Tax the Church?

Once again it is the political season here in the United States, and with only one week remaining until the 2016 elections there has been much talk of values, presidential candidates, and amendments to our national and state constitutions. One particular topic that I have had the privilege of debating lately has been the issue of whether or not the Church should be taxed.

Currently, churches in America are classified as non-profit organizations, and are therefore tax-exempt. However, since the Church is often viewed as a "religious institution," there are many who feel that the government should revoke the Church's non-profit status. These individuals often believe that it is wrong for any religion to take their money, to which I would agree. According to the Bible, tithes and offerings are just that—offerings. That is to say, they are meant to be voluntary, not mandatory. (I go over this in greater detail in my previous article: Money and the Church) 

That being said and contrary to popular belief, most churches are not government funded; they are funded by the donations of their members, not your tax dollars. Which is why I find it so fascinating that those who are the strongest advocates for taxing churches often times have never stepped foot in a church themselves, much less given a tithe or donation to the church. Ergo: Their money is not going to the church—or any religious institution for that matter. Which begs the question: Why do people care so much what other people do with their own money, when it's really none of our concern? If our neighbors want to donate to their church then that's completely up to them. What right do we have to tell them they can't or shouldn't do what they feel lead to do?

That being said, some would argue that tithes and offerings are just a way for religion to rob people. However, as stated before, these offerings are voluntary, and are usually a small percentage of what a person actually makes. (The word "Tithe" literally means "One-tenth.") Furthermore, since churches are classified as non-profit organizations, this means that any tithe or offering given to a church automatically becomes tax-deductible. This means that anyone who gives money to their church can claim that money as a tax write-off, just as they would any other donation to a charity or non-profit organization. (This is of course a poor reason to donate to your church, but it is a valid argument against taxing churches.)

Additionally, many people base their tithe on their gross income. That is to say, their ten-percent tithe comes out of their income before taxes. This means that if the government begins to tax the Church, they will literally be taxing Christians twice; once when they tax our income, and again when they tax our churches. 

In short, stripping the Church of its non-profit status will essentially turn Christians into a cash-cow for government spending. The government would be able to tax Christian's twice, while at the same time penalize people who donate to their local churches by invalidating the tax-deductible status of the aforementioned donations. Thus the government would be able to use a person's faith to their advantage, doubling the tax revenue from Christians without having to give any of it back as a tax return. Not only is this course immoral and unethical, it is also a blatant violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. 

That being said, I hope you will consider the facts and weigh all the evidence before casting your vote this political season.

See Also:

Should Christians Pay Taxes? 

Money and the Church

Debunked: Jesus vs. Mithras

Jesus:

1) Born of a virgin

2) Born in a cave/stable. Was placed in a manger. Birth heralded by angels and a star in the east. Was visited by magi and a group of shepherds. 

3) Worshiped by his followers on Sunday, "The Lords Day" instead of on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath.

4) Had twelve disciples.

5) Jesus listened to and asked questions of the religious leaders in the Temple when he was twelve years old. (Luke 2:41-52) He was never a "child teacher." 

6) Had a three year ministry as a traveling teacher. Preached a "Sermon on the Mount," was Transfigured.

7) Preformed many miracles, cast out demons, raised the dead, and walked on water, etc.

8) Crucified between two criminals, buried for three days, rose from the dead.

9) Called by many Messianic titles. ie. "the Lamb of God," "Messiah", "The way, the truth, and the life," "Son of Man," "God's Son." etc.

10) Came to die sacrificially in order to fulfill the requirements of the Old Testament Law for the redemption of mankind. 

Mithras:

1)  Born out of a rock. Not only was he not "virgin born," he was not even born of a living thing.

2) As stated above, Mithras was not born. Therefore there was no manger, star, magi or any of the other nativity elements in any of the Mithra narratives. However, his followers did celebrate his "birth" on December 25th. That being said, Christ's birth most likely occurred some time between late spring and early autumn, based on scriptural evidence. (ie. shepherds staying with their flocks in open pasture overnight.) It was not until the mid 330s AD that "Christmas" began to be celebrated on December 25th. 

3) Mithras was worshiped on Sunday only by members of the Roman Mithraic traditions in the cult's later years, (ca. 155-300 AD) well after New Testament times and the establishment of Christianity. 

4)  There is no mention of any disciples in Mithraic tradition. However there is one depiction of him surrounded by the twelve signs of the Zodiac Calendar. That being said, this iconography and indeed the Roman Cult of Mithra itself, originated in post-Christian times, and therefore did not inspire the depiction of Christ and his disciples. Rather, the founders of Mithraism plagiarized themes and existing iconography found in Christianity, and incorporated them into their "Mystery Cult."  

5) Was never a child-teacher. In fact, there is no mention of him being a teacher at all. 

6) Had no ministry to speak of. 

7) Mithras undoubtedly preformed many miracles, like any ancient deity. However there is virtually no record of any such miracles ever being preformed. That said, the few miracles and "great deeds" of Mithras that we do know of do not coincide with any miracle preformed by Jesus Christ.  

8) There is no evidence in any Mithraic tradition of Mithras ever dying, much less a crucifixion. The only evidence of an alleged "resurrection" is recorded by the ancient historian Tertullian, who records that members of the Mythras Cult reenacted resurrection scenes as part of their secretive rituals. But this took place long after Christianity had been established. (ca. 150-240 AD ) That being said, we know more about the post-Christian practices of the Cult of Mithras than we do their actual beliefs!

9) Was not called by any Messianic titles except for "mediator." However, unlike Jesus, Mithras did not mediate on behalf of sinners, but rather between the waring gods of good and evil in some Zoroastrian traditions. That being said, Mithras was a sun-god, and therefore was often associated with the sign Leo in astrology. So one could argue that he does have some connection with lion iconography, though he is never once referred to as "the lion and the lamb."

10) Mithras did not die sacrificially. Nor did he die for the redemption of mankind. In fact, Mithras did not die at all. The only time Mithras did anything to "save humanity" was when he killed a mythological bull (the Tauroctony), which later became the source of all life on earth. Furthermore, according to Mithraic tradition, when Mithras' time on earth had ended, he returned to paradise in a chariot, alive and well. He was not buried, and did not rise from the dead.

Conclusion: 

Jesus is not based on Mithras.



*     *     *     *     *     *     *

Sources:


The Roman Cult of Mithras

Cold-Case Christianity

Is Jesus a myth?

What is Mithraism?


See Also:

Mythology and the Messiah

Debunked: Jesus vs. Dionysus

Debunked: Jesus vs. Horus

Debunked: Jesus vs. Asclepius

Debunked: Jesus vs. Orpheus

Debunked: Jesus vs. Krishna

The Dying and Rising God: Jesus or Osiris?

Debunked: Jesus vs. Horus

Jesus:

1) Born of a virgin.

2) Born in a cave/stable. Was placed in a manger. Birth heralded by angels and a star in the east. Was visited by magi and a group of shepherds. 

3) Was baptized at age thirty by John the Baptist John the Baptist was later beheaded.

4) Had twelve disciples.

5) Jesus listened to and asked questions of the religious leaders in the Temple when he was twelve years old. (Luke 2:41-52) He was never a "child teacher."

6) Had a three year ministry as a traveling teacher. Preached a "Sermon on the Mount," and was Transfigured.

7) Preformed many miracles, cast out demons, raised the dead, and walked on water.

8) Crucified between two criminals, buried for three days, rose from the dead.

9) Called by many Messianic Titles. ie. "The Lamb of God," "Messiah", "The way, the truth, and the life," "Son of Man," "God's Son." etc.

10) Came to die sacrificially in order to fulfill the requirements of the Old Testament Law for the redemption of mankind.

Horus:

1) Was born out of a sexual union between Isis (the name "Isis-Meri" is not found anywhere in Egyptian mythology) and Osiris. He was not "born of a virgin."

2) Was born in a swamp on the Nile Delta. There is no mention of a manger, shepherds, angels, magi, or a miraculous star in any Horus narrative.

3) Was never baptized. No one named "Anup the Baptizer" exists in Horus Mythology.

4)  Had four regular disciples, (Heru-Shemsu) sixteen temporary followers (mentioned only once) and an indeterminate number of followers (Mesnui) who joined him in battle at one point in the narrative. He did not have twelve disciples. 

5) No effort is made in the narrative to give us continuous, chronological information on Horus' childhood. He did not teach in any temple at age twelve.

6) Had no ministry. He never preached a "Sermon on the Mount," and was never Transfigured.  

7) Preformed some miracles (like all ancient gods) but never cast out demons, raised the dead, or walk on water at any point in the ancient narrative.

8) Was never crucified. In fact, in most of the Egyptian myths, Horus never died. He lost an eye in a battle with his uncle Set in one account, and merged with Re/Ra (the Sun God) in another. In this account Horus metaphorically "dies" and is "reborn" each day with the setting and rising of the sun. 

Another, more obscure version of the story says that Horus was killed, cut into pieces and thrown into the Nile. His mother Isis then sends a crocodile to retrieve the pieces of his corpse which she then sews back together and reanimates with magic just as she had done with his father, Osiris. That being said, there is no crucifixion, three-day burial, or resurrection to be found in any Horus narrative.

9) No Messianic Title was ever used in regard to Horus. ie. "The way, the truth, and the life," "Messiah," "Lamb of God," "Son of Man," etc. He was instead known as the "Great God," "Master of Heaven," "Chief of Powers," and "Avenger of his Father." (Osiris)

(The Egyptian word "krst" means "Burial" and is not a title at all. While the word "isua" which supposedly means "Holly Child" dose not even exist in ancient Egyptian, and is therefore not found in any of the Horus myths.)

10) There was no Egyptian "Law" for Horus to fulfill. He did not die sacrificially, if he even died at all (see 8.)

Conclusion:

Jesus is not based on Horus.


*     *     *     *     *     *     *

Sources: 

Ancient History Encyclopedia   

Cold-Case Christianity   

Is Jesus a Myth?

See Also:

Mythology and the Messiah

Debunked: Jesus vs. Dionysus

Debunked: Jesus vs. Mithras

Debunked: Jesus vs. Asclepius

Debunked: Jesus vs. Orpheus

Debunked: Jesus vs. Krishna

The Dying and Rising God: Jesus or Osiris?

Mythology and the Messiah

    When I first began researching ancient mythology for this article I was writing under the impression that many pagan myths paralleled the life of Christ; the miraculous events surrounding his birth, ministry, death, and ultimate resurrection. The reason for my assumption was obvious: virtually everyone, including historians, authors and mainstream archaeologists seemed to be arriving at the conclusion that the biblical authors plagiarized ancient themes of redemption, victory over evil, and salvation, from the myths of old. Indeed, I didn't have to look very far to find articles, books, and even a few History Channel and National Geographic specials to support this claim.
    However, upon closer examination of the myths in question, I soon discovered that much of the alleged evidence used to support these pseudo-messianic theories is circumstantial at best, or otherwise nonexistent.
    Suffice it to say, I was dumbfounded by just how many people were being deceived by those who are attempting to use mythical parallels as evidence against Christianity.
    That being said, while historically unfounded, the basis for the plagiarism hypothesis seems obvious: Christianity originated in the First Century AD whereas contemporary pagan myths had existed for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Therefore Christianity must have borrowed ideas from other religions.

    At first glance, the logic of this argument seems sound. However, upon further study, it soon becomes clear that the plagiarism hypothesis is in fact a poat-hoc fallacy that not only ignores historical and cultural evidence to the contrary, but also crucial counter-evidence found in the scriptures themselves.

    According to the book of Genesis (ca. 1440-1400 BC) there was a time when all mankind knew about God. They did not necessarily worship Him, but they at least knew of Him.
    For example: Genesis 4 recounts the story of Cain and Able–both of whom made offerings to the Lord (Yahweh/Jehovah) thousands of years before the Old Testament Law was written. Likewise, Noah also built an alter and made sacrifices to the Lord after exiting the Ark in Genesis 8:20.
    In Genesis 4:26 we are told that "...people first began to worship the Lord (Yahweh/Jehovah) by name." While Genesis 14:17-20, speaks of a meeting between Abraham–the first of the Old Testament Patriarchs, and father of the Jewish Nation–and a Canaanite named Melchizedek, who is identified as the King of Salem (that is, Jerusalem) and a priest of the Most High God.

    All that to say, there is strong evidence from the earliest biblical text to support the notion that at least some of the ancient peoples of Mesopotamia were worshiping the Hebrew God, Yahweh/Jehovah at least 430 years before the Jewish religion ever existed.

    That said, this conclusion is also based in part on what some might consider to be another post-hoc fallacy: the belief that ancient, pagan religions based their mythologies on historical events from the biblical record, simply because the biblical record states that these events took place before the pagan religions began. However, if one attempts to use this argument to dismiss the biblical record, then one must also be willing to apply the same logic to the rest of history. After all, every history book in existence was written long after the events they record actually took place, and generally hold to an interpretation of history that favors those who wrote them. (History is written by the victor after all.) Yet, despite this admittedly biased representation of historical evidence, most historical documents are widely accepted, while the Bible is generally dismissed without so much as a second thought.
     However, if the Bible is indeed an historically accurate document that truthfully records the dawn of human civilization, then the aforementioned conclusion is no longer in error, and is in fact highly plausible.
    If this is indeed true, and the biblical record is historically sound, then it is not outside the realm of possibility for ancient societies to share a common mythology. This is especially significant when you stop to consider the fact that, like the rest of the Old Testament, Genesis is filled with Messianic Prophesies, all of which would be fulfilled by Jesus Christ some 1400 years later.
   
    The first of these Messianic Prophesies is recorded in Genesis 3:15:

 "And I will cause hostility between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
    and you will strike his heel."

~ Genesis 3:15 NLT (New Living Translation) 

    This one prophesy–which predates both Judaism and Christianity by thousands of years in the biblical timeline–is enough to form the foundation of every alleged pseudo-messianic myth from Adonis to Zoroaster. Therefore one could easily argue that Judaism and Christianity did not borrow their inspiration from ancient, pagan religions, but rather the ancient, pagan religions created their mythology based on a prophesy given to mankind by the Most High God when sin first entered the world.
    However, as previously stated, most–if not all–of these alleged similarities are not ancient at all, but are in fact post-Christian and/or modern fabrications. (ie. the Horus-Jesus Myth.)

    In short, any parallels that may exist between ancient mythology and the Bible can be attributed to the fact that mankind once knew of God; they had heard of the coming Messiah, but slowly lost sight of God's promise as truth gave way to myth. But unlike the vague prophecies and myths of paganism, God's prophecies were specific and to the point, and were ultimately fulfilled by the only true Messiah–a man named Jesus, in the year 30 AD.
    The old religions, along with their mythologies, are all but forgotten. Yet Jesus, the stone the builders rejected, has become the cornerstone of a church that will never be overcome. (Matthew 16:16-18, Acts 4:11-12)

Related Articles on this Blog:

Was Jesus Real?

Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead

Evolution: The "Gap" Theory and the Birth of Civilization

Debunked: Jesus vs. Mithras

Debunked: Jesus vs. Horus

The Dying and Rising God: Jesus or Osiris?     


Other Resources to Watch:

The Case for Ancient Monotheism 

Go Therefore

"'Son of man,' he said, 'I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day. They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ And whether they listen or refuse to listen — for remember, they are rebels — at least they will know they have had a prophet among them.

"'Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels. You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious! ..."

"... Then he said, 'Son of man, go to the people of Israel and give them my messages. I am not sending you to a foreign people whose language you cannot understand. No, I am not sending you to people with strange and difficult speech. If I did, they would listen! But the people of Israel won’t listen to you any more than they listen to me! For the whole lot of them are hard-hearted and stubborn. But look, I have made you as obstinate and hard-hearted as they are. I have made your forehead as hard as the hardest rock! So don’t be afraid of them or fear their angry looks, even though they are rebels."

 "Then he added, 'Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself. Then go to your people in exile and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says!' Do this whether they listen to you or not.'"

~Ezekiel  2:3-7, 3:4-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

As I've been reading through Ezekiel, the one thing that has really stood out to me is just how relevant the writings of this Old Testament prophet are given the chaos and moral decay of today's society.

Just as in Ezekiel's day, many of our nations have turned their backs on God. Our people — my people — are rebelling against Him and His laws just as the children of Israel did during the Babylonian Exile. (ca. 597/581 BC)  And just as in the days of Ezekiel, I feel that God is calling the Church to stand up and and deliver His message of salvation to our own people — the hard-hearted and rebellious nations living in open defiance of Him and His word. 

Think about this for a moment: what do you think would happen if the Church spent just as much time and effort on reaching their local communities as they do on foreign missions? 

If we the Church — the unified Body of Christ — took the Great Commission seriously and began making disciples of all nations, including our own, do you think we would see a change in our communities, countries, and maybe even the world as a whole?

If we stopped isolating ourselves and started investing our time in building relationships with our unsaved neighbors, showing them the Gospel by the way we live, instead of pushing them away with our hypocrisy, do you think that maybe, just maybe, they would be more inclined to listen to us when we tell them about our faith? (1 Peter 2:12, 3:13-17)

In my community of 20,000 people, there is a church on virtually every street corner. Yet, like most of the United States, over 80% of the people in my town are un-reached. Despite the fact that they have ample access to the scriptures, Biblical ignorance is everywhere. Indeed, few people know the difference between the Iliad and the Old Testament! Most don't know anything about Jesus' teachings, or what Christians believe, aside from what they hear from the media or see on the internet. Many think that they will go to heaven because they've read parts of the Bible, believe in God, are a "good person" or go to church from time to time. And most of the people I've talked to about my faith don't want anything to do with "man-made religion" because the few churches that do attempt local missions go about it the wrong way, and end up pushing people away from God.

It is shameful. We pray for revival, yet few of us actually do anything about it. Instead, we look at all of the wickedness in our world and complain about how bad things are, while at the same time holding to the notion that if we just elect the right person to make the right laws, we can get our country back on track. Do we honestly think that electing a godly leader will fix our nation when the hearts of the people are far from God?

What if instead of trusting in elected officials to fix the social problems and spiritual decay in our world, we examined ourselves; purifying our hearts before God by asking God to reveal anything in our lives that may be interfering with our ability to effectively serve Him. If we ask God to make us able to serve Him and allow Him to prune our hearts, He will use us to change the world. (John 15:2)

The time is now, Christian. Whether you like it or not, you became a missionary the moment you surrendered your life to Christ. You are now Christ's ambassador, the salt and light of the world. (2 Corinthians 5:20, Matthew 5:13-16) There's a mission field is right outside your front door; an entire nation in need of God. The harvest is great, but the workers are few. (Luke 10:2-3) So fulfill your calling and go!

"'...I (Jesus) have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'"

~Matthew 28:18-20 New Living Translation (NLT)

Don't Be Afraid, I Am With You!

"Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 

"Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, 'It’s a ghost!'"

"But Jesus spoke to them at once. 'Don’t be afraid,' he said. 'Take courage. I am here!'

"Then Peter called to him, 'Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.'

"'Yes, come,' Jesus said.

"So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. 'Save me, Lord!' he shouted.

"Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. ‘You have so little faith,' Jesus said. 'Why did you doubt me?'"

~Matthew 14:22-31New Living Translation (NLT)

    In this age of uncertainty and fear—amid all of the chaos of a world gone mad—it is easy for us to lose focus. Like Jesus' disciples, we forget that Jesus is control no matter the circumstances. We feel overwhelmed by the storm raging around us, and are terrified by it. But what we must remember is that Jesus is in control. 
    In the passage above, Jesus was the one who told his disciples to take the boat back to Capernaum. The disciples were doing God's will when the storm started. Jesus wasn't surprised by this. The storm didn't catch him off guard. Mark 6:48 says that Jesus was watching the disciples from the hilltop. Even in the midst of chaos, God was still watching over His people. And what was it Jesus said to his people when he came to them? "Don't be afraid. Take courage, I am here!" Or more accurately: "...the I Am is here!"  (See Exodus 3:13-15)

    God is always with us. He will never leave us, and He is always in control—no matter how hopeless our circumstances may seem. That is why He tells us not to be afraid. The phrase "Do not be afraid" appears 365 times in God's Word; once for every day of the calendar year. So the next time you are feeling overcome with fear and uncertainty, remember: God is with us. When the worries of this life and the struggles of living in this fallen world seem too much to bear remember: Jesus Christ has overcome the world. (John 16:33)

    The I Am is with us. And if our God is with us, whom then shall we fear? 

    (Psalm 27)

What Makes a Person a Christian?

   
   What is a Christian?

   Many people say that they are Christians—in fact, nearly one third of the earth's population would call themselves Christian. But what is it that makes a person a Christian?

    Is a person a Christian simply because they believe that God exists? Are they a Christian because they pray, or read the Bible, or attend church or mass on a regular basis? Or maybe being baptized into the church and observing the Holy Sacrament is what makes a person a Christian?

    Some people would say that living a moral life or following the Ten Commandments is what makes you a Christian. While still others would argue that being born into a "Christian Nation" like the United States automatically makes a person a Christian.

    Indeed, millions of  people all over the world hold to these beliefs—among others. But the truth is, none of these things makes a person a Christian. And they most certainly do not guarantee you a place in heaven when you die.

    According to the Bible, I am not a Christian because I was born into a Christian home and grew up going to church every Sunday. I am not a Christian because I believe that God exists. Nor am I a Christian because I read the Bible. And while it is true that some might say that I am a "good and moral person" by human standards, having morals doesn't make me a Christian either. I am not made right with God by obeying religious laws, following my own moral compass, or by doing good deeds. Nor am I justified in His sight by avoiding sinful behavior.

    No.

    What makes me a Christian is the fact that I have believed God's Word and have trusted God as a result. Therefore, I have been made righteous in God's eyes, not because of anything I have done for God, but because of what God has done for me. (Romans 4, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:3-7) 

    There are only two kinds of people in the world: Those who are forgiven, and those who are not. Good people don't go to heaven. Forgiven people do.

    That is why Christianity isn't a religion. A Christian knows that they don't have to earn God's forgiveness. Nor do they have to prove anything to Him to gain His favor. If you are a follower of Christ then God has already poured out His favor on you, and has forgiven you through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:3-14)

    "Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

    "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

    "When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God."
~Romans 5:1-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

    So what is it that makes a person a Christian?

    Faith.

    For it is only through faith in Christ—trusting him as God's promised salvation—that we can be made right with God, and have the assurance of eternal life with Him when we die.

See Also:

Amazing Grace

The Problem with Religion 

Religion or Relationship: What Must I do to be Saved?

The Issue of Faith: Is Faith Irrational?

Saved by Faith or by Works?

Who is Jesus?

Why so offended?

     Have you ever stopped to wonder what it is about Jesus that people find so offensive? I mean really, what logical reason do people have for hating a man who lived over 2,000 years ago?

    From an academic viewpoint, there really isn't any logical reason for it. Historically speaking Jesus was a peasant, a carpenter from Nazareth in Judea. The Bible itself says that there was “nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.” (Isaiah 53:2) And Nathaniel, one of Jesus’ own disciples, even scoffed at him for being a Nazarene saying: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:45-50)

    Not only was Jesus’ appearance common; his name was, too. Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) was one of the most popular names in First Century Israel. There were literally thousands of people named Jesus living in Judea at the time of Christ. As far as his humanity was concerned, Jesus was as common as common could be.

    So why do people hate him so much? Is it his teachings? Do they somehow find it offensive to love their enemies and pray for the people who hate and persecute them? (Matthew 5:43-48) Is it wrong to treat people the way you want to be treated? (Luke 6:31-36) Or maybe it's the fact that Jesus hated religious hypocrisy and told his follower not to judge others? (Matthew 23:1-36, Luke 6:37-42) 

    Most people would agree that these are all good things. So perhaps it is the fact that Jesus associated himself with women and “notorious sinners” on a regular basis that offends people? It certainly offended the religious leaders in Jerusalem. (Matthew 9:9-13, Luke 7:36-50) But since most people these days would be classified as “sinners” by the Pharisees, one would have to assume that this is not the reason Jesus offends people.  

     

    Indeed, when you study Jesus’ teachings it becomes clear that Christianity is a very passive belief system. Not the war-like religion it is often portrayed as. Which begs the question: If Jesus taught his followers to be peaceful, then why did the Roman Empire try so hard to stamp them out? What logical reason did an empire that prided itself on it's ability to maintain order have for trying to wipe out a religion that encouraged people to submit to the government and pay their taxes? (Mark 12:13-17) Why did people who believed that all authority came from God, and that it was therefore sinful to rebel against authority threaten the Roman Empire? (Romans 13:1-7) Isn't Christianity precisely the sort of religion the Romans would want to have on their side—a religion that would pacify their subjects and ensure imperial rule throughout the known world? 

    There really isn’t any logical reason for the Roman Empire to persecute Christians. Yet we know from history that Christianity was heavily persecuted for almost 400 years. 

    Historically speaking, the Roman Empire was quite accepting of other religions. They had numerous gods in their Pantheon, and countless cults throughout the Empire. So why was Jesus so offensive to them? Why did they hate a peaceful religion that believed in one, true God, when they themselves worshiped numerous gods? What difference did it make? 

     

    The same question applies today with religions like Hinduism that teach tolerance and the idea that all religions lead to God. If this were true, then why are Christians constantly being beaten, arrested, and killed in India? If all religions are just “different parts of the same elephant,” then why do Hindus burn down churches? 

    Furthermore, why is it that Christianity seems to be mocked more than any other religion in the world? If we as a society really are tolerant and accepting of other religions, then why is Christianity a banned topic in schools? Why is it that other religions can be discussed openly and curiously in the public forum, while Christianity is mocked and insulted on television and social media? 

     You hardly ever see Islam being mocked—even though Mohamed taught that people should only worship Allah. And you certainly don't see many insulting memes about Buddha on Facebook. But with Jesus and Christianity it's a whole other story. Why is that? Why are people so offended by Jesus that they feel compelled to insult him and his followers on a regular basis, while at the same time pretending to be tolerant of everyone? 

     One could of course argue that it is intolerant to believe that there is only one true religion, or that the only true God is the God of the Bible. But followers of every religion—including Atheism and Secular Humanism—believe that their religion is the only true religion; that everyone else is wrong; and that it is their duty to sway others to their way of thinking. So this can't be the reason why Jesus offends people—everyone believes that their beliefs are true, even though logic dictates that it is impossible for two, diametrically opposed worldviews to both be true.

    But maybe people are offended because Jesus taught about Hell? That might be a reason for some to be offended. But Christianity isn't the only belief system to teach about Hell. Nearly every religion has some sort of Hell, or at least the idea of negative consequences in the next life for wrongs committed in this one. What makes Christianity different however, is that the Bible tells us that God does not want anyone to go to Hell. (Ezekiel 18:23, 2 Peter 3:9) In fact, He was so opposed to the idea that He sent Jesus to die in our place so that anyone who put their trust in him would be saved from Hell. Not because of anything they have done. Not because they were a “good person.” But because Jesus died in their place. (Romans 5:6-11)

    Perhaps it is the fact that Jesus claimed to be God, that is the chief offense? After all, it was this claim of divinity that persuaded the Jewish religious leaders to murder him in the first place. (John 10:30-33) 

    Or maybe people are offended by the thought that a loving God would humble himself, taking on a body like we sinners have, so that he could die in our place? (Philippians 2:6-11) Perhaps it is equally appalling to them that such a God would then raise himself from the dead three days later, in fulfillment of prophesy, so that he could then offer them the promise of eternal life if they would only chose to accept his forgiveness and mercy? (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) Or maybe people are offended by the fact that no matter what they have done—no matter where they have come from—God loves them and wants to forgive them? Or perhaps they are offended by the fact that because of Jesus, this forgiveness is free and cannot be earned through any pious works or religious deeds? (Ephesians 2:8-9) 

    Is that why Jesus is so offensive—because he claimed to be the only way to God? (John 14:6-7) It seems that this is the only logical conclusion. But if Jesus wasn't God, and was just a man, then why is he such an offensive person? If he never existed, then how can anyone hate him? (You can’t hate what doesn’t exist.) His teachings obviously aren't offensive. The man himself isn't offensive. Yet he offends people. Why? Maybe it is because deep down people know that he was right when he said, “I AM He” (Yahweh/Jehovah) (Luke 22: 66-71, John 18:1-9, etc.)

    

    In short, if Jesus was not God then he was a mad-man. No sane person would make the claims Jesus made, nor would any sane person follow him—especially after his death! If this is true, then there is no logical reason for anyone to believe a word Jesus said, or even be offended by him. But what if Jesus was telling the truth? What if he and God really are one and the same? (John 14:6-9) This would not only imply that God is real, but also that every person in the world—living, deceased, or yet unborn—will one day have to give an account to him for the way they've lived. That is why people are offended by Jesus; because even though they know that there is no logical alternative, they are unwilling to believe the unimaginable truth:
   

    “‘For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

    “‘There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.’”

~ John 3:16-21 New Living Translation (NLT)

Other Related Articles on this Blog Include:

Was Jesus Real?

Did Jesus Say He was God?

Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?

Was Jesus' Physical Body Raised from the Dead?

Why do Christians get so upset when people make fun of their beliefs?

    The other day at work I was having a discussion with some of my co-workers about recent goings on around the World Wide Web, when the issue of “Zombie Jesus” came up. Now, personally, I didn't really care one way or the other, since I hadn’t really seen or heard anything about the “Undead Lord” besides a link one of my former co-workers had shared on their Facebook page. But during the course of the conversation I soon learned that this meme had caused quite a stir among Christians; something my co-workers found to be annoying and/or irrational. One person in particular said, “It really annoys me that Christians get so upset whenever anyone makes fun of their beliefs.”

    So why is it that Christians get so upset when people make fun of our faith? 

    The best analogy I can give for what a Christian experiences when God is mocked would be having someone lie about and insult you, your family, and your best friend all at once.  

    No one likes being made fun of. But for those of us who have a relationship with Christ, it goes far deeper than simply mocking our beliefs. When Jesus is mocked, you are literally lying about and insulting our best friend. As the old adage goes: “Say what you will about me, but leave my friends out of this!”

    The Bible tells us that God is not an impersonal, “Old Man in the Sky.” He is a very personal being who knows every person He has created as an individual, and in turn wants to be known by each of us as an individual. (Isaiah 41:10, 13, 49:16a, Matthew 10:29-31, Romans 5:1-11, etc.) Furthermore, when a person accepts Christ, the Bible tells us that God’s spirit joins with our spirit, affirming that we have been adopted into God’s family. (Romans 8:16)
    It’s impossible for me to explain how it works, and even harder to describe it to someone who hasn’t experienced it first hand. But God actually becomes a part of us. That's why Christians feel things so deeply when God is lied about and mocked. We know what is true, and we naturally want to correct what is being said. 

    I know for me personally, I usually don't feel offended. True, I do feel upset when people lie about my faith and my Lord. But I also feel sad for the people mocking my Savior and me because I know the truth, and I know that I could correct them if I wanted to. But I also know that unless God opens their eyes, everything I say will sound foolish—or worse, condescending. Which is not what I want at all. What I want is for people to know the truth about Jesus, so that the lies and myths can be dispelled. I want to educate them about what I believe and why I believe it so that they will in turn have a deeper understanding of Christianity, rather than merely following the crowd wherever popular opinion leads them. 

    So the next time you encounter someone mocking Jesus, or are tempted to make fun of Christians yourself, remember: how would you feel if someone was lying about and insulting you, your family, and your best friend? Even if you don't know Christ, you will probably agree with him when he said, “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” (Luke 6:31)

What is Most Important

“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”

~ 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

      Have you ever felt that our faith in Christ gets more complicated the more people you talk to? I know I have. There are so many questions and what-ifs in the world today that it is easy for us to get distracted by things that really don't matter. Indeed, hardly a day goes by without someone bringing up an obscure peripheral theology or hypothetical quandary aimed at derailing our faith in Jesus. But all of these things are a bit pointless in the grand scheme of things.

     Don't get me wrong; I love discussing peripheral things. I find them fascinating. But that's all they are to me: fascinating topics of discussion. They don't change my faith in Christ. And they certainly aren't the foundation of my relationship with him. If my hope were built on anything other than the promises of God and what Jesus has done for me personally, then my hope would not have a very strong foundation. The same goes for anyone who believes. If Jesus is not the center of your faith, then you are on very shaky ground. He alone is the Rock of our salvation—the cornerstone of the Church. Anything else is unstable and will eventually fail.

     Furthermore, if we allow ourselves to be distracted by theoretical theology and what-if questions, we are effectively putting spiritual blinders on ourselves. We get “tunnel-vision” and can't see past whatever peripheral topic we've decided to fix our eyes on. When in reality, the only thing we should fix our eyes on is Jesus Christ. After all, how can we tell people what Jesus has done in our lives when we're focused on other things instead? 

    Jesus is what is most important—Jesus and our relationship with him.

    Do you believe that Jesus was God the Son, sent to die in your place on the cross? Do you believe that he was buried for three days and that he rose again in a physical body so that anyone who believes in him can have eternal life; and that he has promised to return for us some day?

    If your answer is yes, then that is all that really matters. You are a brother or sister in Christ. Everything else is peripheral and really isn't worth obsessing over or arguing about. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne."

~ Hebrews 12:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT)