| Steve, 44, Lancashire |
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 15 November 2008 20:20 |
|
I believe in God because when I pray God answers ! Over the years, whenever I've needed to know which way to turn, what to do in a particular situation or how to face life's challenges I've prayed and God has answered. Not like a telephone conversation but more subtly, gently; urging and not demanding, leading and not pushing, suggesting and not ordering - and I have never, ever been let down or led wrongly. I would at one time have described myself as a scientist who believed in a God but now I'm a Christian who understands science. Many years ago I did a physics degree with the Open University, to try and understand how the world worked and as a result can describe 'how' all sorts of things work. However it wasn't until I turned to look at theology I found out the 'why' about the 'how' ! Whilst studying theology I examined the claims made by the bible, and other religious texts, applying what I had learned through my training as an investigator in the police - and as a scientist - to try and find the errors, inconsistencies, mistakes and flaws. What I found was that the claims made by the bible have to be true, there absolutely is no other credible explanation. When you add together the cynicism of police officers (we believe nothing that we are ever told because we have been lied to so often), and the inquisitiveness of scientific investigation (never satisfied with the explanation and always looking for more evidence), it is not often that I find anything to to be as it first appeared. HOWEVER - the claims made in the bible, especially about Jesus, are without doubt accurate and true; there really, really is that amount of persuasive evidence. If you then add personal experience of life, what I have seen and heard, then the only possible conclusion for me is that God exists, his relationship with us over time is accurately described in the bible, and that Jesus is who he claimed to be - the living, breathing, dying, resurrected and living son of God. It's as simple as this: When I studied the bible I concluded it had to be true. When I pray to God - He answers. or Truth + Faith = Belief I have been a police officer for nearly 25 years, first in London and now in Manchester. Married with three children, a collie dog and a mortgage. Two legs, two arms one head - usual stuff. |