Post by James Blankenship on Apr 30, 2012 9:47:03 GMT -5
How is God Loving and caring?
I'm 15 and trying to keep my faith but.. I just can't seem to. What I don't like is the fact the rule is literally "Worship me or Burn in hell for Eternity" and there is no way around that. How is that loving? Or him just out right having that man brutally killed for gathering wood on the sabbath, Or killing off all of mankind with a flood because it they were "Corrupt". That is not a free loving thing giving you free-will that is a downright DICTATOR. No different then that guy you hate right now thats running North Korea. It seems Christians are like this "Worship god, or burn in hell for eternity" and the christians go "What" and then "But God loves you" Christians " Ooooh okay". It really bothers me. I want a real explanation, from YOU not a wall of Bible verses. and who is too say Christianity is the true religion? There are hundreds and thousands of religions. and before you say "Because Jesus died for me and its truth" Well EVERY Religion has a "God" of some sort, that did something greater for man kind, and they ALL believe their religion is the "Right" one. and all will give you a wall of text from their holy book as to why it is the "True" religion. and all claim to have been "Spiritually" touched by their "God" so how can we be sure of anything? and I've heard that Jesus said he would come back before his diciples or whatever died.... and that was 2000 years ago. Man.. Idk.
I'm 15 and trying to keep my faith but.. I just can't seem to. What I don't like is the fact the rule is literally "Worship me or Burn in hell for Eternity" and there is no way around that. How is that loving? Or him just out right having that man brutally killed for gathering wood on the sabbath, Or killing off all of mankind with a flood because it they were "Corrupt". That is not a free loving thing giving you free-will that is a downright DICTATOR. No different then that guy you hate right now thats running North Korea. It seems Christians are like this "Worship god, or burn in hell for eternity" and the christians go "What" and then "But God loves you" Christians " Ooooh okay". It really bothers me. I want a real explanation, from YOU not a wall of Bible verses. and who is too say Christianity is the true religion? There are hundreds and thousands of religions. and before you say "Because Jesus died for me and its truth" Well EVERY Religion has a "God" of some sort, that did something greater for man kind, and they ALL believe their religion is the "Right" one. and all will give you a wall of text from their holy book as to why it is the "True" religion. and all claim to have been "Spiritually" touched by their "God" so how can we be sure of anything? and I've heard that Jesus said he would come back before his diciples or whatever died.... and that was 2000 years ago. Man.. Idk.
OY!
OK, let's start with this:
"Worship me or Burn in hell for Eternity" and there is no way around that.
It is obvious from the way that this question is worded, that this person DOESN'T know Christ, because if they did, they would never make a statement like this.
Bottom line:
NOWHERE in Scripture does it say this!
It doesn't even come CLOSE to saying this!
Look here:
John 6:51:("I am) the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever"
(Does this sound like "Worship me, or burn in hell?" Jesus offers us eternal life with Him!)
John 8:12: Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ("I AM) the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
(Does this sound like "Worship me, or burn in hell?" Jesus offers us direction in our lives!)
John 10:9: ("I AM) the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."
(Does this sound like "Worship me, or burn in hell?" Jesus offers rest in our lives!)
John 10:11: ("I AM) the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
(Does this sound like "Worship me or burn in hell?" Jesus offers us protection in our lives!)
John 15:1-4 (New International Version)
The Vine and the Branches
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
(Does this sound like "Worship me or burn in hell?" Through Him, Jesus offers us the strength to live our lives!)
No, I don't see any evidence anywhere where Jesus or Scripture teaches "Worship me, or burn in hell."
Then we have this:
Or him just out right having that man brutally killed for gathering wood on the sabbath
We cannot understand God's reasoning for all the Levitical laws, & we don't need to, when we see what happened to the Israelites when they FOLLOWED Them! God took care of them. They prospered. They were unstoppable.
And:
we have to look at what Jesus said here:
Matthew 5:17 (New International Version)
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Now what does "fulfill" mean?
dictionary.reference.com/browse/fulfill?s=t
ful·fill
[fool-fil] Show IPA
verb (used with object)
1.
to carry out, or bring to realization, as a prophecy or promise.
2.
to perform or do, as duty; obey or follow, as commands.
3.
to satisfy (requirements, obligations, etc.): a book that fulfills a long-felt need.
4.
to bring to an end; finish or complete, as a period of time: He felt that life was over when one had fulfilled his threescore years and ten.
5.
to develop the full potential of (usually used reflexively): She realized that she could never fulfill herself in such work.
[fool-fil] Show IPA
verb (used with object)
1.
to carry out, or bring to realization, as a prophecy or promise.
2.
to perform or do, as duty; obey or follow, as commands.
3.
to satisfy (requirements, obligations, etc.): a book that fulfills a long-felt need.
4.
to bring to an end; finish or complete, as a period of time: He felt that life was over when one had fulfilled his threescore years and ten.
5.
to develop the full potential of (usually used reflexively): She realized that she could never fulfill herself in such work.
To bring to realization
To Satisfy
To bring to an end
Finish or complete
To develop the full potential
In Jesus death & resurrection, Jesus "fulfilled" the requirements of every single Levitical law, every single Levitical rule, every single Levitical ritual. They had NOT been "abolished", as many atheists/non-believers will argue.
Jesus brought to an end the need to do THINGS in order to please God.
All we have to do is follow Christ, as Jesus says here:
John 14:6 (New International Version)
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Nothing else, but follow Him!
And this person says this:
Or killing off all of mankind with a flood because it they were "Corrupt".
I explained why this happened here:
solascripturaalone.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=father&action=display&thread=35
Then this is said:
That is not a free loving thing giving you free-will that is a downright DICTATOR
How is giving us free will being a dictator, when God has nothing to do with what we CHOOSE to do?
I talk about free will here:
solascripturaalone.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=choice&action=display&thread=11&page=1
Sorry, this person person is totally wrong here.
Finally, we have this:
is too say Christianity is the true religion? There are hundreds and thousands of religions. and before you say "Because Jesus died for me and its truth" Well EVERY Religion has a "God" of some sort, that did something greater for man kind, and they ALL believe their religion is the "Right" one. and all will give you a wall of text from their holy book as to why it is the "True" religion. and all claim to have been "Spiritually" touched by their "God" so how can we be sure of anything?
Did you know Christianity is NOT a "religion".
Nowhere in Scripture is it called a "religion".
Nowhere in Scripture did God DECLARE or CREATE a "religion".
Nowhere in Scripture, is there ANYWHERE where God started a "religion".
"Religions" are labels applied BY MAN to a set of beliefs.
"Religions" are labels applied by imperfect, fallible, sinful man.
In reality-"christianity", (as what people "think" christianity is in today's world), is a lie-due to the creation of man-made, (as there are none in the Bible), denominations, as I explain here:
solascripturaalone.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=unbiblical&action=display&thread=8&page=1
In today's world, there is:
The "catholic" version of "christianity".
There is the Methodist" version of "cristianity".
There is the Lutheran version of "christianity"
There is the Presbyterian version of "christianity"
The "Chrstianity" of the Bible & ONLY the Bible, (NOT through denominations), is those who have that personal relationship with Christ, by their acceptance of the forgiveness that Christ offers through His death & resurrection.
Any other version of "christianity" than what the Bible, (and ONLY the Bible), teaches is a man-made lie!
And as for this last statement:
I've heard that Jesus said he would come back before his diciples or whatever died.... and that was 2000 years ago. Man.. Idk.
Actually, this is not entirely correct.
Here is what this person is thinking of:
Matthew 16:28 (New International Version)
28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Now, this would certainly seem to indicate that the person that asked this question is correct, until, we see this verse:
John 21:20-23 (New International Version)
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
Jesus is very clearly indicating that understanding what He said here:
Matthew 16:28 (New International Version)
28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” "
is not meant to be understood by mortal man.
All that matters is that, as Jesus Himself states:
You must follow me
This is right in line with Jesus teachings, because Jesus stated:
John 14:6 (New International Version)
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
He did NOT say: "No one comes to the Father except through me, plus understanding everything that I say"
Many atheists/non-believers would call this "blind faith".
No it isn't.
If one really wants to follow Christ, we must freely admit that we are incapable of completely understanding everything God wants of us.
This is a choice-freely admitting to God that we don't know everything that he wants us to do, but that we are willing to trust Him to bring us TO an understanding of what He wants from us.
WE who DO have that personal relationship with Christ, have learned that it is NOT necessary to know or understand everything that God wants us to do.
But we don't need to, because we KNOW the truth of this:
1 Corinthians 13:12 (New International Version)
12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
WE will understand everything when we stand before our Lord & Savior!
WE know all that we DO need to know this life.
WE know the truth of God's Word, the Bible, & we know the truth of who Christ Jesus is.
That is God's promise to all those who belong to Him.
James
