No Steve. Its based on decades of experience listening to Christians evangelise in the worst possible ways.
Good morning OB.
It's a pity you didn't actually pay attention.
So, let me make this really easy for you.
God has actually chosen the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe him. Please read this very closely.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
20 Where
is the wise? Where
is the scribe? Where
is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks[fn] foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Glory Only in the Lord
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble,
are called. 27
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
The reason is quite simple---- he wants you to have a choice in the matter. What the world views as foolish, absurd, inept, insignificant, worthless, useless, and void of any real value.... God has chosen to put to silence, shame, and embarrassment the people of the world who are wise, smart, erudite, strong, powerful, and think of themselves as superior.
So, yes.... I'm sure there are probably wiser, more erudite, stronger, and more profound ways to force you to bow to God, and Jesus. But that's not what he's asking here.
He's asking you to come, of your own volition, to Jesus, and receive the gift of eternal life, forgiveness of sin, and become a new human being, from the inside out. He's inviting you to become an adopted child of God, through placing your trust in Jesus.
- You seem to have difficulty seeing your arguments/opinions as they appear to non-believers.
Nope.
I've been at this for 43+ years. I know exactly how they appear. As astonishing as this may be to you.... I once did not believe, and thought the gospel was part of some long gone and forgotten past that had no relevance to today's world, let alone my life.
I have no difficulty whatsoever seeing exactly how the gospel is perceived by those who are perishing, and think they're doing great.
- You seem to not understand that a non-believer will not automatically accept your bible quotes as truth since they lack a belief in God
Nope.
I understand this all too well, and did not expect an automated response. that you think I did speaks more to your beliefs, biases and preconception than reality, and my views.
God says that his Word will achieve the purposes for which he's sent it forth.
Isaiah 55:8-11.
Your choice is your choice. regardless of what you think is true or a joke.
- You seem to not see the doctrinal divisions. within Christianity. over scriptural interpretation and how that appears from the outside. I don't expect you to fix it. I do expect you to understand that it's a credibility problem.
Rotfl.....
I love how that is perceived by others..... It must be really hard for people like you to need something to be, which is not.
I have a secret for you....
What you think you know, is not in fact the truth.... it's simply your own view of reality.
We call this solipsism.
We who follow Jesus, we've all been invited to God's eternal home. We've further been instructed by Jesus to tell others, so they too may come, and live forever with God, as adopted children.
In fact, it's actually quite interesting..... so important is this edict, that Jesus told a story about it.
1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
So interested in making sure that his son's wedding was well-attended, when the invited guests revealed they had other priorities, he sent his servants out into the highways, byways, alleyways, etc... and brought whomever would come. So, if you're too important to receive the invitation, and come, then just say so, and you'll be left to your own devices.
Believe it or not Steve I'm actually trying to give you some useful information to help you see how things appear from the non-believer side of the table.
OB
Thanks OB.
As stated, I've been at this for several decades now, and have actually been talking with atheists, agnostics, etc... online, for the past 2 decades, and have paid very close attention to their claims, lack of claims, ideas, lack of ideas, professions, and lack of professions. I've examined their ideas, and found them to be based entirely on a lack of knowledge, a lack of experience, and a lack of awareness, or understanding.
So, while I appreciate your telling me these things, you're the one who is perishing, and without an everlasting hope. You may indeed have a hope for this life, but once this life is over--- eternity begins, regardless of whether you think eternity is real or not. I'm just one of the guys who's been told to come to the highways, byways, alleyways, etc....
Your wedding invitation has been delivered. What you do with it is on you.