But rather
"This is what the bible says" "and this is what it means to me"
I offer this as information, not instruction.
Now as to my own grandfather being successful or not in carrying that sort of thing forward, I do not know for certainty, for I seldom heard him or much anyone else sermonize, myself not being brought up in religious instruction and church attendance.
—”This is what the bible says” “and this is what it means to me”—
This is EXACTLY where I was trying to go. It failed with this particular guy. He was a brick wall, just as liberals can be regarding political issues.
In that one statement above is the spirit of what I was trying to get across from my position and trying to get him to add the last two words to his.
It failed. It never got into a heated discussion, but it was clear that he believed it. When I asked him what do all the passages that speak of “eternal life for one, and death and destruction for the other” mean, regarding the eternal experience of the latter. He got very obstinant.
The reason was simple: He lives in the bible belt with people that agree with him. I come from Seattle, arguably the most unchurched part of the country - not to mention I debate it incessantly with non-believers on the internet in an attempt to sharpen my knowledge and, hopefully, bring some into the fold. His views have never been challenged. Mine are all the time. I can’t just “believe what I believe”. I have to back it up - and do on a daily or at least weekly basis.
I’m hoping that my presence there will challenge some of the folk to revisit why they believe what they believe and maybe even change some of their views. Which ones, I don’t know. But if your only response to someone that challenges your viewpoint is “the bible sez it”, you are not really wearing the full armor of God. You only think you are.