Replies

I very much appreciate your kind words and the thoughts that clearly underlie them. You are among the few here on FR who understand that we all have to make our own choices, rather than shove our own choices on others. I appreciate that, even as our P.O.V. on this issue differs.

Thankfully, we are not Shiite and Sunni, because then we’d be as likely as not to try to kill each other for heresy. :>)

I had my own "Damascus-road" experience, as does basically everyone who pledges his life to Jesus and is thereby born again. So I understand keenly the issue of personal choice, which, combined with His command to love one another as myself, compels me to respect others' choice on this most fundamental and personal of issues. Do not regard it as untoward when other Christians exhibit less respect; some aren't true Christians after all, and others are still immature in their practice of the faith. In their zeal they are either ignorant of, or are ignoring, Scripture's command,

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks
you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness and respect,
keeping a clear conscience..." (1 Peter 3:15-16)

As I indicated previously, ultimately it is God Himself Who takes the responsibility for revealing Himself to those who seek Him--sometimes through His representatives, and at other times directly, as He did with Paul. Indeed, my screen name indicates that very notion. Hebrews 11:6 reads:

"And without faith it is impossible to please God,
because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists
and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Please pardon my presumption here, but I feel constrained to tell you that I think you yourself are, or are becoming, one of those earnest seekers and that ultimately He will lead you into the full truth of His love and provision for you, in a way that you cannot now anticipate, even as I could not thirty-eight years ago, nor could Paul.