Statements & Questions from a Seeker

Statement: I have lately been studying religion on my own and while never having read the Bible, I believe that I have gleaned a decent amount of knowledge though other books and Wikipedia. I honestly find the Bible a bit difficult to understand properly.

Answer: The Bible is not really so hard to understand properly. It was written in plain language so that people could read and hear the voice of God. Reading about the Bible without reading it is a bit like dating a picture of a girl. There is no relationship until you are with the living, breathing, face-to-face girl in the picture. I would encourage you to get a copy and begin reading in the New Testament. If you have questions, our pastors would be more than happy to answer questions (as we do here).

My questions are these . . .
Q. In the days of Jesus, the hand of God seemed to be plainly visible on the Earth. Why did God need to make His presence seen more then He does now? Where did God go?
A. God is plainly visible in the Earth. That did not depend upon Jesus. God’s fingerprints are evident everywhere. The Bible teaches that the skies themselves proclaim the glory of God. From my perspective, as a pastor, I do see Him plainly, as do believers who open their eyes to see what He is doing. You’ve heard it said that “seeing is believing.” But in God’s economy, “believing is seeing,” which is why it is important to seek God in faith. Jesus’ entry in to the world was not so that God could be seen, but so that sin could be atoned for by His sacrificial death. It would be interesting to be able to sit with you and speak about this. We could review a series of Scriptures that deal with this question.

Q. In addition to Earth, is there any belief that God created other worlds?
A. God created a distinctly different spiritual world that is populated by angelic beings, and that is part of the biblical record. In addition, there are creatures in Heaven who are distinct from men and angels. As for whether there are planets that are populated in the universe, the Bible does not address that. Traditionally, Christians have not viewed the Universe to be populated apart from Earth.

Q. What is the reasoning behind going to church instead of learning of and worshiping God in your own way?
A. Jesus’ introduction of the New Covenant, which is the covenant under which the church exists, is that we would love one another, as He loved us. The church is a community and Christianity is defined by Jesus as a fellowship of the sons and daughters of God. To be a Christian and not be in communion with other believers makes no sense – a kind of spiritual oxymoron. Furthermore, getting to know God takes place within the context of community (as He prescribed it) and not in isolation. Christianity is not a set of facts we acknowledge and agree to, it is the presence of the living God in a very real relationship – and we are aware of His presence – in our lives individually and more so collectively. Worship is one of the expressions of that.

Q. I'm unemployed and don't have much money. If I came to church would I still need to pay a tithe? What is the purpose of tithing besides supporting the church? Is there a religious reason?
A. We do not require anyone to tithe. The New Testament doesn’t prescribe tithes. Rather, we are told to make gifts and offerings out of our heart’s desire – God loves a cheerful giver. You are under no obligation to our church to pay a tithe. However, I want to help you understand the nature of the concept of the tithe (Old Testament) and giving (New Testament). Our giving is an act of trust in the God who said that if we will give faithfully, He will honor that giving. The Sabbath is a similar concept. One day a week I put aside productive time (during which I could earn money) and God says that if I will trust Him, I will not have suffered for giving that up, but would in fact be blessed. The Sabbath becomes a day of rest and a time to enjoy relationships with God and others. You should only give as an act of faith, and not out of obligation.

You have asked some intriguing questions. We would love to meet with you and answer these questions if you are interested. Just give us a call or meet us between services.
Pastor Mark