Can We Talk?

Can We Talk?

 

          I like nothing better than to get 3 or 4 friends together to talk about religion. The first rule is we talk, no argument. No matter how convinced you are that yours is the only true word of God, you have to listen quietly while someone suggests you may be wrong. The second rule is you cannot attack any religion, calling it names like stupid, ignorant, heathen, etc. even if no one of that faith is in the group. On the same level we cannot ridicule any ritual or belief that we consider old fashioned or outdated

          The third rule is have fun and learn. We can ask any question, discuss any topic and it is amazing how much is brought up that we had never given any thought about before. Example: Is heaven a location or a state of consciousness. If God fills all time and space, where is there any place for evil? Do we reap in experience what we think? And more!

          Also we find that although we have been going to church most of our life, we really don’t know much about our own religion. It came as a shock to me, when I was asked a question about a belief that I had held for a long time. I couldn’t give a coherent answer. I told them that I would get back to them on it. I did some research and study and finally I had the answer that satisfied my mind. With a reasonable answer, I learn more this way than in any number of church services.

          We go to church to worship God. We owe it to ourselves and God to know what it is that we worship. Are we any more advanced than the ancients who worshiped a wooden idol? They sincerely believed and sacrifice to a god that was not real. Is our God real? How do we know? What proof do we have?

          I don’t believe in faith. If by faith you mean unquestioning belief that does not require proof. That may be enough for some and I admire their devotion. However, anything true can stand up to sincere, truthful, investigation. I think most leaders in the church are good people. But, how or where did they get the information that they are teaching you? They were taught by other humans who believe in a certain way and they are passing that way to you. Maybe they are right and maybe not. Therefore, it is important that you know what you believe and why you believe that way. You can’t have much faith in something that doesn’t make sense to you.

          The Christian religion is under attack. Overseas the churches are being burned, Christians are harassed and murdered. In America, at this time, it is more subtle. The American family is absorbed by the government. Because mom has to work she can’t stay home to raise the kids. The government stepped in with much needed day-care until they go to school. The school feeds them breakfast and lunch. The schools are teaching safe sex and not abstinence. There is a zero tolerance for any Christian symbols like a cross necklace or T shirts with a message like

I believe in the Big Bang theory

God said, “Let there be,” and

BANG

There it was.

          When the gloves come off and the true intent of the government is revealed, will we be ready to die to defend Christianity? Do we know what we believe? Do we have the courage of our convictions? The more you know about God, the better you understand that a false sense of things is all that needs to be healed and that we can trust God’s promises of happiness and protection. It is essential that we steadfastly keep spiritual thoughts in our mind and realize that God rules on earth every bit as much as He does in heaven.

 

          674 words                               Loretta Ellen Edwards