Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

[Archaeopteryx]

I understand that. It is a choice, it always is.

In what sense is it a choice? I can't willingly manufacture a sincere belief in something. Can you?

My answer, search the Scriptures for yourself, do not take MY word for it, take God's word about Himself.

Searching the Scriptures is part of what led me away from Christianity.

 

[amariselle]

In what sense is it a choice? I can't willingly manufacture a sincere belief in something. Can you?

It's about a relationship with Jesus. I am not required to manufacture anything.

Searching the Scriptures is part of what led me away from Christianity.

Fair enough. I have no ability to say otherwise of course, but for me it's done the opposite.

 

[rjs330]

In what sense is it a choice? I can't willingly manufacture a sincere belief in something. Can you?

Searching the Scriptures is part of what led me away from Christianity.

What's the other part that led you away? Searching the scriptures has made me even stronger in my faith. I find it very interesting that a believer in Jesus would turn his back on him because he searched the scriptures and spent time praying about those scriptures.

What else happened and how,did searching the scripturesni lead you to turn your back on Christ?

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

 

[rjs330]

I don't.

Me neither.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Robert Palase]

It's about a relationship with Jesus. I am not required to manufacture anything.

I'm intrigued, just how do you go about having a relationship with someone who if he existed is most certainly dead now? what do you need to do to your brain to accomplish something like that?

 

[Archaeopteryx]

It's about a relationship with Jesus. I am not required to manufacture anything.

You need to believe several claims about Jesus though. I don't think it's a "choice" to believe those claims. You can believe them if you are convinced that they are true. And you can't honestly force yourself into a sincere conviction.

 

[rjs330]

'Believe' being the operative word, you have no evidence that evolution is wrong, if you did you would be world famous over night.

And evolutionists have no evidence they are right. They have a belief system as well because evolution has never been observed or duplicated. They see similarities in creation and assume those similarities mean there was evolution even though it has never been observed or duplicated. It's one of the few things in science where the belief cannot be tested or verified.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Archaeopteryx]

What's the other part that led you away? Searching the scriptures has made me even stronger in my faith. I find it very interesting that a believer in Jesus would turn his back on him because he searched the scriptures and spent time praying about those scriptures.

What else happened and how,did searching the scripturesni lead you to turn your back on Christ?

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

The other part was engaging in philosophy and examining my religious beliefs more critically, considering whether they were justified.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

And evolutionists have no evidence they are right. They have a belief system as well because evolution has never been observed or duplicated. They see similarities in creation and assume those similarities mean there was evolution even though it has never been observed or duplicated. It's one of the few things in science where the belief cannot be tested or verified.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

But we do have evidence for evolution, an abundance of it. It's one of the most successful theories of science and fundamental to biology.

 

[amariselle]

I'm intrigued, just how do you go about having a relationship with someone who if he existed is most certainly dead now? what do you need to do to your brain to accomplish something like that?

But He's not dead. He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven where He is now with His Father. And He has given us His Spirit to guide us in this life.

 

[amariselle]

You need to believe several claims about Jesus though. I don't think it's a "choice" to believe those claims. You can believe them if you are convinced that they are true. And you can't honestly force yourself into a sincere conviction.

We are free to choose Jesus or to reject Him, the Bible makes that clear. He does not force Himself on anyone.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

We are free to choose Jesus or to reject Him, the Bible makes that clear. He does not force Himself on anyone.

But you can't choose someone unless you believe them to be real, and you can't form such a belief if you are not convinced.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

But He's not dead. He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven where He is now with His Father. And He has given us His Spirit to guide us in this life.

How do you know that?

 

[amariselle]

How do you know that?

From the word of God and through my personal relationship with Him. Also, in the fruits of the Spirit I have witnessed in others who likewise accept Jesus as their Saviour.

 

[Robert Palase]

But He's not dead. He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven where He is now with His Father. And He has given us His Spirit to guide us in this life.

Are you sure it's all real and not just something that's going on inside your head?
Is it all happening for Muslims as well? is Allah watching out for them? or are they just plain wrong?

 

[Archaeopteryx]

From the word of God and through my personal relationship with Him. Also, in the fruits of the Spirit I have witnessed in others who likewise accept Jesus as their Saviour.

How is this different from your previous answer - through faith?

 

[Robert Palase]

From the word of God and through my personal relationship with Him. Also, in the fruits of the Spirit I have witnessed in others who likewise accept Jesus as their Saviour.

It sounds as if all you have is a feeling.

 

[KWCrazy]

I already have. I was previously a Christian.

Who said you were a Christian? You or Christ?
Being raised in a Christian home and attending a Christian church three times per week doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in the garden makes you a tomato. Being a Christian means accepting Christ as your savior and receiving the Holy Spirit; the direct link between yourself and God. A true Christian could no more deny the existence of God than a divorced person could deny that their spouse never existed. If you had a relationship with Christ you would know He exists. If you don't believe He exists, you never had a relationship.

 

[HitchSlap]

And evolutionists have no evidence they are right. They have a belief system as well because evolution has never been observed or duplicated. They see similarities in creation and assume those similarities mean there was evolution even though it has never been observed or duplicated. It's one of the few things in science where the belief cannot be tested or verified.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

Are you familiar with the Dunning-Kruger effect?

 

[HitchSlap]

Who said you were a Christian? You or Christ?
Being raised in a Christian home and attending a Christian church three times per week doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in the garden makes you a tomato. Being a Christian means accepting Christ as your savior and receiving the Holy Spirit; the direct link between yourself and God. A true Christian could no more deny the existence of God than a divorced person could deny that their spouse never existed. If you had a relationship with Christ you would know He exists. If you don't believe He exists, you never had a relationship.

We get it, he wasn't a "True Christain."