Here are portions of a letter I wrote in recent months to a close friend. I would like to post this letter because I address many points I believe may be helpful to those who read and have such questions:
" ...I want to encourage you to seek after God with your whole heart. There are many questions people face pertaining to how God works, such as why He allows there to be suffering. People also tend to question why God may allow certain negative situations to happen to them individually, and therefore they doubt God's care or concern for them. From my experience, God used a few events in my life (that may have been considered undesirable to the average person!) to really bring my heart to the point where I desire to be serious about Him and long to know God from a willing and surrendered heart. There is a difference with knowing about God and actually knowing Him. Many people claim to be saved, say they are Christian, and even attend church weekly or pray daily. I would like to propose to you that nothing we as humans do (such as outwardly serving God by attending church, praying, paying tithe, or even trying to "live like Jesus", will bring us into a right standing before God). Ephesians 2: 8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast". Have you heard others say, "I am a good person. When I stand before God on Judgment Day, hopefully my good deeds will outweigh my bad deeds"? This way of thinking is false. If toddlers cannot even get along, how can people claim to be "basically good"?
As for the issue of why God allows suffering or why He doesn't prevent humans from experiencing hardship or difficulty, we must bring everything back to God's word. The Bible describes the human race as fallen. Romans 3: 23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". As humans, we have a free will. It is a matter of the daily choices we make, whether they will draw us closer to God, or lead us astray from Him. In other words, we can choose to make self centered decisions or decisions that honor God. We can choose to read, obey, and apply what God's word says, or we can choose to engage in sinful ways of thinking and living, and reject God's authority over us. We can live in a manner that is worthy of God by living in accordance to His word, or we can choose to believe any philosophy this world has to offer. We can seek after God with our whole heart, or we can choose to reject His word and consider it false, instead of looking for right on Christian resources that accurately convey what the Bible is saying. There are plenty of pastors, priests, and Christian speakers/authors who expound the Bible in such a way that it ends up being their own interpretation of it, rather than the pastors/priests/Christian speakers and authors choosing to search the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts and studying the culture and time of age in which the Bible was written then, to find out the correct context in which it was written. A great example of what I am trying to say is the "Emergent Church". A summary of what the Emergent Church consists of is basically a group of individuals who sit around each giving their own interpretation of the Bible, what they think it means, and how they have "experienced" it in their lives. Read Acts 17: 10-11, which says, "The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."
Think about how often people complain in bitterness, "How could God allow this tragedy or terrible event to occur that has killed so many people or brought destruction upon a certain land?" What people fail to realize is that since the 1960's when prayer was taken out of schools, people have tried to remove God from everything. How can we as humans, especially the United States (with all of the wicked perversity that people engage in) expect to receive God's favor or even His protection? The same goes for the nations who reject God and live for idols or their own sinful desires. The Bible makes it clear in Acts 17: 30-31, " 'Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead' ". In order to be saved, one must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; He died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead three days later.
...you mentioned to me over the phone that the Bible gives contradictory answers pertaining to how someone is saved. You said the Bible tells people that if they are baptized they are saved, yet in other places of the Bible it says something else. It is only by our belief and daily commitment to Jesus Christ alone that we are saved. Being baptized should occur after receiving salvation. It is an outward sign of an inward transformation! Repentance is also necessary. After all, how can one claim to know God and follow after Him, if they are not living according to how He calls believers to live in His word? The Christian life should be a daily commitment of drawing closer to God as each day passes. We must keep our guard up at all times, not allowing ourselves to willingly give into temptation. First Corinthians 10: 13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it". Keep in mind that this is not referring to temptation such as having half way given into the temptation and then praying, "Lord, please make a way out! I am too tempted! I can't help myself." Do you remember Joseph in the Old Testament? What did he do when Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him? He literally ran from the situation! I think a lot of people try to get as close to sin as they possibly can without actually sinning. If spending time with certain individuals causes us to stumble, we must end such friendships. First Corinthians 15: 33, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals’ “. If filling our minds with what is secular or ungodly causes us to stumble, we must not watch television, movies, or listen to secular music anymore. This may seem legalistic or too demanding, though consider the fact that by surrounding ourselves with ungodly friendships and filling our minds with what is unholy, how may we possibly expect to live a godly life?
As for the priests/pastors at churches who fall into some sort of heinous sin and in doing so, bring reproach and shame upon the name of Jesus, as well as causing the word “Christian” to be viewed in a negative and hypocritical manner, truly remember that they did not fall into this sin overnight. I am sure it began as a tempting thought which they continued to dwell on, which then consumed more of their thoughts, and became an increased desire and snowballing from there, became an actual act of outward sinning. I am including a sermon with this letter entitled, "Sin as Predator" by a Pastor named Timothy Keller. This sermon greatly sums up the power of sin and our need to "nip it in the bud". When a priest or pastor falls into wretched sin, as I explained above, it began as a tempting thought. The question or opposing argument should not be, "Many Christians are hypocrites! Even pastors or priests fall. Where is Jesus in the church today? Where is Jesus in a believer's life?" To this I would respond by saying, "Why didn't the priest or pastor be open about his temptation with several trusted godly friends/serious about God walking Christian pastors, in order to be kept accountable? Why didn't he purposefully and intentionally repent of the temptation by not allowing himself to even play around with the sin (If pornography was the issue, he shouldn't have used the computer if he was alone. Plain and simple! If driving a certain route to work each day means he would have to pass perverted stores/clubs/billboards, then he must take a different way to work each day or even carpool with another person from work so he won't be alone to look at/dwell on the temptation. If drinking alcohol is a temptation that he may fall into, even if only once a week, then he must not keep any alcohol at home or go to any restaurant that serves alcohol. If watching secular movies causes him to stumble, he must be held accountable to a few trusted godly friends so they can make sure he isn't filling his mind with such perversity, he must get rid of the movies he has at home, not go to the movie theatre, etc.)"
When people call an individual who claims to be a Christian, a hypocrite, they are failing to recognize that anyone can say they know God, yet how does that person live each day? What does their commitment to God look like in every day life? Is God becoming more of their everything as time passes? Are they growing in the fruit of the Spirit and purposefully repenting of those areas that they easily fell into before? Are they being held accountable to a few trusted godly friends, serious Christians that they can grow spiritually with? Do they read God's word daily and listen to/study resources that expound His word? Do they include God in every aspect of their lives, knowing that living a life that pleases God should take precedence any day over watching television, spending time with bad or ungodly influences, or living in such a way that they have "one foot in the world and one foot with God"?
As for the topic of hypocrites in the church, I knew of a boss and an employee that had a conversation once about going to church that went something like: The employee told the boss, "I don't want to go to church because it is filled with hypocrites". The boss said, "Let me ask you something. Would you consider yourself to be a good employee? What if someone recorded your entire day at work? Would they discover that you compromised in any area? What if you took a longer lunch break than you should have, or took items from the office, even as small as pens and paper? I would observe this as hypocritical behavior in the work field for the simple reason that when you began working here, you agreed to a set schedule of office work and an hour lunch break. Not taking an hour and fifteen minutes for lunch just because you felt lazy or tired, or didn't think it would matter. Our company doesn't freely give office supplies to anyone who works here either. The supplies are here to assist with work, not for any employee to take at free will."
With this example in mind, many people who claim to be a Christian don't keep in mind that if they are going to claim to know God and walk around using the name of Jesus, they must live, speak, and act in such a manner that is in accordance to how God calls believers to live in His word. Galatians 5: 22-23 speaks of the fruit of the Spirit, which is the sort of character that God builds in a Christian's life as they daily follow after Him. Similar to a diet, if there is compromise or laziness, the individual will not have the healthy body and nice figure that is possible through a daily commitment to a strict diet and exercise. Christians are called to be set apart for God. It is a false way of thinking to view God in a negative light when those who claim to be saved live as hypocrites. Why are people who claim to know Jesus not seeking to please, honor, and draw closer to God each day? Why will they not give up compromise by purposing in their hearts to rid their lives of anything unholy, of everything not of God. For example, I stopped watching television, secular movies, and listening to secular music years ago because I realized that such forms of entertainment were a way to feed my sinful flesh and would cause me to stumble. Filling my mind with perversity was a great hindrance in growing in the fruit of the Spirit and living in such a manner that others would consider me a godly example of what a real Christian is. The question each person should ask when claiming to be saved is, "Will each daily decision I make glorify and honor God, draw me closer to Him, and enable me to grow in the fruit of the Spirit, or will each decision I make daily gratify my sinful flesh, allow compromise, and therefore be a hindrance in growing spiritually and in gaining self control?" By watching television, spending time with worldly, ungodly influences, and not watching our every decision (even our thought life!), we must consider and realize that by filling our minds with what is unholy, we will not live the godly set apart for the LORD life that He calls believers to live in His word. Rather, we will have one foot in the world and one foot with God. To become a Christian means "...let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" Hebrews 12: 1.
...you mentioned over the phone that many pastors tend to all teach the same doctrine. I would like to give a great example of the fallacy in this assumption. A pastor named Joel Osteen speaks about prosperity, and there are other pastors who say that money shouldn't be an idol in anyone's life because it is a distraction from God and blinds people. How do we know what is the true interpretation of this topic? By bringing the issue of money back to what the Bible says. First Timothy 6: 9-10, "But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs". And vs. 17-19 says, "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed".
...I would also like to encourage you to gain your self worth and value not from what others think of you (or how they appear to), nor from work or accomplishment, not even from the sort of husband or dad you are. Truly gain your self worth and value through a real relationship and daily commitment to God. Make God your everything, your life!
I greatly disagree with the term "people pleaser". I am not one who may rightly be called this, for what a transformation God has brought to me in the area of caring how others view me and being concerned over what they may think! It is beneficial to realize that as humans, there will always be someone who doesn't agree with us or treat us in the manner we would like. By looking to others for our significance, and to look in the mirror and have the ability to say, "I am all right. I know I am all right because I am a good husband, father, employee, etc." is a very disillusioned way of thinking. When you consider how valuable and precious you are in the sight of God, and choose to live each day for His glory and honor, you will begin to see your dignity and value as a human being in a real and true manner. ...you are valuable to God. Very valuable. The times you feel disheartened or saddened, take the time to praise God that He is in control, that He causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, that He is able to change any situation, that He is always working for His glory and our good, that He cares enough about us to bring us through lessons and trials in order to build the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and bring our hearts to a place of greater trust, faith, and reliance upon Him, for His wonderful attributes as described in His word, and for every blessing He has bestowed, every desire of your heart He has granted, every prayer He has answered, everything He has provided for you, the fact that you can see, hear, walk, live in a nice area and even have a house, have consistent work and enough money to pay bills, that you were born in the United States (a country founded on godly principles and rich money and freedom wise), for God's faithfulness to bear with us even during the times we are not in the place we need to be with Him, for His faithfulness, sovereignty, and wisdom to hear and answer prayer always in the perfect way and timing, and for everything decent about your life. Instead of focusing on the prayers that God has not answered, try to focus on the fact that in God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and wisdom, He will either grant us our request in prayer, or He will give us something better for us! God is a faithful and loving God. He wants what is best for us in every way! I love an old saying I heard years ago, "God isn't so much concerned with our comfort as He is with our character". It is through the trials and difficulties of life that God uses to wake us up to the truth, reality, and fact that God is worth living for, whether we consider life to be good or not. God can bring good out of any situation. It isn't about our circumstances, or even what we have experienced in the past. It really is a matter of committing any and all areas to God, the areas and situations that we just can't understand, areas of defeat, areas of low self esteem or a warped self image, areas of doubt or lack of faith and trust in God, and areas of our lives, whether that be past, present, or future. Romans 8: 28 says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose". Notice it says ALL things. This includes the good, the bad, and the ugly! Haha.
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Continue to commit any areas of struggle or defeat to God. If you have difficulty believing God's word or struggle with questions and doubts about how God works, seek godly counsel and ask God to reveal Himself to you in a way that you cannot deny, and to draw you to Him in such a way that He becomes your everything, the One you are willing to give up everything to follow! As for the issue of the church and getting godly counsel, I agree that many people in church today are self centered, live for themselves, and talk the talk yet do not walk the walk. Keep in mind that if you decide to attend church weekly and get godly counsel, you are not there for those who claim to be saved. You are there for God! To learn about Him and hear His word expounded, to grow in your relationship with Him, and to receive help with any issues you cannot overcome on your own. Plenty of people think they are "paying their due" to God by attending church weekly, yet their daily lifestyle does not match their profession of faith. Don't give up the willingness to attend church just because you have gone to church in the past and this experience consisted of a group of hypocrites. Similar to how a good friend is hard to find, so church and godly accountability may be. Searching for a right on church to attend is worth it. The discipline of attending church weekly and finding godly friendships with others who are serious about their walk with God may take time, yet what is there to lose? Consider eternity. Is living in defeat over sin or your past, as well as any doubts you may have about God and how He works, or even any questions you have about issues in life, worth living a life that is separated from God on this earth? ...greatly consider all God has to offer! Second Corinthians 5: 17 says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" Galatians 5: 22-23, which lists the fruit of the Spirit, is the sort of character God is building in a believer's life as they daily follow after Him. Through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, our sins are forgiven and we are in right standing before God! For those who take their relationship with God seriously, seek to draw closer to Him as each day passes, and live for Him on this earth through thick and thin, an eternity in Heaven awaits, being with our God and Savior face to face forever in complete bliss!
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I will continue to pray for you. Don't give up hope! God is the God of the impossible, He is in control, and He is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think. (Luke 1: 37, Ephesians 3: 20)
" 'For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. ...' " Second Chronicles 16: 9 "
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