Several times in the past year, I have come across occasions where my beliefs have been questioned by those with conflicting opinions. It is easy to remain silent as questions about faith and belief can be found in the delicate sections of conversation. However, many times my silence erupted due to the lack of knowledge.
Being far from an expert in the "field", and more of a "cliff note" cheater I would find myself listening to an either angry or quite confident individual armed with sagacious words that were no match for me in the "philosophical duel" I had found myself in.
Though I have saturated myself in the Bible over a quarter century and listened to countless sermons and lectures, it was up to me to roll up my sleeves and prepare for these "battles of sorts". (Not for sake of winning an argument because each one of us is subject to our own opinions but so that I can be confident in my own belief and accurately state my defense).
I opened up a book called "The Case for the Real Jesus" by Lee Strobel, took notes, and did my own studies. The first thing I needed to do was find out what others believe so I know how to approach it. My first study led me to gnostics.
According to Strobel, "Gnostics historically held four basic ideas in common: the world is evil (I agree), it was the product of an evil creator (I do not agree), salvation consists of being rescued from it (I agree), and the rescue comes through secret knowledge or "gnosis" (I do not agree). It is interesting that even with my faith solely in God, I do share some common beliefs with gnostics. We can always find common ground if we look deep enough.
Gnostic writers view the virgin birth, resurrection, and other elements of Jesus's life as symbolic and not literal. The knowledge of these "symbolic stories" bring "understanding" and spiritual awakening from within. Gnostics believe that Jesus was not the Savior who died for our sins but instead an imparter of secret wisdom who divulged the turth about the divine nature within us all. Therefore one does not need to go to church or participate in such programs as we can find hope in ourselves.
This would be a great idea if we were a perfect people, but we are not. Though many of us have never shot another individual 25 times, or partook in cannibalism, or commited a heinous crime as described in law books across the country, we all have lied, we all have struggled with hate and unforgiveness, and frankly we all have sinned. Whether we battle with our thoughts and minds on a daily basis, or cheat on our taxes, the truth of it is... from famous priests to tree-hugging activist... we all fall short...
We will never be gods. We will never have all the power, all the wealth, and all the contentment we so desire. We will never, on our own, find salvation in ourselves because not one of us is worthy of it. The problem is that if you do believe salvation is found in yourself, than you struggle with pride. The definition of pride according to dictionary.com? "a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct".
While we could argue all day in how we were created (originally), the problem is for the gnostics...that even those who do not believe in Creationism by a perfect and good God... cannot mathmatically or historically refute it. They can claim it... but it cannot be truly rejected as they were not eyewitnesses... they can only give provisional theories because it cannot be authenticated at this time..
The Bible, which unlike Aesop's fables, has been mentioned by some of the most early historical writers in the world (Josephus and Clementine) mentions in the very first verse that "in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". It goes on to describe what the earth was like before it was even created. We were not a freak accident of nature or a "frankenstein" created by a mad scientist.
We were thought of and hand-made by a loving God who created us for a purpose.. Not to just breathe and take up space...to maybe create a new Iphone application, help an elderly person cross the road, feed a starving cat... Life is so much more... We all have such high opinions of ourselves, because we refuse to focus on our negative selves.. we love motivators who build our egos and tell us how good we are... we love that darkness hides our form.. and that if its not on paper..it didnt happen.. we love the idea that we answer to no one but ourselves.. but if that is so true.. why the guilt? why the search for enlightenment?
The "secret knowledge" is not so "secret"... it was actually written by a former athiest and Christian persecuter... Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Being far from an expert in the "field", and more of a "cliff note" cheater I would find myself listening to an either angry or quite confident individual armed with sagacious words that were no match for me in the "philosophical duel" I had found myself in.
Though I have saturated myself in the Bible over a quarter century and listened to countless sermons and lectures, it was up to me to roll up my sleeves and prepare for these "battles of sorts". (Not for sake of winning an argument because each one of us is subject to our own opinions but so that I can be confident in my own belief and accurately state my defense).
I opened up a book called "The Case for the Real Jesus" by Lee Strobel, took notes, and did my own studies. The first thing I needed to do was find out what others believe so I know how to approach it. My first study led me to gnostics.
According to Strobel, "Gnostics historically held four basic ideas in common: the world is evil (I agree), it was the product of an evil creator (I do not agree), salvation consists of being rescued from it (I agree), and the rescue comes through secret knowledge or "gnosis" (I do not agree). It is interesting that even with my faith solely in God, I do share some common beliefs with gnostics. We can always find common ground if we look deep enough.
Gnostic writers view the virgin birth, resurrection, and other elements of Jesus's life as symbolic and not literal. The knowledge of these "symbolic stories" bring "understanding" and spiritual awakening from within. Gnostics believe that Jesus was not the Savior who died for our sins but instead an imparter of secret wisdom who divulged the turth about the divine nature within us all. Therefore one does not need to go to church or participate in such programs as we can find hope in ourselves.
This would be a great idea if we were a perfect people, but we are not. Though many of us have never shot another individual 25 times, or partook in cannibalism, or commited a heinous crime as described in law books across the country, we all have lied, we all have struggled with hate and unforgiveness, and frankly we all have sinned. Whether we battle with our thoughts and minds on a daily basis, or cheat on our taxes, the truth of it is... from famous priests to tree-hugging activist... we all fall short...
We will never be gods. We will never have all the power, all the wealth, and all the contentment we so desire. We will never, on our own, find salvation in ourselves because not one of us is worthy of it. The problem is that if you do believe salvation is found in yourself, than you struggle with pride. The definition of pride according to dictionary.com? "a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct".
While we could argue all day in how we were created (originally), the problem is for the gnostics...that even those who do not believe in Creationism by a perfect and good God... cannot mathmatically or historically refute it. They can claim it... but it cannot be truly rejected as they were not eyewitnesses... they can only give provisional theories because it cannot be authenticated at this time..
The Bible, which unlike Aesop's fables, has been mentioned by some of the most early historical writers in the world (Josephus and Clementine) mentions in the very first verse that "in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". It goes on to describe what the earth was like before it was even created. We were not a freak accident of nature or a "frankenstein" created by a mad scientist.
We were thought of and hand-made by a loving God who created us for a purpose.. Not to just breathe and take up space...to maybe create a new Iphone application, help an elderly person cross the road, feed a starving cat... Life is so much more... We all have such high opinions of ourselves, because we refuse to focus on our negative selves.. we love motivators who build our egos and tell us how good we are... we love that darkness hides our form.. and that if its not on paper..it didnt happen.. we love the idea that we answer to no one but ourselves.. but if that is so true.. why the guilt? why the search for enlightenment?
The "secret knowledge" is not so "secret"... it was actually written by a former athiest and Christian persecuter... Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
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