Real vs Counterfeit

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Originally uploaded by chandrangopalan

I was intrigued with Craig A Evans' response to Lee Strobel's question on the different perspectives about Jesus in this modern age. Craig's reply to this question about Jesus clearly states the times we live in. Quoting from that conversation about Christianity or Christianities, he insisted, "This is a product of a modern agenda - a politically correct, multicultural agenda motivated by sympathy for marginalized groups. It's the attitude that says diversity is always good, truth is negotiable, and every opinion is equally valid. The question is: What really did happen in the first century? What's the evidence? What are the facts?"

This response contrasted with my reading from Paul's epistle to the Colossians church as day is to night, where his prayer of thankfulness for the saints' spiritual attainment was recorded. Let's pick it up in verse 3, We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.

We see in this first century epistle from Paul the deep faith the people of his time had for Jesus Christ, their Lord and Savior. These Colossians knew the grace of God in reality, deeply and clearly and thoroughly, becoming accurately and intimately acquainted with Him.

Early in my working career (about 25 years ago) I was a bank teller and this is where I learnt the difference between the real and counterfeit bank notes. The difference sometime cannot be noticed with our naked eyes. It is the consistent daily counting and spending time with the genuine bank note that helped me differentiate the fake one from the real. I didn't even have to look at it when I was counting, by the sheer feeling of my thumb I could discern and know the difference.

This also parallels my experience in knowing the real Jesus. There is no short cut to knowing Jesus but the consistent daily reading and meditating on His Word. At least 10% of my day, when possible...it belongs to Him yeah?

I pray I will continue to discern His grace and not fall into the trap of being lured into the counterfeit - of political correctness, multicultural agenda motivated by sympathy for marginalized groups. And a sheared conscious and attitude that says diversity is always good, truth is negotiable and every opinion is equally valid!