Save Yourself Some Pain
Ten Tips for New and Growing Christians
10. Troubleshooting: Cults, Atheists, Skeptics
If you know the Lord, nothing will shake your faith. It is true that the man with an experience is not at the mercy of a man with an argument. Take for example a little boy who is looking at a heater. His father warns him that it's hot. The child says, "O.K. I believe it's hot." At that point, he has an intellectual belief that the heater is hot. When his Dad leaves the room, he says, "I wonder if it really is hot?" He then reaches out his little hand and grabs the heater bar with his fingers. The second his flesh burns he stops believing the heater is hot. He now knows it's hot! He has moved out of the realm of “faith” into the realm of “experience.”
In comes a heater expert and says, "Son, I have a B.A. in the study of heat. The heater is definitely not hot. I can prove it to you." The child would probably say, "Mister Expert, I don't care how many B.A.'s you have. I know that heater is hot—I touched it! I'm not in the realm of belief, I'm in the realm of experience. Goodbye."
If you have touched the heater bar of God's love and forgiveness, if the Holy Spirit has “born witness” that you are a child of God (Romans 8:16), if you have received the Gospel with "power, the Holy Ghost and much assurance" (1 Thessalonians 1:5), you will never be shaken by a skeptic.
When cults tell you that you must acknowledge God's name to be saved, that you must worship on a certain day that you must be baptized by an elder of their church, don't panic. Merely go back to the Instruction Manual. The Bible has all the answers, and searching them out, will make you grow.
If you feel intimidated by atheists—if you think they are “intellectuals,” read the book, God Doesn't Believe in Atheists. It will show you that they are the opposite. It will also instruct you on how you can prove God's existence, and also prove that the “atheist” doesn't exist.
Finally, the way to prevent sporting injury and pain, is to keep yourself fit. Exercise. The Apostle Paul kept fit through exercise. He said, "Herein do I exercise myself, to always have a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men" (Acts 24:16). Do the same. Listen to the voice of conscience. It's your friend, not your enemy. Remember the words of Solomon:
"Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Keep the Day of Judgment before your eyes. On that Day, you will be glad for the cultivations of a tender conscience.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope the principles expounded here have been helpful, and that any knowledge you have gained from it, will some day save you some pain.
Important principles that can save a great deal of pain
Previous…
- Feeding on the Word—Daily Nutrition
A healthy baby has a healthy appetite. If you have truly been “born” of the Spirit of God, you will have a healthy appetite…
[Read more] - Faith—Elevators Can Let You Down
…in a world where we are continually let down, we can totally rely on, trust in, count on His promises…He will never, ever, let you down…
[Read more] - Evangelism—Our Most Sobering Task
You probably have a limited amount of time after your conversion to impact your unsaved friends and family with the Gospel…Here's some advice that will save you a great deal of grief…
[Read more] - Prayer—"Wait For A Minute."
Surveys show that more than 90% of America prays daily…
Here's how to be heard: [Read more] - Warfare—Praise The Lord and Pass the Ammunition
When you became a Christian, you stepped right into the heat of an age-old battle. You have a three-fold enemy--the world, the flesh, and the devil…Let's look at these three resistant enemies…
[Read more] - Fellowship—Flutter by Butterfly
Pray about where you should fellowship…Don't become a 'spiritual butterfly.' Send your roots down…
[Read more] - Thanksgiving—Do the Right Thing
For the Christian, every day should be Thanksgiving Day. We should even be thankful in the midst of problems…
[Read more] - Water Baptism
- Supporting God’s work and workers—The Last Frontier
It was once said that the wallet is the “last frontier.” It is the final area to be conquered—the last thing that comes to God in surrender…
[Read more] - Troubleshooting: Cults, Atheists, Skeptics
Author: Ray Comfort of Living Waters Publications. From the booklet Save Yourself Some Pain. Edited by Films for Christ. Web page Copyright © 2001, Living Waters Publications, All Rights Reserved—except as noted on attached “Usage and Copyright” page.
