Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation." But He also said, "Be of good cheer for I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

A merciful God created the world in perfect condition. Man messed it up by deciding to do things his own way. Still, a merciful God offers redemption in and from this fallen world through Jesus Christ for all those who repent of their sin and put their faith and trust in Him.

We will all die. Circumstances differ, but the end is the same for all. The question is not how many years we get to live in a broken world, but rather where we are headed after we leave it. A merciful God offers Heaven and perfection -- with no terrorist attacks, no storms and no tears -- if we accept it on His terms and not create conditions for Him to which He must respond before we exercise faith and trust in Him.

What kind of God commands humans to exact violence in His name against others? Kindness, persuasion and consistency in one's faith is far more attractive. Conversion by coercion does not change hearts or minds. Any actual or perceived injustice is best left to God, who has the perfect perspective and not sinful man who frequently gets it wrong.

"'Vengeance is mine' says the Lord" works best for Him and for us.

People can look up for themselves what various dictionaries and other "definers" say constitute a cult, but generally a cult is composed of several elements.

1) A human authority figure, usually of recent vintage, who claims to have the only true knowledge of God, or some other life force and who tells the follower not to listen to anyone else, or read anything else but what he (or she) instructs. Apparently no one in human history was as smart, or as holy, as this person, because only he (or she) has been given the divine truth. That cult leaders contradict each other, not to mention the Bible, apparently does not phase them or their followers. God can't be saying contradictory things or He would not be God.

2) Some cults require a separation from family and friends in order for the cult leader to retain physical and ideological control over people. Modern examples of cult leaders include Jim Jones of the People's Temple and David Koresh of the Branch Davidians. It is no coincidence that each of these cult leaders required their followers to die for them. The real God has died for us.

3) A book that adds to or detracts from (same thing) Scripture. Immediately, critics will say, "Everyone claims to have a book that is the revealed Word of God, so what makes yours so special?" My answer comes on at least three levels. The first is that what we call the Bible accurately explains man's condition (sin) and God's purpose (redemption), while offering hope for eternity. No other book can satisfactorily address such questions. It is a book written by different authors over thousands of years but it has a unity that only God could have brought about, because He is the true Author, using human instruments. Second, only in the Bible does God intervene on Man's behalf. Cults require followers to intervene on God's behalf by placating an angry deity. Third, only Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead, which no cult leader has done, or could do. The evidence for that is the hundreds of witnesses, none of whom recanted what they saw, even in the face of prison, torture and death. Human nature tells you at least one would have denied the resurrection if it didn't occur. And still many give their lives today for Him because only He gives back life as it was originally intended.

He is right. That is exactly what religion is. Religion is a creation of man designed to control people who don't agree with whatever brand is being promoted. God has nothing to do with religion. What God has everything to do with is relationships. It is THAT he wants from human beings, a relationship with Himself. But since He is holy and we are not, he demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were still sinners, He sent Jesus to die for us (romans 5:8).

That is not a message to be held or patented as the exclusive property of anyone; rather it is a message to be shared with whosoever will come to Him on His terms. As the offended party, He gets to make the rules (after all, He did make the universe). That some reject his message is their right, but they also must accept the consequences, for "The fool has said in his heart 'there is no God'" (Psalm 14:1)