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RE: Questions, questions, questions.

 
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RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/9/2008 10:47:11 PM   
PureLight

 

Posts: 111
Joined: 4/30/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: PrexicKehdaki

quote:

ORIGINAL: PureLight

PrexicKehdaki, have you ever checked out Ravi Zacharias?


Mhm. He has some pretty interesting arguments.

Feel free to post any of his apologies and I'll give my opinion.



Your questions are all over the place and the format to which people have been replying has been hurting my eyes. I'd have to ask for an outlay of the questions and I'd have to pray and look up stuff. I wouldn't mind doing so if you wouldn't.
Post #: 126
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/10/2008 12:53:35 PM   
Psalms274


Posts: 738
Joined: 8/13/2005
From: Georgia
Status: offline
quote:

I asked earlier, "Is it possible to have an open heart (not stubborn) but due to stupidity, be unconvinced by the Bible?"


No ... it is not possible, because if your heart is truly open, God will reveal Himself to you in a way you can understand. Sometimes people think their heart is open, when it is really closed ... they hang onto a hidden agenda rather than looking for the truth.

quote:

Yet you now acknowledge that stupidity CAN lead you to Hell and God makes no exceptions for stupid people.


I did not say that ... I said both stupid and intelligent people can go to heaven or hell ... but their stupidity or intelligence is not what got them to either place. God is able and will reveal Himself to anyone, and that means anyone, who is open to Him.

quote:

You really need to address this. Is it possible to have an open heart (not stubborn) but due to stupidity, be unconvinced by the Bible?


No it is not possible ... I know people with IQ's of less than 50 with very a strong relationship with Christ, and because of that relationship, say the most profound things I have ever heard. I know small children who have a relationship with Christ. The message of the gospel is so simple, a small child can understand, yet so deep, the most intelligent can ponder the things of God and never get bored.

quote:


Do you feel it is just to send someone to Hell due to their stupidity?


No I do not believe that would be just, and neither does God ... it does not happen and is not biblical.

quote:

You acknowledge the confusion people endure.. from horrific events to bad Christians tainting their religion's reputation.. but you also assert that we always have a clear choice. I don't see it that way. Like you, I've had some pretty horrific things happen in my life.. and at the time things weren't clear for me. I can only imagine how it must be like for others who may have less ability to cope or having had to endure even more traumatic or confusing events. How can you say their choice is always clear?


Because His is always good ... He always makes Himself clear to whomever is struggling in desperate circumstances ... THOUGH you may not understand during the circumstances, and you may not be able to think clearly at that time ... but He will give you an opportunity to know Him before you breath your last breath.

quote:

Do people go to Hell for any other reason?


No ... that really is the ONLY reason. He will always make Himself clear, and will bring the message to your level in a way you can understand. You will always have the choice to say, "yes I want your provision" or "No, I do not want You to save me." It's that simple.

quote:

Let's compare two different disbeliefs. One in the president and one in God. Not believing in the president even though we have footage of him and audio and millions of people alive today that have seen him, thousands that have touched him literally. The evidence that there is good evidence for the existence of the president is that just about no one has doubts that he exists.

If I were to not believe in the president.. would that make me a bad person worthy of Hell? Apparently not, as no where in the Bible do non-believers in the president go to Hell.


Here is the problem with your analogy. Believing God exists is NOT the prerequisite for going to heaven. Satan believes God exists.

Before the foundation of the world, God knew we would fall into sin. He is both loving and just, so He knew there would be a problem. He longs to spend time with us, but cannot look upon sin. His solution was the cross, where He took our punishment we deserved. Now rather than saying"all is good, everyone gets in" He also gave us freewill to choose to be with Him. As much as He loves us, He wants to be sure that you are choosing Him. Would you like to have friends who HAVE TO BE YOUR FRIENDS? Probably not, and in the same way, He wants you to choose to be His.

So the way to heaven is to believe that God Himself provided a way for you to spend eternity with Him and to accept the gift He has to offer you ... the gift is the accepting the payment He has given for your sin at the cross.

quote:

If I were to not believe in God.. would that make me a bad person worthy of Hell? Yes, on both parts according to the Bible.



Actually none of us our good and all of us are worthy of hell ... to prove that look deep into your own thoughts and heart. Have you ever been impatient, angry with another, been selfish, told a lie? You get the picture. All of us are sinners and God demands perfection, something I can never achieve.

God gives a free "get out of hell" card if you choose to take it. Taking it does not make you any less of a sinner. I still sin and must go to Him and ask for forgiveness when I do. This does not mean I have a license to sin either. The evidence I see every day in my life as to God coming to dwell with me is the way He has changed my heart and made it more like His own. Being a follower of Christ does not make me better than anyone else. But what happens when I take the gift God has to offer is He begins to change me from the inside out. I begin to understand His ways, and I desire to do the right thing because I am His. I find joy in the smallest of things and am never alone. I can now love deeper, understand things deeper, see clearer because I have chosen to be His. I remember trying to read the bible before I accepted His free gift to me ... it did not make any sense whatsoever! As soon as I said "yes" to Him I could suddenly understand what He was saying in the bible. It was like He was teaching me what the words were saying as I read them ... but it wasn't until after I accepted that gift that I understood.

I leave you with a scripture that deals with the stupid and smart:

1 Corinthians 1:27 ff "Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God."

Blessings ... and a wonderful week (oh my ... I should say end of the week ... and weekend!) to you.

_____________________________

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.

< Linus w/ a friends baby!

http://piswa.blogspot.com/
Post #: 127
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/10/2008 1:31:53 PM   
Clarity888

 

Posts: 19
Joined: 7/10/2008
Status: offline
WOW!!! Great Forum!!!

This is one of the deepest forums relating to God & Christ that I have ever experienced. I can tell that you are an intellectual that's why the questions are being asked.

In my opinion, all of us can sit here and throw bible verses at you and show you things in The Word, but the reality of it is, none of us really have the answers to your questions.

You can ask as many questions about God and Hell as you want, but the question I have for you is - Do you want to believe there is an Almighty God? Of course there are thousands of scientific answers for natural disasters, biology and a ream of other things, but has their ever been a scientific understanding of ones SOUL?
Post #: 128
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/10/2008 2:24:18 PM   
Lufia

 

Posts: 157
Joined: 5/25/2008
From: Canada, quebec province
Status: offline
quote:

The evidence I see every day in my life as to God coming to dwell with me is the way He has changed my heart and made it more like His own. Being a follower of Christ does not make me better than anyone else. But what happens when I take the gift God has to offer is He begins to change me from the inside out. I begin to understand His ways, and I desire to do the right thing because I am His. I find joy in the smallest of things and am never alone. I can now love deeper, understand things deeper, see clearer because I have chosen to be His. I remember trying to read the bible before I accepted His free gift to me ... it did not make any sense whatsoever! As soon as I said "yes" to Him I could suddenly understand what He was saying in the bible. It was like He was teaching me what the words were saying as I read them ... but it wasn't until after I accepted that gift that I understood


Wow your description is exactly my experience too! I understand more and more of Him, joy in smallest things in life, 'before' i didn't understand the Bible now i do. I feel i'm being 'work' by God and i'm loving it

_____________________________

Give your life to Jesus and enjoy the ride!
Post #: 129
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 1:17:29 AM   
BibleL7

 

Posts: 493
Joined: 2/1/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: PrexicKehdaki

quote:

ORIGINAL: BibleL7

quote:

ORIGINAL: PrexicKehdaki

quote:

ORIGINAL: BibleL7

quote:

ORIGINAL: PrexicKehdaki


lol, so i herd you liek mudkipz? (If you don't get it.. don't worry about it)


Actually No not applicable. Is OK I would not expect you to understand.

BTW just curious if you are same PrexicKehdaki who is author of the videos of Atheists. I know off topic but I am curious I found the one very well done.

I will pray for you on the depression not an easy thing to deal with as ateist or believer been there on both sides. I do apologize if my posts have offended you. I would appreciate your forgiveness if possible it was not my intention to offend.


I do understand.. and I kinda gave you a clue, if you're willing to investigate. ;-)

And you haven't offended me at all. It's all good. ^-^


Sorry, I did try to investigate yet Pokemon is one I did not much get into if that is where the clue is and now is not possible for me to get into without a tv. Otherwise forgive an old man of his Ignorance of younger generation. I was an atheist many years before your time most likely. So I may miss some things which pertain to the younger generation. TY for forgiveness.


It actually has nothing to do with pokemon :P


If this is so I will ask only one question that may not make sence otherwise.

Are you sure?
Post #: 130
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 9:49:15 AM   
PrexicKehdaki


Posts: 190
Joined: 6/26/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: SavedByGraceMD

quote:

ORIGINAL: BibleL7

quote:

ORIGINAL: PrexicKehdaki


lol, so i herd you liek mudkipz? (If you don't get it.. don't worry about it)


Actually No not applicable. Is OK I would not expect you to understand.

BTW just curious if you are same PrexicKehdaki who is author of the videos of Atheists. I know off topic but I am curious I found the one very well done.

I will pray for you on the depression not an easy thing to deal with as ateist or believer been there on both sides. I do apologize if my posts have offended you. I would appreciate your forgiveness if possible it was not my intention to offend.

I am also interested to know if you are the same person who posts the videos on you tube. I bet you are. I did not like your video on why you don't believe in God, quoting the statistics on divorce. So are the forum posting, question asking, prex, and the you tube video producing prex, one and the same? HMMMMMMMMMMMM?


Yes, that's me. And that video had nothing to do with why I don't believe in God. It was a response to theists claiming atheists are evil.
Post #: 131
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 9:51:12 AM   
PrexicKehdaki


Posts: 190
Joined: 6/26/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: PureLight

quote:

ORIGINAL: PrexicKehdaki

quote:

ORIGINAL: PureLight

PrexicKehdaki, have you ever checked out Ravi Zacharias?


Mhm. He has some pretty interesting arguments.

Feel free to post any of his apologies and I'll give my opinion.



Your questions are all over the place and the format to which people have been replying has been hurting my eyes. I'd have to ask for an outlay of the questions and I'd have to pray and look up stuff. I wouldn't mind doing so if you wouldn't.


It's hurting my eyes too.. I'm having trouble keeping up.

Tell you what.. reply to anything in the first post and I'll respond as if I haven't answered it elsewhere in the thread. Would that help?
Post #: 132
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 10:18:00 AM   
PrexicKehdaki


Posts: 190
Joined: 6/26/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Psalms274

quote:

I asked earlier, "Is it possible to have an open heart (not stubborn) but due to stupidity, be unconvinced by the Bible?"


No ... it is not possible, because if your heart is truly open, God will reveal Himself to you in a way you can understand. Sometimes people think their heart is open, when it is really closed ... they hang onto a hidden agenda rather than looking for the truth.


Well there we go again.. Christianity tells you about the personal life of everyone in the world.. how am I supposed to respond to that?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Psalms274

quote:

You really need to address this. Is it possible to have an open heart (not stubborn) but due to stupidity, be unconvinced by the Bible?


No it is not possible ... I know people with IQ's of less than 50 with very a strong relationship with Christ, and because of that relationship, say the most profound things I have ever heard. I know small children who have a relationship with Christ. The message of the gospel is so simple, a small child can understand, yet so deep, the most intelligent can ponder the things of God and never get bored.


The existence of people with low IQ's that have a relationship with Christ doesn't address my question as I wasn't asking of absolute generalizations.

But I really don't get how you can say every unintelligent person that goes to Hell didn't have an open heart or was stubborn.

Every single unintelligent child or person in a Muslim culture who goes to Hell.. they go because they were stubborn? If they weren't stubborn, they would be more convinced by Christianity than Islam?


quote:

ORIGINAL: Psalms274

quote:

You acknowledge the confusion people endure.. from horrific events to bad Christians tainting their religion's reputation.. but you also assert that we always have a clear choice. I don't see it that way. Like you, I've had some pretty horrific things happen in my life.. and at the time things weren't clear for me. I can only imagine how it must be like for others who may have less ability to cope or having had to endure even more traumatic or confusing events. How can you say their choice is always clear?


Because His is always good ... He always makes Himself clear to whomever is struggling in desperate circumstances ... THOUGH you may not understand during the circumstances, and you may not be able to think clearly at that time ... but He will give you an opportunity to know Him before you breath your last breath.


And what if you're too weak from the circumstances to find faith again or for the first time?

Psalms, you can always say someone that goes to Hell.. is because they were stubborn and nothing else, but how is even THAT worth Hell? It's a character flaw. Big deal. Stubbornness is such a horrible deed that one should be sent to Hell for it?

Psalms, you speak of having an open heart. But how is someone supposed to know what religion to open one's heart to if they all have arguments, and especially (I'm not actually implying this) if they were too stupid to be convinced most by Christianity?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Psalms274

quote:

Let's compare two different disbeliefs. One in the president and one in God. Not believing in the president even though we have footage of him and audio and millions of people alive today that have seen him, thousands that have touched him literally. The evidence that there is good evidence for the existence of the president is that just about no one has doubts that he exists.

If I were to not believe in the president.. would that make me a bad person worthy of Hell? Apparently not, as no where in the Bible do non-believers in the president go to Hell.

If I were to not believe in God.. would that make me a bad person worthy of Hell? Yes, on both parts according to the Bible.

Why is this?

Undoubtedly, Christians will tell me that disbelief in God is much worse because I'm not believing in something that created me and loves me infinitely and is of the up most glory. But who is this taking into consideration? God. It doesn't take me into consideration even though it's MY eternal fate at stake. Because God is of infinite value.. the act of not believing in him is worthy of Hell. What is this taking into consideration? The act itself or the party offended?


Here is the problem with your analogy. Believing God exists is NOT the prerequisite for going to heaven. Satan believes God exists.


I hope you don't mind me quoting my entire analogy. I need it for reference.

I never dealt with belief in my analogy. Only two possible DISbeliefs.. one that does not guarantee Hell and one that does (usually? some Christians might argue a few circumstances).

quote:

ORIGINAL: Psalms274

Before the foundation of the world, God knew we would fall into sin. He is both loving and just, so He knew there would be a problem. He longs to spend time with us, but cannot look upon sin. His solution was the cross, where He took our punishment we deserved. Now rather than saying"all is good, everyone gets in" He also gave us freewill to choose to be with Him. As much as He loves us, He wants to be sure that you are choosing Him. Would you like to have friends who HAVE TO BE YOUR FRIENDS? Probably not, and in the same way, He wants you to choose to be His.

So the way to heaven is to believe that God Himself provided a way for you to spend eternity with Him and to accept the gift He has to offer you ... the gift is the accepting the payment He has given for your sin at the cross.


Explaining how getting into Heaven works doesn't address my point. Read the part you left out in the quotation.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Psalms274

quote:

If I were to not believe in God.. would that make me a bad person worthy of Hell? Yes, on both parts according to the Bible.



Actually none of us our good and all of us are worthy of hell ... to prove that look deep into your own thoughts and heart. Have you ever been impatient, angry with another, been selfish, told a lie? You get the picture. All of us are sinners and God demands perfection, something I can never achieve.


Saying that we all deserve Hell doesn't change who does and doesn't go and the criteria for such.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Psalms274

Blessings ... and a wonderful week (oh my ... I should say end of the week ... and weekend!) to you.


lol, you too minus the blessings. I can't really honestly wish you blessings. ;-)
Post #: 133
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 10:19:19 AM   
PrexicKehdaki


Posts: 190
Joined: 6/26/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: BibleL7

quote:

ORIGINAL: PrexicKehdaki

quote:

ORIGINAL: BibleL7

quote:

ORIGINAL: PrexicKehdaki

quote:

ORIGINAL: BibleL7

quote:

ORIGINAL: PrexicKehdaki


lol, so i herd you liek mudkipz? (If you don't get it.. don't worry about it)


Actually No not applicable. Is OK I would not expect you to understand.

BTW just curious if you are same PrexicKehdaki who is author of the videos of Atheists. I know off topic but I am curious I found the one very well done.

I will pray for you on the depression not an easy thing to deal with as ateist or believer been there on both sides. I do apologize if my posts have offended you. I would appreciate your forgiveness if possible it was not my intention to offend.


I do understand.. and I kinda gave you a clue, if you're willing to investigate. ;-)

And you haven't offended me at all. It's all good. ^-^


Sorry, I did try to investigate yet Pokemon is one I did not much get into if that is where the clue is and now is not possible for me to get into without a tv. Otherwise forgive an old man of his Ignorance of younger generation. I was an atheist many years before your time most likely. So I may miss some things which pertain to the younger generation. TY for forgiveness.


It actually has nothing to do with pokemon :P


If this is so I will ask only one question that may not make sence otherwise.

Are you sure?


Yes. It has to do with where that meme came from. But a fair warning, if you investigate too far you're going to find yourself in some inappropriate content.
Post #: 134
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 10:29:35 AM   
PrexicKehdaki


Posts: 190
Joined: 6/26/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Clarity888

WOW!!! Great Forum!!!

This is one of the deepest forums relating to God & Christ that I have ever experienced. I can tell that you are an intellectual that's why the questions are being asked.

In my opinion, all of us can sit here and throw bible verses at you and show you things in The Word, but the reality of it is, none of us really have the answers to your questions.

You can ask as many questions about God and Hell as you want, but the question I have for you is - Do you want to believe there is an Almighty God? Of course there are thousands of scientific answers for natural disasters, biology and a ream of other things, but has their ever been a scientific understanding of ones SOUL?


I'm not so sure I want believe in God as much as I want their to BE a God than believe in him.

No, there is no "scientific understanding" of a soul or any religion's afterlife for that matter because there's no data or way to test it.
Post #: 135
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 12:53:00 PM   
Kath


Posts: 16554
Joined: 2/28/2005
Status: offline
quote:

Psalms, you can always say someone that goes to Hell.. is because they were stubborn and nothing else, but how is even THAT worth Hell? It's a character flaw. Big deal. Stubbornness is such a horrible deed that one should be sent to Hell for it?


You just don't seem to get it. The fall of man with Adam was such a horrible deed that we all deserve to be sent to hell. We all have a sin nature. So yeah, stubbornness is such a horrible deed that one should be sent to hell for it. It is only through Christ Jesus that one is saved.

Believe it or not, it's up to you.
Post #: 136
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 2:13:39 PM   
PrexicKehdaki


Posts: 190
Joined: 6/26/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Kath

quote:

Psalms, you can always say someone that goes to Hell.. is because they were stubborn and nothing else, but how is even THAT worth Hell? It's a character flaw. Big deal. Stubbornness is such a horrible deed that one should be sent to Hell for it?


You just don't seem to get it. The fall of man with Adam was such a horrible deed that we all deserve to be sent to hell. We all have a sin nature. So yeah, stubbornness is such a horrible deed that one should be sent to hell for it. It is only through Christ Jesus that one is saved.

Believe it or not, it's up to you.




quote:

ORIGINAL: PrexicKehdaki

Saying that we all deserve Hell doesn't change who does and doesn't go and the criteria for such.
Post #: 137
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 2:20:06 PM   
kmangel


Posts: 506
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
I think that your problem of not having faith in God or belief in Jesus and what He came to do here on earth is likely a lack of a sense of need for God. You plain and simple, at least at this point in time, have no real need for God. Would you agree?

I was raised with some Christian teachings, but I wasn't a Christian until I was 43. It wasn't until I came to a family crisis that I reached out to God and found Him. I needed God to help me and He did. That was a defining moment in my life.

Last week I was visiting my brother and sister-in-law. I was talking to them about my day of salvation. I believe that God set up circumstances in my life to bring me to the point 11 years ago when I reached out to Him. It took the family crisis to bring me to my knees. If things had kept on going along without anything to disturb me, nothing to trip me up, perhaps I'd be still where I was 11 years ago--without faith. My sister-in-law, as I was talking to her, told me I willingly had rejected Jesus all those years. That just didn't sit well in my heart. I had an interest prior to my salvation. I did want to know God. I wanted to know I would go to Heaven and not Hell. Nobody in their right mind settles on Hell. Why didn't I have faith in God and Jesus years ago? I think it all comes down to need--needing God. Being self sufficient in this life as many of us are now a days does nobody any favors!

Have you asked God to give you a sense of need for Him? I really think sensing a need for God is imperative. We Christians talk about our needing to see ourselves as sinners. If you can't see yourself as having sinned, then how can you see yourself as needing a Savior? For me I did have the concept down about being a sinner. I had absorbed that part of my teachings as a child. I knew I wasn't perfect--that I did things I wasn't supposed to do and failed to do things I should. What I did not have is any real sense of needing God. Up until that point in time 11 years ago, my life was going along very well on it's own steam. Then wham! Life happens and I was out of my comfort zone. I turned to God. I cried out to Him and He responded. He gave me faith to believe.

You see, faith is something God gives to us. All those 43 years prior to my salvation I had knowledge about God and Jesus--but no faith. My heart needed to soften towards God.

Perhaps that's really what is alluding you--needing God. How are you doing in your own steam? Are you getting along pretty well all by yourself? If so, that's part of the problem. One place to begin is to seek needing God in your life. Ask Him to show you that you do need Him.

_____________________________

Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.
--Mark Twain
Post #: 138
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 2:27:24 PM   
PrexicKehdaki


Posts: 190
Joined: 6/26/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: kmangel

I think that your problem of not having faith in God or belief in Jesus and what He came to do here on earth is likely a lack of a sense of need for God. You plain and simple, at least at this point in time, have no real need for God. Would you agree?


It's true I don't feel I need a god, but I don't think that's why I lack faith in one.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kmangel

I was raised with some Christian teachings, but I wasn't a Christian until I was 43. It wasn't until I came to a family crisis that I reached out to God and found Him. I needed God to help me and He did. That was a defining moment in my life.

Last week I was visiting my brother and sister-in-law. I was talking to them about my day of salvation. I believe that God set up circumstances in my life to bring me to the point 11 years ago when I reached out to Him. It took the family crisis to bring me to my knees. If things had kept on going along without anything to disturb me, nothing to trip me up, perhaps I'd be still where I was 11 years ago--without faith. My sister-in-law, as I was talking to her, told me I willingly had rejected Jesus all those years. That just didn't sit well in my heart. I had an interest prior to my salvation. I did want to know God. I wanted to know I would go to Heaven and not Hell. Nobody in their right mind settles on Hell. Why didn't I have faith in God and Jesus years ago? I think it all comes down to need--needing God. Being self sufficient in this life as many of us are now a days does nobody any favors!


Perhaps, for some people.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kmangel

Have you asked God to give you a sense of need for Him? I really think sensing a need for God is imperative. We Christians talk about our needing to see ourselves as sinners. If you can't see yourself as having sinned, then how can you see yourself as needing a Savior? For me I did have the concept down about being a sinner. I had absorbed that part of my teachings as a child. I knew I wasn't perfect--that I did things I wasn't supposed to do and failed to do things I should. What I did not have is any real sense of needing God. Up until that point in time 11 years ago, my life was going along very well on it's own steam. Then wham! Life happens and I was out of my comfort zone. I turned to God. I cried out to Him and He responded. He gave me faith to believe.

You see, faith is something God gives to us. All those 43 years prior to my salvation I had knowledge about God and Jesus--but no faith. My heart needed to soften towards God.

Perhaps that's really what is alluding you--needing God. How are you doing in your own steam? Are you getting along pretty well all by yourself? If so, that's part of the problem. One place to begin is to seek needing God in your life. Ask Him to show you that you do need Him.


I'm actually not all that happy, usually, but it was worse when I had faith in God and felt I needed him.

I'm not sure how to go about convincing myself I need something I don't believe exists. :P I'll give it a try, but I doubt anything's going to happen.
Post #: 139
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 3:45:07 PM   
BibleL7

 

Posts: 493
Joined: 2/1/2008
Status: offline
Your questions are aimed at finding loopholes which do not exist. Judgement is sure and true. Where the questions should be aimed is if such person can receive mercy and forgiveness.

It is an error to try to find loopholes that might allow a person to escape judgement when the verdict is set. The only hope is to possibly receive mercy and forgiveness. For if one finds a loophole it does not change the guilt to innocence. Yet the judge does have another option of applying mercy.

See I don't believe you actually did understand what I was getting at, but is OK

Jesus still loves you.
Post #: 140
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 4:07:50 PM   
PrexicKehdaki


Posts: 190
Joined: 6/26/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: BibleL7

Your questions are aimed at finding loopholes which do not exist. Judgement is sure and true. Where the questions should be aimed is if such person can receive mercy and forgiveness.

It is an error to try to find loopholes that might allow a person to escape judgement when the verdict is set. The only hope is to possibly receive mercy and forgiveness. For if one finds a loophole it does not change the guilt to innocence. Yet the judge does have another option of applying mercy.


You're free to consider my eternal fate, but I haven't been asking questions with the set premise that everything in Christianity is true. My questions don't assume anything like that. I think that's why you're not understanding them.

quote:

ORIGINAL: BibleL7

Jesus still loves you.


Pretty sweet. ^-^
Post #: 141
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 4:49:20 PM   
OneJohn410


Posts: 395
Joined: 6/1/2008
Status: offline
quote:

Prexic - Him always having been is the crucial problem in my question. Please read it again.. you really didn't answer the question. I'm asking why such specific qualities exist in a being that was never created. It has nothing to do with me disagreeing with his choice of morals.


partial quote
quote:

OneJohn410- You are simply playing around with verbage. God was not some being that was never created. God is someone who has always been in existence


quote:

Prexic- When you say "God was not some being that was never created".. am I supposed to think anything other than that you're asserting that God WAS created? That contradicts "God is someone who has always been in existence."


You ask about qualities of God, stating He's someone who was never created. You then posit that as I failed to quote your comment about Him not being created, I'm contradicting myself. Let me get it clear for you. As God is the creator of all, He is the author of all creation. That means creation does not apply to Him. Rather it is He who applied creation to cause existence. I should have quoted your own words but didn't, and I apologize on that oversight and any confusion or supportive thinking you saw toward your general faith from it.

Do know that having learned of your challenging past, I find your daring to not lock yourself up in psychological isloation and claim you've maxed out on the comfort you can find in this life has got to be a real challenge. I promise I will not try to find comfort in any Hare Krishnas or seeking any miracles for you from Buddhist monks, Hindu folks, or reading the latest of any of the other things you've mentioned. There is only One I know of that can make all that fade like a wild flower in the field, and you don't have to climb a mountain to know Him forever.

OneJohn410
Post #: 142
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 5:10:49 PM   
PrexicKehdaki


Posts: 190
Joined: 6/26/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: OneJohn410

quote:

Prexic - Him always having been is the crucial problem in my question. Please read it again.. you really didn't answer the question. I'm asking why such specific qualities exist in a being that was never created. It has nothing to do with me disagreeing with his choice of morals.


partial quote
quote:

OneJohn410- You are simply playing around with verbage. God was not some being that was never created. God is someone who has always been in existence


quote:

Prexic- When you say "God was not some being that was never created".. am I supposed to think anything other than that you're asserting that God WAS created? That contradicts "God is someone who has always been in existence."


You ask about qualities of God, stating He's someone who was never created. You then posit that as I failed to quote your comment about Him not being created, I'm contradicting myself. Let me get it clear for you. As God is the creator of all, He is the author of all creation. That means creation does not apply to Him. Rather it is He who applied creation to cause existence. I should have quoted your own words but didn't, and I apologize on that oversight and any confusion or supportive thinking you saw toward your general faith from it.


Ah, didn't catch that. Thank you for bringing it to my attention!

quote:

ORIGINAL: OneJohn410

Do know that having learned of your challenging past, I find your daring to not lock yourself up in psychological isloation and claim you've maxed out on the comfort you can find in this life has got to be a real challenge. I promise I will not try to find comfort in any Hare Krishnas or seeking any miracles for you from Buddhist monks, Hindu folks, or reading the latest of any of the other things you've mentioned. There is only One I know of that can make all that fade like a wild flower in the field, and you don't have to climb a mountain to know Him forever.

OneJohn410


I don't think that.. I have things planned in my life that I know and hope will bring me more comfort.
Post #: 143
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 5:54:58 PM   
DreadPirateRandy


Posts: 9426
Joined: 6/5/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Clarity888

but the reality of it is, none of us really have the answers to your questions.


Exactly.

You shouldn't waste time asking humans with finite knowledge to answer questions about an infinitely intelligent God.

Go to the source. Ask God Himself. I don't care if you don't "believe" in Him, that's not an excuse I'm willing to buy into. He's always going to exist no matter who lacks faith, no one person can change that.

You lose yourself, you gain life. It's a simple concept, but only if you're willing to step out of your all-questioning comfort zone and fear of what might happen when God fully begins to rox the soxs off your life.

quote:

Of course there are thousands of scientific answers for natural disasters, biology and a ream of other things, but has their ever been a scientific understanding of ones SOUL?


What divides science and God lies in your post.

Science = thousands of scientific assumptions, not all are clear-cut answers.

God = THE solution.

Again, you can continue to ask questions, but you're never going to get a clear-cut answer unless you take it to the source. Which means putting aside science and the constant state of questioning and stepping off into faith.


And I don't believe in baby feeding those too stubborn to open their eyes. Either they want to, or they don't. I am not going to hesitate the opportunity to proclaim the power of God whenever someone questions it.

_____________________________

Cynicism is an unpleasant way of saying the truth.
Post #: 144
RE: Questions, questions, questions. - 7/11/2008 6:13:59 PM   
BibleL7

 

Posts: 493
Joined: 2/1/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: PrexicKehdaki

quote:

ORIGINAL: BibleL7

Your questions are aimed at finding loopholes which do not exist. Judgement is sure and true. Where the questions should be aimed is if such person can receive mercy and forgiveness.

It is an error to try to find loopholes that might allow a person to escape judgement when the verdict is set. The only hope is to possibly receive mercy and forgiveness. For if one finds a loophole it does not change the guilt to innocence. Yet the judge does have another option of applying mercy.


You're free to consider my eternal fate, but I haven't been asking questions with the set premise that everything in Christianity is true. My questions don't assume anything like that. I think that's why you're not understanding them.

quote:

ORIGINAL: BibleL7

Jesus still loves you.


Pretty sweet. ^-^


I did not say the questions were based on premise that everything in Christianity is true. I do understand the questions, I am simply saying that some of the questions do not have validity in accordance with what the Bible teaches. Thus attempts to answer them are somewhat futile.

It does appear that I do owe you an apology on my question of 'are you sure'. So Sorry it was in deed based on the false assumption