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Despite the title of this thread, June is absolutely sincere in what she is about to ask in this OP.
This forum has been engaged in an ongoing argumentative debate as regards Universalism vs. Non-Universalist beliefs for a long time now. To say that it becomes ugly at times would be a ridiculous understatement. June reads/moderates all these threads, so it's not as though she isn't familiar with what has been an ongoing debate (on a good day) and outright denominational warfare on another...
So June has a question, given something that happened this past week:
June happened to have dinner with a friend of hers this past week. He's a colleague, and a very dear friend. He also happens to be an ordained minister, but up here in Massachusetts ("Heathen Land" that it is) very few people at work are aware of that fact. June and her friend talked as we ate. (June did more crying than eating, but her friend was accepting of that.) We talked about a lot of things: Work, life, and religion.
Upon leaving the restaurant at the end of the evening, much to June's shock and dismay, her friend asked her: "Can I pray for you?" -To which June (being her adorable "Just June" self) replied that would be fine, and expressed her gratitude that her friend would ask. However, he proceeded to convey to June that he in fact was asking if he could pray for her then and there. --As in: right there, in the parking lot. Much to June's utter shock and dismay, she said "okay." --And so he did. Very moving.
Now June needs to ask, to know: Given the fact that this friend is fully aware of the fact that June is an atheist, (but none the less extended the offer he did due to his beliefs) and given the fact that June let him pray for her in that parking lot this past week, if --as a result of that-- June somehow ended up becoming a Universalist, or a Catholic, or June became a Baptist, or June became a Protestant, or June ended up becoming a Methodist, or June ended up becoming any type of a Christian, (but for the purposes of this thread, let's just say by some miracle June came to believe, and had to decide whether she was a Universalist or not) then....
WOULD IT MATTER!?
Would it matter to all of you if somehow an atheist could come to believe, and would the denomination be the most central, focused thing in your minds? Would it be better for June to remain an atheist, than to somehow miraculously come to believe, and end up a Universalist? Or end up becoming a non-Universalist? How much would that be an issue for all of you?
June sincerely, respectfully would like to know your thoughts....
Take gentle care,
"Not Converted Yet June"
Hey June i sincerely believe you will come to know Jesus as your personal Savior .
He will be your guide in life .
Just to throw the spanner in the works , what if He guides you to stay clear of all denominations ?
Goodness...
that's all I can think to say...
and I wasn't even going to go to the forum tonight...look what I would have missed
By simply believing Jesus is our Savior, He sends us what we need. We (or rather I) just have to believe what I believe with all my heart... Many of us search...and many of us strive to know God's word. It's what I'd call a life long learning process. I've never known it all...nor will I ever.
It really isn`t an issue for me as a christian universalist because I believe God is in control of his creation. Since I believe this is God`s creation and he is in the process of restoring it..all of it..in his due time, then wherever you are in your belief,unbelief,half belief etc. it is all up to God.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phazelwood
If someone comes to Christ through any doctrine I am not going to defame them for believing in that doctrine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by meerkat2
Becoming a denominational christian (baptist, methodist, JW, catholic, pentecostal,) is not important - knowing Jesus as Lord and God as Saviour is important, desiring truth, and knowing the nature of God.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HotinAZ
I agree with what is underlined June.
You and I have been through much June, and I sincerely love my atheistic friend. Always have. You express more Christlike attributes than most people I know. If you do come to Jesus, it will be the work of the Spirit leading you in, and you accepting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thy Kingdom Come
To me what's most important is that someone actually follows Christ: How He taught us be selfless, how He taught us to treat our brothers & sisters, even how we are to treat our enemies. I believe it's possilble for people to have Christ's law by nature on their hearts, even while not yet knowing Christ or believing that God exists.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Blue
If June becomes a believer, I will place my trust in the Holy Spirit to place her wherever he pleases in his Church.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pcamps
Hey June...what if He guides you to stay clear of all denominations?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShanaBrown
June, what is most important is that you come to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, to know how much He loves you and that He gave His life for you. May God guide you and lead you in the truth of who He is and how much He loves you. God bless.
God's love is greater than denominational differences and what we see dimly in a mirror. We are all in the growing process in this walk. You know how much He loves you, June. Just trust in Him and put the arguments aside. God bless.
All that matters June is you put faith in the grace God is revealing to you.
It also does not matter if you don't believe in either ET or UR , though i do believe believing the latter will give you a greater peace and greater confidence before God, because perfect love casts out all fear and it's fear that steals your peace and fear that takes away confidence.
Despite the title of this thread, June is absolutely sincere in what she is about to ask in this OP.
This forum has been engaged in an ongoing argumentative debate as regards Universalism vs. Non-Universalist beliefs for a long time now. To say that it becomes ugly at times would be a ridiculous understatement. June reads/moderates all these threads, so it's not as though she isn't familiar with what has been an ongoing debate (on a good day) and outright denominational warfare on another...
So June has a question, given something that happened this past week:
June happened to have dinner with a friend of hers this past week. He's a colleague, and a very dear friend. He also happens to be an ordained minister, but up here in Massachusetts ("Heathen Land" that it is) very few people at work are aware of that fact. June and her friend talked as we ate. (June did more crying than eating, but her friend was accepting of that.) We talked about a lot of things: Work, life, and religion.
Upon leaving the restaurant at the end of the evening, much to June's shock and dismay, her friend asked her: "Can I pray for you?" -To which June (being her adorable "Just June" self) replied that would be fine, and expressed her gratitude that her friend would ask. However, he proceeded to convey to June that he in fact was asking if he could pray for her then and there. --As in: right there, in the parking lot. Much to June's utter shock and dismay, she said "okay." --And so he did. Very moving.
Now June needs to ask, to know: Given the fact that this friend is fully aware of the fact that June is an atheist, (but none the less extended the offer he did due to his beliefs) and given the fact that June let him pray for her in that parking lot this past week, if --as a result of that-- June somehow ended up becoming a Universalist, or a Catholic, or June became a Baptist, or June became a Protestant, or June ended up becoming a Methodist, or June ended up becoming any type of a Christian, (but for the purposes of this thread, let's just say by some miracle June came to believe, and had to decide whether she was a Universalist or not) then....
WOULD IT MATTER!?
Would it matter to all of you if somehow an atheist could come to believe, and would the denomination be the most central, focused thing in your minds? Would it be better for June to remain an atheist, than to somehow miraculously come to believe, and end up a Universalist? Or end up becoming a non-Universalist? How much would that be an issue for all of you?
June sincerely, respectfully would like to know your thoughts....
Take gentle care,
"Not Converted Yet June"
Hi June for me it would not matter what denomination you joined if any.
Jesus Christ is NOT divided, as long as you know Him He will lead you into the truth whether you belong to a denomination or not.
For myself I go by an old song I learned in church many years ago
"everywhere I bow my knee
is a sacred place for me
I find my altar anywhere I talk to God"
Hi June for me it would not matter what denomination you joined if any.
Jesus Christ is NOT divided, as long as you know Him He will lead you into the truth whether you belong to a denomination or not.
For myself I go by an old song I learned in church many years ago
"everywhere I bow my knee
is a sacred place for me
I find my altar anywhere I talk to God"
Excellent post...
I go to a Baptist church...not because it's baptist...but because at this church they teach God's word...(If our current pastor ever left, I'd have to search again...and pray that God sits my fanny where it should be--and I may not even have to leave my church...but the Holy Spirit would direct me.)...I do believe that I grow by hearing God's word...by studying God's word...and trying to live God's word.
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very few people at work are aware of that fact. June and her friend talked as we ate. (June did more crying than eating, but her friend was accepting of that.) We talked about a lot of things: Work, life, and religion.
--And so he did. Very moving. 
