Theology Corner

Addressing commonly asked questions about Christianity from the perspective of a non-theologian

1. Aren't all religions essentially the same?
2. Can God's Will be Thwarted?
3. What is the source of evil? Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
4. Is Christianity Compatible with Positive Tolerance?
5. What is Holiness?
6. Are Christians Expected "to do" or Just "to be"?
7. What is Your Theology?
8. What Gifts Does God Give You at the Instant of Salvation?
9. Why is the Protestant Church Dying in the United States?
10. Did God Elect Only a Few for Salvation While Condemning the Greater Part of Mankind to Hell?
11. Is Satan Alive and Well?
12. What are the Attributes of God?
13. What are the Core Beliefs of Christianity?
14. What is the purpose of prayer?

1. Aren't all religions essentially the same?

Can't we reduce the major religions to a lowest common denominator, perhaps "The universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man?" At their core, aren't all religions really teaching the same thing although their outward trappings may differ? Don't all religious roads, though they differ in route, ultimately arrive at the same place?

Some core beliefs of Christianity are listed below. Unless you can locate another religion which shares these beliefs, the answer to the question is "no."

• The one true God exists as three distinct, transcendent, immanent, infinite, eternal, and immutable persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• Jesus Christ is God the Son. Jesus Christ is man. Jesus Christ is one person whose divine and human natures cannot be changed, divided, separated or mixed. Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily from the dead.  Jesus Christ was born of a virgin.
• No human being lives a sinless life.
• Salvation, from the consequences of sin, is possible only by (1) faith, (2) the grace of God and (3) the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ.

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2. Can God's Will be Thwarted?

Christians give two diametrically opposed answers to this question. Christians who believe in accordance with Augustine and Calvin say, " No;" Christians who believe in accordance with Arminius and Wesley say, "Yes."

Calvinists claim all reality is interlocked in a causal chain leading back to God as the first-cause of all things but humans are free, even though they are determined, because their choices are executed willingly. The Calvinist defines man as a second-cause agent incapable of choosing a path different from that which God would have him choose. Because man doesn't know he is being manipulated, he believes himself to be a first-cause agent making free decisions. This is the historic Calvinist concept of "free will." It leads to the idea that absolute determinism by God is compatible with the exercise of free will by man which is sometimes called compatibilism or soft determinism.

Arminians agree much of reality is part of a causal chain but claim God does not determine the free will decisions of men or angels. The idea that men and angels are first-cause agents of choice, is a central concept of Arminianism and is sometimes called libertarian freedom. The Arminian believes "free will" makes you a first-cause agent of decisions. The compatibilist believes "free will" makes you a second-cause agent; you have simply been tricked into thinking of yourself as a first-cause agent. These two definitions of free will are mutually exclusive.

Consider a man who beats his wife, sexually abuses both his daughters and sons, steals from and abuses his parents and subsequently dies without confession of sin, without remorse for his brutality, without repentance and without asking for the mercy of God. The compatibilist claims each one of these events is God's will because God's sovereignty requires complete determinism of all things; God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass. The man may think he is acting freely but he is actually executing a sinister puppet dance, with God pulling the strings from behind His transcendence. However, the man is fully responsible for his second-cause sins since they were executed willingly.

The Arminian claims not one of these sins was God's will and God grieves deeply over each of them. Each sin represents a free will decision by a first-cause agent and is contrary to God's will. God permits, within limits and for a time, the consequences of rebellion but He is deeply grieved by the evil world in which we live. The Arminian believes the Calvinist concept of compatibilism is actually incompatible with God's attributes of holiness, justice, goodness and truth and with the clear teaching of Scripture:

• If God credits the unsaved with second-cause sins then, in conflict with Scripture (Eph 2:8-10), He would credit the saved with second-cause good works.
• A just God would not hold a man responsible for a sin which God made him commit.
• If salvation were simply a matter of God exercising His free-will, then a good God would save all men.
• The idea that free will can be exercised by a second-cause agent is logical nonsense. Free will can only be exercised by a first-cause agent. Consequently, the thesis (determinism by God is free-will by man) violates the logical rule of contradictories (b is-not not-b). Such a statement is called a paradox.

The historic Calvinist responds that we must not expect the holiness, justice and goodness of God will always make sense to our limited intellect. Furthermore, true free will can be exercised by second-cause agents; this central concept of historic Calvinism may be logical nonsense to man but not to God who reasons on a higher level using a different kind of logic.

As a source of confusion on this issue, some modern Calvinists seem to view man as a first-cause agent of choice thereby abandoning the historic Calvinist concept of compatibilism. Once again, however, God is viewed as operating with some higher level of logic so the thesis (God as first-cause agent corresponds to man as first-cause agent) only seems to be a paradox but is not a paradox to God.

Finally, the Calvinist asserts the full weight of Scripture is on his side. However, the Arminian believes the character of God, which emerges from the Bible taken in its entirety as opposed to text out of context, is inconsistent with Calvinism.

If the Triune God truly ordained all future events before forming the universe then God may be angered by Arminians who consider this particular view of sovereignty as inconsistent with the Biblical presentation of God's character. Scripture is silent on the consequences of such a theological error. Alternately, if Calvinism is a theological error, the consequences of embracing and promulgating this error are given with somewhat greater clarity.

By the 1646 Westminster Confession (God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass) and the 1689 London Baptist Confession (God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass), God is the first cause of all evil. All tragedy, suffering and sin in heaven and earth were willed by God before anything existed except the Trinity. The greater part of mankind was predestined to eternal damnation by God's decree before the universe was formed.

Matthew 12:31,32 and Mark 3:29,30 present the "unpardonable sin" of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Attributing, to Satan, Christ's authenticating miracles, done in the power of the Holy Spirit, is one path to blasphemy. What about attributing Satan's evil to the Holy Spirit? Might that be another path to blasphemy? But how could Augustine, Calvin and their theological progeny stumble into such a grievous error? According to John Wesley's "Serious Considerations on Absolute Predestination":

"This doctrine is novel. In the first four hundred years after Christ, no mention is made of it by any writer, great or small, in any part of the Christian Church. The foundations of it were laid in the later writings of Augustine, when unguardedly writing against Pelagius. It was afterward taught by Dominicus, a popish friar, and the monks of his order, and at last, it was unhappily taken up by John Calvin."

Wesley goes on to say:

• This doctrine is injurious to God because it makes Him the author of all sin and represents Him as delighting in the death of sinners, expressly contrary to His own declaration (Ezek. 33:11; I Tim. 2:4).
• This doctrine makes the preaching of the Gospel mere mockery and delusion since many of those to whom it is preached are, by an irrevocable decree, shut out from being benefited by it.
• This doctrine makes the coming of Christ and His sacrifice upon the cross, instead of being a fruit of God's love to the world, to be one of the severest acts of God's indignation against mankind. God only ordained a very few for salvation while hardening and increasing the damnation of the far greater number of mankind, namely all those who do not believe. The cause of this unbelief is the counsel and decree of God.

In contrast to Calvinism, Wesley affirmed that God has willed all to be saved and sacrificed his unique Son on the cross so that the great gift of salvation would be available to all mankind. There is hardly any other article of the Christian faith so frequently, plainly and positively asserted. It is that which makes the preaching of the gospel 'glad tidings to all.' Had this offer of salvation been confined to a few, it would be 'Sad tidings of great sorrow' to most people.

The great chasm between Arminianism and Calvinism is threatening to split the Southern Baptist Convention and perhaps other denominations. Ironically, local congregations, if given a choice, almost never choose the framework of Calvinism to define their theological beliefs. Calvinism usually makes its way into the Church via the vehicle of a new pastor or small group of elders infused with Calvinism by a Bible College or Seminary. The full face of Calvinism is never taught or preached because the greater portion of the congregation would find it offensive. Nevertheless, theological threads will gradually be woven into the preaching and teaching of the church. For example, the tragic death of a child may be framed by saying, "Although we don't understand, we must accept God's will in the death of this child."

What is the position of your church on this issue? What is your position?

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3. What is the source of evil? Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

One proposed answer starts with the theodicy premise, "If a person is righteous and God is all-powerful, just and good then the person will not suffer" which is of the form "if (x and y) then not-z." Taking the contrapositive, "if z then (not-x or not-y)," yields "if a person suffers then the person is not righteous or God is not all-powerful, just and good." We all know persons whose godliness is genuine, whose moral character is upright and who, though not sinless, have kept themselves from great transgression, but who nonetheless suffer bitterly. Since the Christian God is all-powerful, just and good, it follows that such persons are not righteous. The problem with this logic is the theodicy premise itself; the premise is false and all conclusions drawn from it are false!

Another proposed answer is that evil is God's will. The Calvinist reasons that God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass. This includes all kinds of evil! When a cleric officiating at the funeral of someone who has died a tragic death intones, "We must accept this tragedy as the will of God," he is attributing this tragic death to the immutable will of a holy and loving God.

Other proposed answers include:

• We live in a random universe where things simply happen. But what, then, is the explanation for intentional goodness?
• Evil is simply the absence of goodness. Does this describe a terrorist who kills thousands of persons at random?
• Evil is an illusion, an aberration of our ignorant intellect. Try telling this to someone who is dying of cancer or cystic fibrosis.
• Evil is the mistaken result of the creational activity of a finite, limited god who cannot keep up with his runaway creation. Why would the infinite God of Christianity have difficulty keeping up with anything?

Consider this option. God created angels and humans as first-cause agents with the free will to choose or reject love in every situation. Within limits and for a time, God will permit the consequences of these choices; otherwise, free will is an illusion. God is infinitely, eternally and immutably good and will immediately prevent any evil except that which results from the free will decisions of angels and humans. Therefore, rebellious angels and humans are the first-cause agents of all existing evil. Satan, the ruler of rebellious angels, is the prince of this world and all creation groans under his iron fist.

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4. Is Christianity Compatible with Positive Tolerance?

The conclusion that "Jesus is God" is a natural consequence of classical logic based on the evidence of Scripture, tradition (history) and personal experience. Some in our time fail to be convinced by classical logic because of positive tolerance, a concept taught in many educational institutions and through the media. Positive tolerance is a construction of Hegelian dialectic reasoning in which we synthesize that both a theses and its antithesis are true. In other words, (a is b) is true and (a is-not b) is true; (Jesus is God) is true and (Jesus is-not God) is true. This means every individual's beliefs, values, lifestyle and truth claims are equally valid. Not only does everyone have an equal right to his beliefs but all beliefs are equally true. I may believe (Jesus is God) but I must also believe (Allah is God), (Buddha is God), (Brahman is God) and (God is a fictitious being). The concept of positive tolerance is incompatible with logic and reason. One of God's attributes is absolute truth; positive tolerance is absolute lie.

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5. What is Holiness?

Holiness is the attribute of God which permeates all other attributes. It is the state of who He is and the act of what He does; it is absolute purity of will, intellect, heart and action. Certain words such as love, integrity, righteousness, sanctification, morality, ethics and character, have no meaning aside from the holiness of God. Holiness makes God perfect in being, wisdom, power, justice, goodness and truth.

Since man is created in God's image, every human possesses a soul comprising a will, intellect and heart and every human is capable of action. As with God, holiness in man is both state and act. My state is holy if my will, intellect and heart conform respectively to the will, intellect and heart of God. My acts are holy if they flow from a holy state and are the acts God would do in my place.

Sin is all things not holy. The state of my will, intellect and heart is either holy or sinful; my acts are either holy or sinful. The intersection of sin and holiness is the null or empty set. Holiness and sin are disjoint sets or mutually exclusive events in the sample space of all possible states and actions.

Although much of reality is part of a causal chain, God does not determine my free will decisions and I will not always select the path of holiness. Also, my intellect is finite, my wisdom is flawed and I am fully capable of justifying sin by logic and reason. Finally, my human heart is deceitfully wicked and cannot be trusted (Gen 6:5; Ps 14:1; Prov 12:15, 14:12, 20:9; Isa 32:6; Jer 17:9; Mat 15:19; Mark 7:21; John 5:42; Acts 28:27). Given my flawed human soul, how can I ever hope to be holy?

I begin by requesting an audience with God and saying, "Father, I come into Your presence confessing I am a sinner, having remorse in my heart, wanting to repent, asking for Your mercy, receiving from You the far greater gift of salvation and believing I am saved by faith, the grace of God and the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ." God responds by giving me the gift of salvation. Part of this gift is the regeneration or initial sanctification of my soul. By this gift, the Holy Spirit makes known to me the will of God and helps me discern truth from lie. He occupies and purifies all the rooms of my heart into which He is invited. For the first time in my life I am not a prisoner of sin. I am free to pursue the path of righteousness. This is the first day of my Christian life. This new life is a daily dying to sin and living to pursue righteousness; it constitutes a life of repentance, faith and obedience continually reaffirmed and renewed. It means allowing my will and intellect to become increasingly aligned with the will and intellect of God. It means letting the Holy Spirit occupy and purify an increasing number of rooms in my heart. It means works of Christian love flow increasingly from a heart that loves God and loves my neighbor. I am now on the path to holiness.

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6. Are Christians Expected "to do" or Just "to be"?

Holiness is the state of who God is and the acts that He does. A state of holiness is characterized by absolute purity of heart, intellect and will. Acts of holiness are frequently called "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal 5:22); they represent acts of Christian love performed by one person and received by another. Christians are expected to reflect God's holiness since we are created in His image (Gen 1:26). In fact, we are specifically commanded to be holy because God is holy (Lev 11:44).

What about the option of just "being" in a state of holiness but not "doing" holy acts? For example, I could allocate Sundays for worship and prayer. During the week I could concentrate on avoiding sinful thoughts thereby maintaining the purity of my heart. I could also participate in the church choir and read the Bible regularly. I could even study the deep meaning of Greek and Hebrew text and become skilled at systematic theology and Biblical exegesis. Of course with all this activity, I wouldn't have time to minister to others or be a servant to anyone. Maybe my daily life could serve as a role model for the unsaved but I certainly wouldn't have time to deal with those people directly. Furthermore, my church comprises old time "saints of God" and is just the right size. There is no need to be discipled or to disciple others in my church; we are beyond that sort of thing.

The commandments in Scripture stand in sharp contrast to the option embraced in the previous paragraph. Read the following passages and judge for yourself: Mat 22:36-40; Rom 13:8-10; Gal 5:14; Luke 8:21; Jam 4:17; Eph 4:11-12; John 15:1-2, 8, 13, 16; Mat 7:12, 17-20; Mat 25:14-30.

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7. What is Your Theology?

Many say, "I just believe in God! I don't need a theology or doctrine." If this statement encompasses your Christian beliefs then it defines your theology by default. Unfortunately, this statement doesn't put much separation between you and Satan's minions (Jam 2:19). You may say, "I just have faith; I don't need more." In Christianity, faith must be preceded by repentance and followed by obedience. Faith as an intellectual exercise or emotional experience is meaningless. From the moment you are saved by the grace of God and the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, deeds matter (Jam 2:14-25). Your belief system, or theology, determines your deeds. If you need more detail in your belief system, try the following:

• The Bible is the inspired, infallible and inerrant word of God.
• The one true God exists as three distinct, transcendent, immanent, infinite, eternal, and immutable persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
• Jesus Christ is God the Son. Jesus Christ is man. Jesus Christ is one person whose divine and human natures cannot be changed, divided, separated or mixed. Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily from the dead. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin.
• Every person since Adam and Eve, except Jesus Christ, was born with a sin nature and no person, except Jesus Christ, has lived a sinless life.
• Salvation from the consequences of sin is offered to all persons by the grace of God and the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ.
• The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all persons (Titus 2:11): (a) the requirements of the law are written by God on every heart (Rom. 2:15), (b) Jesus Christ knocks at the door of every heart (Rev. 3:20), (c) the Holy Spirit calls and convicts each person (John 16:8) and (d) God's eternal power and divine nature are evident in the world around us (Rom 1:20). Nevertheless, many resist the grace of God.
• Each person who responds to God's grace and the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ by confession of sin, remorse, repentance, faith and obedience receives the great gift of salvation. Each person who resists God's grace is condemned to everlasting punishment.
• Faith precedes regeneration; faith is an act of human free will responding to the grace of God.

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8. What Gifts Does God Give You at the Instant of Salvation?

Each person who responds to God's grace (Titus 2:11) and the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ (Rom 5:8; 1 John 2:2) by confession of sin, remorse, repentance, faith and obedience instantly receives the great gift of salvation. This gift includes but is not limited to the following:

• Redemption (Rom 3:24; 8:23) - You are freed from the bondage of sin for the first time in your life.
• Forgiveness (Mat 6:9-15; 1 John 1:8-10) - You are forgiven your sins by God.
• Justification (Rom 3:24) - You are declared righteous by God; this legal declaration is valid because Christ died to pay the penalty for your sin and lived a life of perfect righteousness that can in turn be imputed to you.
• Adoption (Rom 3:23; Gal 3:26; 1 John 3:2) - You are a joint heir with Jesus to the Kingdom of God.
• Regeneration (John 3:1-21) - The Holy Spirit makes known to you the will of God and helps you discern truth from lie. He occupies and purifies all the rooms of your heart into which He is invited. For the first time in your life you are not a prisoner of sin. You are free to pursue the path of righteousness. This is the first day of your Christian life and you are a new creature in Christ. This is the mechanism of your redemption.
• Sanctification (Heb 6:1; 1 Pet 1:13-16) - You are led by the Holy Spirit along the path toward holiness; this is a lifetime journey.
• Reconciliation ( Eph 2:11-22) - You are reconciled with all other believers.
• Unification (3:1-11) - You are united with all believers in the Church of Jesus Christ.
• Glorification (Rom 8:30) - You will complete the journey along the path of sanctification when your mission in this life is done.

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9. Why is the Protestant Church Dying in the United States?

Available evidence suggests most denominations and individual protestant churches have either reached a plateau or are on the decline in the United States. This country may be only one or two generations behind Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other regions in experiencing the essential death of the church. Why is this happening? Is the church afflicted with some Satanic virus for which there is neither treatment nor cure? Is the reason for this spiral into the abyss some great theological mystery?

Chapters 2 and 3 of Ephesians explain that all believers are reconciled with one another and united in the Church of Jesus Christ; authorities in Heaven are observing the church hoping to see the "manifold wisdom of God" at work on earth. To the extent these rulers see a body of believers characterized by:

• Confession of sin, remorse, repentance, faith and obedience
• Spiritual unity in pursuit of the Great Commandment (Mat 22:36-40) and the Great Commission (Mat 28:18-20)

they see the hand of God working through His church. But what ugly characteristics are these authorities also observing in churches across the United States? The list includes but is certainly not limited to the following items. As you read these items, remember that much is expected from those to whom much has been given (Luke 12:48) and much has been given to America; for the United States, the bar has been raised.

• Pastors lacking the courage of their convictions and no longer serving the One who called them but instead serving the ones who pay their salaries and control their careers.  Each pastor who becomes an entertainment director, chief entertainer or master of ceremonies for some introverted, self-serving, country club and each pastor intent on steering his "cruise ship" through calm waters without any rough seas, anxious moments or requirement to reason or act beyond a fourth grade level will be judged by the One who called him/her to ministry.
• Pastors having neither leadership nor administrative skills but refusing to delegate or relinquish control to those who do.
• Church leaders having neither leadership nor administrative skills. With regard to that old saying -- either lead, follow or get out of the way-- these leaders choose "none of the above."
• Church leaders who wallow in the exercise of power and authority. They have forgotten that when a Christian is extruded by God into a position of leadership, that person becomes a greater servant to all.
• Church leaders who don't know the meaning of corporate prayer.
• Church leaders and Bible scholars who teach non-Biblical concepts such as: (1) the idea of the trinity is false; God exists as one person with three faces or masks, (2) Jesus was not bodily resurrected from the dead, (3) Paul exhibited latent homosexual tendencies, (4) Jesus may have had a sexual relationship with Mary Magdalene and (5) modern psychology and sociology supercede the Bible with regard to behavioral issues.
• Churches exercising non-Biblical concepts in the selection of church leaders. Most churches would be pleased to accept John Newton or the apostle Paul as a pastor, elder or deacon even though these men were frequently accessories to murder. These same churches might exclude a 60-year-old Christian, having tremendous leadership skills, because he/she was deserted by a spouse at age 19.
• Churches substituting man made rituals (committees, boards, councils, by-laws, membership) and non-Biblical vision (massive building programs and extensive property ownership) for Biblical leadership and planning.
• Churches that are little more than introverted, self-serving country clubs for a few families. Service has been replaced by serve-us and "it's all about God" has been replaced by "it's all about me."
• Churches having ritualistic, "wooden" worship services; the Holy Spirit is not invited and would not be welcome.
• Churches where "loving your neighbor" is practiced but with subtle exclusivity regarding who constitutes a neighbor.
• Churches with no burden for evangelism because of their belief that persons elected to salvation and persons condemned to hell were chosen by God before the universe was formed.
• Churches where "enlarging the fellowship" means inviting persons just like those already present but excluding all others from country club participation.
• Churches where "discipleship" means re-reading the same baby-food Sunday School lessons covered for the past 30 years but never knowing exactly what Christians believe and why.

These items can all be characterized by one word: disobedience. God usually turns his back on the disobedient until He observes repentance. Could this be the solution to the mysterious malady afflicting the church in America? Is it possible that the downward spiral of the church is not so much a mystery after all?

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10. Did God Elect Only a Few for Salvation While Condemning the Greater Part of Mankind to Hell?

Arminians believe much of reality is part of a causal chain but many human actions are the result of a first-cause, human free will choice between two or more options. Calvinists believe every event in the universe is under God's "sovereign" control including all actions and thoughts of men and angels. Calvinists say you may think your choices are free but God is really the hidden, first-cause behind every decision you make. Calvinists believe God only ordained a few for salvation while hardening and increasing the damnation of the far greater part of mankind, namely all those who do not believe. The cause of this unbelief is the counsel and decree of God.

Calvinism would appear to undermine God's holiness, justice, goodness and truth. But what does Scripture teach? Read the following verses, get a Bible, read the text around each verse and then reach your own conclusion.

• For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
• He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)
• Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. (Acts 10:34-35)
• They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. (Mark 12:14)
• This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive) that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. (1 Tim 4:9-10)
• This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:3-4)
• The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Pet 3:9)
• Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? (Ezek 18:23)
• Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? (Ezek 18:25)
• Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?' (Ezek 33:11)
• For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men. (Lam 3:33)
• For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. (Deut 10:17)
• Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery. (2 Chron 19:7)
• Is he not the One who says to kings, 'You are worthless,' and to nobles, 'You are wicked,' who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? (Job 34:18-19)
• For God does not show favoritism. (Rom 2:11)
• And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. (Eph 6:9)

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11. Is Satan Alive and Well?

The outcome of the great war between good and evil was decided by the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ. But few would claim Jesus has already repossessed and repaired his corrupted creation. For a time and within limits, Jesus continues to permit the consequences of rebellion and the brutal corruption of all life.

Look around. Did our good, omnipotent God create the inherently violent and terrifying system we see in nature, a system rife with sickness, suffering and death - a system red in tooth and claw? Does nature itself appear to operate contrary to the character of God? Does the world at every level appear to be at war? Does the world appear to be permeated and corrupted at all levels by an evil influence? Did Jesus believe that someone else had been given authority over this world and Jesus Himself must repossess and repair?

• Three times, Jesus referred to Satan as the prince of this world.

Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. (John 12:31)

I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. "Come now; let us leave. (John 14:30-31)

When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. (John 16:8-11)

• Jesus accepted the concept that Satan had been given authority over this world.

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to Him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered, "It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only." (Luke 4:5-8)

• Jesus addresses the evil prince as the leader of a unified army of spirit beings.

"Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Mat 25:41)

• Scripture confirms that Satan has been given control of this world.

We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Cor 4:4)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. (Eph 2:1-2)

• Scripture teaches that Satan's control is active not passive.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless. (1 Thes 3:5)

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. (2 Cor 11:14)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Eph 6:12)

• The entire creation has been subjected to bondage and decay.

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. (Rom 8:20-22)

Jesus' earthly ministry reflected the belief that the world had been seized by a hostile, sinister lord. Jesus came to begin the process of repossession and repair. According to Scripture the universe was originally good and the glory of God is still evident in it (Rom 1:20). But something else - something frightfully wicked - is evident in it as well. Of their own free will, Satan and other spiritual beings rebelled against God in the primordial past and now abuse their God-given authority over certain aspects of creation. Satan, who holds the power of death (Heb 2:14) exercises a pervasive, structural, diabolical influence to the point that the entire creation is in bondage to decay. The pain-ridden, bloodthirsty, sinister and hostile character of nature should be attributed to Satan and his army, not to God.

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12. What are the Attributes of God?

The attributes of God can be characterized by a finite list of words and phrases so long as we agree that when a word or phrase is applied to God, the true depth of meaning cannot be fathomed. Here are a few attributes arbitrarily grouped in seven categories. Feel free to add or rearrange.

• Being: Transcendence, Immanence, Infinitude, Eternalness, Immutability
• Wisdom: Exhaustively Definite Foreknowledge, Omniscience, Resourcefulness, Patience, Perseverance, Persistence, Discipline, Prudence, Understanding, Discernment, Stewardship, Courage
• Power: Omnipotence, Humility, Meekness, Gentleness, Obedience/yieldedness, Endurance, Long-suffering/Forbearance, Respect, Responsibility, Dependence, Devotion, Surrender, Commitment
• Holiness: The state of who You are and the acts that You do; Holiness in being and Holiness in action; Absolute purity of heart, will, intellect and action; Perfect love, integrity, righteousness, morality, ethics, character; Perfect being, wisdom, power, justice, goodness, truth
• Justice: Punishment for Sinners; Substitutionary Atonement; Redemption; Forgiveness; Justification; Adoption; Regeneration; Sanctification; Reconciliation; Unification; Glorification
• Goodness: Love, Mercy, Grace, Compassion, Kindness, Benevolence, Charity, Faithfulness, Trustworthiness, Peace, Joy, Fulfillment, Fruitfulness, Faith, Hope, Reconciliation, Healing, Encouragement, Comfort, Strength
• Truth: Logic, Honesty

• The past, present and future status of all space, time and matter in our universe?
• The past, present and future thoughts (intellect, heart and will) of all humans and angels?

• The ratio of electrical force to gravitational force is precisely 10³⁶. 
• The fraction of mass converted to energy by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen to helium in a star is precisely 0.007.
• The ratio of gravitational energy to expansion energy was precisely 1.0 in the early universe.
• The ratio of dispersion energy to rest mass energy for a galaxy of stars is precisely 10^-5.
• On a human scale, the number of spatial dimensions is precisely 3.

• The ratio of πR to 0.0123456789 where R = (the fine transition radio frequency of hydrogen in space) is remarkably close to the speed of light in a vacuum.
• The location of the seat of consciousness in the human brain is unresolved.
• Holiness cannot be defined separately from God.

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13. What are the Core Beliefs of Christianity?

The Bible is the inspired, infallible and inerrant word of God.

• This concept is discussed in Chapter 10 of Christian Handbook of Reason and Insight for Scientists and Technologists.

The one true God exists as three distinct, transcendent, immanent, infinite, eternal, and immutable persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

• The one true God (Deut 4:35, 6:4; Isa 43:10, 44:6-8; I Cor 8:6; 1 Tim 2:5) exists as three distinct,
• transcendent (1 Kings 8:27),
• immanent (Acts 17:27,28; Col 1:16-17),
• infinite (1 Kings 8:27),
• eternal (Isa 57:15),
• and immutable (Mal 3:6) persons:
  • God the Father (John 5:18, 10:29, 14:28, 17:1-3; 1 Cor 8:6; Phil 2:11),
  • God the Son (Isa 7:14, 44:6; John 1:1-14, 5:18, 10:30, 20:28, 8:58 cf Ex 3:14; Rom 9:5; Phil 2:5-11; Col 1:15-18; Titus 2:13, Heb 1:8; 1 John 5:20; Rev 22:13-18) and
  • God the Holy Spirit (Ex 17:7 cf Heb 3:7-9; Mat 28:19; Acts 5:3-4, 13:2 cf Gal 1:1 and 1 Tim 1:1; 1 Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 13:14; 2 Tim 3:16 cf 2 Pet 1:21; Heb 9:14)

Some have claimed the Holy Spirit is not a person. This claim is refuted by the following Scriptures: (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7-11, 14; Acts 5:3, 13:2, 16:7; Rom 8:16, 26; 1 Cor 12:11; Eph 1:14, 4:30)

Jesus Christ is God the Son. Jesus Christ is man. Jesus Christ is one person who’s divine and human natures cannot be changed, divided, separated or mixed. Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily from the dead. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin.

• Jesus Christ is God the Son (Isa 7:14 cf Mat 1:23, 44:6; John 1:1-14, 5:18, 10:30, 20:28, 8:58 cf Ex 3:14; Rom 9:5; Phil 2:5-11; Col 1:15-18; Titus 2:13, Heb 1:8; 1 John 5:20; Rev 22:13-18).
• Jesus Christ is man (Mark 2:27,28; John 1:14; Rom 1:3; Phil 2:5-11; 1 Tim 2:5; 1 John 4:1-4).
• Jesus Christ is one person whose divine and human natures cannot be changed, divided, separated or mixed (John 1:14; Rom 1:3,4, 8:3, 9:5; Gal 4:4,5; Phil 2:5-7; 1 Tim 3:16; Heb 2:11-14; 1 John 4:2,3).
• Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily from the dead (Luke 24:36-47; John 2:19-21; Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 15:3-7; 1 John 3:2)
• Jesus Christ was born of a virgin (Isa 7:14; Mat 1:23)

Every person since Adam and Eve, except Jesus Christ, was born with a sin nature and no person, except Jesus Christ, has lived a sinless life.

• Every person since Adam and Eve (Gen 3:6-19; Rom 7:14-25), except Jesus Christ (Luke 1:35), was born with a sin nature,
• and no person (Rom 3:23, 5:12-18, 6:23; 1 John 1:8-10), except Jesus Christ (John 8:46; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 1:18-19, 2:21-22; 1 John 2:1, 3:3) has lived a sinless life.

The spotless lamb, “without blemish,” was required for the Passover (Ex 12:5) and the words, “without blemish,” constantly recur in the descriptions of the sacrifices which pointed forward to the atonement accomplished by Christ.

The Scriptures are completely unanimous in declaring the perfect sinlessness of Christ under all circumstances. The sinlessness of Christ is not merely a personal attribute, characteristic of His human nature as well as His divine nature, but it is an attribute which is absolutely essential to the atonement.

Salvation from the consequences of sin is offered to all persons by the grace of God and the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ.

• Salvation from the consequences of sin is offered to all persons by the grace of God and the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ (John 1:29, 14:6; Acts 4:10-12; Rom 3:21-25, 5:12-18; Eph 2:8-10; 1 Tim 2:5; Heb 9:14-15)

The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all persons: (a) the requirements of the law are written by God on every heart, (b) Jesus Christ knocks at the door of every heart, (c) the Holy Spirit calls and convicts each person and (d) God’s eternal power and divine nature are evident in the world around us. Nevertheless, many resist the grace of God.

• The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all persons (Titus 2:11):
• (a) the requirements of the law are written by God on every heart (Rom. 2:15),
• (b) Jesus Christ knocks at the door of every heart (Rev. 3:20),
• (c) the Holy Spirit calls and convicts each person (John 16:8) and
• (d) God’s eternal power and divine nature are evident in the world around us (Rom 1:20).
• Nevertheless, many resist the grace of God ((Mat 25:46; 2 Thes 1:8-9).

Each person who responds to God’s grace and the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ by confession of sin, remorse, repentance, faith and obedience receives the great gift of salvation. Each person who resists God’s grace is condemned to everlasting punishment.

• Each person who responds to God’s grace and the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ by
• confession of sin (Ps 32:3-5; 1 John 1:8-10),
• remorse (Ps 66:18; Luke 18:13),
• repentance (Mat 3:8; Rom 12:2, 13:14; Eph 4:23-24; Rev 2:5, 16, 3:3, 19),
• faith (John 6:29, 3:16-17; Acts 16:31; Eph 2:8-10) and
• obedience (Mat 28:20; Luke 11:28; John 14:15; Rom 1:5, 6:16; Heb 5:9)
• receives the great gift of salvation (Acts 4:12; Rom 1:16; 2 Cor 7:10; 1 Thes 5:9; Heb 5:9; 1 Pet 1:9, 18-19).
• Each person who resists God’s grace is condemned to everlasting punishment (Mat 25:46; 2 Thes 1:8-9).

Christian belief must be preceded by repentance and followed by obedience to qualify as faith. Faith is not just an intellectual exercise (Jam 2:19) or an emotional experience (Jer 17:9).

Faith precedes regeneration; faith is an act of human free will responding to the grace of God.

Calvinists reject this doctrine. Calvinists contend regeneration precedes faith because God elected only certain persons for salvation. Those persons alone are regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit and subsequently demonstrate repentance, faith and obedience. The rest of mankind is condemned to everlasting punishment. Calvinism represents theological error. It is inconsistent with God’s holiness, justice, goodness and truth and it is refuted by Scripture.

• For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
• He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)
• Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. (Acts 10:34-35)
• They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. (Mark 12:14)
• This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive) that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. (1 Tim 4:9-10)
• This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:3-4)
• The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Pet 3:9)
• Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? (Ezek 18:23)
• Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? (Ezek 18:25)
• Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’ (Ezek 33:11)
• For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men. (Lam 3:33)
• For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. (Deut 10:17)
• Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery." (2 Chron 19:7)
• Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’ who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? (Job 34:18-19)
• For God does not show favoritism. (Rom 2:11)
• And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. (Eph 6:9)

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14. What is the purpose of prayer?

The "unpardonable sin" of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is defined (Mat 12:31, 32; Mark 3:29, 30) as attributing the goodness of the Holy Spirit to Satan. Calvinists may have found another path to blasphemy by attributing all Satan’s evil to God. But the greatest havoc created by the "blueprint" theology of Augustine, Calvin and their theological progeny may be a distortion of the purpose of prayer. The Calvinist believes: "God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass." If, before the universe was formed, God unchangeably ordained everything, then your prayers can change the outcome of nothing. Allow me to suggest another view, one that permeated the Christian community before the time of Augustine.

God created both angels and humans as first-cause agents of choice with the free will to accept or reject God’s wishes in every situation. God placed certain angels in charge of his creation. Some began to oppose God under the leadership of Satan, the most powerful and intelligent of all rebellious angels. They began to corrupt God’s work and exercise a pervasive, structural and diabolical influence so that all of creation was in bondage to decay. That which God created as good began to exhibit a pain-ridden, bloodthirsty, sinister and hostile demeanor. "Mother Nature," became an inherently violent and terrifying system dominated by disease, suffering and death – a system red in tooth and claw. Not wanting free will to be an illusion, God is permitting, for a time and within limits, certain consequences of rebellion and corruption caused by both fallen angels and the humans who join them.

The world, at every level, is at war. We are on the front lines of this Great War whether we like it or not. The substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ began a new phase of warfare. God the Son began the process of taking back his creation. The outcome of the war was decided completely by the substitutionary atonement but the process of repossession and reconstruction of creation only began. Jesus expects his people to engage the enemy and be soldiers in His army.

Because God decided not to exercise his omnipotence to end the war in an instant, the spiritual forces of good and evil agreed on "Allowed Weapons" and "Rules of Engagement." The primary Allowed Weapon for God’s human soldiers is prayer because, alone, we don’t stand a chance against the dark powers. The Rule of Engagement for this weapon is:

• God intercedes in the Great War if and only if God is petitioned by prayer.

God always does the most He can do given: (a) prayer as the Allowed Weapon, (b) the Rule of Engagement for this weapon and (c) the complex and evil forces of constraint arrayed against Him. Where free agents are involved, God’s omnipotent will can be thwarted. What God is able to do in the world is hindered by evil powers exercising free will and using Allowed Weapons and Rules of Engagement beyond our comprehension. The reason why some prayers are not answered generally has nothing to do with what God wills or the depth of your faith. It is the result of the forces of evil exercising their freedom to wage battle. There is no mystery about God’s character. All evil proceeds from wills other than God’s. The mystery of evil stems from the complexity of creation and the warfare that engulfs it, not from some distorted definition of God’s sovereignty.

God always responds. Prayer always makes a difference. But the difference is not always dramatic and obvious because prayer does not cancel or suspend the particular network of constraints which are bringing some outcome into being. Prayer is the means through which the specific action of God works in and through that network, bringing some succession of events to what will always be a different outcome from what it would otherwise have been. This fact alone should make you come alive with commitment to prayer.

Some soldiers can use weapons of war more effectively than others. The use of prayer for maximum effectiveness is somewhat clouded in mystery. But the effective prayer warrior is generally characterized by all or at least some of the following attributes:

• Faith (Mat 17:20; 21:21)
• Obedience (I John 3:22)
• Sincerity (Acts 12:5; Heb 5:7)
• Spirit Filling (Rom 8:26)
• Persistence (Luke 11:5-13, 18:1-8; I Thes 5:17)
• Desire for United Corporate Prayer (Mat 18:19)

Prayer itself frequently includes:

• Confession of Sin (I John 1:8-10)
• Praise for God (Heb 13:15)
• Thanksgiving to God (Phil 4:6,7)
• Petition for Intercession (Phil 4:6,7)

However, my prayer petitions may not be granted even if I have the attributes of a prayer warrior and my prayers are sound. For example, I may be certain my faith is larger than a mustard seed but I cannot move mountains (Mat 17:20 cf 21:21, 22) nor can I place my hands on the sick and see them healed (Acts 28:8). The Holy Spirit may want to grant my petitions in such matters but is thwarted by powerful forces of darkness exercising free will and using mysterious Allowed Weapons, Rules of Engagement and a complex network of constraints to their advantage (Dan 10:12-13, 20-21).

Curiously, many churches have little commitment to united corporate prayer and even less inclination toward confession of individual sin while praying. Prayer has become a tired ritual, which is performed with no real expectation. A prayer may be offered during worship service to accommodate tradition. Then, if nothing happens, some ask, "Whose unconfessed sin caused God to ignore this prayer?" or "Was this prayer ignored by God because it was inconsistent with His unchangeable blueprint established before the world was formed?" Most churches preach and teach the importance of praying together as a united body of Christ but most churches seldom do it! It is difficult to identify a church whose foundation is corporate prayer.

Our spiritual opponents in this Great War are powerful beyond comprehension; they would destroy us in an instant were it not for God’s restraint. Why didn’t God give us "superhero" personal power against these adversaries to make an even fight? Perhaps because the struggle is ultimately about ideas rather than brute power. Satan wants to convince all the angels in Heaven that God’s plan of salvation for mankind is flawed. He wants to expose God’s entire enterprise of creation and redemption as the product of radically flawed wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth. The accusation, once raised, could not be removed, not even by destroying the accuser. The divine purpose hung in the balance. The substitutionary atonement wrenched the power of death from Satan (Heb 2:14) and sealed the ultimate outcome of the war. But Jesus wants his army to stand beside him as He reclaims and restores His creation.

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