Short thought:
In quiet time this week, focus on the FACT that God loves you as you are and has forgiven you; this is not smart or logical, because you know you don't deserve it. And that is the fact to share with those around you - it is God's love and Grace that saves them; not your wisdom or theirs. We boast in the Lord.
(Skip to the scripture or read the optional backstory):
Somehow (an errant click?) I ended up in a social media group called Christians vs. Atheists.
I have to say it's pretty frustrating and ridiculous. As with most on line comment threads, minds are made up and there is no real discussion. There is however lots of mocking, bad logic, and bad science. Unfortunately the Christian side is just as guilty (if not more) as the atheist side. I'm very in favor of apologetics, (a defense of faith) and seeing that the Bible can be taken as written and science supports that. It's a matter of your foundation and your starting worldview that influences how you see the data. Faith is from God. We won't debate anyone into believing. We can help remove roadblocks. We can show them how they can remain "smart" and still believe the Bible. We can correlate independent history and geology to what we read in the Bible. But we cannot convince anyone to believe, that is God's work. And so as much as we debate the facts we must also share the Gospel, the saving Word of God and His Grace. That is best done by love, not hate or mockery. We do not live perfectly, but we know God's love for us.
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Romans 10:17 NIV
[17] Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 NIV
[18] For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. [19] For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” [20] Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? [21] For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. [22] Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, [23] but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, [24] but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [25] For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. [26] Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. [28] God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, [29] so that no one may boast before him. [30] It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. [31] Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.
Proverbs 1:7 NIV
[7] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
1 John 2:15-17 NIV
[15] Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. [16] For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. [17] The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 NIV
[3] For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. [4] The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
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