Reason not faith, Reverend Dick
Published:Monday | April 28, 2014 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
Seeing the anguish and heart-rending scenes of relatives and friends praying for their loved ones in the Malaysian Airlines and South Korean ferry disasters, (Rev Devon) Dick's commentary heading, 'Faith in Jesus saves us' (Gleaner April 17, 2014), would be funny if it weren't so tragic.
It's time God (Yahweh) or his alter ego, Jesus, leaves his heavenly abode and attends to earthly matters. But the prayers of the Chinese and Koreans will never be answered nor a single amputated limb (or even a little finger) be reattached through prayer in the 10,000 years of Yahweh's existence.
Or, why a child dies of hunger every five seconds, not to mention, is raped, murdered, or born with birth defects.
The Bible is very emphatic that faith, through prayers, will grant all your wishes. Didn't Jesus say, "All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayers, believing, ye shall receive." (Matt 21:22). ALL things, not some things.
The Christian life
Quoting from Dick: "The Christian life begins when, through faith, a sinner accepts God's gracious offer of salvation." Hebrew 11:1 defines faith as the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Well, to my mind, a Christian life of faith, without a life guided by reason and critical thinking, not only demeans and belittles one's life, but closes the door to a more creative and meaningful life.
I suppose if we sinners don't accept God's gracious offer of salvation, we will be cast into the depths of hell and consumed by fire and brimstone. But God loves us.
Dr Ethon Lowe