I'm quite glad at the moment, after months of discussions (I see my parents only once a month) i convinced my father, a strict evangelical/lutheran that hell is not scriptural - he believes now in annihilation (at least of the utterly wicked) and admits that the bible really doesn't seem to speak about eternity, though he believes not yet in the salvation of all - but at least he no longer believes in eternal torment. he also admitted that he never really believed it.
I'm quite glad about this, just wanted to share it.
Good news Sven.
You father might not be fully UR (yet) but at least he listened. Searched for the truth and accepted he was 'wrong' before.
I bet your talks are the mustard seed and he'll study himself into UR.
my father really appreciates the concordant literature; I'm just wondering why my mother still is so convinced of hell - i have the impression it's harder to convince women than men concerning this topic, which is really strange. but she believes in tradition and doesn't understand all this things. strangely she appreciates the concordant literature aswell (except the salvation of all) and also 7th Day Adventists literature but believes in hell anyway :dontknow:
Well that may seem not so good but consider that people thet are very easily convinced keep switching.
I think reading/studying with an open mind is the first, and very good, step.
Those things you told her will always be somewhere in her mind when she is reading the Bible.
From what I've read about people that got converted to UR is that for most it was a quit sudden breakthrough.
For a smaller group it was a more gradual process. Maybe here also "each in their own time"....
I think that's very good news. Good job obediently sharing ("charge these things and teach", I Tim. 4:11). Give your mom time...for God to work on her. You've done well so far...His Word will not return to Him void...let Him provide the increase. :thumbsup:
God's blessing, James.
now after long discussions, it seems both my mother and father believe in a kind of annihilationism now, but eternal torment for the devil, they both can't imagine the final salvation of all human :dontknow:
Your track record is better than mine. I can't think of a soul I've shared UR with whose mind has changed (that I'm aware of). Well, my husband was not a UR believer until I became convinced, but he has always followed me on spiritual matters. I know that is unconventional - but it is just the way our relationship has always been.
Quote from: Raggedy Anne on March 09, 2009, 09:24:48 AM
Your track record is better than mine. I can't think of a soul I've shared UR with whose mind has changed (that I'm aware of). Well, my husband was not a UR believer until I became convinced, but he has always followed me on spiritual matters. I know that is unconventional - but it is just the way our relationship has always been.
A lot of times we have to
become the message to deliver it adequately.
finally my mother seems to be convinced of annihilationism, but no way universalism
at least convincing two strict evangelicals (my parents both are 63 years old) that hell is unscriptural in favour for annihilationism isn't that bad after all.