Why Christianity Matters

As fish aren't conscious that they're in water, we followers of Christ take Christianity for granted. Unless we spent time in a pagan culture, we aren't aware of how special our faith is and how it benefits all people.

We read in Galatians 3:8 (BBE) how the world would be blessed through Christ, Abraham's descendent. "And the holy Writings, seeing before the event that God would give the Gentiles righteousness by faith, gave the good news before to Abraham, saying, 'In you will all the nations have a blessing.'"

The gospel is that blessing. As Christ commanded his disciples in Matthew 28:19 (BBE), "Go then, and make disciples of all the nations, giving them baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:"

And since Christianity is a personal belief system and not a political or national one, it improves the lot of even its enemies. That's why Christ said in Matthew 5:43 and 44 (BBE), "You have knowledge that it was said, Have love for your neighbour, and hate for him who is against you: But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you;"

Imagine how violent this world would be if Christians didn't love their enemies but sought to get revenge. Like a certain Chinese proverb says, "he who seeks revenge must dig two graves."

Even in the Old Testament, we read that God is the only one who can repay evil. Deuteronomy 32:35 (BBE) quotes him as saying, "Punishment is mine and reward, at the time of the slipping of their feet: for the day of their downfall is near, sudden will be their fate."

In a way, Christianity spawned hospitals. Christ told a parable of a man badly beaten and a Samaritan who had compassion on him. Luke 10:34 (BBE)shows how this caring gentleman made sure the beaten-up stranger had a safe place to recover. "And came to him and put clean linen round his wounds, with oil and wine; and he put him on his beast and took him to a house and took care of him." The Samaritan even gave money to the Innkeeper to pay for the man's extended stay.

But imagine if we lived in a non Christian world where vengeance reigned and violence was praised. This is what our western lands are becoming. Since governments have abandoned God, so god has abandoned our countries.

I hope to put my next book together and title it, You Think You're Going to Heaven? Just knowing that there are eternal consequences for wickedness has tempered our collective behaviour.

On Saturday, I hope to publish a post about a great song by The Hollies and how it relates to us believers in Christ.

Must Former Jesus Only Adherents be Rebaptized?

To answer this question, I need to explain that baptism was a public acknowledgement of one's commitment to follow Christ. The first-century Christians risked their lives doing this because they were willing to follow the Lord no matter what it cost. Even today, being baptized is a death sentence for Christ's followers in most lands.

When we are baptized, we don't risk our lives here in North America. Even so, the "Jesus Only" folks believe you're not saved fully if you're baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Is this really true? And must people "manifest" the Spirit through speaking in tongues as well?

There's only one time in the Bible where people were rebaptized. In The Acts of The Apostles, Paul encountered some folks who knew only about the Baptism which John did. Acts 19:4 (BBE) says, "And Paul said, 'John gave a baptism which goes with a change of heart, saying to the people that they were to have faith in him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.'"

But this doesn't prove that we must be baptized only in Christ's name as these Pentecostal offshoots claim. Jesus himself said in Matthew 28:19 (KJV) to, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" That alone should make "Jesus Only" adherents pause and think.

So, should people joining a new church be rebaptized? I believe it's a matter of conscience. If the person meant their decision to follow the Master, they don't need to be rebaptized. But if they were christened or baptized without desiring to surrender their wills to the Lord, they should submit to believer's baptism.

Though I was baptized at a cultic house church on December 6th, 1971, I meant it. I also made my commitment to follow Christ a few years previously. And though I didn't "manifest" tongues, I feel I made my public statement in being lowered beneath the water's surface and rising out of it.

This, and other spiritual matters, will be explained in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Too many people falsely assume they're going there. They need to know the peril they face by not entering through the door of Christ's atonement on the cross.

Is the Holy Spirit Merely One Phase of God?

One huge mistake certain sects make is Modalism. According to the Christian Research Institute, this heresy began in the third century. Men such as Sabellius and Paul of Samosata claimed that God switched modes of being. First, he was God Almighty. Then he became Jesus Christ. After the resurrection, he became the Holy Spirit.

A sect called Oneness Pentecostals claims that God manifested himself in three phases by quoting Matthew 28:19 (Bible in Basic English) which reads, "Go then, and make disciples of all the nations, giving them baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:. "

They also claim this idea is expressed in Acts 2:38 (BBE) which says, "And Peter said, 'Let your hearts be changed, every one of you, and have baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will have the Holy Spirit given to you.'"

If this is so, what about the other two members of the Trinity being present at Christ's baptism? Luke 3:22 (KJV) reads, "And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape  like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said,  'Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.'" How could God be in three modes at once?

And what about 1 Corinthians 15:27 -28 (KJV) which reads, "For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all."

Poof! There goes the Modalism argument. I intend on writing about this and other errant views of the Godhead in a book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? In order to be saved, people need to have a proper understanding about who they've rebelled against and the magnanimous gift Christ offers to wretched sinners like us.