Why does Christianity have to be so dismissive?

[BornAgainBrian]

What is there to experience exactly?

Regeneration. A new nature. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

 

[Joshua260]

Originally Posted by BornAgainBrian View Post
Regardless, why does 100% understanding have to come before belief?

Because Christianity costs alot of time, money, and energy. I'm not going to dedicate my entire life to a cause that I don't fully understand.

Suppose that one could give non-believers 100% assurance that God exists. Do you think any sane man would then still reject God's offer of salvation through Jesus Christ?

 

[alexiscurious]

Suppose that one could give non-believers 100% assurance that God exists. Do you think any sane man would then still reject God's offer of salvation through Jesus Christ?

Nope. Everyone would want to get in on the opportunity to live forever and avoid eternal torment.

 

[alexiscurious]

I thought maybe you were asking questions in an honest desire to gain understanding. My mistake.

Fair well.

I am looking for understanding but I am still unable to find it. Why is it so difficult for you to give me something that can't be replicated or fabricated by man?

And it is spelled farewell by the way. pls spell appropiately thx

 

[alexiscurious]

I wouldn't answer the questions you posed above in the same way, but none of the answers given are inherently wrong (though I don't really agree with the reply for example 3).

Well thanks for finally being the first person here to admit this.

Example 1: Why can't I be 100% assured of God's existence?

You can if you examine the universe and the Christian faith with an unbiased mind, and discard any preconceived ideas and theories you've learned from other atheists. Most atheists don't do that and they engage in all kinds of confirmation bias. You will not be able to fully understand God, but you will have some conviction inside you that will tell you there is a Creator in this universe. That is why there are atheistic scientists who do believe in a Creator after they examine objective scientific evidences.

Well apparently some people here say I can't be 100% sure of anything. So this is a huge disappointment.

Example 2: Why can't I communicate properly with God? Prayer seems to be more of a one way conversation, not a conversation between two beings that love each other dearly.

Prayer is a spiritual form of communication whereby your spirit speaks with God who is spirit. He hears all the thoughts of our minds whether we speak with Him and He answers faithful prayers according to His will through circumstances, people or the Bible. Sometimes His answer is yes, sometimes it is no (so nothing prayed about happens). He does not speak audibly but He does communicate back to those who trust that He will answer. Prayer is never a one-way communication.

Well that's pretty convenient. If I wanted to make up my own man-made religion, I would make sure that my god does not speak audibly either.

Example 3: Why am I separated from my creator? What action on my part constitutes such a cruel punishment?

People are separated from God because of sin.

Correction: People are separated from God because of someone else's sin

Sin is breaking the commandments of God and creates a barrier in our communication and fellowship with Him. In rejecting God and His counsel, men depart from what is good and follow after what is evil, there is no in between. Just one single act of evil unrepented of will separate a sinner from God. And since God is the source of life, separation from God means certain death. The lake of fire is a place for people who reject God and thus reject life, the consequences are eternal because God made us eternal beings living in temporary flesh.

Bla bla bla bla bla.... heard it already.

 

[alexiscurious]

With a bit of hindsight and experience, perhaps you are not asking Christians. Maybe you are asking people who think they are Christian.

No. I'm pretty sure I consulted Christians, the Bible, and what I've learned in a christian school for the past 10+ years. Do you not agree with what I wrote in my original post? Someone here already said none of my answers are inherently wrong.

There is a subtle difference in humility, I would say. It sounds like you desire that first, then answers - not arrogant speeches and didactic demeanor.

Wow someone busted out the dictionary for this one...

 

[Albion]

Bla bla bla bla bla.... heard it already.

What was that again that I read in your OP about Christians being dismissive?

 

[CryOfALion]

No. I'm pretty sure I consulted Christians, the Bible, and what I've learned in a christian school for the past 10+ years. Do you not agree with what I wrote in my original post? Someone here already said none of my answers are inherently wrong.

You may think you were talking to Christians, but not everyone who claims to be Christian is an actual Christian. This goes beyond you receiving unsavory answers to your questions. Even Christ said many will come to Him claiming to have done miraculous things in His name, and He will say, "Depart from me... I never knew you." So, again I say maybe you weren't asking actual Christians; just people who like the bedazzled badge of Christianity.

Wow someone busted out the dictionary for this one...

Because I used the word "didactic?" I could have used more intricate and complex nomenclature than that; I am an actual autodidact, so that word is fluidly in my vocabulary and speech.

Is is wrong to use $5.00 words?

I do not think or assume you are stupid, or an idiot, so I feel like I could speak freely - no matter how grandiloquent I am. And, certainly Google is a flick of the hand away, if you don't know the words.

(To your credit, some of my friends do think I speak like an a-hole because of my vocabulary. So, I understand the sentiment you may have.)

 

[alexiscurious]

What was that again that I read in your OP about Christians being dismissive?

Oops?

 

[alexiscurious]

You may think you were talking to Christians, but not everyone who claims to be Christian is an actual Christian. This goes beyond you receiving unsavory answers to your questions. Even Christ said many will come to Him claiming to have done miraculous things in His name, and He will say, "Depart from me... I never knew you." So, again I say maybe you weren't asking actual Christians; just people who like the bedazzled badge of Christianity.

Ok...

Because I used the word "didactic?" I could have used more intricate and complex nomenclature than that; I am an actual autodidact, so that word is fluidly in my vocabulary and speech.

 

[oi_antz]

Correction: People are separated from God because of someone else's sin

Not true.

 

[alexiscurious]

Not true.

Original sin can be defined as “that sin and its guilt that we all possess in God’s eyes as a direct result of Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden.” The doctrine of original sin focuses particularly on its effects on our nature and our standing before God, even before we are old enough to commit conscious sin.

 

[CryOfALion]

Original sin can be defined as “that sin and its guilt that we all possess in God’s eyes as a direct result of Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden.” The doctrine of original sin focuses particularly on its effects on our nature and our standing before God, even before we are old enough to commit conscious sin.

Alex even if that is true (debatable,) Christ pretty much dissolved that classification with His Death and resurrection. He literally broke the curse original sin imposed on humanity. All we have to do is believe it.

Though, because many do not believe it (including those who claim to be Christian,) even still abounds in this plane of existence. His sacrifice wasn't a guarantee that we would be impervious to calamity (quite the opposite, actually.) The hope of believers is to receive the totality of Heaven after we die - by faith and obedience.

All of us are at spiritual war right now, and we know war is not even as romantic as movies portray it. It is very nasty and messy. Even though Christ won the war for us, there is still spiritual "Charlie" on the battlefield.

 

[oi_antz]

Original sin can be defined as “that sin and its guilt that we all possess in God’s eyes as a direct result of Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden.” The doctrine of original sin focuses particularly on its effects on our nature and our standing before God, even before we are old enough to commit conscious sin.

Where did you gain that understanding?

 

[alexiscurious]

Where did you gain that understanding?

Who cares where I got it, tell me why you think it's wrong.

And please explain to David that he was wrong also:
Psalms 51:5
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

 

[Joshua260]

Originally Posted by Joshua260 View Post
Suppose that one could give non-believers 100% assurance that God exists. Do you think any sane man would then still reject God's offer of salvation through Jesus Christ?

Nope. Everyone would want to get in on the opportunity to live forever and avoid eternal torment.

So it all boils down to selfishness then? It's all about getting unjust rewards and avoiding due punishment? Unbelievers would simply accept salvation based on an educated intellect with no change of heart towards God?
Like a rebellious son who hates his father, but visits him anyway so that he won't get written out of the will, right?

I'm hoping these questions will help you understand that God desires to be the object and fulfillment of our desires...he wants us to seek him!

This is why he makes himself real to those who honestly seek and desire to know him. To the rebellious, he remains hidden. As it is written:
"Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour."
Isaiah 45:15

 

[alexiscurious]

So it all boils down to selfishness then? It's all about getting unjust rewards and avoiding due punishment? Unbelievers would simply accept salvation based on an educated intellect with no change of heart towards God?
Like a rebellious son who hates his father, but visits him anyway so that he won't get written out of the will, right?

What? I'm confused. How would the reward be unjust? They still would have to obey God and follow his commands...

 

[oi_antz]

Who cares where I got it, tell me why you think it's wrong.

How was Abraham able to know God? I think it is important to know where you got the understanding that is false, because it is not consistent with the truth about God.

And please explain to David that he was wrong also:
Psalms 51:5
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

I feel David was right to say that. How do you think our sin impacts our relationship with God? I have found it has a lot to do with guilt, feeling unworthy, unforgiven for being unrepentant. A person who repents quickly remains close to God.

 

[Joshua260]

What? I'm confused. How would the reward be unjust? They still would have to obey God and follow his commands...

Very good. So here you go:

As it is written:
"And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ,...".
1 John 3:23 (KJV)

So God so ordered the world so that one cannot "sneak" in through simply an educated intellect. After all, shall not the less intelligent have access to salvation also? I posit that there is not necessarily 100% assurance given to the unbeliever, but that there are sufficient philosophical arguments and Christian evidences to provide a better than 50% probability that God exists. In other words, that his existence is "more probable than not". In any case, faith bridges the gap between the light that one is given and the fullness of God. God commands us to believe, and when we obey to believe, we accept the salvation provided through Jesus Christ. Then as I've explained before, the Holy Spirit will come into you and witness to you personally of the truth of God's existence.

 

[alexiscurious]

How was Abraham able to know God? I think it is important to know where you got the understanding that is false, because it is not consistent with the truth about God.

I don't see how this has anything to do with Abraham.

Every human has been born into this world separated from God. Whether you want to agree with this or not, it doesn't make it any less true.