All The Answers

Why does nothing in this world make sense?
When things don’t make any sense, remember, you are looking at the world through human eyes, with human logic and human expectations.  If you were able to look at the world through God’s eyes, everything would make perfect sense.  We will never fully understand what God is doing and why, but at least we cant rest easy knowing that an all-knowing, all-powerful God has a plan that will someday make perfect sense when we finally stand with Him in heaven on earth.

When did life start and why?

The best answer we have to that question is, life started when God created it.  No one knows how many years ago that was so we’ll have to wait until we meet Him to ask Him.  God created life in order to share His love.  God has perfect Love and He created humans to share it with, and He created all other life forms to be the environment where this love could thrive.

Why is the world so filled with hate and division?
People hate each other because they are not listening to God and living by His word.  Without God to guide us, we end up believing we know what is “right” and we are willing to destroy anyone who gets in the way of that vision.  Whether we want to save the world or dominate the world by our self-anointed authority, we are following our own misguided hearts into an inevitable “us vs. them” conflict.  Hate and division are the natural consequences of rejecting God and believing we are the ultimate authority.

Is there more to life than this?
Yes, of course there is more to life than this.  That is exactly what God promised us.  This life, as we know it, is just a distorted fraction of the unimaginable beauty all Christians will experience with God when Jesus brings heaven to earth.

Why would any sane person believe God is real?
Well, we would ask, why would any sane person NOT believe God is real?  Whether you believe in God or not, you are acting on faith.  No one can prove that God does not exist, so to believe 100% that God does not exist is also an act of faith.  So, just look around you.  Right now, look around you.  Do you really believe that the infinitely complex miracle of human life, all of the animals, plants, and everything on earth is just an accident?  Do you really believe that life started from one single cell that came from nothing, then magically “evolved” into the incomprehensible beauty around you?  Bless your heart.

Why are Christians so judgmental?
There are two ways to answer that, depending on what you mean by the question.  First, some Christians are judgmental because they are doing it wrong.  The bible explicitly says we are not to judge others because none of us are anywhere near perfect and because the only one fit to judge anyone is God.  Second, some Christians are “judgmental” because they are trying to save their fellow Christians from sinful behavior.  Christians are supposed to help each other through honest and compassionate confrontation when someone is not being Christ-like.  So, depending on how a Christian is being judgmental, they are either do it exactly right or they are doing it very wrong.  And, on a final note of irony, if someone is judging Christians for being judgmental, aren’t they being judgmental?

Why are Christians so intolerant?
Well, that depends on what you mean by “intolerant”.  Yes, we are supposed to accept each other exactly as we are, warts and all.  We should all be treated with respect and love.  That is what Christians believe and endeavor to do.  BUT, if someone is doing something that is in direct conflict with God’s word, there should be no expectation that we accept and celebrate that behavior.  Just flip the script for a moment.  If someone you know does something that conflicts with your core beliefs, values, and who you are as a person, would you celebrate their actions and participate in them?  If you are being honest, no, you wouldn’t.  So, no, Christians don’t hate anyone.  We just do not support how some people live their lives.  If you believe that qualifies as hate or malicious intolerance, then perhaps dig a little deeper to see what is truly in our hearts (and yours).

Why in the world would I want to be a Christian?
If you care about eternity and where you will spend it, you definitely want to be a Christian.  Living an eternal life with God in a sublime, flawless world filled with love instead of being eternally separated from God in a tragic, dystopian world should be all the incentive you need.  Christianity is an open invitation to everyone on earth, but only some people will accept that invitation.  The choice is yours.  Believe that Jesus is the son of God, he died as payment for all of our sins, then was resurrected as proof that He defeated the final enemy, death.  Or don’t.  How long can eternity last anyway?

Why does God allow evil and suffering?
That is a difficult question, even for Christians.  The simple answer is, God has a plan that includes evil and suffering in order to bring about the final judgment and the arrival of heaven on earth.  For some reason, evil and suffering are necessary.  That is a tough pill to swallow, right?  How in the world can a loving God allow terrible things to happen just to make a plan come together?  As Christians, we believe God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.  That means He knows absolutely everything about the past, present, and future.  He is able to do anything.  And, He is everywhere at once.  That being true, we believe God is so far above and beyond us that we just cannot fathom the reasons why He does what He does, and we need to wait to ask Him ourselves when we see Him.

Why can’t I find credible answers to the “Big Questions”?
Well, for one, you are looking in the wrong places.  Scientists have been correcting their mistakes for centuries.  Every time they say “the science is settled”, someone proves them wrong.  Philosophers are just guessing.  They interpret what they see through what they already believe about the world.  Everything is subjective.  From the beginning of time, people have been trying to make sense of the world that God created.  So, why not go to the source and ask God the Big Questions?  His answers never change and His answers are the only ones that actually stand up to scrutiny.  With just a dash of faith, God’s answers are the only answers that make any plausible sense.

Why do Christians keep trying to recruit me?
If you discovered the cure for cancer, would you keep it a secret or would you tell everyone you know?  Hopefully, you would tell everyone and try to convince them to follow the prescription to the letter.  Similarly, Christians believe we have discovered the secret to an unimaginable, eternal life and we want everyone to know about it.  We want everyone to share in this incredible truth.  We know some people will think we are crazy, but that is okay.  If we can get just one person to believe, it will have all been worth it.

Why does God care if I have an abortion?
God cares about abortion because every life is precious, regardless of the age of the baby or the surrounding circumstances.  Life begins at conception and has immediate value, so that is when God begins caring.  At 9 seconds, 9 minutes, 9 weeks, or 9 months old, it’s all the same life.  To God and the baby, the circumstances of the pregnancy are irrelevant. If you have an abortion, you are killing an unborn baby, no matter how you spin it to avoid the truth.  If a baby is not aborted, it will continue to grow into a baby that is born, grows up, and lives a full life.  That is why God cares about abortion.

Why does God care who I love?
God cares because He created men and women to complement and complete each other.  Each gender has innate strengths and abilities that the other one lacks.  Together, men and women are the full picture of what God created and why he created us.  When people have sexual relationships with the same gender, they cannot fulfill God’s plan for them and they cannot accomplish what they were designed to do.  Absolutely anyone can be a Christian and enjoy God’s love just by believing, but people in same-sex relationships have an additional obstacle to overcome, that God wants us to avoid.

Why are Christians so stuck in the past about gender identity?
Some things never change, like gender.  There are men and there are women.  That’s it.  That is where God stopped.  If you are a man, you cannot become a woman just because you “feel” like a woman.  Even if you 100% believe you are a different gender, no amount of surgeries and rearranging can change what God made you to be.  We must have empathy for anyone suffering from Gender Dysphoria because it can be extremely difficult to deal with in this life.  But, the truth never changes because that is the nature of the truth, no matter how society changes and tries to convince you otherwise.  Just because God loves every single one of us doesn’t mean He will change His mind to keep us happy.

What happens to me if I don’t believe in God?
If you don’t believe in God and you don’t believe in His son Jesus Christ, you will spend eternity separated from God and His love.  You will spend eternity with the other non-believers in a very unpleasant place.  That may sound harsh, but that is your choice.  You can still make a different choice but that door won’t be open forever.  When you die or when Jesus returns, your choice is sealed forever.  Remember, the only people God rejects are those who reject Him.

If my parents are Christians, does that make me a Christian?
No.  For good or bad, you are not a Christian just because your parents are.  You do not inherit their salvation or their condemnation.  It’s all up to you and the decisions you make.

Why should I come to Foothills Christian Church?
You should come to Foothills if you are either looking for your first church because you are curious enough to take the next step, or you are looking for your next church because you recently moved into the area or you are looking for something different.  Whatever your reason is, we might be perfect for you.  Here are 6 things that we believe make Foothills different and special:
  • Undiluted, consistent, compassionate, and biblically sound instruction on the Bible
  • No judgement, no hellfire, no guilt.  Just the love and acceptance of Jesus Christ
  • Church services feel like a gathering of friends and family, connected by the love of Christ
  • Small enough to know the pastor personally and form connections with everyone
  • Sincere, heartfelt support for everyone through life’s trials and celebrations
  • Vibrant calendar of family-friendly social activities

Why isn’t it enough to just be a good person?
What is a “good person”?   Seriously.   How do you define it?  How do you know when you have achieved it?  How do you keep it up?  What if you aren’t a “good person” one day?  Do you lose your status as a “good person”?  Being a “good person” depends on you doing enough to merit that status.  You have to earn it.   On the other hand, you don’t need to earn or deserve anything to be a Christian.  All you need to do is believe in Jesus and you are given the right to stand with God forever. 

Can I just show up to a church service if I’m not a Christian?
Absolutely.  Even if you are still trying to figure out if you believe in God, you are welcome at Foothills.  We will meet you where you are in your walk with Jesus.  Ultimately, our hope and our goal is that everyone who attends Foothills has a confident grasp on the gospel and how to apply it to their everyday lives, and is prepared for Christ’s return.  It all starts with your first visit.

What is the proof that God is real?
While no one has 100% proof that God is real or not, all you need to do is take a look around you.  Look at the immaculate beauty of nature.  Look at the impossible complexity of every life form.  Only God could have created it all.  It certainly didn’t happen by accident or evolution from a single cell.  In terms of “proof”, there are libraries full of historical, geological, archeological, and literary evidence that God and Jesus are real.  But in the end, it does come down to faith, whether you believe in God or not.

What does God want from me?
All God wants from you is to believe in Jesus and the one who sent Him (God).  There is really nothing you actually have to “do”.  If you believe in Jesus and God, your life will slowly transform and you will naturally do things differently.  So, God doesn’t want anything from you beyond your faith.

Why should I care about eternal life with God?
Mostly because the alternative is pretty awful.  Just for now, push the “I believe” button and imagine that God is real and eternity is a thing.  Do you want to spend eternity with God in a place so perfect that you couldn’t begin to comprehend it?  Or, do you want to spend eternity separated from God in a place that is infinitely worse than life on earth right now?  Even if you are just looking out for yourself, you should think about how long eternity is and how you want to spend it.

If God answers all prayers, why is my life a mess?
First, are you a Christian?  If not, that seems like an obvious reason God has not answered your prayers.  Second, if you are a Christian, God never promised that your life on earth would not have its share of pain and heartbreak.  That is still a part of being human on earth.  And, that will not change until Jesus comes back, bringing heaven to earth.  Whether or not you are a Christian, God uses suffering to bring us closer to Him, so, he may allow pain in your life for that reason.  Beyond that, God’s ways are not our ways, so we can never know with certainty why He allowed your life to become a mess.  But, you can ask Him when you see Him.

If God answers all prayers, why aren’t all Christians rich and happy?
Wealth and happiness on earth have nothing to do with being a Christian.  In fact, they can be an impediment to your relationship with God.  If you are rich and happy, you might think you don’t need God.  Or, you may be so wrapped up in your wealth and happiness that you forget to give God all the credit.  Above all that, God wants people to come to Him exactly how they are.  Rich, poor, happy, miserable, whatever.  After you become a Christian, nothing else on earth matters.

Why do I need to attend a church in-person?
Church is where you get to meet like-minded people, glorify God together, help others improve their understanding of God, and support them through life’s challenges.  The world can be a tough place for Christians and sometimes we need a respite from the world.  Sometimes we just need to be with our people.  Sitting on your couch every Sunday may be comfortable, but it doesn’t really get you anywhere, does it?

Why did God make people?
God made people in order to share his love.  God doesn’t “need” people, but He is so generous that He created an entire race of people just so they could experience His love.  Pretty cool, huh?

Why do I need God?
You need God so you can live in bliss for eternity.  You need Him to help navigate your way through this confusing and painful world.  You need Him to explain what it all means.  You need him to find peace while you are still on earth.  You need Him because He is God and He created the entire universe.  The better question is, “why don’t I need God?”. 

Why would God kill his own son?
God allowed Jesus to suffer and die on earth in order to pay the debt for all of our sins, make us righteous, and make us worthy of inheriting God’s kingdom.  God loves us so much that he was willing to let his Son pay the price that we would otherwise have to pay in order to be with Him forever.  Imagine the pain of letting your own child die in order to pay someone else’s debt.  It is unimaginable, right?  But, God did it for us.  Incredible.

Do I need to give up my life to be a Christian?
As a Christian, you need to let go of control of your life and let God transform you.  This transformation includes you becoming more Christ-like every day.  It means doing your best to leave behind your sinful behavior and ask for forgiveness when you fail.  (Everyone fails in that regard, so don’t expect perfection)  It means allowing God to live through you and follow his guidance until the end of your time on earth.  So, in a very real way, you do need to give up your life to be a Christian.  You will still be “you”, just a better version.

Why should I believe God cares about me?
You should believe it because it is true.  We know He cares about every single one of us because He told us so.  He cares about us so much that He let his Son die for our sins, just to spend eternity with us.  Just like everything else in Christianity, all we need to do is believe.