Road to come enlightened

[Elijah71]

Hi,

I would like to introduce myself as im new here and i'm still kind of searching enlightment.

My name is Elijah and i was born in 1971. I have no wife or children and i'm living with my dog who is my best friend. I don't have much friends and most of them are atheists. I am more than eager to learn more about god and follow the way of baptist, but still i don't know how can i leave my friends and start to hate them because they are atheist. They have helped me so many times and they support always me with my decisions. I told to my atheist friend few weeks ago, that i've been thinking to go baptist mission. He supported me and my decision and told that if it's your calling, you should do it.

I have been trying to explain him, that there must be god, but he have his own theories. What should i do now? I really want to understand everything. If i want to be pure believer, do i have to leave my atheist friends who have been supporting me all the time?

I found out this way of believing when i was searching the roots of my name. It led me here. Maybe it's a sign?

I'm very excited to get enlightenment, please give me guidance.

-Elijah

[Rev. Jim Osborne]

Re: Road to come enlightened

Welcome Elijah to God's Favorite Forum(tm). Fortunately, the Bible has the answers you are looking for. See, that's how we know it's divinely inspired...even thousands of years after it was written every possibility and problem is covered in it!

One of the requirements of being a Christian is that you must separate yourself from unsaved scum, such as your atheist friends. I don't care how supportive and helpful they have been, they are evil in God's eyes and you will go to Hell for it.

Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

1st Corinthians 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

2nd Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

2nd Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

1st John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

[Elijah71]

Re: Road to come enlightened

Dear Jim,

I was raised by cantor and employee of Evangelical Lutheran church. My grandfather was a priest of Evangelical Lutheran church but he tried Orthodoxy as well and was a priest for that church. He was able to speak and read hebrea, latin, german, english, finnish and swedish. Anyway, i wasn't ever forced to learn my parents religion and they let me choose my own way. Evangelical Lutheran teach that if you believe in god, you will get your place in heaven. It has been told as well, that church opinion is that if you search for the truth, you will still get ur place in heaven.

As i told on my earlier post, im surrounded by atheist. Yes, i was atheist at one point by myself. When i was, i used a lot of time for reading about different religions and history of different bibles. I also read history of buddhism and islam. I have a good overview of religions because i was an atheist and i was reading holy books and their history with the eyes of "reality". If you want to understand what i mean, you must know what atheists are thinking and how they see the life.

In my country, we can choose in a school do we want to choose religion, or "view of life". Most people go for religion because if your parents belongs to church, their children will be chosen automatically to religious studies. Those religious studies deal old testament, new testament and Biblical apocrypha. Anyway, they dont teach everything from word to word. They let students read the bible and discuss together about texts in there. They teach ofc how the world was created in 7 days etc.

What my point is, i would like to know why to choose this bible to be right one, as i have read multiple bibles and the base idea is same in every bible. It has been written, that old testament has been created about 1400 – 400 before christ. New testament were itemized 367 years after christ was born by Athanasius of Alexandria. Anyway, these two books are fully based on Tanak, which is the bible of jews. Basically it's old testament but written in Hebrew language. Jew people dont even dare to call tanak to old testament.

King James authorized version was created on 1611. Also there is New King James authorized version and 16 other versions of that. All i know, all those people believe in god who read these books. Im still thinking that King James authorized version is good, but i want to know its right one!

Please guide me because i'm facing this secular obstacle on my way.

In god we trust

-Elijah

[Simonajf]

Re: Road to come enlightened

Elijah,

Before I begin my argument, I want to explain something. I understand this is a Christian forum, and both understand and agree with many of the Christian teachings. Furthermore, because this is forum belonging to True Christians, I will keep my point to the most absolutely politest form of writing, it is not my intention to directly contradict your Christian teachings, nor your personal beliefs.

The internet is very multi-cultural place, made up of many different beliefs, just like this one. I do believe that coming to this place, you will know the answer you are going to receive, that your atheist friends are heathen and therefore you must leave them. I believe Christianity is a religion of caring, and to care for these people, your atheist friends, the most noble act would be to stay close to them and to continue to support them in return, in the hope that they may one day drift towards your belief on their own, just as you drifted towards here.

I believe leaving these people may create contempt towards your belief , making salvation less likely for them. I urge you to balance your argument. Talk to your friends, ask them how they reached the conclusions they have reached. If they can accept you for who you are, then I believe returning the favor is the most noble way to go about life, and will certainly lead to more happiness in the world.

Before you ignore this or press the delete button, I urge you to hear my reasoning out, perhaps holding on may lead to more salvation than your own.

Simon

[Rev. Jim Osborne]

Re: Road to come enlightened

Elijah,

Don't listen to that unsaved Simonajf. His advice will lead you straight to the pits of Hell itself. What he says is in contradiction to what the Bible teaches us. Be very careful about listening to other unsaved scum on this forum. Trust only those with True Christian(tm) below their name.

[Elijah71]

Re: Road to come enlightened

Simon. I do appreciate your input. Every living being is valuable for me.

[Simonajf]

Re: Road to come enlightened

Call me unsaved, but I am trying to preach caring towards others, and I don't believe giving me an infraction me is the right answer to a differing opinion answer.

Please just hear out a few words of caring. In reality, my opinion is only superficially different, we both want others to be happy don't we? So perhaps, with people's differing personalities, there may be a few more people that can be saved.

[Elijah71]

Re: Road to come enlightened

Jim,

I know the god will lead us and he is the only one who knows the truth. I'm still facing these secular called habits and im searching for the answers even if I shouldn't.

God is confusing me all the time with these all new books they call bibles. Last 2 months i have been searching even more answers from my filthy mind, and after two weeks, almost endless thinking, i woke up at night and i was crying. I realized that i was crying because the world is so bad. Maybe god wants to say me something but i don't know what. This same thing happened next night. I have been reading news about war between United States and Irak. I can't accept, that these people are killing each other and before they do it, they make mark of cross. I'm scared that people who believe in god do something like this.

After that i have had best feeling ever and now i feel i understand everything. I do not know why, but that's my story.

I'm not asking anything, im just searching for answers in the name of god.

[Simonajf]

Re: Road to come enlightened

Elijah,

It's understandable that you may at times feel under immense pressure. Remember that you still have a long time to think it over. For now you are still able to relax and enjoy life with your friends, as they are still there for you. You you need to talk to someone, you can always talk with your local pastor or perhaps a close friend or relative. There is no reason you should have to work through anything on your own.

I understand if you want answers, it is a normal, spiritual search that everyone undertakes. Many people seek an answer in other forms of religion or non-religion, but I believe the answer can be found in the people closest to you.

Your mind is not filthy I guarantee you that.

[Lycia The Repentant]

Re: Road to come enlightened

Elijah,

Please do not listen to Simon. You can always be sure that anybody with a True Christian(tm) under their name will give good, Biblical advice, but most of the unsaved trash we get here are hellbent on misleading each other towards Satanic influence.

The only Bible you need is the KJV Bible, because it's the only Bible to contain God's Word as He intended it to be read.

Now, do you have any specific questions a True Christian(tm) can help clear up for you?

[Simonajf]

Re: Road to come enlightened

Lycia,

My reason for being here is not to mislead anyone towards Satan, I believe I outlined that in my first post here. I believe that keeping with his (unfortunately) atheist friends is a path that God would be willing to accept to enable both Elijah and his friends to lead happier lives. And, perhaps some of his friends may drift towards Christianity, just as Elijah has.

Elijah, there's no reason to hate others based on what makes them happy. If they are condemned to Hell, then why bring them more grief, when you can lead them towards salvation? No, the answers are not contained in such a neat package, you will have to do some searching, but you must learn and understand before you can truly be happy with who you are.

[Lycia The Repentant]

Re: Road to come enlightened

Lycia,

My reason for being here is not to mislead anyone towards Satan, I believe I outlined that in my first post here. I believe that keeping with his (unfortunately) atheist friends is a path that God would be willing to accept to enable both Elijah and his friends to lead happier lives. And, perhaps some of his friends may drift towards Christianity, just as Elijah has.

You may not think you're here to mislead people towards Satan, but that is exactly what you're doing right now.

The Bible is quite clear that we should separate ourselves from unbelievers, lest they tempt us into sin.

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." 2 Corinthians 6:14-17

By all means, he should exhort his sinner friends to accept Jesus...

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:19-20

However, if they do not (and most atheists prefer to walk towards the wide gates of Hell rather than on the straight and narrow path towards Heaven), then Elijah should shake the dust off his feet and move on.

"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." Matthew 10:14

I'm sure that you can now see that you would be leading people towards Satan to advocate anything else.

[Simonajf]

Re: Road to come enlightened

I see very clearly the point you are making, Lycia, but I believe a compromise for the better can be made.

As Elijah has already stated, he has already delved into atheism once, and I believe once this has occurred, it will not happen again. The strength of his belief in God he now posses I will be a strong enough shield to allow him to hold his faith, while hopefully influencing others. Even if they remain resistant, Elijah will always have his friends nearby to support him. I know many atheists that generally disassociate themselves with religion, but these people are kind enough to hold a Christian as a close friend, even SUPPORT him in finding his church. Wheres the evil in that? Perhaps they are not as heathen, but are closer to Christianity than you think.

For that reason, I don't think simply leaving is the answer. Where can the harm come from giving people a second chance?

[Janine Walker]

Re: Road to come enlightened

I see very clearly the point you are making, Lycia, but I believe a compromise for the better can be made.

As Elijah has already stated, he has already delved into atheism once, and I believe once this has occurred, it will not happen again. The strength of his belief in God he now posses I will be a strong enough shield to allow him to hold his faith, while hopefully influencing others. Even if they remain resistant, Elijah will always have his friends nearby to support him. I know many atheists that generally disassociate themselves with religion, but these people are kind enough to hold a Christian as a close friend, even SUPPORT him in finding his church. Wheres the evil in that? Perhaps they are not as heathen, but are closer to Christianity than you think.

For that reason, I don't think simply leaving is the answer. Where can the harm come from giving people a second chance?

Perhaps there is a middle-classed Heaven for the "closer to Christianity" type atheists. Perhaps Hell is a lake of fire but the fire is fake! Perhaps I could come up with a million conclusions about God that have zero evidence or support from the Bible. You haven't provided any scripture that supports your "theory", so please shut up and read the Bible then come back to us.

[TheLordSavedMe]

Re: Road to come enlightened

Hi Simon!

Um, I don't really know how to say this 'cuz you seem like a realllllly nice and kinda smart guy, but God is not a big compromiser, not by a loooooonnnnnnng shot!!!

I've been a True Christian™ for like over a year, so I think I know what I'm talking about.

You should read this, where God got rreeeeaaallllly SUPER mad at His own Chosen People (He used to like Jews lots more than He does now).

(This is from Numbers 11. It's right after Numbers 10 with the part about the Ark of the Covenant, the one from that old Indiana Jones movie!)

1And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

2And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.

3And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.

So if God burned up His Chosen People (Remember, Christians weren't around yet so He still liked Jews then) just for complaining, I really don't think He will think it's OK if Elijah hangs out with those atheist so-called friends of his.






Tammi