I’ve heard a lot of people say that Christians are against science.
And that we can’t believe in science if we also believe in God.
However, this is nothing but a misunderstanding.
Science is also one of God’s creations.
It is the study of the natural world and the laws that govern it.
And it is simply a tool that helps us understand how the world works.
Faith, on the other hand, is the belief in God and His plan for our lives.
And what most people don’t realize is that faith and science can coexist.
The Bible tells us that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1) and science helps us understand how and when that happened.
For example, the evolution theory helps us understand species’ development on earth.
While the Bible tells us that God is the creator of everything.
Both faith and science can be used to understand the beauty and complexity of God’s creations.
Another critical aspect of the relationship between faith and science is in the area of ethics.
Science helps us understand the natural world and the consequences of our actions.
But it is our faith that guides us in making moral decisions based on the teachings of God.
The Bible tells us “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).
People should continue to evolve according to God’s Will and help one another.
Science is simply a tool for that.
And we are not against it like most atheists think.
To make a long story short, science helps us understand how things work.
While faith helps us understand why they exist in the first place.
Together, they can give us a deeper understanding of the world and our place in it.
So let us continue to explore the world around us, with the guidance of our faith and the understanding provided by science.
Together, we can work to fulfill the purpose that God has for our lives and make a positive impact on the world.
One of the most pressing questions that we Christians must grapple with is the issue of pain and hardship.
If God is good, then why does He allow such things to happen?
This is a question that has been asked by believers and non-believers alike for millennia.
And it is one that continues to trouble us.
First and foremost, it is important to acknowledge that pain and hardship are real and difficult experiences that many of us have to go through.
Whether it is physical pain, emotional pain, or the pain of loss, these experiences can be incredibly difficult to bear.
It is natural to ask why we must endure such trials, especially when we believe in a loving and compassionate God.
What everyone must understand, however, is that God did not create a world full of pain and hardship.
In the beginning, everything was good.
But sin entered the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve.
This disobedience caused a separation between humanity and God, which resulted in the pain, hardship, and brokenness that we see in the world.
However, just because sin is the cause of pain and hardship does not mean that God lacks the power to intervene.
God has done everything possible to restore our relationship with Him and to redeem the world from the effects of sin.
This is why He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to undergo the crucifixion for our sins.
Through Jesus, we have the hope of living eternally and the assurance that one day pain and hardship will be eradicated.
In the meantime, we must remember that God is with us in our hardships and that He can use even our most difficult experiences for good.
As Isaiah 55:9 says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
We must stay strong.
Are You Too Nice of a Christian?
As Christians, we are called to love and serve others.
As it is written in the Bible: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)
We are taught to be kind, compassionate, and understanding.
However, there is a fine line between being kind and being too nice.
Being too nice can actually be harmful to both ourselves and the people around us.
When we are too nice, we often put the needs and wants of others before our own.
And this can lead to feelings of resentment and burnout…even if we don’t realize it right away.
Additionally, when we are too nice, we can often run away from difficult conversations and situations.
We may not confront someone about their behavior or even stand up for ourselves.
This is how unresolved issues are made.
That’s why we should always be direct and honest.
It doesn’t mean that we should be rude or attacking.
We can still be kind and compassionate.
But if you are too nice, how can you even begin to do that?
Well, this is the reason I’m writing this Christian Blog article.
I’ve gathered several ideas you can follow to continue living according to God’s will without putting other people’s needs before your own:
Set boundaries.
It’s important to understand that you have the right to say no and to have your own needs and wants.
Communicate effectively.
When someone is crossing your boundaries or you are feeling taken advantage of, it’s important to speak up and communicate your feelings.
Take care of yourself.
Make sure you are taking care of your own physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
We are responsible for our health. And we should take care of ourselves just like we take care of our loved ones.
Stand up for yourself and others.
Jesus stood up for the marginalized and oppressed, as it is written in Luke 4:18:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”
We can do the same by speaking up and stepping forward when we see injustice.
As Christians, we can sometimes forget about our own needs and wants.
But we should be compassionate towards ourselves, just as we do with others.
So don’t fall for the “nice trap”, and always remember these 4 tips.
How Many Calories Do You Need To Survive?
Did you know that the average person needs just about 1200-1500 calories to survive?
It’s true. Researchers have found that we don’t need as much food as most people think to keep ticking over.
But let’s not become too excited, folks.
That’s just for pure survival
For your basic physiological functions like breathing, heart beating, and maintaining temperature.
This is essentially what you need to stay alive.
If you are a prepper, then you know that surviving is not the same as thriving.
When you’re trying to make it through a tough situation.
Whether it’s a natural emergency or some other type of situation
You’re not just going to be lying around.
You’ll be active.
You’ll be under stress.
You’ll be using your body and mind in ways that demand much more than those 1200-1500 calories.
So how much do you actually need?
To give you a ballpark figure, an average moderately active man needs around 2,500 calories a day.
And an average moderately active woman needs around 2,000 calories a day to maintain their weight and health.
When you’re dealing with a survival situation, it’s essential to have high energy, nutrient dense foods to keep you fueled.
Things like nuts and seeds, dried fruits, canned goods, protein bars, and MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) can provide a substantial amount of calories in a small, portable package.
Remember, folks, planning is key.
Knowing how many calories you and your family will need in an emergency and preparing your food stores in advance can make a world of difference when the chips are down.
So the next time you’re out shopping, instead of grabbing that pack of ramen noodles, why not invest in some nutrient-rich, high-calorie foods that will really give you the energy you need when SHTF?
Survival is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. And for this long haul, you need to fuel yourself properly.
So let’s keep our survival instincts sharp and our health well-nourished.
Christians have debated the idea of whether or not they can read books outside of Christian novels for some time. Some legalistic Christians believe Christians should only read the Bible; whereas other Christians may believe it is within their Christian freedom to read whatever they want to read. The Bible gives guidance into all of these matters and the Holy Spirit will help direct you as an individual.
A Novel Idea Christian novels have grown in popularity over the years with series such as The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of The Rings, and The Wingfeather Saga. All of these Christian novels are good to read, and most believers would agree that these novels are great for any person to read.
In fact, many Christians may encourage other believers and nonbelievers to read Christian novels in order to introduce the idea of Christ to them. Christian novels are great to read, but what about other novels? Many best-selling novels cause a raise of concern for believers.
When a Christian chooses to read a piece of literature outside of the Bible or Christian novels, they need to exercise caution, wisdom, and discernment. It is within each believer’s freedom in Christ to read the novels and books they desire; however, simply because a person can do something does not mean it is beneficial.
I have the right to do anything,” you say — but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything” — but I will not be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12).
Before reading a novel, Christians should run the content of the novel through Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.”
We should only read things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. There are many secular books that do not contain anything sinful in them. Believers should never read novels that contain graphic materials, sexual concepts, or novels that promote an anti-biblical agenda.
A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself, “Would Jesus read this book? Will God be glorified through me reading this book?” Reading is a great gift that believers have received from our Heavenly Father.
Not everyone in the world has the privilege of being able to read, which is why we use our privilege with wisdom. God does not want His children reading novels about sins or novels promoting unethical behaviors.
Reading can help people relax, learn, as well as grow into better readers and writers. There are advantages of being familiar with secular novels as Paul gives us this example by being knowledgeable about the popular secular writers during his ministry.
Paul was able to quote the philosophers, which actually helped the lost become interested in his message (Acts 17:22-28).
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So, you are ignorant of the very thing you worship — and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands (Acts 17:22-24).
It is good to be familiar with secular novels, but believers should never read a novel that they believe will cause them to sin. We all have our own temptations, and it is wise for you to be aware of your own triggers.
If a book causes you to feel bad feelings or encourages you to sin, it is best to close the book, put it down, and return the book to the bookstore. Christians can read novels outside of strictly Christian novels; however, they need to be cautious and really know their own limitations.
Reading for Education There are going to be times when a believer will have to read secular books, such as in the event of high school, college, or work training. There is nothing wrong with reading a math textbook, an English workbook, or an employee handbook for training.
Within secular high schools and colleges, it is highly plausible Christians will encounter many evolutionary ideas and professors will teach evolution as the truth. Secular universities downplay creationism as an old wives’ tale.
In the event of a Christian having to read these textbooks, it can cause the believer to doubt their belief in creationism and even cause them to express doubt in God. Rather than allowing these books to cause the believer to doubt, the believer should view it as an opportunity to grow, strengthen, and increase their faith.
There are many creationists scientists who have written science textbooks to prove creationism, such as Ken Ham. If you are not enrolled in a Christian school or university, you most likely will not see Ken Ham’s books; however, his books would be worthwhile to read in the argument for creationism. Thus, there are books outside of Christian novels that are beneficial to believers.
Reading for Fun Despite popular belief, God does want His children to have fun. God does not want His children to have fun in the way the world views fun, such as drunkenness, sexual immorality, and drugs. These things are not true fun. In the same way, God wants His children to have fun with reading, but it has to be good, wholesome fun.
It is not fun to read about temptations that will cause you to sin against God nor is it fun to read novels in which the main character participates in unethical behaviors. As believers, we can read for fun, but we have to run the book through Philippians 4:8 as mentioned above.
God has given us each a brain and He wants us to use it. If we know the novel is not good for our spiritual growth, do not read it. If we know the novel will lead us into sin, we should not read it. We can read any book, whether Christian-focused or not, as long as the content glorifies the Lord.
Why Does Reading Matter? As believers, we should want to do the right thing and only engage in activities that will honor God. If the novel does not glorify God and has questionable content, it is best to abstain from reading that specific book.
There are many great secular books out there that do have good morals to them — the Christian just has to discover them. We are all given freedom in Christ, but we must not misuse our freedom as Peter tells us “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves” (1 Peter 2:16).