What does it really mean to fear God? Is this fear good? Tim Challies writes about different kinds of fear, especially in light of recently losing his son Nick.
At first glance, God in the Old Testament seems harsh, and perhaps callous. God in the New Testament seems loving, and gentle. With respect, this is a simple misunderstanding. It's also not new...this has been a common misunderstanding since at least the turn of the first century AD.
Many skeptics of Christianity believe that Jesus never claimed to be God. Some claim that nobody believed He was God until long, long after His death. Others argue that Jesus' own words show that He believed Himself to be simply a man, or only the Son of God and not God Himself. Still others claim that Jesus' divinity was created by the apostle Paul, and that his teaching and Jesus' teaching are in conflict. From Jehovah's Witnesses to Muslims to atheists, a whole bunch of people deny that Jesus is God.
The Bible tells of a man named Job, who suffered the loss of his family, his possessions, and his health. When he questioned God about why this had happened, God responded...but, in His response, God did not answer Job's question.
That's a complex question. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity come from the faith of Abraham. They're not the same, as much has been added to Abraham's faith for all three. From a historical point of view, Islam and Christianity and Judaism worship the same God. How they understand God, and how they live that faith, is a very different story.
Having a website is a big responsibility. Most of the time, most people don't think twice about it...after all: they wonder why anybody at all would read their website. If they're convinced that they're not being read, they don't have to think about what they write.
Miranda asked: "If god already knows what we want, why pray?" That's a very good question, and one that lots of people have asked. I'm not sure that anyone has a complete answer...
There are two common misconceptions about hell. The first is that a loving God wouldn't let anyone go there, and the second is that God uses it to punish people. I think that both theories are actually attempts to diminish our view of God.
