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Who Am I?
Topic Started: Mar 22 2014, 06:14 AM (241 Views)
S.T.Ranger
Ranger
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The Casting Crowns song comes to mind for me, with this question. The following is a questionnaire from RandomOwls' college work and is to be answered from both the perspective of the Christian and the Atheist.



1. Who am I?

(What is my purpose in the world?

What does it mean to be human?

What happens when I die?)




2. Where am I?

(What is the nature of the world around me?

What is real?

What is the meaning of history?)




3. What’s the problem?

(Why is it that I cannot attain happiness/fulfillment?

What is the nature of evil?

How do I know right from wrong?)




4. What’s the remedy?

(How can I be happy/fulfilled?

How can evil be overcome?

Do I have a future?)





This is open for anyone to comment on.

God bless.
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S.T.Ranger
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My response as a Christian:




1. Who am I?


(What is my purpose in the world?

A Preacher once said (I think it was Donald Gray Barnhouse), "The chief end of man is to glorify God."

From the moment that I heard that I knew that this was a statement that could not be contradicted nor compromised, for truly this is Man's true purpose in life. One of Man's greatest weaknesses is his self-centered nature which, in all honesty...is natural. But Christ has shown us the better way, the way which leads us to concern and compassion for our fellow man above ourselves.

Therefore my purpose in this world is to, without fail...glorify God. Understanding that we are the physical body of Christ in this world and that God seeks to minister to the world through us helps us in our efforts to yield ourselves to God that He might do so.



What does it mean to be human?

Some say derisively, "I am only human after all!" But when we look at the Creation account, we see that God created mankind wondrously. What it means to those of us born after the Fall, while we are in a fallen condition, is that we are still the product of God's crowning achievement in Creation, and going beyond that, for those that will heed the Gospel, there awaits a development in that creation which surpasses even the magnificence of Adam's creation: the glorified Saint.

On a more temporal level, to be human is to be subject to weakness, and once our condition is known to us, we strive to attain to that level of righteousness which God allows us while we are yet in these bodies. We will not be sinless, but there is no doubt that we can sin less. So the sword swings both ways: on the one hand recognition of our weakness, while on the other a careful avoidance not to let that weakness keep us from attaining to that which God has for us.

In other words, "I'm only human" is not an excuse.



What happens when I die?)

My expectation is as Paul taught: when I am no longer present with this body (my flesh), I will be present with the Lord.

I expect it to be instantaneous. I will be in God's Realm, which we call Heaven. My access to His presence is not through good deeds I have performed, nor through sin I have avoided, but through the simple fact that Christ died to pay the penalty for the sins I did not avoid, as well as the simple Bible Doctrine of Separation from God through my fallen nature.



2. Where am I?



(What is the nature of the world around me?

Fallen.

To explain that I would present the picture of a clear pond which has been muddied, a fruit tree with blossoms wilted by frost, or even a forest that has suffered fire. The problem for the natural man, that is, the one that has not been Born Again, is that when they look at the muddied pond, the wilted tree, or the burned forest...they do not see the damage. They are in large part unaware of the catastrophic results of sin and see, if you will, through rose-colored glasses. In the New Birth our eyes are opened to the reality of sin's dread effect on the world around us.

But...we also have our eyes opened to the beauty of God's ministry to Fallen Man. How we long for Christ's Return, when this fallen world will receive new life and order through His reign. Even nature itself groans, awaiting this time. Two things I witnessed that struck me with longing for that day (and this may sound silly) occurred while I was driving: a small bird had been apparently hit by a vehicle and lay on the side of the road dead. Beside the dead bird was another small bird that I suppose was awaiting his friend's arising, that they might continue in their joyous flitting about as they explored their world. This is perhaps one of the saddest things I have ever witnessed and I long for the day when death will be no more...even for the little birds. Not long after that I witnessed the same thing, except this time...it was two butterflies. But it appeared that the one still living sat there awaiting his companion, that they might carry on their joyous flitting, oblivious to the dangers of this world, merely happy to be alive and doing what was in their nature to do.

And that, friends, is a picture of the Natural Man: oblivious to the dangers of this world, their lives every moment in peril of death, unaware that the pond has been muddied, the blossoms wilted, and the forest burned up.


What is real?

In a conversation with a friend that had embraced Eastern Mysticism, James West tried to explain to him that all was not illusion. That the world is real and tangible, and that our actions have sincere consequences. His friend argued his case and James asked, "So if I ball up my fist and hit you in the face...I wouldn't really be hitting you? It would just be illusory?"

To which his friend replied, "You wouldn't do that, would you James?"

Some have embraced a "Matrix Philosophy," and it is found in numerous false religions. The truth is, and should be apparent to all, that we live in a reality where actions have consequences. Some rely on "luck," but the truth is that we make our own luck. We should be aware that our actions can have grave consequences, and usually...we know that before we act.

From the temporal perspective, what is real is that muddied pond, by which the little bird awaits his friend's rising. From the Spiritual perspective, there is a Realm which has more substance than our own. But to ignore either reality is foolhardy.


What is the meaning of history?)

It could be compared to a classroom, where lessons are learned and experience gained. And while we remember those lessons, one day the student must leave the classroom and enter into life.

Some will get so caught up in history that they inadvertently relive that history. This is especially dangerous for the Christian, as the Lord does not seek to relive a former Saint's life through us, but that Christ might live in and through us, whereby we make history...not relive it.




3. What’s the problem?



Sin.

We do not need to ask for a fallen nature, and we did not ask to be born out of relationship to God: this is simply the consequence of sin. But there is no excuse for Man to remain in that condition as God has in all Ages given to man the knowledge needed for that condition to be remedied. In this Age that knowledge has reached a peak in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His ministry towards Mankind. This truth will never be added to, never be amended, it is an Eternal Truth which all knowledge preceding it pointed to.

It cannot be stressed enough that the Lord's teaching, "Ye must be born again," is the fundamental necessity for all of Mankind. Man is born out of relationship with God, and apart from relationship with and to God through Christ...Man remains thrust out from His presence. While God will (and does) minister to Fallen Man, that is not the same as Man coming into God's presence, particularly coming into His presence in His Realm. God has come into Man's Realm, this physical universe, but man has not the capability to enter His. But Christ has, through His Sacrifice, opened up the way into the Holiest which was not available to man before His death, burial, and resurrection. By that Sacrifice He has attained Eternal Redemption for us, and made us acceptable unto God, that we might come into His presence, whether in life or death.


(Why is it that I cannot attain happiness/fulfillment?


I think that we all, for the most part, cannot attain to happiness/fulfillment, not because it is not available, but because...we seek happiness/fulfillment in the wrong things.

Again, the "chief end of man is to glorify God," and, should we set our sights on that...perhaps we would find not just happiness/fulfillment, but the joy of the Lord.

That is available to us friends.

Consider:



Psalm 37:3-5

King James Version (KJV)


3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.




A simple question: if you delight yourself in the Lord...what will the desires of your heart be?

We are to have the mind of Christ, and when that becomes a reality in our lives...we set ourselves to delighting in the Lord, which in turn leads to a sincere joy of heart in glorifying God, as the desires of our heart ever turn to, yes, you guessed it, delighting ourselves in the Lord.




What is the nature of evil?


Interesting question. We might just as well ask, "What is the wetness of water?"

For Fallen Man...it is natural in itself.

Evil is a product of sin, which is a product of an inability to obey God. God is Holy, Holy, Holy...man is not. The absence of evil can only come when righteousness is present, and complete righteousness at that! We can comprehend complete darkness, such as we might see (or not see) deep underground. Just as darkness is overcome by the most minute source of light down there, even so holiness is dispelled by the most minute amount of sin.

The only means of defining the nature of evil that we have is to compare it to the Holiness of God. Just as without light the cave is complete darkness, so too is God complete Holiness and Righteousness. Everything that falls outside of God Himself is subject to evil, and we have as our example even Angels such as Satan, Adam, and if we are all honest, every mirror we pass by and catch our reflection. While Man remains in fallen flesh, the potential for evil is ever present. And it will be a reverse of our analogy of the cave, in which we cannot insert darkness into light, that is, when we come into God's presence, in His Realm, that evil will be no more in our experience.


How do I know right from wrong?)

If asked of the Natural Man...he cannot.

If asked of the Born Again Believer...by seeking out the truth in the revelation provided us by God Himself. God sets the standard for right and wrong, righteousness and sin. While the Natural Man has been given the internal witness of God's existence and glory, as well as the ability to observe God's glory in the Creation itself, he also has that separated condition which hinders his ability to properly identify and categorize right and wrong. He declares himself a god and the judge of what is right and wrong in his little kingdom.

Some will say "I want to know God's will for my life." My friends...He has made it perfectly clear what His will for your life is. That is, in His Word. The Bible is our greatest source of coming to an understanding of the heart of God, and to ignore His Word is like unto ignoring posted speeds and warnings on the highway.


4. What’s the remedy?

Salvation through Christ, by which we are born again and made new creatures/creations, being brought into relationship with God.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Man heeds the revelation provided by God, believes, embraces Christ in faith, and is granted life through the indwelling of Christ.

What the Word of God has consistently taught man is that he is out of relationship with God due to sin, and this through our heritage. That is, we are descendants of Adam, who fell into sin through disobedience to God. Just as the baby born addicted to Crack or Heroin, or born with AIDS because of the actions of the parents, we too are born with a condition which needs to be remedied, and God has provided just such an remedy: Christ our Savior.

The Word of God teaches us that due to that nature we are born with we do not have the life of God, but are without life. Christ came to give us life, and He does so through the New Birth and indwelling of the believer. We hear the Gospel, which proclaims Man's sinful nature and his need for the remedy, and we are convicted by the Ministry of the Holy Spirit, Who does exactly what God seeks for all to do...glorify God. The Spirit of God allows man to comprehend the truth. If we return to our analogy, He opens our eyes to the muddied pond, the wilted blossoms, and the burned forest. At that moment of conviction we battle our very nature to either yield unto the truth or to reject it. I have given the illustration before of the man that is carried into an emergency room, who has died. The doctors treat the man, bringing him back to life, and when he is recovered, they advise him of a course of action that he might avoid coming to the same state again.

That is similar (though all analogies break down when trying to compare spiritual with temporal matters) to the ministry of the Comforter, for the Natural Man is dead, unconscious, and oblivious to his condition. He is dependent on the Comforter to bring him back to a conscious state where he can either yield or reject that which he is advised of, that he not return to the condition he awoke to. So too with the Natural Man, the Comforter makes him aware of his condition. That is how the Natural Man is made aware of the remedy, but what takes place after that is, like the man revived on the emergency room table, remains to be seen.


(How can I be happy/fulfilled?

Outside of Christ we will not even know where to start in finding happiness/fulfillment, because we will be seeking out the wrong things. We might think a big house, a nice car, fame, fortune, what have you...will make us happy. But the only true sense of happiness/fulfillment comes when Man fulfills that which he was created for: to glorify God.

Delight thyself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart, and the desires of your heart will of course be to delight thyself in the Lord.

The chief end of man is to glorify God, and until we truly endeavor to fulfill that which we were created for...happiness will be fleeting and leave us with the "next thing" which we have decided will make us happy. So it is not that we cannot be happy, we just need to better determine what it is that will make us happy. If the source of happiness is temporal, so too will the happiness. If the source is spiritual and eternal, then we progress, not to happiness/fulfillment, but to joy in the Lord.

You see...our personal happiness/fulfillment is inconsequential. We were not put here to find happiness/fulfillment, but to glorify God.



How can evil be overcome?

It can't be, whilst we remain in this fallen world and in fallen flesh. Not entirely, that is. It is a constant that awaits the Return of Christ, and ultimately the New Heavens and Earth.

However, that is the perspective of the War, whereas our perspective is more in terms of battles. We can overcome evil with good, and that...by allowing the Source of Good, God, to work in and through us.

We are the physical Body of Christ, Who ministers through us to a lost and dying world. Casting Crowns asked, "If we are the Body...why are his feet not going?" We have a responsibility to those that have not come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, a responsibility which began before the world was formed. It is not God's will that any should perish, and the grave responsibility given us as believers to the world should be something that takes precedence over our desire for happiness/fulfillment, just as it has for many a Christian Martyr, who, in following the example set in Christ, gave up their lives that others might live.

We have, in God's Word, the end of the story already. Evil will ultimately be thrown down, and the last enemy, Death, will be no more. Until then, we each have battles we fight, some internal, some external. If evil is overcome, it will be overcome, not by our efforts, but the efforts of He that is Holy...working through us.


Do I have a future?)

Everyone has a future.

The question is...what does that future hold? Will it be an eternal existence with God, or will it be an eternal existence of separation from God?

What does man have to do to be separated from God? One thing: be born. That's right, all men, when born, are born separated from God, having no life. God has provided the remedy through Christ, Who has died that the penalty of sin be placed on His Holy Person, rather than exacted on the rightfully deserving person, you and I. With the penalty for sin appeased, God then extends His welcome into relationship with Him, and this, again, He does by indwelling the believer. We have Eternal Life because we are indwelled by He Who is Eternal. While all have physical life, no man or woman is born with Eternal Life. This Life is in, and through...Jesus Christ.

Yes, you and I have a future, as do all. The only question that remains is what that future is going to be. It can be one of eternal communion with God, or it can be one of eternal separation.

The choice is yours.


God bless.
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theophilus
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Quote:
 
1. Who am I?

(What is my purpose in the world?

What does it mean to be human?

What happens when I die?)

Christian: I am someone who was created by God for the purpose of bringing glory to him. God has used my background, both genetic and environmental, to make me what I am today and to equip me to carry out the work he has given me to do.

To be human means to be a descendant of Adam and Eve.

When I die I will stand before God to be judged. If I have put my faith in Christ and my sins have been forgiven I will enter God's presence to remain with him eternally. If I have not been forgiven I will be condemned to spend eternity in Hell because of my sins.

Atheist: I am simply and organism that has come into existence by means of a random process of evolution. There is no purpose for my existence and when my body dies I will cease to exist.

Quote:
 
2. Where am I?

(What is the nature of the world around me?

What is real?

What is the meaning of history?)

Christian: I am living in the world God created for humans to live in. This world will end someday to be replaced by a new earth which is free from the effects of sin that make this earth imperfect.

The physical world I inhabit is real but there is also a spiritual reality that I can't perceive with my senses.

History can only be understood by realizing that God is ultimately in control of what happens.

Atheist: The world came into existence as a result of impersonal natural processes. It is only by chance that it is suited for the existence of life.

The physical universe is all that is real and history is simply a record of how people have acted.

Quote:
 

3. What’s the problem?

(Why is it that I cannot attain happiness/fulfillment?

What is the nature of evil?

How do I know right from wrong?)

Christian: We were created by God to enjoy a life of happiness and fellowship with him. We have all sinned against him and by doing so have cut ourselves off from the source of happiness.

Evil is a rejection of God and his will.

God has given us the Bible to teach us the difference between right and wrong.

Atheist: Whether we are happy or not depends on the circumstances of our life.

Some people experience painful or unpleasant lives. That is the only kind of evil that exists.

Right and wrong are arbitrary standards that people have established to govern the way we conduct our lives. Sometimes conforming to these rules can make our lives easier but otherwise they are of no importance.

Quote:
 
4. What’s the remedy?

(How can I be happy/fulfilled?

How can evil be overcome?

Do I have a future?)

Christian: The cause of all our problems is sin. Jesus Christ died and rose again to atone for our sins. If we put our faith in him so that our sins will be forgiven we will live happy and fulfilled lives and will be able to overcome evil. A future of eternal happiness lies ahead of us.

Atheist: No remedy is needed because there is no problem. Some of us are able to live happy and fulfilled lives and other aren't depending on the circumstances of our lives. There is no future beyond this life so the best thing we can do is try to find as much happiness as we can while our life continues.
Edited by theophilus, Mar 22 2014, 08:26 AM.
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S.T.Ranger
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My response as a Christian speaking for the Atheist based on conversations which I believe allows me to present a fair response of a typical response:


Quote:
 

1. Who am I?

(What is my purpose in the world?

What does it mean to be human?

What happens when I die?)



The typical mindset as to "who I am" for those that have rejected the Word of God can be summed up in a statement: I am just another animal.

It is sad that there are those that place not just an equality of man in the animal kingdom but have more concern for animals...because they, after all, are "innocent."

Man should learn his place and lose his ego, thinking himself to be of a "higher order."

One person noted of America: "America is the only country where they kill their babies and save the trees and whales."

Death brings about cessation of existence in their view, as man's conscious being is simply an electro-chemical process which, when bodily function ceases, so to does their existence.

As a side note, those that embrace Annihilation are not far off from this particular philosophy, which cannot be substantiated from the Word of God, but is in fact denied by Scripture.



Quote:
 
2. Where am I?

(What is the nature of the world around me?

What is real?

What is the meaning of history?)



The typical mindset would present a position of chance. They are where they are due to random process. The rock group Pearl Jam has a song in which it is stated

"He won the lottery,
when he was born,
big hand slapped a white male American..."

The truth is that if there ever was a stumbling block for the human race it is...prosperity.

Faith grows in the fire, not at the table.

Someone once said "Those that can survive prosperity are few (author unknown)."

But as noted in the previous post as to what makes us happy and gives us a sense of fulfillment is dependent upon our perspectives. A missionary to underprivileged children (Manna, which I highly recommend contributing to, a worthy cause) spoke of a child that was extremely proud of that which he owned...a bedroom of his own off of a dirt-floor ramshackle hut with a bed of straw.





Quote:
 

3. What’s the problem?

(Why is it that I cannot attain happiness/fulfillment?

What is the nature of evil?

How do I know right from wrong?)



Many will blame others for their misfortune. "I am not happy because of _________(fill in the blank with favored oppressor).

Evil emerges through the actions of others...never themselves.

Right and wrong depends upon their personal perspective, they decide. They have no real foundation of right and wrong, both can be changed at their whim.



Quote:
 

4. What’s the remedy?

(How can I be happy/fulfilled?

How can evil be overcome?

Do I have a future?)



I would not presume to speak for every Atheist as I have met some very conservative Atheists that would seem very much like those that hold conservative views based upon Christian Principles, but, we can see in the Liberal Atheist a "lottery mentality," in which "that one big break" is ever just over the horizon. Millions play the lottery because they feel that money is the remedy to all of their problems, despite statistics that those that "win big" often suffer tragedy.

Many Atheists believe that things will get better some day, and they, being "god" of their realms, feel that they do have a future. Within all of us I think there is a story-book mentality in which we feel we are special. "That could never happen to me," so to speak. We picture ourselves always as "the good guy" in our story, that which we deem right is right, and that which we deem wrong is wrong, thereby setting the foundation for good and evil.

My atheist friends, you do have a future, and it is not a good ending. The storybook you star in will have the surprise ending...for you.

The Word of God makes it clear we are not the "good guys" in the novels we live out, but white the opposite...we are the villains. It's a hard pill to swallow but it is true. We can, however, join the side of He that is Good, and Holy. It is as simple as yielding to the ministry of God to your heart. It will either happen one day, has happened, or is happening.

Yield today.



God bless.


Edited by S.T.Ranger, Mar 23 2014, 06:46 AM.
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Tico
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S.T.Ranger
Mar 22 2014, 06:14 AM
The Casting Crowns song comes to mind for me, with this question. The following is a questionnaire from RandomOwls' college work and is to be answered from both the perspective of the Christian and the Atheist.



1. Who am I?

(What is my purpose in the world?

What does it mean to be human?

What happens when I die?)




2. Where am I?

(What is the nature of the world around me?

What is real?

What is the meaning of history?)




3. What’s the problem?

(Why is it that I cannot attain happiness/fulfillment?

What is the nature of evil?

How do I know right from wrong?)




4. What’s the remedy?

(How can I be happy/fulfilled?

How can evil be overcome?

Do I have a future?)





This is open for anyone to comment on.

God bless.
How did you even write all that from those questions :O
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Tico
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Whoops that goes to both of you
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S.T.Ranger
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I thought brother Theophilus' was better answered. Direct and to the point.

God bless.
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Tico
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I was just short answered them while reading..... D:
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S.T.Ranger
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Tico
Apr 4 2014, 08:08 PM
I was just short answered them while reading..... D:
Slacker.

:P
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