An Open Letter to Jon Lindgren

Jon is the former mayor of Fargo, ND 

and an outspoken critic of religion

Dear Jon,

I’m a Christian missionary who has read many of your articles published in The Forum and in your blog. My motive for writing this letter is not to stir up a debate but inspire you to think about a few things since you call yourself a “freethinker.”

First, let me point out that I once thought of myself as an atheist but was really more of an agnostic. While growing up in the Fargo-Moorhead area, my parents made me attend a traditional Lutheran church that gave me wrong perceptions of Christianity. For years, I questioned God’s existence until hearing a motivational speaker point out how the order of our universe is evidence of a Creator. Not long afterward, I prayed to receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. My life hasn’t been the same since.

I read that you once considered yourself a believer but had walked away from the faith. Throughout my 24 years of doing street ministry, I’ve met other people who said the same thing. That often happened in response to a tragedy or they never really knew the Lord to begin with. One cause of the latter is churches “having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:5) That’s why many mainline denominations are losing members. People’s spiritual needs aren’t being met there. Fortunately, there are churches alive and growing because the Word of God is taught accurately and the Holy Spirit is allowed to function during services. 

People frequently ask me why God allows bad things to happen such as wars, crime, storms, accidents, and disease. There is a simple answer to that. We live on an accursed planet largely ruled by Satan. Even the Bible calls him “the god of this world.” Man has a free will and can choose to follow God or (by default) the devil. You may not believe the devil is a real entity but I can testify from experience he comes to steal, kill and destroy. Denying the existence of the supernatural is like denying gravity. We might not see these things with our physical eyes but there are consequences when we ignore spiritual and natural laws.

One of your articles talks about “ditching religion.” I would agree with that concept depending on your definition of religion. Many dictionaries define it as “a system of faith and worship.” Although Christianity is often labeled as a religion, it was never intended to be a system of do’s and don’ts but a relationship with the Creator who loves us very much. The word religion originates from the Latin word religio, which means “to bind.” Religion can become a form of bondage to well-meaning people trying to follow God’s laws without knowing Him personally. Cults and other religious groups contribute to this bondage by adding rules not based on Scripture.

Another one of your articles makes the claim “…all faiths basically are the same. All believe their faith is the absolute truth and that all others are fake or false.” That’s not entirely true. Universalists believe “there are many ways to get there” despite various religions often contradict each other. Jesus simplified all this by saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

A more recent article of yours denies the existence of miracles. Often people don’t believe in them because they have never seen one. I used to be like that. However, Christians who obey the Great Commission can expect to see signs following such as the sick being healed. I’ve seen this happen many times by using the name of Jesus. Have you thought about why some people use His name as a cuss word but not Allah or Buddha? Satan may influence people to blaspheme the Lord’s name but he still must bow whenever a Christian speaks the name of Jesus with boldness.

This letter may not change your skepticisms. Hopefully, it has you thinking about your standing with the Lord since you’re entering your eighties and will likely step into eternity soon. It’s unfortunate many ungodly things have been done by church leaders in God’s name. However, that’s not an excuse to run away from Him. Every person will someday stand alone before His throne to give an account of their life.

In closing, I want to ask you a simple question: If Christianity were true, would you become a Christian? If your answer is “no”, then I disagree with your use of the term “freethinker.” You are closing your mind to the possibility of Christianity being the real deal. But if your answer is “yes”, then I encourage you to ask the Lord to make Himself real to you. Don’t look to a particular church or denomination for truth but in the person of Jesus Christ. He will reveal Himself to anyone who diligently seeks Him.

Sincerely,

Todd R. Post

How Big is Your God?

How big is your god? From your heart, can you sing the Rich Mullins song “Awesome God” or Chris Tomlin’s “How Great is Our God?” Do you believe God is big enough to do incredible things in your life? Before you answer that question, let’s examine how big God really is. 

First, you need to have it settled in your heart that He created the entire universe… 

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” - Genesis 1:1

“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.” - Psalm 19:1

“All things were made through Him [Jesus Christ], and without Him nothing was made that was made.” - John 1:3

“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” - Colossians 1:16

“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” - Hebrews 11:3

Atheists and agnostics have told me they believe in science, which I do also when it’s based on proven facts that line up with Scripture. Some so-called intellectuals promote evolutionary theory, claiming creation came “from goo, through the zoo and wound up as you.” How unscientific is the idea that man came from monkeys? Every seed produces after its own kind. (Genesis 1:11-12)

Then there are scientists who don’t believe in God but talk about the universe resulting from a “big bang”. In the natural, how can something come from nothing? I like what Frank Turek says, “I believe in the big bang. I just happen to know Who banged it!”

One way to understand the awesomeness of God is to look at the characteristics of light. 1 John 1:5 says, “…God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” The speed of light is over 186,000 miles per second. It takes about eight minutes for our sun’s light to reach the earth. A beam of light can travel around the equator seven times in one second. Can you now see how God can be omniscient and communicate with multitudes of people at once?

Now consider the stars in the sky. There are more of them than all the grains of sand on earth. Distance in space is measured in light years, which is 5.88 trillion miles. Our galaxy called the Milky Way spans 80,000 light years across and has over 100 billion stars. The Milky Way is one of approximately 125 billion galaxies that make up the universe. God has a lot more than just the whole world in His hands. As in the words of an old Disney song, “it’s a small world after all.”

Man created in the image and likeness of God has been around for about 6,000 years. But the light seen in the sky from distant galaxies has taken up to 13 billion years to get to us. This is how scientists have determined the age of the universe and yet God has been around longer than that.

So if God is so big, why do we often think too small with our prayers? One reason is we allow our present circumstances to consume our thought life. Some people magnify the devil too much. As I heard another minister say, “If you talk more about what the devil is doing than what God is doing, then you are really a devil worshipper.” Many will be surprised when in eternity they see Satan for who he really is. Isaiah 14:16-17 says, “Those who see you will gaze at you, and consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, Who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’”

Some of us would just be happy if God made a way for us to pay all our bills. Jesus said in Mark 9:23, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” If the Creator of the Universe can part the Red Sea, make the sun stand still and multiply loaves and fishes, why wouldn’t He do things that by comparison are rather insignificant? Instead of just concerning ourselves with our own needs, God wants us to think bigger…to be a blessing to others.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 says, “But as it is written:’Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” Just think, this great big God who created the universe lives inside of you through the person of the Holy Spirit…that is, if you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. All you need to do is seek Him for revelation on the big things He wants to do through you and for you. Ask Him today!

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” - Ephesians 3:20

The Mind of a Believer

Some people have this idea that to be a Christian, you have to check your brain at the door. Recently an atheistic businessman published a LinkedIn article titled “Religious People have lesser IQ than non-believers!” In an attempt to back up his claim, the author included numerous graphs such as the one pictured here. He also added the caption “Charts speak for themselves.” 

We will now let God’s word speak for itself...

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” - Psalm 14:1 and 53:1

“...although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools” - Romans 1:21-22

“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” - Romans 8:6-7

"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." - 1 Corinthians 2:14

Jesus said in Matthew 22:37, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” In his book and seminar “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist”, apologist Frank Turek states, “Christians don’t get brownie points for being stupid.”

Despite the atheist’s claim Pentecostals have the lowest IQ, Spirit-filled Christians who regularly pray in tongues can receive downloads from heaven that cannot be accessed through natural means...

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.” - 1 John 2:20

“But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” - 1 John 2:27

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” - Jude 20

I agree the atheist’s charts do speak for themselves. They speak of individuals who put them together “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4). All they have to do is repent and then they can have the mind of Christ.

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." - Isaiah 1:18

Banning the Bible

One sign we are living in the last days is people easily taking offense (Matthew 24:10).  This certainly holds true with non-Christians not wanting God in any part of their lives whatsoever.  Gideon Bibles were recently removed from all 137 rooms of a lodge owned by the University of Wisconsin.  This was in response to a complaint filed by the Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation.  

FFRF Co-President Dan Barker made the following statement, “We atheists and agnostics do not appreciate paying high prices for lodging, only to find Gideon Bibles in our hotel rooms, sometimes prominently displayed, knowing they contain instructions, for instance, to kill ‘infidels’ and ‘blasphemers,’ among other primitive and dangerous teachings.”  

Barker’s statement is ludicrous for a couple reasons.  First of all, high hotel rates have nothing to do with whether or not there are Bibles in the room.  Gideons International has been distributing copies of the Bible for free since 1899.

Secondly, Barker misinterprets the Bible’s “dangerous teachings.”  For one thing, Jesus told us in Matthew 5:44 to “...love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

When I stay in a hotel, I often channel surf and have to sift through TV programs promoting violence and illicit sex.  What if I complained to the front desk about those offensive programs?  They would just tell me to change the channel.  Non-believers who don’t want to read the bibles in their rooms (usually placed in a drawer near the local phone book) can simply ignore them.

Nevertheless, the Freedom From Religion Foundation has petitioned the hotel industry to inaugurate “bible-free” rooms, just as hotels and motels offer smoke-free rooms.  Without the author of God’s word in their hearts, members of the FFRF certainly won’t spend eternity in the non-smoking section.

No matter how successful atheists may get the Holy Bible removed from other public places, they will never totally eliminate God’s word.  

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” - Matthew 24:35

A Mormon President?

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is expected to officially become the Republican nominee for President this week at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. However, many Christians are having qualms about a Mormon possibly becoming president. 

Certainly, I prefer a president whose spiritual beliefs are more in line with evangelical Christianity. Then again, not every past president fits this category.  John F. Kennedy was a Roman Catholic. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were deists. Millard Fillmore and William Howard Taft were Unitarians. Taft even said one time that he did not believe in the divinity of Christ. Fortunately, no U. S. president has declared himself to be an agnostic or atheist. 

Nevertheless, I don’t agree with many of the teachings promoted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In summary…

•                I don’t believe in Joseph Smith.  I believe Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6)

•                I don’t believe Jesus was born in Jerusalem as the Book of Mormon claims (Alma 7:10).  I believe Jesus was born in the little town of Bethlehem. (Matthew 2:1)

•                I don’t believe Satan is Jesus’ brother.  I believe Jesus defeated that fallen angel He created and has given us His name to cast demons out of people. (Mark 16:17)

•                I don’t believe in seeking after a burning in the bosom (Doctrine of Covenants 9:8).  I believe we are to walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

•                I don’t believe we are saved “after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23).  I believe we are saved solely by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not by works.  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

If Mitt Romney does win the election in November, let’s pray that as president he makes godly decisions and more importantly comes to know whom Jesus really is.

“And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” - Daniel 2:21