This video is simple. It just explains what the symbols on the Contradict bumper sticker represent. It also explains that the sticker itself and it’s simple tagline, “They Can’t All Be True – John 14:6” doesn’t say which one is true. All it says is that they can’t all be true. To say that Christianity is true, more arguments must be given. I’m sort of tired of liberal, pluralists seeing the sticker and responding that the Contradict logo is arrogant and superior. Standing alone, it’s just logical.
Significant Discoveries from Studying Other Religions #3
I gave a test to students on an overview of what religions are, Hinduism, and Buddhism, and for many of them it was the first time they had studied a religion other than Christianity. I asked a question at the end of the test for extra points: “Explain the most significant piece of religious information that you’ve learned so far this semester from this class and how it has impacted you.” Here was one response:
I learned so much from these chapters, since I am from Asia where Buddhism is a great influence. I always wanted to learn about this religion. However, I never knew that they don’t have God and that their teachings have mostly to do with one’s self. This was kind of shocking to me because I have believed in God my entire life and couldn’t imagine how a religion could exist without believing in God. Also, the eight characteristics common with religions helped me to define religion easily. I actually had an opportunity to talk to a friend in Life Group who is Buddhist. She said her family is not vegetarian and goes to the temple only for special events. Talking with a friend of another religion was fun because now I know some key terms from their teachings. However, I knew more about the Buddha’s words than her. I learned that knowing other religions’ teachings makes it easier to evangelize people.
Matthew 18:20 – Context.
Continuing sharing discussion notes from my senior theology classes on our memory verses, here are the notes spliced and merged from four class discussions on reading Matthew 18:20 in context.
Matthew 18:20 – “Where two or three are gathered in my name there I am with you?”
What’s the context in which we usually hear this verse applied?
- Gathered for worship.
- Gathered for Bible Study.
- Gathered for prayer.
What’s the context of this verse in Matthew 18:15-20?
- Context: How to address someone who sins against you (Matthew 18:15-20)
If someone sins against you, bring it up between yourselves privately. If they do not listen, take some other people with you so that you have testimony against that person with others. If they again do not listen, go to the church, and if there is still no response, treat the person like a “pagan or tax collector.” (15-17) Like Jesus, we should still respect them and treat them with kindness, valuing their existence despite sin. (Don’t pretend there is fellowship when there is not.)God is with you. It can be a difficult and scary thing to approach someone for correction, but when we do so in God’s name through his Word, Christ is with us, and we are not doing it based upon our authority, but Christ’s. Approach the person with love, with kindness and respect for the other. Use the Word to bring truth, with the intention to bring the other person to salvation/repentance.
Questions that we discussed in the various classes?
- Is it the loving thing to do to bring the person in front of the church congregation and call them out publicly for their sins?
- Have you ever seen this played out in a church setting before?
- When someone sins against you, what is your initial response, how do you usually respond?
- Does this verse apply just to those who sin against you, or also to those you know who are living in some sort of sin that appears externally to us to be unrepented sin?
- Is there a difference between someone upsetting you vs. sinning against you?
A lot of the classes struggled with this passage in context. The struggle was the concept that we are not to judge others. But in this case, it appears that we are. Any thoughts on helping make this concept of how to judge and when to judge more clear to us. We played it out in discussion for a very long time in class, and not everyone came to the same conclusion. Maybe some food for thought from some outsiders will be helpful. Please respond to the five questions or any other points.
God is too big to fit into one religion – rebuttal.
This is an interesting concept. God is too big to fit into one religion. If this were true, it’d means that every religion is wrong about their view, or lack of a view, of the divine (God).
This is ultimately saying that God is unknowable from one religion alone, and since the teachings of the various religions contradict each other, combing them all into one God-smoothie doesn’t help matters.
Wrong #1 – Christianity, as well as some other religions, claim that God is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent. How can God be bigger than that? Is it even possible for a God to exist bigger than a God that is not restricted by time, space, or matter, who is not limited in any ability to do as he wills, he has complete and perfect knowledge of everything, and always acts in ways that are wholly good? I don’t think so. Therefore, it’s completely possible that God can fit into one religion.
Wrong #2 – Religions aren’t containers. They don’t contain God. They’re not boxes that somehow, God conveniently fits into, although some religious adherents treat their religions as such. Religions offer revelations and explanations to who God is. It’s committing a category error to say that “God is too big to fit into one religion.”
John 15:7
One of our memory verses in class is John 15:7 – “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” We read it as a class in context, reading verses 1-16. Here are the notes that were produced by two different class discussions. These are just notes, so you might have to fill in the gaps a little. We will love your feedback. Peace in Christ.
Class notes 1:
John 15:1-16
• We have to trust in god. He picks us up while we go through trials and tough times
• God prunes off our sinful nature and we may not like it but it’s for out best in the long run
• Even though we are declared good by God (justification), we still need Jesus to make us better people (sanctification)
• The branches that go into the fire are not coming out (hell)
• Without god we can do nothing!
• Civil righteousness – Doing good in accordance to the world’s standards (anyone can do this)
• Divine righteousness – Doing good in accordance to God’s standard (we can only do this with Christ)
• If you stay in God you will want what he wants
• God doesn’t come straight out and tell us what his plans are but he will make hints of what his intentions are and we step into them through faith
Class Notes 2:
John 15:1-4
-It’s saying if you are not with God, nothing good will come to you, and God helps you
-God will give punishments but he has mercy
-God is disciplinary out of his love for us
-It’s saying if you are not with God, nothing good will come to you, and God helps you
-God will give punishments but he has mercy
-God is disciplinary out of his love for us
John 15:5-8
-You don’t accept Jesus, you will have nowhere to go but Hell
-Meditating in Christ will bear fruit in our spirits and souls, we can see it through our actions
-Verse 7: God is always there and we can come to Him for anything, even if it’s just help or guidance, gives three answers to prayer: yes, no, or wait, if no he has something better
John 15:9-12
-Joy from following God’s rules and laws
-Love your neighbor as God loves us
-God chooses us, God loved first.
John 15:13-17
-to be God’s friend, you have to obey his commands, you need to be willing to die for your friends, no longer servants but friends in Christ
-God will not call us a servant, a servant only sees so much, but we are in his inner-circle
Andy Wrasman 