If the facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts. Albert Einstein

Professor Einstein gave the above quote, tongue-in-cheek, but it is an apt description of how many people approach religion. Facts come along to challenge their beliefs, so they change the facts to accommodate their beliefs. We see the same thing all the time in certain areas of scientific theory, some business practices, and in the vast majority of politics.

Why do people do that? I guess I can see why some scientists teach theory as fact - if it continues their funding. I know I can see why business men “fudge” the facts a bit - if it means more profit. And, I can even see how those who profess to serve humanity in the area of government could play fast and easy with the facts - if it furthers their political ambitions.

But what I cannot figure out is why anyone would ignore the facts when itcame to their eternal soul. I know why religious leaders might, should they be jaded enough to seek a paycheck from the gullible masses for preaching what they want to hear in the first place, but why would anyone seeking salvation want to exchange the facts of the Bible for theories of religion?

The fact is that if you believe in God and you believe that the Bible is His word, then the only rational thing to do is find out what His word says and then obey it. And, should we discover that some of His facts get in the way of our pre-conceived ideas, then we need to change.

Religion – true religion – cannot be about the pride of being perceived as right, nor can it be about upholding what our ancestors believed. True religion, pure and undefiled religion, should be about finding out what God’s will is and doing it. Anything short of that is either a lie or asuperstition, and neither of these vices will get us to Heaven.

Do you believe in God? Do you believe the Bible is His infallible, inspired word? If not, you need to make sure. If you do believe these things then you better get to reading. He will tell how to be saved and how He wants you to live… and He is on your side!

“Seek and you will find.” Jesus Matthew 7:7

He has showed you, oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8, RSV

When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself. Tecumseh

The substance of a good life usually lies in the ability to appreciate the small things. While it’s true that we all have big things that we look forward to and genuinely enjoy (like that healthy new grandbaby), it’s really the accumulation of the small serendipities that make life so grand.

For instance, we’ve been a little dry in the part of the country I live in, but today we had an inch or two of wet snow. As I was out shoveling this frozen, white gold, I couldn’t help but think about all the times that I have grumbled about having to mess with the stuff. Why do we do that? Why do pray for moisture and then gripe about the work that comes with it?

Human nature, I guess, but wouldn’t life be different if we learned to look at its blessings, rather than its inconveniences?

Today, I am grateful that my wife and children are faithful to God. We have good health. We have plenty to eat. We have cars that run most of thetime. We have a wonderful church family. We have the grace of God. We have the blood of Christ. We mess up some times and slip into sin, but we have the opportunity to come back. We – every single one of us – have the opportunity to be saved, if we want to be.

I know that sometimes we are in a drought--that our loved ones are sick, that our nation has troubles. I know that many things are truly distressing in the world we live in, but we are going to win in the end…if we are on God’s side.

Though I have spent an inordinate amount of time in the past with the wasted grumblings of a selfish man too blind to see the blessings heaped right in front of his very eyes, today I am thankful… for the snow… for my family… for my Savior…

And tomorrow, I’m going to try to do the same. How about you?

Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Sir, my concern is not whether God is in our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right. Abraham Lincoln

Do you ever get mad when people challenge your way of thinking? I believe we all do because, if we are honest, we always try to think things through and choose the right way. So when somebody comes along and suggests we are wrong, it makes us mad. It makes us defensive. It makes us want to challenge their way of thinking. After all, we have never been wrong before… have we?

I used to be very defensive when it came to my Christian faith –especially when it was challenged by others who professed to be Christiansas well. I really try not that way anymore, because as the years have gone by and as I have studied the Word of God more deeply, I have found that I have been wrong before.

I have also found that the things that I was the most defensive about were often in the areas that I had the weakest defense for. And it made me angry to think that someone would be so bold as to suggest that I might be wrong – especially in areas that I had thought deeply about, had talked deeply about, and had been taught deeply about. In fact, I had deeply explored just about every avenue possible on those matters of great importance… except for reading God’s word and finding out what He had to say.

I have since come to a vital conclusion – as I suspect you also have since you are voluntarily reading an article about faith – and the conclusion is this: Challenges to my faith are good! In fact, they are necessary if I am ever to go beyond the childish desire to have God on my side and mature to the required position of being on God’s side.

So, what is it that makes you mad? Is it when someone questions the way you believe that you were saved? If so, why not study the subject in-depth? There is no area more important to your life than salvation, so why not be sure? And in doing so, if you find a Scriptural basis for your confidence, you can help the person who questioned you in the first place.

And, should we find that we are wrong, we can change! And we will change,you know, if we are wrong because we don’t want to find out at the Judgment that we sincerely believed ourselves to be on God’s side, only to find out that we were choosing our own side and expecting God to join us.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12

I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall. I Peter1:11

It is easier to believe a lie you have heard a thousand times than a truth you have never heard.

Michael Shank

There was nothing impressive about the appearance of the preacher. He was old. He had hearing aids in both ears. He certainly would not compete with the "Mega Pastors" of our day and age. He did not put on a show. He even put some people to sleep as he talked.

Yet this man, Gordon Nailer, had something that so many of the Mega Pastors will never have.

He had the truth!

And, he uttered one of the most important truths I have ever heard a preacher speak. He said, "Do you believe something about God? Put your finger on it in the Bible! If you cannot put your finger on it in the Bible, it is not worth believing."

I, both as a Christian and as one who is privileged to preach from time to time, have taken that basic truth to heart. I want you to know that I truly could care less about whether or not people believe everything I say. As a matter of fact, a good dose of healthy scepticism might be the only thing that will prevent you from being lost for all of eternity. I have no desire to be "perceived of being right" if I am wrong. Do you?

As a Christian, you should fear and loathe any preacher who would rather tell a lie that is popularly accepted, than a truth that is unpopular or inconsistent with the doctrines of the people of their denomination. These loathsome men are easy to identify: They get mad when their beliefs are challenged, and will clearly let you know that your understanding is just not up to the wisdom of their educated minds.

On the other hand, the humble man will consider what God has to say. If he finds he has been preaching in error, will seek to correct it. If you are a preacher reading this article, which man are you?

So... is our religion a lie? Can we put our finger on each and everything we believe about God, or is much of our belief system found only in the minds of popular men?

The fact is that Jesus - the One whom we profess to follow - indicated in no uncertain terms that the road to Hell would be popular. He called this the "broad" way. He also indicated in the most unambiguous of terms that the path to Heaven would be unpopular. He called this the "narrow" way. Which do you follow?

The only way you can ever know with a certainty that your beliefs are right is to read the Bible for yourself and put your finger on it! Within the pages of this great book are instructions for how to be saved, how to worship, where to worship, how to live, how to have peace and hope, and how to acceptably show your love towards God and Jesus.

Is your religion a lie? Better make sure!

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 7:13-15, RSV