Honest Mistakes

[MemeBuster]

It seems to me that where and when a person is born can play a significant role in determining in which god(s) she honestly believes for the rest of her life.

Here's why I believe the above statement,

- Most, if not all, god-worship traditions can be equally plausible to the uninitiated mind, e.g. a child's.

- One of the things that many god-worship traditions have in common is that they can not be categorically disproved. Additionally, no one religious worldview has overwhelming evidence for its claims over the others.

- These are in part why the vast majority of people adhere to the first religion to which they get exposed, for their entire lives.

- A person’s faith can be sincere and real regardless of which god(s) they worship.


I'm struggling to understand why would god create this world in such a way that humans will suffer even if they are led by factors beyond their control, to honestly believe in the wrong god!


MB.

 

[ContentInHim]

Because God declares that the heavens hold enough evidence of Him to believe in him, even though we might not know his name.

I just re-watched a documentary of a missionary team in Borneo who taught a village for nearly 6 weeks about God, Jesus, repentence, redemption, etc. When they got to the part about Jesus' sacrificing himself for their sin - they "knew" that someone like Jesus was necessary - they said they just didn't know his name. They were saved by their faith - even though they had no idea what their faith was in.

I don't claim to know how God does it, but I believe that every human being on earth has had opportunities to understand God and believe in Him and be saved by Him - even if they did not hear overtly about God, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, theology, salvation, blah blah blah. With God, nothing is impossible.

 

[Merlin]

Honest belief isn't enough.
Imagine for a moment, (and this is only a story for illustration purposes) imagine you wish to
travel to Pleadeus-heaven. It is in a distant galaxy. You have no means of getting there on your
own.
The ruler of the land, Jehovah, builds a vehicle which is called Jesus-I in order for you to
come.
Jesus-I is the only possible way to get there.

Many people in many lands and many languages will have different pronunciations of Jesus-I
and many spellings too, but there is only one vehicle to get you there.

Jehovah (the ruler of Pleadeus-heaven) has made reservations in your name, but you must get
on board the vehicle yourself.

Now, many other (travel agents) want to make money selling you a ticket. But unless that
ticket is for Jesus-I, you won’t arrive where you want to.
A ticket on trans-global airlines will deliver you to Hawaii, not Pleadeus-heaven.

Many travel agents [religions] (perhaps called Cathinicus, or Baptalimus) will truly give you a
ticket to Pleadeus-heaven. But some charge higher prices. Sure you get your ticket, but they
burden you with other baggage.

The thing to be concerned with, is that Jesus-I only makes one trip, so you have to be on board
when it leaves.
If you get on board the wrong vehicle and miss the flight, it’s too late to belly-ache to your
travel agent.

I hope to see you at Pleadeus-heaven.

 

[MemeBuster]

I don't claim to know how God does it, but I believe that every human being on earth has had opportunities to understand God and believe in Him and be saved by Him - even if they did not hear overtly about God, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, theology, salvation, blah blah blah.

But still, countless people honestly believe in other gods.

Two Questions,

Why, for many people, where and when they are born determines in which god(s) they honestly believe for their entire lives?

Is it their fault that they end-up honestly believing in the wrong god(s)?


MB.

 

[Merlin]

If you honestly accept a wrong ticket and honestly board a wrong plane, you will honestly reach a wrong destination.

 

[ChristIsTHEKing]

Hello Meme,

That's a good question and I'll try to at least give you some things to think about. First, your question asks why would the world be created in such a way that people would needlessly suffer. Let's consider that there are two ways in which our world exists with the people existing under God. A). God creates a world where there is no suffering; B). God creates a world where there is suffering;

If God were to create a world where there is no suffering then He is in essence creating a world where we are forced or "wired" to follow and love Him all of our days.
If God creates a world where there is suffering then He is in essence creating a world where we have the choice to follow and love Him.
What does this have to do with suffering? Christians believe God allows suffering to draw us near to Him. Think about this, in our current created selves would we really give God glory and have a relationship if there were never anything tough moments? Beyond that we would never really grow as people if there was never anything to overcome.

To return to your point, it is probably easier to continue following that belief of which you were raised however that doesn't make it the truth. Why follow something if it isn't true? The message of Jesus Christ is all over, in fact you are exposed to it just posting on this message board. God is not small and not without reach to the very people He has made.

It matters little how real one's faith is if the very thing they believe is false. Remember, by law there can only be one truth. How do we know it's true? You first have to look at the supporting external documents, the historical evidence, and the prophecies that have been fulfilled. No other belief system can make the claims of Christianity. No other belief system can take the work of our salvation off of our own shoulders. I don't expect you to just believe me, everyone should do their own research and talk to those who have some understanding on these topics. I hope you find the person of Jesus Christ.

God Bless

It seems to me that where and when a person is born can play a significant role in determining in which god(s) she honestly believes for the rest of her life.

Here's why I believe the above statement,

- Most, if not all, god-worship traditions can be equally plausible to the uninitiated mind, e.g. a child's.

- One of the things that many god-worship traditions have in common is that they can not be categorically disproved. Additionally, no one religious worldview has overwhelming evidence for its claims over the others.

- These are in part why the vast majority of people adhere to the first religion to which they get exposed, for their entire lives.

- A person’s faith can be sincere and real regardless of which god(s) they worship.


I'm struggling to understand why would god create this world in such a way that humans will suffer even if they are led by factors beyond their control, to honestly believe in the wrong god!


MB.

 

[Skaloop]

If you honestly accept a wrong ticket and honestly board a wrong plane, you will honestly reach a wrong destination.

But if the person in charge of distributing tickets doesn't want you on the wrong plane going to the wrong destination, why would he give you the wrong ticket?

 

[ContentInHim]

He doesn't - he gives you all the instruction you need to get the correct ticket. He tells you why it's important that you do so and I believe that he mourns when you say - well, that's all well and good, but I don't believe that I will do that!

It's up to you to do so. (not that I agree that this is a good analogy - but it's what you've given us to work with! )

 

[calidog]

It seems to me that where and when a person is born can play a significant role in determining in which god(s) she honestly believes for the rest of her life.

Here's why I believe the above statement,

- Most, if not all, god-worship traditions can be equally plausible to the uninitiated mind, e.g. a child's.

- One of the things that many god-worship traditions have in common is that they can not be categorically disproved. Additionally, no one religious worldview has overwhelming evidence for its claims over the others.

- These are in part why the vast majority of people adhere to the first religion to which they get exposed, for their entire lives.

- A person’s faith can be sincere and real regardless of which god(s) they worship.


I'm struggling to understand why would god create this world in such a way that humans will suffer even if they are led by factors beyond their control, to honestly believe in the wrong god!


MB.

Do we agree the burden for evidence should be provided by the true and living God?

 

[TheLivingWater]

It seems to me that where and when a person is born can play a significant role in determining in which god(s) she honestly believes for the rest of her life.

Here's why I believe the above statement,

- Most, if not all, god-worship traditions can be equally plausible to the uninitiated mind, e.g. a child's.

- One of the things that many god-worship traditions have in common is that they can not be categorically disproved. Additionally, no one religious worldview has overwhelming evidence for its claims over the others.

- These are in part why the vast majority of people adhere to the first religion to which they get exposed, for their entire lives.

- A person’s faith can be sincere and real regardless of which god(s) they worship.


I'm struggling to understand why would god create this world in such a way that humans will suffer even if they are led by factors beyond their control, to honestly believe in the wrong god!


MB.

Freedom of will ?

Unfortunatly most people don't want to accept that the only good thing around is God ( they think they are better ) and that the other thing that they can chose is death ( which they do ).

It's as simple as that

 

[tapero]

It seems to me that where and when a person is born can play a significant role in determining in which god(s) she honestly believes for the rest of her life.

Here's why I believe the above statement,

- Most, if not all, god-worship traditions can be equally plausible to the uninitiated mind, e.g. a child's.

- One of the things that many god-worship traditions have in common is that they can not be categorically disproved. Additionally, no one religious worldview has overwhelming evidence for its claims over the others.

- These are in part why the vast majority of people adhere to the first religion to which they get exposed, for their entire lives.

- A person’s faith can be sincere and real regardless of which god(s) they worship.


I'm struggling to understand why would god create this world in such a way that humans will suffer even if they are led by factors beyond their control, to honestly believe in the wrong god!


MB.

Hi MB,

There of course is only one God. If you check into other faiths you will find, as it's revealed that other faiths for the most part rely on good works to save them. That is the believe if they do good things for the most part they will be saved.

As Christians we know this is untrue and impossible, for all are sinners and so no matter how good a person is, and one can be very good, they still have sin within them and they still sin; of course Christians do the same.

The Christian faith is about belief in Christ; nothing more than that saves them, tho some will say works further does, but that is inaccurate; only Christ saves us by our belief in him, and after we come to Christ, we naturally do good works. Christians will be judged for our works, not for salvation for that is already assured, but for loss/reward in heaven only in re to our works.

Anyone who is not a Christian will be judged for their sins, but in actuality for their unbelief in Christ.

God says in both the ot and nt, if you seek me with all your heart you will find me.

Also, Romans 1 makes it clear that all know that God exists.

ok, so back to those who believe their works, being good saves them. In essence this is worshipping self, and belief in self, and not God. Unaware of doing such, this is what they are actually doing. They are thinking; I am worthy because I am good.

As Christians we realize we are unworthy of God. Yet, He calls us righteous in his site when we believe in Christ as well as many other things we are called by God, his children, his heirs, etc.

God loves all in the world, Christian and non Christian.

I was raised in what you might called an agnostic home, God was not spoken of, etc. and yet in my ignorance of God, God did call me, and don't know why but I heard. It wasn't till I was 33 that I came to Christ.

So, you can say as you say above, led by factors beyond their control; somehow God did reach me, and somehow I heard.

you wrote:

A person’s faith can be sincere and real regardless of which god(s) they worship.

There is only one God. All others are little g gods, also known as the created. In ot times, wood, stick, stones and rocks called idols. In today's time, for the most part it is self worship as I described above. Though, idols also play a role in our time, but mainly that is called materialism..believing in things they have or money or power to save them; or can be other things which they believe will save them, again little g god belief.

Again in Romans 1 it says they worshipped the created, rather than the Creator.

Hope this helps some.

Blessings,
tapero

 

[MemeBuster]

Freedom of will ?

Unfortunatly most people don't want to accept that the only good thing around is God ( they think they are better ) and that the other thing that they can chose is death ( which they do ).

It's as simple as that

You use the word "want"!

Are you saying that regardless of where and when people live they know and can come to believe in your god, but, for whatever reason, they do not want to do so?

There are many gods out there and there are even more
ways of god-worship out there. The reality on the ground suggests that, for most people, where and when they are born plays a significant role in which god(s) they can honestly believe throughout their lives.

In other words, it's not that they don't want to accept your god, but rather, they can not accept your god and your way of god-worship as valid. Just as you can not accept their beliefs as valid.

What I'm trying to understand is, if your god is the real god, how could he create this world in such a way that these people will suffer forever for an honest mistake. Afterall, these people had no control over where and when they were born.


MB.