Being Found by God

I was flying into Denver a year or so back to speak at a conference. Seated next to me on the plane was a very well-dressed Muslim woman, who looked quite professional in her outfit and her demeanor. About 45 minutes away from landing, she turned to me and spoke:

“I have never met a Christian before,” she said. “Do you really believe that Jesus is God and that He died?”

I was immediately put in mind of an exam I took in seminary. It was called the “General Ordination Exam,” and was designed to test a candidate’s preparation for ordination. It covered a wide range of topics and often put them in practical, real-life situations. One section of the exam was called, “Coffee Hour Questions,” with very believable, theological questions that one might have posed to them during a coffee hour. So, this airplane test seemed to fit very well:

“You are flying into Denver seated next to an educated Muslim. Explain the incarnation and the crucifixion in a persuasive manner in under 45 minutes. Go.”

The woman, it turned out, was a medical doctor, from Saudi Arabia, flying in for a medical conference. She was genuinely curious and had never had such a conversation in her life. I knew that I would not only need to answer her question, but deal with the fact that she had been taught, all her life, things about Jesus that were simply not true (such as that He somehow escaped death on the Cross). Islamic teaching on Jesus is a mishmash of 7th century heretical gossip and confusion.

but deal with the fact that she had been taught, all her life, things about Jesus that were simply not true (such as that He somehow escaped death on the Cross).

I just responded this question on Quora:

Where does history record the corruption of the Bible Muslims claim happened?

While there are differences btwn manuscripts among the thousands that exist, and some better than others while none really change doctrine, there simply are no manuscripts that agree the multitudes of contradictions in the Quran of the Bible, both the Hebrew Scriptures[1]and the gospels[2][3] which came long before Muhammad and which he (not being able to read) affirmed and claimed to be a further revelation of.[4]

And since the Muhammad affirmed the Scriptures (being illiterate, he likely thought he was being consistent with them) and which the Quran actually depends upon (often referencing Scriptures) then they had to be faithful.

But once Islam realized the Quran contradicts the Bible then Islam had to come up with the untenable assertion that the Bible was changed wherever the Quran contradicts it.

And which would require almost a complete rewriting of the New Testament (not all of which Islam even holds to be Scripture) and substantial changes to the Hebrew scriptures - but which none of the thousands of all extant Biblical manuscripts even from before the time of Muhammad support.

Meanwhile the Quran has its own problems, despite being much smaller than the Bible (only about the size of the New Testament) and far more restrictive in its scope and historical and numerical details (which are is where most discrepancies tend to arise).

[1] Difficulties in the Qur'an

[2] JESUS CHRIST Versus Muhammad

[3] The Qur�an vs the Bible

[4] Even More Proof that Muhammad Affirmed the Holy Bible

See also The Bible versus the Qur'an

The truck pictured with this article used to sit in a parking lot along the main road from Oak Ridge to Knoxville. The many thousands passing by each day had probably learned to ignore it. I was always struck by its question, “Are you saved from the wrath of God?” which implied, in fine Penal Substitutionary logic, that God saves us from Himself. All of my life here in the South, I have seen Christian road signs of similar sentiment. I have never heard anyone speak of becoming a Christian as a result of these signs (not that it never happens).

It seems he must have a problem then with the Lord also warning that God is also a God of justice and punishment, in the light of which mercy is valued.

Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. (Luke 3:17)

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body i

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: (Mark 9:47) n hell. (Matthew 10:28)

Yes, the Lord warned of the need to be saved from God Himself who does indeed punish sinners, and by so warning the Lord appealed to man's basic sense of preservation. Although conversion requires more than simply wanting to be saved from wrath, as there must faith out of a honest contrite penitent heart, and some souls come to Christ out of other fears or due to experiencing the emptiness of sin, yet the sense of need for a savior includes realizing they is "Hell to pay" if one dies in their sins.

However, like your priest, most who profess belief in the Lord Jesus have a message that is focused to souls who already realize their need for salvation and thus disparage “Are you saved from the wrath of God?”

...of those who have found the heart’s true home. In very few instances have any of those encounters come as the result of reasoning and speech. Instead, it is as though these events occurred in their “peripheral vision.”

Yet most evangelism we see in Scripture are not what he describes - and certainly not to Catholicism - but of reasoning and speech - usually alone with miracles - from the thousands saved at Pentecost after Peter by the Holy Spirit reasoning of of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, (Jn. 16:8) culminating with warning them of being Christ's footstool/enemies; To Paul reasoning of "righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come" leaving Felix trembling if impenitent. (Acts 24:25) And to other Jews whom he "expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening." (Acts 28:23) For "Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures," (Acts 17:2) While through mighty signs and wonders making "the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed." (Romans 15:18) And Apollos "mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ." (Acts 18:28)

It is easy to tell a soul to gran a life preserver once he realizes that he is drowning, but the work of an evangelist means more than just dealing with souls well-prepared for salvation, but seeking to be an instrument of sin, righteousness and judgment so that they see their need, and are warned of the consequences of rejection. That Christ is not simply savior but Lord and judge, being "ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead," (Acts 10:42) "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." (Acts 13:41)

While conversion is not merely intellectual, and their must be sincere heart seeking, yet overall the words of your priest disparages the hard work of dealing with souls that are not ready for picking and require reasoning out of the Scriptures and speech.

Of course, since distinctive (mostly Rome's) Catholic teachings are not manifest in the only wholly inspired substantive authoritative record of what the NT church believed (which is Scripture, in particular Acts through Revelation, which best shows how the NT church understood the gospels), then it is not surprising that your priest seems to marginal such reasoning out of the scriptures.

These moments: odd conversations, signs, symbols, and sacraments are sprinkled throughout our lives. They are like bread crumbs leading us into the Kingdom of God. Never imagine that you fully understand or that the journey is complete. Wonders abound. May God find us – for we are so often lost!

It is indeed like Scripture says:

I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. (I Corinthians 3:6-8)

We may never know this side of heaven how God will use our witness - whether in what we say or how we live - to nourish a soul and bring the seeker to the knowledge of God and his eternal salvation. It's why we should be ready always to give an answer to those who ask of the reason for the hope that is within us and doing so with gentleness and respect. It is also why whatever we do in word or in deed, we do for the glory of God.

As for the sayings on the sides of trucks or along highways, "JOHN 3:16" banners at football games or "JESUS SAVES" on road signs, they will accomplish what they are designed to do. They cause a spark of a thought, a question, an idea, and God will use it to work within the heart of those who are diligently seeking Him.

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