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It's not the same when one bases their life, truth and faith on themselves, instead of the power of God. Atheists and other non-believers declare in their own wisdom, "God is not real, therefore, one's faith is in imaginary things." But, those who truly know and are born again in the Holy Spirit, know a new power, grace and truth working in them --- beyond their own.
"The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit."
1 Cor 2:14
Yes, 1 Cor 2:14 is another of those passages that have equivalents in cults. Like Psalms 14:1, outsiders are 'fools', insiders are special.
It's a good question -- Only God knows the heart and how many of the world's 2.6+ billion professing Christians, are truly born-again believers. Paradoxically, the answer isn't found in whether an individual has 'sufficient faith or religion,' but, on whether God reigns as Lord of the individual's life. Along these lines, many know that Jesus IS Lord, but, only those who know Jesus AS THEIR personal Lord and Savior, have eternal life.
It may have been a good question, but that answer was totally lacking as to what was asked.
Ah! I see! So when the Christians bombard us with the Lee Strobels of this world smugly proclaiming 'I used to be an atheist until....', we can say to them....'No. You never were a true atheist to begin with.'
And that's a true statement because at the time Strobel purports he was an atheist he was actually a pastor in a church according to reports I read. So that makes him either a liar or a hypocrite. Either way he loses. Another black eye for Christianity.
It's a good question -- Only God knows the heart and how many of the world's 2.6+ billion professing Christians, are truly born-again believers. Paradoxically, the answer isn't found in whether an individual has 'sufficient faith or religion,' but, on whether God reigns as Lord of the individual's life. Along these lines, many know that Jesus IS Lord, but, only those who know Jesus AS THEIR personal Lord and Savior, have eternal life.
That would be only about 5% of professing Christians since Jesus said wide is the gate that leads to destruction.
Doesn't that make Jesus the biggest failure in the history of man--a guy who could only keep 5% of his flock from going to hell despite him bragging that no one can yank his sheep out of his father's hands???
The ONLY way God intervenes here physically is through other human beings. Is that a fact, or your opinion?
The only direct interventions are spiritually in our heart and mind (consciousness). Is that a fact, or your opinion?
You are continuously encountering others who present ways of understanding God and your relationship to Him. You seem deaf to them in your frustration and anger so you are missing any possibilities to hear His actual answers for you.
You want God to do all the work of finding Him among the many beliefs ABOUT Him out there. Well, after all, he is all powerful. Why is he so incapable of being clear?
As long as your mind is closeted off by your frustration and anger at the many absurd beliefs ABOUT God, you will miss the truth when you encounter it. But of course, your beliefs about god are not absurd. Right?
Mystic: The ONLY way God intervenes here physically is through other human beings.
The only direct interventions are spiritually in our heart and mind (consciousness).
I understand that may be what some
*think,
*believe, or
*that is the only exp they have had personally, or
*they have been convinced of this because of what a person they respected said or wrote.
However, I will say here...those 2 'only' sentences are not true.
And that did not come from a thought, belief, lack of personal exp or what anyone wrote or said.
Could I have said that any other way? I dunno...I thought that was as respectful as I could be.
I understand that may be what some
*think,
*believe, or
*that is the only exp they have had personally, or
*they have been convinced of this because of what a person they respected said or wrote.
However, I will say here...those 2 'only' sentences are not true.
And that did not come from a thought, belief, lack of personal exp or what anyone wrote or said.
Could I have said that any other way? I dunno...I thought that was as respectful as I could be.
You do not need to worry about being respectful because it is clearly in your very nature, Miss H. My eldest daughter is a Reiki healer so I understand that perspective. She attributes her successes outward to God as well, but I am inclined to attribute them to her gift in accordance with my views about our Dominion on earth. God operates THROUGH us, IMO. YMMV.
Ah! I see! So when the Christians bombard us with the Lee Strobels of this world smugly proclaiming 'I used to be an atheist until....', we can say to them....'No. You never were a true atheist to begin with.'
It is not possible to be an ex-Christian. Once you belong to Christ, it’s forever. It is possible to be an ex-atheist, no?
It is not possible to be an ex-Christian. Once you belong to Christ, it’s forever. It is possible to be an ex-atheist, no?
jimmie, once we don't believe in god we are atheist.
whatever can be said about atheist can be said about theist. you know, we are all people.
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