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Thursday, February 1, 2024
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Por Que Troquei o AteÃsmo Pelo Cristianismo
Muitas vezes me perguntam o que me levou à conversão do
ateÃsmo ao cristianismo. A resposta à s vezes surpreende: a realidade. A
realidade é a forma como o mundo realmente é. Não muda de acordo com nossos
gostos e desgostos. Por isso, quando você não vive de acordo com a realidade,
você esbarra nela. Como ateu, ao procurar respostas para questões importantes,
esbarrei na realidade.
O primeiro solavanco veio quando tentei explicar o que
causou o inÃcio do universo. Não é tão complicado quanto você imagina. Existem
apenas duas opções: algo ou nada. Isso me colocou em uma situação difÃcil como
ateu. Eu não queria dizer que algo causou o universo porque esse algo teria que
ser imensamente poderoso, incrivelmente criativo e fora de sua própria criação
(ou seja, fora do tempo e do espaço). Esse algo estava começando a se parecer
com Deus, e eu não queria dizer que Deus causou o universo. Em vez disso, eu
queria dizer que nada causou o universo. Isso não é razoável, no entanto.
Como ateu, eu acreditava que tudo o que existe é produto de processos fÃsicos cegos. Eu não conseguia explicar de onde veio o universo porque tudo que eu tinha para começar era nada. Mas nada vem do nada. Dizer que o universo surgiu do nada vai contra as nossas intuições básicas sobre a realidade. Contudo, no teÃsmo cristão, não havia mais do que nada para começar. Houve uma causa sem causa. A explicação cristã se alinha perfeitamente com a forma como o mundo realmente é.
Esse foi o primeiro solavanco. O próximo solavanco foi o
mais difÃcil para mim.
Como ateu, eu sabia que certas coisas estavam realmente
erradas. Eu teria concordado que o que aconteceu nas fornalhas de Auschwitz
estava errado. O que eu quis dizer quando disse que estava errado? Eu não
estava apenas descrevendo minha opinião pessoal ou uma emoção. Eu estava
descrevendo as próprias ações. Eu estava dizendo que essas coisas eram
perversas e más, e não do jeito que deveriam ser. Observe algo importante aqui.
Para que eu pudesse dizer que algo estava errado em última análise, tive que apelar
para um padrão objetivo fora de mim. Certo e errado, bom e mau, precisam ser
detalhes do mundo externo e não apenas opiniões pessoais, mas sobre o ateÃsmo,
não existe um padrão objetivo.
Toda cosmovisão precisa dar uma explicação adequada para a moralidade objetiva que percebemos no mundo. Cada vez que eu me opunha a que algo fosse ruim, eu esbarrava na realidade. Eventualmente, percebi que o ateÃsmo não poderia explicar a existência da moralidade objetiva. O teÃsmo cristão sim. Mas há mais.
Enquanto eu lutava com a ideia de que havia uma obrigação
objetiva no mundo em que vivemos, e compreendi que o universo tinha que vir de
algo ou “Alguém”, me vi esbarrando em outra parte da realidade que não
conseguia explicar. : a alma.
As almas são reais e isso foi um grande problema para mim. A existência das almas não é difÃcil de reconhecer quando pensamos cuidadosamente sobre a realidade. Deixe-me mostrar o que quero dizer. Você já teve uma música presa na sua cabeça? Para lançar essa música, você abre seu crânio, vasculha seu cérebro e extrai a música? Claro que não. A música não existe fisicamente. Existe em sua mente. Sua alma.
Eu não apenas tinha consciência da minha alma, mas também
sabia que havia algo especial em ser humano.
Todos nós sabemos que os humanos são especiais. É por
isso que clamamos por justiça diante da injustiça. Eu não poderia fundamentar
isso em minha visão de mundo. Lembre-se, eu acreditava que todas as coisas –
até você e eu – são o resultado de processos puramente fÃsicos. No final, o
ateÃsmo reduz os seres humanos a lixo cósmico, robôs húmidos sem propósito ou
significado último. É aqui que entra a minha luta. No ateÃsmo, nada saciava a
minha sede de significado ou o meu desejo de justiça. Em última análise, nada
importa no ateÃsmo. Este não foi o testemunho da minha alma, no entanto. Eu
sabia que a vida tinha sentido. Eu sabia que as pessoas eram valiosas.
Eu também sabia de outra coisa. Eu sabia que as almas
eram reais e especiais, mas também estavam quebradas.
Minha alma testificou que o quebrantamento do qual reclamei “lá fora” no mundo também estava “aqui dentro” em mim. Eu estava quebrado e precisava desesperadamente de um resgate. Em momentos de descuido, eu deixava escapar o desejo de que as coisas fossem acertadas porque tinha que viver na realidade. Eu sabia que precisava de algo que o ateÃsmo não poderia oferecer. Eu precisava de perdão. O ateÃsmo não faz nada para explicar o que torna os humanos especiais e não tem resposta para a fragilidade humana. O ateÃsmo não oferece perdão verdadeiro. O teÃsmo cristão sim, no entanto.
Então, por que troquei o ateÃsmo pelo cristianismo? Como
ateu, me deparei com a realidade e comecei a perseguir as respostas para minhas
perguntas mais difÃceis. Em cada caso, o ateÃsmo ficou aquém. É simples: sou
cristão porque é a verdadeira história da realidade.
Dennis Edwards: Um cristão é aquele que acredita em
Cristo e tenta seguir Seus mandamentos. Tenho problemas com o sistema religioso
estabelecido. Sim eu faço. Mas não tenho problemas com Jesus. Ele é quem eu
sigo, não o sistema religioso.
Artigo original encontrado aqui: https://www.str.org/w/why-i-left-atheism-for-christianity
Why I Left Atheism for Christianity
AUTHORI’m often asked what led to my converting from atheism to Christianity. The answer sometimes surprises: reality. Reality is the way the world really is. It doesn’t change according to our likes and dislikes. Because of this, when you don’t live according to reality, you bump into it. As an atheist, when looking for answers to important questions, I bumped hard into reality.
The first bump came as I tried to explain what caused the beginning of the universe. It’s not as complicated as you might think. There are only two options: something or nothing. This put me in a tough spot as an atheist. I didn’t want to say something caused the universe because that something would have to be immensely powerful, incredibly creative, and outside its own creation (i.e., outside time and space). That something was starting to look like God, and I did not want to say God caused the universe. Instead, I wanted to say nothing caused the universe. This is unreasonable, though.
As an atheist, I believed everything that exists is the product of blind, physical processes. I couldn’t explain where the universe came from because all I had to start with was nothing. But nothing comes from nothing. To say the universe came from nothing goes against our basic intuitions about reality. However, on Christian theism, there was more than nothing to start with. There was an uncaused cause. The Christian explanation lines up perfectly with the way the world really is.
That was the first bump. The next bump was the most difficult for me.
As an atheist, I knew certain things were actually wrong. I would have agreed that what happened in the furnaces of Auschwitz was wrong. What did I mean when I said it was wrong, though? I wasn’t merely describing my personal opinion or an emotion. I was describing the actions themselves. I was saying these things were wicked and evil, not the way they’re supposed to be. Notice something important here. For me to say anything was wrong in an ultimate sense, I had to appeal to an objective standard outside of myself. Right and wrong, good and bad, need to be details of the external world and not just personal opinions, but on atheism, there is no objective standard.
Every worldview needs to give an adequate explanation for the objective morality we perceive in the world. Every time I objected to something being bad, I bumped hard into reality. Eventually, I realized atheism couldn’t explain the existence of objective morality. Christian theism does. But there’s more.
As I wrestled with the idea that there was an objective oughtness to the world we live in, and I came to understand the universe had to come from something or “Someone,” I found myself bumping into another part of reality I couldn’t explain: the soul.
Souls are real, and this was a major problem for me. The existence of souls is not hard to recognize when we think carefully about reality. Let me show you what I mean. Have you ever had a song stuck in your head? To get that song out, do you crack open your skull, sift through your brain, and extract the song? Of course not. The song doesn’t exist physically. It exists in your mind. Your soul.
Not only was I aware of my soul, but I also knew there was something special about being human.
We all know humans are special. That’s why we cry out for justice in the face of injustice. I couldn’t ground this in my worldview. Remember, I believed that all things—even you and I—are the result of purely physical processes. In the end, atheism reduces human beings to cosmic junk, moist robots with no ultimate purpose or meaning. This is where my struggle came in. On atheism, nothing quenched my thirst for significance or my desire for justice. Nothing ultimately matters on atheism. This wasn’t the testimony of my soul, though. I knew life had meaning. I knew people were valuable.
I knew something else, too. I knew souls were real and they were special, but they’re also broken.
My soul testified to the knowledge that the brokenness I complained about “out there” in the world was also “in here” in me. I was broken and in desperate need of a rescue. In unguarded moments, I would let the desire for things to be made right slip because I had to live in reality. I knew I needed something atheism couldn’t offer. I needed forgiveness. Atheism does nothing to explain what makes humans special, and it has no answer to human brokenness. Atheism has no offer of true forgiveness. Christian theism does, though.
So why did I leave atheism for Christianity? As an atheist, I bumped into reality and started chasing the answers to my most difficult questions. In each case, atheism came up short. It’s simple: I’m a Christian because it’s the true story of reality.
Original article found here: https://www.str.org/w/why-i-left-atheism-for-christianity
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
God Can Help You Through the Fiery Trial You Are Facing!
Dennis Edwards
A Study in 1 Peter 4 & 5
1 Peter 4:12 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fire trial which is to try you, as if some strange thing happened unto you."
The trials we have with our own children and personal family or those we work with closely or our neighbours, or fellow students, are indeed "fiery trials." Why do we call them fiery? It is because they affect us so much emotionally. A death of a child or young adult, a young family member coming out as trans or gay, or becoming atheist and speaking vociferously against the things of God and or our faith, a cantankerous neighbour or workmate or employer, ridicule at school because one’s faith; these types of situations can very easily cause us emotional upheaval and bring us discouragement. However, Apostle Peter tells us to "rejoice" and not let our trials bring us down or cause us to lose our equilibrium. He says,
1 Peter 4:13 "But rejoice, in as much as you are partakers of Christ's suffering; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."
Apostle Peter is talking specifically about when we are attacked for our faith and others are speaking evil of us. It hurts most when it comes from those who are closest to us. Peter is saying we shouldn't let it get us discouraged, because the joy of the Lord is our strength. Rejoice! Be glad with exceeding joy! Fight for joy. Fight to be happy. We shouldn't let negative emotions overwhelm us. When we are experiencing these trials as a result of our faith for standing for the cause of truth and love, we are participating in Jesus’ suffering. As such, we should rejoice.
1 Peter 4:14 "If you are reproached (which means
criticized) for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the
spirit of glory and of God rests upon you: on their part (those that are
criticizing you) He (God) is (being) evil spoken of, but on your part He (God)
is (being) glorified."
When people are criticizing us for our Godly belief system, they are really criticizing God. Therefore, we should be happy, rejoice, and be glad!
1 Peter 4:16 "Yet if any suffer as a Christian, let him
not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."
When we are faced with these fiery trials or emotional battles as a result of being attacked by our loved ones, or workmates, or fellow students for our beliefs, we should use the weapon of praise and thanksgiving. We, also, may need to reflect on whether we are really being attacked for our faith, or could it be for mistakes and, or sins we have committed. We may need to confess, or apologize and make things right with those involved, before we can go on to improve our relationship with them.
1 Peter 4:19 "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator."
Philippians 1:29 “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ,
not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”
Both Apostle Peter and Apostle Paul tell us that suffering for Jesus is part of our job as His Ambassadors. Since God is ultimately in control, we should trust that He will work whatever we are going through for His glory. He is a faithful and just Creator who loves us and those around us. He has promised that His sheep will hear His voice and follow Him. Not one of them that chooses to follow Jesus shall God allow to fall out of His hand. Our part is to hold onto our loved ones and friends spiritually through prayer, good communication, and love. We may also need to change any of our old belief systems or behaviours that may need changing. The truth is, that it is possible to build better relationships with our loved ones, workmates, and or friends, through God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit that lives and works in us and them. For God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think.
1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand
of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”
Walking humbly before God and others, especially those of our own family, and our workmates or schoolmates, helps greatly to build better relationships and have good communication. Humility is part of the formular for victory.
1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for
you.”
We can cast all our anxieties and fears and problems up to the bosom of God through prayer and thanksgiving knowing God is bigger than our problem and will bring the solution and the victory in His time.
1 Peter 5:9 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the
devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist
steadfast in the faith.”
Apostle Peter’s formular for victory is to humble ourselves before God showing our utter dependence on Him, and then to resist the devil. Apostle James uses the same formular when he describes how to draw closer to God. He says,
James 4:6b, 7 & 10 “God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the
humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you.” “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you
up.”
Humility brings us closer to God and then, with God’s help we can resist the devil.
1 John 4:4b “For greater is he (Jesus) that is in you, than he
(the devil) that is in the world.”
1 John 3:8b “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
The devil has already been
defeated on the cross. We need not believe his lies nor submit to them, but
rather resist them in Jesus’ name.
The devil is the one who is attacking us through the words and reproaches of our family members, workmates or school friends. If we resist him through the power of the Holy Spirit by quoting God’s Word, by praying out loud, or by vocally praising; he will flee. We need to fight the good fight of faith. A passive war will not win. The enemy is trying to devour us and destroy our faith through these verbal and emotional attacks from those closest to us. Do not submit to them. Be a vigilant soldier and fight with the spiritual weapons at your disposal!
When Jesus walked the earth, the
Devil used the words of Apostle Peter to attack Jesus. Peter had rebuked Jesus
for saying that he must go up to Jerusalem “and suffer many things of the
elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed.” Matthew 16:21.
Peter said,
“Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” Matthew 16:22. “But he (Jesus) turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savours not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Matthew 16:23.
Jesus called Peter, Satan, because Apostle Peter was being used by Satan to spread falsehood and was speaking contrary to God’s will. From that experience of being used by Satan, Peter understood how words and reproaches from a friend or loved one can be a strong attack from the enemy. Hurtful words can cause us to be discouraged emotionally. It is often those that are closest to us that injure us the most. We read in the Psalm of David:
Psalm 55:12-14 “For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then
I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself
against me; then I would have hid myself from him. But it was thou, a man mine
equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and
walked unto the house of God in company.”
Jesus had warned his disciples that a man’s foes would be those of his own household. Matthew 10:36. Like God tested Abraham to see if he would put his family above God, He tests us also, to see if we are going to put Him first, or put the feelings and desires of our family or friends first. Jesus said,
“He that loves father or mother
more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than
me is not worthy of me. And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me
is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:37-38
Abraham passed the test and put God first. God therefore said unto him, “now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me.” Genesis 22:12b. If we put God first, He will bless us.
1 Peter 5:10 “But the God of all grace, who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
God has promised to comfort those that suffer for his sake. He has promised He will not give us more than we are able to bear. Apostle Peter is assuring us that God will use the suffering He allows in our lives to make us stronger, mature soldiers for Jesus. Peter may be remembering the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
We can’t get around it. God wants us to rejoice and be exceeding glad in the face of the reproaches we suffer for His sake. If we have the right perspective and understand what’s happening, we can guard our emotional responses and rise above them through praise and the joy of the Lord. The devil wants to sadden and weaken us through the attacks we receive from those closest to us. But God’s word says,
Nehemiah 8:10 “Sorrow not, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice…., and again I say, rejoice.”
John 16:33 “Be of good cheer.”
Joshua 1:6 “Be strong and of good courage.”
Colossians 2:7 “Abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
James1:2 “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (or trials).”
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God which passes all understanding will fill your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Psalm 5:11 “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because you defend them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”
Psalm 32:11 “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”
John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
1 Peter 1:8-9 “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you over flow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Rejoice evermore!”
