By Nneka Okumazie
Everything about the human existence is not
physical. Looks, height, color, fashion, style, hair, skin, size, etc. could be
major qualifiers of what is initially accepted, but there is more to people than
those.
Intellect [or its total extent] is not often
physical. Thoughts, beliefs, imagination and the mind are not ‘immediately’
physical. Wealth is not often physical. Voice or accent is not ‘physical’ no
matter what initial looks may assume. Taste is not physical.
Experience is not physical. Health is not often
physical. Smell is not physical. Power is not physical. Education is not
physical. Talent is not immediately physical.
There’s the world’s acceptance of what represents
pleasant: looking the part, optics, or being the model of the objective. But
physicality, applied to all for evaluation, is a thin standard.
There are all kinds of people, looking different,
but doing the most unexpected things. There is so much failure of the physical,
that it is almost always neglected in major positions.
Physicality has its goods, but there are far
superior values. Physicality is also a major problem in stereotyping people.
That is, because this individual looks like this, or appears like this, then
this should be what this person should be about.
It had and continues to cause many of the
complicated problems across the world. Also, the use of the physical to judge –
say Christianity is a major misunderstanding for nonbelievers.
GOD is a Spirit. GOD is not physical. If a person
uses the best of telescopes, there is no seeing the Almighty GOD with that.
There are physical expectations of individuals, but when applied to the Supreme
Spirit Being, it is a flawed model.
The ways of GOD are different from the ‘ways’ of
all. The questions many of the atheists ask and think there are no answers, is
because they have used the physical to box their views on the Almighty GOD.
GOD is not Science, and Heaven is not a planet.
Smarter people should have read the Scriptures to understand these, and quit
the stupid arguments.
But most times, many prominent atheists/agnostics
often have their own religion that is not Christianity and they also hate the
rules of Christianity. So while they pretend to questions Christianity, they
often have other reasons.
Boxing Christianity in the physical by atheists is different from another strategy some are using to discredit Christianity. They use the Scriptures and ask for specific things, so if it is not there, then it seems like it is unnecessary.
They don’t discuss or debate holiness or
righteousness, evangelism or edification, sanctification or consecration, they
only look for charged topics to rile people, and fault the Church of GOD.
Some would argue that Christmas is voided because it
is not in the Scriptures, OK. But when Christ was born, there was worship. If
the anniversary of His birth is assigned and made special – because of His
mission, a period to sing carols [often worship], is a great thing. There was
also celebration of Christ’s birth [with gifts].
Some also said that the name of Jesus has to be one name, and in one language. But in the book of Isaiah where the birth of Jesus was predicted, he was called several great names, which is still applicable. Jesus cannot be boxed to one name or language.
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The laws in the Old Testament were made obsolete by
Christ, but there was the fruit of the Spirit, which applied across the
Scriptures regardless of those called Christians or those who weren’t called
Christians but followed GOD.
Christ talked about giving, mentioned tithes a few
times, but he never collected tithes or asked for it Himself. But there are
several Scriptures where loving the Lord GOD or following Him, according to
what He said would mean giving to the work of GOD for witnessing, or building
Churches, or giving to the poor.
Tithing is specialized giving of commitment after
submission to GOD. It is voluntary, optional, and according to your Faith. The
moment anyone thinks tithing means cheating, or that tithing is an excuse to
sin, or that tithing can be done with illegal earnings, or tithing can be
slashed, then no need to give.It is supposed to be a seed which can be used
also for private prayers, not giving like tradition, or for optics, or to
bluster.
Christ talked about the Pharisee who boasted about
fasting twice a week – and giving tithes. Christ also talked about the
Publican, who said, ‘O GOD, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ So
repentance and humility of whatever is done for the Kingdom of GOD is more
important than a giving sacrifice, or not.
There is a box daddy freeze often tries to put
Christianity using Scriptures that underscores his aim, and makes people think
he knows the Bible, or he’s challenging others.
But there are debates he should have on
righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. The things on fleeing lust and
fornication he can never touch. His goal is to discredit Christianity,
oscillating between Books of the Bible to find what would help his
[dead-on-arrival]
arguments.
Accepting the Lord is more of a walk of Faith, Hope,
and Worship – in Spirit and in Truth. A true believer is a Child of GOD. There
are so many things others can do or say, or believe that are off-limits. It is
possible to have a weakness in praying, fasting, giving, evangelism,
Spiritually-minded, worship, etc. but does not invalidate the expectations of
the Lord on those.
Yes, there are hard times, no matter one’s Christian
Faith level. There are challenges, tests, and troubles in the world, but there
are some people who are genuine Christians, who know the GOD they serve and are
sure, because they have seen results and totally believe the Savior can save
them.
Daniel 11:32, “And such as do wickedly against the
covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God
shall be Strong, and do [Exploits].”