“If you love Me, you will keep My
commandments” – John 14:15
My Thoughts:
All of you must be able to see that we live in a fallen world. The violence, bloodshed, abuse and anger that so many are experiencing today is far greater than any other time in our history. A day doesn’t go by when we are not hearing another story of someone being shot, or multi-person murder, or violent protesting in the streets and casting insults upon one another. Daily there are drive by shootings in neighborhoods around major metropolitan cities across America. It’s not all gun-violence, but certainly we hear about these more so than other violent crimes. Horror stories of sex-trafficking, child-pornography, suicides and school shootings grace the crevice of our ears almost weekly now. Mankind has fallen and it’s almost becoming blasé and less of a shock to the average person.
What causes individuals to believe that they have the right to walk into an establishment, wave a pistol and begin shooting? What makes a person think he is justified in kidnapping a 14 year old girl while she waits for a school bus, drug her, take her away to a foreign country and sell her for unthinkable purpose? What differentiates their thought process from mine or yours (as you read this)?
God created this world, mankind, and all that is in it. The evil in this world has perverted it. God’s word tells us of His character as perfect, righteous and holy. When someone chooses to live outside of God’s character it is expected that they are living outside of these traits as well. But, those of us living within God’s character, it is expected that we abide by His laws and the teaching of His Son Jesus Christ. (John 14:21)
I’ve spoken to and listened to several atheists on this topic. Their entire premise is that Christians need God as a crutch and Satan to blame, to avoid dealing with these difficult issues in life. Their statements were ground in the belief that there is no supreme being, we are here for a period of time and then we are gone. Often times they’ve read the bible cover to cover, even multiple times, and have a very thorough understanding of the message that we, “Christians”, believe. They simply choose not to, as is their prerogative. To them the bible is a compilation of fantasy stories told from generation to generation to appease mankind’s fear of the unknown. At the basis, though, is a predominant feeling of self-righteousness. Without a supreme being, a higher power, there is no one for them to answer too. They answer only to themselves and their opinion of right vs. wrong as their guideline for life.
To this I wonder though; where does the foundation of this right and wrong come from? Where did they learn that it is wrong to kill, to steal, or to bring harm upon another? Where did this internal judgment complex come from? There must be a foundation of right and wrong for them to compare their opinion against in order for them to claim that someone is doing something wrong. What they will not admit to you is that they don’t know. Certainly man’s laws are crafted in a manner to keep the peace between individuals, and could be claimed as the foundation of their choices and decisions. We are all obligated to uphold and live by these laws. Dig a little deeper and ask the basic questions of where those laws were founded? What is the premise of the laws that govern your country, county and city? After peeling back layer after layer of the onion, most will fall back to early manuscripts which quote the 10 Commandments as a basis.
God has ingrained in every single human born an innate knowledge and sense of right vs. wrong. Because we are made in His image, we are filled with His presence and love as our foundation during the development stages before birth. Once born, the world begins influencing decisions and laying the second, third and fourth layer upon an individual’s character. Life’s situations, environment and culture have much to do with an individual’s outlook on right vs wrong when we become adults. The inability to recognize God is a learned trait, something that was taught and accepted rather than something that is believed through faith. The most fundamental difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is our faith in something we have never seen and cannot be proven.
We trust in the scriptures as God’s holy word and the single point of truth in the world today. This lighthouse keeps us focused on right vs wrong in the eyes of the Lord. When we are living by His standard of goodness, there is nothing in this world that can declare it as wrongdoing.
All of you must be able to see that we live in a fallen world. The violence, bloodshed, abuse and anger that so many are experiencing today is far greater than any other time in our history. A day doesn’t go by when we are not hearing another story of someone being shot, or multi-person murder, or violent protesting in the streets and casting insults upon one another. Daily there are drive by shootings in neighborhoods around major metropolitan cities across America. It’s not all gun-violence, but certainly we hear about these more so than other violent crimes. Horror stories of sex-trafficking, child-pornography, suicides and school shootings grace the crevice of our ears almost weekly now. Mankind has fallen and it’s almost becoming blasé and less of a shock to the average person.
What causes individuals to believe that they have the right to walk into an establishment, wave a pistol and begin shooting? What makes a person think he is justified in kidnapping a 14 year old girl while she waits for a school bus, drug her, take her away to a foreign country and sell her for unthinkable purpose? What differentiates their thought process from mine or yours (as you read this)?
God created this world, mankind, and all that is in it. The evil in this world has perverted it. God’s word tells us of His character as perfect, righteous and holy. When someone chooses to live outside of God’s character it is expected that they are living outside of these traits as well. But, those of us living within God’s character, it is expected that we abide by His laws and the teaching of His Son Jesus Christ. (John 14:21)
I’ve spoken to and listened to several atheists on this topic. Their entire premise is that Christians need God as a crutch and Satan to blame, to avoid dealing with these difficult issues in life. Their statements were ground in the belief that there is no supreme being, we are here for a period of time and then we are gone. Often times they’ve read the bible cover to cover, even multiple times, and have a very thorough understanding of the message that we, “Christians”, believe. They simply choose not to, as is their prerogative. To them the bible is a compilation of fantasy stories told from generation to generation to appease mankind’s fear of the unknown. At the basis, though, is a predominant feeling of self-righteousness. Without a supreme being, a higher power, there is no one for them to answer too. They answer only to themselves and their opinion of right vs. wrong as their guideline for life.
To this I wonder though; where does the foundation of this right and wrong come from? Where did they learn that it is wrong to kill, to steal, or to bring harm upon another? Where did this internal judgment complex come from? There must be a foundation of right and wrong for them to compare their opinion against in order for them to claim that someone is doing something wrong. What they will not admit to you is that they don’t know. Certainly man’s laws are crafted in a manner to keep the peace between individuals, and could be claimed as the foundation of their choices and decisions. We are all obligated to uphold and live by these laws. Dig a little deeper and ask the basic questions of where those laws were founded? What is the premise of the laws that govern your country, county and city? After peeling back layer after layer of the onion, most will fall back to early manuscripts which quote the 10 Commandments as a basis.
God has ingrained in every single human born an innate knowledge and sense of right vs. wrong. Because we are made in His image, we are filled with His presence and love as our foundation during the development stages before birth. Once born, the world begins influencing decisions and laying the second, third and fourth layer upon an individual’s character. Life’s situations, environment and culture have much to do with an individual’s outlook on right vs wrong when we become adults. The inability to recognize God is a learned trait, something that was taught and accepted rather than something that is believed through faith. The most fundamental difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is our faith in something we have never seen and cannot be proven.
We trust in the scriptures as God’s holy word and the single point of truth in the world today. This lighthouse keeps us focused on right vs wrong in the eyes of the Lord. When we are living by His standard of goodness, there is nothing in this world that can declare it as wrongdoing.
Be Blessed,
Rich
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