For My Mom

[Forest]

I'm just looking for some support I guess.

I got into it with my mom tonight over religion. She is a devout Christian who believes in ECT and separation from God. It makes it hard to have conversations about Christianity with her because she's always talking about how we are sinners in need of saving and how people choose to accept Jesus or not and that is their choice.

Her church is currently preaching on Revelations and about the Second Coming of Christ. She's been mentioning quite often in front of me and my husband (who is agnostic) that she thinks we are seeing signs of the End Times, to which my husband and I just kind of nod and change topics. This is because we are both very science driven and see the changes in weather as typical for the current climate cycle we are in, but we don't say anything about that to her because we want to avoid conflict.

Tonight we were talking about how our beliefs are different, and I accidentally said that I don't enjoy going to church or going to Christian movies because they always present the gospel as a story of people being undeserving sinners in need of saving from the One who created them. What I meant to say was that, while I do enjoy going to Christian movies, I don't like the narrative of the Gospel that they always present, because I think it's wrong.

We recently went to see the new movie, Overcomer, together and I know it hurt her feelings that I said that, but it's not how I meant it. I sent her a text to say I was sorry and explain what I meant, and she hasn't said anything back.

Now I'm second guessing myself on all this UR stuff, and that scares me. If I can't believe in UR, I can't believe in anything. I can't believe in a god who would create something and say they love it, just to turn around and torture it or annihilate it if it doesn't love it back. But my mom is way more Bible savvy than I am and I can't understand how she can't see UR as truth. It makes me feel like maybe I'm wrong.

Just looking for support from the community that has helped me since day one. Thanks everyone!

[Dandelion]

I think UR, or any belief, really, is ultimately a journey we each travel for ourselves.

Not to say others cannot help us along the way.......certainly several people have done so for me.......but, ultimately, it is always between us and God.

Keep your Bible close and walk with the Lord, is my advice. Listen to others, but test their spirit and be discerning. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. As I used to tell my children when they were young......the world will chew you up and spit you out......God is our rock....

Be as diplomatic as you can, I suppose. I don't think I always manage that very well these days......I am learning, even at my age.

Pray for wisdom. He will get you through.

D.

[marie glen]

Amen.. Dandelion has summed this up very well! And how to deal with it.

This year in my Bible reading, I'm sticking pretty much to the gospels and letters of the New Testament. Not even Acts or Revelation, which last year I read them also. I have been figuring for a while now to concentrate on the New Testament because that's the one which most pertains to us, as believers in this age. And I think of it as our loaf. :laughing7: Well ever since I started the more concentrated reading, the more UR I see! Both written straight out in plain English, and also some implied UR. And so I know what you mean! How does it go so missed by so many?! It really is quite mind boggling! :mshock:

I've heard people say they tell Ect believers that they don't know of any verse that says we have to believe in hell or that 3/4's or more of humanity will perish, in order to be saved! A little logic to combat Et Christian's fears.. Maybe they will think us a heretic misleading people, but hey, at least all is not lost and hopeless for any UR loved ones they may be worried about. And that could possibly give some UR seed some time to grow. Afterall, ECT believers do read those UR verses! And "with God all things are possible!"

I will pray for your Mom.. And your Christian relationship.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about this verse - 2 Peter 2:9 - "God knows how to preserve the unjust for CORRECTION/kolasis on day of judgment". The translators chose to interpret kolasis as 'punishment' which if it is included in the original kolasis, it's an extreme. And there's a huge difference in the two! But I think sometimes translators outright run with words (and verses). The whole world believed in good people go to a heaven, Elysian field, paradise and bad folks - all of them 'good and bad' being immortal, a prison or hell for the 'bad' ones. So they translated according to that worldview. And now most believers have been taught it's what the bible says.. and they want to be faithful to what (they believe) the Bible says. As do we! :friendstu: