Comments on: Empty apart from God http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/08/05/empty-without-god/ A Ministry of Shepherds' Fellowship Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:54:00 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Nate B. http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/08/05/empty-without-god/comment-page-1/#comment-196040 Nate B. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:21:15 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/08/05/empty-without-god/#comment-196040 Michael, Thanks for your comment. I am sorry to hear about your niece. She is certainly living like an unbeliever. But whatever her spiritual state, we know that she is not beyond the reach of God's grace. The reality is that she knows there is God (per Romans 1 and 2), though she is starting to surpress that truth in order to alleviate the guilt she feels over her sin. Unless she turns from her sin and embraces Christ, she will probably drift further and further into doubt, as the Lord gives her over to her sinful choices. Only the Holy Spirit can truly change a person's heart. And in this case, that is exactly what your niece needs -- a change of heart. My book serves as a comprehensive survey/introduction to the most fundamental apologetic issues of the Christian faith: (1) the existence of God, (2) the reliability of the Bible, (3) the historicity of the New Testament Gospels, (4) the authenticity of Jesus Christ, and (5) the reality of the Resurrection. The fifty lines of evidence listed in the book provide a substantial (even overwhelming) case for truthfulness of the Christian faith. So, I would think it would be helpful to your niece -- at least in taking away any excuse she might have for claiming ignorance. At the very least, I would recommend the book to you as starting place for equipping yourself to talk through these issues with your niece. There are, of course, many other good books in the area of apologetics. A quick visit to our church's bookstore -- www.gbibooks.com -- will give you a helpful listing of titles to consider. Hope that helps, NB Michael,

Thanks for your comment. I am sorry to hear about your niece. She is certainly living like an unbeliever. But whatever her spiritual state, we know that she is not beyond the reach of God’s grace.

The reality is that she knows there is God (per Romans 1 and 2), though she is starting to surpress that truth in order to alleviate the guilt she feels over her sin. Unless she turns from her sin and embraces Christ, she will probably drift further and further into doubt, as the Lord gives her over to her sinful choices.

Only the Holy Spirit can truly change a person’s heart. And in this case, that is exactly what your niece needs — a change of heart.

My book serves as a comprehensive survey/introduction to the most fundamental apologetic issues of the Christian faith: (1) the existence of God, (2) the reliability of the Bible, (3) the historicity of the New Testament Gospels, (4) the authenticity of Jesus Christ, and (5) the reality of the Resurrection. The fifty lines of evidence listed in the book provide a substantial (even overwhelming) case for truthfulness of the Christian faith. So, I would think it would be helpful to your niece — at least in taking away any excuse she might have for claiming ignorance. At the very least, I would recommend the book to you as starting place for equipping yourself to talk through these issues with your niece.

There are, of course, many other good books in the area of apologetics. A quick visit to our church’s bookstore — http://www.gbibooks.com — will give you a helpful listing of titles to consider.

Hope that helps,
NB

]]> By: Michael C http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/08/05/empty-without-god/comment-page-1/#comment-195809 Michael C Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:13:17 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/08/05/empty-without-god/#comment-195809 Nathan, I have a niece who says that she no longer is sure there is a God. She is 'dating' a young man who is an atheist (actually they just moved into an apartment together). She went to church as a youth, but I highly doubt she is saved. They are both very 'artsy' and probably somewhat postmodern. I know she is into feminism. I wanted to give her a book regarding the Christian faith and the existence of God. Would your book be a good one to give her? Are there any others you would recommend? Nathan,
I have a niece who says that she no longer is sure there is a God. She is ‘dating’ a young man who is an atheist (actually they just moved into an apartment together). She went to church as a youth, but I highly doubt she is saved. They are both very ‘artsy’ and probably somewhat postmodern. I know she is into feminism. I wanted to give her a book regarding the Christian faith and the existence of God. Would your book be a good one to give her? Are there any others you would recommend?

]]> By: Terry Rayburn http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/08/05/empty-without-god/comment-page-1/#comment-195572 Terry Rayburn Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:33:08 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/08/05/empty-without-god/#comment-195572 Nathan, Really true and good. There is a corresponding emptiness even in the believer when we are not communing closely in fellowship with the Lord. When we're not drawing near to Him, in prayer, the Word, and the recognition of His radical grace and love for us, we can "feel" as empty as the world. Or if we dwell too much on the past, or too much on the future, and don't live in the present with gratitude and "practicing the presence" of the Lord, we can have what Tozer calls a "Cosmic Loneliness". As teachers, we need to not only evangelize, and teach sound doctrine, but promote the vital ongoing intimate experiential relationship with Christ. We shouldn't be doctrinally swayed by our feelings, but KNOWING the Lord is more than just KNOWING about the Lord, even for the Christian. Blessings, Terry Nathan,

Really true and good.

There is a corresponding emptiness even in the believer when we are not communing closely in fellowship with the Lord.

When we’re not drawing near to Him, in prayer, the Word, and the recognition of His radical grace and love for us, we can “feel” as empty as the world.

Or if we dwell too much on the past, or too much on the future, and don’t live in the present with gratitude and “practicing the presence” of the Lord, we can have what Tozer calls a “Cosmic Loneliness”.

As teachers, we need to not only evangelize, and teach sound doctrine, but promote the vital ongoing intimate experiential relationship with Christ.

We shouldn’t be doctrinally swayed by our feelings, but KNOWING the Lord is more than just KNOWING about the Lord, even for the Christian.

Blessings,
Terry

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