So at work today...

1 Peter 3:15 says, "Always be prepared  to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the  hope that you have." then Peter continues on with, "But do  this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that  those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

At work today we had some discussions about denominations of faith, some random "what if's" and of course "what do you believe?" It was a completely random chain of conversations which I felt we're really good to discuss. It was especially cool that my co workers are all diverse. Here is the rough set up to fill you all in: My self, my battle buddy JV, Jessica (Church of Christ) and Steph (Agnostic/Church of Christ). 

Ah! I remember it now how this came about. A mutual acquaintance of ours came by and mentioned how he had been baptized earlier that Sunday morning. Then the question came up:

"Do you believe that baptism is a means to salvation?"

Okay, so...Church of Christ has the 5 Steps to Salvation. Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess and Baptism in order to receive the holy spirit. I grew up in a Baptist church. Apparently it was easier being Baptist because there is only 3 Steps. [lolz] Realize we have fallen short in sin, Realize that we need Jesus Christ to save us, and Receive Him as our personal Lord and savior. There's a lot of good stuff going on here, but in my opinion [don't get hurt now, just my opinion it's my blog] I believe that I am a low down dirty rotten sinner saved by grace and that a man named Jesus Christ, God's son came down, died and rose from the dead to set up a place for me in heaven. When it comes to baptism, I believe that that's not what fulfills our salvation. It's more symbolical of what changes we have enacted in our lives. I don't think God said "believe in me...but before I give you eternal life, baptize yourself...AND then...I'll give you eternal life..."

 Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his love for us, in that while we yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 10:9-10: "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth  he confesses, resulting in salvation."

Roman 10:13: "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 

So. I don't think I can go any further than that...but honestly it all boils down to that we are on the same team here! It's not my way is better than yours or mine is more justified. There's always some random debate on this subject of who's christian denomination is better. C'mon you guys...

 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?  23And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands] - Matthew 7:22-23 AMP

Worship and Live in truth. I pray that I am living what God has commissioned in my life. I hope, I try as best as I can to surrender and give it all to him. It's not easy by any means. I'm not perfect, far from it. I look to Him and thank Him for the air I breathe and the blessings He gives to me...

I am so blessed, so glad that I live in such free place to where I can go to a church that's nice with air-con and nice chairs, a coffee shop, and gift shop, I can worship, read my bible, pray aloud, jump for joy in the name of Jesus. Whether it be on the street corner, in my front yard, at work, in the car, in any public place. HOW BLESSED am I?! Really how can you not be glad to be a solider of Christ in a place so free like the United States. It's easy and that's also unfortunately the sad part. It's too easy. Are you hearing what I'm cheering?! Its sad, it's lame, it's a bunch of bull crap...that we can take it for-granted where in other places around the world people get persecuted, beaten, jailed and even murdered because they want to know or preach the gospel. What I'm trying to say is take a step back folks. Look at it. Realize some stuff here. NO EXCUSES to glorify Jesus Christ.

After several smaller conversations and people interrupting us in the drive thru, we stumbled upon Agnostic/Atheist folks. Let me say that it is possibly the most difficult kind of conversation to have depending on the person. I've had first hand encounters with someone so bent on trying to get a rise out of me instead of really wanting to at least hear my opinion. The other part of the verse in 1 Peter 3:15 I shared, "But do  this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that  those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."    Being RESPECTFUL is what I try to achieve. I know I want respect in my opinions so I respect those who have other opinions. I believe that if the spirit of Christ that is in me will find a way to bust open hearts with out me physically doing so. (it would be far to messy anyway) Cause certainly ITS NOT ME that will save someone it's the CHRIST WHO IS IN ME that will. 

Back on track...

"An agnostic believes that the nature of God and/or supernatural are unknown and unknowable by human beings, if they exist at all. An agnostic thinks it is impossible (at least now, with our current understanding of the nature of the world) to conclusively know the truth about the existence of God and the afterlife which Christianity and other religions are concerned with."(source)

and...

"An agnostic is different from an atheist, who believes, with certainty, that God does not exist. Agnostic means, literally, "does not know" (from Greek: the prefix a- means "not/without" + gnosis means "knowledge"' (source)

My approach is this: I can tell you a ton of things. It all boils down to what you think in the end. I'm not trying to be selfish or say that I don't care. Plain and simple really, take it or leave it. In the end, either I'm right and your wrong or vice versa. I'm not going to force God down someone's throat.

Faith - firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust 

It goes against all that is human nature. Exactly what Jesus did...Lived, died and rose again. Amen. 

How can I explain it? God's love. I can't. It's to overwhelming. It's by faith...To live by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7.  

This blog is unfinished...