Comments on: Dear God,

By: Kat

Kat — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:05:49 +0000

Of course, that brings us into the even trickier realm of,

Do we really need saving? How do we know this is the solution? How do we know that we can trust the folks who passed and wrote down the solution? How do we know that this is really what God thinks? Why would God bother with us anyway? Etc., etc.

Don’t worry about me and my salvation. When it all comes down to it, it will be my and God’s business.

By: Kat

Kat — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:55:44 +0000

Hey, everyone. Thanks for all the comments. They’re really encouraging.

@AM

Either you have a relationship with God through Jesus and his blood on the cross, or you don’t and you are completely cut off from God.

This is kinda tricky. I know that I (and a lot of people who read/write here) entered into a relationship with God through Jesus – usually by a special prayer, am I right? Does having entered this stage of my faith mean that that prayer/request/experience meant nothing? Relationship rescinded? If God’s a god who does takebacksies, then there’s no way I’m trusting that kind of god to save me.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 02:10:51 +0000

Kat,
I’m like you who in unbelief is holding on at least a tiniest bit of belief, or at least a desire to believe. Take care in your journey.

By: BenevolentInquisitor

BenevolentInquisitor — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:53:46 +0000

From AM:
It was not the physical aspect of Jesus’ crucifixion that he dreaded the most either, it was that moment of separation from God, the moment where he cries out “My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me!” His perfect relationship with his father was cut off, and for that instant, he was completely alone. This is what hell is. Complete separation from a father who loves us, who created us for relationship with him.
Is ironic the word I’m looking for? Perhaps something stronger? I love you so much I’ll send you to hell for doing what I asked you to do??

By: Quester

Quester — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:22:04 +0000

AM, I wish you luck with that. Of course, if you die and find out that the Muslim or Hindu faiths were the correct ones, you’ll have lost just as much as I, but at least you can blame Pascal.

I hope that gives you some comfort.

By: edwinhere

edwinhere — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:57:55 +0000

Keep doubting.. that is the real virtue.

But there are cults that thrive by recruiting doubters by using fear. When you face them, you need to remind yourself of all the evidence you have against their worldview..

By: AM

AM — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:19:26 +0000

Thankyou Quester for clearing that up…sorry for the misunderstanding.
Obviously I am not going to “prove” God to anyone – I am not trying to, only God can do that, and I’m certainly not trying to “sell” it. You may or may not agree with me, but all I really have in the end is my faith. You can choose whether to accept it or reject it yourself. I am not trying to condemn anybody – I am just as much a sinner as the next person. But personally I would prefer to have my faith and, when I die if it all turns out to be wrong, I have not lost anything by it. If it turns out to be true, then I am assured of a place with God in heaven.

By: Quester

Quester — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:42:57 +0000

AM isn’t actually agreeing with BigHouse, but misunderstanding #8 where BigHouse is mocking Lucian for the same bull-headed nonsense. For every verse that closed-minded Christians can pull out of their Bibles to support their prejudicial condemnations, there’s another one supporting universal salvation, and giving hope where none seems to be.

Whether this is a good reason for hope, or a good reason to dismiss the Bible as a coherent, consistent revelation of God’s self and will, I leave for you to decide. You might even choose a combination of the two. *grin*

By: BigHouse

BigHouse — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:04:51 +0000

I don’t think you agree with BigHouse. L and OL.

Indeed. Someone’s sarcasm detector is on the fritz

By: Erudite Redneck

Erudite Redneck — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:47:07 +0000

AM, why don’t you bottle that certainty of yours and sell it? Oh, wait …

I don’t think you agree with BigHouse. L and OL.

This oughta get good now.