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OVER THE DOCTRINAL CLIFF There are certain things in the word of God that we are told to believe by faith that are really not that hard to understand. Although I've never seen Jesus, I believe 100% that He did live in the world for 33 years just as the Bible says. That's not hard to understand or believe. Then some things are a bit more challenging, such as His virgin birth and His bodily resurrection. I believe those things as well, but my understanding of them is not quite as clear. Then comes the really tough stuff, like how did God just always exist without being created, how is Jesus both God and man at the same time, and how can the Trinity be three and one at the same time? I can only explain such things to a point, and then I must rest in my faith in the word of God. But that's okay, because God never told me to fully understand it all; He told me to believe it, and that's what I do. Through the years, I have seen many people get all messed up by trying to delve further into the deeper doctrines than they should. A few years ago I saw a particular young man who struck me as potential trouble due to his argumentative attitude and his inability to just let certain things be instead of insisting on pushing every doctrinal truth to the limit. Well, he ended up openly denying the deity of Christ and has painted himself into a doctrinal corner. Unless he repents, he is finished, as far as any significant service to God is concerned. Humility and faith would have served him much better than his proud and combative attitude, but now he must pay the price, as will all of those who trod the same path. "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Heb. 5:14) (If you happen to know the name of the individual mentioned above, please refrain from using the name in any comments. It just isn't necessary. Besides, in the event that he has possibly repented, I don't want to burden him any more than he's already burdened himself.)