Businessman and reality show star, Donald Trump is leading in most polls in the Republican primary and he gets endless media coverage. Many conservatives including the Tea Party and evangelicals are supporting him. After all Trump will take care of America's enemies, fix the economy, stop illegal immigration, and make America great again. Some people have even compared Donald Trump to Ronald Reagan.
In reality Donald Trump is no conservative. He is actually a populist and a statist. Even many prominent conservatives have come out against Trump. He supports government run health care, opposes entitlement reform, and will increase taxes and regulations. Trump has even donated money to people like Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi. Trump says he was just playing the political game. It sounds like Trump was buying favoritism for himself. It seems Trump is actually part of the broken political system he rails against. Trump is the problem, not the solution.
Donald Trump seems to have little regard for the Constitution (Does this remind you of anyone else?). He promises to do all kinds of things regardless of whether they are constitutional or not. Conservatives have been outraged over Barack Obama bypassing Congress with executive orders. Yet they embrace Trump when he promises to do the same sort of thing. No constitutional, conservative can support Donald Trump.
The comparison of Donald Trump to Ronald Reagan is absurd. Look at Reagan in the 1960's and 1970's and then look at Trump over the last couple of decades. Reagan was conservative and Trump is liberal. The comparison of Trump to Reagan shows great disrespect to the legacy of Ronald Reagan. Donald Trump you are no Ronald Reagan!
Many in the Tea Party are supporting Donald Trump. Tea Party favorite, Sarah Palin has endorsed Trump. You have one celebrity endorsing another celebrity. Palin saw an opportunity and hopped aboard the Trump train. The Tea Party has opposed political authoritarianism yet many of it's members have embraced the authoritarian, Donald Trump. They vehemently opposed Obamacare, yet they support Trump who favors a single payer healthcare system. The Tea Party talks of it's love for the liberty and limited government promoted by the Founding Fathers. Yet it seems ready to bring in the reign of King Donald. Trump is not a conservative and is definitely not a libertarian. Much of the Tea Party has sold out.
Donald Trump also has support from many evangelicals. Recently at Liberty University, Trump read from Two Corinthians. "The Donald" continues to demonstrate his ignorance of all things Biblical. Previously Trump has admitted that he has never asked for forgiveness, could not name a favorite Bible verse, and expressed his great admiration for Norman Vincent Peale (a liberal clergyman). Never mind his support of abortion (including partial birth abortion) and homosexuality. Never mind that he operates casinos. Never mind that he is arrogant, self centered, and profane. Evangelicals supporting Trump are simply divorced from reality.
Donald Trump also has no foreign policy experience. He has little knowledge in this area and has said that he gets his information from Sunday talk shows. Does anybody think that operating casinos qualifies one to be Commander-In-Chief?
Trump is full of empty promises. Does anyone really think that he will build a wall on the Mexican border and have the Mexicans pay for it? Donald Trump is nothing more than a populist, demagogue who stirs up trouble and tells people what they want to hear.
Conservatives supporting Donald Trump have abandoned their principles. One wonders if these people ever held to a conservative political philosophy to begin with. How could they support a liberal, populist, statist? Support for Trump is based on emotion and not on reason. Trump recently remarked that he could shoot someone and would not lose a vote. The scary thing is that this statement may actually be true. No constitutional, conservative can support Donald Trump. Conservatives, wake up!
Monday, January 25, 2016
Monday, January 11, 2016
Democrats And Socialists
What is the difference between a Democrat and a Socialist? Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton and DNC Chairperson, Debbie Wasserman Schultz both struggled to answer the question. The reason neither could come up with an answer is that there is no difference between a Democrat and a Socialist. Hillary Clinton characterized herself as a progressive. What is a progressive? A progressive is a socialist.
The modern Democrat Party has become purely socialistic. It has really been on that track for the past century. Prominent Democrat leaders who led the way to socialism include Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, and Barack Obama. Democrats have constantly increased the size of government. It has become more and more involved in every area of life. Modern liberalism follows the teachings of Karl Marx.
The Democrats push higher taxes, more government spending, and more regulation. They seem to want government in control of every area of life. They think government elites can micromanage all things because they are superior and know more than the rest of us. Democrats believe that all money belongs to the government, not to the people who earn it. It is there for the government to redistribute as it sees fit.
Socialism has never worked and never will. Government cannot do all things, in fact it has no business being involved in most of the things it does. The government should defend the country, protect citizens, maintain order, promote justice, and restrain evil. Government should do the things it is meant to do and then leave us alone.
The modern Democrat Party has become purely socialistic. It has really been on that track for the past century. Prominent Democrat leaders who led the way to socialism include Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, and Barack Obama. Democrats have constantly increased the size of government. It has become more and more involved in every area of life. Modern liberalism follows the teachings of Karl Marx.
The Democrats push higher taxes, more government spending, and more regulation. They seem to want government in control of every area of life. They think government elites can micromanage all things because they are superior and know more than the rest of us. Democrats believe that all money belongs to the government, not to the people who earn it. It is there for the government to redistribute as it sees fit.
Socialism has never worked and never will. Government cannot do all things, in fact it has no business being involved in most of the things it does. The government should defend the country, protect citizens, maintain order, promote justice, and restrain evil. Government should do the things it is meant to do and then leave us alone.
Monday, January 4, 2016
Star Wars, The Force, And Christianity
With the release of a new film Star Wars has reemerged with great popularity. The Star Wars films have generally been family-friendly containing little profanity and immorality. Some Christians have even compared "the force" in Star Wars to the Holy Spirit. But is this an accurate or wise comparison?
Actually the concept of "the force" has much more in common with Eastern or New Age religion than it does with Christianity. The "force" in Star Wars is an impersonal force that can be tapped into to be used for good or evil. Power is achieved by a blend of discipline and mysticism.
On the other hand the Holy Spirit is a person with intellect, will, and emotions. The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The Trinity is one God in three distinct persons. The Holy Spirit is equally God with the Father and Son, he has all the attributes of God. The Holy Spirit is only good and not evil. The Holy Spirit is sovereign, leads people to the truth, and convicts them of sin. All true Christians have the Holy Spirit, he is our teacher and the Bible is his textbook.
So comparing the Holy Spirit to "the force" is just plain wrong. They are not the same and are in fact very different. Star Wars does depict good and evil and good is portrayed favorably while evil is portrayed unfavorably. In modern Hollywood this is often not the case. Christians need to be discerning when they watch a film like Star Wars. They need to develop a Christian worldview so they will be able to tell if something is in line with Biblical teaching or not.
Actually the concept of "the force" has much more in common with Eastern or New Age religion than it does with Christianity. The "force" in Star Wars is an impersonal force that can be tapped into to be used for good or evil. Power is achieved by a blend of discipline and mysticism.
On the other hand the Holy Spirit is a person with intellect, will, and emotions. The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The Trinity is one God in three distinct persons. The Holy Spirit is equally God with the Father and Son, he has all the attributes of God. The Holy Spirit is only good and not evil. The Holy Spirit is sovereign, leads people to the truth, and convicts them of sin. All true Christians have the Holy Spirit, he is our teacher and the Bible is his textbook.
So comparing the Holy Spirit to "the force" is just plain wrong. They are not the same and are in fact very different. Star Wars does depict good and evil and good is portrayed favorably while evil is portrayed unfavorably. In modern Hollywood this is often not the case. Christians need to be discerning when they watch a film like Star Wars. They need to develop a Christian worldview so they will be able to tell if something is in line with Biblical teaching or not.
Monday, December 21, 2015
The Virgin Birth Of Jesus
(Matthew 1:23) "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)." (ESV)
The virgin birth or conception is a very important doctrine, it is one of the fundamentals of the faith. Secularists and liberal theologians deny the doctrine saying it could not happen. So can we believe in the virgin birth of Christ?
(Matthew 1:23) is a quote of the Old Testament passage (Isaiah 7:14). A question arises as to whether "virgin" is the correct translation of the Hebrew or if it should be translated as "young maiden". Most scholars say the Hebrew used in (Isaiah 7:14) almost always refers to a virgin woman. Also the translators of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, used the word that means virgin nearly all the time. So the evidence supports "virgin" as the correct translation and not "young maiden". Most of all Matthew inspired by the Holy Spirit used the word "virgin" when he quoted (Isaiah 7:14). The birth of Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah.
Why is the virgin birth only mentioned in Matthew and Luke and not in the rest of the New Testament? It is likely that oral traditions about the birth of Jesus were widely circulated during this time. The rest of the New Testament actually gives little detail about the early years of Jesus before his ministry. The Gospel of Mark simply starts with the ministry of Jesus. While the Gospel of John focuses on Jesus as the Word, his preexistence.
What about Alexander the Great and Ceasar Augustus who were said to have been born of the gods? Some have suggested that the Biblical account was influenced by these stories. These stories actually bear little resemblance to the Biblical account of the virgin birth of Jesus. They are very different and there is no basis for this argument. Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy of the miraculous birth or conception promised by God.
The virgin birth is an essential doctrine. The divinity and sinlessness of Jesus depend on it. Belief in Jesus as God's Son would be impossible without the virgin birth. He would have been conceived by mere humans and would have been a mere human himself. Also without the virgin birth Jesus would have inherited a sinful nature from Adam and would not have been without sin. If Jesus was not God and was not without sin he could not have saved his people from their sins. The doctrine of the virgin birth is essential indeed.
Belief in the virgin birth actually comes down to the presuppositions a person holds, that is the basic assumptions one holds. If you start by assuming that miracles cannot happen, you will conclude that miracles do not happen and deny the virgin birth of Christ. But if you are open to the possibility of a miracle you will conclude otherwise. If God is God he can certainly perform miracles, nothing is impossible with him. It is totally reasonable and rational to believe in the virgin birth of Christ. Most of all we should believe it because God has revealed it to us in his Word, the Bible.
The virgin birth or conception is a very important doctrine, it is one of the fundamentals of the faith. Secularists and liberal theologians deny the doctrine saying it could not happen. So can we believe in the virgin birth of Christ?
(Matthew 1:23) is a quote of the Old Testament passage (Isaiah 7:14). A question arises as to whether "virgin" is the correct translation of the Hebrew or if it should be translated as "young maiden". Most scholars say the Hebrew used in (Isaiah 7:14) almost always refers to a virgin woman. Also the translators of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, used the word that means virgin nearly all the time. So the evidence supports "virgin" as the correct translation and not "young maiden". Most of all Matthew inspired by the Holy Spirit used the word "virgin" when he quoted (Isaiah 7:14). The birth of Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah.
Why is the virgin birth only mentioned in Matthew and Luke and not in the rest of the New Testament? It is likely that oral traditions about the birth of Jesus were widely circulated during this time. The rest of the New Testament actually gives little detail about the early years of Jesus before his ministry. The Gospel of Mark simply starts with the ministry of Jesus. While the Gospel of John focuses on Jesus as the Word, his preexistence.
What about Alexander the Great and Ceasar Augustus who were said to have been born of the gods? Some have suggested that the Biblical account was influenced by these stories. These stories actually bear little resemblance to the Biblical account of the virgin birth of Jesus. They are very different and there is no basis for this argument. Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy of the miraculous birth or conception promised by God.
The virgin birth is an essential doctrine. The divinity and sinlessness of Jesus depend on it. Belief in Jesus as God's Son would be impossible without the virgin birth. He would have been conceived by mere humans and would have been a mere human himself. Also without the virgin birth Jesus would have inherited a sinful nature from Adam and would not have been without sin. If Jesus was not God and was not without sin he could not have saved his people from their sins. The doctrine of the virgin birth is essential indeed.
Belief in the virgin birth actually comes down to the presuppositions a person holds, that is the basic assumptions one holds. If you start by assuming that miracles cannot happen, you will conclude that miracles do not happen and deny the virgin birth of Christ. But if you are open to the possibility of a miracle you will conclude otherwise. If God is God he can certainly perform miracles, nothing is impossible with him. It is totally reasonable and rational to believe in the virgin birth of Christ. Most of all we should believe it because God has revealed it to us in his Word, the Bible.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Does God Ordain Evil?
Does God ordain or decree evil? Most modern American Christians would immediately say no. But is the view of much of modern evangelicalism actually correct? We will focus on the crucifixion of Christ to find the answer.
(Acts 2:23) "this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men." (ESV)
(Acts 4:27-28) "for truly in this city there were gathered together against you holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place." (ESV)
There has been no greater evil than the crucifixion of Christ. Yet it was foreknown and foreordained by God, he predestined it to take place. It was God's sovereign will that the crucifixion of Jesus take place. Yet at the same time humans were responsible for crucifying Christ. He was crucified by the hands of lawless men. Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, and the peoples of Israel were all held responsible. The miscarriage of justice, the mockery, the beatings, and the crucifixion were all evils that humans were responsible for even though God ordained them to take place.
It is important to distinguish between the two wills of God. First there is his sovereign will which cannot be violated or thwarted. Whatever he decrees will happen. Second there is his moral will which can be violated. God's moral will is violated whenever anyone sins or does evil.
With the crucifixion of Christ we see God's moral will being violated while we see his sovereign will being carried out. We see Judas Iscariot, Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, and peoples of Israel committing great evil by their own free choice and being held responsible for it. While at the same time it was all part of God's predetermined plan.
So God ordains or decrees that evil take place and yet he is not responsible for it. God is not the author of evil, men are responsible for their own evil acts. We see that the Bible presents the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of humans as being fully compatible.
So how can God ordain evil and not be responsible for it? How can God be totally sovereign over everything and humans still make free choices and be held responsible for them? We cannot fully understand, it belongs to the mysteries of God. The finite cannot fully grasp the infinite. God uses human agents to accomplish his plan and purpose. There is an ultimate purpose for the existence of evil and it brings glory to God.
(Deuteronomy 29:29) "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." (ESV)
(Acts 2:23) "this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men." (ESV)
(Acts 4:27-28) "for truly in this city there were gathered together against you holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place." (ESV)
There has been no greater evil than the crucifixion of Christ. Yet it was foreknown and foreordained by God, he predestined it to take place. It was God's sovereign will that the crucifixion of Jesus take place. Yet at the same time humans were responsible for crucifying Christ. He was crucified by the hands of lawless men. Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, and the peoples of Israel were all held responsible. The miscarriage of justice, the mockery, the beatings, and the crucifixion were all evils that humans were responsible for even though God ordained them to take place.
It is important to distinguish between the two wills of God. First there is his sovereign will which cannot be violated or thwarted. Whatever he decrees will happen. Second there is his moral will which can be violated. God's moral will is violated whenever anyone sins or does evil.
With the crucifixion of Christ we see God's moral will being violated while we see his sovereign will being carried out. We see Judas Iscariot, Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, and peoples of Israel committing great evil by their own free choice and being held responsible for it. While at the same time it was all part of God's predetermined plan.
So God ordains or decrees that evil take place and yet he is not responsible for it. God is not the author of evil, men are responsible for their own evil acts. We see that the Bible presents the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of humans as being fully compatible.
So how can God ordain evil and not be responsible for it? How can God be totally sovereign over everything and humans still make free choices and be held responsible for them? We cannot fully understand, it belongs to the mysteries of God. The finite cannot fully grasp the infinite. God uses human agents to accomplish his plan and purpose. There is an ultimate purpose for the existence of evil and it brings glory to God.
(Deuteronomy 29:29) "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." (ESV)
Monday, November 30, 2015
Is God In Control Of All Things?
Introduction
Do things just happen? Is it just luck, fortune, or fate? Do things happen for no reason? Does God just deal with the major things and not care about the small things? Is God dependent on what human beings do? Does he just react to the free choices made by humans? For the answers we will turn to the Bible to see what God has revealed to us.
Small And Insignificant Things
In (Matthew 10:28-31) we are told that a sparrow does not fall to the ground apart from God and that the hairs of our heads are numbered. The sparrow was considered to be of little value and God is even in control and concerned with it. The hairs of our head are even numbered showing that God is concerned with even the smallest details. God is in control of even the things we consider small and insignificant so we should have no fear.
The Elements, The Weather
(See Job 37:9-13, Psalm 147:8, Psalm 148:8)
The rain, snow, ice, storms, and even tornadoes and hurricanes are under the sovereignty of God. None of these things happen without God decreeing that they happen.
Pain, Suffering, and Physical Disabilities
(Exodus 4:11) "Then the LORD said to him, Who had made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" (ESV)
This verse may be shocking to many modern evangelicals. But it is indeed God who is sovereign over physical suffering and pain. All these things ultimately bring glory to God in some way even though we may not understand it. (See also John 9:3)
Luck, Fortune, Chance
(Proverbs 16:33) "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." (ESV)
Saying the lot is cast into the lap is basically equivalent to the rolling of the dice today. Things like these are even under the sovereignty of God. We would consider the roll of the dice as luck but there is no such thing as luck, or fortune, or chance. God is in control so things do not just happen for no reason.
People And Plans
(Proverbs 19:21) "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." (ESV)
(Proverbs 21:1) "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD, he turns it wherever he will." (ESV)
God is sovereign even over people and the plan that they have. No matter what the plans of a man are, the purpose of the LORD will prevail. God's will cannot be thwarted by humans. Even a king who was considered to be sovereign on earth is under the control of God.
Good And Bad Things
(Isaiah 45:7) "I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things." (ESV)
(Lamentations 3:37-38) "Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?" (ESV)
God is in absolute control of good things and even bad things. We easily credit God with the good things that happen but we act as if God does not really have control of the bad things. We should keep in mind that none of us deserve good from God but only his judgment because we have all rebelled against him. Even the bad things ultimately bring glory to God.
God's Will And Purpose
(Isaiah 46:10b) "My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose." (ESV)
(Isaiah 46:11b) "I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass, I have purposed, and I will do it." (ESV)
God's purpose and will cannot be thwarted by anyone or anything. God is not dependent on humans and the choices they make, he does not just react to what they have done. God never has to resort to plan B. All that happens is under the sovereignty of God.
Conclusion
God is sovereign over all things both big and small. Humans, nations, the elements, pain and suffering, events and history are all under his control. Everything that happens is part of God's plan and purpose. His sovereign will cannot be violated. We are wrong to think that things happen for no reason. There is no such thing as luck, or fortune, or chance, or fate. Saying we need to let go and let God is wrong also. Think about this statement, do humans let God do anything? God is the one who is in control of all things at all times. It is also wrong to say it is in God's hands now. It has been in God's hands all along. God is absolutely sovereign over all things, they ultimately work for the glory of God. The world is God's theater of glory as Calvin said.
Do things just happen? Is it just luck, fortune, or fate? Do things happen for no reason? Does God just deal with the major things and not care about the small things? Is God dependent on what human beings do? Does he just react to the free choices made by humans? For the answers we will turn to the Bible to see what God has revealed to us.
Small And Insignificant Things
In (Matthew 10:28-31) we are told that a sparrow does not fall to the ground apart from God and that the hairs of our heads are numbered. The sparrow was considered to be of little value and God is even in control and concerned with it. The hairs of our head are even numbered showing that God is concerned with even the smallest details. God is in control of even the things we consider small and insignificant so we should have no fear.
The Elements, The Weather
(See Job 37:9-13, Psalm 147:8, Psalm 148:8)
The rain, snow, ice, storms, and even tornadoes and hurricanes are under the sovereignty of God. None of these things happen without God decreeing that they happen.
Pain, Suffering, and Physical Disabilities
(Exodus 4:11) "Then the LORD said to him, Who had made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" (ESV)
This verse may be shocking to many modern evangelicals. But it is indeed God who is sovereign over physical suffering and pain. All these things ultimately bring glory to God in some way even though we may not understand it. (See also John 9:3)
Luck, Fortune, Chance
(Proverbs 16:33) "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." (ESV)
Saying the lot is cast into the lap is basically equivalent to the rolling of the dice today. Things like these are even under the sovereignty of God. We would consider the roll of the dice as luck but there is no such thing as luck, or fortune, or chance. God is in control so things do not just happen for no reason.
People And Plans
(Proverbs 19:21) "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." (ESV)
(Proverbs 21:1) "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD, he turns it wherever he will." (ESV)
God is sovereign even over people and the plan that they have. No matter what the plans of a man are, the purpose of the LORD will prevail. God's will cannot be thwarted by humans. Even a king who was considered to be sovereign on earth is under the control of God.
Good And Bad Things
(Isaiah 45:7) "I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things." (ESV)
(Lamentations 3:37-38) "Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?" (ESV)
God is in absolute control of good things and even bad things. We easily credit God with the good things that happen but we act as if God does not really have control of the bad things. We should keep in mind that none of us deserve good from God but only his judgment because we have all rebelled against him. Even the bad things ultimately bring glory to God.
God's Will And Purpose
(Isaiah 46:10b) "My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose." (ESV)
(Isaiah 46:11b) "I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass, I have purposed, and I will do it." (ESV)
God's purpose and will cannot be thwarted by anyone or anything. God is not dependent on humans and the choices they make, he does not just react to what they have done. God never has to resort to plan B. All that happens is under the sovereignty of God.
Conclusion
God is sovereign over all things both big and small. Humans, nations, the elements, pain and suffering, events and history are all under his control. Everything that happens is part of God's plan and purpose. His sovereign will cannot be violated. We are wrong to think that things happen for no reason. There is no such thing as luck, or fortune, or chance, or fate. Saying we need to let go and let God is wrong also. Think about this statement, do humans let God do anything? God is the one who is in control of all things at all times. It is also wrong to say it is in God's hands now. It has been in God's hands all along. God is absolutely sovereign over all things, they ultimately work for the glory of God. The world is God's theater of glory as Calvin said.
Monday, November 16, 2015
What Are The Beliefs Of Christian Science?
Christian Science holds to pantheism, the belief that God is all and all is God. It believes that since all is God sin, sickness, pain, and death do not really exist. They are seen as mere illusions. These illusions can be overcome by correct thinking. Christian Scientists believe in mind over matter.
Christian Science holds that Jesus was a mere human who embodied the Christ idea as an adult. They believe that other humans can achieve this Christ idea as well. Christian Scientists believe that humans like everything else are God. They believe that salvation is achieved by right thinking. A person must believe that sin, pain, sickness, and death are mere illusions. Christian Science believes that a person creates his own hell by incorrect thinking. They also believe that a person creates his own heaven by correct thinking.
On the other hand Biblical Christianity teaches something entirely different. God is separate from his creation it is not part of him. He created out of nothing. Humans like the rest of creation are not God. Sin, sickness, pain, and suffering are all reality and not mere illusions. Man sinned against God and brought about sickness, pain, suffering, and death.
Jesus is God and has been eternally and he is also the Messiah or Christ. Jesus is fully God and fully man. He lived a perfect life without sin and died on the cross to save his people from their sins. He was resurrected victorious over sin and death. People are saved by faith alone in Christ alone. Believers go to heaven for eternity which is a physical place. Unbelievers go to hell for eternity which is also a physical place.
Christian Science is a cult or false religion. The teaching of Christian Science is not reality but an illusion itself. It is not a livable belief system. Christian Science is totally out of line with historic, Biblical Christianity.
Christian Science holds that Jesus was a mere human who embodied the Christ idea as an adult. They believe that other humans can achieve this Christ idea as well. Christian Scientists believe that humans like everything else are God. They believe that salvation is achieved by right thinking. A person must believe that sin, pain, sickness, and death are mere illusions. Christian Science believes that a person creates his own hell by incorrect thinking. They also believe that a person creates his own heaven by correct thinking.
On the other hand Biblical Christianity teaches something entirely different. God is separate from his creation it is not part of him. He created out of nothing. Humans like the rest of creation are not God. Sin, sickness, pain, and suffering are all reality and not mere illusions. Man sinned against God and brought about sickness, pain, suffering, and death.
Jesus is God and has been eternally and he is also the Messiah or Christ. Jesus is fully God and fully man. He lived a perfect life without sin and died on the cross to save his people from their sins. He was resurrected victorious over sin and death. People are saved by faith alone in Christ alone. Believers go to heaven for eternity which is a physical place. Unbelievers go to hell for eternity which is also a physical place.
Christian Science is a cult or false religion. The teaching of Christian Science is not reality but an illusion itself. It is not a livable belief system. Christian Science is totally out of line with historic, Biblical Christianity.
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