NowTHINK!AboutIt

Jesus Among Many Saviors, Part 4

January 13, 2014 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Saving Souls
Isn’ Hit Or Miss
With Jesus

So far we’ve described several saviors of the human variety and established that the efforts of Jesus does not repeat or conflict with those of all the human saviors. Jesus might help them but He doesn’t take over. We’ve also mentioned the one thing Jesus said He would do: save souls, which no one else can do.

Now we need to talk about how effective His work is compared to that of humans. [Read more…] about Jesus Among Many Saviors, Part 4

Jesus Among Many Saviors, Part 3

January 13, 2014 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

A soul is not immune to damage.

Some Things Can’t Be Saved
Without God’s Help

The Bible never leads us to believe God will do everything for us. If anything, it teaches just the opposite. We are assigned many functions and held responsible. There are many things we can do, or to say it another way, there are many ways in which we can and should save ourselves. That was the point of the last post.

God created us with ability and the fact that He doesn’t do everything for us is an indication He expects us to use that ability. That approach works in our favor. Taking action is one way to make life meaningful. Getting involved saves us from the emptiness that comes with wasting away.

But there is one thing Jesus does for us which no one else can do. [Read more…] about Jesus Among Many Saviors, Part 3

Jesus Among Many Saviors, Part 2

January 13, 2014 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Jesus Isn’t The Only Savior
But He Is Unique

With so many people and institutions providing life saving help for those in need, it isn’t quite accurate to say Jesus is the only Savior. But it is fair to say He is unique and that is the point of this and the following post.

When you understand the difference between Jesus and all the other saviors in the world you realize that He’s not only unique but also superior.

Let’s take a look. [Read more…] about Jesus Among Many Saviors, Part 2

Jesus Among Many Saviors, Part 1

January 13, 2014 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

The Season For Life Saving
Is Always Open
To Everyone

From an early stage in my Christian experience I was told that “Jesus is ‘THE‘ Savior not ‘A‘ Savior,” with no qualification. The meaning was obvious. There was only one Savior and Jesus was it. When said, the idea was expressed enthusiastically, with a hint of accusation.

If you didn’t agree, you were in trouble.

Needing to think about it was reason to question one’s loyalty.

Of course, in the early years I loved it and thought it was a very clever way to make a strong point. It made a great party cry for believers.

Looking back, I now realize that statement is a little misleading and smacks of religious totalitarianism.

When you think about it, and I’ve had a lot of time to do that, you realize that Jesus isn’t the only Savior. In fact, there are many saviors in the world and you really can’t get the right perspective on Jesus till you’ve given all of them due consideration.

Let’s take a look at a few. [Read more…] about Jesus Among Many Saviors, Part 1

Good Parenting: Material Provision Not Enough

January 6, 2014 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Material Provision Is Inconsequential
It Can Be Destructive

I know you’ve heard it. The parent who groans in response to a wayward child, “I provided my child a roof over their head, a shirt on their back, a good school to attend and food to eat and this is how they repay me.”

This is usually a statement of defense, not grief. Wayward children reflect badly on parents. What better way to defend the failure than to point to all the material things provided as if providing materially is all one can or need do to raise happy, healthy, reliable kids.

It’s a way of shifting blame.

The fact is, parents do provide all those things for kids and many times kids aren’t grateful. Instead, they learn to expect more and then become demanding. They don’t want just a shirt. They want a particular style and specific brand.

Since they aren’t beggars, they assume the role of choosers.

This scenario could describe many first world economies, the ones that provide everything a person’s heart could desire. The parents are the conduits through which all material things are made available. The children do all the receiving and the one-way nature of the relationship changes little over time. The parents keep doling out. The kids keep consuming.

There is a reason this becomes chronic. [Read more…] about Good Parenting: Material Provision Not Enough