4 Questions About Life and Death

Questions:

1. What is the point of human existence?
2. Who decides where we go and when?
3. Where are our souls (please don't say 'INSIDE US')
4. Why are we here?

My Reply:

1) What is the point of Human existence?  To glorify God

2) Who decides where we go and when?  That depends on whose you are...if you belong to the Lord, then He guides you, and your desires relate to #1.  If you belong to yourself (sin), then I suppose it'd be your own desires that guide you.
But then, if you're talking about where we go when we die, then I believe we also decide on where we go...will we go to be with the Lord, or not?  And that depends on whether we'll have anything to do with Him now or not.
As for "when"? I don't fully know that one. As a Christian, I figure I'll go when my work here is done and He wants me home.  Although, I also believe that Jesus will return in my lifetime, so whenever that'll be...

3) Where are our souls?  The Bible tells us that our "souls" are actually part of our physical bodies...when we die, our "souls" will go to be with the Lord (or rest), but one day, our bodies will be transformed and resurrected as Jesus' body was.
Also, in the Old Testament God commands His people not to drink blood, for it's the life source of the animal. And in communion (Eucharist), Jesus made it a point to instruct us to partake in both His body and His blood. So are our souls in our blood?  Are they in our brains?  My point is that it's connected to the body, not separate.

4) This last one is a common question, "Why are we here?"  Genesis tells us that we were created to take care of the earth, be masters over the animals, and commune with God.  But ultimately, I believe we're here to give God glory and live for (and with) Him.

---Pastor Andy

Revelation in the U.S. and dying for Christ

Picture Courtesy of...

Question:

Would you die for Christ if it came down to it, or would you give in and go the way of the world to escape death?
The reason I ask this:  U.N. scheme to make Christians criminal, By Bob Unruh, © 2008 WorldNetDaily:
"Dozens of nations dominated by Islam are pressing the United Nations to adopt an anti-"defamation" plan that would make Christians criminals under international law, according to a United States organization that has launched a campaign to defend freedom of religion worldwide.
"Around the world, Christians are being increasingly targeted, and even persecuted, for their religious beliefs. Now, one of the largest organizations in the United Nations is pushing to make a bad situation even worse by promoting anti-Christian bigotry," the American Center for Law and Justice said yesterday in announcing its petition drive." 
The rest of article found at http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageid=69163.

My Reply:

To answer the first part of your question, if it came down to it, would I die for Christ?  Heck yeah, definitely!  In fact, I even blogged on here about one time when I almost did.

In reference to your quotes and link: I find it interesting each time I see another point of reference to what Revelations says will happen.  For, just before mentioning about the 666-guy, it talks about how Christianity will be illegal, and Christians national (or worldwide) outcasts.

Actually, I had a dream about this, about 2-3 years ago:

Suddenly, all over the world, Christians were fugitives, even in the United States.  Much like the movie “Red Dawn”, a communist country had invaded and began imprisoning Christians all over the world...there was no escape from them (I know this because we could not figure a place to escape to).  I remember my wife & I sneaking around, looking over concrete barricades, and seeing enemy soldiers standing everywhere in groups of 2 or 3.  The confusing part about this though was who the country was that had invaded…in my dream/vision, It was revealed to me as North Korea, yet I remember being confused of their red markings, (awake, I know their flag matches that of the markings in my dream, but in my dream, they reminded me more like that of China or Russia...maybe a future team-up?)  I also recalled that the weather was cold, for everybody was wearing jackets and coats, and the skies were gray.  And one guy standing in the streets with a group was wearing a black, leather jacket; There were enemy soldiers and concrete all around.  And when I woke up, the song in my head was Tourniquet’s “A Dog’s Breakfast”.

Technically speaking though, regardless of what other countries and faiths believe, the USA is NOT a Christian country.  Though it may have been built upon Christian morals and ethics in the beginning, and though the original immigrants escaped over here in order to worship the Lord, the U.S.A. has fallen far from its original intents, for:

1. In 2004, the U.S.A. was deemed the 3rd largest Christian mission field in the world.
2. If you remember when Clinton was president, atheists would complain for "religious" symbols to be removed from US offices and such, and the president would grant it. But if a Christian organization wanted one put up, Clinton (a "proclaimed" Christian himself) rejected it.
3. Public schools (such as some in Texas) have been banning "religious symbols" since the 1990s.
4. Evolution is still being taught in schools
5. Some schools are teaching the Koran
6. Many schools teach new age (when I was in school, I had an assignment due on Greek Mythology).
7. Children of Atheists don’t have to recite the Pledge of Allegiance because it states "One Nation under God".
8. The 10 Commandments continue to get legally forced off of State and Federal Courts’ walls.
9. Americans "tolerate" (actually accept and defend) other religions while Christianity is condemned, judged, and attacked.
10. Holiness has been traded in for happiness (see my blogs on this: parts 1, 2, and 3)
11. Stores (and U.S. Presidents) changing "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays" (although this year, Walmart is advertising "Merry Christmas")
12. "Christmas trees" are instead being called "Holiday Trees"
13. Here's a good example going on now (October 2010)
14. ...

Even all throughout history we read of kings and emperors working to completely demolish Christianity, but they never could. We also hear of God's people continuing their worship in countries where Christianity is illegal today.

So even if (or when) such should (or will) happen in the US today, I don't believe it will harm our faith...who knows? If anything, it may bring out the true followers of Christ versus those who just claim the name for the sake of looking good in the public eye.

But yeah, if it came down to it, I'd die for Christ.

---Pastor Andy

A Muslim's Afraid of Death

Dear Pastor Andy, I am a Muslim. I pray five times in day, I read the holy Quran, I listen to hadith, I follow the sunnah of the prophet...but one thing I fear, and that is death. When people talk about death, I get scared. When we die, do we still have thoughts and feelings? I need to know...I need advice.

My Reply:

As Christians, we understand that everybody was made to live eternally...conscious and everything (yes, thoughts and feelings). Only thing is that where we spend the rest of eternity depends on what or whom we choose to follow now.

Your confusion and fear could be due to your image of God. As Christians, we believe that God is a loving God who loves His creation, and INVITES us to spend the rest of eternity WITH Him. Being a Christian also means having a relationship (friendship) with God through Jesus Christ, who we believe was not just a prophet, but God Himself in the flesh, come down to communicate His Word and die (then be risen) in order to reconcile us to Him, We just need to accept His gracious invitation. If we refuse, then we will spend the rest of eternity in the other place, which is in complete isolation from God, and also a good reason to fear death.

It could be that God is trying to communicate Jesus to you in this fear of death. Check out this video for more information on Jesus - the main one I suggest you watch is called "The Jesus Film", but there are other great videos and resources there, also. Scroll down to your chosen language and give it a chance, if not to believe, but then to help answer your question.

Also, feel free to email me if you like.

---Pastor Andy

Accepting Jesus in the 11th Hour?

Question: If Jesus will forgive all your sins, why not wait until the end of your life to accept him as you lord?

My Reply:

So wait until the end and wipe away all your sin at once? Unfortunately, some people do that. But they don't get the gist of it all.
In other words, if you accept Jesus as fire insurance, then it's really for the wrong reasons.
Christianity is all about a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. So as Christians, we're living life not alone, but with the Lord as friends (also). Waiting until the last minute doesn't allow you to experience this friendship during your life.  Sure salvation is still available and attainable if you wait, but I guess my question is, why would you want to?  Also, what happens if you wait, and get into an accident where you die instantly? It all went so fast that you missed out your chance to accept Him. Oops?

---Pastor Andy

picture courtesy of...

Do you ever get pissed at Jesus?

(Copyright Gospel Communications International, Inc - www.reverendfun.com)

Question:

Do you ever get pissed at Jesus, like when you think about all the death and suffering that has stemmed from "Jesus"?

  

My Reply:

I don't understand the part about it stemming from Jesus, but either way, getting mad at Jesus is OK. Believe it or not, yelling at, cussing out, raising your fist, etc. in anger or frustration can qualify as prayer, for it's communication with God (of course, if you cuss God out, there's no saying how He'll communicate back).  ;)
Check out Psalm 88 sometime and see how David cried out to God in anger and frustration. He really lets God have it! But even his anger soon turned to praise.
Don't be afraid to ask God the hard questions...and no, He doesn't like to be called names, but then, He's God...and He's God enough to take it.

---Pastor Andy

All Religions Are False!!!

All religions...are they true, or are they false?  What is the possibility that everyone's outcome (after death) relies only on their own views. Possibly, there is no right way or wrong way to worship 'God' (if you believe in him) or fear hell (if you believe in it).

 A lot of people say: "Well what about murderers"? Well, who's to say they won't live peacefully as well? The important thing is not that we're punished for our mistakes, but rather that we learn from them and progress. Surely God (or whatever's out there) is willing to forgive them for learning a lesson. Weren't we all sent here to learn lessons?

Please answer this question with an open mind.

  

My Answer:

You're right...all religions are false. I say this as a Christian, for Christianity isn't a religion, but a RELATIONSHIP with God through Jesus Christ. So the possibility of all being right is several billions (of religions) to 1. And I am saying this with "an open mind".

Religions are all about "what I need to do" in order to be "happy", at peace, or obtain righteousness from God or a god, to be a "good person", or to change. But the Bible tells us that righteousness can only be obtained through faith (which is also entering into a relationship with God through Christ), not works.  But religions are about works. So when faced with the Truth of God, anything else can only be false.
The Pastor at the church we're frequenting said it another way: "Religion tries to change you from the outside-in.  But Christianity changes you from the inside-out."

In terms of punishment, the important thing isn't that we're punished for our mistakes, for often times we're punished even in our innocence. What about murderers? We can ask about their salvation, but to say that we're punished for our mistakes is to say that the people he murdered deserved it, and if so, then the murderer shouldn't be punished, right? But he/she is, right?

We learn and progress, yes, and there IS a God out there willing to forgive them, yes, but they have to repent and accept His forgiveness. Sounds pretty easy, right? Yet so many choose not to and instead follow a religion.

Finally, why were we sent here? To glorify God. If you choose not to glorify Him, then why would you want to spend all of eternity with Him? Because that's what Heaven is...God's home. Good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, left vs. right, yin vs. yang, yes vs. no, heaven vs. hell. God didn't create hell for us, but for Satan and his demons. But as a loving God, He's given us the freedom to choose where we wish to go when we die. We could go to be with Him, or not.  Check out my blog for more on this topic.

---Pastor Andy