This is just my opinion of course, but I was wondering what keeps many from trusting in God/Jesus.
I think there are three reasons. (not in any particular order)
1.) Evolution - Many feel that evolution "proves" the Bible wrong as a plain reading of Genesis is clearly different and opposed to evolution. (Bible says there was a creator and each animal reproduces according to its own kind. Evolution says that all happened by chance and that one kind of creature eventually becomes another kind of creature.) If the Bible is wrong right from the very beginning evolutionists reason, why would you trust what it says elsewhere?
2.) Sin - People compare themselves to others. The news media and movies and television all hold up the aberrations in our society for our reading and viewing "pleasure." It's like a 300 lb morbidly obese person sees a 500 lb(or more) person featured in a reality type show and they think, "At least I'm not near as bad as that." People hate to admit they sin and ironically, will lie about sin in their life. They will even lie about lying. Deep down, people need to think of themselves as "good" people. Sin interferes with that - especially if one starts comparing oneself to Jesus rather than "featured" or known "big time" sinners.
3.) Hell - Any reasonable person hearing about a God that Loves them yet is waiting and watching for them to "mess up" so that he can torture for all eternity, would reject that God as a sadistic, psychotic. They see a big difference between the God of the Old testament and Jesus and the portrayal by churches of God "not really" being as loving as Jesus was/is. So, they think Why bother? It's kinda like where the expression came from. "damned if you do, damned if you don't.
People don't see the loving God we know and they sure don't find the truly loving God at 99% of churches. The above is like the proverbial 3 strikes against their believing. With all this against believing, it's no wonder that NO ONE comes to the Father but through Jesus and even then the Holy Spirit must work on changing the heart of man.Thank God all will be reconciled ultimately. :Peace2: :2c:
Hey Ded2 :thumbsup: I liken your expose as three unclean inspired expressions...
3 big fat frogs..... exposed....
Here is a photo that kinda goes with it. If hell is eternal torment and I'm going to hell for that, what difference does it make if I take a gun to school and kill all these christians telling me I'm gonna burn. I'll go to something worse than hell? or it will last longer than eternity? :eek:
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Of course, some will tell you that if you're only a little evil, you spend eternity in one of the upper levels of Hell, not in one of the lower parts, where it's REALLY bad. I wonder if Dante had a tourist map of Hell? Maybe Milton had one in Braille... :doh:
Quote from: ded2daworld on March 15, 2013, 05:10:22 PM
This is just my opinion of course, but I was wondering what keeps many from trusting in God/Jesus.
I think there are three reasons. (not in any particular order)
1.) Evolution - Many feel that evolution "proves" the Bible wrong as a plain reading of Genesis is clearly different and opposed to evolution. (Bible says there was a creator and each animal reproduces according to its own kind. Evolution says that all happened by chance and that one kind of creature eventually becomes another kind of creature.) If the Bible is wrong right from the very beginning evolutionists reason, why would you trust what it says elsewhere?
2.) Sin - People compare themselves to others. The news media and movies and television all hold up the aberrations in our society for our reading and viewing "pleasure." It's like a 300 lb morbidly obese person sees a 500 lb(or more) person featured in a reality type show and they think, "At least I'm not near as bad as that." People hate to admit they sin and ironically, will lie about sin in their life. They will even lie about lying. Deep down, people need to think of themselves as "good" people. Sin interferes with that - especially if one starts comparing oneself to Jesus rather than "featured" or known "big time" sinners.
3.) Hell - Any reasonable person hearing about a God that Loves them yet is waiting and watching for them to "mess up" so that he can torture for all eternity, would reject that God as a sadistic, psychotic. They see a big difference between the God of the Old testament and Jesus and the portrayal by churches of God "not really" being as loving as Jesus was/is. So, they think Why bother? It's kinda like where the expression came from. "damned if you do, damned if you don't.
People don't see the loving God we know and they sure don't find the truly loving God at 99% of churches. The above is like the proverbial 3 strikes against their believing. With all this against believing, it's no wonder that NO ONE comes to the Father but through Jesus and even then the Holy Spirit must work on changing the heart of man.Thank God all will be reconciled ultimately. :Peace2: :2c:
Wow Ded2daworld! I think your "
3 strikes" just may be right on!! ...and see how it ends in "war" which is such a prominent thing of man's total history and ways..
So, let me get this straight ... I touch you and I get five to seven; I touch myself, and I get eternal damnation. Who thought that one up?
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VB, LOL - so right!
I had to come back, Ded, to reread this as I remembered 1 and 3 but couldn't remember 2.. :thumbsup:
Quote from: ded2daworld on March 15, 2013, 05:10:22 PM
This is just my opinion of course, but I was wondering what keeps many from trusting in God/Jesus.
Hi ded,
When I first saw the "big three" my first thought was Dale Earnhardt :laugh:.
In answer to your question "what keeps many from trusting in God/Jesus" I would have to say "God". Isn't it all up to God whether or not one trusts him? He has to drag a person to him, open their minds and give them knowledge to know him.
CHB
Definately CHB. "While we were enemies of God..." Only God can change our heart to want him in our life and even in this life, it's up to him how "spiritual" or how well we know him.
I meant that almost all excuses fall under those three categories or excuses.
An unusual "excuse" would be a girl that had been molested by her pastor father from age 5 to 15. Who would blame her for not wanting to hear anything at all about God? The holy spirit would have to overcome. I do know an actual case of this except the girl was molested between 8 and 13 When her pastor Father was caught. He's serving a 20 year sentence. After about 4 years of rejecting, the spirit has won her over and she truly loves the Lord. :dsunny: :Peace2: