Please help restore my faith

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Gordo

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Dec 4, 2007
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I'm not sure if this is the right forum to be posting in, so please move this if necessary.I was born a Christian (Protestant), and I was raised that way as a child. However, I must admit that I have never really been a very good Christian. I have never actually read the bible and I increasingly strayed from the spiritual path. I only go to church on religious holidays and I no longer pray regularly.Recently, there was a passing in my family. It hurts. I miss him dearly and I have many regrets. What scares me is that my faith has been waivering. Even before this loss, I was beginning to question the existence of an afterlife. What led me to this was a question about Heaven and Hell. How can there be a Heaven if there is a Hell? How can one truly be in eternal paradise knowing that someone that he/she loves dearly is suffering in eternal damnation? A few members of my family converted from Christianity to Buddhism. They are good, honest, and caring people, and I love them. But does their new religion mean that they will not be allowed into the kingdom of Heaven? To me, paradise includes being with the ones I love.When I was younger, I thought that when we passed away, our family would be reunited in Heaven. But now I must admit that my faith is wavering and I do wonder if in death, we simply cease to exist. This is a thought that scares me very profoundly.Please help me. I want to believe that I will one day be reunited with my entire family again.
 

Wakka

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Jun 4, 2007
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Well, in heaven, you'll be surprised when God lifts his grace from the people living that are cast into hell. It's a gripping reality and very hard to imagine how terrible it would be. But once God removes the veil of His grace from their spirits, you'll see how changed they'll be.The Bible says that men will curse God. And the worst reality of hell is that there is no escape. The once relief of a possibility of repentance and acceptance is gone. Therefore it is important to get right with God right now. None of us can be certain that any of your family members, needless to say even our family members are either going to heaven or hell. The only thing we can do is pray for their salvation.It's a hard thing to think about, and I have to admit, I hate thinking about that stuff too. But in heaven, that will all be dismissed once you experience the glory of the Lord first hand. Even today, in our earthly bodies we can experience the a portion of the glory of the Lord. If you need help, we'll pray for you, and help you get back on track with Christ.Matthew 6:13-1413. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.We'll be glad to answer any more of your questions.
 

Gordo

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Dec 4, 2007
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Thank you for the response, Wakka.Numerous attempts have been made to reconvert the family members that became Buddhists. It only led to ugly fights between those involved.To be honest, I find what you say to be very hard to accept. I would like to believe that God's love for us empathizes with the love that we have for our family and friends. I can understand that the Lord's glory may very well be beyond our comprehension, but it absolutely breaks my heart and depresses me to think that people I love will be sent to eternal damnation because they chose the "wrong" religion.What of those that were born into and are surrounded by a different religion? Not everyone has the opportunity to even learn about Jesus Christ. I find it so hard to believe that even if they lived very positive lives, God would end up casting these people aside. Honestly, I just can't imagine God allowing something so dreadful to happen to good people. Hell sounds like a place far worse than any torture that we as people consider to be inhumane. Why would something so terrible even be allowed? Based on what you have said, I am not certain that I can honestly "get right" with God.Wakka, I sincerely appreciate your offer of prayer and I would like to accept it. But if I may ask, please also pray for the rest of my family. I still do not yet believe I can ever truly be heaven unless I am with my family. Thank you very much for your kindness.(Wakka;25773)
Well, in heaven, you'll be surprised when God lifts his grace from the people living that are cast into hell. It's a gripping reality and very hard to imagine how terrible it would be. But once God removes the veil of His grace from their spirits, you'll see how changed they'll be.The Bible says that men will curse God. And the worst reality of hell is that there is no escape. The once relief of a possibility of repentance and acceptance is gone. Therefore it is important to get right with God right now. None of us can be curtain that any of your family members, needless to say even our family members are either going to heaven or hell. The only thing we can do is pray for their salvation.It's a hard thing to think about, and I have to admit, I hate thinking about that stuff too. But in heaven, that will all be dismissed once you experience the glory of the Lord first hand. Even today, in our earthly bodies we can experience the a portion of the glory of the Lord. If you need help, we'll pray for you, and help you get back on track with Christ.
 

Wakka

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Jun 4, 2007
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I will. And remember that through prayer God will fulfill your request. The Lord may not answer it immediately, but he always answers a call. It's not up to the Lord to force a person to believe Him. But it's likely that a messenger will be sent, like a street evangelist for example.I have a motto that might help you."Much prayer, much blessing. Little prayer, little blessing. No prayer, no blessing."Again, if you need help with any issues or any topics, we're here. Find a prayer group and ask them to pray with you.
 

Wakka

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Jun 4, 2007
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Will people who have never heard about Jesus go to hell?I don't know the whole answer as of yet, I'm going to have to study for this. Bust as far as I know, no one goes to hell for never hearing about Jesus. They go to hell for sinning. If they have sinned, and not repented of their sins, then they will go to hell. The bible says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)."You must minister to your friends and family, and if they don't accept the reality then they have just doomed themselves.How can people be happy in heaven, knowing that their unsaved loved ones are suffering in hell?I got this one from a commentary from my Bible. Lucky us
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Those who ask such questions fall into the category of those who asked Jesus a similar question. The Sadducees said that a certain woman had seven consecutive husbands, so whose wife will she be in heaven (Mark 12:23)? Jesus answered by saying that they neither knew the Scriptures nor the power of God. The unregenerate mind has no concept of God's mind or His infinite power. If God can speak the sun into existence; if He can see every thought of every human heart at the same time; if He can create the human eye with 137,000,000 light-sensitive cells, then He can handle the minor details of our eternal salvation.John writes that in heaven "we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2), so perhaps we will be fully satisfied that God is perfectly just and merciful, and that He gave every individual the opportunity to accept or reject Him. However He works it out, God promises that there will not be sorrow or crying in heaven. Our focus is heaven won't be on our loss, but our gain.
 

Pariah

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Nov 10, 2007
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Hi Gordo,Matthew 12: 49And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.Matthew 10: 34Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.Matthew 19: 28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. Seems like there is a bigger family waiting for you in Christ, Gordo. The only reason they reject the Gospel, is because they prefer the darkness rather than come to the light. Doesn't matter how "good" they are, it shows that they would rather exalt themselves to make themselves good in the eyes of others, rather than acknowledge their need for God's love and plan of salvation. Their insides will not be anything you want to be next to for eternity. God is good, and all those that seek not Him, are actually seeking to be apart from all that is good.So just keep praying for your loved ones, cause who knows? Maybe when the He appears, and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, they just might repent and believe, for all those that call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Remind them of God's promise when they see Him, and love Jesus more than them to come Home with God.
 

Gordo

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Dec 4, 2007
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A child is born into an atheist family. At the age of two, an accident results in his sudden death. Old enough to have sinned, but not old enough and not in an environment to consider or even understand repentance and Jesus Christ. Does this child go to Hell?I think my current position is that I believe and accept Jesus Christ into my life, but I cannot yet accept the teachings of Christianity. I know this means that most of you will completely disagree with me and that is fine. Perhaps I am indeed wrong, but right now I cannot bare the pain of thinking that God would allow eternal suffering on those that I love. I like to think that God is compassionate and can look into a person's soul and judge them for who they really are. I do believe that it matters how "good" a person is because God can see this and he understands that we as people are so easily misguided. To sentence a loved one to an eternity of damnation... I just can't handle this.If it turns out that I am wrong, then when my time comes I can only beg Him to spare my family, whatever the consequences to me. I can put God above all else, including my family, but I will put my family above myself.Wakka, thank you again for your prayers. In this time of bereavement and confusion, it really means a lot to me.
 

Letsgofishing

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Nov 27, 2007
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I wrote an article two years ago for our chrurch newsletter.They had the teacher of my school ( I was in a catholic school.) pick two students who they thought god was speaking to the most, and have them write an article. my teacher picked me.I thought the article I wrote was horrible. I love writing and this was not what I considered writing but a bunch of words barely stringed into almost unreadable sentences. The people who read the article disagreed. For the next 3 months I heard compliments every day on how good the article was. Someone called her grandmother who lived 42 states away and read it to her, which cost her about 3$. I still think its horrible but I'm going to present it anyway because I was in an area very similar to you. This article speaks of a time when I was losing my faith, and God answered. and he gave me the faith I have today.It’s amazing to me how God can speak to you in so many ways. He can speak to you in voice, thought, the bible, and even, and most often, other people.Throughout my life I’ve always believed that God was a kind and merciful I believed that no matter what you did he would forgive you. I also believed that he would do anything for you if you ask of it.But by the beginning of 2005 that image of God was about to change. It began with the tsunami. At first I thought that it was just another natural disaster, until I heard a fact about it that completely blew my mind.The fact was that if you took a map showing where the greatest persecution of Christians were, and took a map of where the tsunami hit they would show you the exact same areas. This fact alone showed an image of God that I had never known before. Instead of a kind and merciful God this showed a wrathful and angry God.Pretty soon many things in my life approved of the wrathful image of God. They ranged from books, radio shows and even my own teachers.Before long not only did I doubt Christianity, and its view of God, but also my faith? Not only did God not feel like a real thing, but Jesus seemed like a ridiculous fake.My Christian Faith was in Jeopardy.And If I didn’t do something quick I was going to lose it.So I did the only thing I could think of, turn to God. I asked him to show me what kind of God he was. That night when I was about to fall asleep, I heard a voice, “pick up the bible” and I knew instantly that God was talking to me. I opened the bible and without knowing it, turned to proverbs chapter 1. Throughout the chapter one subject was in it. This subject was wisdom. I closed the bible and wondered what this had to do with my situation. And just before I reached the most obvious conclususion “nothing” It hit me. God was saying that he would give me wisdom. That wisdom came the very next day.That next day a guest Pastor was in our church. His name was Fr Peter Dougherty. During his homily he began with this sentence” most Christians belief the wrong things about God” And I grinned, this is where he’s going to tell everyone that God is a angrier God then most people think. Peter Dougherty began again “most Christians think he is an angry God, a God who doesn’t care about people, I am here to tell you today about Gods love.Suddenly I realized that God was talking to me. During that moment God was no longer an angry God but right there for me, at that Jesus no longer felt far away but right next to me. And God kept talking to me, through anti-war speeches, through religion classes, and most of all through the bible Overall I know now more about God then I did before. I know now he has a serious side which may be a bit harsher than we would care for, but overshadowing this is his love.I know because God has spoken to me. He has spoken through me by voice when he told me to read the bible. He spoke to me in my thoughts when he told me that he would give me wisdom. He spoke to me through proverbs 1 and he spoke to me through people telling his message. God is love. We don't know how god works. We don't know why he does some of the things he does. But he does them out of love.God says to very important things about salvation which get easily overlooked." knock and the door shall be opened up to you."" seek and you shall find"Is your family seeking God. if they moved to budhism to try and get closer to God, even if there going in the wrong direction, God says they will find. The people who will not be saved are the people who are hateful to God. not the ones trying to find him. and if they hate God, and are set against him. He will not cast them into hell in anger and spite, but in sadness.To everybody else. I am not trying to say that you can find God in other religons. I'm saying God can find you no matter what religon you believe in. God is LoveI know it, and I can never refuse it.hopefully god gives you that knowledge toRyan Fitz
 

Christina

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Apr 10, 2006
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Christians have a real misconception about Hell There is no hell the way the most think about it. Much of this misconception was a fear tactic by the early churches espically Catholics (sorry to my catholic friends) but its true there is no burning in Hell foreverGod tells us TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY(dead)IS TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD we are with God after we die are we all together in the same place? No, perhaps not Some may sleep, some are held in the gulf in heaven, some go directly to praising the Lord I asure it is all quite organized and no one is suffering horriable torture.We have a loving God he does not condem people to a burning hell of torture because they didnt repent or were to young to choose him as savior. In fact this is what the millieum 1000year period after his second coming is for its a time of teaching and second chances for those who didnt have a chance or the ones that died before repenting but were for the most part decent people. They all get a chance to hear the truth taught by Christ himself then Satan is loosed a short time to test them same as us God above all is fair. Then the White throne judgement on all comes and those that are truly evil will burnt to ashes and cease to exist as if they never were we will not even remember them they will die the second death the death of their soul Gone as dust in the wind
 

Wakka

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Jun 4, 2007
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We've had this discussion before. You can look at it either way Gordo. Either a person ceases to exist (Kriss) or a person is abandoned by God in the lake of fire in their "new" bodies designed for hell (me). The matter of hell isn't necessary for salvation, so we'll find out when the time comes. Still, it is important that you minister and plead with your family.
 

Letsgofishing

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Nov 27, 2007
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Ok so your saying there is no hell. Your soul just gets destroyed.then what the heck did jesus mean in thsi parable 19"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In hell,[a] where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 25"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' 27"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 29"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 30" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.Just a questionRyan Fitz
 

Christina

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Apr 10, 2006
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Not as Catholics and some Christians make it out to be it is a gulf Chasim if you will where you can even see the throne of God you are in grief and morning for now that you are in spirit you can so clearly see you mistakes. No one is burnt till after the millineum and all have had equal opportunity then the evil are thrown into the consuming fire and are consumed (destroyed forever ) the torture in the gulf is your own mourning for your your own deeds. Not any torture by God. Luke 16:22 "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom the rich man also died, and was buried;"Lazarus was carried into heaven by the angels of God, while the rich man's body was buried in the ground and his soul went to Hades, the holding place before being destroyed by hell fire.Luke 16:23 "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."His torment was seeing Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham not buring in hellThis is a parable about two men that actually lived, and when both died, the rich man could see Lazarus in heaven with Abraham. He could look across that great gulf that stood between them, but could not go there. Our Heavenly Father is the Father of the living and not the dead. Thus to be absent from this physical body of the flesh is to be present with the Lord. The soul does not go to the grave as the flesh does, but goes immediate to heaven. Those that did not overcome cannot be with those that overcame in this earth age, for they are separated. All souls can actually see the throne of God from where they are. Those that are on the rich man's side are being held for that great judgment day.(white throne judgement)Luke 16:24 "And he cried and said, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' " the truth Gods tongue is a consuming fire he thirst for God now but There is no flame there yet, but there will be after Judgment day. God doesn't burn anybody until after judgment day. This rich man had everything that he wanted, but here in heaven, he can't even afford one drop of water. The role is switched here in heaven, for now Lazarus has the comfort of heaven, and the rich man has nothing, not even comfort.Luke 16:25 "But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."Life has it's payday, and this is the rich man's time.Luke 16:26 "And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.' ""Between us that over came, and you that did not overcome, there is a great gulf fixed." That gulf is so fixed that even though one side can see the other side, there is no way to pass between. We can't go your way and you can't come our way. Luke is making the entire clear that you set your course in this life of the flesh, and when your soul passes into the next life, there is no changing what you have done in this life. This gulf or chasm is from the Greek "Chasma"; It means "an impassable interval". The interval is of time and space. This is telling us that if you die hell bound and enter into that other dimension, there is no way that you can reenter back into this dimension again. What ever side of the gulf you are on when you die, that is the side you stay until judgment day. This space is talked about by the prophet Ezra, or in the Greek "Esdras" in the Apocrypha, in the II Esdras 7:78-87. Though it is rejected in our bibles today, it was in the original king James version of 1611, until the American and British Bible societies removed it. It interfered with some of their traditions, and thus had to go. But it was revealed to Ezra by God.
 

JIP

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Dec 7, 2007
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Hi Gordo,I always worried about what would happen to loved ones and family and friends who are not saved or who are not believers. I know what the bible says about this but also I want you all to just see if we can find hope for our loved ones through our faith in the Almighty God. All these points are just for consideration and debate. I do not hold fast to any teaching, other than the Word of God.1Corinthians 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.Comment: Many believers, worry about their spouses being unsaved. Can the believer scripturally relax? - Has God covered it ? 1Corinthians 7:14 clearly states, that the unbelieving spouse is “sanctified” by the believer spouse. “Sanctified” means made holy, and/or set aside. God’s grace also covers the children - Praise the Lord.We find in Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.Question: Is this verse saying, that the sanctified spouse has been made perfect? Looks as if all the believer has to do is await God’s perfect timing ( James 5:8 Be ye also patient.) We find in Hebrews 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Question: Is this saying, that God and the sanctified ones are made one in His Eyes? Sure looks like it to me. How readest thou? Also, is God saying here, that He calls the sanctified ones “brethren“? Again, looks like it to me.Here are a few more pertinent verses:Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light,and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.Jud_1:1-2 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:. Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.I think all this says that the unbelieving spouse is covered. We are commanded by God to be patient, forbearing, not to strive, to be long-suffering, etc.. We are also commanded to cast our burdens upon the Lord (including the “burden” of having an unbelieving relative/friends.) God does the choosing - not us.