As much as i tend to question religion i do understand why its there, and the good it does people to believe in something, but not everyone needs that. You say that you win either way, and that the worst case is that you have lived a good life. But for me, would it really better my case if i were to start going to church and saying i believe in god. Seems to me that going through the motions won't get me anywhere if i don't really believe it. So i choose to skip that unless somehow im suddenly inclined to believe. In the meantime i live what i think most christians would say is a good life. "Sin" doesn't have to offend God to be bad, it only has to offend or hurt other people. And so if i hurt other people then i acknowledge it, and try not to do it again.
My point in all this is that there are many paths to the same place. In general it seems that the happiness you find comes, as in a wide array of religions, from other people. Just the unity and outreach does wonders for people. Other people are the ones that make you feel good, or hurt you and its the same the other way around.
couln't have said it better myself. I don't know If "god" did it, highly doutful,It is sad, but guess? what I don't think the devil did it either, mother nature can be cruel as she is kind.
As much as i tend to question religion i do understand why its there, and the good it does people to believe in something, but not everyone needs that. You say that you win either way, and that the worst case is that you have lived a good life. But for me, would it really better my case if i were to start going to church and saying i believe in god. Seems to me that going through the motions won't get me anywhere if i don't really believe it. So i choose to skip that unless somehow I'm suddenly inclined to believe. In the meantime i live what i think most Christians would say is a good life. "Sin" doesn't have to offend God to be bad, it only has to offend or hurt other people. And so if i hurt other people then i acknowledge it, and try not to do it again.
My point in all this is that there are many paths to the same place. In general it seems that the happiness you find comes, as in a wide array of religions, from other people. Just the unity and outreach does wonders for people. Other people are the ones that make you feel good, or hurt you and its the same the other way around.[/quote
I am not asking you to go to church and go through the motions. I guess when I put the church thing I should have explained it a little better. I agree that there are so many religions, churches, religious groups, etc out there that each have their way of doing things. The point I was trying to get across is that not all are out there just trying get my money, degrade you for what you think or feel. What you've done or not done. Now as a Christian my belief is against abortion and so it is in the church I attend. Every Sunday we pray for any woman that has had an abortion, for the anguish she might be going through, guilt, pain, the reassurance that she knows God has/will forgive her of the sin and it will be forgotten. We do not pray for her sins to be forgiven because that is between her and God. I just want you to know that we are not all just sitting in a church cursing what we say is the sins of people who don't believe or don't go to church. I also wanted those to know that I think it is important to find a church that you are comfortable with. If you go to one church and they do something you don't agree with or like, leave it and search for another and don't quit until you find the ONE! There is so much to be gained from hearing God's word from a different perspective then just your reading it. It is such a joy to go to cell groups (our version of Sunday school only on a week night and small groups get together at peoples house's for devotion and prayer and companionship. So that is my take on church. Everybody has there own way of building their faith stronger everyday.
Now, for your analogy of how you do things. I use to think like you do (except for the believing part. I have always believed, just didn't live in the Spirit of God). I thought if I live a good life, live by the 10 commandments, be good to people, be charitalbe, all that kind of stuff, how could God deny me entrance into Heaven UNTIL I really listen and learned the meaning of Matthew 10:33-39 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it". What does this mean to me and how does it not fit into not wanting to live believing and living what you believe is a good life? Plain and simple. You have to put God first before ALL things. Even the people you love the most in the world. If you choose to put yourself (his life) before God then you lose life eternally. But if you lose that life, you find life in HIM and will have life in Heaven. So again, you can't get to heaven just by living a good life. So for those who put God first it is a win, win. And as I said before if by some chance (and as before that is fictitious for me)it is as you say or some others on this site say then we have no worries. We just lived a good life then died. Naw, I think I would rather go through this life believing that after this I still get to spend ETERNITY WITH MY LOVED ONES! Providing they are right in their hearts also. Each person has to make that decision for themselves. I do not want you to just go through the motions. I pray that you find God's love in your heart. Not at church or anywhere else. Just in your heart. But as you say, you have to make that choice. All I can do is try and put it out there for you and pray for you.
So this is what I pray for you is that you will find God's Love and it won't be a motion. I pray it for you and for all who don't believe. Tons of Blessings coming your way.
Oh boy. Sounds like the man with the big hats extra pissed. Probably because we're trying to help them. This should stop those red cross devils in their tracks!
Or maybe it was just millions more of our TOXINS hit their shores and there you have it....another earthquake...
the "Big Three" of monotheism ... ironic, really, since all three derive their roots from the same place(s), same people(s), and same overall culture(s) .
Bible itself says that God let's it rain to the godly as to ungodly.
Plain and simple. You have to put God first before ALL things. Even the people you love the most in the world.
The definition of the word salam is “peace,” with a secondary meaning of “surrender.” Islam derives from this word. “Its full connotation, therefore, is the peace that comes from surrendering one’s life to God.
"Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, 'Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.'"
- Acts 17:22-24
I think sometimes we are too quick to assume God's role in things. Many time we don't know the outcome, whether it did or di not serve a worthy purpose until long after the thing is done. God is doing His part, are you?
Greetings Lee,
God's "role"....., is to be God, He does not Change, His will and purpose for my life, and all those who call upon the Lord God,...in Jesus Name,... will come to pass as He sees fit. My "role", as a saint of God, a servant to King Jesus, a soldier of the cross of Christ, is to glorify my Heavenly Father with my life, in thought, word, and in deed ! As I have said before in other posts written, "The chief end of mankind is to "glorify God", and in the end of it all....GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED !!!!!
to God be the Glory,
Bruce // servant to King Jesus,, "the glorified one"
Dirty Hippie You do not have to go to church to believe. Church is just a place to learn and celebrate the words of God. God knows what is in your heart and if you are a good person he will reward you for it. I have spent almost all of my life going to church. Now I celebrate God everytime I see the beauty of a tree or I hear a bird sing or my kids laugh and I know that it is all because of God.
Clarity requested !!
Believe what ?
There are a lot of..." good people ' ( world's standard of good), who are either in hell, or on the road to hell....WHY ??
What to you mean by "celebrate God " and how is this done ?
What is the "church"
What about God's word, what does it say, what are His ordinances for "His Church" ?
What about Jesus,...God's Christ, does DH need him ??
______________________________________________________________________
Bruce // servant to King Jesus............ who is "The Word of God
