Christians are pretty simple minded don’t you think? Are they unaware of evolution and the big bang theory? They actually believe God created the world in 6 days and when He spoke things were created? Dumb. Sometimes when I speak to someone about God and faith I can feel these thoughts radiating from their pores. There are countless people who believe if you are educated and an intellectual there is no way possible you can believe in Christ or the Creator.
Never allow the opinions of others make you feel ashamed of what you believe. You’re not ashamed on Sunday morning when the holy spirit is beaming inside of you, so don’t be ashamed to speak about Christ in front of co-workers, classmates, friends or any non-believer. Understand that everyone will not believe in the gospel of Christ. The devil personally knew God but still rejected his goodness due to his own ego. Don’t allow your ego to be the death of you.
Many people can’t fathom that there is anything higher than a human. After all, the advancements we have made in technology are astounding and we are the highest on the food chain so I guess it is easy to get caught up in thinking we’re runnin’ things. Neurosurgeon Dr. Eben Alexander is an excellent example. He’s a brilliant doctor who was strictly a man of science and a skeptic of the existence of a soul or God until a near-death experience changed his entire perspective on life and faith. He formed a rare case of meningitis that shut down the majority of his brain. He says he experienced heaven against all medical odds. He is clear that it was not a dream and the only way to describe God is omnipotent; you can feel Him everywhere, in everything and all over you. Dr. Alexander describes heaven in his book, “Proof of Heaven” which is next on my reading list! Reading books about faith helps to renew and strengthen your own belief.
Some people don’t believe in God until they have had a near death experience but most of us won’t have an opportunity like this which is why you must listen to that tug in your heart and that voice that says, “You know I’m real”. You may not understand everything about God’s word and Jesus’ death but don’t allow a few questions to pull you away from grace, mercy and salvation. A few years ago Dr. Alexander could have intelligently debated why God didn’t exist according to science and potentially shamed a believer. Just because an individual has not experienced the Lord like you have-you must not allow them to make you feel ashamed or timid to profess your love for Him. There are many reasons not to believe in God and Christ. That’s why it is a choice. God wants you to choose to believe in Him in spite of the hurt you have suffered, the chaos of the world and any doubt that you have. I know this sounds corny and cliche but seek and you will find the answers, peace and joy. I guess it’s hard to believe that sinners (which we all are) will be saved from hell if we simply believe in Christ but it’s truth. It’s a pretty sweet deal don’t you think? We don’t deserve it but God left it for the takin’.
So much pain in peoples lives…makes me sad. Lord help us who know You have the strength to keep casting nets. Amen.
thank you <3
wow!! props to you girl! loving this article. i am a Christian myself but am also a strong logical thinker. my philosophy professors are always amazed at how many abstract concepts i can grasp….they’re also always amazed that i’m Christian. but as you mentioned, the two are not mutually exclusive. being a Christian doesn’t mean that you’re of low intelligence. one of the commenters hit the nail on the head: Christianity is about faith. if you don’t have faith, it is impossible to please God and follow Him. you can’t understand the Bible or Christianity based on logic because it does not have a “logical foundation”. its foundation is faith, which is why everyone who tries to understand the Bible based upon A-B-C logic fails. but those who step out on that limb of faith realize the truth in the Word…and for those things they don’t understand? they trust God about it. that’s what’s faith’s all about…believing what we can’t see or understand, even if it doesn’t make sense. so thanks again for this encouraging post. i appreciate it :)
Thanks!! You’re are so right! I love what you said, “you can’t understand the Bible or Christianity based on logic because it does not have a “logical foundation”. its foundation is faith”.
thank you! and yes, even my atheist professors don’t disagree with that one. so no matter what, we just have to remember who’s the author and finisher of our faith when we feel like doubting. He is sure to restore :)
That is the truth!
Thanks chime for all that u do. U have an amazing swagger n an even more amazing luv 4
Christ that we all need 2c n ur not ashamed 2 show it.
You go girl :-)
Awww…thanks girl! I appreciate the love.
I don’t think Christians lack intellect, and no I’m not a believer in religion but I do believe something or someone had to create us, I think Christians and other religious people have something that I personally know I lack, faith. Faith is something that gets Christians and others over that questionable hump that I can’t seem to get over myself. I think it’s great, because I battle daily with my spirituality because something in religion just doesn’t feel right to me whether it be Christian, Buddhist, Islam believe me I’ve tried it all searching and now I’ve chalked it up to my applying the saying “do to others what you would want done to you” and I hope that that’s good enough. I can’t wrap my head around religion which makes most people assume I’m an atheist which is incorrect, I believe something or someone created us, I just can’t stomach religion. But I think anything that makes a person feel better and do better in life is awesome!
Agree with you LaToya. It took me a long time once I gave up religion to find that happy medium. It’s still a work in progress but I’ve learned so much more about myself and knowing myself and knowing how to make myself happy. I’ve learned to give myself credit for the good in my life and when the bad happens, allow myself to learn and make sure I get better with each bad thing. If it’s something out of my control, I’ve learned to meditate which is very similar to praying but a bit different. I don’t ask for help per se, but ask myself to be stronger.
I think when it comes to religion the rules and structure turn most people off. Also, not understanding every aspect of the religion and the questions that may develop can be confusing. Continue to research and explore. Focus on finding understanding and peace and I think it may help you on your spiritual journey. In cases of spirituality, it is better to follow your heart not your head. Thanks for sharing LaToya:)
Former christian here (by the way, love your hair!). I understand your post and everything but had to point out after experiencing my near death accident that took my sister, it definitely makes you look at things a lot closer. I’ve since become agnostic because I took a journey by actually reading the bible from the beginning. Let’s just say it’s eye – opening!
Usually in church, you read select verses only but actually starting your own journey makes you question why the bible thinks it’s ok to kill a child that disobeys their parents or how to treat your slave, etc. Yes, most of these things are in the old testament which a lot of christians ignore but I don’t agree with MOST of the things in the bible. It’s too much pain and anger and death. If there trully is a god, I highly doubt this all powerfull, all knowing deity would have jealous fits and let bad things happen to people at all (children at that!).
Hey, but that’s what finally convinced me. Science should have nothing to do with it. Just read it. I also want to point out, all of my family are christians so I love most christians! It’s just the bible that has me concerned and the extreme christians. Most people don’t follow the bible anyway so that’s another confusing thing to me.
But to each their own! I just wanted to point out that science doesn’t necessarily say why there is no christian god (ignoring the muslim, greek, etc. gods of course) but I think the bible does a good job of that on its own.
Thanks for your comment! Biblical scripture can easily be misinterpreted especially if you don’t have a biblical teacher or pastor to help guide you and give you full understanding. Punishments for sin and rebelling against God were a bit more brutal in the old testament. I don’t think the passage you were referring to was an actual child as in youth but it was the child of a couple (could have been any age); the scripture made reference to the individual being a drunkard. I don’t think the Lord threw fits but He was much like our parents are when they want us to behave. They set a stiff punishment if you are to break a certain rule in order to help you do the right thing. We have the choice whether to do right or wrong and if it is the latter you are knowingly accepting a brutal punishment for your negative actions.
God knew the terrible things that man would do like enslaving one another so it was important for Him to give direction on how you treated slaves and servants. He made it clear. The bible says if you have slaves you should treat them well. Scripture says, “Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.” (Apparently, white slave owners in the South missed that part) The same goes for people who have housekeepers, groundkeepers and anyone that works for them.
We all sin even Christians so there are going to be instances where they aren’t following the commands of the bible. Jesus was the only man without sin.
Many people say God allows bad things to happen but He gave us free will…the freedom to choose to do right or wrong. When individuals choose to do wrong they often hurt others (rape, kill, etc.)
We can’t be upset with God because he doesn’t intervene. He doesn’t stop us when we decide to have pre-marital sex, lie or steal. No sin is greater than another. We will all be judged one day for what we do here. The word says in the world their will be turmoil and chaos for everyone including Christians because we all give in to sin but I find comfort in knowing it won’t always be this way and when Christ returns their will be no more sorrow or sadness and their is a place prepared for me in heaven. God loves us in spite of our sins and still wants to give us life after death even though we deserve nothing.
And I think this is where we disagree. The bible has no problem saying to kill gays or kill people with tattoos but for slavery? Why didn’t the bible (or who wrote it), just say, “kill people who enslave others”? That would have helped my ancestors out a lot (if it was interpreted right I should say). Because the bible was written a very very very long time ago and when times were different so then slavery was ok. Man has since realized, slavery is not ok but eating pork and having a tattoo or being gay (well almost) is ok since it is your choice and you are not harming others in the process. Societies grow up. That’s a great thing. Some societies still force people into marriage because the religion says so. Women are killed for having affairs (because of their religion). I think it’s great that the society we live in here in the United States has advanced past that type of thinking and don’t do some of the things the bible wants us to do.
Also, as far as misinterpreting the bible, men/women are who interpret the bible. Man/Woman are imperfect. There are so many varieties of the translation of the bible. Sure, we can go to someone who says they are an expert in the interpreting of the bible and believe them. But to me, that’s a high cost. These people are also human and can make mistakes (as the bible says man is imperfect and fall short). The bible was even used to justify slavery so again, interpretation can be tricky.
Admittedly, I still live by “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. I think love and common respect are great things to live by and amazingly, is enough.
Choice is an amazing thing if you are given it plus free will. What if you were born into a place where there is an ongoing genocide and are killed before your first birthday? Was that free will or a choice? This is, again, a place where my interpretation of the bible says it falls short.
God doesn’t intervene when bad things happen to us but why do christians give him credit for the good? He’s all powerful but chooses not to save dieing kids in Africa or people dieing of cancer? I’ve since learned I’m so much more responsible for the good and bad in my life that I’ve ever dreamed! For that, I do more and don’t expect to be saved because I save myself.
We could probably go back and forth on these various issues (as I did before becoming agnostic) but don’t want to do that since I know this discussion usually leads nowhere. By the way, I’m also from Mississippi and grew up VERY christian for 30 years so it’s not that I’ve come to this lightly. I could spout verses left and right and even prayed several times a day, choir practices, community work, etc.. I get it. I’ve been there.
Everyone has their own journey and as long as they are happy and are not harming others in the process, good for them. At the end of the day, people need to do what makes them happiest whether it is being of a certain religion or not.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. I wanted to comment on several things you said but like you said convos like this usually go nowhere and my intention was not to start a debate. Thanks for sharing your perspective. These spiritual posts aren’t to offend non-believers it is for those who do or are questioning and need encouragement to stay on their Christian walk. I’m speaking from the standpoint of a Christian. My goal isn’t to make myself happy but God and in tern I will be blessed and happy. Thanks for commenting and sharing your thoughts:)
Thanks! Appreciate your reply.
At first, I thought this was going to be an anti-Christian article, but I see you were being ironic. This whole universe is too complex for me to contemplate that it was not created by an intelligent designer.
I concur!
Awesome read Prime TIme lol. Keep em coming!
-KT
lol Thanks KT!
Thanks! I know I can’t wait until I can just do a wash and go. If I try to wear my hair curly now, I’m basically ltiimed to a bun or ponytail since my two textures don’t blend anymore. I’m trying to stop flat ironing it, but I might have to give in so I can at least wear a different style other than this ponytail lol.
This comment is to people who believe in evolution and call themselves christians. Not to the author. Sorry i didnt make that clear.
You call yourself a christian yet you call people who believe in the whole word of God dumb? Evolution and the big bang theory are just that. THEORIES. Just like a christian has to have faith to believe that if God said he created the world in six days and then rested the seventh. Evolutionist have to have faith in their belief. That we originated from monkeys, fish, rats and whatever else they choose to believe. BUT the word says that we were made in HIS image. Out of the ground he formed us and breathed into us. God called everything into existence but when it came to us, he lovingly formed us with his own hands and breathed his own breath into us. It was personal for him. Science is just now catching to many of the things that the bible has said all along, including the fact that all the things that make up man can be found in the soil. If you dont want to believe that the bible is infalliable and want to instead put your faith in man and his theories. Go ahead, yet know God resists the proud and haughty.
Romans 1:22- 25
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Your comment kinda confused me a little but thanks for sharing:)
Absolutely loved your post, and it actually touched on something that I’m dealing with aka doubt, and have experienced a bit myself. really liked reading the testimony of the doctor as well. IPlease continue to let God use you Chime!!!
The bible says most believers will experience doubt at some point (I have myself)…it’s natural but lean not to your own understanding and trust in Him even when things aren’t crystal clear. You must shut those thoughts down as soon as you have them or they will continue to grow. Thanks for your kind words!:)
Congratulations on your decision to go ntaural. Transitioning sounds like the way you should go. As your hair gets longer you can do braid outs, twist outs, bantu knots etc to blend your new growth with your relaxed hair. Cut some of your relaxed hair during your wash days. This journey is amazing so take it one day at a time and you will learn and grow gradual. YouTube and blogs are a great source of information to help you during your journey..Congratulations and welcome to ntaural
Love this
Amen!
Amen!! I was saved just this last year and Chime, it was one of the greatest things I’ve ever done. Life is not perfect, I’m human and I still have my ups and downs, however I delight in the fact that I know that I have someone who is ALWAYS going to be there for me; someone who will never forsake me as long as HE sees that I am trying my best to follow his WORD. Thank you for shedding light on this Chime, this was truly a great post : ) Shout out to all my Saints lol!!! Peace be to you all.
Over the past few years I’ve gained a much deeper understanding of the word. I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know and all the questions I had. After asking my pastor here dozens of questions and reading the bible and “The Purpose Driver Life” many things became clear. I have a sense of peace and joy now that I wish everyone could experience which is why I make posts like this. I really feel like people are missing out and the best thing ever when they don’t truly know God.
I don’t think christians lack intellect….I think uneducated and stupid people do….it’s just lately I feel in the media alot of uneducated people are talking louder and making judgements about other people and “blaming” how they think and feel on their faith……I am an atheist but I do believe in a higher/spiritual being just not in the bible/deities
I use the bible as a guideline to live by. The teachings and commandments shape my views and influence how I think and feel about certain issues. I think many people can’t articulate the teachings of the bible without sounding or actually being judgmental which is a short-coming they must work on.
I use to think I was atheist but the definition of an atheist is someone who believes there is no God. It takes more faith to be an atheist than a christian. I found out I wasn’t an athesit after doing research and reading “I have too much faith to be an atheist”. Agnostic is when you believe there might be a God or higher power but you not sure. Its good to research and read so you are not putting the wrong label on yourself. I’m now a christian God turned me a none believeier into one of his faithful servants and all I did was seek him.