I have been teaching classes for over three years and at every class I teach there is always a moment I want to respond, “You said what????”. These are usually statements that show me how little people know and trust God or how little they read the Bible. I am going to use this blog post to share some of these statements.
The first thing I heard a woman state after I spoke on the Imago Dei. Imago Dei is the Latin translation of “Image of God” as found in Genesis in the creation story. This passage does not imply that God is human , but that humans are in the image of God in their moral, spiritual, and intellectual essence. It means we have been given God’s attributes through the Holy Spirit to be good and kind and to live good lives.
Her statement was, “I come no where close to what God is and would never consider myself on His level or equal!”. Wow, I don’t think she understood my topic at all. She was comparing herself to God as if He were human and not understanding we were talking of characteristics of God. She thought that the image of God meant an exact duplicate when actually it is a reflection of God. She refused to soften her opinion and continued the stance that no one is as good as God. That I agree with, but it saddened me she wouldn’t open her mind to see beyond the mere words she was focusing on.
Another class I was teaching about heaven. An older gentleman asked me if I thought everyone would go to heaven. I responded, “No, it is taught in the Bible that the only way to enter the kingdom of heaven in through Jesus Christ. If someone doesn’t know and accept Jesus then they would not know the Father.”
John 14:6, NIV: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
The gentleman responded, “MY God is all forgiving and I believe everyone goes to heaven. He would not turn his back on anyone.” Last I checked, if you are a Christian that has accepted Jesus Christ, we all have the same God and Father. I reminded him of another Bible verse.
John 3:3 ESV Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
I did reassure this man that God is all loving and extends great grace and mercy but we have to remember that not everyone on earth loves our Father like we do and some choose not to have a relationship with Him. God created hell so those that don’t want to spend eternity with Him won’t have to. “Why would a good God send people to hell?, he continued. I responded, “He doesn’t, they chose to go there.”
Another statement I found hard to swallow was when someone said to me, “Jesus was a Jewish man on earth. Don’t you think he had relations with women and overdrank at times?” This totally showed me this person’s lack of understanding God’s Word. I don’t fault people when they don’t understand the Bible but I do get frustrated when they won’t open the Bible.
My response: “No, Jesus is God incarnate. God cannot sin nor would He want to. It goes against everything He stands for. Although Jesus walked on this earth and He was of flesh, He was not like us as humans.”
John 1:14 ESV And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 14:10 ESV Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
I once spoke at a ladies group about my ministry and was asked, “Why don’t you take a salary for your nonprofit work and for all the classes you teach?”. Actually I have been asked this multiple times. My response was, “I am here for God’s purpose, not mine. He always provided for me when I do what I love and that’s sharing His goodness.” There is nothing more fulfilling to my heart than to teach a class and suddenly see someone’s eyes light up because something I said clicked with them. I always say that if only one person reads my blog or listens to my podcast and hears God’s Word then I have done my work. It’s not about the numbers for me, it’s about reaching the one that needs to hear it.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
I could go on and on with these statement but I understand God puts these people in front to help educate then on the Bible and not to tear them down for what they don’t know. Everyday I study God’s Word to try to learn more about Him. I will never have a huge knowledge like a biblical scholar but I do want to know the things I will be presented with and can confidently answer.
I pray for you and I am grateful for you! LoLo
gratefulgratitude.net 