Why turn the other cheek?

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Question:

I think if the child you love was to hit you on the cheek, you will not hit him back. You will try to understand what hurts him so much that he has to hurt you to feel better. You will tell him 'if you have to hit me to feel better, keep doing it'. Hence turning the other cheek is the way of love towards humanity. What do you think?

 My Reply:

Eh, sorta, but not really.  Here's an example: Abraham Lincoln once said that the best way to destroy your enemies is to make them your friends. 

When somebody strikes you, you don't want to invite them to keep hitting you. But if you retaliate in violence, then you've made matters worse, especially if they are another member in the Body of Christ (the Church).  Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loved/loves us, and to make every effort to be at peace with one another.  By turning the other cheek, versus exacting revenge, we're obeying these commands, as well as promoting the possibility of gaining a new friend (or brother).

---Pastor Andy

Why do atheists attack Christians without merit?

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Question: 

This was actually an answer to a post in Philosophy that surprised me: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;…

Atheists, not scientists, believe its time to end religion. Science never proves or disproves religious origin and all unbiased scientists will cop to that. Only the hard-core atheists use science as evidence for their claims, but they are irrational about it.
The above was a great lead in for:
http://www.deism.com/dogmatic%20atheism.…
Then, a leading atheist, based on science, changes his position.
http://www.biola.edu/antonyflew/flew-int…
There is room for a creator!

My Reply:
I honestly find it odd that Atheists want to get rid of religions altogether, for Atheism seems to have turned into a religion of its own.  Anyway, here's how I understand it all:

It's not that Atheists don't believe, but that they REFUSE to believe in the existence of God...they CHOOSE not to  believe, even when the evidences are staring them right in the face.  (Agnostics are those who just don't know).
But at the same time, we both (Christians and atheists) are out on a mission.
I heard a guy on the radio the other day who said, "When asked if there's anything better than going to heaven, most people say 'no'. But I say 'yes. The one thing that's better than going to heaven is bringing somebody there with you'."  So you see, we Christians are out to introduce people to Jesus, the only one who can save them from death, sin, hell, etc., while atheists are out trying to save them from...(foolishness?) believing in a God that they refuse to believe exists.
I guess you could also look at it in the way that we each witness to people of other faiths. We tell them not of our own opinions, but of Truth, thus trying to persuade them to realize their need to turn  to God and repent.  Atheism, on the other hand, has become a faith that witnesses to people of God-believing faiths with their own opinions about God, trying to persuade them to NOT believe in God at all.
So in the same way that we believe in the urgency of getting the Word out about Jesus, atheists believe in the urgency to "save" people from what they consider as the "foolishness" of believing that God exists.
And so this, I believe, is why they attack us so much...we're “competing” for souls.
In terms of science, I agree that it's mostly about theories. But in trying to prove or disprove God's existence, many scientists have actually become Christians due to the results of their research, especially archaeologists.  So as more and more discoveries are made about the evidences of God's existence, as well as events mentioned in the Bible, atheists may soon have to begin looking for a new source to back up their opinions.

---Pastor Andy

When You Received the Holy Spirit

Question: (KJV Acts 8:12-19) "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost'."

After reading this scripture, one can conclude that:
1. You do not receive God's Holy Spirit at the moment you are baptized, as is evidenced by this scripture
2. You do not receive God's Holy Spirit at the exact moment you believe

These scriptures prove that believing in Jesus and being baptized are not linked with receiving his Holy Spirit. Scripture states that unless you have God's Spirit, then you are none of his. Are you absolutely sure you have God's Holy Spirit residing in you?

My Reply:

OK, orders of receiving the Holy Spirit:

Acts 2:37-38 = 3000 who experienced those speaking in tongues on Pentecost Sunday:
1) Heard the Gospel

2) Believed & Repented

3) Baptized

4) Received the Holy Spirit.

John 20:22 = Apostles received the Holy Spirit (before Pentecost Sunday):
1) Some were baptized first under John the Baptist

2) Believed

3) Gospel

4) Could Jesus' washing of their feet symbolize Him baptizing them?

5) Jesus breathed on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2: 
Other believers (not the 11) praying in upper room, Holy Spirit came upon them:
1) No mention of baptism
2) Believed
3) Received the Holy Spirit when tongues of fire landed on them.

Acts 8: 
1) Heard the Gospel

2) Believed

3) Baptized (but the Holy Spirit didn't come upon them)

4) Apostles prayed & laid hands upon them

5) Received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:17-18 = Saul / Paul
1) Saul experienced Jesus Christ

2) Saul Prayed / Believed & Repented

3) Ananias laid hands on him

4) Received the Holy Spirit

5) was baptized

6) THEN he heard the Gospel.

Acts 10:44 ff: 
1) Gospel

2) "While Peter was still speaking, the H.S. fell upon those who heard the Word of God."

3) Baptized

4) Ministry (Peter stayed with them several days).

Acts 19:1-6:
1) John the Baptist's message

2) Baptized by John the Baptist for the forgiveness of sins (never received the H.S.)

3) Heard about the H.S.

4) Baptized AGAIN (this time in the name of the Lord Jesus)

5) Paul laid hands on them

6) Received the H.S.

My point:

There's no sequence as to when the Holy Spirit rests upon somebody. 
Also, not everybody who received the Holy Spirit ended up speaking in tongues...even the Apostle Paul said that tongues is just one of the many gifts, pointing out that not everybody has it. Many denominations also believe that the Holy Spirit is the one that brings us to the Lord in the first place.  Either way, I think God does a great job of reminding us that HE is in charge, not us. Also, that He is not bound to our rules or expectations.

As to your question, yes, I am Absolutely, 100% positive that God's Holy Spirit resides in me.

---Pastor Andy