Thrive: Perspectives

Welcome to this secound episode in a series, where we continue to delve into the enigmatic realm of demons and the demonic as seen in the Bible. We review the numerous accounts of Jesus confronting and casting out demons, shedding light on the spiritual battles detailed in the New Testament and also how these originated and are seen in the Old Testament. In this episode we begin to look at the spectrum of demonic activity and influence - from foothold to stronghold - from oppression to possession.

Welcome to this first episode in a series, where we will delve into the enigmatic realm of demons and the demonic as seen in the Bible. We'll explore the numerous accounts of Jesus confronting and casting out demons, shedding light on the spiritual battles detailed in the New Testament and also how these originated and are seen in the Old Testament. Join us as we seek to understand the historical and theological context of these encounters and what they reveal about the power and authority of Jesus and our faith in Him.

The desire to safeguard what one holds dear is a natural human instinct.

Christians will encounter ridicule and persecution; Jesus told us as much. While it's valid to feel offended by mockery, it's important to be cautious before claiming to represent divine offence. The Gospels do not depict Jesus as angry or offended towards sinners for their sins; instead, his offence and anger is reserved for those who failed to live up to their professed righteousness.

We see through the Gospels that the things that upset Jesus the most were:

Before we take umbrage on behalf of God, it's wise to reflect on the numerous ways we each fall short of God's optimal plan for our lives. This introspection will help us understand and align our actions more closely with the values and teachings of Jesus, the very thing we hold sacred.

The question of the purpose of life on earth in light of Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) is indeed profound and thought-provoking. From a Christian perspective, NDEs are seen as affirming several key theological concepts, such as the survival of consciousness after physical death, the existence of a supernatural realm, and the presence of a supreme being of unfathomable love. However, the purpose of life on earth remains significant.

For both Christianity and atheism, with the growing verifiable data gathered from millions of 'near death experiences' (NDE) something fundamental and non-negotiable appears to be at stake. Yet only atheism need fear NDEs. The more evidence that accumulates and the more it is corroborated, the stronger the case that human consciousness survives bodily death, permanently weakening the atheistic position.

Near-death experiences (NDEs) are profound experiences that occur to people who are on the brink of death or who have suffered a severe trauma where death is imminent. In many cases, these people are pronounced dead. These experiences often involve a variety of sensory and emotional elements, such as seeing a bright light, feeling a sense of peace and detachment from the body, moving through a tunnel, or having a life review. Some individuals report encounters with deceased loved ones or spiritual beings. Research into NDEs seeks to understand the patterns and themes of these experiences, as well as their long-lasting effects on individuals' attitudes towards life and death. How do these verifiable experiences align with what the Bible teaches and, as a Christian, how and why should we engage with this topic?

Books Referenced

Though Christian faith and doctrine often transcend our finite human comprehension, they are not irrational or void of any ‘reason’. Faith provides the foundation for belief, while reason offers a tool for understanding and articulating that belief. Faith is foundational to reason and reason can serve to confirm faith – but faith can not be gained through 'reason'. The tension between faith and reason is not a simple dichotomy but a complex interplay.

There are things that everyone knows about God. These things can be known through 'general revelation' things that everyone can see, feel and experience and do not rely on 'special revelation' such as the Bible. The reality of how we all live and experience our lives reveals God, if we only choose to notice.

If we are to open our minds and hearts to the mystery, awe and wonder of God, how can we know that the path we are on is the 'true' path?

When it comes to knowing, our culture holds us to the “defective default,” a mode of thinking that treats knowledge simply as information. This default mode excludes most of the ways we know in our day-to-day lives. Think about all the important things you know – say about how you feel about your family or loved ones. This knowledge doesn’t come from ‘data’ or ‘information’ but from experience and relationship. If we stay trapped by the cultural norm that knowledge equals information, we exclude things like belief, values, emotion, application, and imagination, in short many of things that it means to be human. How can we be free from the culture trap where we can only ‘know’, if it can be reasoned through the application of logic and critical thinking, data and information? We have leaned so heavily on facts, proofs, arguments, presuppositions, on tactics and techniques, that we have forgotten the simple encouragement of Jesus—“Come and you will see”

Longing to Know - Esther Lightcap Meek.