Good morning! :girlheart:
I was visiting an "atheist vs christian" forum, and I hate to be a butthead or anything.. but I was kind of embarrassed! There was some tiny bit of science on the forum, but it was more flooded with these two things - #1, hell and #2, rapture.
..okay, this is what ya have for discussion with atheists.. and I mean with images.. yes, pictures of humans burning in fire.. This to represent Yahweh, creator of heaven and earth.. upholding all things..
:faint: :sigh: ..thanks for letting me vent..
won't it be wonderful when everything is straight? "make His paths straight!" every path straight.. :dsunny:
..the only thing with atheists, i think, in (friendly!!) conversation is to help them realize all they have, in reality, is another faith.. a belief.. If they want to talk, or even argue.. or ridicule.. they should be able to find something better than hell and rapture.. the two most illogical topics that make us look the silliest.. oh well. It's really good to know isn't it, that in the long run only truth will remain standing! Hallelujah! :banana: :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
It's sad and frustrating to see God slandered by those lies!
I have a friend who is atheist who thinks all or most Christians are hateful. I mean she really thinks this and has a prejudice against Christians. I was friends with her before I became Christian and have never "come out" to her, but recently I did because I want the world to know who God truly is --- unconditional love and truth and forgiveness. I want to counteract the Christians that ARE hateful--those that are vengeful, and self-righteous and arrogant and proud.
4And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.
Yet so many Christians today are like James and John, and they can't wait for the "rapture" (this theory was invented by a man in the 1800s! Not at all a belief of the disciples or early church!) to come and rain fire down on the unbelievers. Sounds familiar huh?
But either way I do love them, even though I believe they are wrong. I have another friend who recently converted to this Christian, hellfire, rapture mindset and she does earnestly believe she is following Christ and his teachings. I gently try to work in what I believe but I don't force it down her throat.
They will all know God eventually :HeartThrob:
I feel as though such a huge number of Christians are like the Jews of the early church era - they are so entrenched in their tradition, that even a surpassingly great revelation of Christ which causes the gentiles/unbelievers to repent in droves, will only cause them to dig their heels in. And there are many atheists who will turn as quickly as the tax collectors of those days when the true message reached them.
Of course, all things depend upon the sovereign revelation of Christ, and that can penetrate the most religious armor in an instant, as Saul/Paul found out. My prayer for all men, irrespective of where they find themselves, is for the revelation of our Lord!
Quote from: Shev on April 12, 2016, 06:41:40 PM
I feel as though such a huge number of Christians are like the Jews of the early church era - they are so entrenched in their tradition, that even a surpassingly great revelation of Christ which causes the gentiles/unbelievers to repent in droves, will only cause them to dig their heels in. And there are many atheists who will turn as quickly as the tax collectors of those days when the true message reached them.
Of course, all things depend upon the sovereign revelation of Christ, and that can penetrate the most religious armor in an instant, as Saul/Paul found out. My prayer for all men, irrespective of where they find themselves, is for the revelation of our Lord!
Spot on.
Interesting that things will be like in the days of Noah.
Noah didn't go and get people to repent. The people did not know about the flood even being possible.
This second one being a fire.
1 Thess 5 ;3 " When they are saying "peace and security", it is then that sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains
upon a woman with child, and they will not escape."
Also interesting how many times Revelations say their hearts will be hardened just like the Egyptians were when Israel were to be released.
Paul releases the confusion by making statements about a plan for the future which covers all men. He knew that each would learn at their own appointed time. He knew there would be phases/stage of the program. Also stated the legal versus the grace.
He did recommend behavioural changes and summarised the law with the statement about love being the whole purpose of this time of learning.
Atheism lacks love. Many other religions talk about love, but do not display that love.
Movies have been made about love. Books written. Poetry exuding. Paintings portraying. Wars fought.
Christ demonstrated true love for us to clarify the opinions man has made.
God loves us so much that Paul says the love is difficult to comprehend.
People who have not experienced love in the flesh are usually bitter, or lack understanding since they do not know the true love.
When this love that Christ demonstrated for mankind is explained/revealed to mankind what a time of refreshing and tears being wiped away.
Zech refers to the tears of Israel when they have that revelation of the sacrifice of Christ that has happened. Understanding the significance of the sacrificial system highlights what Christ actually did for them, and us. No wonder they will then train the Gentiles about that fact.
All indeed highlighting the depth of what was planned before the world began.
Amazing! Awesome! Indescribable to the flesh. Yet is happening, and will be fulfilled at the appointed time.
No confusion anywhere for me any more.
Quote from: Ross on April 15, 2016, 03:49:29 AM
Quote from: Shev on April 12, 2016, 06:41:40 PM
I feel as though such a huge number of Christians are like the Jews of the early church era - they are so entrenched in their tradition, that even a surpassingly great revelation of Christ which causes the gentiles/unbelievers to repent in droves, will only cause them to dig their heels in. And there are many atheists who will turn as quickly as the tax collectors of those days when the true message reached them.
Of course, all things depend upon the sovereign revelation of Christ, and that can penetrate the most religious armor in an instant, as Saul/Paul found out. My prayer for all men, irrespective of where they find themselves, is for the revelation of our Lord!
Spot on.
Interesting that things will be like in the days of Noah.
Noah didn't go and get people to repent. The people did not know about the flood even being possible.
This second one being a fire.
1 Thess 5 ;3 " When they are saying "peace and security", it is then that sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains
upon a woman with child, and they will not escape."
Also interesting how many times Revelations say their hearts will be hardened just like the Egyptians were when Israel were to be released.
Paul releases the confusion by making statements about a plan for the future which covers all men. He knew that each would learn at their own appointed time. He knew there would be phases/stage of the program. Also stated the legal versus the grace.
He did recommend behavioural changes and summarised the law with the statement about love being the whole purpose of this time of learning.
Atheism lacks love. Many other religions talk about love, but do not display that love.
Movies have been made about love. Books written. Poetry exuding. Paintings portraying. Wars fought.
Christ demonstrated true love for us to clarify the opinions man has made.
God loves us so much that Paul says the love is difficult to comprehend.
People who have not experienced love in the flesh are usually bitter, or lack understanding since they do not know the true love.
When this love that Christ demonstrated for mankind is explained/revealed to mankind what a time of refreshing and tears being wiped away.
Zech refers to the tears of Israel when they have that revelation of the sacrifice of Christ that has happened. Understanding the significance of the sacrificial system highlights what Christ actually did for them, and us. No wonder they will then train the Gentiles about that fact.
All indeed highlighting the depth of what was planned before the world began.
Amazing! Awesome! Indescribable to the flesh. Yet is happening, and will be fulfilled at the appointed time.
No confusion anywhere for me any more.
Nicely put!!
Quote from: marie glen on April 12, 2016, 04:36:48 PM
Good morning! :girlheart:
I was visiting an "atheist vs christian" forum, and I hate to be a butthead or anything.. but I was kind of embarrassed! There was some tiny bit of science on the forum, but it was more flooded with these two things - #1, hell and #2, rapture.
..okay, this is what ya have for discussion with atheists.. and I mean with images.. yes, pictures of humans burning in fire.. This to represent Yahweh, creator of heaven and earth.. upholding all things..
:faint: :sigh: ..thanks for letting me vent..
won't it be wonderful when everything is straight? "make His paths straight!" every path straight.. :dsunny:
..the only thing with atheists, i think, in (friendly!!) conversation is to help them realize all they have, in reality, is another faith.. a belief.. If they want to talk, or even argue.. or ridicule.. they should be able to find something better than hell and rapture.. the two most illogical topics that make us look the silliest.. oh well. It's really good to know isn't it, that in the long run only truth will remain standing! Hallelujah! :banana: :thumbsup:
yup ! :banana: :banana: :banana: :dsunny: :dsunny: :dsunny: :Peace2: :iagree: :laughing7: :banana: :banana: