My Writings – justchristian

5 Essential Habits for Spiritual Growth

1. Abhor What is Evil

Living in the culture that we live in, it can be easy to grow a tolerance for sin. Like a bad smell that’s offensive to the nose, eventually we start to develop a tolerance. We become acclimated to sin and even start accepting it to the point where we let it entertain us. We will even categorize the okay sins from the bad sins – anger is okay but murder is not; a sensual look is okay but adultery is not; a white lie is okay but perjury is not. Jesus says otherwise (Mt. 5:21-37). Continue reading “5 Essential Habits for Spiritual Growth”

Be Not Ashamed

“Religion is man-made to assist in controlling the weak-minded individuals because during times of atrocity and despair they feel strength in numbers.” – Benito Mussolini

“This is the true horror of religion: It allows perfectly decent and sane people to believe by the billions what only lunatics could believe on their own.” – Sam Harris

We hear it all the time. In order to believe in God, we need to be weak-minded, ignorant, or just plain crazy. Continue reading “Be Not Ashamed”

Seeing All of God

We can either know God, or we can know what we want to know about God. What we see in the Christian world today is that people only see half of God because they only want to see half of God. Continue reading “Seeing All of God”

True Faith

Evolutionary psychologist Steven Pinker once described faith as “believing in something without good reasons to do so.” Sadly, most Christians today agree with him and advocate blind acceptance by saying, “You’ve just got to believe.” Is this shallow principle really the essence of Christianity? Continue reading “True Faith”

Rivers

Rivers will always run the course of least resistance as they make their way down into the sea. Going around obstacles, they leave behind their crooked trails that are easily visible from a high point of view. Rivers are beautiful. If one is careful to observe, they also offer warning. Continue reading “Rivers”

Defending the Faith

Defend the Faith

“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame” (1Peter 3:15-16).

At the University of Texas at San Antonio, there’s a student organization called the Atheist Agenda that has been known to challenge faith every now and then. One of their events that they regularly host is called “Smut for Smut,” and the idea behind this is if you give them your Bible, or any other religious book like the Quran, then they will give you a free pornographic magazine.
Continue reading “Defending the Faith”

Deception

Deception To me, one of the scariest words that I come across in the Bible is “deceive” and all its variations and synonyms. We understand this word to mean being tricked or fooled into doing or believing something. The more unaware and unprepared the mind is, the easier it is to be deceived. Continue reading “Deception”

Deaf Ears

“You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive” (Matthew 13:14).

I ready an article the other day about how more and more atheists were making an effort to study the Bible. In fact, in a survey done in 2010 on religious knowledge, atheists and agnostics scored higher than anyone else, leaving Christians in the spiritual dust. That disparity has only increased with time. I’ve even seen atheists quote chapters, not verses, but chapters of the Bible at a time! So if atheists are diligently studying the Bible, why haven’t they been converted to Jesus? Why aren’t they Christians? Continue reading “Deaf Ears”

Spiritual Strength

To me, one of the most remarkable things about the physical body is how it reacts to adversity. If there is something physically lacking, or if there is some obstacle in the way, our bodies can be trained to overcome that obstacle. If I feel myself getting winded just by going up and down some stairs, I can essentially train my body, with proper nutrition and exercise, to increase my conditioning. I can get faster, stronger, increase my energy, increase my endurance, and increase my overall health simply by putting my body through a little adversity. Continue reading “Spiritual Strength”

Speaking What We Don’t Understand

I cannot count the times where I’ve heard people speaking on things that God did not make known to them. This often happens on the subject of pain, suffering, and evilness found in this world. “Why did God allow this to happen?” “How can God allow good families to suffer?” “How can God allow children to die such horrific deaths?” In fact, the idea of suffering, pain, and death is one of the main “tools” in the belts of atheists trying to disprove God. Continue reading “Speaking What We Don’t Understand”

What Motivates Us?

I used to be much more serious about my workout routine and especially my nutrition program. I even shared what I had learned with those who wanted to live healthier lifestyles. Though I stopped short of receiving my strength and conditioning certification, I was always quick to offer my “expertise” to those who were simply confused by all the workout fads and diets that were popular at the moment. Before I started someone on a program, I would usually ask “Why?” Continue reading “What Motivates Us?”

Justice

“For I proclaim the name of the Lord: Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He” (Deuteronomy 32:3, 4).

It is a mistake to consider God’s love without considering His justice. In fact, of all the attributes of God, His just nature is likely the most overlooked. This is because when justice is on the table, so must we consider punishment, and that is a subject nobody is comfortable discussing. Continue reading “Justice”

Growth

In this life here on earth, there will always be good things and better things, simple and difficult circumstances, hard and harder difficulties. If life stood still, then perhaps complacency would be an attractive virtue. But our reality is a life of constant change and we must constantly adapt if we are to survive. Continue reading “Growth”

Uncharted Territory

If nothing gets in the way, I like to begin every morning with meditation and prayer. My meditation usually begins by evaluating where I’m at and where I need to go, spiritually speaking. One thing I noticed is that where I am at right now is NOT where my feelings and comfort put me. Continue reading “Uncharted Territory”

Searching

We, as human beings, have something unique about us. There is a ceaseless need in every one of us for something more. We develop imaginary friends. We daydream constantly. We investigate the mysterious and unexplainable. We dream and set goals, and when we reach those goals, we set new ones. There’s always something “extra” that we involve ourselves in Continue reading “Searching”