Christian Questions Bible Podcast

October brings Autumn and Autumn brings a major change of seasons. Leaves brilliantly change color as they die, the harvesting of crops comes to its end and the colder weather sets in. It is at this time of nature “closing up shop,” this time of things dying, that Halloween and all that comes with it is celebrated. It’s funny, the origins of Halloween were based in serious concerns about the spirit world, and now it is all about fun, candy and parties. Some of the season’s most successful phenoms are zombies. Yup, Zombies. Zombies are supposed to be the undead. They terrorize the world around them with their hideous appetite and their contagiousness. What's the deal with these guys? Is there any possibility they could be real? Where has our fascination with the whole zombie thing brought us? Does the basic idea of the “undead” even fit in with biblical teaching?

We really are messed up. Just look around and observe the kinds of things we call "entertainment," and it quickly becomes obvious that human minds have an unhealthy fascination with the powers of darkness. How many movies, TV shows and online series and stories focus on dark spiritual power? How many depictions of Satan and his demons do we see and shudder at? What’s worse, computer-generated imagery can absolutely bring these things to life. Once we begin going down the imaginary road of what the demonic world might look like and feel like, it is just one more small step before we accept this imagery as a reality that is kinda cool! News flash – there is NOTHING cool about evil!

As far as I’m concerned, angels are pretty much a mystery to us.  I think that we have very limited knowledge of what goes on up there in heaven and we are just given glimpses of what angels have done here on earth at God's command.  Further, we have no strong biblical reason to believe that we should be seeking out or messaging with them here and now.  Yet, myriads of people believe in and pursue not only identifying them in their daily life, but they pursue communication with them as well.  So, who is right in all of this?  How do we go about finding the genuine “spin free” truth about these heavenly beings?  Are they here on earth?  Do they protect some or all of us?  Are we supposed to get to know them?

Faith.  It is awe inspiring in it transformative power, it is reassuring in its calming ability and it provides powerful contentment as we daily apply it.  Faith is also one of the most misunderstood, misrepresented and maligned aspects in all Christianity.  It is too easily confused with ignorant hope, and as a result, is easily dismissed by its detractors as a little fantasy in the limited minds of those who are believers.  What is faith – really?  How does it work?  Is Christian faith the same as having trust in other people?  Does it equate to the kind of trust you would have in a doctor or an attorney to act in your best interest?  Are we given Christian faith as a gift or is it something that we have to develop?

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence! As we go about the business of making our lives work, we can easily and frequently wind up looking at others around us with some level of envy. They seem to have it better than we do, they seem to be more stable or secure or more engaged than we are. These emotional and reactionary observations then give way to those gnawing feelings of “if only I had” or “if only I could” or “why does everything seem to always go their way? What we are left with is a discontented void in our hearts that yearns for fulfillment. How do we get there? As Christians, how do we fill that space with thoughts words and actions that are not envious or discouraged? How do embrace our experiences with a God-honoring and growth-oriented acceptance and outlook?
 

What is the business of Christianity? What are we here to do and how is it supposed to be accomplished? To cut through all of the rhetoric, what does it monetarily cost to follow Jesus – is it 10% of your income?  More?  How much of our Christian message, method and motivation is based – should be based - on our church's and our pastor's financial statements?  As with any issue regarding Christian belief, there are countless ways we can interpret this answer.  When Israel was established by God as His chosen nation, there was a definitive system put in place that actually supported the priesthood and the tribe of Levi.  With such a clear path of tithes and support in place, many Christians firmly believe that we as Jesus’ disciples should follow that same path.  On the other hand, many Christians believe that an entirely opposite approach is more appropriate.  So, who is right?

Leadership is a key to success in almost every part of life. When it is done well, those being led not only engage, but they have a tangible opportunity to grow and even be transformed. When done poorly, those who should be led can become apathetic, lazy and directionless. Now, we need to be careful to not confuse one who truly leads with a manager (one who simply keeps the wheels turning) or with a motivational speaker, one who excites thought but rarely incites action. Real leadership is a hybrid of these things and so much more. When it comes to spiritual leaders, the stakes are much higher, and unfortunately the results are often very disappointing. The Bible clearly teaches us what spiritual leadership is supposed to look like – and what is teaches may be shocking to most of us!

BFF.  Best Friends Forever.  These three words conjure up an image of connectedness and loyalty that any one of us would want to be a part of. Sadly, it is an image that for many will only ever remain a thought and never become a tangible reality.  Why is that?  Why are so many of us on the outside looking in when it comes to true and profound friendship?  At least one set of problems may begin with the way our social environment is structured.  Social media actually teaches us to be acquainted at a distance, to be engaged without actual interaction and to be friends by clicking, posting, following or sharing – all done as we gaze into that little electronic screen. True friendship requires so much more...and true friendship returns so much more. Let’s look at some ways we can give and receive friendship – the old fashioned way – person to person.  It just might make your life better!

The fountain of youth.  The cure for cancer.  A magic diet pill.  We would all love to have these incredible “miracles” for whatever ails us.  When Jesus walked the earth 2,000 years ago he, in a sense, was a life-changing elixir and a source of quick fixes as he healed the masses.  Who wouldn’t have wanted to be near him, for wherever he went, godliness, healing and wisdom followed.  Fast forward those two thousand years, and even though Jesus is no longer walking the earth as a man, much of Christianity is still claiming and teaching the healing of Jesus.  Should they be?  The Apostles and the early church were able to heal, so maybe we should ask why isn’t everybody doing it?  Has something changed regarding Christian miracles and faith healing?  If so, what and most importantly why?

No one ever wants to experience betrayal.  It is easily one of the most devastating life events we can imagine.  When we come face-to-face with it, it shocks, breaks and undermines much - if not all - of what we hold dear.  For many, once we are betrayed it becomes a cancer that cannot be cured, a wound that will not heal and a darkness that will not relent. Betrayal devastates us because it violates trust...and trust is sacred.  So, what do we do when we are betrayed?  How do we cope?  Is it even possible to rebuild our lives after such a disaster?  And what about those who did the betraying?  Is it possible for them to recover?  How do we get to the point of ever trusting again?