deafdyke said:Ummm....sure whatever. I believe in what people would call God and I think Jesus was an good Teacher, but I also don't think Jesus is the only way.
I think that as long as you love people and try to be the best you can, that you'll go to Heaven no matter if you believe , that Jesus, little blue men, Budda, or Whoever is the way. I try my best to be a good person and to spread love, happiness and all that good stuff around....and yet some people say that b/c I don't believe in their particular worldview or credo, I'm automaticly going to hell or I'm a bad person. I won't even get into the crap I've recieved from Christianity over how I'm automaticly a sinner b/c I happen to love someone with the same "equipment" as me.
First, I want to say this is not criticism about you. I just want to make clear a few points.deafdyke said:Ummm....sure whatever. I believe in what people would call God and I think Jesus was an good Teacher, but I also don't think Jesus is the only way.
I believe you when you say you are a good person. I don't doubt you. The problem is, no one is good enough to go to Heaven thru their own way. Even the best person in the world can't touch Heaven without Jesus. Jesus is the bridge that lets people enter Heaven. Without that bridge, no one can touch Heaven.I think that as long as you love people and try to be the best you can, that you'll go to Heaven no matter if you believe, that Jesus, little blue men, Budda, or Whoever is the way. I try my best to be a good person and to spread love, happiness and all that good stuff around....
Every one born is equally a sinner. It doesn't matter what your worldview is, or who you love. We are all born equally sinners. You and I are equally sinners. The only difference between you and me is that I am a forgiven sinner, but you have not yet asked Jesus to forgive you. That does not mean that I am better or that you are worse. I did not deserve Jesus' salvation. I was an awful sinner. I probably was not living as good as you live now. But it doesn't matter. Jesus forgives everyone who accepts Him. Yes, you are "automatically" a sinner. Not because you are gay, but because you were born a sinner. Same as me.and yet some people say that b/c I don't believe in their particular worldview or credo, I'm automaticly going to hell or I'm a bad person. I won't even get into the crap I've recieved from Christianity over how I'm automaticly a sinner b/c I happen to love someone with the same "equipment" as me.
I know you are kidding but details are not necessary nor appropriate. Let us just say that I was 28 years old when I became saved, so I had plenty of time to commit many sins.Beowulf said:"I was an awful sinner."
Details, Reba, we want details!
sleepytaz said:Well, I agree with Reba with most of things... except for the fact that we were all born sinners? I don't believe in that... where does that say so?
That's right. Babies are born with a sin nature but God does not hold them accountable (guilty) until they are old enough to understand right and wrong. That age varies for each individual. Some people are never mentally able to understand (mentally handicapped). God knows that and only judges sins against people who can know and control their behavior. Jesus' blood shed on the Cross covers their sins.We were a baby. We don't know right from wrong...
We are not God's children until we accept Jesus as Savior. "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do." (John 8:44)...we are God's children...
No heated discussion. Just explanation.I know my ways and I don't want to get in any heated discussion as of yet. God bless
I trust my eternal soul to God and His Word, the Holy Bible. I don't put my faith in man's words. If you notice, when I reply to spiritual topics, I quote the Bible, not man.Beowulf said:*scoffs at Reba*
Your "explanation" is just personal opinion, nothing more.
Want to know what our Founding Fathers said about Christianity?
Actually, it was the Roman Empire and other non-Christians who persecuted Christian martyrs. Today, many Christians are still cruelly persecuted all over the world, especially in Muslim and atheistic countries.Millions of innocent men, women and children since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned.
Real born-again Christians know that no one can be "forced" to accept Jesus as Savior. Accepting Jesus is a voluntary act of the will made by an individual. Jesus knocks at the door of the heart to be let in. He doesn't use a battering ram to force His way in. He doesn't use other people to blast a way in. The door of the heart must be opened from the inside.What has been the effect of this coercion?
I don't claim to know more than the Founding Fathers but I trust the Bible because God knows more than any man.I have more, from the other bunch who wrote the Constitution. Do you claim to know more then they???