I witnessed numerous Christians depart the faith while we were in Turkey, being seduced into believing that Allah was God and they actually renounced Jesus as only a prophet, not the Son of God. Can a True believer really depart from the faith? At age 65, I’d have to say that I think you can take YOURSELF away from God, but no one else can. You CAN decide to stop believing. I have seen this. I know that ONLY GOD knows for sure, in the long run, but it seems to me that those who choose to later repent of their belief in God will likely not be among the saints.
It is sad to watch as some grow cold in their faith and begin to become deliberately hostile to those who remained in their faith. I’ve witnessed that, also. Those who end in faith are the true believers. Those who remain faithful to the end. While one may stray for a while, if one repents and turns back to faith, God forgives. If one forsakes the faith and does not repent, then I’d say that it is quite likely they may not be among the saints who gain the first resurrection. The teaching of salvation appears to hold somewhat to both views, which is called an antinome. Two opposing views, both having validity. When we get to Heaven, I guess we’ll understand it all, but for now it is one of the mysteries of the faith. I feel that God leaves it unsolved for us for now because it keeps us wondering a little so we don’t get too cocky and self-assured. So, we should NOT be beating one another up over this. The main thing to remember is that our faith is not of our own works, but the saving grace God extends to us through the death of His Son, and His resurrection. His work on the cross, not our goodness. The ground is level at the foot of the cross, where we all must come and repent.
We should be encouraging one another in the faith, not looking for ways to disagree and condemn one another. We are going to need one another in the days ahead. We are going to need to be ready to give shelter and support. It worries me to read some of the comments about believers in other countries that seem t have a little different form of worship, or traditions. We MUST set these aside, we MUST pray for each one (ourselves included) to be filled with God’s spirit and His Truth, to love one another in such a way that the world does not see our differences but our love of each other that can only be contributed to God’s power working in us.
“You are just reading what you want so you can get money from the confused.”
I think we need to be careful in our accusations towards one another. To say that someone is trying to make gain on their beliefs or lord it over others is inflammatory. If you know this to be a fact, that is one thing, but to just say something like this to make someone look bad reminds me of the left, who instead of being able to really argue their points resorts to insults and accusations. We don’t want to parrot the left. State your case, but do it in love, remembering that it is God’s grace alone that ANY of us have anything, and we are all at different places in our growth and understanding. Be gracious towards one another.
A very good post, I believe, in that it follows the whole counsel of God. The only thing I really wonder about somewhat is your comment on criticisms of those who worship a little differently. What are those differences? Without them being spelled out here I feel I have to wonder if they are something of true substance or not.