polytheism – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms Thu, 28 Mar 2024 14:18:39 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-LaVistaBanner-Copy-1-32x32.png polytheism – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms 32 32 157465916 Theism https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/theism/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 14:18:39 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=67226

by Zeke Flores

Theism is alive and well. Aside from those religions that venerate men (Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, and Islam, to name a few), some worship supernatural deities (Greek mythology, Hinduism, and many other Eastern religions). There are gods of our own making (money, sex, relationships) which we hope will save us from _________ (fill in the blank.).

I remember growing up in Catholicism and seeing the statues of long-dead "saints" along with the most venerated female in the world, Mary, the mother of Jesus. I also remember being taught to direct different prayers to different dead people depending on what the need was. There were "patron saints" of various activities and places, and prayer directed to them was an appeal for their intercessory help. I've prayed a few in my youth but never got any divine help from them.

That's because there's only one God, who has revealed Himself in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. How does that work? I don't know the intricacies of that seeming paradox, but I do know this: There's only one God, and He invites me to Himself through His Son, the only intercessor I'll ever need.

"Thus says Yahweh ... I am the first and the last; apart from Me there is no God" (Isaiah 44:6).

]]> 67226 There are thousands of religions. What makes you think yours is the only one? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/there-are-thousands-of-religions-what-makes-you-think-yours-is-the-only-one/ Fri, 12 Jun 2020 19:44:03 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=23345

Question:

No offense dude. But given that there are over 1000 religions from all over the world. The idea that your particular God of choice is the only real one. Is just plain ludicrous. And not one thing of what you have to say about the bible matters. It can all be disproved in seconds without getting into it. But I would think if there was a god that supposedly loved the world. We wouldn't be in the middle of a pandemic that's killed over 100k in just America alone. And infected over a million. Any god who would just sit by and allow that to happen. Isn't a loving God at all. Period.

Answer:

Thank you for contacting me. I am not offended by your comments. There is indeed a multitude of religions in the world today. This testifies to the religious nature of man. If man was not created and given a religious nature by his Creator, where did it come from and why is it so widespread? To me, there is no other rational explanation for man’s religious nature. And, if God gave us a religious nature, why would He not also describe and prescribe true religion?

My desire and intent are to serve the one true and living God, the Creator of the universe. He has revealed Himself in the Bible, which is His inspired word. You may judge this “idea” to be ludicrous but I judge it to be the only sane decision to make.

It is true that not one thing I say about the Bible matters when all is said and done, except as it helps someone else come to an understanding of who God is and what He desires man to do. But all mankind will be judged by the word of God. Thus, what God has said is, ultimately, all that matters.

You say the Bible “can all be disproved in seconds”. Skeptics have been saying this for two thousand years. And yet the Bible stands. It has been preserved by the providence of God, though He has allowed man to blaspheme Him and His word. Jews, Muslims, and Christians all believe in the Old Testament. Christians and Muslims believe the New Testament also, either in part or whole.

What is the purpose of death? Can you imagine how many people would be alive today if no one had ever died? Could the world sustain that many people? If you were God, how do you think you would deal with the potential problem of overpopulation? [“The global population has grown from 1 billion in 1800 to 7.774 billion in 2020” (Wikipedia).] So, would the world be better off if no one died? This growth has definitely slowed due to COVID-19, but it has not been reversed. So, if God eliminated all physical problems that exist today, there would be the ultimate problem of worldwide starvation. Perhaps we should think of death as “population control.” Life on earth was perfectly peaceful until the serpent slithered into the garden and tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit.

Suffering is indeed a terrible thing, whether physical or psychological. The Bible does not teach that God either desires or delights in the suffering of mankind. Generally, when a father spanks his child, he does not do so merely in order to inflict pain. It is his purpose to punish past bad behavior and deter future bad behavior. God gave men five physical senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, taste, and touch. It is primarily through these senses that man learns about the world in which God has placed him. It is through the sense of touch that physical pain is perceived. Would we be better off without the sense of touch? One who is impervious to pain could never appreciate a tender kiss or a warm embrace. Those who suffer crave relief or, at least, comfort. Those who recover seek to relieve the suffering of others. This brings them closer together psychologically. God gave Adam and Eve a beautiful place in which to live. He taught them to survive both physically and spiritually. For a while, they believed and loved God. There was no suffering in the garden, where He had placed them. Suffering began when they sinned against Him. God allows us to suffer, among other reasons, so we will long for a place where there is no suffering. And He has promised us such a place.

by Bob Myhan

]]> 23345 Your God Can’t Be the Only Real One https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/your-god-cant-be-the-only-real-one/ Sun, 07 Jun 2020 13:11:02 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=23239

Question:

No offense dude. But given that there are over 1000 religions from all over the world. The idea that your particular God of choice is the only real one. Is just plain ludicrous. And not one thing of what you have to say about the bible matters. It can all be disproved in seconds without getting into it. But I would think if there was a god that supposedly loved the world. We wouldn't be in the middle of a pandemic that's killed over 100k in just America alone. And infected over a million. Any god who would just sit by and allow that to happen. Isn't a loving God at all. Period.

Answer:

Thank you for contacting me. I am not offended by your comments. There is indeed a multitude of religions in the world today. This testifies to the religious nature of man. If man was not created and given a religious nature by his Creator, where did it come from and why is it so widespread? To me, there is no other rational explanation for man’s religious nature. And, if God gave us a religious nature, why would He not also describe and prescribe true religion?

My desire and intent are to serve the one true and living God, the Creator of the universe. He has revealed Himself in the Bible, which is His inspired word. You may judge this “idea” to be ludicrous but I judge it to be the only sane decision to make.

It is true that not one thing I say about the Bible matters when all is said and done, except as it helps someone else come to an understanding of who God is and He desires man to do. But all mankind will be judged by the word of God. Thus, what God has said is, ultimately, all that matters.

You say the Bible “can all be disproved in seconds”. Skeptics have been saying this for two thousand years. And yet the Bible stands. It has been preserved by the providence of God, though He has allowed man to blaspheme Him and His word. Jews, Muslims, and Christians all believe the Old Testament. Christians and Muslims believe the New Testament also, either in part or whole.

What is the purpose of death? Can you imagine how many people would be alive today if no one had ever died? Could the world sustain that many people? If you were God, how do you think you would deal with the potential problem of overpopulation? [“The global population has grown from 1 billion in 1800 to 7.774 billion in 2020” (Wikipedia).] So, would the world be better off if no one died? This growth has definitely slowed due to COVID-19, but it has not been reversed. So, if God eliminated all physical problems that exist today, there would be the ultimate problem of worldwide starvation. Perhaps we should think of death as “population control.” Life on earth was perfectly peaceful until the serpent slithered into the garden and tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit.

Suffering is indeed a terrible thing, whether physical or psychological. The Bible does not teach that God either desires or delights in the suffering of mankind. Generally, when a father spanks his child, he does not do so merely in order to inflict pain. It is his purpose to punish past and deter future bad behavior. God gave man five physical senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, taste, and touch. It is primarily through these senses that man learns about the world in which God has placed him. It is through the sense of touch that physical pain is perceived. Would we be better off without the sense of touch? One who is impervious to pain could never appreciate a tender kiss or a warm embrace. Those who suffer crave relief or, at least, comfort. Those who recover seek to relieve the suffering of others. This brings them closer together psychologically. God gave Adam and Eve a beautiful place in which to live. He taught them to survive both physically and spiritually. For a while, they believed and loved God. There was no suffering in the garden, where He had placed them. Suffering began when they sinned against Him. God allows us to suffer, among other reasons, so we will long for a place where there is no suffering. And He has promised us such a place.

by Bob Myhan

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