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Dear Father Paul

Dear Father Paul: If the one true God is Jehovah, the God of the Bible, then why do people tell me that Jesus is God?- Sign me "confused," Tacoma, WA

Dear Confused: Great question, especially in this day of "relativism," i.e. the notion that one religion is as good as any other and that�they will all "get you to heaven."

Jesus himself answers�your question in the Gospel of John, chapter 14,�when�he talks about "the Father," or Jehovah.�He is�in this passage talking�with his disciples. He tells them that he is going away and that while he is away he will prepare a place for them, and that they know the way to the place he is going. Thomas then�says, "Lord, we�don't know where you are going, how can we know the way?" Jesus then replies, "I am THE way and THE truth and THE life. No one comes to the Father�EXCEPT through me." So much for relativism. Jesus says he is the ONLY way! According to Jesus, all other religions are false.

Some might say, "That is a hard, harsh teaching, not very 'inclusive,' not very 'modern.'"�To which I would answer, these aren't my words, but the words of God. Why do I say the words of God? Read on.

Then another disciple, Philip, speaks up and says,�"Lord, show us the Father (Jehovah)�and that will be enough for us." To which Jesus replies, (and answers�your question), "Don't you know me Philip, even after I have been�among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father living in me, who is doing his work; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves."�Basically, Jesus and the Father (Jehovah) are one and the same. Wow! Yes, it is a "mystery." That's why he is God, and we are not.

�

Dear Father Paul: I�am beginning to�see�less and less�sense in going to church every Sunday. I've been going for 40 years now�and have probably heard over 2,000 sermons during all those years, and I can't remember a single one of them. Aren't I wasting my time?- Pete, Fayetteville.

Dear Pete: I've been married for (as of June 12) 40 years, and during that time Judy has cooked somewhere around 4,000 to 6,000 meals for me, and you know what, I can't recall the entire menu for for a single one of those meals!

But�I know this, every one of those meals nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do what I had to do. They kept me alive. If my wife had not given me those meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I hadn't gone to church for the past 40-plus years, I't be spiritually dead today!

God's word teaches that your "spirit man" is more important than your "physical man." Feed and nourish your spirit Pete.�Go to church.

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Father Paul Massey will answer your question. Write him at P.O. Box 510, Fayetteville, 30214 or [email protected]