Quote:Originally Posted by biblicalthought God has commanded all men to repent and believe. The gospel is not optional, and is only available through faith in Christ. Belief in God is an obviously necessary precondition for faith in Christ, thus you should believe in God.So because God said so? If you don't believe in God that arguement just doesn't stand up.
Your question was “why?” Is your question invalid because you do not believe? The response was an answer, not an argument. I don’t believe one can be argued into the kingdom of God. Jesus (our God), said one must be “born from above” to even see it (noetic). Besides, if one can be argued in, he can also be argued out – and Jesus said He’ll lose none that the Father gives Him, they can’t be snatched from His hand, by man, by argument, or otherwise. Children of God are born through the preaching of the Word, not by the psychological state of satisfaction produced by a compelling argument.
Quote:The question assumes that "those things" are bad. God may view them as good, and if so, then your question could be equally justified as "why would God allow such good things to happen to me?" The Bible says that the elect "know" that all things work together for our good, including what we would consider the "bad." Bad things that are universally considered bad. Not "oh I didn't want this to be my career". I'm not saying you're wrong here, I don't always know what's best for me like every other person.
If you are a child of God, the qualifier “if” and only if, then “all things” are working together for your good. All things include all things. Rape, incest, robbery, bankruptcy, car accidents, betrayal, etc. All of these forms of evil are produced by secondary causes, i.e. those that commit them and are accountable for them, but God means them for good. See the story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his own family. He confronts them and says that although they meant it for evil, God meant it (the evil) for good. Here we see two sides of the coin: them meaning it for evil – God meaning it for good. No other worldview can make sense of all the bad that is in the world, mainly because without God, everything is meaningless, including good and evil.
Quote:What about them? Please specify your main concerns and their relation to the questions. Science is the thing I see evidence in, but thus far does not prove the existance of God. Maybe it could prove that there was a person named Jesus or some biblical events in part, but it doesn't prove the existence of God.
Shouldn’t you first prove the infallibility of science? If you begin with the a priori assumption that science is infallible and able to determine truth, then on what basis can you criticize the theist for believing a priori in the Christian God? I’ll discuss science and its role if you want but remember, science doesn’t know if light is wave or particle. It also requires an outside interpretation. There are serious problems here. I’m an “operationalist” when it comes to science. More on that later.
Quote:It is impossible for any man to live a just life. Jesus was the only life lived acceptable unto God. He was fully human and fully God, able to bridge the chasm between man and God. His perfect life earned the righteousness that is applied to those for whom He died. His death atoned for their sins as the sacrifice to appease God's wrath. Jesus received God's wrath as the substitute of those for whom He came to live and die for. Christians believe this, the heathen reject this. Christians receive eternal life and peace with God, the heathen are flicked into the eternal hell of conscious torment. I'm not saying anyone is perfect here, we all make mistakes but as I said above. It seems rather unfair to say two people who lived pretty much the same life, but one doesn't believe in God (or didn't in life) that they go to hell for that alone.
Demons believe in God. Believing in God is not enough. It is faith in Jesus Christ as the substitute for your sin that makes one a Christian. Judas believed in Jesus – he’s burning in hell. Christianity isn’t aiming for a general persuasion that God exists. The Bible says that all men already believe, including you – but that you suppress the truth in unrighteousness. A common saying in Christianity is “God doesn’t believe in atheists.” Believing the gospel is the distinction between heaven-bound souls and hell-bound bodies!
Quote:No. In order to call it a miracle, explanation, at least in part, is required. An unexplained phenomenon does not exist in the Christian world and life view. I have experienced miracles though, however, they are not unexplained - they're miraculous works of God! Let me clarify - unexplained by sciene or other logical paths. As in there is no question whatsoever that it is God.
For the Christian, seeing someone brought from spiritual death to spiritual life is indeed a miracle because of what must be overcome in order to achieve such an act. Like you, you’re a hater of God and a lover of sin. You may not acknowledge this, but if you did, it would be a miracle. That would be proof that the supernatural work of God’s Holy Spirit was active in your life. It is also proof that He’s decided to pass by you and save others if you were to continue on in your ways. Ever hear the song “Amazing Grace?” When a Christian sings that song, what is so amazing about grace is how amazing our sin is, and that in spite of the vile wickedness of our sin, God still forgives us by placing His wrath for us in the body of His own Son, our substitute and Savior, Jesus the Christ. If it sounds like foolishness, it’s because it is supposed to – to those that are perishing, but to those who are being saved, it is the [power of God] miracle (1 Cor. 1:18)!
Quote:Your question has to do with the exclusivity of Christianity. Christianity has a sacred text called the Bible. The Bible is the most reliable historical document of antiquity. In this Bible is found what to believe and how to live (doctrine and morals). The Bible reveals that God views homosexuality as an abominable sin, and views those that condone it equally abominable. It is also revealed that homosexuals and fornicators in general for that matter, are excluded from the kingdom of God. Christianity - yes, I direct most of my questioning here because I was a Christian.Why is homosexuality so abominable? Why exclude them from the kingdom of God?
You missed the answer, read it again. P.S. It is impossible for one to “have been” a Christian. It is illogical. It violates the law of non-contradiction. “A” cannot be “non A” at the same time. You either still are a Christian, just in a poor spiritual condition, or you never were one to begin with.