Bringing Home the Faith: a Pastor writes to her teenage son about Christian belief is a series of ten letters I wrote for my son addressing his doubts about Christian faith and answering his questions about what Christians believe and why. Each letter is preceded by an Introduction which introduces its particular topic.
Please share these weekly installments of Bringing Home the Faith with someone in your life, whether young or old, who wants uncomplicated and honest answers to their questions and concerns about Christian faith.
Last week in letter No. 3: What God Says to Us in the Bible, I wrote about how the Bible is different from other sources of information. This week I write about how the stories in the Old and New Testament are related to one another.
The story the Bible tells began many thousands of years ago. In it we hear how God spoke directly to specific people, like Abraham, Moses, Elijah and David.
Abram and the angel, Lord Frederic LEIGHTON, 1881
In everything God said to these people, He proved Himself trustworthy. God made good on all that He promised. He formed an entire nation from this one man, Abraham. To all of Abraham’s descendents, called the Israelites, God provided a land to live in, sound laws to live by, many blessings to enjoy and constant care.
At first, the reports of all that God had to say to His people were passed on by word of mouth and retold again and again whenever the Israelites got together for worship. Eventually, these details were written down. To these stories were added a record of all that the judges and kings of Israel did, both good things and bad. No deed is left unexposed.
Also included are warnings from God through the prophets, as well as prayers, poems, and words of instruction and guidance. Historians can verify specific incidents in the history of these Israelites. Ancient copies of all the stories, Continue reading
The Bible is a life-line for me, the source I count on to give me a dose of God’s take on the world. It clears my mind and reorients my perceptions, setting me back on the right course. What it tells me is what I want running through my head day after day, not the messages I’m bombarded with in the media which say I need to be (or look) young, have lots of money and act somewhat scandalously in order to be considered interesting and of value in this world.
The word, GRACE, means “free gift.” God is constantly giving us free gifts. In addition to giving us new life through His Son, Jesus, and the promise of eternal life with Him in heaven, He gives us love and forgiveness, and family and friends, and some really terrific teachers and coaches.
Careful For Nothing 