Critical Questions

Good Morning:

Hebrews 1:1-4 (Contemporary English Version)

1Long ago in many ways and at many times God's prophets spoke his message to our ancestors. 2But now at last, God sent his Son to bring his message to us. God created the universe by his Son, and everything will someday belong to the Son. 3God's Son has all the brightness of God's own glory and is like him in every way. By his own mighty word, he holds the universe together.
After the Son had washed away our sins, he sat down at the right side [a] of the glorious God in heaven. 4He had become much greater than the angels, and the name he was given is far greater than any of theirs.

Footnotes:
a. Hebrews 1:3 right side: The place of honor and power

CNN ran a story Wednesday about virtual churches – where technology allows the preacher to be in more than one place at a time. The article was interesting but I wasn’t really prepared to read all the commentary that followed. Some of the comments were positive but the majority were negative to extremely negative. I loosely group the negative comments into several categories: (1) those that see the virtual church as ineffective; (2) those that see church – and clergy – as being only out for money or other things; (3) those that see Christians (and anyone else who believes in God) as being unintelligent; and (4) others.

From a personal standpoint, I agree with many who say that a virtual church lacks the personal touch that I feel is extremely important for most of the congregation. I think most of us would agree that being able to interact with the leader of a congregation is very important. I think we become “numbers” rather than a person when a congregation gets so large. I am sure there are those who have differing opinion and that’s okay.

I also can understand how many people feel that the church / clergy is out for something other than the welfare of the congregation. Many of the comments revolved around money. Some mentioned the sexual abuse that has taken place in some congregations. And we must admit that these are legitimate concerns. I don’t believe the answer is to stay away – but rather to become an active part of a congregation – and move the focus of the church to the task God has lain before us – the spreading of the Gospel message.

In thinking about the group of folks who believe that believers are unintelligent, I ask myself two critical questions:

(1) If I am wrong in believing there is a God and He has an active part in my life, when I come to the end of this earthly existence, what will I have gained and what will I have lost?

(2) If I am right and God does exist, when the scoffers come to the end of their existence on this earth, what will they have gained and what will they have lost?

The answer to question 1 is that I may have lost some income – but I will have had the joy of the friendship and love of hundreds – perhaps even thousands – of people. My life will have been fulfilled by being able to reach outside of my inner circle to folks I would never have known. And I will have been blessed all my days.

The response to the second question is quite unsettling to consider – for, while God is loving, He is also just – which means that He will apply the judgment He outlined in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

I admit that I am not an Einstein. I tend to look at life simplistically. I certainly cannot (and will not) argue with those who reject God and His grace toward us. I believe what the writer of Hebrews penned above. Jesus washed away my sins and is sitting by the right hand (the place of honor and power) of God. And I believe that when my earthly existence is ended, I shall be with Him for eternity. And while I continue this earthly journey, I am blessed to know good people – like you – who bless my life every day.

Agape’

Mr. Jim