By Salt

mood: contemplative

 
 [The subject matter of the following post is rated "PG" (Parent Guidance suggested) because some are rather complicated.  However, these are questions every Christian will face at some point or another.]

When I was trying to set this up I noticed a couple of links that pop up on the advertising for this site.  One that pops every now and then leads to an article entitled "Why All The Things The Church Taught You Is Wrong."  The article tries to undermine our trust in what we know.  You'll even see the occasion add for a site that claims to know why only certain Christians are saved. 

If we're alive in the world, sooner or later we'll encounter someone or something that challenges what we think.  And it isn't because someone is out to get you.  Once while I went to a South Dakota Synod youth gathering at a hotel in Pierre.  As my roommates and I were leaving the room, we met a girl about our age.  She asked why we were there, and we explained our reasons, and she told us about how she read the Bible and books on Hinduism and Mormonism and Buddhism and every other -ism one might think of and how Christianity didn't make any sense to her.  She wasn't trying to lead us astray--she was simply telling the truth.  To her, it just didn't make any sense.  We explained our reasons for trusting God.

How do we know what is trustworthy?  We know we can trust the Bible, not because it's a nice book.  We can trust it because God has inspired it's writers over the years to help guide the reader.  (II Timothy 3:16)  It's trustworthy because God, who sent Christ and the Holy Spirit among us, is trustworthy.  That's why we study it.  It is the written word that points us to the Living Word-Jesus. (John 1:1-5)

We can also ask God to help show us what is trustworthy and what isn't.  God gladly answers prayers asking for guidance.  Sometimes He sends others to speak to us, sometimes He speaks personally.  However He does it, though, the Holy Spirit gladly shows the way.

Questions to ponder:
1)  What do you believe?  Could you tell someone else about it?

2)  How would you respond to someone who disagrees with what you believe?

3)  Have you ever met someone who doesn't believe the same things you do?  Did they ask you questions?  How did you answer?  Did you ask them questions?  How did they answer?

4)  Read John 3:1-15.  How did Jesus respond to people who asked questions?  What would it take for us to do the same? 

5) Does this mean Christians shouldn't watch movies or TV?