I always felt something was not right.

[Sgtrobb]

I am 71 years old and was raised in a legalistic hell fire and brimstone environment.  I can't ever remember sitting around a camp fire in my youth and not staring into the flames and trying to imagine what it was to burn forever.  I rebelled against the church in my teens but after years of alcohol abuse and two failed marriages, I gave in and returned to the church.  While I assented  to most of the teachings of my church, I continued to be troubled by the doctrine of hell and everlasting torment of the unbelievers, because that is what I thought the Bible taught.  I prayed continually for my unbelieving family members but was always in fear them dying without receiving Christ and the thought of my unsaved children spending eternity in hell horrified me.  I had heard plenty of sermons ab out prayer and that if we asked anything according to his God's will, He would do it.  I began to ask myself if it was God's will that my family be saved and found plenty of scripture to convince me that it was God's will, so I began to ask God for the salvation of my family according to His will.  I spoke with other Christians and told them that I believed that all of my family would eventually be saved because it was God's will and and I was asking for their salvation according to God's will.  Most listen sympathetically to me, but would always remind me that everyone had a free will and if they rejected God's offer of salvation, there was nothing that God could do about it.  Some even tried to comfort me by telling me that when I died and went to heaven, the memory of my unsaved children would be erased, like that would make me feel better.  Approx three years ago I began my quest to find out what the Bible actually taught about eternal hell.  I was surprised to find a large community within the church that rejected this doctrine.  It's been three years since my journey began and I am happy to say that my eyes have been opened to the truth found in God's holy word, that God loves sinners and that He will not be satisfied until all his children have been found. 

[Shev]

Welcome! I am glad you have found the wonderful truth of the real gospel, which is all things becoming subject to Jesus Christ that God may eventually be All in All! A true victory indeed!

God bless!

[ed]

:welcome:

The teaching of hell traumatized my young(i'm 50) psyche as well.  I remember going to youth group "singsparation" and singing "Life was filled with guns and war, and everyone got knocked down on the floor, I wish we'd all been ready..............".  I wept.

I went though a lot of faith changes since then, and was very glad when I learned of universal salvation.  Most of my adult life I favored annihilation.  It was a short step to think that God, who is love, would have no such thing.

:dsunny:

[Lazarus Short]

I can't help just now to think of all the Hellfire & Brimstone preaching versus Jesus who told the story of the shepherd who went out after the lost sheep.  How many preachers do that?  I remember years ago, sitting in a church meeting at which it was discussed who of those not in regular attendance to drop from the church rolls.  It made me vaguely uneasy, but I now know that that church, like most churches, was run on a business model, and letting the lost sheep go gave them better numbers on their church reports.

Anyway, welcome to the Tent, Stgrobb!   :friendstu: :gimmefive: :friendstu:

[lomarah]

Welcome! Your story is quite similar to many of ours. Praising God for your freedom.  :HeartThrob:

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Welcome to the board. Glad you have found rest for your troubled soul in a safe haven. Hope you enjoy your time here.  :dsunny:

I remember when I first came to the Lord 29 years ago, being sad because at age 29 I felt like I had missed so many good years of not being raised in church. Then slowly I began to see what a blessing it really was in some ways, that I wasn't because of this trauma inflicted on so many. Sad to say that.  :sigh:

[Tom]

Welcome. When I was a kid in the Catholic Church, even though I didn't know anything about scripture, I "always felt something was not right" too especially after they told me my mom was going to hell for being Methodist. That's why I got out of that crazy church as soon as I could and began seeking the truth elsewhere. The story of my life after that was kind of like that old country song about lookin for love in all the wrong places. Somewhere along the way, I decided to check out the Protestant Church in various forms for awhile, but they told me my whole family was going to hell because my dad had convinced my mom to convert by then. Now I know all the churches are crazy, and I just read an accurate translation of scripture everyday because I think scripture is sufficient. I come here to the forum to communicate with folks. I think you came to a good place. I think all of us who experienced false doctrine in the past should view it as a learning experience about exactly what is not truth so we can appreciate truth more. It's great to know that the truth is God is love and the savior of all mankind, and all on the earth and in the heavens will be reconciled to God so that God may be all in all. 

[Dandelion]

Welcome, Sgtrobb.

It sounds to me like you have come to the right place.

Hope you totally enjoy your stay.

I look forward to many conversations with you.  :welcome:

[Seth]

I am 71 years old and was raised in a legalistic hell fire and brimstone environment.  I can't ever remember sitting around a camp fire in my youth and not staring into the flames and trying to imagine what it was to burn forever.  I rebelled against the church in my teens but after years of alcohol abuse and two failed marriages, I gave in and returned to the church.  While I assented  to most of the teachings of my church, I continued to be troubled by the doctrine of hell and everlasting torment of the unbelievers, because that is what I thought the Bible taught.  I prayed continually for my unbelieving family members but was always in fear them dying without receiving Christ and the thought of my unsaved children spending eternity in hell horrified me.  I had heard plenty of sermons ab out prayer and that if we asked anything according to his God's will, He would do it.  I began to ask myself if it was God's will that my family be saved and found plenty of scripture to convince me that it was God's will, so I began to ask God for the salvation of my family according to His will.  I spoke with other Christians and told them that I believed that all of my family would eventually be saved because it was God's will and and I was asking for their salvation according to God's will.  Most listen sympathetically to me, but would always remind me that everyone had a free will and if they rejected God's offer of salvation, there was nothing that God could do about it.  Some even tried to comfort me by telling me that when I died and went to heaven, the memory of my unsaved children would be erased, like that would make me feel better.  Approx three years ago I began my quest to find out what the Bible actually taught about eternal hell.  I was surprised to find a large community within the church that rejected this doctrine.  It's been three years since my journey began and I am happy to say that my eyes have been opened to the truth found in God's holy word, that God loves sinners and that He will not be satisfied until all his children have been found.

Welcome.  :dsunny:

[jabcat]

Welcome.  Be blessed.

[Searching_For_The_Truth]

 :welcome:

[rosered]

 :welcome: