Britain bends the knee

[BillyCarpenter]

People reject the true God because he isn't who they want him to be. And no someone simply can't pull out salvation at the last second. That's disingenuous at best. Not that it'd be impossible for someone to turn to faith before they died. But to think it's as simple as saying a few words no. I believe the Holy Spirit is what touches our hearts and minds.

I didn't grow up in the church and neither of my parents were religious. I never remember discussing religion with my parents I had no idea what God was about and didn't want him to be anything other than what he is, or isn't.,

Look, I respect most religion but don't assume that because you had a certain religious experience that I did something wrong or failed to do something. I gave it an honest shot.

[nullskull]

I also looked at it from another angle. They say all sin is equal. And you'll burn in hell for eternity for any of them if you don't ask for forgiveness. That seems totally unreasonable to me and not someone I want to worship.

A God that demands justice does not seem unreasonable to me. Would a Judge that lets a thief and murderer free because he claims he's a good person be a good judge?

[Copier Addict]

So your decisions are based solely upon your own judgement? That's a flimsy thing you know. It's subject to the broader culture, your tendency to be pessimistic or optimistic, whether you woke up on the wrong side of bed...

Yes, I make decisions based on my own judgement. Whose judgment should I be basing my decisions on? If I used the Bible I would be stoning people for the choice to wear two different fabrics at the same time. I would be killing people because they planted two different crops side by side.
If you can't decide things for yourself, you would be so easy to lead in any direction.

[BillyCarpenter]

A God that demands justice does not seem unreasonable to me. Would a Judge that lets a thief and murderer free because he claims he's a good person be a good judge?

Hey, I don't understand why you said this? Is it because I said that burning in hell for eternity seems unreasonable? No offense but that sounds like something out of the Al Queda handbook.

[BillyCarpenter]

Yes, I make decisions based on my own judgement. Whose judgment should I be basing my decisions on? If I used the Bible I would be stoning people for the choice to wear two different fabrics at the same time. I would be killing people because they planted two different crops side by side.
If you can't decide things for yourself, you would be so easy to lead in any direction.

I get your point but that's not entirely true. Our values are formed in many ways, including our parents that raised us. That's why many killers were raised by abusive parents.

[nullskull]

I didn't grow up in the church and neither of my parents were religious. I never remember discussing religion with my parents I had no idea what God was about and didn't want him to be anything other than what he is, or isn't.,

Look, I respect most religion but don't assume that because you had a certain religious experience that I did something wrong or failed to do something. I gave it an honest shot.

I'm not assuming you did anything wrong. I didn't do anything right to become a Christian. Christ changed me. My best acts are as filthy rags compared to his glory. The only reason I have hope is because of the testament of his love for us. Just imagine. God is perfect. Literally beyond our dimensions and comprehension (I think people humanize God way to much in some aspects) And he saw us running around in rebellion against his law. He could have and was in his power to let us die like the broken things we were. But he sent his son, a perfect union of fully God and Man to die for our sins. I'm sure you've all heard this before. But this is what my faith is. I have no other thing to stand on.

[BillyCarpenter]

I'm not assuming you did anything wrong. I didn't do anything right to become a Christian. Christ changed me. My best acts are as filthy rags compared to his glory. The only reason I have hope is because of the testament of his love for us. Just imagine. God is perfect. Literally beyond our dimensions and comprehension (I think people humanize God way to much in some aspects) And he saw us running around in rebellion against his law. He could have and was in his power to let us die like the broken things we were. But he sent his son, a perfect union of fully God and Man to die for our sins. I'm sure you've all heard this before. But this is what my faith is. I have no other thing to stand on.

Sure you did. You may have done it unintentionally but here's what you said:


People reject the true God because he isn't who they want him to be - nullskull

First, how do you know that and how do you know who I want God to be? There's no way you could know that. No offense and I mean that. But making statements like that isn't helping your cause.

[nullskull]

Yes, I make decisions based on my own judgement. Whose judgment should I be basing my decisions on? If I used the Bible I would be stoning people for the choice to wear two different fabrics at the same time. I would be killing people because they planted two different crops side by side.
If you can't decide things for yourself, you would be so easy to lead in any direction.

Your examples show you do not understand the Bible or the context of the Israelite culture. And what makes you think you aren't easily lead by things yourself?

[nullskull]

Sure you did. You may have done it unintentionally but here's what you said:


People reject the true God because he isn't who they want him to be - nullskull

First, how do you know that and how do you know who I want God to be? There's no way you could know that. No offense and I mean that. But making statements like that isn't helping your cause.

I'm sorry I should have been clearer. I meant that I wasn't assuming you did some wrong action that made you not believe. Then I explained that our actions can't save us anyway. Only the good news of salvation can make us see the truth. As for why I believe that people reject God is because they don't like what they see. You said you think God would be unreasonable to punish us for breaking any sin. It's very clear to me when I see who God really is in the Bible and then I look into the world and see others rejecting him because they want something else. I hope I am not getting the wrong message across here. I understand why people do these things I've also struggled with who God is and who I want him to be.

[BillyCarpenter]

I'm sorry I should have been clearer. I meant that I wasn't assuming you did some wrong action that made you not believe. Then I explained that our actions can't save us anyway. Only the good news of salvation can make us see the truth. As for why I believe that people reject God is because they don't like what they see. You said you think God would be unreasonable to punish us for breaking any sin. It's very clear to me when I see who God really is in the Bible and then I look into the world and see others rejecting him because they want something else. I hope I am not getting the wrong message across here. I understand why people do these things I've also struggled with who God is and who I want him to be.

I don't disagree that some people reject God because living according to the bible isn't easy. No disagreement. However, there are also folks like me to went to church of my own free will and really wanted to believe but I felt nothing. I wasn't moved and believed less in God than I did to begin with.

Also, there are Muslims that tell me all the same stuff that you're saying. I don't know who's right but billions of folks will burn in hell because is wrong

[nullskull]

Hey, I don't understand why you said this? Is it because I said that burning in hell for eternity seems unreasonable? No offense but that sounds like something out of the Al Queda handbook.

Why shouldn't a perfect God judge us based upon our sins? Everything must be made right. And if a lack of mercy is the problem then that is the best part of what Christianity teaches...

[BillyCarpenter]

Why shouldn't a perfect God judge us based upon our sins? Everything must be made right. And if a lack of mercy is the problem then that is the best part of what Christianity teaches...

Here's my thought on casting a person in a lake of fire for eternity. The bible says that sin is sin. In other words, stealing a stick of gum is judged the same as murder. I don't know any polite way to say this: I don't respect any God that would do that.

[nullskull]

I don't disagree that some people reject God because living according to the bible isn't easy. No disagreement. However, there are also folks like me to went to church of my own free will and really wanted to believe but I felt nothing. I wasn't moved and believed less in God than I did to begin with.

Also, there are Muslims that tell me all the same stuff that you're saying. I don't know who's right but billions of folks will burn in hell because is wrong

I'm sorry to hear that, truly. Do you still have any desire within you to make peace with God? His offer still holds true.

As for Muslims yes they likely have some similarities with the books the borrowed from. Only they don't believe in salvation through faith. They believe in works. And they've also told me that even then they have no guarantee of paradise.

[BillyCarpenter]

I'm sorry to hear that, truly. Do you still have any desire within you to make peace with God? His offer still holds true.

As for Muslims yes they likely have some similarities with the books the borrowed from. Only they don't believe in salvation through faith. They believe in works. And they've also told me that even then they have no guarantee of paradise.

Hey, I'm not trying to change anyone's mind and that includes you. I've seen the good that religion can do. RESPECT.


PS - I'm always open to change and being proven wrong. And that includes God.

[nullskull]

Here's my thought on casting a person in a lake of fire for eternity. The bible says that sin is sin. In other words, stealing a stick of gum is judged the same as murder. I don't know any polite way to say this: I don't respect any God that would do that.

I see where you are coming from. But the point isn't that God doesn't understand that some sins have less severity then others but that he has no tolerance for sin. Here are some points to put this in perspective.

The bad news.
- If the standard to get into heaven is perfection then anything less is not good enough.
- If you judge yourself according to the ten commandments you'd likely have to admit to being guilty of most of them. (As would I)
- Heaven is to be in communion with God. Those who do not love God will reject this option.

The good news.
- Jesus came as a sacrifice for our sins. By accepting his sacrifice to cover our sins we have an amazing hope.