Monday 22 September 2008

New Approaches

When going to a new place, you have to take a new direction and often new steps. I think that's one of the reasons I like new approaches. They allow for new results. I suggest that new approaches are essential to significantly advance.

Not everybody is ready for new approaches. So do we stop? I don't think so. I think one needs a new approach to make new approaches.

Hebrews 11:6 (MSG)
6 It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can you clarify what happens to people who don't believe that God exists, Jim?

It's my favourite part.

Anonymous said...

David

People have the choice to believe in God or not to believe in God.

But every decision we make in life has consequences, as this is no different.

Eternal life with God is available to all people, but for whatever reason, some people choose to reject God and not accept it. Their choice entirely.

They therefore live eternally separated from God. And frankly, that would be hell.

Anonymous said...

Why do you equate disbelief with rejection?

To see what I mean, think about your non-belief in Santa. That doesn't mean you "reject" Santa, whether you think about Santa as based on a historical legend or pertaining to a living person.

Second, why does non-belief equate to "eternal separation". A delusional person - if that is how you regard non-believers - may still co-exist in the same place as the entities in which she doesn't believe.

Also, have you examined your assumptions about free will in light of recent scientific understanding?

jeff said...

I was hiking in the Maine woods the other day. I was spouting off about something to a friend. Thinking I was all that in my understanding. And it occurred to me in an astounding way, that if we don't believe in the absolutes of God, we have to believe in the absolutes of ourselves. And that became the most ludicrous thought I have ever had. To make my thoughts about life an absolute. Doesn't it make more sense to know we don't know all there is to know? And isn't it gracious of God to allow the many thoughts we do have that are so incredibly contrary to His? Simply, God is love. And to argue the writings of the ancients without first knowing that love always leads us back to the same place. Just words. And words and ideas will not keep you from taking your life when life brings you to it's calamitous end one day. That's what I discovered. It was the truth of a living God that saved me from the cold ocean where I tried to take my life. David, God is real. There are a lot of really smart heady people that have discovered this. We all feel the same way you do at times, it doesn't make sense. It is not always fair. But dude, when you are about to die, and God shows up, Game Over.