It appears that several years of engineering and technology have spoiled me and made me incorrigible. And even converting to sociology has not had much effect (at least in the short term). A few weeks ago, when I mentioned in a job interview (on campus) that I still feel nostalgic when I see powerplants, the interviewer was astounded and told me that it was first time in her life seeing somebody feeling nostalgic(!?) about powerplants.
OK, I admit it: although I'm an old-fashioned guy and conservative in my personal life (worship included) and although I do not have a very high opinion about Rock music in worship, I'm drawn to all high-tech things. So, despite standing by all my criticism toward CedarCreek, in my previous posts here, here and here, I must admit that I enjoy the quality of their job (except for a technical dishonesty mentioned in my previous post). And now that their Toledo branch has opened, it's very easy for me to get there with my bike.
I'm not sure if all this sounds like explanation or justification, but when I attended their Easter service last week and found about their upcoming series, I had some incentive beyond just being in a high-tech place. They are going to address some of the frequently asked questions posed by atheists (and anti-Christians) and some of these questions are not problematic just for Christians. In an age that rationality and secularism try to push God and religion back from society, such questions are mind-boggling to all believers.
As a Muslim, I've thought and read a lot about such questions. Not only in Islamic sources, but also in Christian literature and I find the answers given to such questions more or less similar in both religions (I'd like to learn about the position of other religions). So, when I decided to attend the series in CedarCreek (and I 'm not sure if I can stand to my word, given my busy time), I was not looking for answers for myself.
It all comes back to my early confession: it was a justification to enjoy their high-tech service. And again, as I'm not a Christian, I can be objective about such worship styles and just observe (and put my comments as a sociologist). But still, hearing the explanation of these conservative guys to their modern audience would be an interesting observation to me. Back to the point.
We are all familiar with this question: if God is so loving and so merciful, why does He allow so much suffering in human life?
After the gathering songs, they began with the account of a young couple who had lost their baby to brain tumors after just seven months. Yes, only seven months. You didn't need to see the pictures of the cute lovely baby or the couple to ask yourself WHY.
Pastor Powell made it clear that he couldn't give a definite answer. So, we could put a question mark in the answer box in our worksheet. Then, he continued with his understanding from the Bible.
1. God causes everything to work together for the good (Romans 8:28). And His ways are far beyond anything we could imagine (Isaiah 55:8).
2. Reveal His love. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us (2 Corinthians 1:3). The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and rescues those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).
3. Change our priorities. Live for Him and make the Kingdom of God our primary concern (Matthew 6:25&33). God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10).
4. Prepare us to help others. Love your neighbors as yourself (Luke 10:27). He comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4).
5. Strengthen our faith. When we run into problems and trials, they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us. And character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us (Romans 5:3-5).
And these are recurrent themes in Quran. God has made it clear that He puts us to trial in different ways to determine who is patient (2:155). And for line 3, I could think of 18:46 or 34:37. And a lot of other verses in that line.
And thinking of my Bible studies at Grace Lutheran, while studying the story of Job (who is also mentioned in Quran as an exemplar of patience), I could think of another lesson. By putting His most beloved servants to such trials, He also puts conceited people to trial. When such things happen, such people (as if sure of their ultimate guaranteed salvation) begin to taunt or chide the afflicted person, assuming this is a punishment from God and they're on the safe side.
And still, I'm asking why?
OK, I admit it: although I'm an old-fashioned guy and conservative in my personal life (worship included) and although I do not have a very high opinion about Rock music in worship, I'm drawn to all high-tech things. So, despite standing by all my criticism toward CedarCreek, in my previous posts here, here and here, I must admit that I enjoy the quality of their job (except for a technical dishonesty mentioned in my previous post). And now that their Toledo branch has opened, it's very easy for me to get there with my bike.
I'm not sure if all this sounds like explanation or justification, but when I attended their Easter service last week and found about their upcoming series, I had some incentive beyond just being in a high-tech place. They are going to address some of the frequently asked questions posed by atheists (and anti-Christians) and some of these questions are not problematic just for Christians. In an age that rationality and secularism try to push God and religion back from society, such questions are mind-boggling to all believers.
As a Muslim, I've thought and read a lot about such questions. Not only in Islamic sources, but also in Christian literature and I find the answers given to such questions more or less similar in both religions (I'd like to learn about the position of other religions). So, when I decided to attend the series in CedarCreek (and I 'm not sure if I can stand to my word, given my busy time), I was not looking for answers for myself.
It all comes back to my early confession: it was a justification to enjoy their high-tech service. And again, as I'm not a Christian, I can be objective about such worship styles and just observe (and put my comments as a sociologist). But still, hearing the explanation of these conservative guys to their modern audience would be an interesting observation to me. Back to the point.
We are all familiar with this question: if God is so loving and so merciful, why does He allow so much suffering in human life?
After the gathering songs, they began with the account of a young couple who had lost their baby to brain tumors after just seven months. Yes, only seven months. You didn't need to see the pictures of the cute lovely baby or the couple to ask yourself WHY.
Pastor Powell made it clear that he couldn't give a definite answer. So, we could put a question mark in the answer box in our worksheet. Then, he continued with his understanding from the Bible.
1. God causes everything to work together for the good (Romans 8:28). And His ways are far beyond anything we could imagine (Isaiah 55:8).
2. Reveal His love. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us (2 Corinthians 1:3). The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and rescues those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).
3. Change our priorities. Live for Him and make the Kingdom of God our primary concern (Matthew 6:25&33). God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10).
4. Prepare us to help others. Love your neighbors as yourself (Luke 10:27). He comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4).
5. Strengthen our faith. When we run into problems and trials, they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us. And character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us (Romans 5:3-5).
And these are recurrent themes in Quran. God has made it clear that He puts us to trial in different ways to determine who is patient (2:155). And for line 3, I could think of 18:46 or 34:37. And a lot of other verses in that line.
And thinking of my Bible studies at Grace Lutheran, while studying the story of Job (who is also mentioned in Quran as an exemplar of patience), I could think of another lesson. By putting His most beloved servants to such trials, He also puts conceited people to trial. When such things happen, such people (as if sure of their ultimate guaranteed salvation) begin to taunt or chide the afflicted person, assuming this is a punishment from God and they're on the safe side.
And still, I'm asking why?
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