[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

It's just a matter of being Christ-like.

But perhaps this is simply the lies that my religion 'teacher' has been telling me. It certainly seems that way

Yes, it's another lie.

Hover your mouse over this link and see if people just need to be "Christ-like" to be Saved: John 3:18

That whole "everybody is saved if they are nice people" thing is one of Satan's favorite lies.

[AgnosticGirl]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

Okay, I have to question this since I'm a little confused but want to learn.

Does this mean that I shouldn't be a good person? I always thought that being Christian meant loving others like yourself, being nice to everyone and always extending a helping hand to those who need it. This, I can't blame on my teacher's ignorance but my own since this was a belief I follow, much like my heart. I hope you can clear this confusion up for me.

[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

Okay, I have to question this since I'm a little confused but want to learn.

Does this mean that I shouldn't be a good person? I always thought that being Christian meant loving others like yourself, being nice to everyone and always extending a helping hand to those who need it. This, I can't blame on my teacher's ignorance but my own since this was a belief I follow, much like my heart. I hope you can clear this confusion up for me.

Being Christian means believing that Jesus died for your sins, and realizing that you and all humans are born as depraved sinful beings that are beneath God and not worthy of His Love, and that you must repent!

Repentance is sincerely telling God that you are sorry for being a worthless, vile, sinful creature, and realizing that every time you disobey any one of His 600+ Commands (not suggestions, COMMANDS) you SPIT in JESUS FACE, and begging His forgiveness. Then, never sinning again.

The rest, being helpful to others and the like, are side effects of being Christian.

Non-Christians can be nice and helpful, too. But they do it for selfish reasons; they do it because it makes them feel good about themselves. Or they do it because "it's the right thing to do". Christians do it because God wants us to and it makes Him happy, and because it gives us an opportunity to witness!

[AgnosticGirl]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

But...shouldn't you be nice because you want to be? It's the same thing as being a Christian because you want to be and not because you're afraid of divine punishment. We should believe in God because He's a kind and merciful God. I want to love God with all of my heart but being afraid is something that can spawn more terrible emotions, like hate and jealousy. We are God's chosen after all. We should love us like He loves us.

Maybe I'm wrong and maybe humans are nothing but deceitful, terrible creatures that deserve nothing more than being burned in the fires of hell until the end of eternity. Yes, it's wonderful to be nice to people because it makes Him happy but there's nothing wrong with sharing that happiness with the world.

However, I am but the student in front of a teacher so I can only voice my thoughts and have the truth be revealed.

[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

But...shouldn't you be nice because you want to be?

Of course not! Doing anything because YOU want to is sinful. You are only being nice in that case to satisfy YOURSELF, not God.

It's the same thing as being a Christian because you want to be and not because you're afraid of divine punishment. We should believe in God because He's a kind and merciful God.

More lies from your "teacher", I see.

God is kind and merciful to those toward whom He wishes to be kind and merciful.

Was He kind and merciful to Job? Remember him? He wasn't a sinner. God allowed Satan to kill his flocks, destroy his wealth, and then kill off his wife and entire family and smite him with boils in order to win a bet.

God drowned all humans except Noah and his immediate family, and nearly all animals, and unborn babies, because they didn't do what He wanted them to do. Does that sound merciful to you?

When we die, we are unknowing (see Ecclesiastes 9). However, at Judgment, God will resurrect all the sinners into eternal bodies (Revelation 20-22) specifically so He can tell them they are not worthy and cast them into His Lake of Fire, where He will burn them alive forever and ever! Does that sound merciful to you? Wouldn't the loving thing be to let them just stay dead?

maybe humans are nothing but deceitful, terrible creatures that deserve nothing more than being burned in the fires of hell until the end of eternity.

Ah, now you're getting it!

And those who repent and stop their sinning don't have to go to Hell. We can instead spend all of eternity praising God, worshiping Him and serving Him, praising Him for being so perfect! Doesn't that sound better than being burned alive forever?

[AgnosticGirl]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

But what about now? Should I continue on knowing my life is pitiful and miserable so that I can eventually find happiness? That sounds terribly depressing... It's like going to someone's birthday only to find out you're not allowed any cake until you go and bake it yourself.

I'm not sure if I can immediately accept the fact that I should, for lack of a better explanation, stay in my home and not go out since that would be the only way to be free from sin. Is there anything I can do so I can still see my family and friends? Also, I read on this forum that God only loves America...is that really true? Am I already doomed to hell for just being born?

[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

But what about now? Should I continue on knowing my life is pitiful and miserable so that I can eventually find happiness? That sounds terribly depressing... It's like going to someone's birthday only to find out you're not allowed any cake until you go and bake it yourself.

I'm not sure if I can immediately accept the fact that I should, for lack of a better explanation, stay in my home and not go out since that would be the only way to be free from sin. Is there anything I can do so I can still see my family and friends? Also, I read on this forum that God only loves America...is that really true? Am I already doomed to hell for just being born?

Why would you not remain free from sin if you left your house? Do you love your sins more than you love Jesus?

Don't you realize that He temporarily died for you and then resurrected Himself so He could take your violations of His Law upon Himself, and then He wouldn't have to punish you in His Lake of Fire for all eternity?

All He asks of you is that you repent and stop disobeying His Law, so you may receive His Unconditional Love.

[AgnosticGirl]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

I think you took my words in the wrong context. I meant that there is so much sin in the world that it's impossible to escape from. Also, you told me that I had to repent for my sins...but then you just told me that Jesus died for my sins...what is the truth? I will gladly obey his will but no human being is perfect. I will sin, just like everyone else but how do I repent for that action?

[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

I think you took my words in the wrong context. I meant that there is so much sin in the world that it's impossible to escape from. Also, you told me that I had to repent for my sins...but then you just told me that Jesus died for my sins...what is the truth? I will gladly obey his will but no human being is perfect. I will sin, just like everyone else but how do I repent for that action?

Both are the truth.

Jesus made the sacrifice to Himself. But you have to ask for freedom from your life of sin. Only those who believe are saved, as noted in John 3:18.

The nonbelievers are damned already.

Once you are Saved, you will no longer be capable of breaking God's law; a True Christian(tm) is not ABLE to commit sins. See 1 John 3:1-9.

[AgnosticGirl]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

So if I become a True Christian, I'm unable to sin? Wait...does this mean I can do anything and won't even matter because this is sounding more and more like a 'Get out of Jail Free' Card. I think you mean that my mind won't allow me to sin since it will be such a foreign concept to me.

And...that thing about America being the only country God loves...that's a lie, right? Because then I might as well kill myself now for being born a Canadian.

[Pastor Ezekiel]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

I learned from my Religion teacher that Agnostic people aren't Atheist. They're just people who don't really know what they want to believe in. They don't criticize either group but are open to any opinions a person might have.

An agnostic is just an atheist without the guts to frenchkiss satan. You're going to spend eternity being assraped by every demon in hell all the same. And Jesus and I will be up in Heaven laughing ourselves silly while we listen to you scream.

[AgnosticGirl]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

An agnostic is just an atheist without the guts to frenchkiss satan. You're going to spend eternity being assraped by every demon in hell all the same. And Jesus and I will be up in Heaven laughing ourselves silly while we listen to you scream.

But I didn't really know what an agnostic is until only an hour ago. I didn't really know what it was and was just going by what a person told me. Please don't judge me based on my ignorance.

[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

So if I become a True Christian, I'm unable to sin? Wait...does this mean I can do anything and won't even matter because this is sounding more and more like a 'Get out of Jail Free' Card. I think you mean that my mind won't allow me to sin since it will be such a foreign concept to me.

It means the Holy Spirit living within you will prevent you from even desiring to sin.

And as for being Canadian . . . God may love America, but He also loves every True Christian(tm), no matter where he or she lives.

Who knows, if you pray hard enough and witness to enough people, maybe God will someday like Canada!

[AgnosticGirl]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

It means the Holy Spirit living within you will prevent you from even desiring to sin.

And as for being Canadian . . . God may love America, but He also loves every True Christian™, no matter where he or she lives.

Who knows, if you pray hard enough and witness to enough people, maybe God will someday like Canada!

Okay...um...I just have one question though...does this mean I can't see Priest tomorrow night with my friends?

[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: Hello from A Person Unsure!

Okay...um...I just have one question though...does this mean I can't see Priest tomorrow night with my friends?

What is that, some sort of depraved nightclub sex act with pedophiles in mitres raping little boys?