The Importance of Baptism in the Christian Faith

I recently read a book that described how some believers were practicing baptism:  “Generally, new converts are baptized in the ocean. Here is what happens. After the words of the baptismal covenant have been exchanged, two deacons hold the person’s hands and feet in a horizontal stretch, swing the convert back and forth, and then throw the convert into a wave ‘in the name of the Father.’ The convert is washed to shore. The deacons quickly pick up the convert and throw him or her again in the name of the Son. The convert is thrown a third time in the name of the Spirit.”

Woah. Sounds pretty crazy. One may wonder whether this avant-garde approach to baptism has any biblical support. In fact, the whole issue of baptism is surrounded by a lot of questions. “What does baptism mean? What is the proper mode of baptism? Does baptism save? Who should receive baptism?” As one of the major principles of Christianity, we must make sure that we understand baptism and know how to answer these important questions.

What’s the point of baptism anyway?

Here is a working definition of baptism:  Baptism is the event in which a believer, in obedience to Christ, publicly and symbolically identifies himself with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, thus committing to walk in newness of life. Christ commanded baptism as part of His great commission (Mt. 28:19; Mk. 16:16), and the book of Acts demonstrates the fulfillment of this command in the public baptism of new believers (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 9:18; 16:33). Genuine believers will want to obey Christ by obeying this important command. Paul teaches that through baptism, the believer identifies himself with Christ’s death (Rom. 6:3), burial (6:4), and resurrection (6:5; c.f. also taught in Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12). Thus, baptism symbolizes the believer’s “new life” (Rom. 6:4) in which he is dead to sin and alive to God (Rom. 6:6-11).

How should someone be baptized? Sprinkling? Dunking?

The question of how baptism should be administered has occupied the attention of Christians for centuries. Everyone agrees that baptism has something to do with water, but whether that involves sprinkling, pouring, or dunking is a matter of debate.

One way to solve the difficulty is to understand the meaning of the word baptism. At its root, the word baptism means to immerse. Even the occurrences and references to baptism throughout the New Testament suggest that immersion was the form of baptism that John, Jesus, and the apostles used: “They were being baptized by him in the Jordan River” (Mat. 3:6). “Immediately coming up out of the water” (Mark 1:10). “John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there” (John 3:23). “They both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him (Acts 8:38). Furthermore, the presence of many pools and baths throughout Jerusalem would have facilitated the immersion of thousands of people on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41).

The picture communicated in baptism by immersion is the only mode that matches the symbolism that baptism intends to communicate. Romans 6:3 states, “that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death.” Paul draws a similar parallel in Col. 2:12, when he writes, “having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith.” Sprinkling and pouring fail to communicate the important symbolism demanded by Scripture.

Does baptism save?

One should keep in mind that the whole of Scripture teaches that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9). It is one of the principles of Christianity that baptism is not necessary for one to be saved. Baptism is an act of obedience that should follow conversion. Only those who have personally accepted Christ as their personal Savior qualify for baptism. Peter preached “Repent and each of you be baptized” (Acts 2:38), and only “those who had received his word were baptized” (2:41).

Baptism is an important biblical doctrine. Knowing what it is, how it is practiced, and what is accomplishes is an important part of the principles of Christianity.

What the New Testament Teaches About Divine Healing

A few years ago, I was in a poor and developing nation in Africa. A prominent Christian was on a tour of Africa, preaching to thousands of people across the continent. His tour had brought him to the very city where I was staying in Sub-Saharan Africa. The event was massive. Tens of thousands of people swarmed to the huge field where the evangelist would be speaking. Hours before the event, loudspeakers were blaring deafening music. As the rally began, the speaker talked about healing. He spoke about prosperity. He spoke about a life free from trouble. He then claimed to be uttering words that had actual physical healing power.

Were his claims true? Were blind really able to see? Were the crippled really able to walk again? Were cancerous tumors removed? Were arthritic pains dissolved? Were congenital defects cured? As he declared, “I heal you now in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” was he really healing people?

In the wake of a global charismatic movement, such claims should be carefully analyzed. As you are involved in a college evangelism and Internet student ministry, it is an important part of your understanding of God’s Word. What does the New Testament teach about divine healing?

God can heal.

There is no mistaking the fact that God can heal. Jesus, who is God, healed thousands of people—paralytics, demon possessed, lepers, and many others (Matthew 12:15, Luke 6:18; 7:21; John 5:9). God is powerful, and He can heal anyone whom he chooses. The New Testament repeatedly proves this fact.

God sometimes chooses to use human instruments to heal.

In the early days of the church, God used the apostles to heal. Peter and John used the healing of a lame man to preach to thousands of Jerusalemites (Acts 4:9). Other apostles healed as part of their preaching ministry (Acts 5:16; 8:7).

God does not heal every disease.

Even though God can heal every disease, He does not choose to do so. The very existence of sickness and disease today is proof of that. Although Jesus healed thousands throughout Syria and Palestine, it is not true that every single sick person was healed. Even Paul, whose own ministry of healing and miracles is undisputed, had a physical malady (2 Corinthians 12:7). God chose not to heal Paul’s physical problem, though Paul repeatedly prayed for Him to do so.

God heals through prayer.

God never changes (Hebrews 13:8), but sometimes His methods do. Confirmatory signs were necessary in the days of the apostles, but since we now have the complete canon of Scripture healing, tongues, and other signs and wonders are not absolutely necessary for ministry to take place. Despite this possibility, it is unwise to put God in a box and say that He no longer heals. The book of James actually commands Christians, “confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16). God heals through prayer.

What a wonder that we depend upon a God who can heal! As I witnessed the massive crusade in Africa, it is possible that some were healed. However, we cannot place demands upon God that the New Testament does not justify. We need not require of God that He heal every disease. Nor should we expect that healing is the only sign of His divine favor. Rather, we can rejoice in Him and thank Him for his great power that He gifts to believers as He perfectly wills.

Learning to Live a Life for God

If you are a member of the U.S. Army, your life is committed to the cause of defending the United States of America and her allies. You spend months of your life training body and mind for the sake of becoming a better defender. You are obedient to the instructions of commanding officers in order to be organized and responsive in combat. You are prepared to give your life, if necessary, to maintain freedom.

In much the same way, a Christian is a soldier in the cause of advancing Christ’s kingdom. He or she is committed to giving everything to that cause. But what does this look like? How can Christians really live their lives for God? What does it take? What is expected?

Living a Life for God Means Learning the Bible.

You are not left without answers. The entire Christian belief system and lifestyle requirements are summed up in one book—the Bible. God’s Word is living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). It has the power to change your life as you remain obedient and submissive to it. Don’t neglect the touchstone of faith—the Bible. It is God’s love letter to you. It is your source of answers. It is the solution to life’s complexities. The Bible is God’s Word. Living for God means learning that precious book.

Living a Life for God Means Total Life Commitment.

Do you know what it’s like to live life in total abandon to one central consuming cause? That’s the Christian life. A doctor is committed to saving lives and healing bodies. A lawyer is committed to winning cases and defending justice. An athlete is committed to winning games and breaking records. A Christian is committed to passionately knowing God and giving every part of his or her life to God.

Living life for God means that you surrender to God every area of your life. If you are a student, study for God. If you are a friend, be a friend for God. Live life for God in the details. In conversation, are you making God a part of what you talk about? If you spend time on the Internet, are you involved in Internet student evangelism or some other Internet student ministries? Is there some way that you are involved in college evangelism?

If God is part of your life at all, He must be all of your life. When God called His disciples, He wasn’t calling them on a part-time job or to volunteer service on the weekends. He was asking for complete life commitment. That’s why Peter and John totally forsook their secular occupation. That’s why Luke left a lucrative white-collar job to follow the Rabbi. That’s why each of the disciples followed Christ to the very end—even when it ended in martyrdom.

Living a Life for God Means Sharing This Life with Others.

True life for God is not a private event. Life for God is lived out loud, on full display to everyone who watches. As Jesus commanded before He left the earth, “go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Paul, one of the finest examples of someone who lived his life for God, was thrown in jail for his faith. Even there, he could say, “It has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.” Nothing stopped him. Everyone knew. Do your friends know that you are a Christian? When people are around you for any amount of time, do they get the idea that you are living your life for God?

Life lived for God is not life lived in a toilsome bondage to a cruel taskmaster. Life lived for God is the only truly fulfilling way to live. (Matthew 11:29b-30: …for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light.) God calls us and He equips us, investing us with joy, power, and true fulfillment to live in total abandon to the glorious cause! Meditate on the Word of God, surrender every detail of your life to the will of God, and live in such a way that your commitment is unmistakable, contagious, and glorifying to God.

The Doctrine of the Trinity and What it Means to Me

The doctrine of the Trinity can be a totally confusing concept. One in three? Three in one? Three distinct persons? But one God? Don’t get discouraged. As a matter of fact, intellectuals, theologians, and church fathers have all been struggling with the issue of the Trinity for about two thousand years. The concept hasn’t gotten any easier over time, and God hasn’t changed at all. What is the doctrine of the Trinity? Why is it important? As you engage in college evangelism, the issue of the Trinity will come up. In the day of Internet student evangelism, Internet student ministries, and postmodern questions of reality, why should we even bother believing in the Trinity, let alone explaining it?

What is the doctrine of the Trinity?

The doctrine of the Trinity is the orthodox Christian doctrine regarding the identity of the person of God. The doctrine of the Trinity states that God is One, yet He is also three distinct persons. These three persons are labeled as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each of the three Persons is God. Each member of the Trinity is eternal. Each member of the trinity is equal to the other.

What’s the big deal about the Trinity?

Belief in the doctrine of the Trinity is important to have a truly orthodox faith. Even though the word “trinity” doesn’t actually appear in a chapter and verse, its truth is all over the pages of our Bibles. God is referred to in the plural (Genesis 1:26; 3:22). The Father, Spirit, Son, appear individually at the same time (Matthew 3:16-17). Each person of the Godhead is referred to in various passages (e.g., Matthew 28:19). Since the Trinity is a biblical doctrine, it’s a big deal.

In addition, believing in the doctrine of the Trinity is a big deal simply for the legitimacy of our faith. On the one hand, if we don’t believe in the tri of the “tri-unity,” we have no confidence in a Savior who died, a Spirit who sustains, and a God who created. However, if we fail to believe the unity of the tri-unity, than we have a multideistic religion, and confusion over who to worship and how to conduct ourselves.

How do I understand the Trinity?

There are some who think that comprehending the Trinity requires a herculean effort of the intellect. Others think that some clever analogy will help them get to that “aha!” moment of finally grasping the elusive erudition of Trinitarian cogitation. Whether it’s an egg, the states of water, or a triangle, people try to grasp the concept of a three-in-one God through different pictures. Forget it. You’ll never completely understand it. Systematic theologian Millard Erickson admitted after seventeen pages of scholarly writing: “In the final analysis, the Trinity is incomprehensible” (Systematic, 363). This does not mean that we deny it. Nor does it mean that we don’t try to understand it better. It simply means that our finite human minds are not capable of comprehending the infinite mind of God. That is reason to glory in our great God—the blessed Trinity.

As someone once said,
Try to explain it, and you’ll lose your mind;
But try to deny it, and you’ll lose your soul.

Creation Versus Evolution: A Christian Perspective

Professor 1:  “Obviously, this proves the fact that the world’s development was a result of natural processes that took millions of years. The process of evolution is an inescapable scientific conclusion based on the data.”

Professor 2:  “I don’t know what kind of evidence you need for a universal flood beyond the fossil. The real facts of science clearly point to an act of instantaneous creation by an all-powerful being.”

Creation versus evolution: two sides that have been at loggerheads for a very long time. From the scientific spadework of men like creationist Henry Morris to the intellectual assaults from men like Richard Dawkins, the controversy between creation and evolution has no end in sight. Examining the Christian perspective–without the scientific training of a Morris or the intellectual equipment of a Dawkins–how are we to respond to the creation versus evolution dilemma?

This article makes no claims to ending the creation versus evolution argument. Nor does it assume to be the conclusion to the debate. Rather, it considers the Christian perspective as well as the creation side and attempts to look a level deeper to gain some answers.

Facts, Fiction, and Disappointment

There are very strong science-backed arguments on both sides of the creation versus evolution debate. Any qualified creationist can summon a litany of arguments to bolster the creation theory. On the flip side, a trained evolutionist can also marshal convincing arguments to prove his hypothesis that the world is a result of a big bang and interminable evolutionary process. In the end—data, fossils, carbon dating methods, bones, dinosaurs, and dirt notwithstanding—scientific data is limited in its ability to answer the question. Although this goes against every grain of our modern-era dependence upon science, we must realize that scientific data is ultimately disappointing. I personally am convinced that the scientific data for a six-day creation is more trustworthy. But in the end, can we depend on science to answer the question of creationism?

Facts, Fiction and the Trump Card: Faith

Ask yourself the question—do you need science to confirm your belief in creationism? Answer that question by asking another question—do you need science to confirm your salvation? No. The Bible as the bedrock of faith is the real answer to the dilemma.

Understanding something called “presuppositions” helps to solve the dilemma. You must presuppose that the Bible is true. You believe the Bible. The Bible teaches creation, and you accept it. The evolutionist, on the other hand, does not believe that the Bible is true. His presuppositions are atheistic and naturalistic.

Presuppositions, then, are the foundational level of the debate. They are the tectonic plates, so to speak, of positions, theories, and other arguments. They are the deepest level upon which beliefs are built. Presuppositions even influence scientific research. To argue on the level of scientific evidence is to ignore the more fundamental issue in the whole debate—one’s presuppositions.

Presuppositions are not an intellectual copout. They are intellectually axiomatic. It is ultimately futile to engage in the creationism versus evolutionism debate, when you realize that you can simply get rid of the “versus” and go by faith.

Are Miracles Only for Believers?

Have you every thought about God’s attributes? God is all-powerful. God is infinitely wise. God is all knowing. God is forever. God is holy. God is love. God is all-present. God is merciful. God is gracious. God is sovereign. God is faithful. God is just. God is good. In short, God is awesome. These are some of the glorious principles of Christianity.

This awesome God is capable of working miracles. A study of God and miracles and the principles of Christianity reveals that there have been three ages of concentrated miracles: the Exodus, the prophetic ministry of Elijah and Elisha, and Jesus’ life and inauguration of the church. But as we reviewed in the list of God’s attributes above, God is amazingly powerful. No one can say that miracles are not happening today. Why would God work miracles? For believers? For nonbelievers? Let’s dig into the biblical information on God and miracles and find out if miracles are for believers or nonbelievers.

Faith and Miracles During the Exodus

During the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, God worked a lot of miracles. Beginning with God changing Moses’ staff into a snake, to the falling of manna, to water from the rock, and to the parting of the Red Sea, God was busy performing miracles. Who were these miracles for? First of all, they were for Israel. That should be obvious. God also worked miracles to impress people who were definitely not believers. Exodus 9:14 tells us that God sent plagues and worked miracles in order to tell Pharaoh, definitely an nonbeliever, that Yahweh was God alone. Thus, God worked miracles for believing Israel and for nonbelieving Pharaoh.

God and Miracles During the Ministry of Elijah and Elisha

Many miracles occurred during the ministry of two special prophets in Israel’s history—Elijah and Elisha. In God’s power, they did things like multiply food, raise people from the dead, pray fire down from heaven, divide rivers, strike people with blindness, and heal dying people. Why? For believers? In many cases, yes. But consider the very first miracle of Elijah—praying down a drought upon the land (1 Kings 17:1). That miracle was definitely for the wicked King Ahab and for the sins of unbelieving Israelites. Even Elijah’s biggest miracle—that of praying down fire upon a sacrifice—was a grand display for the nation’s false prophet club (1 Kings 18). Again, we see that the main spectators of these miracles were people who were nonbelievers, God-haters, and false prophets.

Miracles During Jesus’ Ministry and the Early Church

The next stage of miracle-intensive activity that we read about is during the life of Jesus and during the early church. Miracles were happening all the time from the hand of Jesus and then through the ministry of Peter, Paul, and other apostles. Perhaps one of Jesus’ most notable miracles was raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11). The biggest fallout from this miracle came from Jesus’ most ardent enemies—the Pharisees. For the most part, the Pharisees, even though they were religious, did not believe in Jesus at all. They were nonbelievers, and Jesus worked miracles often to their extreme anger. At the very beginning of the church, the Day of Pentecost, the disciples came out from hiding and started speaking in tongues. With this miraculous gift of communicating to everyone in their own native tongue, the apostles preached to thousands of people. Again, in this situation, the miracles were for nonbelievers.

What is the Ultimate Reason that God Works Miracles?

Ultimately, He wants to bring glory to Himself. He may do that to spread His fame to believers, but He may put His character on display to nonbelievers, too. No, nonbelievers are not miracle workers, but as nonbelievers see God work miracles, they get a perspective of the greatness of God. Those attributes of God, those core principles of Christianity, are on display when nonbelievers witness God’s miraculous work.

What Does it Mean to Honor Your Father and Mother?

• They did it again! Stupid parents. They stick their nose in every area of my life!
• If I want to date her, I should be allowed to do so. My parents don’t even know her!
• If my mom and dad would just shut up, life would be about 100 times better!
• Eighteen years of oppression was enough. Now that I’m in college, it’s time for me to call the shots.

Even if you’ve never said any of those statements verbatim, you may have thought them. It’s one of those real life issues that nearly every Christian has to deal with. Dealing with parents can be tough. You love ‘em, but you hate ‘em. You’re probably grateful for their supporting you during most of your life, but there’s got to be a time when their authority diminishes, right? How can you be an adult and still honor your father? Like other college student issues, this question requires answers from the source—the Bible.

Setting the Record Straight:  Honor Your Mother and Father

Just in case you’re wondering about what the Bible says about real life issues involving parents, here’s to setting the record straight. The Bible has a lot to say about children obeying their parents. Take this as a sample:

• Honor your father and your mother (Ex. 20:12).
• Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you (Dt. 5:16).
• For God commanded, “Honor your father and your mother” (Mt. 15:4).
• Honor your father and mother (Mt. 19:19).
• Honor your father and mother (Eph. 6:2).
• Obey your parents in everything (Col 1:20).

Unpacking the Command

“Woah, woah! I get the idea. The Bible says it way too many times. Now, tell me what it means.” True, the command is pretty bare bones. That’s what makes it so tough in the realm of college student issues. Surely, there’s some wiggle room, right? God can’t give such a stark command and then just leave us there to totally obey it, can He?

Or can He? You need to decide, but you also need to know what the command really means. After all there is no age limit in the command. The Bible never talks about an “age of accountability” when you suddenly are free from honoring mom and dad.

Honor and Obedience

There is a strong connection between honor and obedience. That’s why Paul can write “obey” in Colossians 1:20, and have it mean roughly the same thing as “honor” in the other passages. Honor and obedience go hand-in-hand. In fact, the best way to honor our parents is to obey them. Respect, reverence, thankfulness, and acknowledgement are part of honor, but so is obedience.

Obedience in the Lord

Obviously, the passage gives no indication that we should obey our parents if they tell us to do something wrong. That goes against the verses themselves as well as the whole of Scripture. We must obey our parents insofar as their instruction to us is in line with Scripture, and if their instruction is contrary to scripture, we must remain respectful–this is honoring your mother and father.

You are an Adult

Part of growing up is making your own decisions about life.  Obedience to parents is part of the package of real life issues, but things get complicated. Your parents won’t be around forever, even though they might be alive when you are forty or fifty. Is that too long to honor your parents? Not according to the Bible. However, if you have parents who attempt to control every detail of your daily life, you may wish to speak to them about this. Rather than suffer under an agonizing conscience or a painful relationship, approach them about this.

For example, you may need to tell your parents, “Mom and Dad, I’m really thankful for your guidance and love. I want to honor and obey you as the Bible tells me to do. However, as an adult, I find it very challenging to obey every detailed command that you give. I will honor you, but at the same time, I will need to make God-pleasing decisions for myself.” Most parents will be reasonable enough to give you the liberty of making your own decisions. Respectfully address the subject if it is necessary to do so.

The Bible hasn’t changed from the moment it was inspired by the Holy Spirit and penned by its authors. It’s relevant for those college student issues you face on a daily basis. God is faithful to back up His commands with His power. Depend on that, and honor your mother and father with confidence and joy.

5 Ways Accepting Jesus Can Improve Your Life

“What’s in it for me?” I must confess that’s the question I am sometimes tempted to ask before I make a decision. If I am going to choose something, it needs to improve my life, enhance my enjoyment of life, or somehow make me a better person.

It may be easy to think about Jesus in the same way. How is He going to help? Is Jesus just some ethereal being, minding His own business in heaven? Does He really have a tangible benefit for the rough-and-tumble of my daily life? Let’s ask the question. Let’s see if accepting Jesus can really improve your life.

Jesus actually gives you new life.

Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).

According to the Bible, you’re dead unless you have Jesus. Seriously, check it out (Ephesians 2:1). It’s more than an analogy. It’s a spiritual reality. The only way to gain new life is to accept Jesus. “New Life?” That’s more than just improving your life. That’s the beginning of life —-new life-— spiritual life.

Jesus causes you to fulfill your whole goal in life.

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

The Bible makes it clear that every believer’s goal in life is to glorify God. The only way to do so is to accept Jesus into your life. Think about goals for a minute. Accomplishing goals is the only thing that gives life real purpose. The believer has a goal—glorifying God. Accepting Jesus, God’s only son, is the only way you can achieve this goal. Pray to Jesus and ask Him to help you glorify God.

Jesus is the reason you can come to God.

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).

(Jesus): I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. (John 14:6)

There is little dispute over whether or not God can improve one’s life. But the only way to get to God in the first place is through Jesus Christ. As we mentioned above, accepting Jesus is the only way to glorify God. However, there is more to it than that. Jesus is the only way to God. Do you pray to Jesus? You should, because He is the only way to God. Come to God through Jesus.

Jesus totally cleans up your life.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7).

Life can get complicated, dirty, and rather unpleasant. Most of the time it’s our own fault. It’s sinful choices: bad decisions, self-centered living, and prideful actions that create a mess of life. Jesus is in the business of changing life from the inside out. He forgives sin. He banishes every bit of evil from your life, giving you a new nature. If you’ve ever longed to get “cleaned up” in an absolute and final way, Jesus is the answer.

Jesus gives you new meaning in life.

No longer should you always ask, “What’s in it for me?” Jesus gives you a new purpose for life. Now, the question you will want to ask is, “Will this glorify God?” That’s real meaning. That gives purpose to the empty feeling that you may have as you go through life.

Accepting Jesus changes everything. In fact, listing five ways that Jesus can improve your life doesn’t even begin to touch on all the ways He changes you. He doesn’t merely improve your life. He gives you a totally new life, helps you to fulfill your purpose as a human being, makes access to God possible, and cleans you from the top down. Pray to Jesus. Accept Jesus. Experience a total life transformation.

Christian Views on Abortion

She is looking at you, waiting. Her eyes are full of tears. Her face is the picture of total discouragement. Fear. Uncertainty. Her last statement, that penetrating question, is hanging in the air awkwardly. It’s begging an answer, but you don’t know what to say. You don’t know what to do. You feel her pain, and the agonizing uncertainty. Yet you have no idea how to respond to her question.

“Should I get an abortion?”

The question makes sense. With no financial resources to care for a child, a runaway boyfriend, and no parental support, abortion can be an appealing option. What about pregnancy from rape? What should a teenage girl do? Or consider the heart-rending discovery that the child you are carrying will be seriously disabled for life? Abortion is available, safe, and legal. Often, it seems to be the only way to bring a negative situation to a permanent end.

As negative and unpleasant as the subject is, it needs to be faced head-on. You cannot avoid it for the rest of your life. The subject will come up either in your life or in the life of a friend or a family member. Abortion is a volatile subject even among Christians; Christian views on abortion are not necessarily uniform. Rather than get swept into the rash decision-making of an emotional moment, you must think the issue through ahead of time.

The purpose of this article is not to push you to one side of the issue. The purpose of this article is not to go through scientific data nor rehash old arguments. The purpose of this article is to answer the question personally or to help a friend who wants abortion. Here are some thought-provoking questions to help you navigate the situation.

When Does Life Begin?

This is not the place for a medical discussion of the beginning of life. However, if your friend wants an abortion, she should understand when life begins. Is it at the moment of conception, or is it when the child comes out of the womb? You must decide this critical question, as it will influence what to say if your friend wants an abortion.

Is Abortion Murder?

Another simple question must be addressed. Is abortion really the taking of life? Is it actually killing? Some see a fetus as a mass of tissue. Is this true, or is that a fetus is actually a living human being? Is there a point at which abortion becomes murder? Is it in the third trimester? The second? The first? Is it true that sometimes life circumstances require murder, or is murder always a sin? You can see how Christian views on abortion are influenced by many factors.

Who Authored Life?

Let’s make sure that we understand the true authority in life. Is God ultimately responsible for, and thus the authority over, life? Or was conception simply a reproductive act of human beings? Are human beings charged with deciding whether a baby should live or die?

When Do Scars Heal?

A final question to consider as you grapple with the issue is a long-term issue Yes, an abortion may take place in just a few moments, but how long will the memory of that action be with you? Failing to think through the moral consequences of an abortion may lead to serious regret in the long term. No doubt there are incredible difficulties with giving birth to, raising, and living with the child. But consider the alternative, too.

The issue of abortion is not an easy one. It’s an issue of life or death. If your friend wants an abortion, give serious thought to these four simple questions, and pray for God’s guidance in the issue. He is more interested in it than you are.

How to Establish a Personal Relationship with God

Some things in life are confusing. College, wonderful as it is, just doesn’t solve all of life’s complexities. In fact, if anything, it just makes you aware of how complex the world really is. Some things, however, are pretty simple. One such simple truth is how to establish a relationship with God. For some reason, though, people get confused about it. How can someone know the truth about God? What are the correct beliefs about God? How do I, a human being, have a relationship with God, the Sovereign creator? Thankfully, establishing a personal relationship with God is neither confusing, difficult, nor perplexing. It’s a good thing, too. Because building a personal relationship with God is the most important thing that you can do in life.

A Relationship Takes Time:  Spend Time with Him.
One of the reasons why a relationship with God is so simple is because it is a relationship. And, like other relationships, it involves time. Think of it like this. You see an attractive girl on campus. You want to get to know her; you want to build a relationship. There is no way you will build a relationship without actually first meeting her and then spending a lot of time with her. That’s what a relationship takes: first meet, then spend time. In the case of the attractive girl, you just hope that she’ll want to spend time with you. In the case of God, you must first meet Him in salvation. Then, you must spend time with Him. A relationship is going to take time. A relationship is not built on an afterthought, a Sunday morning church appearance, or even a desperate “Help me out, God!” prayer before an exam. A relationship takes time.

A Relationship is Built on Knowledge:  Get to Know Him.
Like any other relationship, you must gain knowledge of the other person. God has given us an entire book—a pretty long book—that is all about Himself. In the Bible, we have everything that God wants us to know about Him. Here is where we find the truth about God. Here is where we build our beliefs about God. The Bible is all about God, and we can get to know Him by reading and meditating upon His Word.

A Relationship is Built on Intimacy:  Be Open with Him.
A relationship is never a one-way street. You can do all the talking in the world, but if the other person never responds, you will not get to know that other person. It takes some back-and-forth. God reveals Himself to us in the Bible. We must commit ourselves to God in prayer. We should confess our sins. We should give our concerns, anxieties, and worries to God. God asks from us openness, intimacy, and complete disclosure. He is the one Person whom you can trust with every one of your concerns—and you should. He can take care of them.

A Relationship is Built on Love:  Love Him with Everything You Are.
The Bible tells us that the greatest command is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). Therein is the essence of a true relationship: mutual love. God loves you. That is where the relationship had its beginning. Now, the relationship can flourish as you love God with everything you are.

A relationship with God isn’t a formulaic step-by-step process. There’s nothing mechanical or formal about it. Like any other relationship, it takes time, knowledge, disclosure and love. But unlike other human relationships, God never disappoints. Your relationship with God is the most precious, most rewarding, and most exciting relationship you can ever experience.

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