Q: Life of Pi?

Recently had to read the book Life of Pi in English. I'm kind of confused as to what my stance of the message of the book is. The main character is a "devout" Hindu, Muslim, and Christian, claiming that he "just wants to love God". However, don't the 3 religions contradict? Also, a theme of the book is "the better story"; biological truth is that humans are born, they live, and they die, and nothing beyond that can really be physically proved. It is inferred from the book that it's natural to pick "the better story" (the one with God; people having hope in Him, having love, etc.) I'm not sure what to think of this point; is it wrong to believe in God because it just seems to be more hopeful/purposeful/joyful? (I guess in a way this relates to Pascal's wager)


Life of Pi is a book full of postmodern musing and thought. Postmodernism is intellectual movement characterized - among other things - by skepticism about the knowability of "the truth." As Jean-Francois Lyotard once said, "There is an incredulity toward metanarratives." This is a fancy way of saying postmodern people have a suspicion of and disbelief in "big stories" or all-encompassing truths). Life of Pi propagates this very notion. Here is what one book review says:

Life of Pi is very much a self-conscious postmodern novel. Martel plays with postmodern skepticism about the knowability of true truth and the distinction between fact and fantasy. The book begins with an "Author's Note," purportedly about how Martel came to write his story. This is the part of the book that we instinctively understand to be factual, rather than fictional. Yet partway through, Martel, sitting in a café in Pondicherry, encounters a minor character from the story, who tells him he knows a story that will make him believe in God, and that he should look up Pi - now a middle-aged zoologist living in Toronto with his family - and hear it for himself. 

So right off the bat Martel creates doubt about whether this story is factual or fictional. He propagates this doubt all the way through the novel. Written as though it were a combination of Pi's memoirs and Martel's investigative reporting, it begins as a simple memoir of a childhood in Pondicherry amongst the zoo animals. Then it turns into a rousing adventure of survival on the high seas. However, some of Pi's later adventures begin to test the limits of your credulity. Finally it wraps up with a sequence that calls everything you have read into question.

As you have observed, the postmodern ideology found throughout Life of Pi manifests itself in Pi's religious plurality. He is a Hindu, Christian, and Muslim, and sees no conflict between these three mutually exclusive faiths. Pi's desire is to "love God" and go beyond the notion that one must commit himself to only one religion. At first glance, this sounds reasonable. After all, don't all roads to the same mountain top? Unfortunately, the answer is NO. Hinduism, Christianity and Islam contradict each other. The way to God is not a climb up a mountain, but to make it through a maze where there is a single correct path and many incorrect ones that lead to dead ends. Consider the law of non-contradiction, which says something cannot be A and non-A at the same time and in the same sense. So if we apply this law to the claims of Hinduism, Islam and Christianity, it means one is right and two are wrong or two are right and one is wrong (Islam and Hinduism claim that Jesus is not God, whereas Christianity claims He is). This is why statements such as "It’s true for you, but not true for me." It is either true or untrue. Jesus is either God or he’s not. Period.


As you can see, there is a problem when Pi claims that he only wants to love God (implying that there is no such thing as the exclusive truth: Even those that deny the exclusive nature of truth are actually making a truth claim! This is one of the major problems with postmodern thought that tells us to deny the existence of "truth." Either hinduism is right. Or Islam is right. Or Christianity is right. Or none are right. You cannot embrace all religions like Pi and have integrity. Ravi Zacharias tells us that there are four fundamental questions that every religion seeks to answer: Origin, meaning, morality and destiny. Each one of these belief systems are vastly different and therefore provide answers that contradict one another. 


Your last question, "Is it wrong to believe in God because it just seems to be more hopeful/purposeful/joyful?" is an interesting one. It is never wrong to believe in God because he does give us the only (and highest) hope, purpose and joy we desire and need. In fact, God commands us to do so (Psalm 37:4). But I must ask: What kind of God do you believe in? The god of Pi is a mix of several gods in an attempt to find the best of each one. Yet this is not how God wants us to come to Him. Faith isn't really believing in the "better story." It is believing God at his word - as he truly is; not what we THINK he should be. Listen to the conclusion of the fore-mentioned review (here, he quotes C.S. Lewis):

Faith in the Biblical sense isn't blind optimism in the "better story." It means taking God at his word: specifically, believing the Bible when it promises that the sacrificial death of Christ is sufficient to turn away the wrath of God on account of our own sins. "In other words," says Lewis, "I believe it on His authority. Don't be scared by the word authority. Believing things on authority only means believing them because you've been told them by someone you think trustworthy. Ninety-nine per cent. of the things you believe are believed on authority. . . . A man who jibbed at authority in other things as some people do in religion would have to be content to know nothing all his life." Don't let Martel's deficient understanding of faith keep you away from what is still a gripping yarn in its own right.

Hope this helps.


[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: How do you know when God is calling you forward to do something?

Great Question!  Let me answer this with two points.

1. How Can We Recognize The Voice Of God?

This has been asked by countless people throughout the ages. Samuel heard the voice of God, but did not recognize it until he was instructed by Eli (1 Samuel 3:1-10). Gideon had a physical revelation from God, and he still doubted what he had heard to the point of asking for a sign, not once, but three times (Judges 6:17-22, 36-40). When we are listening for God's voice, how can we know that He is the one speaking? 

First of all, we have something that Gideon and Samuel did not. We have the complete Bible, the inspired Word of God, to read, study, and meditate on. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). When we have a question about a certain topic or decision in our lives, we should see what the Bible has to say about it. God will never lead us or direct us contrary to what He has taught or promised in His Word (Titus 1:2).

Second, to hear God's voice we must recognize it. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Those who hear God’s voice are those who belong to Him—those who have been saved by His grace through faith in the Lord Jesus. These are the sheep that hear and recognize His voice, because they know Him as their Shepherd and they know His voice. If we are to recognize God's voice, we must belong to Him.

Third, we hear His voice when we spend time in prayer, Bible study, and quiet contemplation of His Word. The more time we spend intimately with God and His Word, the easier it is to recognize His voice and His leading in our lives. Employees at a bank are trained to recognize counterfeits by studying genuine money so closely that it is easy to spot a fake. We should be so familiar with God’s Word that when God does speak to us or lead us, it is clear that it is God. God speaks to us so that we may understand truth. While God can speak audibly to people, He speaks primarily through His Word, and sometimes through the Holy Spirit to our consciences, through circumstances, and through other people. By applying what we hear to the truth of Scripture, we can learn to recognize His voice.

2. How Can I Know When God Is Telling Me Or Leading Me To Do Something?

 
Pray!  Especially when you’re unsure of God’s will for your life. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7). If you don’t know what to pray, you can always personalize and pray verses such as, “Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul” (Psalm 143:8) and, “Guide me in Your truth and teach me” (Psalm 25:5).

The primary way God commands us is through His Word. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). If Scripture commands something of us, there’s no need to hesitate and wonder if it’s really God’s will for us. He cares so much about us that He already gave a plain and clear guidebook to life – the Bible. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). “The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7). “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word” (Psalm 119:9). Likewise, God never, ever contradicts Himself, so He’ll never ask you to something contradictory to Scripture. He will never ask you to sin. He will never ask you to do something Jesus Christ wouldn’t do. We need to immerse ourselves in the Bible, so we will know which actions meet God’s standards. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth: meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything that is written in it” (Joshua 1:8).

Christians also have the Holy Spirit to discern what is, or is not, God’s will for our lives. “The Spirit of truth . . . will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). Sometimes the Holy Spirit will either agitate our conscience if we’re making a wrong decision, or He will pacify and encourage us when we’re leaning toward the right decision. Even if He doesn’t intervene in such noticeable ways, we can have confidence that He’s always in charge. Sometimes God can alter a situation without us even realizing He has acted. “The Lord will guide you always” (Isaiah 58:11).

If God is calling you to take a leap of faith, be encouraged by His presence. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). And remember, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]

Q: Marianne Williamson quote?

My friend used this quote by Marianne Williamson:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Could you explain what it means? I used to think that it was saying you can be proud, but God opposes the proud; therefore I believed it was wrong. But my teacher explained it as using the gifts God gave us... and now I'm confused.

To understand quotes, you must first understand the person behind the quote. Marianne Williamson is a leader in the "New Thought" (or "New Age") movement which incorporates elements of Christianity, Judaism and other world religions. However, their beliefs contradict almost everything Christianity is about. For example, the movement's promotes the ideas that "Infinite Intelligence" or "God" is ubiquitous (i.e. present in all places at once), spirit is the totality of real things, true human selfhood is divine, divine thought is a force for good, all sickness originates in the mind, and 'right thinking' has a healing effect.

If you read this article, it explains exactly why these ideas are completely contradictory to Christian doctrine. I believe the biggest problem with Williamson's quote is that it assumes that people are good people with good hearts and are capable of good actions. This is simply untrue. We are not good people. We are sinful people who desperately need God's mercy and salvation. We cannot "shine" or "manifest the glory of God" unless we receive this salvation in Christ first. Once we die to ourselves, repent of our sin, trust in God's forgiveness, and live in relationship with God - then we can "shine like stars" (Philippians 2:15) and "glorify God" (Psalm 50:15). Summarily, I cannot agree with your teacher. The quote isn't really about using the gifts God has given you. It's about the nature of mankind. You are correct. God does oppose the proud (James 4:6) and this is exactly what the quote is about: Being proud of yourself and inspiring others to do the same.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: God kills?

One of my Facebook friends put this up regarding Christianity:

God kills 70,000 innocent people because David ordered a census of the people (1 Chronicles 21). God also orders the destruction of 60 cities so that the Israelites can live there. He orders the killing of all the men, women, and children of each city, and the looting of all of value (Deuteronomy 3). He orders another attack and the killing of “all the living creatures of the city: men and women, young, and old, as well as oxen sheep, and asses” (Joshua 6). In Judges 21, He orders the murder of all the people of Jabesh-gilead, except for the virgin girls who were taken to be forcibly raped and married. When they wanted more virgins, God told them to hide alongside the road and when they saw a girl they liked, kidnap her and forcibly rape her and make her your wife! Just about every other page in the Old Testament has God killing somebody! In 2 Kings 10:18-27, God orders the murder of all the worshipers of a different god in their very own church! In total God kills 371,186 people directly and orders another 1,862,265 people murdered.

So my question is: Is this true? This is scientific research. But I'm a believer and I don't think that's true. What's your opinion?

Thanks for this question. When we are faced with such bold claims, we often find ourselves doubting our Christian faith. However, if we carefully examine these claims, we'll find that they are not as rock-solid as they appear to be. Your friend's quote comes from a website - www.evilbible.com, so it's not his/her own writing. This is a clear example of propagating something that sounds true, but is untrue if you carefully examine the facts. The good news is there are plenty of sites that have already refuted the claims presented on this website. For instance, take a look at this website.

Since this particular quote talks about the God of the Bible and the killing of "innocent people," let's focus upon this issue. The first thing you'll notice is that you can really make the Bible say whatever you want it to say if you don't read things in CONTEXT.

For instance, the quote mentions 1 Chronicles 21 - God kills 70, 000 innocent people. If you actually read this passage, it tells us that though God did allow for sickness to come upon 70,000 men, he spared the rest of the city ("...but as he was about to destroy [Jerusalem], he relented" - v. 14).

Another example: Isaiah 13:16; Psalm 137:9 and Hosea 13:16 all talk about babies being thrown against rocks. What the authors fail to understand is that these verses were spoken by prophets. Prophets were charged with telling the hard truth to people and to call them to change their evil ways. If people did, judgment would be averted. A similar story is found in Jonah. Jonah is told to go and tell Ninevah they are doomed. The people repent and are spared. Jonah is even upset because of God's mercy (for more on this particular topic, read this thoughtful post).

Evilbible.com also talks about Exodus 21:1-11. But again, the authors take everything out of context and leave out the passage in the Bible that talk about the proper treatment of slaves (you can read more about slavery in the Old Testament here). The law explicitly condemned all of the following:

• Rape (Dt 22:25-27)
• Prostitution (23:17-18)
• Sex outside of marriage, whether consensual or not (Ex 22:16-17, Dt 22:28-29)
• Sex with a slave who was betrothed or married to someone else (Lev 19:20-22)

Therefore any forced intercourse would have been against both the letter and the spirit of the law.

The lesson here is to always make sure you read the passage in historical context, instead of picking verses of your choosing to support your idea. This is exactly what the authors of www.evilbible.com have done!

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That being said, we must acknowledge that there was killing in the Old Testament and it was allowed, condoned and commanded by God. There are several important things to understand:

1. As the universal Creator God is also the universal judge, to whom all people are accountable. This means that god has the right to bring whatever judgement he wants on people.

2. Since all people are sinners, we are all subject to the God's perfect judgment/justice. The folks at RationalChristianity.com offer this explanation:

The primary reason was punishment for wrongdoing. The populations of the destroyed cities had long histories of grievous sins (Gen 15:16, Dt 25:17-19), which often included sacrificing their children to false gods (Dt 12:29-31). Their consciences should have told these people they were doing wrong. Had they listened and changed their ways, they would not have been destroyed. God has said that if any nation is about to be destroyed as punishment but repents, he will forgive them and not destroy them (Jer 18:7-8). In fact, this occurred in the city of Ninevah (Jonah 3:4-10).

In the cities that were given to the Israelites as their inheritance, there was a secondary reason: totally depraved cultures were destroyed so that they would not corrupt the Israelites into committing the same evil acts (Dt 7:1-4,20:16-18). This did in fact occur: when the Israelites didn't obey God and destroy cities, they too began practicing child sacrifice (Ps 106:34-40).

Additionally, the destruction of wicked nations served as an instructive warning to contemporaries (Josh 2:1-11) and future generations (1 Cor 10:1-11).

3. There is a tension between God's sovereign will and human freedom. Just because God allows for things to happen does not mean he approves of these actions. Matt Slick (from CARM.ORG) writes:

It is worth noting that the Old Testament records many atrocities. The fact is that God allowed people their sinful desires and he worked within their culture, even as he does now, as he permits all kinds of bad things to happen. Nevertheless, God introduced what is called the Apoditic Law (Exodus 21:24): an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. The Apoditic Law was instituted to prevent the increase of blood revenge, a practice where revenge would escalate out of control between two parties. Since the hearts of the fallen are so wicked and the harsh environment and culture produced difficulties for survival, God has a few options to counter their proclivity towards evil. He can run roughshod over their free will and force everyone to obey him, or he could wipe them all out (he had already done this with Noah's flood), or he could work within the situation at hand. In the case of this psalm, and it's Babylonian captivity context, God chose to work with people and through them instead of violating the freedom he had given them and forcing them to act in a manner that he instructs.

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Hope this helps. Friend, don't buy into these false claims. Again, they may seem credible, but if you really do some research, you'll be able to refute them as many have done in the past. So I encourage you to do your research, and articulate your points well if you do encounter someone who has been influenced by these claims.

Lastly, remember to look at the person and work of Jesus. Jesus came to pay the penalty of sin FOR US. On the cross, Jesus absorbed the rightful judgment of God. And he did it because he loves us. That is a God worthy of our worship!

Pastor HM

For more information, please do read the following articles carefully. They have much more detailed explanations than I can provide and are worth your time!

1. Genocide in the Old Testament

2. Why would God order the destruction of men, women and children in the Old Testament?

3. Murder in the Old Testament

4. EvilBible is Dead

Q: If there is no heaven, will there still be Christians?

This one can be tricky to explain, but I'll try my best (!).

Scholar Dallas Willard once wrote: "The aim of God in history is the creation of an all-inclusive community of loving persons, with Himself included in that community as its prime sustainer and most glorious inhabitant."

Heaven wasn't created because God suddenly realized he needed a place to house Christians after they die. Heaven has always existed because it's the place where God lives.* Since God has no beginning and no end (Exodus 3:14), heaven has no beginning and end too.

What is heaven like? You can read more HERE.

To answer your question directly: There cannot be the absence of heaven, because that would mean there would be the absence of God.

Hope this helps!

[Answered by Pastor HM]

*In the Gospel of John, Jesus himself talked about coming "from heaven" (see chapter 6). Heaven was Jesus' home. He lived there "in the beginning" and will continue to live there forever, with those who are saved.

Q: In the Book of John, what can be derived from it to be used as guidelines for differentiating good and evil in modern times?

...As in what are the rules laid out for the people of God? And how does it apply to our daily live? If possible, how do we stay focused on this goal?



A: The answer to this question looks far beyond the Book of John, but the the whole of the New Testament.

Firstly, you have to know this. That Christ came to die on the cross, not only to give us new life, but to deliver us from the present evil age. John 17:15, it says this: Father don't take them out of the world, but keep them from evil. What this means is that although we are Christian, we live in a world that is full of evil. Christ's prayer for us, is not for God to remove us from this, but for Him to keep us away from the evil that surrounds us. Through the death of Christ, we have been given a way out...to choose good over evil.

To differentiate between good and evil is a hard one. It presents the idea of discernment and conviction. John Piper in this article, gives a great explanation as to how to make decisions when God's will isn't necessarily obvious (as in written in the Bible). I think it would give great insight to your dilemma. Please click on the link and read the article as it eloquently addresses all you are asking about.

[in case you don't have time to read it, I'll summarize. Basically, in order to tell the difference between good and evil, we have to have a "renewal of our minds". Look at this world through the eyes of God, ask Him for guidance and seek Him in all that you do. I love this passage from the Psalmist "delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart" [37:4]. When we align ourselves with God...when our heart beats for the things that God wants...He'll grant us the desires that we want to see. The idea here is that those desires are not the selfish ones (material goods, fake happiness, etc). But that those desires are ones that honour and glorify God (abolishing slavery and poverty, helping the widows and orphans). When our hearts are aligned with God, it helps us to understand and see the world through His eyes, and allows us ultimately to discern between that which is good and that which is evil. Read the article!]

Staying focused on this goal means commitment and sacrifice. We are called to be the light in this world...the good in the evil (Matthew 5:13-16). It means that we do the opposite with what the world is telling us to do...that being love ourselves only, work for ourselves only, satisfy ourselves only. Christ instead, does the exact opposite...He tells us to love others, to work for Him, and to help the poor and widowed that our outside of our community.

In order to do this, you have to establish yourself in Christ, yearn and develop a deep relationship with Him. Love the things that He loves, hate the things that He hates. And be willing to JUMP in with both feet and fully give your life as a living sacrifice to Him.


[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: How do I answer my 5 year old cousin who asked me what God is?

My little cousin (around 5 years old) recently asked me what "God" is, expecting me to have an answer, and I didn't know how to answer a question like that. How do I answer something like that next time?

I [Pastor HM] asked our children's pastor, Pastor Teresa, for her guidance and here's what she suggests. Say something like this:

God is the creator of the whole wide world. God is powerful and all-knowing. God created the world and everything in it because he enjoys making things and he wanted to be with us. God created people because he can have men and women, boys and girls, with whom he could share his love. He crated the world for them to live in and enjoy.

No one knows what God looks like because God is invisible and doesn't have a physical body as we do. But we can learn about God and see what God acts like by learning about his Son, Jesus. In the Bible we can read about how Jesus lived, how he treated people, and what he taught. This is what God is like. We can also see what God does. Balloons are filled with air that we can't see but we see the balloon get big as the air is put in. Just because we can't see God doesn't mean he isn't real. Believing that God is ther even though we can't see him is faith. Someday, in heaven, we will see God face to face.

[Answered by Pastor Teresa, Children's Pastor]

Q: Is darkness evil?

"Salut, is Darkness evil? In John and throughout, Darkness has been used as imagery to represent anti-God views, but is this application universal? Must we hate darkness? I personally like it, because it is more peaceful and you become more perceptive in it, you are hidden, and so is everything else, not to mention the immunity to UV rays!"

Bonjour! You are correct: John (and other Bible authors) often used light & darkness to describe God and evil (i.e. the absence of God). Consider John 1:5 for instance: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." Also see passages like Matthew 6:23; 8:12 and John 8:12. These verses do not teach believers to avoid dark places or to always have the lamp on in their home. So darkness is not inherently evil. It is the absence of light (see Genesis 1:2). After all, Jesus often woke up, while it was still dark, to pray (Mark 14:32)! The authors are using physical light and darkness to point to a deeper spiritual reality: God is light - the source of all energy, life and moral purity. The absence of light, i.e. darkness, represents the absence of God and therefore the absence of all things good and beautiful.

My final comment/observation in the form of a question: Why do you like being hidden? Remember, nothing is hidden from God who is the light that shines in the deepest, darkness places.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: I understand that us Christians should be excited for the return of Jesus, but is it a sin to want more time on earth?...

...Time to accomplish things such as making a family, graduating and going to places? If the world ends in 2012, does that mean that Jesus is coming in only a few years? If so, then what is the point to planning our future and going to school knowing that the world will be ending soon.


A: Thanks for sharing this thought with us! Let's break this question down a bit and we'll try to answer every little thing here.

First, the reasons of why you want more time on earth seem innocent enough. Who doesn't want to get married, have a family, travel places? I'm sure no one would argue with that. But in comparison to the coming of Christ, I would dare say that those plans (and all of our plans for that matter), pale in comparison to the glory that would be seen with Christ. I know we all want to have our time here and then go home (as in heaven) after we've had our fun. But that's not the way God works. So I would question whether you would want to honor and glorify God through that marriage, graduation or having a family. Or...do you just want to do those things because you feel as though they would bring YOU joy?

Secondm I asked myself where in the world did you get the idea that 2012 was going to be the day that the world would end? A quick google search answered that question! I understand that there are a lot of prophecies and teachings that tell us that this special day (12.12.12) would be the end times. Including a recent event in the news about a Bubble Boy and needing the money to build an undergrad lair to save him and his family. The truth is, is that we don't know when the end times would come. Jesus does not tell us exactly when He will come back.

The Bible is very clear to us as it says in Mark 13:31-33,

³²"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

We wont know when Christ will come. Through the history of time, there has always been these theories that people say will be the end of the world. But if you believe in the Bible, and you believe the Word of God as true, the above passage needs to be your standard. Don't fall for what false prophets are saying. Listen to the one that is true.

If we don't know the time or place that Christ is coming, what is the point of planning our future if there's a possible He could come tomorrow?

First of all, I think it would pain God to see all of His children being sluggards, waiting for Him to come. We have been gifted with so many things in our life...they are most definitely supposed to be used to glorify Him! Second, God's commands and His word still stands, even in our anticipation of Christ's coming. It's kind of like people arguing why we need to stop sinning if we know that we'll always be sinners and God will forgive us. Just because we know that, does that mean we can stop trying to be better Christians or stop trying to strive to be like Christ? Of course not! We still are to aim our lives as models of Christ, even though we know that we'll never achieve that perfect standard. Do you write your test with the aim to just get only 70%? No...you write it with the mentality that you want to get 100%. And when you don't, you just work harder again next time!

You'll be interested to know that in the 1st Century - during the time of Paul - people in his community felt this way also. They had just witnessed the Crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ and had heard His promise that He would be returning. And so they (people during the Apostle Paul's time), believed that He would be coming back within their lifetime. And so they prepared themselves for His 2nd arrival. Obviously, Christ had not come yet, and so they had no choice but to go on with their lives and strives to live in the example of Christ.

[This is one of the reasons why we have the written Gospels and the writings of the New Testament. The Jewish culture is a very oral culture; as in they passed down stories not in writing, but verbally. When the people saw that Christ was not coming back any time soon, they felt it was necessary to preserve the truth in writing, so that the future generations would know what really happened. Hence, we have the Gospels and the Epistles.]

Since we do not know the day or hour in which Christ will come back again, we need to simply follow the commands set out for us in the Bible and also with the example given to us with Jesus. We need to still strive to submit and follow our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Answered by Pastor Kelly J. Tam]

Q: What is Calvinism? Is Calvinism a form of sin if believed in?

This is a massive question! First, let me say Calvinism is a topic that will require many hours of study - if you really want to investigate it. Its been around for 500 years! So this blog post will only serve as a VERY brief introduction. Second, you have to know that Calvinism is very much alive . In fact, it was discussed in a recent TIME Magazine article that said it is one of the top 10 ideas changing the world right now. Calvinism is a very relevant and timely issue. Third, it is NOT a sin to believe in it. It is a belief system about God that has a great deal of biblical support and has endured the test of time.

That being said, what is it? Here is an introductory article from Challies.com. The author tells us...

"Calvinism is the theology that was a product of the Protestant Reformation and was largely defined by John Calvin (1509-1564). The doctrine emphasizes God’s omnipotence, man’s depravity and the salvation of God’s elect by grace alone."

"A Calvinist is someone who rejects the Arminian concept of free will, believing that the will of all humans is bound by their sinful nature and will remain bound until God performs His regenerative work. The two systems of theology diverge at the foundational issue of human depravity. Calvin says 'That man has the best knowledge of himself who most thoroughly knows his depravity.' Calvinism is founded on the belief that man is completely and utterly unable to make a choice to follow God because the will of the unsaved person is bound by his sinful nature."

Historically, the 5 main beliefs of Calvinism can be summarized using the acronym: TULIP

T Total depravity.
U Unconditional election
L Limited atonement
I Irresistible grace
P Perseverance of the saint

You can read a brief outline about TULIP in this article by Calvinist, Dr. John Piper. WARNING: It's long, but as I said before, Calvinism is a BIG topic.

On a side note, Calvin of the lovable duo, "Calvin and Hobbes" is named after John Calvin.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Psalm 139:8's hell

"Hey! I was reading my Bible the other night and came across Psalm 139:8, 'If I ascend into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there.' But isn't hell supposed to be void or anything good or God-related?"

To properly interpret this verse, we must understand that Psalms is a poetic book. In ancient Hebrew poetry, writers often used two pairs of opposites to illustrate a point. For example, in this verse, heaven and hell (the Hebrew word is שְׁאוֹל or "Sheol") are paired together. If you read the entire passage (i.e. Psalm 139:1-12), what the author is saying is there is nowhere in the universe that God will not be present to guide the believer (v. 7-10) and nowhere too dark for God to see him (v. 11-12). This includes everything in between heaven and hell.

Another way of understanding this verse is to understand that the word for hell here, "Sheol" has multiple meanings. According to The New Bible Dictionary (3rd ed.):

Sheol was below the surface of the earth (Ezk. 31:15, 17; Ps. 86:13), a place of dust (Jb. 17:16), darkness (Jb. 10:21), silence (Ps. 94:17) and forgetfulness (Ps. 88:12). Sometimes the distinctions of earthly life are pictured as continuing in Sheol (Is. 14:9; Ezk. 32:27), but always it is a place of weakness and joylessness.

What Psalm 139:8 is saying then is that God knows our activities, words and thoughts even if we are in the worst possible situations and places of weakness and joylessness. It does not mean that God's presence is in hell. In fact, the New Testament tells us that God's wrath remains on people while they are in hell (John 3:36). Read this article to find out more. The author answers the question, "What is God's relationship with people who are in hell?"

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: In John 15:18-19, it talks about the 'world' hating God and those who believe in Him. But how can a world hate? Humans are the ones that hate!

'Jesus explains that because the world hates him, it will hate us and his followers. I am confused on this statement as I think it gives the wrong impression of the world. Firstly, Jesus says that the World has hated him, but in the bible, Jesus was condemned by humans. Why does Jesus personify the world as an evil entity that opposes him?... The world has no biases and chooses no sides and has never hated. The idea that the world is bad, evil, [and] hateful is dangerous to the wellbeing and potential progress of this world. By Jesus' statement in John 15:1819, isn't it scapegoating the fact that humans are really the problem? Why did Jesus not condemn humanity?' [condensed]

Thanks for this in-depth question! It's good to know that these deep textual questions are being addressed and wrestled with as we attempt to learn and hear from God's Word as reveal by Scripture.

In response to this question, the answer lies in the understanding of how the word 'world' is used in this context and how it was translated. In the original Greek that was used to record what Jesus said, the word 'kosmos' is used and is translated into the English word, 'world'. Now, in a few cases, 'kosmos' means the planet and universe, but there is another meaning that is far more prominent and which the disciple John frequently used in his writings. The exegetical (understanding the word in the original context) translation of 'kosmos' in which it was written and recorded to have been said in this passage refers to the 'world inhabitants' and 'mankind'. In particular, the usage of this word often carries the additional understanding of men/women who are hostile to God and whose ways of life are opposed to His purpose.

It is the same root word that is used in John 3:16 - 'For God so loved the world...' It is understood in this passage that it refers more to God loving us, rather than God loving an unbiased planet. Similarly, the John 15 passage refers to people, and not the world in which circles the sun and where we live. In thinking through your question, you had already began to answer it without knowing. When Jesus said that if the world hates Him and us and how we do not belong to the world, it is speaking of the 'kosmos' as unbelievers and those who do not follow Him. The Son is talking about all that is world-ly (those who put the things of this world above God) as opposed to that which is heaven-ly (the eternal, which we have been saved and set apart for).

[answered by Jon, who is living in the world, but not of it]

Q: Does the Bible mention the actual creation/fall of Lucifer/Satan?

Where did Lucifer come from? How did he fall? What is the source for all of this?!

The Bible is the origin of the accounts of these events. According to the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testament make reference of Lucifer (or Satan, as he is commonly known) and consequently, his nature and fall.

Lucifer himself began as an angel created by God for His purposes. He is referenced in the Old Testament by the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah. As a warning and lament against the king of Tyre, one of the ancient cities, the word of God came through the prophet Ezekiel in the form of comparing their nation with Lucifer. In Ezekiel 28:11-15, it talks about how the devil was originally made to be a guardian cherub and he was considered one of the most beautiful, splendid, and powerful angels. Timing-wise, Lucifer was there in Eden and even possibly before the creation of the world.

Later on, in Ezekiel 28:16-19, it talks about Lucifer's fall. In fact, it wasn't much of a fall as it was God expelling the angel out of heaven. Lucifer was too prideful in his own beauty and power, looking to make himself higher than God. The prominent prophet Isaiah talks about Satan's fall in Isaiah 14:12-15. In this passage, it speaks about Lucifer as the 'morning star' (a description of beauty) and his desire to be higher than God, which ultimately ends up with him being sent down to the lowest pit.

In the New Testament, Luke 10:18 recounts Jesus telling those around him that He saw Satan being cast out of heaven. In the book of Revelation, John saw the vision of Satan and his angels waging a war in heaven, losing, and cast down into the earth. (Rev. 12:7-9)

For some more resources, all backed by Scripture, check these out:

• If you're wondering who Satan is, take a look at this link.
• To see how the Bible considers Lucifer and Satan as one and the same, check this out.
• Here is an article that gives Biblical answers to the how, when, and why Satan fell.

[Answered by Jon]

Q: Is it wrong for people to test God?

When Jesus was in the desert and had not eaten for 40 days, Satan tempted him in many ways. One was to throw himself down a cliff, as God would send His angels down to save him. In response, Jesus said to never test the Lord your God. Is it wrong for people to say, "If God does this or gives this to me, I'll believe He's real," even if he/she becomes a Christian?

This is a thought-provoking question. The passage you're talking about is found in Matthew 4:1-11 (also in Luke 4). Here Jesus is tempted three times. The second temptation is when Jesus replies with Deuteronomy 6:16, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."

How should we interpret what Jesus is saying here? To answer this question, first, let's read the passage Jesus uses to counter Satan: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, ^tas you tested him at Massah." During the exodus (see Exodus 17:1-17), we learn that the Israelites lacked water and thought they would die of thirst. Rather than trusting God in this trial they tested Him by complaining and quarreling. So when Jesus quotes Deut. 6:16, what he's doing is applying the verse to himself MEANING He refuses to play Satan's game of forcing God to work a miracle on his behalf. In the same manner, we also test God when we try to force him to do something contradictory to His Will, or when we try to push God into doing something WE WANT rather than what HE wants. It's almost as if we are trying to ask God to "prove himself" to us, when he does need or want to do such a thing.

Now, it is true there are passages like Malachi 3:10 that tell us that God can be put to the test:

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test,says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

But if you understand the context of this passage, it is actually addressing us, the reader. When we surrender everything we are and everything we have to God (i.e. when we have brought a "full tithe" to God), then we will receive such a blessing that we do not need to put God to any test! The real issue is one of humility. If you are surrounded by trials; in desperate circumstances and in utter humility, and you cry out to God, asking him for a sign to show that He is real (i.e. his presence is with you), then I believe God will answer this prayer because He is gives "grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5). But if you're selfishly telling God to prove himself to you OR ELSE you won't believe in Him, then you're being prideful and arrogant, and God will not answer that prayer. In fact, Scripture tells us he will oppose the proud (1 Peter 5:5).

That being said, I do believe there are instances when God - in his infinite love and grace - gives non-believers signs. Sometimes these signs could be the one they ask for. Sometimes they are signs they did not ask for. But they are so unmistakably powerful that one can only attribute them to God, and thus turn to Him in belief and repentance. I suppose the thing to keep in mind is that God is bigger and more powerful than any challenge you can throw at him, so throw away. Just know that He is sovereign and He will answer or not answer according to His will, not ours.

Hope this helps.

[Answered by Pastor HM]