer. We have the privilege and duty of petitioning God on their behalf. We should pray for their purity, their protection, their joy, their faith and their burden. We should pray for their success as a wife, as a mother and as a woman of God.We must again follow Christ's example and allow our priestly sacrifice to be our very selves. Hebrews 12 tells us that Jesus looked past His own sacrifice to the joy that would occur on the other side. With that in mind, look at all that your wife could become. Consider what God might want to do with her, in her and through her. And, for that joy set before you, willingly endure when you are called to sacrifice yourself. In so doing, you will love your wife as Christ loves His church. Christ as King: A king is someone who is supreme or preeminent. As our king, Christ deserves our honor, our praise, our obedience and our servitude. He is in charge … the undisputed leader of the church. Paul speaks many times of Jesus as the head of the church. Yet, while this King rules and reigns, He also serves and ministers to His people. His rule is peculiar in that He models leadership by serving. He says that the greatest among His people will be those who serve. He also is an accessible King. In many courts throughout history, subjects were never permitted to be in the presence of their king. King Jesus invites us in; He leaves open the door to His throne room.
The Husband as King: Ephesians 5:23 makes it clear; the husband is the head of the wife. In essence, kingship undeniably belongs to the husband. As we embrace that, we as husbands must lead. We must lead clearly and boldly. We must be out there on the edge looking to the provision and the protection of our kingdom. To do less is to fall short of our calling to headship. The privilege is ours to rule our home.However, we are not called simply to take our crowns and dominate our wives. We must rule as Christ rules…with humility. He modeled precisely how He wants us to love our wives. As our King, Christ knelt and washed the feet of His disciples. We must follow His example and serve. Lead boldly, yet serve. Never let the brawn of your leadership outweigh the sacrifice of your leadership. Christ kept them in perfect balance; that is our calling as well.
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Every night, my wife and I have the same snack just before going to bed: a sliced apple and peanut butter. More times than not, as Gina is cleaning up some paper work she was doing, I am the one preparing the snack. And every night I face the same appalling battle. You see, no two apples are exactly the same size. When they are sliced and placed on the plate, the question of which apple belongs to me must be answered. And there the battle starts. It's not one of those life-altering battles that define the destiny of nations. It is, however, the type of daily battles that define the character of a man.I'd like to think that I would take a bullet to save Gina's life. I'd like to think that I would gladly trade my own freedom if it would provide for hers. However, when it comes to apples, somehow doubt and selfishness erupt out of my heart.Such is the battle for being a godly husband. It doesn't often occur on the battlefield of major issues; it is on the battlefield of thousands of minor ones. How do we determine what decisions, perspectives and actions are best? We could ask ourselves the popular bumper-sticker question: "What would Jesus do?" But let's answer the question that the Bible seems to pose: "What did Jesus do?"The Standard is SetPaul is the one who nudges all husbands in this direction. In the book of Ephesians, he gives this amazingly weighty command:Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church … (Ephesians 5:25) The command goes out to all husbands, everywhere and at all times. So, as we wrestle with the weight of such a command, we all must ask the obvious question. It is not: "How would Christ love the church?" It is: "How does Christ love the church?" We needn't wonder or postulate. All we've got to do is observe. Throughout the pages of Scripture, Christ actively loves His church. We could never contain all of the ways He does so in a single article. So let's proceed in answering this big question by asking three more, first of Christ, then of us:
What does He do for the church? (What should I do for my wife?)
What does He think of the church? (What should I think of my wife?)
What has He become for the church? (What should I become for my wife?) As we answer these questions, we will all understand more fully not what Jesus would do, but what He did do. In that, we have our living model for how we are to love our wives. Don't let the size of the journey ahead of us discourage you. Every journey begins with one step. Let's have the courage to take that first step together.What does He do for the church? It has been widely accepted that Christ's activity on behalf of the church can be summarized in these three functional titles: Prophet, Priest and King. A brief look at each will give us keen insight into our role as husbands.Christ as Prophet: A prophet is someone who brings forth the Word of God to mankind. He is responsible for accurately discerning what God is saying and communicating that to others. Christ performed this prophetic role perfectly in two ways. First, He accurately spoke and taught the Word and words of God to others. Second, He was the actual expression of God and the Word made flesh.
The Husband as Prophet: We have the amazing privilege of bringing forth the Word of God to our wives. While this might involve some actual Bible-teaching time, we need to see the various other forms this should take. We can proclaim His Word and His will as we counsel our wives, as we make family decisions and as we plan for our family's future. The common ingredient in all of its forms is God's Word. Without the Word of God, a prophet has nothing to say; his words are empty and meaningless.In addition to bringing forth the Word in our actions, we too must personify the Word made flesh in us. We must model the truth we are teaching. We must personify what we desire our wives and our marriages to become. Without personally living the truth we proclaim, we can expect no higher praise from Christ than the Pharisees received. (Matthew 23:2-4) Christ as Priest: A priest is an intercessor: someone who seeks God on behalf of someone else. As Priest, Jesus is constantly seeking God on our behalf. Through Him, we are made holy, righteous and acceptable to God. Yet, this Priest is different from all others in that He did not sacrifice a lamb, dove or bull. This Priest sacrificed Himself on our behalf.
The Husband as Priest: As we love our wives, we must serve as priest. Our wives and marriages need prayer. We have the privilege and duty of petitioning God on their behalf. We should pray for their purity, their protection, their joy, their faith and their burden. We should pray for their success as a wife, as a mother and as a woman of God.We must again follow Christ's example and allow our priestly sacrifice to be our very selves. Hebrews 12 tells us that Jesus looked past His own sacrifice to the joy that would occur on the other side. With that in mind, look at all that your wife could become. Consider what God might want to do with her, in her and through her. And, for that joy set before you, willingly endure when you are called to sacrifice yourself. In so doing, you will love your wife as Christ loves His church. Christ as King: A king is someone who is supreme or preeminent. As our king, Christ deserves our honor, our praise, our obedience and our servitude. He is in charge … the undisputed leader of the church. Paul speaks many times of Jesus as the head of the church. Yet, while this King rules and reigns, He also serves and ministers to His people. His rule is peculiar in that He models leadership by serving. He says that the greatest among His people will be those who serve. He also is an accessible King. In many courts throughout history, subjects were never permitted to be in the presence of their king. King Jesus invites us in; He leaves open the door to His throne room.
The Husband as King: Ephesians 5:23 makes it clear; the husband is the head of the wife. In essence, kingship undeniably belongs to the husband. As we embrace that, we as husbands must lead. We must lead clearly and boldly. We must be out there on the edge looking to the provision and the protection of our kingdom. To do less is to fall short of our calling to headship. The privilege is ours to rule our home.However, we are not called simply to take our crowns and dominate our wives. We must rule as Christ rules…with humility. He modeled precisely how He wants us to love our wives. As our King, Christ knelt and washed the feet of His disciples. We must follow His example and serve. Lead boldly, yet serve. Never let the brawn of your leadership outweigh the sacrifice of your leadership. Christ kept them in perfect balance; that is our calling as well.
The christian religion
Religions of the world
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Christianity: The world's largest religion
Quotations:
"Christianity started out in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise." Sam Pascoe 1
"Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words." -- Francis of Assisi.
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Paul, Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)
A place to begin:We recommend that you read these items first. Otherwise the remaining information may not make much sense.
A brief introduction to Christianity for persons unfamiliar with the religion. Topics covered are: its founders, history, and present status.
A more detailed introduction to ChristianityThis menu contains links to essays that describe:
A very brief introduction to Christianity
Who is a Christian?
Divisions among Protestant denominations (Some people look upon the Protestant wing of Christianity as composed of two or more separate religions.)
Differences between Roman Catholicism and conservative Protestantism (There are major gaps, and they are growing.)
How Christians interpret the Bible. (They start with different assumptions and reach totally different conclusions.)
Background information on Christianity, and why this website is very different from most religious sites.
About the Bible:
Christian books in and out of the Bible: Content, stories, organization, origin, versions, inerrancy, forgeries, copying errors, inspiration, tools, early Gospels and Epistles that were never accepted into the Bible.....
Codes in the Bible: Real, imaginary, or a hoax?
The world and the Bible: archaeology; cosmology; prophecy; Wicca/Witchcraft and the Bible; are some Bible verses hate literature?
Themes & topics in the Bible: A range of Christian interpretations about the Ten Commandments, abortion, anti-semitism, homosexuality, the role of women, predictions of the end of the world, salvation....
Apparently immoral passages in the Bible: Incitements to genocide, intolerance, oppression, violence, etc. in the Bible.
Christian personalities:
God, Yeshua/Jesus, Mary, Saints, and, of course, Satan & demons
Christianity, the religion:
Beliefs, creeds, history, practices, rituals, ecumenicalism, joint efforts, schismatic forces, holy days, trends, urban legends, hoaxes, relics, movies.
Relations with, and comparisons to, other religions
Christian faith groups:
One source estimates that there are 34,000 separate Christian groups in the world.
We have attempted to sort them into:
Four to seven meta-groups, (Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestantism......)
Three wings, (conservative, mainline and liberal)
Fifteen Religious families, (Adventist, Baptist, Lutheran, Reform....)
Dozens of denominations, (from the Amish to The Way), and
Many systems of belief (Arminianism, British Israelism, Calvinism...)
Links to websites of Christian denominations, churches, para-church groups, etc:
Official websites of Christian denominations
Conservative Protestant websites
Progressive & liberal websites
Roman Catholic websites
Other Christian websites
Christian search engines & directories
Menu
Christianity: The world's largest religion
Quotations:
"Christianity started out in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise." Sam Pascoe 1
"Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words." -- Francis of Assisi.
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Paul, Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)
A place to begin:We recommend that you read these items first. Otherwise the remaining information may not make much sense.
A brief introduction to Christianity for persons unfamiliar with the religion. Topics covered are: its founders, history, and present status.
A more detailed introduction to ChristianityThis menu contains links to essays that describe:
A very brief introduction to Christianity
Who is a Christian?
Divisions among Protestant denominations (Some people look upon the Protestant wing of Christianity as composed of two or more separate religions.)
Differences between Roman Catholicism and conservative Protestantism (There are major gaps, and they are growing.)
How Christians interpret the Bible. (They start with different assumptions and reach totally different conclusions.)
Background information on Christianity, and why this website is very different from most religious sites.
About the Bible:
Christian books in and out of the Bible: Content, stories, organization, origin, versions, inerrancy, forgeries, copying errors, inspiration, tools, early Gospels and Epistles that were never accepted into the Bible.....
Codes in the Bible: Real, imaginary, or a hoax?
The world and the Bible: archaeology; cosmology; prophecy; Wicca/Witchcraft and the Bible; are some Bible verses hate literature?
Themes & topics in the Bible: A range of Christian interpretations about the Ten Commandments, abortion, anti-semitism, homosexuality, the role of women, predictions of the end of the world, salvation....
Apparently immoral passages in the Bible: Incitements to genocide, intolerance, oppression, violence, etc. in the Bible.
Christian personalities:
God, Yeshua/Jesus, Mary, Saints, and, of course, Satan & demons
Christianity, the religion:
Beliefs, creeds, history, practices, rituals, ecumenicalism, joint efforts, schismatic forces, holy days, trends, urban legends, hoaxes, relics, movies.
Relations with, and comparisons to, other religions
Christian faith groups:
One source estimates that there are 34,000 separate Christian groups in the world.
We have attempted to sort them into:
Four to seven meta-groups, (Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestantism......)
Three wings, (conservative, mainline and liberal)
Fifteen Religious families, (Adventist, Baptist, Lutheran, Reform....)
Dozens of denominations, (from the Amish to The Way), and
Many systems of belief (Arminianism, British Israelism, Calvinism...)
Links to websites of Christian denominations, churches, para-church groups, etc:
Official websites of Christian denominations
Conservative Protestant websites
Progressive & liberal websites
Roman Catholic websites
Other Christian websites
Christian search engines & directories
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