Can Christians respect atheists?

Thank you Star for your kind words. YOu made my dayI wish you much joy and understanding as you go thru this world of ours. Peace to you and your family.

 

But, wishtolearn, we have a commandment from God. We call it, "The Great Commission."

Mark 16
15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

Matthew 28
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,</font>[/QUOTE]Break a leg, tulpje

 

These kinds of remarks are pitiful & inflammatory, not the basis of good debate or discussion, IMHO, on any board, let alone this one. Perhaps there is more TROLLING going on?

Mary: Is it time to shake the dust on this thread, too?
</font>[/QUOTE]She actually suggested that? I don't know Eagle. It hurts that I am trying to express to them the love of Christ and we are insulted so badly. </font>[/QUOTE]When you can try and drop your self-righteous dog and pony show, you might be able to get people to understand your a little bit better and accept what you have to say.

 

Again, another type of Christian that I would be perfectly happy to see any of my children become.</font>[/QUOTE]Thank you for your kind comments.

 

WTL: In your profile, you state you are a believer. May I ask, a believer of what? (I am not trying to be facetious here, but just asking.)

Quoting Scripture does not make one self-righteous....accusing those who do post Scriptures of being neo-Nazi's, skinheads, KKK or Aryan Nations fanatics is really, really absurd. Just plain goofy, derogatory and meant to inflame, incite, such as yelling "Fire!" in a crowded public place.

As far as I can tell, no one posted anything about saying someone SHOULD go to hell.....but clearly the Scripture states there is a hell and there are those who are in it now and will go there. The Scripture also states (as I posted in the other thread) that God is not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentence, thus the Free Gift of Salvation through the Blood and Sacrificial Death, Buriel, and Ressurection of Jesus Christ. A free gift & a choice.

For those who are EARNESTLY seeking, numerous threads have been posted to answer their questions. However, IMHO, there are many TROLLS on this board and thus, the troll-like slant to questions and troll-like twisting of replies to those questions, and then troll-like accusations! PULLLL...EASEEEEE!

This reminds me of the story of the parishioner who listened to a sermon preached against the ills of drinking and womanizing and who afterwards accused the preacher of preaching at him! LOL!

And then there is the saying that if the shoe fits.....

There are LOTS of trolls on this board, IMHO.

Again, for those who are truly SEEKING, there are numerous links, including this one:

http://www.salvation.com/si

Self-righteous, I hardly think so! The difference between true Christianity and religions is true Christianity is a relationship, God reaching down to mankind out of Love. Religion is man's attempt to reach to God through his own efforts.
It is NOT by works of righteousness that I have done, but according to His MERCY that He saved me! (my paraphrase)

But there are admonishments from the Lord about sowing discord among the "brethren."
And while we are at it...

And from Paul, which was written to Christians, an admonishment about how Christians should be towards other Christians (believers):

A "believer" who accuses another "believer" of being self-righteous because of adhering to tenets of Scripture, does raise a question, IMHO.

Kachana---I never said I thought you should burn in hell, I did not post that. It is not for me to judge you. I pray you will not burn in hell. I posted what Scripture has to say about it and that I believe in a literal hell and described my perception of hell in answer to the other thread. You are reading something more into my post than what I DID post. Your argument is not with me, but with Scripture!
I also posted Scripture where God says He is not willing that ANY should perish. I can't be any more clearer
than pointing you, once again, to the link I posted above, a media show, which explains it all. Why don't you check it out?

Mary, grab your pearls! Me too!

 

Eagle,
I am a believer in Christ and that he came to earth to die for the sins of mankind. I do not belong to any specific religion as I would not want to put my mind in a box and throw it up on the shelf like that. I also believe that Christ's greatest message was to love one another. Regardless of what Scripture says, I cannot honestly believe that God is in his Heaven smiling down on those who condemn others to Hell based upon their beliefs, culture, race, sexual orientation, etc. We are all here for a greater purpose and that is to learn and love. Maybe, just maybe God put atheists on this earth so that we can learn from them. Ever think of that? We could learn about our own beliefs because we have something to compare them to. Maybe homosexuals are here to teach us compassion and understanding. Maybe Muslims are here to teach us to love our neighbor and to take joy in the beauty of all cultures and religions. Joy in the fact that we are such a multi-faceted creature. Try to think outside the box now and then and you'd be surprised how wonderful we all are.

 

Tulpje, Call me crazy but I think that I would abstain from killing someone not because jail is a scary place, but because I've got this silly little moral streak running thru me. I can't kill a bird let alone a human being. Hell doesn't stop me from doing nasty things to others, the fact that I would make someone hurt emotionally or physically is what stops me and I can't believe that I'm alone in this thought.

 

So, if you don't believe Scripture, how do you know you are a believer?

If one is to seek truth, one must rely on scripture alone and not "thinking out of the box," or by man's judgment or reasoning. Man's judgment, reasoning, intellect is flawed, if for no other reason, than because of being born into a sinful state (sinful state, also is according to Scripture).

Scripture also says the wisdom of man is but foolishness to God.

Anyway, thanks for answering my question. Now I can see where you are coming from.

 

So, if you don't believe Scripture, how do you know you are a believer?

If one is to seek truth, one must rely on scripture alone and not "thinking out of the box," or by man's judgment or reasoning. Man's judgment, reasoning, intellect is flawed, if for no other reason, than because of being born into a sinful state (sinful state, also is according to Scripture).

Scripture also says the wisdom of man is but foolishness to God.

God granted me the wisdom I do have and the desire to increase it as I go along. His gift, I intend to use it.

Anyway, thanks for answering my question. Now I can see where you are coming from.</font>[/QUOTE]I know I am a believer as much as I know the sky is blue, my hair is brown, and this pizza I'm eating now is really good. I don't question it. Never have. I also do not rely on one source for inspiration. My belief system does not fall into the same catagory as yours and why should it? We're individuals and you have every right to claim the Bible only as your source of reference as I do to claim everything else in life as mine.

 

Threre are plenty of folks who do not commit certain crimes because of the threat of punishment In the example of children, they don't do things cause mommy gets mad and because they will get into trouble. It is the same thing in adults and with God. Your sinfullness is going to buy you a one way ticket to hell, unless you go to the Lord for salvation. That is why hell isn't a nice place to be. What kind of punishment is that?</font>[/QUOTE]I speak to my Father about my salvation and ask for his forgiveness all of the time. He hears me, loves me and we go on. I also know that Christ died for us sinners. Just another thing I don't question.

 

Hahaha that is the second use of the law-to mirror our sins. Just like when you wake up in the morning and you look in the mirror and you say-Gee my hair is a mess, I better comb it. The law acts as a mirror to our actions refecting and showing us our sin. In this case you are speaking of the law that is written in your heart.

Romans 2:15
since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)

The first use of the law is for non believers only. The second use of the law is for non-believers and believers a like. The third us of the law is only for believers. That is we use it as a guide in our daily lives. We obey the law not because we HAVE to, but because we WANT to.</font>[/QUOTE]You have the incredible ability of taking something very simple and using Scripture to make it very difficult and complex. How do you do it?

 

Kachana, ( I just saw your first post to me)

lol! No Kachana its not the way I see "fire" as hell. Did you read my post on hell? I see it (if you go back and look at it) As God being its destruction He says

Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I WILL BE THY DESTRUCTION: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. (See?)

Christ had to "fulfill" the old testament and God doesn't lie. look here...

Isaiah 28:18 And your COVENANT WITH DEATH shall be DISSANULLED (made void- CANCELLED), and your agreement with HELL SHALL NOT STAND; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
Hell is a place prepared for the devil and his angels (jesus said) but is also seen as in the presence of the Lamb and his holy ones.

It speaks of a "torment" for ever but as I shared on the post I see that having no power or hurt on or over us. Theres much more in the picture then I posted but I don't see the lake of fire anything other then God because God IS A CONSUMING FIRE (Eternal too) and if He is deaths destruction and both death and hell are destroyed by God the conclusion is that that lake of fire has to be God Himself (like a burning bush) it didn't burn up the bush, or like Daniel in the fire it did not hurt daniel or like Paul said a person saved YET BY FIRE his works may be burnt up but not the person. There are tons of jewels in this. So this fire makes me joyful not afraid.

The fear of the Lord is the BEGINING OF WISDOM but PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR. As legion percieved Jesus (Or Gods word= Fire) as a "torment" they found Christ casted these very things out.

I'm not one who believes its a literal fire by the letter of the word which burns you, in fact can anyone provide a verse stating Hell burns you forever?

Gods fire has "redeeming qualities" I can see the torment part as being painful perhaps emotionally as one works out their salvation with fear and trembling but this is only the begining

They are tormented day and night forever in the fact that this world is a world without end. The torment I see is how it applies to those under the law (kept in prison in a sense)

Duet 28:66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt FEAR DAY and NIGHT, and shalt have none ASSURANCE of thy life:
(Looks like one is working out their salvation in fear and trembling to me)

Looks very similiar to this doesn't it?
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have NO REST day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (For we labor to enter that rest)

THIS REQUIRES THE PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS

Thats why we are encouraged to not lose heart, that if we shrink back and not stand by faith alone there is an expectation of judgement in that regard. I see the "fire" being set ablaze after Christ came, the "testing of our faith" under the law should be torment thats why if you seek to be justified by the law you fall from grace, kinda like Peters struggle He began to walk on the lake and "doubted" he began to sink. The Saints STAND on the sea glass mingled with fire. The testing helps you to stand. I see no harmful "fire" in Gods word and don't see it consistent with the rest of scripture if compared to every picture as is presented in similitudes.

I'm not one who believes in this fire as anything other then God himself and when its done its work within us there is no more night, He becomes the light we walk by

In Him Kim

P.S
(saying this will bring the sword to my throat I realize this but in my heart I cannot recconcile a God of love who says love your enemies while He fries people to death in place place like this, and so after looking at it more closely and how it relates to everything else I don't see it as such any longer- I just didn't want you to misunderstand the symbolic imagery as I was representing them because they seem hard and concrete but to me they are "soft" melting like butter into the person of God)