What turns me away #3

[primarymay]

If that is what keeps you from endless torment in eternity, it's probably worth it in the long run. You are 'experiencing great anguish' for a reason.

If I were you I would 'start over' with God. I'm serious. Put all that you have learned or think you know aside and start reading the Bible and studying with no preconceived notions.

Ask God to help you understand.

I don't suffer from anguish anymore, that was more than a year ago. I put the concept of hell to bed, it's over, hell is unthinkable for me now.

 

[ToBeLoved]

I don't suffer from anguish anymore, that was more than a year ago. I put the concept of hell to bed, it's over, hell is unthinkable for me now.

Start over with God.

You have some notions that I don’t believe are correct.

Why not just put everything you think you know about God in the rear
View mirror and discover God again reading the Bible and learning theology

 

[primarymay]

Start over with God.

You have some notions that I don’t believe are correct.

Why not just put everything you think you know about God in the rear
View mirror and discover God again reading the Bible and learning theology

Why don't you let go and let god.

 

[ToBeLoved]

Why don't you let go and let god.

I gave advice I thought might be helpful.

 

[Cheylynn]

Sounds like you are looking for reasons to not believe and put your FAITH in Jesus Christ. Well dear soul, I'm afraid you will get what it is you go after.
I will remind you that it is those who seek after Him, with a true heart of desire....and to these He will reveal Himself. Matthew 7:7-8 Matt 5:8. Hen 11:6
Careful of the motive, for you remember the harsh words that were Given to Simon who was once a sorcerer and wanted the Power of God. Acts 13:9-11
May God breathe upon you freshness so you will approach Him in joy

 

[Phil 1:21]

I certainly do not like this character, but mostly what I disagree with is compulsory love.

Love Jesus or go to hell is a sickly concept made by a sick mind.
So why do you believe when you are faced with this outcome?

Matthew 22:11-14

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.

13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

 

[ToBeLoved]

I certainly do not like this character, but mostly what I disagree with is compulsory love.

Love Jesus or go to hell is a sickly concept made by a sick mind.
So why do you believe when you are faced with this outcome?

Why exactly.

Your issue I think is you do not truly appreciate what God is offering you. Perfect love of a perfect God for all eternity.

Maybe you can only think as far ahead as tomorrow and next month. Some people have actually said they think they would be bored in heaven and don't want to go. They believe they have a very small God, but I know what God has in store for us is better than we could ever imagine.

 

[Phil 1:21]

Some people have actually said they think they would be bored in heaven and don't want to go.

Sadly, they may get their wish.

 

[com7fy8]

Love Jesus or go to hell is a sickly concept made by a sick mind.
So why do you believe when you are faced with this outcome?

This is not how I understand it. God is good, and specially blessed to be loving Him and sharing with Him. Hell is the other choice; it is not meant as a threat. This is not like how an abused child might show more affection to an abusive parent, than to a parent who does not abuse the child. God is so beautifully wonderful, and it is not possible to truly love Him unless He changes our nature to be loving. And then we love Him and we are able to tenderly share in love with others who are in God's love. But in a selfish nature . . . a person is smelly and nasty with stuff of Satan which must be kept in the flaming sewer; so don't be a sewer bucket of unforgiveness and frustration and pride and lusts and nasty angry reacting and bitterness and conceit which has people picking and choosing who they judge to be worth loving.

Jesus on the cross was not picking and choosing whom He loved; but Jesus has hope for any evil person, at all . . . including conceited ones who pick and choose who they want to use, and love those people. This is not how God wants us to love.

 

[primarymay]

This is not how I understand it. God is good, and specially blessed to be loving Him and sharing with Him. Hell is the other choice; it is not meant as a threat. This is not like how an abused child might show more affection to an abusive parent, than to a parent who does not abuse the child. God is so beautifully wonderful, and it is not possible to truly love Him unless He changes our nature to be loving. And then we love Him and we are able to tenderly share in love with others who are in God's love. But in a selfish nature . . . a person is smelly and nasty with stuff of Satan which must be kept in the flaming sewer; so don't be a sewer bucket of unforgiveness and frustration and pride and lusts and nasty angry reacting and bitterness and conceit which has people picking and choosing who they judge to be worth loving.

Jesus on the cross was not picking and choosing whom He loved; but Jesus has hope for any evil person, at all . . . including conceited ones who pick and choose who they want to use, and love those people. This is not how God wants us to love.

Smelly? Indeed, and how wonderful it is to know how much this god adores his own creation.

This is another reason I turn away.

 

[Noxot]

well bad smells is to some degree associated with the emotional system of disgust. to call evil filthy is a moral good. God does not automatically call us evil even though some parts of Christianity emphasize that a lot and it is certainly true sometimes.

 

[primarymay]

well bad smells is to some degree associated with the emotional system of disgust. to call evil filthy is a moral good. God does not automatically call us evil even though some parts of Christianity emphasize that a lot and it is certainly true sometimes.

Since our terminology of what's good or evil can be widely subjective, reducing people down to our misconceptions is a rotten way to do business.

 

[Noxot]

Since our terminology of what's good or evil can be widely subjective, reducing people down to our misconceptions is a rotten way to do business.

yeah and that is one reason why dialogue is important. seems impossible to not assume some things.

 

[com7fy8]

Smelly? Indeed, and how wonderful it is to know how much this god adores his own creation.

I do not mean that God's creation is smelly, but I mean how Satan's evil spirit is so foul, in its unforgiveness and pride and nasty anger and frustration and lusts. Our Apostle Paul says there is "the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience," in Ephesians 2:2. And because humans live in this nasty stuff, they smell like what God did not create.

 

[Hawkins]

I agree, it takes a leap of faith to get to the truth. But once you have the truth it no longer requires belief. Why keep believing if you know the truth?

We all know for a fact that black holes exist, however in the end this is only our belief. We believe so because there's no evidence ever presented to us. Faith is the human way of approaching a truth, you are educated to think otherwise though.

 

[Hawkins]

The God of the bible puts me off believing in him. On one hand he's all loving and forgiving, and on the other hand he's vengeful and ruthless.

He enjoys crushing his enemies, and exacts pleasure from destroying those who stand in his way.

I can't reconcile these opposites, and killing in the name of a god is not something that appeals to my better nature. I certainly do not like this character, but mostly what I disagree with is compulsory love.

Love Jesus or go to hell is a sickly concept made by a sick mind.
So why do you believe when you are faced with this outcome?

Why exactly.

You are comparing apples and oranges. God is a good Shepherd. He loves His sheep and thus sometimes He needs to destroy the wolves in order for the sheep to stay safe.