Passion for Christ - Good or Bad

Seems like an easy question, huh? Especially if you're a Christian. It's one of those "duh" answers that most Christians would say if asked if they had a passion for Christ and his work.

I struggle with this daily. Asking myself, is this true? What is the evidence? Does it add up? It's hard enough sometimes to display my love and affection for my wife and child, whom I'm with every single day. In the physical world... How do folks have and continue to have a passion for Christ, who is in the spiritual realm?

I must say that my belief system is being shaken up considerably these past few years. For me, it's a very unstable time where I'm trying to find out what I believe, based on my research and my conclusions. I feel like I've heard enough opinions about what is right, and honestly, if I look hard enough, I can find opinions anywhere that match what is the easiest and most comfortable things to believe.

I want to find the truth...it has to be out there. I need to find it...this world seems like but a passing thought...why make this life the end? People talk about retirement and investing all the time for the long term, why not live life that way? For the long term?

May the God of this universe show me the truth and guide me to answers.

Is the Bible True?

An age-old question. My entire life, I've been inclined to think and believe that the Bible is true. In fact, I was raised in a Christian home, attending a Methodist, then Assemblies of God, then PCA church.

But I ask myself every now and then, what if I were raised in a Muslim home, or Buddhist, or some other religion? Would I believe that they are in fact true, 100%, and would I still hold Christ in the same esteem as I do now, that he is the Christ, son of God, that he has died, and risen?

These are questions that I vow to be able to answer. I more than anything want to know the truth. My doctrine, after 25 years, is being shaken to its very core, and with it my entire belief system with it. What is the truth? May God grant me grace to find the answer.

What a Testimony

My wife and I just returned home from her step-grandpa's funeral in Rockford, Illinois. Although a sad event in that he will no longer be present here on earth, it is a glorious day in that Mitch will be with his Father in heaven.

One of the most amazing things about Mitch was his love for Jesus Christ, and his life displayed His image in everything he did. His funeral was no different. Because Mitch had nearly five months to plan his funeral after being diagnosed with cancer, he was able to give implicit instructions on how his service was to be conducted. It was no surprise the Gospel message of Jesus Christ was given.

I only pray that one day I am remembered not for what I had in terms of material possessions, or money in the bank, or what score I shot in golf, but for a love of the most holy, omnicient, all-powerful, almighty, most graceful, and most just God - Jesus Christ.

May God be merciful and grant this prayer.

Salvation - Election or Choice

"I believe the doctrine … that God intends to give saving grace, through Jesus Christ, only to a certain number, and that the rest of mankind, after the fall of Adam, being justly left of God to continue in sin, will at last suffer that eternal death which is its proper wages. … But as the sovereign Lord of all, who is debtor to none, he has a right to do what he will with his own, and to dispense his favours to what objects he sees fit, merely at his pleasure. And his supreme right herein is clearly and strongly asserted in those passages of Scripture, where he says, "Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion" (Rom. 9:15, Exod. 33:19)."

- Letter from George Whitefield to the Rev. Mr. John Wesley In Answer to Mr. Wesley's Sermon entitled: "Free Grace"

God's Free Grace or Man's Free Will. It is the doctrine of my current church to support God's Free Grace, yet my entire life I have been raised to know it is Man's Free Will that leads us to salvation. If I am honest with myself, I must admit I never studied this topic much until now, and all arguments against God's Free Grace do not appear to be scripturally based or Christ-inspired. On the contrary, the support of Man's Free Will has much scriptural backing, and appears to fit with the idea of God's sovereignty and descriptions of character.

My conclusion is this: there is a need of more study and prayer regarding this matter… For I do not want to agree with scholars or masters of theology simply because they are experts, but I want to use their insights and see their differing opinions, and look to Scripture for answers all the while praying for the Spirit to open my eyes and heart to truth.

Book Review - Charismatic Chaos

I'm currently in the middle of reading Charismatic Chaos, by John F. MacArthur, Jr. It discusses such topics as:

• Signs and wonders
• Speaking in tongues
• The health and wealth gospel
• Charismatic televangelism
• And answering the question of whether God still speaks today

Coming from a charismatic background, specifically an assemblies of God church, I wasn't sure how I would react to such a book. Yes, I have had my doubts about the validity and true biblical support of charismatic claims for several years now, but I've never truly pursued discovering the truth as dictated by God Himself through his written Word.

Charismatic Chaos has done a decent job thus far of backing its views with solid scriptural interpretation, and for that, I appreciate its views. While the book can appear rather impersonal or unkind at certain points, I believe that Mr. MacArthur truly has good intentions when discrediting charismatic claims.

Of particular concern to me is my family's involvement with such charismatic preachers such as Benny Hinn, Jesse Duplantis, Kenneth Copeland, Marilyn Hickey, and the TBN television station. It deeply aches my heart to see some of my family members following what appears to me as utterly false doctrine.

In future writings, I hope to summarize Charismatic Chaos in more detail and outline major points that I took to heart.