ATHEISTS CLAIM TO BE CRITICAL THINKERS YET THEY DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY ARE MORE GULLIBLE THAN MANY RELIGIONISTS WHO BELIEVE IN MYTHS THAT THEY HAVE NOT PERSONALLY WITNESSED TO BE TRUE. Critical Thinking Requires Individuals To Stand Back And Assess What Life Tells Them, Not What They Have Been Indoctrinated In By Other People. The truth is too many people are either lazy or spiritually blinded to make the effort to truly question what they have been told or read and think for themselves.

Atheists are not indoctrinated like those who believe in religion or God. Is this because they are critical thinkers?

Happy Riches, answers request by Anonymous

Atheists generally demonstrate that they are not really critical thinkers at all. The truth is atheists have an agenda to promote a futile philosophy of life, one that offers nothing but to pamper to their own desires and gravitate to the reveling in the lusts of the flesh, accumulating wealth and comfort int his world, and exulting in their egotistical fantasies.

Unfortunately, students are deceived into believing that accepting what they are told at school is really critical thinking. Students are indoctrinated from their early years at school to believe and have faith in the philosophy of evolution as being science and not a theory that is promulgated so they reject the truth about Creation.

True science accepts only evidence and what it demonstrates, not the assertion that possibilities are realities, when this cannot be demonstrated in the now.

Speciation is defined as the evolutionary biological creation of a new species. One might see this as a cat turning into a different animal (say, a dog), or a peppered moth caterpillar metamorphosing into a bird, instead of merely becoming a moth that lays eggs, which become caterpillars that metamorphose when in a cocoon to become a moth to complete the cycle over and over again. Alas, any change suggestive of evolutionary theory does not take place. There is nothing taking place in their view of speciation that is comparable to a bulldog turning into a collie or a chihuahua becoming a great dane. What is seen occurring within the dog family is even declared by some to be speciation, as is a bacterial micro-evolutionary change, and a slight change in small fish that causes them to produce along the same genetic variation. Nevertheless, dogs are still dogs and fish are still fish and the various bacteria still bacteria—even though the mutations are like virus strains.

Fruit flies have been studied scientifically since 1904 with attempts to cause mutations that will cease to be fruit flies.  The problem is fruit flies are still fruit flies, no matter how quick they breed. The myriads of generations that have been produced since Thomas Hunt Morgan first began seriously studying them with the aim of observing an evolution into a new species—like a bee, or something that belongs to another family classification like the bee of the order Hymenoptera, other than the family Drosophilidae of the order Diptera—lead him to conclude that becoming a geneticist was a more fruitful pursuit than wasting his time trying to prove evolution was true.

The fact scientists inform us that the Earth is tilted and spins on an axis at speeds of around 1040 mph at the equator, has the Moon orbiting it at speeds of 2288 mph, while both these bodies circuit the Sun at some 70,000 mph every 365.25 days, without deviating from their course, demonstrates that the theory of evolution via chance events is nonsense. The regularity of the moon and the seasons strongly indicates an Intelligent Designer. The rejection of this requires blind faith in the imagination of mortal beings being equivalent to the intelligence and knowledge possessed by an Omniscient mind.

Critical thinkers would acknowledge the reality of design being evident in every thing that exists, for the intricacy of many bodily functions obviously requires sudden creation, because degeneration demonstrates how joints are dependent upon every part to be created for function to take place. In particular this is evident when it comes to the human shoulder. Merely understanding the ligaments, the muscles and tendons, the nerves, the arteries and veins, the cartilage and bursae, required to fit the design of the skeletal frame of the shoulder blade with its projections, protuberances, depressions and hollow (glenoid fossa designed for the humerus to fit), the collar bone and the upper arm with its protuberances and precipital groove. Without all these features, the arm with its attached hand and fingers would not function. Yet claiming to be critical thinkers, atheists will claim that by chance events these somehow selectively managed to evolve.

There are so many examples of the impossibility of the evolutionary process being a series of chance events occurring through selective adaption, only those who are not genuine critical thinkers could accept an implausible theory as fact in preference to acknowledging that the Universe, and all that exists within it, is the product of the design of its intelligent Creator.

Arguments are raised as valid reasons to reject the Creator. These are based upon the evils that exist within the world. Many atheists claim that if God the Creator is so evil to allow the suffering exists to occur, they do not want to know Him. Instead of using critical thinking to ask what would be the circumstances this would occur, the atheist, preferring what God had defined as evil rather than walking in righteousness, affirm their rebellion and believe that which is contrary to the truth.

Definitions are important for understanding not only how to communicate to other people but also for understanding ourselves and our purpose for existence.

Futility is live a vain life, one that has no eternal worth, because it ceases to be, rather than continue for ever, growing richer for experience and ever learning new things.

Injustice is realized when one acknowledges that being born into a world of suffering and having to experience physical and psychological pain before ceasing to exist, while being able to possess the concept of eternity and the possibility of eternal life.

Inequality is realized when one acknowledges that throughout society the rights of people are denied by others who desire to dominate and rule over them. Equality is yearned by all, yet we learn that without love, no one's rights are recognized and violence reigns among humans, as each one strives to compete and assert superiority above another, even in petty things, such as, where a person is going to sit down, or who is going to be first in a queue when waiting for a bus that has more than enough seats for everybody, or a plane, when seats have already been allocated.

Critical thinkers would not only recognize that being born to die is a futile existence, but the injustice of being born into a world of suffering and death needs to be rectified, and violence does not produce harmony, just as fighting for peace does not produce peace. Instead of rejecting that God, the Creator exists, critical thinkers would seek to find God and, if they were genuine, they would bring their contentions to Him and ask Him to provide answers. Naturally, if no answers were forthcoming then life is futile and the Creator Himself would be guilty of being a sadist. If the Almighty were to judge people for their lifestyle of self-indulgence and conceitedness after individuals had sought Him earnestly without response, then God Himself would be guilty of unrighteousness, and we would all have no hope of anything.

This I can testify, when I earnestly sought God and was not heard of Him, I declared Him guilty of not answering me, and my actions from that time on would be upon Him. Then when I went to do what I intended to do, a force prevented me from moving and I found myself reasoning with God, declaring, life is futile if we are born to die, unjust if we are born to suffer, and inequality reigns if violence and hatred rule, while we have a knowledge of love and are unable to abide in it.

In this is love, that the Son of God gave His life so that the righteousness of God would bring justice to the world and allow everyone who desires truth to freely seek Him out and acknowledge that his or her life is futile without possessing eternal life, an unjust existence because of suffering, and deficient because of the inability to love others and remain in such a state of peace and unity.

The Spiritual Man Questions, Inquires Into, Investigates And Discerns All Things.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF ROBBING GRAVES AND DISRESPECTING THE INDIVIDUALS WHOSE BONES THEY DISTURB IN BURIAL SITES. Archaeologists Exhuming The Bones Of The Dead May Seem Immoral And Unethical To Some People With Distorted Worldviews That Do Not Incorporate The Reality That The Dead Are Lifeless. Christians note that Jesus said that the dead ought to be left for the dead, as they have no place among the living.

How is it ethical for archaeologists to dig up and disturb human remains when the person and his people clearly did not want his remains to be disturbed and would have considered it traumatic and humiliating?

Happy Riches, Answer requested by Ahmed Yousuf

The essence of your question is knowing whether the person and his people clearly did not want his remains to be disturbed.

Unless there is a notice stating that the person or people buried at this site do not wish to be disturbed by anybody, then there is no issue of ethics really. How do you know that the people involved in the burial actually care about bones that are long forgotten? You don’t. The bones could be those of a person who was murdered. They could be the bones of a mass graveyard from a genocide. In which case, there is no violation of faith regarding the individual.

For someone to be traumatized and humiliated, the person has to be alive. Dead people are not alive. Death is about life being a futile existence on this planet. There is nothing unethical about digging up the bones of dead people, if their relatives are not alive. Crematoriums provide evidence as to the significance of dead people.

What I write might seem rather harsh, cold and callous. But the person who said that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, and gave His own life as the price for the redemption of humankind, said that we should leave the dead to the dead, because the Creator is the God of the living. There is something important that needs to be done rather than worry about dead people’s bones.

• But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:60)
• ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:32)

When you understand that the Creator God, who created Heaven and Earth, is not the god of this world, the god of the dead, but the Lord of the Living—those who have been born of Him—then you will understand that digging up the bones of dead people is not really a moral issue, once the people affected are dead and buried themselves.

Eternal life is what everybody needs, not worrying whether their bones are not eaten by bacteria or have been sold by grave robbers to practitioners of voodoo or any such thing.

Death Is A Certainty, This You Know, What Happens Then Is Also Certain

CHRISTIANS SPEAKING IN UNKNOWN TONGUES KNOWN AS GLOSSOLALIA ARE OFTEN ACCUSED AS SPEAKING IN THE LANUAGE OF THE DEVIL. Communication In Order To Be Understood Requires Speakers To Speak In Known Languages Not Unknown Language. The Bible actually states that there is no advantage speaking in tongues people cannot understand, except when it comes to speaking to our Heavenly Father in the language of angels and the Holy Spirit.

Is speaking in tongues without the manifestation of the holy spirit biblical?

Happy Riches, answers request by Aharon Fierinck

When speaking of the manifestation of speaking in tongues not being of the Holy Spirit, this could mean many things.

• And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell. (James 3:6)

Every person, who speaks, uses his or her tongue to do so. In respect to speaking, and what is being said, not being a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, this ought not be too difficult to discern.

• Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Maybe we can apply this use of the name of Jesus, before whom every knee shall bow and every tongue will acknowledge as Lord, being wrongfully declared as an intensifier or a form of disgust or an expletive or a profanity or an obscenity or a curse, rather than a blessing.

It is a truism that people who are motor-mouths, who cannot shut up, even if their lives depended upon doing so, just keep on making noise, so they can hear themselves, which provides the delusion that they are actually doing something with themselves. These humble wannabes feel really good about conversations they dominate. Like preachers spouting off and feeling like they have made a wonderful contribution to world affairs, whether it be on a corner, in a living room, behind a podium, on a stage, in a hall, in an auditorium, in a stadium, on the radio, on television, before the United Nations assembly of representatives or just talking to the mirror.

There is something about being a mouth, whether from the East, the West, the North or the South, which is really hard to put one’s finger on…. Maybe this is because the lips refuse to stay still long enough. But then it might be an issue relating to the tongue wanting to dance like a cobra, as it spits venom from Texas to Timbuktu, while traveling on a Virgin flight across the Atlantic.

• He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, (1 Corinthians 14:4-5)
• For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 14:2)

There are many things we do not understand. There are many languages in this world. Let’s talk about the “tin tacks”; for if we are honest, we do not understand them all. In fact, most people do not fully understand all the words used in their own tongue. Yet many are the words used in vain, as people express their opinions and clamor to proclaim their part as a member of the ignorati.

• Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:21)
• Woe to those who hide deep from the Lord their counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?” (Isaiah 29:15)
• Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! (Ezekiel 13:3)
• “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:1)

For myself, while I may write or speak to arouse a person’s curiosity, even inquisitiveness, in the hope that further investigation may arise, my own hope is that when it comes to the nitty-gritty, what I really have to say is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

The essence of the Bible’s message is that every human has been taken captive and really needs to recognize that the ransom price has been paid so each and every person can be free; providing each one hates the evil of being born into this world governed by death sufficiently to accept the freedom that has been made available through the death and resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ.

Now whether the tongue that I am currently using is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit and, therefore, biblical, is a matter for you (the reader) to decide. The same would be the case if I were speaking aloud in an auditorium—just bear in mind that I am not in the fruit and vegetable business and have no need of eggs, rotten or otherwise.

The Biblical Manifestation Is More Than A Matter Of Speech Or Mere Words

THE ABUSE OF ABUSERS DOES NOT NECESSARILY ARISE FROM BEING ABUSED. Many Who Have Not Been Abused As Children Grow Up Not Realizing The Pain Of Abuse And See Nothing Wrong With Abusing Their Own Children. The reality is people are largely conditioned by their environment and those who are abused often become more timid than aggressive and abusive.

I'm talking about myself when I was a child. How can a Christian child interact with an abuser they can't escape and still feel like God is protecting them?

Happy Riches answers request by Diane Shatto

Interacting with an abuser by its very definition suggests abuse is being entered into and the abused is being victimized.

Prayer is communion with God. There are four types of prayer that are recorded in the Bible: supplication, intercession, prayer (i.e. communion) and thanksgiving.

1. Supplication is making a personal request
2. Intercession is making a request on behalf of another person
3. Prayer is communion with God, which means experiencing His presence
4. Thanksgiving is the gratitude a worshiper expresses after having had a request meet or from experience the uplifting presence of the Holy One.

The word “feel” is critical in understanding what you are saying. For to feel something does not mean one has to feel the physical pain of being struck by a blow or an object. A person could feel unwanted or unloved or disappointed or grieved without any physical evidence of having been struck by anyone, or anything.

Verbal and emotional abuse are often perpetrated by cruel individuals who, if not adults, are older (siblings, relatives, acquaintances) and capable of intimidating younger and weaker children. Evidence of this is found in the vindictive and hateful language used to belittle smaller children that is common among preschool (kindergarten) attendees. When at home or at some property, where a younger child, if not the youngest, is locked in a room alone, this amounts to abuse; so is the silent treatment; not to mention running away and leaving a fragile youngster in foreign surroundings, afraid and crying—like in the forest, wilderness, desert or a scary neighborhood just on dark.

In such circumstances, any child who cries out to God, I am sure will be heard. Many times in my own life, as a youngster, I have called upon the Lord God to help me, even though I did not know Him.

When circumstances are such that the only hope a person has of not being beaten up is divine intervention, then those who really expect help, receive the help they need.

In the book of Acts, we are informed that we need to “feel” after God in the hope that we might find Him. Some translations use the word “grope” instead of feel.

• that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us,(Acts 17:27 - Revised Standard Version)
• that they should seek God— if perhaps indeed they might grope-for Him and find Him, though indeed He being not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:27 - Disciples’ Literal New Testament)

Any child, who does not sense that God is protecting him or her in any situation, is not going to be feeling anything other than internalized pain of fear and having been bruised, if beaten, bashed or slammed into hard objects. Although, much depends on the age and how cognitively perceptive the child is at the time.

• Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Luke 18:15-17 )

As for myself, I had two uncles who abused me verbally and physically (not sexually) whom I hated, literally. When I was older, I was going to avenge myself. Surprisingly, when the time came for me to settle scores, the feeling of hatred left, along with the desire to harm either of them. What was more astonishing at the time: I had not yet become a Christian.

However, when you are talking about yourself, then only you can answer the question of whether you felt you could interact with your abuser and still feel like God was protecting you. The situation is one of personal testimony only, I believe.

Experience is our teacher. Whether we learn from experience is another matter.

One Angel Can Do More Damage To Ten Thousand Men Than An Army

UNDERSTANDING THE METAPHYSICAL TRUTH ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF THE UNIVERSE IS AS SIMPLE AS LEARNING HOW TO OPEN THE DOOR TO LIFE. The Difficulty Lies In Accepting Simple Truth And Acknowledging That The Portal To The Eternal Realm Requires Us To First Knock On The Door. Unfortunately, the humility required to wait for the door to open is often too much to bear for those of us who are too proud to acknowledge the truth about our own existence.

Can you explain John 1:1?

Happy Riches answers request by Navid Rashidian

If I were to tell you “why” John 1:1 was written, I could possibly be bearing false witness, because I do not know specifically why the gospel was written in a different manner to the other gospels, other than the reason stated for writing something similar in the Epistle of 1 John, where the writers (yes, writers, because “we” means more than one) stated:

• That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing this that our joy may be complete. (1 John 1:3-4)

The Bible is a self-explanatory book. However, one has to admit, without reading the Bible and asking the Creator Lord God to reveal its truth, it can be confusing. This confusion is not because of the book, but because of the way people have been trained to think, as they have been programmed from childhood. Nevertheless, rather than give an explanation that would be construed as my interpretation or opinion, here are a number of texts from the Bible that tell us Who the Word of God happens to be and indicate what this means. Most people are probably not aware that these verses all speak of the Word of God.

• In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
• In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:1-4)
• The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,
   the first of his acts of old.
  Ages ago I was set up,
   at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
  When there were no depths I was brought forth,
   when there were no springs abounding with water.
  Before the mountains had been shaped,
   before the hills, I was brought forth;
  before he had made the earth with its fields,
   or the first of the dust of the world.
   When he established the heavens, I was there,
   when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
   when he made firm the skies above,
   when he established the fountains of the deep,
   when he assigned to the sea its limit,
   so that the waters might not transgress his command,
  when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
  then I was beside him, like a master workman;
  and I was daily his delight,
   rejoicing before him always. Proverbs 8:22-30
• And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.”(Proverbs 8:22-30)
• That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ….This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:1-5)
• In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs. For to what angel did God ever say,“Thou art my Son,today I have begotten thee”? Or again,“I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? Hebrews 1:1-5
• Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
• He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell. (Colossians 1:15-19 )
• For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily. (Colossians 2:9)
• Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8)
• Nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
  Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
   Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
  Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
   Who has established all the ends of the earth?
  What is his name, and what is his son’s name?
   Surely you know! (Proverbs 30:3-4)
• And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.’”) ….No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. (John 1:14-18)
• In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4-6)
• I and the Father are one (John 10:30)
• Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14:9)

In the above Scriptures, we learn that the Word of God was the Son of God and He was the beginning of Life, the source of all light and knowledge; nothing was created without Him and all things were created through Him. The Father and the Son are the same and yet they are individuals distinct from the other. The Son came to Earth in the form of a human being and became obedient unto death on a cross. Having risen from the dead, the Word made flesh, became the first-born from the dead, the Head of the Church. The Word of God is the Creator God; there is no other. All things came through Him, including the Ten Commandments—although the dogmatists deny the divinity of Lord Jesus Christ, because they claim the Ten Commandments did not come through Him. Yet all things came though the Word of God, because the Father and Son are the One and same God.

• Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained by angels through an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one; but God is one. (Galatians 3:19-20)

The Father and the Son are One. When the Ten Commandments were given they came through the Word of God. Yet people do not understand these basic commandments and their moral truth, not to mention the Godhead. Consequently, theologians write convoluted descriptions of what they think, when all we need to do is read the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.

The Ten Commandments Were Designed For You To Enjoy And Possess Life

EUROPEAN RULERS CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY BUT DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEY ARE REALLY PAGAN BECAUSE BECOMING A CHRISTIAN IS NOT THE SAME AS CHANGING POLITICAL PERSUASION. When It Comes To Changing Political Views This May Be A Matter Of Political Expediency, But When It Comes To Becoming A Christian This Requires A Transformed Life And Is Not A Matter of Expediency. Evidently, Judas Iscariot thought it was expedient to curry favor with the political authorities of his day, then he committed suicide after realizing what it means to become scum.

Why did the rulers and nobles of Europe convert themselves to Christianity even though their population was pagan? Wouldn't it have been politically disastrous for them?

Happy Riches answer requested by Ahmed Yousuf

For a historical analysis, I would have to rely upon the writings of others. They in turn would have to rely upon the writings of the elite, as those who were not among the elite, I am led to believe, could not read or write. The amanuenses of the one-per-centers of bygone eras recorded the victors’ versions of history or produced the propaganda that pleased the nobles. The complete veracity of their accounts is questionable, even if some truth that can be ascertained from them.

When it comes to being a Christian, this is a personal matter, not something that is done en masse. The Bible is very clear that the Son of God searches the hearts of men to see whether they are genuine or worthy.

• But from there you shall seek Yahweh [ Son of God] your God, and you shall find him, when you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29)
• [The Son of God] who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God. (Romans 8:27)
• For the word of God [Son of God] is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account. Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession. For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:12-16)
• I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know that I am he [Son of God] who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. (Revelation 2:23)
• For I, Yahweh [Son of God], don’t change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6)
• Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ (John 14:9)
• I and the Father are one (John 10:30)

To become a Christian one has to call upon the Lord God to be shown the way to the truth that leads to life—eternal. Life that is not eternal is not life. Temporal life is death: meaningless, futile and of no value. Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. If a person does not know the name of God, call out to the Creator, and if you are that person, and you are genuine, you will be heard.

An anecdote that I heard from a preacher, about a village that he came across in Indonesia, illustrates the point about people becoming Christians. The tribe worshiped the Creator God, whose Son had died for their sins. But they wanted nothing to do with the god of the heathen Roman Catholics that had set up a building down by the sea, who worshiped idols of Mary and other gods (i.e. saints).

Evidently, the tribal shaman had become frustrated with the spirits and had sought out the Creator of the Universe for the truth. In answer to his earnest and genuine cry for truth, Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Him. The shaman taught the tribe the truths he had been shown by the Son of God and they all worshiped Him as Lord Jesus Christ.

The missionary was astounded. He realized that God was able to meet people’s needs wherever they were, without the need of missionaries, which changed his theology somewhat. This tribe had no Bible and yet they were worshiping Lord Jesus Christ, who died for their sins.

In the event that any pagans were in such desperate circumstances that they were to call out to the Creator of Heaven and Hell, the Son of God would answer them. However, only those who are genuine qualify as worthy of His attention. Many are those who fake it to make it and look good in the eyes of those around them, but then there are the few who are honest enough to recognize that they are the same as everybody else and will have to face death, but realize that there has to be more to life than being born to die and then having to suffer: disappointments, anguish,fear, terror, grief, depression, anger, frustration, inner turmoil, paranoia, psychotic episodes, physical pain, etc.

As for the nobles of Europe, in the main, political expediency would be behind any conversion or allegiance that they may have declared. Any who were genuine and sought the truth would find the Roman Catholic Church was opposed to them. Because of this, they were in danger of being beheaded or burned at the stake. But this reign of the anti-Christ evidently extended beyond the Roman Catholic Church. Michael Servetus, for example, was burned at the stake because of a difference of opinion or was it really because the authorities at Geneva saw him as a threat.

From what I know of human beings, expediency is the predominating factor when it comes to most things. Only those who believe in their convictions will swim against the tide of popular opinion. Discontents, disgruntled with the failure of their expediency, will change sides if there is sufficient critical mass to signal that a change of the guard could be on the horizon and now is a good time to stake a claim for a position among the emerging elite seeming to take over the reigns of power.

When it comes to being a Christian, this is not the same as being politically expedient. In which case, from what I have been able to glean from history, even the the emancipation of the Russian serfs in 1861 was an act of expediency:

Coming to the throne in 1855 in the middle of the conflict, Alexander II was unable to save Russia from military failure, but the humiliation convinced him that, if his nation was to have stability and peace at home and be honoured abroad, military and domestic reforms were vitally necessary. The first step on that path would be the removal of serfdom, whose manifest inefficiency benefited neither lord, peasant, nor nation. Alexander declared that, despite Russia’s defeat, the end of the war marked a golden moment in the nation’s history. Now was the hour when every Russian, under the protection of the law, could begin to enjoy ‘the fruits of his own labours’.[1]

Mind you, some have said that the Tsar actually became a true Christian and this is why the serfs were freed.

Knowing What God Requires Of Us Can Make A Massive Difference Unto Life

Footnotes

[1] The Emancipation of the Russian Serfs, 1861: A Charter of Freedom or an Act of Betrayal?