Wherein lies the whole problem, your belief that we who spend our life waiting and hoping for the return of Christ, are living under false hopes.
Have you considered that, this false hope as you put it, is what keeps some of us going?
First of all, as with so many points of faith, you can not prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, your belief that Christ has already returned as an absolute truth.
If it were that clear, then it would not be a matter of debate, it would be obvious to all, just as so many other Biblical truths are accepted by all Christian faiths and even some Jews.
God gave us the choice to believe what ever seems reasonable, and necessary, for each of us as individuals, once we’ve accepted what God deems necessary for our salvation. Once we have that truth, God gives us the freedom to follow our hearts on all other matters, as long as we remain headed toward God and his Kingdom.
Some of us need the feeling of urgency to motivate us. I found that in my working life I always preferred jobs that paid commission. In other words, It let me decided how much work I wanted to do, and how much money I wanted to make a week.
Others prefer security and a guarantee every week.
Others preferred long term security and retirement benefits.
Some prefer no work, and want the government to take care of them.
Others prefer self employment, and on and on.
God’s creation proves His love of diversity and uniqueness, in the variety of his work, and He certainly knew we would never be a people of onesize fits all.
Some people are more comfortable in a local community Church, regardless of what it teaches.
Some find the music an attraction, some the energy exuded by the people, some look for those who speak in tongues, and some for the atmosphere of the building.
Some love a Church that puts emphasis on the Law and the Jewish holy days, and some the Jewish Sabbath.
Some believe that how a woman dresses, or whether she wears jewelry, is of utmost importance, and some will go to a Church because their vegetarians.
Some love opulence in the building, some love statues and candles and smells and sounds and chants and pictures.
Some fear real or perceived scare tactics, such as eternal punishment or the surprise end of the age and the return of Christ, which can be seen as a frightening time.
When a person is brought up with any of these unique likes or dislikes, they can become an important part, of what they see as the true Church, because they feel comfortable in it, and not in the others.
Once a person knows God, and is being led by God’s Spirit, these different things can help them grow, but has nothing to do with the fundamentals of their faith, and God knows it.
And you Nate, you believe that anyone who doesn’t understand your belief, that Christ has already returned, and life goes on, we live we die, and God judges each when they die and it’s like a giant assembly line, that somehow we are missing out on a great truth, and one that would help us please God even more, and we’d be a happier people if we understood.
I would be most miserable believing as you do, and this would hurt my relationship with God. Just as if I were compelled to become a speaker in tongues, or go to a Church that doesn’t believe in musical instruments, or one that doesn’t allow women to wear slacks or makeup, or for anyone to eat meat.
Either all Churches who believe they have found the magic grail and are the few chosen out of billions, or, God has through His wisdom, found a way to make every follower of Christ feel unique and special, which produces faith and a long term spiritual commitment to our creator.
I have posted similar to this before, and even though I haven’t a doctrine or a written belief on the matter, I find I always come back to the same belief concerning differences between my faith and others.
We can always debate how we feel our belief is more reasonable then others, just as some prefer Chevy’s over Fords or Plymouths, but they both take us from point A to B, and B is the kingdom of heaven.
JH :-)
I kinda like that one. :)
BigMack