Thoughts at large
One of my favorite type of articles are the 鈥淭houghts At Large鈥� variety. So, I am going to try my hand at it for the first time.
Here goes: So what if there really are aliens? We are not the only creatures made with intelligence and free will, obviously so were and are the angels. What about the Elders in Heaven, or the living creatures described in Revelations 4?
Is God obligated to reveal to us everything in detail he created? How do we know that there aren鈥檛 other intelligent beings God created on other planets?
The Bible doesn鈥檛 give us any indication there are or aren鈥檛, and according to end times, it seems we will have no close encounters with them either. But what if we did? Technically, it wouldn鈥檛 change anything about the redemptive work of God on behalf of human beings on Earth. Don鈥檛 stone me; these are just thoughts at large.
There is a new religion being proposed that would worship Artificial Intelligence as it becomes self-aware. Mankind creates AI; it becomes self-aware and propagates, communicates, and becomes more intelligent than its creators (humans), so therefore it must be worshipped as superior. I鈥檓 not making this stuff up, it is nearly complete and here.
What if someone could grow a needed body part for you or a loved one dying of a disease, a pancreas, heart or liver? What if your body part could be replaced with a machine part that was superior? Who wouldn鈥檛 embrace saving the lives of loved ones or children? At what point do we say cloning, transhumanism and genetic modification is wrong?
One of the greatest threats being identified to national security isn鈥檛 a nuclear bomb detonating at ground level, but a Nuclear EMP (Electro Magnetic Particle) detonation in our atmosphere that would fry all electronics and effectively put us back 150 years, making us vulnerable to attack and estimations are that 90 percent of the population would die within one year. Who is ready for that kind of situation?
Considering that Trump has just recognized Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel, according to end times aficionados, the next thing that must happen in end time events, is for the third Jewish temple to be rebuilt. Israeli Rabbis confirm they have acquired nearly all material to start rebuilding and instituting blood sacrifices again.
There鈥檚 a lot of controversy over separation of church and state and the endorsement of political candidates. Do you really want your church organization or pastor officially endorsing a candidate or party? What if you disagreed with that endorsement but loved your church family? What kind of divide could this bring in? Would this further polarize America and Christians?
Can someone be a stripper, prostitute, or porn star, and be a Christian?
What makes someone Biblically literate?
If Christians can afford expensive vacations, vehicles or homes that are way more than needed, eat out consistently, and have toys not technically needed like gun collections, four-wheelers, boats, etc., then why can鈥檛 they pony up more money to give to the church?
I don鈥檛 understand how people can get up at 4 a.m. to go hunting, fishing or black Friday shopping, but can鈥檛 get up at 8 a.m. to go to church? Just saying.
In some Christian circles, it is believed that women are just as called to ministry as men are and can be ordained, evangelists, pastors, etc. But my observation is that these same churches do not have women on the board, or as elders. Heck: In most cases they aren鈥檛 even allowed to take up an offering!
So a woman can be the pastor, but not take up an offering?
I鈥檓 confused.
There are many questions, uncertainties and challenges facing mankind and the Church. For most of us, we don鈥檛 have any easy answers except to research, dialogue, pray and let the future unfold as it will and deal with it the best we can. But this one thing I am sure of: 鈥淭herefore since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God with reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28).鈥�