Gotta face it, we Christians believe some pretty strange stuff
I do not interpret it that way as I am not a Calvinist.Martin Q. Blank said:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God Eph 2:8
It is God's gift that we believe pretty strange stuff.
Great posts. The witnesses make a real statement.chimpanzee said:
I can't prove what we believe to be true by any objective standard, that's faith. I can tell you that this strange stuff was witnessed by a bunch of backwater nobodies that went on to gruesome death rather than deny what they saw. The same backwater nobodies shared what they saw and it became the most impactful event in human history after centuries of brutal repression.
If it's just a powerful story, it's the most powerful story ever conceived and deserves thoughtful analysis on that basis alone.
In that case I'd say the reason you believe is because you grew up in the U.S. with parents/family who were probably Christian.dermdoc said:I do not interpret it that way as I am not a Calvinist.Martin Q. Blank said:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God Eph 2:8
It is God's gift that we believe pretty strange stuff.
Grace is the free gift from God but we have to respond with faith.
http://www.examiningcalvinism.com/files/Paul/Eph2_8.html
But it is all good as we are all believers and "saved".
To answer the op, I have a personal relationship with the Lord which is as real to me as the IPad I am typing this on.
And to be honest, I have no problem with Calvinists who say it is all from God or non Calvinists who believe we have a role.
The key is do you have the relationship however it occurs theologically. And it is evidenced by fruits.
Of course I believe in election as it is Biblical and in Scriptures.Martin Q. Blank said:
Even if I believed in election, do you think it's random? Like God pulling names out of a hat?
And God's people spreading through the family has been the model since Abraham.
Quote:
I don't think anyone on earth would reject the gift of salvation, if only the presenter could convince them of the validity of the offer.
Dilettante said:
So do you believe I'm going to heaven? Because I've obviously been told the Gospel, but I guess just not in convincing fashion. I don't think anyone on earth would reject the gift of salvation, if only the presenter could convince them of the validity of the offer.
When an Amazonian tribesman dies without being saved, is he given the same Gospel I was, or is he given more certainty? In other words, when those who haven't heard the good news die are they afforded certainty or are they made to guess like I am in life?
me trying to read that word:Quote:
undisirregardlessness
dermdoc said:
I do know there is explosive growth of Christianity in places like Africa and China. But they have to hear the Gospel to know what they believe and then decide. And then through the family unit Christianity spreads and is maintained. Has been the church model since the beginning of the church.
Completely agree.dds08 said:dermdoc said:
I do know there is explosive growth of Christianity in places like Africa and China. But they have to hear the Gospel to know what they believe and then decide. And then through the family unit Christianity spreads and is maintained. Has been the church model since the beginning of the church.
God makes Himself known through his creation, nature.
"I don't know what your name is or where you are but through your creation I believe in you and your power. Please remember me, please save me."
I've been told people will also be given a chance at the final judgement. How anyone rejects God then will be something, but I'm sure they will.
I do not know where you live but would be happy to invite you to church if possible or present the Gospel to you in person.Dilettante said:
So do you believe I'm going to heaven? Because I've obviously been told the Gospel, but I guess just not in convincing fashion. I don't think anyone on earth would reject the gift of salvation, if only the presenter could convince them of the validity of the offer.
When an Amazonian tribesman dies without being saved, is he given the same Gospel I was, or is he given more certainty? In other words, when those who haven't heard the good news die are they afforded certainty or are they made to guess like I am in life?
stbabs said:
Gotta face it, we Christians believe some pretty strange stuff
Zobel said:
I think its interesting that you used a minority creed, and even had to asterisk a portion of that minority creed, in order to say what Christians believe.
Zobel said:
I think its interesting that you used a minority creed, and even had to asterisk a portion of that minority creed, in order to say what Christians believe.
The most superb reasoning for anonymity I've read on here in quite some time.Dilettante said:
Thanks for the kind offer. I appreciate it, and maybe one day I'll take you up on it. I still value anonymity too much. And frankly, I don't want to know who you people are either. Not because I don't like you, but because it would fundamentally change what this place is to me.
Never meet your heroes.