A Short One

While traveling, we went by a church with the sign, "St. Paul's Methodist Church." Now, I happen to know that the Methodist church didn't start until the 18th century, so I was amused that they would link St. Paul to it. Like the discussion about KJV Only. "Well, if it was good enough for Paul and Silas, it's good enough for me."

Clearly, unbelievers are not the only ones guilty of not thinking straight.

This Is Only A Test

James wrote, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance" (James 1:2-3). Does it strike anyone as odd that James would think that the testing of your faith was a good thing? Do we think that testing our own faith is a good thing? I mean, shouldn't we just ... trust?

Testing is important. Jesus commended the church at Ephesus for testing those who called themselves apostles (Rev 2:2). Paul told the Corinthian believers to test themselves (2 Cor 13:5-6). So, how is this testing done? Well, going with James, it is by ... trial. Peter said that enduring trials was proof of faith (1 Peter 1:6-7). God promised that He would test His own people. How? "I have tested you in the furnace of affliction" (Isa 48:10). The author of Hebrews says that Abraham's faith was tested when he was told to sacrifice Isaac (Heb 11:17-19).

Testing is vital. Unfortunately, the test is ... fire. Discomfort. Pain. Crisis. The unwanted moments in life. How do you respond? That's a helpful question to ask yourself. If "fire" is God's choice of testing our faith, what does His testing say about your faith? Do you lean on Him the most when things are the worst, or do you give up or complain or get angry? We all encounter negative events. Scripture says they're for our benefit. Are you rejoicing? How are you doing on this test?

Show and Tell

It's interesting to drive across this country of ours. From the Pacific Ocean to the Mojave Desert, from Arizona's deserts to Arizona's pine forests, from New Mexico's desert to Texas plains, from the deep South through the northern regions, from the plains to the peaks, and on and on. Always changing. Infinitely variable. Entire habitats, phenomenon (from earthquakes to volcanos to tornados to hurricanes), weather conditions, life forms, plant life ... it's a constant barrage of creation.

The world would like to tell you that this biodiversity, this vast and complex universe from the smallest atom to the largest star is the product of chance, of random events and mutations. The demand is that everything we see in all its wonder and grandeur ... came from nothing at all. They point to Darwin (who actually made no effort to explain the origin of everything, but just the origin of humans) and say, "See? We don't need your god. We have science. Science tells us that everything came from nothing." Scripture tells us,

That which is known about God is evident within [people]; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Rom 1:19-20)

Nature declares the glory of God. Man's natural hostility to God (Rom 8:7) covers that up ... with nonsense. "Everything came from nothing. All this complexity and interconnectedness happened by chance. Just because it looks like design doesn't mean it is." Reason shouts back, "How much do you need to see to realize that design is unavoidable and that the Designer exceeds human ability or understanding?" But, notice, logic itself and even nature itself are not at the core of this argument. The text says, "God made it evident to them." So the problem is not a lack of evidence or even a failure to grasp the truth. The failure is in our natural tendency to suppress the truth ... about God (Rom 1:18). So, go ahead. Enjoy the magnificence of God's creation. Remember that God is and that He created it all and it is very good. Keep telling them about Christ, but don't count on better logic or philosophical arguments to win. That will be God's doing, too.