10 Reasons You Want To Have A Religion
This article is a reply to Steve Pavlina's article,10 reasons you shouldn't have a religion, posted on his website, Personal development for smart people.
I do not like the term religion as the worship of Devil as well as each other kind of worship falls under the general heading of religion, but to identify with and reprove his article which includes followers of Jesus Christ, I?ll use the term religion. Steve calls people like me or any person in any religious system simpletons, hypocrites and Morons. He is saying and I quote, When you subscribe to an established religion, you have only 2 options. You can become an idiot, or you can become a hypocrite, and then he asserts, Congratulations! You are a moron believer.
Here is the solution to Steve Pavlina's 10 Reasons You Should Not Have a Religion. It is clear that Mr. Pavlina has had some bad experiences in the Catholic faith in which he was raised, but to assume that all religion is for morons due to his limited experience is ridiculous. My experience is the opposite of Pavlina's; I so give you 10 reasons you should have a religion based totally on not only my private experience, but also on facts:
I don't think anyone would consider me a moron or fool . I graduated from a private college with a 15 acknowledgment proportion, now a university, at the very top of my class with an A- average and I am a believer in Jesus. The Bible does say however that "The fool has related in his very own heart that there is no God."
I have got many reasons in believing in Jesus but I will only share 10 here:
1. Jesus is a genuine historic figure, not some made up mythical figure. There's more to substantiate his existence from extant history than there's for Napoleon Bonaparte. All the information regarding Jesus is not form the Bible alone or from people who believed strongly in him; Josephus, a near contemporary of Jesus and a 1st century writer though seemingly a unbeliever mentions Jesus:
The works of Origen (c. 182-251 CE) which have come down to us mention Josephus referencing Jesus Christ twice. It is worth quoting both passages in full:
Flavius Josephus, who wrote the "Antiquities of the Jews" in 20 books, when wanting to exhibit the cause why the people suffered so great reversals that even the Temple was razed to the ground, said, that these things happened to them in accordance with the wrath of God in consequence of the things which they'd dared to do against James the brother of Jesus who is called Christ. And the excellent thing is that, though he didn't accept Jesus as Christ, he yet gave testimony that the righteousness of James was so great; and he says the people thought they had suffered these things because of James. (On The Book of Matthew, 1:15)
For in the 18th book of his Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus bears witness to John as having been a Baptist, and as promising purification to those that underwent the rite. Now this writer, though not believing in Jesus as the Christ, in seeking after the cause of the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple, whereas he ought to have said that the conspiracy against Jesus was the reason behind these tragedies befalling the people, since they put to death Christ, who was a foreseer, announces nevertheless-being, although against his will, not very far from the truth-that these catastrophes occurred to the Jews as a punishment for the passing of James the Just, who was a brother of Jesus (called Christ),-the Jews having put him to death, though he used to be a man most distinguished for his justice. Paul, a genuine disciple of Jesus, says that he regarded this James as a bro of the Lord, not so much on account of their relationship by blood, or of their being brought up together, as due to his virtue and doctrine. (Origen, Against Celsus, 1:47)
Jesus walked on this earth and had followers who followed him and served him. At his crucifixion all his disciples but the Apostle John deserted him in fear. The Apostle Peter betrayed him 3 times by swearing saying he did not even know him.
After the resurrection of Jesus when his disciples saw him and talked with him, their disposition modified. No. Longer did fear rule them; they stood resolutely in their belief and all but the apostle John, who stood with Jesus till the end, were martyred for their belief. John was exiled to a forsaken island to live out the remainder of his life. What fools they would have been if Jesus was simply a made up legendary personality or if in fact he did not rise from the tomb.
2. The Bible is the true word of God and hasn't ever been proven otherwise. It is my practice to read the Bible through each year and I know the Bible well and have not seen anywhere it's full of discrepancies or falsehood. It really is a book of knowledge and has the answers for each need we have. To discredit it or reject its teachings is, to my mind, true ignorance. Click here for six articles that ratify the authenticity of Scripture:
3. The change that it has made in the lives of those I have known . Just last year I met a person in Florida whose name is John and John spent 23 years of his life in a Fed. penitentiary for first degree murder. John by his very own word was a gangster. His life was filled with violence and criminal activity.
John met Jesus the savior while in prison and was paroled after 23 years and for years now he has served the Lord. He's a deacon in his church. He is concerned in helping other prisoner's transition back into civilian life after jail. He is one of the best people I know .
Another man I have known for many years was in a rock 'n roll band and a drug addict . Jesus helped him to switch his life and now he is a volunteer missionary. He volunteers his time without pay to go on mission trips. This week on Thursday he left for the Philippians and from there he'll be going to Mongolia and then on to China. Space-time won't permit me to tell you all of the stories I know about lives that have been modified by Jesus.
4. Smart folks trust in Jesus. I did a study of the presidents of the U. S. from Wikipedia, and plenty of our presidents had roots in the Christian faith. Now I don't believe that Steve Pavlina or any other person can say that our presidents have been fools and idiots because they believed in Jesus. The person that made such a statement would seem to be the moron.
I would not deny the fact that many have disgraced the name of Christianity; there have been many, and not simply from the Catholic church, but from many denominations. Even among the disciples of our Lord there was Judas who betrayed the Master for 30 pieces of silver.
People from all areas of life have proven themselves to be treacherous and deceptive and that includes the religious world also.
5. There is not any better method of true private development than when a person is right with God spiritually. I have known many that never heard about Steve Pavlina who are developed to a point so far advanced to what human teaching might have ever taken them. To grasp these kinds of folks and to experience their kindness and love for others and to call them idiots is the greatest possible contradiction of terms.
6. To understand Jesus is to know the truth , quite the opposite of what Mr. Pavlina believes. Jesus related, Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
Living in a whole world of sin, separate from the love of Christ is bondage. I don't need try and convince you of this, just read your morning newspaper or watch the 10 o'clock news and see personally. We live in a world full of hate with people in bondage to drugs, sex, malevolent offences and perversion to name a few. Knowing Jesus and worshiping him is the best management of time. The time I have spent in studying the 7, which is the beginning and closure of every day has been one of the most beneficial things I have ever done. It starts my day on a positive note especially when I add to that a period of prayer and meditation, which I always do. The time when I?ve been in a public worship service and have been lifted up by the teaching of the Bible is the most valuable hours I ever spend. There are a lot of ways to waste precious time but our presence with our Lord in worship, Bible study and prayer is not one of them. Bible. The trustworthy Christian buddies I've made, who are the best folk in all the world, is yet another reason I am grateful to know Jesus as my savior.
I am a member of an organization called Campers on Mission who volunteer their time to work for free to do fix on children's houses, orphanages as well as for folks who can't afford to do repairs themselves. I haven't begun to meet one of those people that I did not like. Their attitude and gratitude for life is amazing compared to the common public. To call these good folk morons is evil and. Shameful.
8. Knowing Jesus is freedom from fear.
That verse from the 92rd Psalm, Yea though I walk thru the valley of the shade of death I will fear no malevolent because thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me is a great comfort to the soul. I find great solace in understanding that Jesus is with me and he has comforted me when I walked thru the valley of the shadow of death with my dear spouse which was my best mate. He was there and he provided the grace I needed to continue on. I think it is Mr. Pavlina and those who he has mistakenly misled thru his writings who have something to be afraid of. When it comes time to die and stand before the creator of the Universe, what are you able to then say when he asked you, why wouldn't you suspect when you had each opportunity? 31
I am glad I know Jesus due to the dramatic difference it has made in my own life. You know, you can't know how others feel or what they experience but you can know your own heart. No, Mr. Pavlina can not know my heart; he only can know his very own experiences in the Catholic Church which I gather have been awfully bad according to what he is saying. I, on the other hand, know my experiences, and I haven't felt any of the negative things listed in his article concerning fear, being make to comply with any set of rules or becoming submissively compliant to false teaching and dogma, or feeling I have wasted my time and so on. Quite to the opposite, I have felt loved, educated, edified, blessed and nourished. There isn't any question that Steve is a very well informed person. But to put it into some kind of perspective, his understanding, like anyone else, is terribly limited. What I'm indicating is that I wonder if Mr. Pavlina has ever considered that among all of the information he doesn't have, that there just could be the understanding of having a
meaningful relationship with 0 . Is an individual simply to rely on their lonesome negative experience or their own limited data and let it dictate to them what to believe? Wisdom would let us know to go outside our own limited knowledge looking for truth lest we be cheated by our own stupidity.I would like to give credit where credit is due. Steve Pavlina really is a gifted writer who indisputably has helped lots of folks in personal development. I agree with much of what he writes, and I have absolutely no unwell will toward him. I am thankful that we are living in the great country of America where he as well as I can express our Gods freely without fear. My sole regret is that he isn't able to see past his bad experiences in belief growing up and has led many others into blunder because of it.
About the author: Jimmie Burroughs is an inspirational speaker and author who has been concerned in teaching Christian Private Development for over 30 years. There are more than 600 articles to help you on his website in your private expansion. Be certain to take vantage of the FREE offer to get the eBook The 4 Pillars for Private Development while available.
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