Gravity said:Nope, but neither then are ''we''.
Fair enough except no one is calling you delusional for not believing. The most difficult thing for me here has been that people will not accept my experiences as they are written. I am not making them up. It is easy for people to attack me with 'youv'e just swapped one addiction for another' but I tell you I have not. Maybe that's how people felt who gave up their faith, that it was a crutch for them in a difficult time of their lives? But this is not how it has been for me. The most difficult times in my own life have been whilst I have been a believer and it has been my faith that has gotten me through. My faith demands I walk on my own two feet, pick up my cross and carry it, it does not try and prop me up with false hopes or promises.
I think this whole debate would be a lot easier for all of us, if each just accept that both sides in the debate are speaking the truth from their own perspective. I and a few others believe in salvation through Jesus Christ. We have hope in Him. This is our truth. I think the trouble comes now because according to our faith, non believers go to hell. Believers say that hell is a state of existence seperated from our God. We say this because it would feel like hell to us. Now you might say "Why be afraid. Be free. Nothing can hurt you. Do not be scared of a vengful God." but the truth is that now I have experienced His love and grace, I never want to be seperated from it. It is a choice I make. I hope that I never become so self sufficient that I turn against Him in arrogance and forget who gave me life in the first place. I say these things not to condemn you for the choices you have made but rather to explain my position better.
Having a break from these forums allowed me to gather my strength and think about why the arguments flared up as they did. I do not want to argue with anyone or annoy anyone but by the same token I do not want to be called delusional for believing in the message of the bible. The same old arguments go round and round concerning faith and unbelief. The believers are somehow hateful for trusting in a God who takes vengeance on wickedness; we are portrayed as cowards for hiding behind this vengful God's coat tails whilst pointing fingers at the unbelievers. However this portrayal does not bear up in light of the way in which we live our lives.
I am happy to accept that people believe they have found a better way that does not involve kissing some God's ass. I can see the logic. However I have never felt that I have to kiss some God's ass. God has never made me feel that way although I am grateful to Him when prayers are answered in ways I couldn't have expected or He shows me something that I would have skipped right over in my own busy daily life had my eyes and ears not be open to His word.
God is patient with me when I show a lack of faith and there are times when my faith goes right out of the window. The reason God doesn't cast me off when I show a lack of faith in Him is because I never actually disown Him, I just show a lack of courage that He will be able to deliver me from whatever troubles I am facing. He always comes through for me though. This is my experience.
2 Timothy 2:11-13, “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
peace
c20