Scenario for Christians

Chaotic · Feb 4, 2007

(Note, I don't want any waffling. This is a hypothetical, so please stick to it's terms.)

Imagine if you will, that there was almost conclusive proof that Yahweh is false and was a God made up by men. However, there is still an extremely slim possibility that your God exists.

Let's add another element to this scenario though. Let's assume that almost your entire family and about 95% of your friends and colleagues have converted to another religion, so you may be persecuted if you chose to continue to be a Christian.

What do you do? Do you continue to be a Christian, or do you convert to another religion? If you convert, what religion would you convert to?

Jedidah · Feb 4, 2007

If there was almost conclusive proof that Yahweh was false I doubt I'd convert to another religion. I guess I see links between some religions and my own and so believe that there's only one God who is worshiped in different ways. If there was almost conclusive proof that Yahweh didn't exist then I'd be an atheist.

Raph · Feb 4, 2007

You have to understand that Christianity in NOT a philosophy. When a person believes in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes and dwells within them, the very presence of God. The presence of God is a tangible experience because of this, I have no doubt of God's existent.

If I was the only person on this world who believed, I still would believe only in Him because I know Him like a person.

They only why someone could make me deny God, they would have to break every bone and rend the flesh of my body, causing so much pain I could not take it anymore. But any denial of Him would only be lip-service to stop the pain, in my heart I would not deny Him because his is real. Under torturer, you can make someone deny their own mother but it does not disprove their mother's existence.

I pray that God gives me the strength to endure such an event so I can never even deny Him with my lips.

.

TexasGirl06 · Feb 4, 2007

Chaotic said:
(Note, I don't want any waffling. This is a hypothetical, so please stick to it's terms.)

Imagine if you will, that there was almost conclusive proof that Yahweh is false and was a God made up by men. However, there is still an extremely slim possibility that your God exists.

Let's add another element to this scenario though. Let's assume that almost your entire family and about 95% of your friends and colleagues have converted to another religion, so you may be persecuted if you chose to continue to be a Christian.

What do you do? Do you continue to be a Christian, or do you convert to another religion? If you convert, what religion would you convert to?

Hmmm......
OK.

I think there may be some Truth to this Christianity thing.
Just a little though..

I am going to investigate further.

At this point, Chaotic..... if I am seeking the Truth, it is because the Living God is drawing me into the Truth.
This is how He works.

He draws people..... and they respond.

About my family: (I have actually lived through this)....
I would continue to seek the Truth.
Having the Truth and living out the Truth can certainly (The Bible tells us this) bring about rocky waters.
The waters will clear, though....
On the part of the seeker, though.

It's hard.
I don't know if anyone will ever deny that "the family" issue is hard.

But...as is often the case, through the years.... other family members will begin seeking the Truth also.
This did occur in my family.

First there were none.
Now there are 5.

In this senario, I would convert to a Bible based religion. One that teaches the Bible, not what man teaches.
God can direct in this area.
He can direct you to people.....who can recommend a Bible based church.
Visit these churches..... and God's Spirit will confirm with you when you are in the right place.

calidog · Feb 4, 2007

Chaotic said:
(Note, I don't want any waffling. This is a hypothetical, so please stick to it's terms.)

Imagine if you will, that there was almost conclusive proof that Yahweh is false and was a God made up by men. However, there is still an extremely slim possibility that your God exists.

Let's add another element to this scenario though. Let's assume that almost your entire family and about 95% of your friends and colleagues have converted to another religion, so you may be persecuted if you chose to continue to be a Christian.

What do you do? Do you continue to be a Christian, or do you convert to another religion? If you convert, what religion would you convert to?

stay

Sketcher · Feb 4, 2007

Chaotic said:
Imagine if you will, that there was almost conclusive proof that Yahweh is false and was a God made up by men. However, there is still an extremely slim possibility that your God exists.

I'm not sure that would be enough, since I am absolutely convinced of God's reality. To go back on this would deny a very clear experience I had. There would have to be ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE of God for me to go back on Him - otherwise, what would I say to Him at judgment? That He revealed Himself to me, and I believed based on that revelation, but I stopped believing even though there was still a chance for this experience to be authentic? No sir. I believe absolutely that Christianity is true, so much that I will risk being wrong if another religion turned out to be true. This is something I considered when I revived my faith.

Adoniram · Feb 4, 2007

Chaotic said:
Imagine if you will, that there was almost conclusive proof that Yahweh is false and was a God made up by men. However, there is still an extremely slim possibility that your God exists.

Let's add another element to this scenario though. Let's assume that almost your entire family and about 95% of your friends and colleagues have converted to another religion, so you may be persecuted if you chose to continue to be a Christian.

What do you do? Do you continue to be a Christian, or do you convert to another religion? If you convert, what religion would you convert to?

Hypothetically, what does the "almost conclusive proof" consist of? What is the nature of the "slim possibility" that God does exist? I, for one, cannot give an answer to your question unless I have a little more information about the "hypothetical evidence" which supports your premise. Being a logical person, I must examine the "evidence" before I can make a decision.

The reason I must ask is because, non-hypothetically, we do not believe blindly in the existence of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. There is evidence upon which our beliefs are based.

"For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain." 2 Peter 1:16-18

desert_island_1 · Feb 4, 2007

I would stay. It would be hard but I would. I may be persecuted, even killed, but then it is over and I get to go be with Jesus. Personally, I think it is harder to live every day for God than be killed for Him.

Kristy

heron · Feb 5, 2007

I don't think people in any religion would consider switching to another just because theirs turned out to be inconvenient. You either believe something or you don't. If one didn't work out, what would be the use of finding a replacement?

Confess · Feb 5, 2007

The Devil is the author of confusion. Doubt is within all of us, even the most faithful of Christians due to our sinful nature.

Fasting and prayer is the only answer when people come upon times of tribulation and doubt.

Davis · Feb 5, 2007

I would stay.

In the end times which are coming upon us there will be a false religion or religions that makes sense to most people. There will be a time when many will be lead to this one world peace religion so to speak. If it happens in my life time I will have family members that will look at this religion and I will be persecuted (if I'm not raptured, but thats for another thread) for my faith in Jesus Christ. But I will not move because I'm built firmly on the rock of Jesus Christ. I know with all my heart that He is Truth.

Davis · Feb 5, 2007

heron said:
I don't think people in any religion would consider switching to another just because theirs turned out to be inconvenient. You either believe something or you don't. If one didn't work out, what would be the use of finding a replacement?

Amen.

Catherineanne · Feb 5, 2007

Chaotic said:
Let's add another element to this scenario though. Let's assume that almost your entire family and about 95% of your friends and colleagues have converted to another religion, so you may be persecuted if you chose to continue to be a Christian.

What do you do? Do you continue to be a Christian, or do you convert to another religion? If you convert, what religion would you convert to?

I think given my age, and the length of time I have followed Christ, it is too late for me to think of converting to anything else. I don't personally use Yahweh for God, I use the name 'God'.

Also, your questions rather miss the point that my faith is not about what I believe, but about a relationship I have with a close friend. And I am not about to deny any of my close friends, least of all Our Lord.

As for proof, you can 'prove' scientifically to 95% of the world that I have not got the friends I have, but that will mean nothing to me, set against the reality of relationship. So again, that gets you nowhere.

But nice try.

solarwave · Feb 5, 2007

I have seen and know too much of God to turn away from Him. Science may make up some dodgy answer, but it cant take away personal things seen, felt and and known.

Stinker · Feb 5, 2007

Chaotic said:
(Note, I don't want any waffling. This is a hypothetical, so please stick to it's terms.)

Imagine if you will, that there was almost conclusive proof that Yahweh is false and was a God made up by men. However, there is still an extremely slim possibility that your God exists.

Let's add another element to this scenario though. Let's assume that almost your entire family and about 95% of your friends and colleagues have converted to another religion, so you may be persecuted if you chose to continue to be a Christian.

What do you do? Do you continue to be a Christian, or do you convert to another religion? If you convert, what religion would you convert to?

If the God of the Bible were proven to be false, I would then become a member of the Unity church:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_Church

I'm not only a person that has to have religion, I have to have one that works for me. In the case that if the God and religion of the Bible were proven false, Unity would be the replacement.

salida · Feb 5, 2007

Chaotic-

It is very difficult to go along with your hypothetical possibilities because the christian God does exist without a shadow of a doubt. We don't believe in something that is man made at all. I suggest you read Examine the Evidence my Muncaster (was an athiest but now a christian). And A Case for Christ by Lee Strobel (was also an athiest but now a christian).

The Bible has overwhelming objective facts that support it to the point where its the most true book in the world.
Christianity is not just a spiritual decision but an intellectual one.

If my friends converted to another religion and I didn't? Well, I would get persecuted for Christ because He is the true God that died for my sins. Their god didn't die for their sins or mine.

heron · Feb 6, 2007

Chaotic, a lot of Christians go through these discussions as they study the Bible, because there are stories and prophecies about persecution and similar choices. I think most of us expect a little persecution, in the backs of our minds. Ha ha, when it comes, I don't think we'd all handle it well, but the thoughts are there.

I believe that God gives us these prophecies to prepare us for things that might jostle us more than we could handle. The situation you present will come up for some of us. And it has come up in areas like China and Indonesia.

There was a CBN excerpt last night on an Evangelical church in Cologne, Germany where members' homes were searched, and some employers denied jobs to anyone who was a member there. We don't know all the details of why the church was under suspicion, but I assume their attorneys had already studied the financial records before this was aired.

Just a western example of what you're describing.

LostWithoutHim · Feb 6, 2007

Stay

In the words of Joshua, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"

TrueColors · Feb 6, 2007

Chaotic said:
...almost conclusive proof that Yahweh is false and was a God made up by men.

Hi Chaotic~

To begin, the 'conclusive proof' offered by modern science is not based on truth (which can only be defined by God the Creator, and understood by His Spirit). 1 Corinthians 2 explains this situation:

1 Corinthians 2:10-14~
10 But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God, except God's Spirit. 12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. 14 Now the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Chaotic said:
Do you continue to be a Christian...

It can be hard for the those who don't know Jesus to fathom suffering
for Him.
Peter, Jesus' disciple, said it best: "Where else can we go... You
(Jesus) have the words of life?

heron · Feb 6, 2007

It would be worth spending some time in the Creation & Evolution area.. they never tired of debating the topic, and quoting scientists back and forth. If it were conclusive, there would be nothing left to debate.

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