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My cousin was a rabid fundamentalist Christian. She went to church twice a week, served in her church, proselytized like crazy about Jesus, raved about how beautiful heaven would be and how she longed to be with Jesus--the whole nine yards. Then she was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas back in 2012 or so. The doctors didn't hold much hope but they could offer her chemo as a last-ditch effort. She readily agreed and did several rounds of chemo and when that failed and all they could offer her was a trial for a new drug being tested she begged to get into the trial. She had to withdraw after a few months because the drug was too harsh--it would have killed her quicker than the cancer. In all she fought the cancer for about eight months before accepting the inevitable.
It's always struck me strange that Christians, who love Jesus so much and long to be with Jesus are, when push comes to shove, never really in that big a hurry to meet him. Why is that, do you think?
It's hard to face distant possibilities in the here & now
Perhaps they only want to believe? We all know that we'll die one day, but once you're diagnosed with a malignant cancer that will kill you sooner rather than later, it's hard to take comfort in abstractions.
It's a human trait - we all know that the fossil fuels will run out one day (or more likely, become uneconomic to extract) - but we carry on just the same anyway. When we should be planning - oh, I don't know - to install massive amounts of nuclear power plants against that day.
I'd rather live to 120 and serve God every day than to die at 45. Nothing wrong with wanting to serve God and leave a legacy.
just the opposite of what Paulie said that is is FAR better to be with Christ...seems the above statement is a wee bit self-centered even more so than I BELIEVE IN JESUS JUST SO I CAN LIVE FOREVER....oh, and treat the marginalized like the fifthly vermin Jesus said they are...
just the opposite of what Paulie said that is is FAR better to be with Christ...seems the above statement is a wee bit self-centered even more so than I BELIEVE IN JESUS JUST SO I CAN LIVE FOREVER....oh, and treat the marginalized like the fifthly vermin Jesus said they are...
Really? Have you actually read what Paul said? I do agree with him. I would like to go and be with Christ. I'm sure it would be wonderful. But I believe that he wants to use me on Earth.
Phil 1:23-26 "I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again."
As for any self-centeredness? You don't think that Paul was happy about living forever with Jesus?
However, unlike you, Paul never said anything about believing that other people were going to a hell of eternal torment.
Have you read Romans? How about Ephesians? Both are pretty clear that non-believers are subject to God's wrath.
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It's hard to face distant possibilities in the here & now
