Trusting God Through Suffering; Job's example

The following is an answer to a person's response to an observation I made about his indignation to the use of Christian cliches as an explanation to the tragedy in Joplin MO. I hope it will edify the church. The person who I wrote this to is a professing agnostic who went to a bible college to prepare for ministry. His studies resulted in his agnosticism.

Are you convinced of the truth?

                Many outside of the church today spend their time clinging to ideas that harden their hearts to the message of the gospel. They confuse fleeting emotional experiences with spirituality. In the end all they have upon which to base their opinion is their own knowledge or their faith in someone else’s apparent wisdom. Unfortunately, many inside the church do the same. I can relate because I was likewise deceived well into my twenties. The more I listened to those who had knowledge, the more I was acquainted with differing views, the more sophisticated and ingrained my ideology. However, one day I experienced the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The simple message of the gospel has the power to transform all people and give them victory over sin. In fact, even in its simplicity, it far surpasses all human knowledge and wisdom. Its limitless quality is part of the reason why its power can be experienced throughout the entire spectrum of human race and culture.  With the rise of world-wide persecution of Christians and differing ideas competing to persuade people regarding what is truth, people need to know why the gospel is so unique. How can we protect ourselves and our children from being deceived by competing ideologies? 

The Colossian Heresy: What can we learn from it?

          I have been reading through and will be beginning an in depth analysis of the letter to the Colossians. One of the issues which good theologians discuss is the nature of false teaching among the Colossians. This discussion is a result of the attempt to find an actual religious movement that fits into the description deduced from Paul's warnings and commandments to the church at Colossae. This discussion is fascinating from an academic perspective and has resulted in a deeper understanding of some of the cultural and religious influences existing during the first decades of Christianity. However, on a practical level, there are universal principles that apply to us today.