Why God made so many different races?
In the beginning, God created only one race, Adam and Eve were the parents of all human-kind. It is in the Tower or Babel that God made them speaks different languages. When people of the same language moved out as a group to other parts of the world, we form community there. Living in that environment, we further developed due to the adaptation of the situation there for survivability. This is possible all because of the genes inside us. However, instead of celebrating the diversity and live harmoniously with each other, the sin within us draw-line to divides and develop hatred over the differences. Frankly, even among the same race and nationality, the discrimination still exists, be it in England, China or any other parts of the world. What divide us is not the colour, language, or race, but the sin within us.
How can we help a non-Christian to believe thru suffering?
When one is suffering, it is not the time to understand any doctrine or theory, but rather, a time to be understood. When a non-believer faced suffering, what is important is a friend by his/her side, listening to their heart cry, and not to answer questions. If they asked (only when they asked), if God is so good, why am I still suffered? We can share that it is not the fault of God to cause human suffering, but people, and sometime, our own fault, such as global warming, broken relationship. Share with them that Jesus came, to die for them, and promised a place where there’s no pain, no crying, so more suffering, and if they are still listening, continue to share the love of Jesus to that person. Often, it is not logic or knowledge that make a non-believer believe in God and understand suffering. But rather, it is your (our) love, and the time we spend on them, journeying with them in their darkness, that they find hope.
Why does God choose me as I did so much wrongs?
When one is suffering, it is not the time to understand any doctrine or theory, but rather, a time to be understood. When a non-believer faced suffering, what is important is a friend by his/her side, listening to their heart cry, and not to answer questions. If they asked (only when they asked), if God is so good, why am I still suffered? We can share that it is not the fault of God to cause human suffering, but people, and sometime, our own fault, such as global warming, broken relationship. Share with them that Jesus came, to die for them, and promised a place where there’s no pain, no crying, so more suffering, and if they are still listening, continue to share the love of Jesus to that person. Often, it is not logic or knowledge that make a non-believer believe in God and understand suffering. But rather, it is your (our) love, and the time we spend on them, journeying with them in their darkness, that they find hope.
Where do we go after we die?
According to Luke 16:19-31, the story about the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus told us that when we die, we either go to heaven or to hell (more versions use hades). Lazarus suffered on earth, when he died, God had mercy on him and accepted him into heaven with Abraham. However, the rich man did not commit any crime in today’s standard, he did not care for the needy in our community. When he died, he was sent to hell and tormented by fire.
When we die, do we first go to purgatory, where our spirits will be purified?
In the Catholic belief, there is a purgatory state after death and before going to heaven. This is a place for those who are saved but their souls are not pure, such as they left the church after their baptisms. Consequently, then they die, they will go to purgatory to be purified before going to see Jesus. However, the Protestants, including the Anglicans, do not believe this as there is no biblical references to this.
Where did Jesus go after he died?
In the Apostles’ Creed, we read “[Jesus] was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead.” When Jesus died on the cross, his body was dead, but his spirit lives on and left his body, as shown in Luke 23:46, “Then Jesus shouted, ‘Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!’ And with those words he breathed his last.” Also, from 1 Peter 3:19, it says, “He [Jesus] went and preached to the spirits in prison,” many theologians believe that after his death, Jesus went to Hades to tell the good news of his victory over the power of darkness to the fallen angels. Other commentators believe that Jesus went to Hades to bring the Old Testament saints to Heaven. This is a reference from Ephesians 4:8-9, “That is why the Scriptures say, ‘When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people. (Ps 68:18)’ Notice that it says ‘he ascended.’ This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.” Jesus gave them gifts, the gifts of salvation on the cross.