Find Hope

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
-- I Peter 1:3-5

If ever the Divine appeared on earth, it was in the person of Christ. --Goethe

Of course, many are skeptical of Goethe's statement (including perhaps, Goethe himself!). The question is, is your skepticism the only thing you're certain of? The 19th century journalist, novelist, and man of letters G.K. Chesterton put it this way: "It is assumed the skeptic has no bias; whereas he has a very obvious bias in favor of skepticism." Chesterton is asking, are you willing to be skeptical about your skepticism? What if Christianity is true? You need to look and see. It's impossible to approach the question with a blank slate or 'open mind', simply because we each bring our entire background and preconceptions with us; but that must not stop us from searching for meaning in life. And history has shown what the Bible asserts: that when people discover the solid hope found in Jesus, they're transformed. So with all humility, Christians maintain that careful scrutiny - not hysteria or stereotype - vindicates the biblical explanation for why things are the way they are. And just as important, we know - since God changed us - that any person, no matter how difficult their straits, can find peace with God by trusting in God's provision in Jesus Christ.

But we also understand that people differ on this. Christianity is a religion that opens itself for investigation, confident of what it presents. After all, Christians are people with doubts, fears, anxieties, troubles, uncertainties, guilt, and sorrows. The difference is that Christians have learned how God in his grace bears his people up in the midst of those commonplaces, instead of ignoring, dreading, burying, or making light of them. And so we welcome you to connect with us, skeptical or not.

Look further...

• Words of hope from the One who made you.
• Coming Fall 2006: Christianity Explored
  Christianity Explored is an informal course for people who'd like to investigate Christianity or just brush up on the basics. It explores who Jesus was, what his aims were, and what it means to follow him. You're not asked to pray, sing, or read aloud, and you can ask anything you like. Or, if you prefer, you can just come and simply listen. It is FREE to attend, and a meal is included. Registration begins in July.