Naturally, I was wondering where to take this week’s blog as it pertains to The Risen Christ. Recently, I had a challenge to what I believe, and my own sense of inadequacies in myself. I am confident that I could have said it better. A flood of verses that are supposed to comfort me only gives me frustration in that I could have said it better as to what I said, hoping to get it right before God the Almighty Judge who I sometimes fear that I did not say it quite right. I have to realize, although, that this is a trick of mine fueled by Satan and his demons. I take comfort in this, though:
But when they arrest you, do not be afraid what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you. (Matthew 10:19-20 NIV)
Then it hit me like a ton of bricks what I should name this week’s – The Challenging Aspects Of Proclaming What You Believe-The Risen Christ…
As I told this person what I believe, the person responded with the Bible can’t be trusted. “It is full of lies conjured up by those who wrote the books (66 in all) that make up the Holy Bible, ” the person said. As I did not want to appear as confrontational to spread Jesus Christ’s message, the bodily part of me said, “You can leave that comment alone because they don’t truly get behind the intent of your message.” Yet, thank the Lord for the prodding of the Holy Spirit. I did not know what I was going to say after the person flatlined refused to believe that the site would offer hope and encouragement through Jesus Christ.
Let me quote the conversation we had using social media:
“Jesus is the antichrist. You can’t offer hope and encouragement through a false image of a man, written in a Roman Pagan comic book. Stop worshipping a comic book character, and turn your eyes to God.”
Praying to Jesus Christ, the One who willingly was executed for all humanity, while I responded:
“You agree that we have a soul resonating inside us, right? If you do, I understand that you are not knowledgeable or refuse to believe in the bloody cross upon which Jesus Christ (God the Father’s Son) died physically. However, three days later, Jesus Christ resurrected even though being behind a tomb with a large rock to cover its entrance. Pilate, the Roman Governor, ordered some guards to watch the tomb 24 hours a day. But Jesus Christ rose from the grave on the 3rd day. For the Apostle Paul wrote, ‘The teaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are being lost, but to those of us who are being saved it is the power of God’ (1 Corinthians 1:18 NCV). I don’t want you to continue in your foolishness. Do you have a Bible? If you don’t, you can download one at http://www.youversion.com. If you are really interested, the true story of Jesus Christ physical life here on this earth can be found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.”
The person answered with this:
“Those are all lies. Any original texts were written and/or edited by the scribes and the Pharisees Yeshua was against. There was never a ‘Jesus.’ King James named the character ‘Jesus,’ but the man’s name was Yeshua, and he was a human being who performed zero miracles. He also was not crucified. ‘Judas’ (also named by King James) threw 30 pieces of silver down refusing to betray Yeshua. He was followed, and when they went to arrest Yeshua, he knew it was his fault, that he had been followed, and jumped in to help. Yeshua escaped and Judas was arrested and crucified in his place. Roman soldiers had to remove his body by morning, because the family would come to prepare the body from the tomb by morning, and know that it was not Yeshua. And that is why ‘Judas’ body was found in the field with his insides spilling out (from the spear on the cross and being dragged in the field). Yeshua didn’t resurrect. He just didn’t get killed that night. Religion is a lie. God didn’t write or ‘inspire’ your books, nor did He come to earth, nor send His ‘son,’ as you think of it. Books and religion are man and Satan’s creations. Christianity is Satan’s worship. You won’t hear what I am saying, but I have to say it anyway. ❤✌”
“Wow, ” I thought, “this person has seriously got some screwed up thoughts regarding Christ.” So I continued praying as the Holy Spirit was answering through me, as I said:
“I am not trying to be argumentative, but I feel the need to correct you from a non-Biblical standpoint. Just simply go to the internet or public library and see what I am saying is the truth- according to the North American Mission Board, they did an article (blog) concerning Josephus and Jesus dated 3/30/16 by Paul L. Maier, Emeritus Russell, H. Siebert Professor of Ancient History, Western Michigan University. Josephus (A.D. 37 – c. 100) was a Jewish historian born in Jerusalem 4 years after Jesus of Nazareth death on the cross. The Jewish historian had much more leeway than the writers of the 4 Gospels which granted him unfavorably good access to Roman documents. Again, due to ‘imperial patronage by the Flavian emperors in Rome-Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian-Josephus was able to generate incredible detail in his records, a luxury denied the Gospel writers.’ Yet all I can do is pray for your soul.”
The person responds:
“I take you believe Jewish historians about WW2, 911, and the genocide going on in Palestine (still going on this day). ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees.’ Yeshua actually said that. He also said, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees.’ And then you come along and treat the words of the scribes and Pharisees ( and the Pagan Emperors) as GOSPEL. Just stop it. Throw those books and ‘historians’ away. Stop worshipping Jesus. I promise you, Yeshua never sought to be worshipped and would tell you it is blasphemous if he ever saw or heard you doing it.”
I responded:
“Are you Muslim? I never encountered a personal hatred for the name of Jesus. Anyway, I will continue to pray to the name of Jesus that He will soften your heart (soul) before you physically die to the message of Christ, the perfect lamb who was led to slaughter to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles (the rest of the world) to give us access to God the Father. I pray for you!”
Then the person responded with:
“I don’t have a religion. I used to be a diehard Christian until God showed me that He didn’t write any books, or start any religions, or have any ‘chosen’ people. I did study Islam, and learned from it, but Mohamed didn’t write the Quran, just as Yeshua didn’t write the Bible. Some of his (Mohamed’s) words actually made it, though (just as some of Yeshua’s words made it). He said, ‘When it is said to them, ‘follow what God has revealed,’ they say, ‘Nay! We shall follow the ways of are fathers.’ And, ” O, People of the book!’ but no one understood him. Not even Muslims. I don’t know how to convey this message in a way that you will understand. All I can say is God never wrote or ‘inspired’ any books.”
As I prayed to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit within me would not let me give up as I said:
“How much of the Bible do you know? Well, for me, my faith has been tried, and as it turns out God won. Are you familiar with Job? He went through amazing trials to which God was silent until the end of the book. At the age of 18, I experienced a car accident which put me in a coma for a month, subsequent in-patient rehabilitation for 2 1/2 months, then staggered out-patient rehab (physical, occupational, speech) until I started college nearly 2 1/2 years past my 18th birthday. Know that I have been a Christian since the age of 7. I had a calling on my life since the age of 14 where I would go anywhere, experience anything to make the name of a God more known. I thought I was going to be a youth pastor, and so I trained under that. But are you familiar with the Scripture ‘My ways are not your way.” Well, soon after the car accident and the month-long coma, I was sitting in my room when I said to God, ‘I am through with this!’ because I thought I was in a dream-state due the coma. I said to Him, ‘By morning, if I don’t wake up out of this dream-state I know it is for real.'”
The person retorted:
“I probably read that Bible as much or more than you and your favorite pastor combined. I studied it for many years, in a place where there were few distractions, and was blessed with some really good reading comprehension. The book didn’t come from God. I promise.”
I retorted as well as saying:
“Let me respectfully disagree with you. I believe the God Himself inspired the Bible. You may not agree with me, and I guess that is your position. However, due to some extraordinary incidences that have happened in my life, I can assure you that God of the Bible, God wants a relationship with humanity, is the same God split up into 3 Holy Beings-God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit which now indwells us believers in Christ Jesus. Please go to my website under http://www.TrueLifeChristianity.com to see what God has done through my life. Look up the posting regarding Matthew 19:26 posted on February 7, 2019, or ‘Taking To The Limit’ posted on November 11, 2018. Then we can have a conversation. Ok?”
I continue:
“I have read/listened to the Bible several times with meditation. Something new speaks to me every time I take this monumental project and relate Scriptures to my life. I can relate to many people in the Bible. I can relate to Abraham in sacrificing his son, Isaac. I too can relate to Isaac willing to be sacrificed even though he did not want to be. I can relate to Moses having something wrong with his speech and doubting God’s wisdom in choosing him to lead the people out of Egypt. I also relate to Jacob when he had a wrestling match with God and suffered a limp because of that wrestling match. I can also relate to Job, the Apostles Peter and Paul, I also relate to King David and King Solomon, and the Old Testament Joseph. However, there are understandings which I don’t have, forgetting about, or something new I personally did not see when I read through the Bible before.”
“1 Peter 2:21 says this: ‘For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, LEAVING YOU AN EXAMPLE, so that you might walk in His steps’ (ESV). I have gone through suffering because I am a follower of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit which resides in me. Just take a look at my life where I was headed off to college to become a youth pastor, however, I got into an accident when I, on June 28th, 1989, I got into a car accident on the highway. I should have been dead, yet God saved me through the work of doctors, nurses, therapists, and those helping the medical staff. After three days of touch and go I was in a coma for 1 month when the hospital decided to send me to a rehabilitation hospital after I slowly awoke. During 3 weeks there, I felt like I was in a dream-state/nightmare in which I cried out to God. ‘Wake me up by morning! But just in case it is real, I know You have a purpose in all this. Give me the courage to finish well.’ Morning time came and instead of waking up in my bed at home, I was in the rehab hospital instead. Yet, miraculous things took place in my recovery, and I was able to exit the rehab hospital in 2 /2 months walking. Yes, I do have some speech problems due to expressive aphasia. Yes, I walk with a limp. Yes, others treat me different thinking I am mentally retarded. No, I have full capabilities about me although it normally takes some additional time to get tasks accomplished. Do I believe in Jesus Christ as the One who came to rescue me, you, and the rest of humanity? YES! YES!! YES!!!”
Well, hopefully that is not the last time I here from this individual on social media. But God is still pressing in upon me that I need to reach out to this person even further. Further, you think (including myself) that God can’t use you because of the restrictions that you have? The Bible is full of people who didn’t think they had it (whatever “it” is). And that is true, we are nothing without Christ who set Himself up as the example to live by (1 Peter 2:21). Will you (Christians) accept this and go out and act on it, especially with Easter in the USA coming up?
That is this week’s blog on The Challenging Aspects Of Proclaiming What You Believe-The Risen Chist…
If you do not have a Bible, then you can download it from this site:
And take a listen to music videos that place a challenge in front of you:
TrueLifeChristianity.com 