Posted on 10/29/2016 3:23:42 PM PDT by Maudeen
The number of professing Christians is declining in America. And it’s not just because of the media, the public schools or even activism by atheists. It’s because Christians themselves are genuinely ignorant about the tenets of their faith, according to a new study. . . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
‘Receiving that gift is their own choice. How is that not fair?’
It’s not just a matter of hearing the Word, it’s a matter of hearing it WELL.
Some never hear it, some hardly hear it, and some never truly get to hear it with the proper emphasis.
In the case of my relative, he stood among theologians who knew doctrine, etc — it HURT his faith. He walked in a Christian and walked out an agnostic.
‘Belief in Jesus in itself is a necessary condition, but not a sufficient condition to gain entrance to heaven.’
I agree wholeheartedly.
And I also wonder if belief can be in the IDEAL of Jesus. A non-believing sinner might not understand why he laid down his life for a friend. But he jumps on a grenade, saves his buddies, and is baptised in selfless, perfect blood.
“... no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend.”
Self sacrifice and the Golden Rule mean more to me than mere words.
My relative does good works. But he lost out on the ‘persuasion lottery’ of scriptural studies. God knows he tried. A Christian seeking to be a man of the cloth.
Now his ears are closed, especially to the ‘ignorant’. He’s highly educated, and I can’t overcome that bias which I also consider quite natural.
I agree with you there.
Some people judge the souls of others. “Forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who tresspass against us.”
Thank you for your post. But I wonder - is there a reason you don’t use the King James Version of the Bible?
Newer translations, ostensibly meant to appeal to today’s reader, tend to water down the message, don’t you think?
It just doesn’t have the same impact as the old English does.
Not criticizing, just wondering.
I sensed people praying for me last night. Have a feeling you were one of them.
Here’s my pain — people put their faith in scholarly religious leaders. After all, that’s what qualifies a man of the cloth: education.
That’s our culture. Been that way ever since Constantine.
But religious education FAILED my relative, and according to standard scriptural interpretation his soul is now in peril due to RELIGIOUS education.
In the meantime, some folks sin and scheme and repent on their deathbeds. I’m glad they get saved, don’t get me wrong. Eternal damnation is infinitely longer than a billion years. I don’t wish that on anyone. NO one.
But something is ‘off’ here, and I think it’s some kind of cookie pressed doctrine that misses the mark of God’s perfect plan. Or maybe God intentially hides aspects of His mercy so that we are spurred to better ourselves.
Thank you, FRiend. I hope he’ll let me have a real talk with him one day. But he’s been brainwashed into cloistering himself away from the ‘uneducated’.
That’s standard doctrine. No argument on that score.
So we better pray that those we love never get brainwashed by the wrong ‘religious’ scholars. Or they are damned for a billion years a billion times over and then more.
Oh well.
Is 1st Corinthians 3:15 what you are looking for?
>>> In the case of my relative, he stood among theologians who knew doctrine, etc — it HURT his faith. He walked in a Christian and walked out an agnostic.
Jesus warned of this. We should not be deceived or discouraged by the presence of those who would seek to deceive us.
I would submit that your relative has been deceived, and his current status with God is unchanged. How much sense does it make to judge God according to the actions or beliefs of men?
Our relationship with God is between Him and us alone.
Jesus made that possible.
The Holy Spirit is the one Who reveals scripture to us. (doctrine)
Tell your relative to get back in the race.... the rewards are well worth it. Salvation is already a done deal if he has surrendered to Jesus.
Bless you.
I agree — it is infininitely foolish to go against the New Testament.
But the diabolic logic — I’ve encountered some of it. But for another time.
Close to election day. I was foolish to start this up at this time. Impulsive of me.
If there’s any mercy I hope for the damned it is yet to be revealed.
Yes, I think that’s the one. Thank you.
I seem to remember the word ‘tears’, but I must be mixing it up with a different, but similar, verse.
I appreciate it very much.
Thank you...
Election day = Revelation day; God already knows the outcome.
Seeking God’s truth of a matter is never foolish.
“It is appointed to man once to die, and then comes the judgment.”
As long as they are still breathing, there is hope and mercy available to them.
‘Seeking God’s truth of a matter is never foolish.’
True, but there’s a time to speak and a time to be silent.
I was foolish in my timing.
>>> I was foolish in my timing.
Don’t be so sure it was your timing.
I did feel blessed to swat away some darkness last night.
My soul is better off.
So whoever prayed for me, thank you!
The number of Christians who know what the BIBLE teaches is declining in America.
John 3:18
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
I think the answer is in the Book; too.
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