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08/23/2016

My Thoughts

There is a confusion in the world today surrounding religion. In my world a specific religion has different sects that have taken specific defining actions of followers to identify true devout followers or infidels. A big problem arises when people of this same religion disagree on what the proper actions devout followers should have.

Some people try to apply this disagreement to the Christian faith. They point out how widely varied the many denominations in the USA are. They cry foul by stating how can anyone really know for sure who's devout enough to have certainty of salvation and eternity.

I think a great Biblical example of the solution is to look at one man, Saul/Paul. Yes, one man with two names. Before Paul had a relationship with Jesus, as Saul he was one of the religions people that thought his religion must be defended in a way as to weed out or even kill those who claimed to be religious Jews but didn't keep specific laws that define the religion. It's recorded that he was present at the stoning of Steven.

But something happened to Saul, he meet Jesus on the road to Emmais. From that experience on he no longer saw religion as a set of rules to follow but as a pointer to the savior, Jesus the Messiah. He stopped hunting down the infidels and started introducing people to Jesus and the Good News that he provides salvation to all, the gentile, the Greek, the Barbarian, to all people. Salvation was no longer found in a set of rules but in a relationship with Christ, and that just by stating Jesus is Lord. No longer do people have to become Jew or stop being Greek but Jesus has redeemed all cultures buy reversing the curse of sin (death) and dying on the cross that all men might live (and he reversed the curse in his resurrection).

I challenge you to investigate this for yourself so you do not think today's christianity should be confused with other religions. It's the only one based on a relationship with the founder and not on the founders teachings. And that is the change in Saul who became Paul.

Thank about that.

Love,
Dad