Hi everyone! :dsunny:
I'm gonna give you a brief rundown.. I became a born-again Christian many years ago when i was 18. It was the usual fundamentalist kind, the usual ET teachings firmly intact.. I wont get into details (too much to type) but i backslid several years later and stayed in that state for over 25 years. The Lord finally brought me back and i once again dedicated my life to Christ. Except now things were different. I noticed the more i tried to get closer to the Lord, the harder it was for me. The thought of ET was creeping in and i couldn't escape it..No matter how hard i tried to accept it and still feel love for the Lord, the more difficult it became. I was starting to feel anxious, depressed and very fearful...I just couldn't wrap my mind around it no matter what. I kept telling myself that i still loved Jesus in spite of the fact that millions of people including many family members were gonna burn in fire and be tormented or all eternity...I tried with all my strength to accept what i thought was "fact"...till i just couldn't stand it anymore. I didn't want to stop loving the Lord but on the other hand i thought how could a loving God allow such a thing?
Anyway, i decided to go online and do some researching...and when i discovered universal salvation/reconciliation....it was as if the Lord peeled off the blinders that had been on my eyes and i felt like a new creation. I also couldn't believe the love i now had for everyone! a love that I've never felt before!
Then i dont know what happened, over the next couple years i started reading conspiracy theory type stuff and bible scriptures and i seemed to have lost my belief in universal salvation for all mankind and started to think that only the elect got saved and the others were annihilated...I even used to think to myself....yeah..i used to believe in universal salvation but not anymore....
But something still didn't feel right in my spirit....something still felt off...like it wasn't fair or something...
Then just recently i did more research till i went full swing around and God led me right back here to the salvation of all mankind. I dont why i ever left to begin with..LOL. :dsunny:
WELCOME!
It's easy to get away from damnationism when you find that God did not create Hell (Genesis 1:1) and no one else did either (John 1:3). I'm reading through the KJV, now in Ezekiel, and have yet to see proof of Hell.
:dsunny: welcome!
Welcome! I am fairly new to Universal Salvation but I have to reassure myself daily (by reading tentmaker articles, this forum, reading UR bible verses and especially Paul's letters) so I can understand how you feel! It's a bit lonely to have this view so I love this forum for fellowship. And yes, I can also attest to the overwhelming love for God and others that UR has brought in my life. Looking forward to hearing more of your journey and thoughts!
:welcome:
Quote from: Karrie Lynn on November 07, 2015, 10:31:37 PM
Then just recently i did more research till i went full swing around and God led me right back here to the salvation of all mankind. I dont why i ever left to begin with..LOL. :dsunny:
Thanks for writing some of your story. And we all do some silly things that don't make sense, haha. Welcome back.
bushy, ain't that the truth. Welcome Karrie :dsunny:
CHB
:ty: so much guys for the warm welcome... :dsunny:
:welcome: :newb: :friendstu:
Welcome Karrie!!
Glad you are settled again.
1 Peter 5:7-11
Welcome to the Tent :welcome:
Me too Rhodes... :gimmefive:
And thanks everyone!! :dsunny:
Thanks for sharing your story! And welcome to tentmaker forums! So glad you've found your way here! :girlheart:
Thank you Marie.. :thumbsup:
Welcome, Karrie Lynn!
It is a path with many obstacles, in this world, to hold fast to UR, as we are told by our fellow Christians, not only how crazy we are, but wrong we are, to 'change' the gospel of Christ.
Hold on.....this website will hopefully give you some comfort and fellowship, to help you do that.
Remember that God has promised us that love never fails. He has pledged his everlasting love to us. Nothing can stand between us and that love, we are told in the Bible. So, know He will pursue us, into eternity, if need be, to find us, His lost sheep, wherever we are.
Hope to talk to you again, soon!
D. :girlheart:
Thank you Dandelion for your words of comfort. :icon_flower: