"What If Christ Had Not Come: Tragic Loss Or No Big Deal?"

Ever wonder what life would be like if Christ had not come?

No Christ = No Christianity

No big deal some might say.

Aside from the fact that there would be no salvation, no heaven, no life after death, how has the worldwide spread of Christianity affected secular history?

"Although Greece gave western civilization much art, philosophy and literature, and Rome provided law and government," contends Barry J. Beitzel, Ph.D., contributing editor of The Nelson Study Bible, it was the Christian worldview that provided:

• the basis for modern science
• efforts to alleviate poverty
• universal education
• the ideals of equality and liberty

"The God of order and beauty provided for the view that nature was predictable and orderly. The Christian belief that all humanity is a creation of God gave a foundation to the self-evident truth of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," Beitzel insists.

"Since people are made in the image of God they are valuable apart from their station in life, amount of wealth, or utility to society. People are helped, educated and protected simply because they are made in God's image. Loss of these Christian ideals would undoubtedly be a tragic loss to the well-being of humanity," Beitzel concludes.

And he's right. Strip the world of Christianity and the world will strip humanity of its worth.

"At that time you were without Christ. Having no hope, and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12).

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

A wise man once said: "Abundant life includes salvation, eternal life, God's life. It speaks not only of endlessness, but of quality of life. With Christ, life on earth can reach much higher quality, and then in heaven it will be complete and perfect." - Barry J. Beitzel, Ph.D.

HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN!

News:

• The Washington Times: 63% of American adults want to know more about Jesus; 58% believe the Bible has "transformed" their life.
• The Guardian: Experts warn of 'serious health effects' of wildfire smoke across western U.S.
• Cape Cod Times: Enraged woman 'rams into car' sporting Trump bumper sticker; Marine veteran wearing Trump shirt violently attacked near Trump star in Hollywood. 

 

                        

"Are Christians Brainwashed?"

When you fall into bed at night, are you out like a light, dead to the world, sleeping like a log?

Nope. None of the above. Turns out we are busy 'taking out the trash' while we sleep.

A new study claims to have discovered the true reason we need to catch those Zzzzz: To clean our brains. Apparently, sleep hoses the garbage out of the brain.

Maiken Nedergaard, who led the study, says this discovery might explain why sleep is crucial for all living organisms.

"The cerebral spinal fluid flushes the brain's waste products into what is called the 'glymphatic system' which carries it down through the body and ultimately to the liver where it is broken down," writes Ian Sample of S & T Science.

Sort of like a 'biological dishwasher'.

According to Kurzweil News, "This revelation could transform scientists' understanding of the biological purpose of sleep and point to new ways to treat neurological disorders."

Seems the trash in our brains include proteins that cause Alzheimer's and dementia which need to be washed away.

"Truly, we are fearfully and wonderfully made," as Psalm 139:4 says.

But while all humans may be 'brain-washed' biologically speaking during sleep, the Bible promises those who read it in faith with an entire 'life-style lift', spiritually speaking.

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse here with the washing of the water by the Word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5: 25-27 (emphasis added).

In both the New and Old Testament (see Revelation 19:7-9; Hosea 2:29, 20) God's people are viewed as the Lord's betrothed bride.

Revelation 19:8 says, "And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints."

In other words, the bride of Christ wears a garment that signifies faithful obedience to God; we must be doers of the Word and not hearers only because:

Reading + Doing = a glorious church - spot or wrinkle

In need of a makeover? Read the Bible.

A wise man once said: "While you do not need to change your lifestyle before you come to Christ, once you do come to Christ, your lifestyle should show tangible changes. If it does not, then one could doubt whether Christ has really come into your life. The way you live should reflect what you believe." -- Pastor Greg Laurie

News:

• Washington Examiner: Wall Street expert, David John Marotta, in a memo to investors, warns of increasing chances for "fiscal and social disaster"; recommends guns, ammo in case of collapse
• MSN News: California schools prepare for transgender rights law requiring public schools to allow transgender students to use opposite sex bathrooms and locker rooms.
• NBC News: Worst ice storm in recent memory leaves a dozen dead and hundreds of thousands without power in U.S. and Canada