Hard Questions for Christians (Book)

Chapter 1

We can either believe that the Bible is the word of God and was given to us by His inspiration and direction or we can choose to doubt its viability. This book is written from a perspective that the reader believes in God’s word, at least in part or is inclined to research it and make an informed decision. His chosen are called to share the hard truths. If a pastor, preacher, prophet or teacher is unwilling to share what God has revealed to them through the Spirit then we should not be turning to them for guidance. The Spirit will guide when it is best for His chosen to refrain from speaking but if we fail to obey when He says to speak then we are failing to do His will.

Why does it matter if we do His will? His rewards are great and His approval is everything. “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into my kingdom.” The words we yearn to hear. Love, approval, acceptance, praise from our King and our Heavenly Father. We are each given talents and abilities. The ability to search out a thing and make sure it is true. The ability to use what was given to us in service to our King. First, we must understand what it means to serve. Jesus traveled and taught the Jews and Gentiles what it meant to serve others. He healed others, shared God’s righteousness, gave parables and lead by example. He was not rich in the way this world deems richness to be but he was rich in the ways that truly mattered.

At the end of this book we may not agree on the research that I will present but I pray that we agree on God and how good He is. That Jesus did come to divide the people of that time and now, to set mother against daughter, father against son, and so on. We are meant to be set apart as his chosen. We are meant to do His will. We are meant to seek to be holy as our God is holy. We must because we love Him enough to do as He asks. Part of that motivation to do ask He asks is connected to the fear of the Lord. Do we fear the consequences of failing to do His will? As my little girl says “I don’t want to get into trouble!” She’s right. I don’t want to be in front of the Creator of the universe and receive chastisement for doing nothing with what He has entrusted me with.

In this life we get to choose to follow Him completely or to only follow the things that are acceptable in this world. As Christians we are called to be different, we are called to show the world His goodness and His righteousness. If we become one with the things of this world how will they know that we are different? We must ask the hard questions and decide if we are going to follow God or follow evil. Two paths. One path that is easy and broad that the majority will follow. Another path that is hard and narrow, that few find and few follow.

Justice

As Christians we are called to be there for one another but so many things divide us. We have different opinions, different perspectives and different lives. Our opinions can be cultural, based on fact, rumor, stories handed down from generations and so on.

We share so much history as believers in Christ. Different religions and philosophies. Those differences impact how we handle the things that this world throws at us and what we do with what we have. My sister sent me a card that says “Having you for a sister means sharing so much family history. It means knowing we’re still tight with each other no matter where we are or how long it’s been.”

Judgment

Often as brothers and sisters in Christ we are quick to point out each other’s faults and shortcomings. It is human nature to do so but it is not godly. God chooses what to work on first in each of us. He knows where we need to focus first, what our learning styles are and how much empathy we truly have. He knows our hearts. Before Jesus came into my heart I didn’t operate so well.

A heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick, who can understand it. Jeremiah 17:9 KJV

Hard-heartedness can cause us to fail and

Equity n.

A principle of fairness and justice, often used in biblical and legal contexts to describe the impartial and fair treatment of all individuals.