Sound Engineer for Mosaic
"Serving Christ in the new millennium"

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Our Words Affect Others


Are we careful about the things we say? We should be. The tongue has the power to build someone up or tear them down.

Many times we say something with one intent, not even realizing that the other person might be taking things the wrong way. Even when friends joke around, one person might kid the other and say things like "Wow, you are really stupid." This is meant all in good fun, which in most cases will be perceived this way. But, when something like this is said more frequently, it can start to sting like a dart. Not that the person receiving the words in jest will start believing them, but there exists a triviality that can be confusing and even damaging. Words can lose fun and significance in this situation and can evolve to being pointless and degrading. Paul makes note of this in Ephesians 4:29 - "Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."

As Christians, we should use every opportunity we have to fellowship together and build one another up. The world offers us so much foul language - should we really add to it? We are ultimately responsible for everything that comes out of our mouth. Jesus says in Matthew 12:36 - "And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgement day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you."

The world does so much and Satan does so much to tear us apart and mess up our relationship with God and our fellow Christians. Our focus should be on building relationships and supporting each other in Christ every chance we get. We really should all try to be aware of what we say and how it could be affecting others.

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Saturday, July 01, 2006

Blind Faith vs. No Faith


So many times, I talk to people that believe something but don't know why. We call this blind faith. It is important to understand why we believe what we believe not only so that we can share our beliefs with others - it is an important part of defending what we believe as well.

But is "blind faith" always negative? I don't believe so. The search for answers is part of everyone's life in some way, shape, or form. As I was sitting here thinking about how people come to know Christ, I started thinking more about the search for answers.

Accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior is the biggest decision anyone could ever make. And there is a lot of uncertainty that goes with this decision. Many decide to refute the possibility and legitimacy that God sent himself in human form to die for everyone's sins - past, present, and future. What Jesus wants is each of us to accept Him as our personal savior, confessing to Him that we are sinners and that we acknowledge, believe, and thank him for dying for us. This is where blind faith is important. I truly believe that the Lord will meet us halfway and help us find the answers that we are looking for. I don't think all the answers are necessary when they stand in between someone and their decision to accept Christ.

What is tough is to see people so caught up in the search for answers, that the search itself obscures the simple truth of mercy and salvation. So much of current day thinking is based around science. As man, we cannot have all the answers, because then we would be omniscient (all-knowing). God did not create man so that he could exist at the same level as God. God created man to know and freely serve Him. Part of the mystery of life and creation is to look around and see God in nature. The more we explore creation, and learn about it, the more we find we do not know. I think that science and the Bible can indeed work together. But with an acceptance of the Bible first, and proof by science later.

So, if I had to choose between blind faith and no faith at all, then I would have to choose blind faith. With blind faith we can still find the answers to substantiate and understand our beliefs. After all, the search for answers is temporary....eternity is not.

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