Tag: Christian

Saving faith is a gift

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Floyd Rogers

Finding faith or accepting it?

Reading atheist articles and listening to the lectures of atheist apostles like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens may seem like an odd thing for a Christian to do, but I do it quite often. Not because I have doubt in my faith, but because I find it makes me dig into the scripture with questions I might not otherwise have asked. I find it also makes it easier to answer questions posed by those seeking truth about God who are held back by their own intellect clouded by the mischaracterizing of Christianity by those who hate all religion.

I read an article from one atheist writer who critiqued the musings of the two atheists I’ve mentioned above saying both were bigoted and ignorant and possessed the very qualities they deplored in religion. He said they lacked open-mildness and were dogmatic, and had no evidence for their claim that there is no God. While he made it clear he is still an atheist, even referring to belief in God as ‘silly,’  it was refreshing to see an apparent open-mindedness on “the other side,” so to speak. By the way, I’m not insinuating he’s the only open-minded atheist, only that it’s not atheists like him who are often quoted. And hopefully, he will come to know our savior and accept His gift one day. But why are some atheists, as he pointed out, so dogmatic in their non-belief?

I think the problem most hard-core atheists have stems from the false idea that any knowledge reached by anything other than reasoning and our ability to comprehend, is of no value. I say this based on atheist writings I’ve read. This position rejects the idea of faith given to us as a Gift from God, not of our own ability so that no one can boast. And it does so without first demonstrating that there is no God to give us such a gift. While accusing Christians of leaning on faith (and we do lean on Biblical faith) Atheists often lean on atheist faith that requires one to pre-suppose there is no God.

I believe a saving faith doesn’t come from our own effort to find God, it starts when we stop resisting His call.

What are your thoughts?

When love is called hate

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Floyd Rogers

Want this article read to you by a text-to-speech voice? Click the play button above.

There are people today who confuse love and hate.  The idea of confusing the two may seem odd, but bias and prejudice lead to this kind of confusion and it’s something we see happening more often as society strays away from God’s word. Let’s consider an example.

When a doctor tells a patient that they risk lung cancer if they smoke, or heart attack if they overeat, it’s generally understood that telling a patient these things is an act of concern for the patient. But isn’t it interesting when a Christian tells someone they risk eternal separation from God if they engage in something forbidden in God’s word, it’s often portrayed as an act of hate? The doctor and the preacher are both warning people about the harmful effects of their actions. But since some sins have not only become accepted by society, and even praised by modern society, there are those who will project hate onto anyone who speaks out against them. 

Let me say that another way. Some people so firmly believe that specific sins are a good thing, they conclude that hate is the only reason you would want them to avoid it.  Their belief is so strong, it blinds them to their own intolerance, even to the point that the see an act of love as an act of hate.

Could this be the god of this age blinding the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel?

What are your thoughts?

Christians in Ukraine continue to pray, praise and worship

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STAFF

VIDEO: Christians in Ukraine today continue to worship God in spite of lives lost to war and the widespread damaged the war has caused to their country.

Occasionally we post videos we find on the net that we think are uplifting and worthy of sharing. This one is produced and owned by International Christian Concern. We do not have an association with them. This is a link to the organization’s YouTube video and is not hosted on our server. We present it here only because we think it has a needed message today.

According to the website of International Christian Concern, the organization exists to relieve the suffering of the worldwide persecuted church and help it grow in strength and breadth. ICC accomplishes its mission through effective assistance, advocacy and awareness with integrity toward God and our donors.

How often do you impart God’s word?

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Floyd Rogers

What does it mean to “impart” God’s word? You might think it means to give; as in, I give you something to own, and I no longer have any claim to it. But that’s not what impart means in most of its Biblical usage.  The word impart has implications and Paul’s use of the word demonstrates them. The concept of imparting God’s word is something to be considered when taken in context of Biblical usage.

When you say you will impart something, you imply that the something being imparted is of significance. It also means that it is not something one person relinquishes completely but shares with the receiver.  

Paul is recorded in Romans as saying he longed to impart a spiritual gift.  In 1 Thessalonians he said he and fellow missionaries imparted not only the Gospel, but their own souls.  Consider, they didn’t give way their souls, they shared their souls (themselves, who they are) and the Gospel with the Church in Thessalonica.  

There are secular Bible teachers who teach students about the Bible, the words in its pages, and how this book has affected world events.  But this is quite different than imparting; or sharing God’s Word with others. The former remains unmoved by the Word. For them it’s a cognitive exercise. But those who impart God’s word change and grow with others.

Do you talk to others about the Gospel, or go farther and impart your faith?

Reported crimes against the church in North America this week 1/1/2022

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STAFF

This is a list of this week’s reported crimes against Christian congregations and church property in North America. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list. These are only those that have come to our attention through media reports.

MONDAY, DEC. 27, 2021

Police in St. Albans, West Virginia have arrested two men for felony destruction of property and grand larceny after

TUESDAY, DEC 28, 2021

Police in Fort Smith, Ark. have arrested a man accused of causing between $20,000 and $50,000 in damage to the Evangel Temple in Forts Smith. KNWA/KFTA reports surveillance video led to the arrest of James Leon Garner, 39. A motive for the vandalism has not been announced.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 29, 2021

Officers arrested a Henderson, North Carolina man, 40, this week for vandalism at a church. Police say Kane Kelley. The motive behind the vandalism at the Ebenezer Church is not clear as the graffiti is Illegible. Fox Carolina posted photos of some of the graffiti. ABC13 reports the act was caught on surveillance video.

Police in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania are looking for the person or persons who caused an estimated $11,000 in damage as they ransacked a church. 6 Action News reports the damage was discovered at the Emmanuel United Methodist Church. Burglary is believed to be the motive

THURSDAY, DEC 30, 2021

Police In the state of New Jersey have responded three times in the past month to vandalism at the Mary, Mother of God Church in the city of Hillsborough.  Patch.com reports the vandal or vandals have defaced Christmas decorations, knocked over statues and stole a few items.

FRIDAY, Dec 31, 2021 (New Year’s Eve)

No Report – Holiday schedule