Letter To a Friend.

In Matthew 28 Jesus Christ called us to proclaim the Good News to all the world.  This letter is part of proclaiming it to my friend.

Letter to a Friend

...Returning to the subject of the life of the soul, etc., I would like to draw a parallel back to Columbus. And that parallel actually yielded two points. I thought I remembered that he believed the earth was round and that others believed it was flat (http://www.bede.org.uk/flatearth.htm). But it does not matter what I thought. In reality, it was generally accepted that the Earth was round. The question at the time was the size of the Earth. And Columbus was wrong. The world was not as small as he thought. Had there not been a previously unknown continent between Portugal and the East Indies, he would probably not have survived and he would have been a footnote in history.

In both illustrations is only the reality that matters. Whether some or all, majority or minority believe one way or another does not matter to reality. But it influences the decisions we make. If we do not know what's real, it's easy to make decisions that can have fatal consequences. So it is also with the soul. Either God exists or he doesn't. We can study and speculate all we want, but there is no guarantee that we will find the answer. But anyway there is just one reality, one Truth. So the question is not which reality we think sounds the best. We can ignore reality if we want (see "Flat Earth Society" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Earth_Society, http://www.alaska.net/~clund/e_djublonskopf/Flatearthsociety.htm, etc.).  People can and will construct theories around subjects even this absurd.

As far as physics go, one can use science and research to prove and disprove theories. But even for that there is a certain point where measurements affect the phenomenon being observed, not all phenomena are observable. And for most people there is no chance of observation - we just have to believe what a few scientists are able to theorize or prove in a lab. And even something as common and specific as a meter (the length measure) only existed as copies of copies of a reference meter stick in a vault in Paris until 1960.

Religion is more like abstract artwork. For the uninitiated it is impossible to assess the value of the artwork. Some people like one and some like another. But as one becomes familiar with the artwork of a famous painter, it is possible to recognize the style and technique of this artist's work. So it is with God. If you do not have an appreciation for abstract paintings, they are just globs of color. But when you get to know the artists you will recognize different characteristics. For the uninitiated - (if you do not believe in God, do not have a personal relationship with Him) it is impossible to see the markers in everyday life. You see everything as random. But as you get to know God you will recognize how he is at work in this world. Coincidences are no longer just coincidences, but often reveal something. This applies to all things large and small.

I find that all people have one thing in common - we are searching for something. What is that "something"?

For me there is only one answer. I KNOW what the answer is, and it is that there is one true God, "16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," (John 3:16). There is only one reality, one Truth. God does not exist because the evangelists believe in him. It is not the evangelists who decides what is true. But God has a monopoly on what is and is not!

From a purely logical point of view there are only two choices we must make :

1: Is there a God?
2: If there is a God, we can not choose a little here and a little there, there is a God and the question becomes who He is and what HIS rules are.

If God did not exist - then there is nothing that matters except that which makes us personally hurt or cause pain . Read Ecclesiastes - Solomon's quest for the truth. Solomon - believed to have been the richest man who ever lived, and one of the wisest (read Proverbs), the man who had everything - including 700 wives (wives and concubines). But nothing brought satisfaction except God.

It is written that those who do not know God, find His existence incomprehensible. "14 But people Who Are not spiritual can not receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can not understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means." (1 Corinthians 2:14, New Living Translation).

It has also been said that if there is no God, then it does not matter what I think. But if there is a God, nothing else matters. But God is not some kind of insurance you can bet on. He reveals Himself to those who are open to receive him. Not as an image on the retina, but in the soul. He brings a clarity unparalleled and peace that surpasses understanding. This is not constant, but as you seek, you will find.

I hear people say "I do not believe in hell." Unfortunately for them it does not matter if they believe it now - they will find out later...

Reading the Bible through in a limited time is interesting on many levels. It increases the understand God - he may not be exactly as we imagine without that background. And the Bible can be read in many ways:

It is full of practical maxims - rules that helped to prevent poisoning and the spread of disease long before medical science. It introduces Community rules - laws that were not tied to a single ruler's discretion - long before it was common. It introduces ethics while the rest of the world was concerned with tribal wars.

It shows us God's will, and how weak and sinful we are, how good He is to those that are His people, and how ruthless he can be with his enemies.

And although there are rules and laws in the Bible, it's not about what to do or not to do. "28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"  29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.". Period. Nearly finale. Because when we do, something happens to us. This is when we are "born again". Somewhat suddenly, and somewhat gradually, we change. When I was little I always wanted to make my mom happy. And the best way I knew was to do something that she appreciated. And so it is to be born again as a Christian. I want to do what makes God happy and that makes me happy. Therefore:

"15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
 22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"

 23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

 25"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. " (Johannes 14:15-27).

And as Paul says in Romans 14:1 "1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.".

And Jesus in "37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."" (Luke 6:37-38 )

"Conversations with God" (Neale Donald Walsch) is as far as I understand a regurgitation of different religions and mystical philosophy mixed against a Catholic background - Hinduism, Buddhism, Socrates, Nietzsche, et al. But he wouldn't have conversed with God - because then he would not have contradicted the Bible. There is much that may sound enticing, but that does not make it right.

Most everybody believe they are basically "good". But what does it mean to be "good" ? If we did not fear the consequences of what we were doing - how would we look in the mirror? Who can say they have never taken anything that did not belong to them? It is not about how much or how significant, only that we have. So we are all thieves. Who has never lied? So we are liars. Swearing? What about cheating? We may not have played out all our fantasies in this area, but who hasn't been unfaithful in their own thoughts? So with a quick introspection, we turn out to be a bunch of cursing, lying thieves and cheaters. That does not sound so good if we are completely honest. But we aren't...

Therefore, Jesus was crucified, died and rose again to pay for our sins. We live through His forgiveness, we can not earn salvation - it's free! There are no rules or duties to fulfill, just that we believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus loves you.

JustObey.org

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) (The Great Commission)