Every Doubt is an Opportunity

 The Greek word διακρίνω is sometimes translated into English as doubt. (Strong’s 1252) The word’s usage as doubt carries the ideas of back and forth, hesitation, wavering, misgivings, and vacillating. The second set of scriptural references below are verses which use the word in this way.  

If you have some doubts about your faith or your understanding of it, as we say in an English language idiom, “Join the club!”

Doubt is normal and is not a sin. We all struggle with some aspects of the faith and may even struggle with ourselves being worthy. Guess what, none of us are worthy. We have all sinned. We cannot be good enough. Our salvation in Christ is an unearned gift of his grace, not from anything we have done.

If you are genuinely asking questions of God, that means that you are listening. An unsaved person will not wrestle with this. Instead, they will use their doubts as an excuse to reject the faith. And many of them will contemptuously look down on us as uninformed or simple. Pray for them.

Honest doubt is much better than the pretense that we have it all figured out. God created the universe and can deal with your doubts, even very tough doubts. Just ask him to help. Search in the Bible and listen for the leading of the Holy Spirit. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask God to strengthen your faith.

People in the Bible who struggled with faith questions include Moses, David, Gideon, Thomas, and John the Baptist. The Bible shows that many experienced times of spiritual struggle.

If you are not personally struggling but now someone who is, give them encouragement. Never even hint that there is something wrong with them. Honest doubt is normal. Jude 1:22 says, “Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.”

Metal can be tempered to strengthen and harden it by exposing it to heating and cooling. The same idea applies to us.

Exodus 3 and 4; Judges 6:36–40; Psalm 13; 1 Samuel 27:1; Matthew 11:1–6; Mark 9:24; John 20:24–29; Romans 3:23,28; Acts 17:11; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Jude 1:22.

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Matthew 21:21; Mark 11:23; Romans 14:23; Acts 10:20; James 1:6, 2:4.

Will You be Ready?

Recently, I was watching an American football game, but it could have been a game in any sport and in any country.

Abruptly, the coach called for one of his primary players to come out of the game and to be replaced by one of the seldom used players.

The primary player had been performing well and the situation in the game was very important because the coach’s team was about to score. Replacing the primary player made no obvious tactical sense in terms of game strategy.

The game was being broadcasted nationally and the move by the coach was so obvious that the television commentators remarked about it but had no explanation for it.

The secondary player responded well and the team scored. On the next series of plays, the coach returned the primary player to the game. After the game the coach offered no explanation for the substitution.

The player switch could have been tactical in response to something which the coach noticed about the other team. I believe that it was something else. I think it was a teaching moment.

The coach could have been telling his substitutes to not fall asleep and to be ready to act at all times. They might only be placed into the current game once or even only once in an entire season, but, when they are called upon they are expected to be ready at that moment.

The replacement player could have been daydreaming or talking to someone and not paying attention to the game.

Instead, he went into the game and executed the duties of his assigned position. If he had not been ready, the coach would have called on someone else the next time an opportunity arose.

As Mordechai said to Esther when it was her time to be called upon: “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14. Italics added. Read the entire chapter with emphasis on verse 14. Mordechai’s implication is that God put Esther in the place where she needed to be in order to carry out his will. (Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.)

Esther 4:1-15; 1 Samuel 3:9; Isaiah 6:8; Matthew 24:42-44; Ephesians 2:10.

Ghosts!!!!!

The Bible is clear that we are surrounded by hosts of supernatural beings, both benevolent and malevolent.  A less clear question is whether or not any of these beings are what we would call “ghosts,” the disembodied spirits of dead humans.

There are numerous mentions of “ghosts” and “spirits” and an “after-life” in the Bible.  (Deuteronomy 18:9; 1 Samuel 28:7-25,  Matthew 14:25-27, 2 Corinthians 4:13-18, 5:1,6-8, 11:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 10:10, 19:30, Mark  5:1-20, 15:37-39, Luke 23:46, 24:39  1 John 4:1,  

There are various Christian interpretations which have been put forth:

1.     “Ghosts: are demons in disguise, hoping to lure us away into error.

2.     “Ghosts” are not personal beings, but are traces or ripples we leave behind in the space-time continuum., especially after intense emotional experiences.

3.      “Ghosts” are what many believe them to be, the disembodied spirits of dead humans, trapped in the material and unable to “move on.”

4.     “Ghosts” are the product of superstition or very “active imaginations.”

5.     “Ghosts” are an utter fabrication produced by persons wishing to profit in some way from gullible people.

My own take on ghosts is that they do not exist.  When we die, we immediately are in the presence of the Lord (Luke 23:43).  There is nothing in the Bible about the spirits of the dead walking the Earth.  The witch of Endor who called up Samuel the Prophet (1 Samuel 28) was shocked when he actually showed up.  She was accustomed to dealing with someone or something else.

If ghosts did exist, Christians would have no need to fear them.  We are indwelled by the Mind of Christ and demons, as well as angels, must obey us.  The demon’s only other recourse would be to run away. (James 4:7)

Below are links to sites exhiiting the world’s extreme interest in ghosts and hauntings.

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/news-seven-most-haunted-spots-earth

http://paranormal.about.com/od/hauntedplaces/ig/World-s-Most-Haunted-Place/

http://www.letitflow.com/most-haunted-places-usa/

http://inventorspot.com/articles/13_real_haunted_places_2532

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_reportedly_haunted_locations_in_the_world

One United Church of Christ pastor , The Paranormal Pastor, definitely believes in ghosts:.

http://theparanormalpastor.blogspot.com/2008/08/bible-and-paranormal-part-1-ghosts.html 

And, The Haunted Places Directory.

http://www.haunted-places.com/ 

Familial Relationships in the Bible: Abner, David, and Joab

Abner (Hebrew: "father is a lamp") was the commander in chief of King Saul's army (1 Samuel 14:50).  He was Saul's first cousin.  His father, Ner, was the brother of Kish, Saul's father.

Abner was murdered by Joab in revenge for his killing of Asahel, Joab's brother. (1 Samuel 2:12-32).  Joab was King David's nephew by his half-sister, Zeruiah (2 Samuel 8:16, 1 Chronicles 2:16)