In fact I am a walking example of a miracle. I worship Creator God. This is not through effort or even desire. In fact, for most of my life my desire was to ignore religion and the god that I didn’t think existed. Yet here I am today, sold out to Jesus the Messiah.
He changed me. He transformed me into a trophy of grace. Creator God took this once cold, cold heart and gave it the ability to love. He took this lying soul and gave it the ability to be honest. Jesus took a man completely focussed on himself and turned him into someone who is willing to give of himself, his time, his money so that others might live and know the Lord Jesus Christ.
Worshipping God is not natural. As many an atheist has said, “I couldn’t believe in God even if I wanted to.” Absolutely correct. Unless God works a miracle in a person’s soul, an intimate, healed and forgiven relationship with Creator God is impossible.
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15 comments:
I agree and Amen.
I was raised in an Atheist's home that never, ever, mentioned Jesus. Went to a public school that never mentioned the Bible and taught me that I am from ape ancestry. Went to an atheistic Military where secular things (sins) were promoted as the norm. Got out to work at secular jobs. Then one summer found a Life Guard job at a community pool.
I got to know many evil people there, many gossiping woman. Until I got to know one lady who never did any gossiping, I would say to myself 'that is the kind of woman that I want to marry somday.' She was kind and generous to others, her kids were very well raised, respectful, smart, and strangely unlike the other kids in a good way. She was doing something right. She had an optimistic peaceful confidence that was very intriguing. When the summer ended she, and her very nice husband, gave me a huge bag of groceries and a card. In that card was some cash and this little booklet. It was a tract that explained Jesus to me. Sort of like this one, but not quite.
Later that night I said some prayer and asked Jesus to reveal Himself to me and didn't think anything of it. I went on with my sinful life. Here I stand, some 18 years later, "sold out to Jesus the Messiah."
Glory to God and thank the Lord, I am saved. Yes, He even changed my wretched and hateful heart. It can only be described as, a miracle.
I wonder...if God's direct intervention is required, why the worldwide effort by human Christians to proselytise? Does God need your help, or did He give you that order to make you feel useful?
I'm curious about why you use the qualification "creator" in front of god. Are there other gods you believe in that you wish to differentiate from or do you prefer to limit this particular god by refining it to that of a creator?
Seems to me that the word god in and of itself ought to be sufficient within cultural contexts to convey an almighty-ness.
Adam: Perhaps you don't unerstand the other gods that you don't believe in as well as you think you do :-)
Thank you for your non-answer. It fits within the response I expected from you.
Rational Beauty put it best, you're a terrible representative for your belief system. The manner in which you proselytize only serves to galvanize those you oppose.
SmartLX,
"I wonder...if God's direct intervention is required, why the worldwide effort by human Christians to proselytise? Does God need your help, or did He give you that order to make you feel useful?"
God doesn't NEED me, He may use me. He knows us very well. I view myself as a tool. Why do we proselytize? Well it's two fold. We are instructed to do so, but another reason is love. I don't want to see anyone burn in an eternal flame, I hate the thought. It may be to help us feel useful. If I can help out at all then I eagerly ask God to...put me in coach!
C.H. Spurgeon said it right, "If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for."
My heart aches for the lost. I want everyone to hear the Word and to get saved so we can all have a good laugh someday in Heaven.
... are you Saved?
Adam,
"I'm curious about why you use the qualification "creator" in front of god. Are there other gods you believe in that you wish to differentiate from or do you prefer to limit this particular god by refining it to that of a creator?"
Good question, of course there are many, many gods. Whatever you serve as your master is your god, hence the need for the Second Commandment. Money or even "self" can be your god. We are god's to our kids. I am my children's father. God is our Father.
No the Creator, our God, is the Triune God of the universe. We worship Him and Him alone. He is, after all, the Creator of all.
Why worship anything else? What/who do you worship?
"I don't want to see anyone burn in an eternal flame, I hate the thought."
You should talk with your glib friend who hosts this blog. His tone makes me feel like he's more interested in sharing condescension than expressing deep concern for those he denigrates so easily.
"What/who do you worship?"
I think you conflate reverence for what you call the divine and extravagant esteem or admiration. Worship has several definitions, and the one you use to define your behavior is probably different than the one I would use to define mine.
But, if you want an answer for what have I replaced your invisible deity with? It would be my mind and myself as I interact with the greater society of humans and nature in total.
Adam,
"His tone makes me feel like he's more interested in sharing condescension than expressing deep concern for those he denigrates so easily."
What can I say we, as Christians, hate evil. I would add there is nothing more evil then unrepentant sinning. Ray had a saying, "Law to the Proud and Grace to the Humble." If you really want to see our soft side, start to repent. You will witness our overwhelming love and support.
Otherwise 2 Corinthians 6:14 is our instruction.
"But, if you want an answer for what have I replaced your invisible deity with? It would be my mind and myself as I interact with the greater society of humans and nature in total."
I appreciate you answer but it made me think of a quote I read.
Peter Gilmore, high priest of the Manhattan-based satanism organization said: "Satanism is the world's first carnal religion, Satanists are thus atheists—not devil worshipers—and we see Satan as being a symbol of pride, liberty and individualism, not a deity."
Satanist worship "self" you are in bad company to worship self. I guess that backs up the statistics that atheists are more selfish.
Dan, I figured you or Makarios would say something like that, but it's really very sad if you think about it.
You're like Maggie Simpson playing with her plastic steering wheel in the back seat while Marge does the real driving...only you'll never grow up and get your own licence. You're not a tool, you're a toy in the toolbox. But hey, as long as the car occasionally turns at the same time as you wrench your unconnected wheel, you're apparently happy.
I'm not Saved(tm). Nor am I one of God's Chosen People(tm), or Enlightened(tm), or a Mu'min(tm), or a Clear(tm). Nor do I want to be any of these things, despite the fact that hearts ache for each one that I'm not. If you knew from where I came to this blog, you'd probably have realised that. Makarios was kind enough to visit us, so I'm returning the favour.
Ha! I love it. Tell me, in real life, how many friends have you made by treating them like shit until they befriend you, at which time you then show your nice side?
Good luck with that.
And thanks for the chuckle while I read a study by a Christian research group about how Christians are better than atheists. I'm shocked at their results! Shocked!!
Also, I never said I worshiped myself. You must have read my comment too quickly.
I don't worship anything.
Dan:
Atheists don't worship Satan. As a matter of fact, atheists don't worship anything. Whatever these "satanists" claim to be, they are not atheists.
"in real life, how many friends have you made by treating them like shit"
Is that what you think I'm trying to do? To get you to be my friend?
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Not sure how I’m involved in your chuckle. I would never suggest that Christians are better or nicer than atheists. I don’t know how any research find otherwise.
Sorry Rod, my comments were directed at Dan. Neither the friend analogy nor the chuckle were related to any statements you made.
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