For background, he is a conservative that used to go to church. He left because he had questions that nobody seemed to have a good answer for.
Such as "why would God allow death/bad things?" The common answer usually is that its part of Gods will or its Satans fault. Neither answers the question and opens up more. This is why many people are turning to new age things and cults. God isnt working out for the common person anymore, for the sole reason that the common Christian and even preacher cant answer a single question even believers might have.
Why is this so? I personally think that religion got in the way of faith so long ago that faith has little meaning now. Telling people im a former Baptist raises questions like "so you're a Mormon now?" Because Christians have become a joke. Even to other Christians. If we want to WIN, we have to unite under faith.
Also, another question he asked was, "why do Christians bicker so much over trivial things?"
The answer, unfortunately, stems from religion. Which is such a mainstream part of culture now that it has lost meaning and relevance.
How do we, as Christians, not as truthers, become able to answer these difficult questions that turn away unbelievers and believers alike?
My coworker thinks that all religion is made up bs (which is true to a great extent) yet also hates existing for the sake of existing. Its a conundrum i cant help him with. Maybe someone here could?
Without EVIL, would you recognize GOOD?
Yes!
Not that this would change anything, self service at the expense of others have existed as long as souls have been sparked and it will continue to exist as long as new souls are sparked, but much as with criminals, it will always be a small minority that will always be fought but that will never disappear, it's an ongoing conflict that has existed as long as souls have existed ....
Beat me to it.
Going to church does not make one Christian. You must put your faith in Christ and trust in him like a parachute when you jump out of a plane. With Christ there is no death.
The Bible is a beautiful book. Read it. It is our history.
Roman's 10:9,10 is a good start
Christians are called so because it's said they have "Christ in them" when born again. You receive the gift of holy spirit.
Then... you must be renewed in your mind by putting on the rightly divided Word of truth.
We, as Bible believing Christians, left organized church a while back, for all the same reason you sited above. Those are all just symptoms of a bigger problem, one which I could rant about for hours. Just like every other "lane" in our lives (tech, medical, manufacturing, government etc) the church was infiltrated & corrupted centuries ago. Then they sold their souls for 10 pcs of silver in 1958. (501C3)...but look now, just like EVERYONE else, the mega churches ran out the small churches. They became part of the world, the exact thing God warned us about. It's much deeper and longer than what I've typed, but as much as I hate hearing about your friend, I get it. 90% of the churches have failed. 80% of the "theologians" are spinning shear bull shit.
Organized religion is not what God had in mind. Most of them if not Ll are compromised by D.s.
Exactly. The church made a conscience decision to go with the world. Just like every other thread in our lives....they need to be torn down and rebooted...correctly.
“….he took me back.”
He never let you go!
True. You turned away, but when you turned back, He was still there.
God gave people free will and it is the free will of the people that are doing the bad things to people. If you want to be protected from these people you have to accept Jesus Christ and be baptized. God does not let things happen if people commit crimes they will be punished when they leave this world. Just because you are christian does not mean you are saved if you have not accepted Jesus Christ and come to know him you will be left out in the cold. God is not made up I think you only need to look at what is happening in the world to know that. Everything happening today is foretold in the bible. If both you and your friend dont change your attitude and accept Christ you will find your self spending eternity in hell.
Why does God always get The blame. Someday he is going to reconcile heaven and earth back to himself. So that means it's not his , who's is it you might ask? Satan's. That's why we are in the world but not of the world.
Because the Devil is the great accuser and people listen to lies and believe them.
Why would God allow bad things to happen? Really? He sounds like a lazy liberal to me or he doesn’t have any critical thinking skills. Oops, I repeat myself.
His ways and understanding is above ours. A bad situation or experience I believe is to refine our faith. We absolutely have to be sanctified to one day be able to stand in His presence. Why did Jesus seek out the sick, the poor, the dumb and frankly the worst society had to offer. Because that is where the magic is. What better way to glorify our creator than Him and His Holy Spirit showing the world that He is who he says He is. That He is the one who gives life freely. He is the one that can take a mess and turn it into a message. He deserves nothing but complete glory for what He has done, what He is doing and what He's gonna do. He does it for all of us if we only humble ourselves and give him the respect he deserves and accept what He offers. He cannot allow anything or anyone to come before Him, loyalty to the one who has given you everything (the good things and yes even the bad). My bad stuff over time has drawn me closer to him. Sadly people through vanity think they don't deserve hardship. But these trials will either purify, sanctify and refine you into what He has purposed for you or you will be given over to the ruler of this world. What do you want? Do you want him or this world? Choose this day who you will serve. I know He knows best as it concerns me. I accept it, sometimes begrudgingly, but I know for a fact it's for my benefit. He gave me everything by giving me his son's blood to cover my filth. The least I can do is acknowledge that and be obedient to him and learn how I can serve him. I owe him everything and that's what my faith means. It means everything, I trust his plan for me is much bigger than I can imagine and I'm not meant to understand it completely. That's why it's called faith.
His ways are not above our under standing. Numerous times God says in the Bible before teaching something that "I would not have you ignorant"...
We remain ignorant when we are ignorant.
And if you are not a Workman that needed not to be ashamed by studying and rightly dividing the word of truth, don't expect to shed the shame of that ignorance.
Things we are not to be ignorant of, we are jot to be ignorant of the devils devices.
GOD SAID "my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge". Stop using the lazy excuses. GOD WANTS YOU TO KNOW HIM and his will which is His Word and by the way, how you come to k ow God.
Over 900 promises in the Bible, how many do you know? That's all you'll ever have available to believe. STUDY
It’s why we call it FAITH. This fleshly world is not even a blink of the eye compared to eternal life. He created the heavens and the earth. Let’s say a kid is tortured and killed, we have no idea what awaits him in heaven. Let’s say you were driving to work and crashed….maybe that crash saved you or your family from something much much worse. Bottom line is there’s undeniable proof of God and Jesus.
A great movie to watch is called “A case for Christ”. It’s a true story about a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist who traveled the world to prove Christ didn’t exist. He thought by proving Christ did not resurrect from the dead would cause the house of cards to fall. What he found is that it’s the most documented event in the history of the world.
Faith is the Greek word Pistis. It is translated mostly to the word Believing. Believing has a definition.
Believing: to have confidence and trust in information received to the end that you act on it. It also implies a trust in the source.
Roman's, faith or believing cometh by hearing. Hearing what? To just have faith? No, hearing of the Word of God.
Study, every word, context, when they were used first to set the meaning in the bible..
Believing is a verb and connotes action, it requires words to act on.
IF you want to be a believer, accepting the info is necessary. Not finding excuses to float on good feelings.
👍👍👍
These questions have already been answered. And there are GOOD answers out there, not the dismissive, unsatisfying answers your friend has encountered.
A few consistently informative and intelligent YouTubers (yes, YouTube, sorry!) I recommend would be:
Mike Winger
Cross Examined
Stand To Reason
And before you even start watching any of those, I very highly recommend Lee Strobel's The Case for Christ. That one has an interesting background: he's an investigative journalist that thought religion was made-up BS, just like your co-worker, and he set out to prove it. He focused specifically on Christianity. And by the time he was finished with all of his interviews, he was utterly convinced that Jesus was indeed the son of God, who truly lived in Israel more then 2,000 years ago, was crucified by Roman soldiers and died, and rose from the dead only a few days later, as witnessed by many. And that anybody that acknowledges him as their lord and savior will be forgiven and spared God's coming judgement for his sake. (If that sounds crazy, it's only because you haven't read Lee Strobel's book yet...)
God bless!
Because we have free will.
Ask the question another way: why would God allow me to get my clothes dirty when I jump into a mud puddle?
And if I bring my kids into the mud puddle with me, why would God allow them to get dirty, too?
I could have avoided the mud puddle.
But I chose not to.
Therefore, I have to deal with the consequences.
Now scale that up.
Very good explanation
Christ revealed to the world that the everlasting spirit of God is within all of us. Our souls are eternal. So considering the colossal enormity of the concept of eternity, you might begin to cut "God" some slack for not jumping to his feet the same way an experienced parent doesn't spring into action every time their toddler trips on the lawn while playing.
The most destructive concept deceptively weaved into western religion (with very little room for nuance or discussion) is the idea that if we behave well for 50 to 80 years we instantly unlock full membership to the eternal paradise beach resort. Most churches aren't offering a better relationship with God, they're peddling time shares.
7You are completely off. People are born body and breath life (soul). Soul and spirit Re not synonomous.
Spirit is added after confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and that God raised him from the dead.
God calls those who have not yet received His gift of holy spirit " natural men" He states that natural men do not receive the things of the spirit of God because they are foolishness to them because they are spiritually discerned. And without spirit, understanding God isnt possible.
So no, people are not born with holy spirit from the womb. Only John the Baptist Jesus cousin had that. Not even Jesus was born with hy spirit as God had to have John baptize Christ and the spirit of God descended upon him like a dove.
It's not about how we act it's about WHAT we believe. Our actions will line up with truth if we put it on like God tells us too.
Why does God allow bad things to happen? The bloody hubris of accusing God!
What’s He supposed to do? Snuff us out? You don’t think you’re bad??? Why do you not only let bad things happen but also do evil to the ones you’re supposed to love?
Maybe God has a plan to deal with the evil and doesn’t want to wipe us all out just yet, no? Maybe start joining God in that plan and stop excusing your own guilt, k?
People like to forget that choices have consequences. Sometimes long reaching, generational consequences. Why do you think sin is bad? It removes you from God and His good plans for you and opens you up to the world where Satan is roaming about looking to devour us.
I missed this yesterday, it was too late for me to think clearly. Sin is in the world and people suffer because you, or someone close to you, is being tested. See the book of Job. satan will accuse you before God "his love for you is weak" and God will allow satan to try you with suffering. Obviously there is much more to it but this will open your friends eyes because he has come close to failing his test.
One has but to Believe; have Faith. The answers are in God's word; the Bible. There are many deceived by a myriad of denominations. Therefore, trust only God; Jesus is the way (the only way),
Maybe you should read the Book of Job.
GOD IS WORKING OUT FOR THE COMMON PERSON ANYMORE?
Problem. Is people can't handle rhe truth. It contradicts all their brainwashing.
If you want truth you have to give up the lies you were taught v
Read someone smarter than yourself:
“It is a proper and excellent thing for infinite glory to shine forth; and for the same reason, it is proper that the shining forth of God’s glory should be complete; that is, that all parts of his glory should shine forth, that every beauty should be proportionably effulgent, that the beholder may have a proper notion of God. It is not proper that one glory should be exceedingly manifested and another not at all, for then the effulgence would not answer the reality.”
“Thus it is necessary that God’s awful majesty, his authority and dreadful greatness, justice, and holiness, should be manifested. But this could not be, unless sin and punishment had been decreed; so that the shining forth of God’s glory would be very imperfect, both because these parts of divine glory would not shine forth as the others do, and also the glory of his goodness, love, and holiness would be faint without them; nay, they could scarcely shine forth at all.”
If it were not right that God should decree and permit and punish sin, there could be no manifestation of God’s justice in hatred of sin or in punishing it, . . . or in showing any preference, in his providence, of godliness before it. There would be no manifestation of God’s grace or true goodness, if there was no sin to be pardoned, no misery to be saved from. No matter how much happiness he might bestow, his goodness would not be nearly as highly prized and admired. . . . and the sense of his goodness heightened.
So evil is necessary if the glory of God is to be perfectly and completely displayed. It is also necessary for the highest happiness of humanity, because our happiness consists in the knowledge of God, and the sense of his love. And if the knowledge of God is imperfect (because of a disproportionate display of his attributes), the happiness of the creature must be proportionably imperfect.”
Jonathan Edwards
First of all discuss salvation; you must admit that you are a dead in sins and need God's help to be born again free from sin. This is a physical operation, the Holy Spirit circumcises your heart from your flesh and claims it as His own. You are His adopted son. In the Lord Jesus Christ, Who paid the debt owed for your sin. Just believe this and nothing else.
You don't have to believe in or worship deities to acknowledge the existence of the soul or that there is something more after a life is over....