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[This is a living document; it will be updated from time to time with new questions I'm asked or what friends, family and such have experienced. ]
Why do you think you're right and others are wrong?
It makes me sad that anyone thinks that I assume 'I'm right and they're wrong'. I don't think I know everything, nor do I think I'm right about everything. What I do think and believe is that God is right. That even when we don't understand what is happening or think that the Bible is wrong, we actually are misinterpreting what was said. After all 'A text out of context is a pretext'. You can't read a random line in any book, or take a random statement from a person and say that sums up some truth or tells all you need to know about the speaker. You need to take everything in context.
Just like people from other countries and states that speak english, have different lingo. a 2000 lb hog is a motorcycle here in Texas, but in Arkansas that may be a pig. You need to know 4 things. Who said it, when it was said, where it was said and who it was said to. This frames context, then you take it in context for the rest of that persons/stories statements/text, then we learn that we can easily misinterpret things. That doesn't make the Bible wrong, it makes it deep, and require digging to understand a culture much more different than ours. The best way to know what the text really says, is to learn about the cultures and lives of the people that spoke it.
Just like I would want people to look at me not by one statement, or act. Instead my life as a whole to see who I am. Otherwise all of us could be easily seen in a way that is not who we truly are.
Just like people from other countries and states that speak english, have different lingo. a 2000 lb hog is a motorcycle here in Texas, but in Arkansas that may be a pig. You need to know 4 things. Who said it, when it was said, where it was said and who it was said to. This frames context, then you take it in context for the rest of that persons/stories statements/text, then we learn that we can easily misinterpret things. That doesn't make the Bible wrong, it makes it deep, and require digging to understand a culture much more different than ours. The best way to know what the text really says, is to learn about the cultures and lives of the people that spoke it.
Just like I would want people to look at me not by one statement, or act. Instead my life as a whole to see who I am. Otherwise all of us could be easily seen in a way that is not who we truly are.
Aren't All paths the same? Don't they all lead to God?
Saying all paths lead to God, is like saying you can take any path you want to arrive at my house. True some paths might still get you there, but it will be a detour which in the end will still lead you to the roads you needed to take to begin with. However some paths will ensure you never come close to the destination you intended.
Jesus said, "I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father, except through Me." This isn't God saying only 'some people' are allowed in, but that everyone is invited, yet they have to follow the directions and use the map (Bible) to get there. One person once said that BIBLE stands for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. It combined with other believers in the world are here to guide everyone on the path and ensure they all know the right 'directions' as well as know they are invited.
Jesus said, "I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father, except through Me." This isn't God saying only 'some people' are allowed in, but that everyone is invited, yet they have to follow the directions and use the map (Bible) to get there. One person once said that BIBLE stands for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. It combined with other believers in the world are here to guide everyone on the path and ensure they all know the right 'directions' as well as know they are invited.
You said 'ALL' are invited? But what about those who never heard the gospel? Or have access to a Bible or Missionary. So they are all doomed to Hell?
The short answer, is no.
The long answer I partly stated on the page 'What I believe' which is; God is Omniscient (All knowing), Omnipresent (Everywhere) and Omnipotent (All powerful). He will make sure every person on this planet is able to hear the Gospel, whether by a missionary, the Bible, a YouTube video, a song, a website like this, or a vision/dream. He will present it to everyone, everywhere and give all humanity the opportunity to say 'yes' or 'no' and He will respect the choice.He also promises anyone who seeks the Truth, will find TruthGod let His Son, suffer, be betrayed, ridiculed and convicted of a crime He didn't commit, then die on a cross and resurrect from the dead 3 days later, because of His love for each and every one of us. God's Word says that 'He desires that none should perish'. God didn't make Hell for humans, it was made for the demons and Satan. We were never meant to experience it, but The Devil, unlike popular renditions of him, enjoys the destruction of any goodness and love. He wants to hurt God the only way this weak and cowardly individual can. By getting us to choose him over God.
Some say, 'I'm not choosing God, but I'm not choosing the devil either!' Actually, there is no middle ground. This is a yes no equation. If you are not saying yes, then by default you are saying no. Like in a marriage ceremony. If you are refusing to say 'I do' then you are in truth saying 'I don't' No man or woman wants to here their spouse say 'Maybe' or 'I suppose, for now'.
The long answer I partly stated on the page 'What I believe' which is; God is Omniscient (All knowing), Omnipresent (Everywhere) and Omnipotent (All powerful). He will make sure every person on this planet is able to hear the Gospel, whether by a missionary, the Bible, a YouTube video, a song, a website like this, or a vision/dream. He will present it to everyone, everywhere and give all humanity the opportunity to say 'yes' or 'no' and He will respect the choice.He also promises anyone who seeks the Truth, will find TruthGod let His Son, suffer, be betrayed, ridiculed and convicted of a crime He didn't commit, then die on a cross and resurrect from the dead 3 days later, because of His love for each and every one of us. God's Word says that 'He desires that none should perish'. God didn't make Hell for humans, it was made for the demons and Satan. We were never meant to experience it, but The Devil, unlike popular renditions of him, enjoys the destruction of any goodness and love. He wants to hurt God the only way this weak and cowardly individual can. By getting us to choose him over God.
Some say, 'I'm not choosing God, but I'm not choosing the devil either!' Actually, there is no middle ground. This is a yes no equation. If you are not saying yes, then by default you are saying no. Like in a marriage ceremony. If you are refusing to say 'I do' then you are in truth saying 'I don't' No man or woman wants to here their spouse say 'Maybe' or 'I suppose, for now'.
Speaking of the devil, didn't he get a raw deal? I mean eternity in hell? Kinda steep for a mistake!
First, it wasn't a mistake. Lucifer (Light bringer) who was the most beautiful, of the angels. Decided he wanted to be God. Said that he would go up, and ascend and become like 'The Most High'. Scripture is very clear that he was a liar since foundation, and why is that? Free will.
God didn't just give freewill to humans, but to the angels too. They saw everything, knew who God was, he has angels day and night in His presence worshiping Him. None of them have to 'have faith' God exists. They are able to be perfectly in community with Him. Yet, despite it all. One third of Heaven was convinced by Lucifer to rebel. They were cast down, and instead of repenting, asking or pleading, wanting forgiveness... They decided to attack God's creation. To destroy humans, to convince them that either there wasn't a God, That God didn't care and they were on their own, that they had all the time in the world to get to God, or they could do anything they wanted, since every path leads to God.
Satan (Adversary) doesn't care about anyone but himself. He knows he's doomed to fail, but still is determined to take as many people with him as possible. He is a hateful, cruel person who wants to appear like a friend, someone granting freedom and 'fun', but in the end is death, destruction and suffering.
God didn't just give freewill to humans, but to the angels too. They saw everything, knew who God was, he has angels day and night in His presence worshiping Him. None of them have to 'have faith' God exists. They are able to be perfectly in community with Him. Yet, despite it all. One third of Heaven was convinced by Lucifer to rebel. They were cast down, and instead of repenting, asking or pleading, wanting forgiveness... They decided to attack God's creation. To destroy humans, to convince them that either there wasn't a God, That God didn't care and they were on their own, that they had all the time in the world to get to God, or they could do anything they wanted, since every path leads to God.
Satan (Adversary) doesn't care about anyone but himself. He knows he's doomed to fail, but still is determined to take as many people with him as possible. He is a hateful, cruel person who wants to appear like a friend, someone granting freedom and 'fun', but in the end is death, destruction and suffering.
All of that is Old School, how can you even say there are absolutes?
Answer, work in progress...
