freewill

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

January 29, 2015 by Tim Sherfy

image © phoenix021 – Fotolia

We’ve discussed similar topics on this site before, but it seems that every couple of months I start hearing this question repeated over and over again. Perhaps the evil that occurs so frequently in our world prompts the question. Perhaps it comes from years of being given no or unsatisfactory answers to the question. Regardless of the reason, I am repeatedly frustrated and amazed that so many otherwise learned and respected Theologians and Pastors continue to struggle and give out such bad teaching when it comes to the question of why bad things happen to good people.

The Pursuit

December 22, 2014 by Tim Sherfy

pursuing God,God pursues us,hound of heaven,Matthew 11:29-30,Matthew 22:36-40,rules,law,love

Photo Credit: rod amaru via Compfight cc

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked to people who tell me, “Well, all religions are basically the same.” When I hear that, I know that the individual has either never explored becoming a follower of Jesus or they have been subjected to some very misleading teaching. I would grant, that at their core, most religions are the same. They all involve a deity who set some standard or demands certain rules to be obeyed and then humans are left to pursue living up to that standard or following those rules. But Christianity is different. It is the only religion that has a God that pursues humans instead of the other way around.

[Read more…] about The Pursuit

Smothering Others with Love

October 13, 2014 by Tim Sherfy

love,God's Kingdom,Kingdom of God,freewill

Photo Credit: KR1212 via Compfight cc

In the book, “Servant God”, the author writes “God’s Kingdom is not defined by conquering our enemies in battlefields or courts of law but rather through our service and love for them. God’s Kingdom spreads by persuasion and truth, not force and coercion.” How often have we gotten this wrong throughout history? How often are we still getting it wrong in our everyday lives? We confuse politics with religion, and action with faith. Our job is to love and serve others, just like Jesus did. People are won for the Kingdom of God when they recognize the futility of their own efforts and their need for something outside of themselves to save them. They turn to God when they come to understand what He sacrificed on our behalf.

Fear Sin not Death

August 25, 2014 by Tim Sherfy

fear,sin,death,tozer,aw tozer,heaven,eternity,afterlife,freewill,life after death

Photo Credit: Historias Visuales via Compfight cc

I love the following quote from A.W. Tozer; he said, “Not death, but sin, should be our great fear”. Every so often, surveys are done asking people what their greatest fears are. Death is always high on the list, and public speaking usually tops it. You’ll also see things like heights, snakes, and being confined in a small space. Not once have I ever seen sin on any poll results. Apparently sin is nothing to be afraid of in the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens. Yet sin is the only thing that can keep us from spending all of eternity with the loving God who breathed life into our very souls.

[Read more…] about Fear Sin not Death

Expanding God’s Presence in your Life

August 14, 2014 by Tim Sherfy

open theism,freewill,greg boyd,two masters,darkness and light,gods presence

Photo Credit: roujo via Compfight cc

Jesus made it clear that we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). The Bible also states that darkness cannot coincide with light (I John 1:5; John 8:12; John 12:46; 1 Thessalonians 5:5). We can’t fill our lives with darkness and expect the presence of God to be evident within us. We spend too much time pursuing our desires and counting on God to bail us out when things don’t go our way. If you’ve been following Jesus for any amount of time, you realize it doesn’t work that way. As creatures of freewill, we have the ability to limit the power and presence of God in our lives. The more we fill our lives with sin and things not of God, the less room we have for Him.