I'm sorry if, in sharing with you my faith, I have ever offended you. I do not believe that people come to Jesus by having religious talk shoved in their faces. I believe that people come to Jesus because his truth is beautiful and captivating, because it gives freedom and hope. But sometimes I may give the wrong impression because, in my sense of urgency, my words may be forceful. I apologize for the misunderstanding, but please bear with me and try to understand where I am coming from.
The other day, a friend told me that he didn't think that I was a true Christian. And - I'll be honest - I got very angry with him. But I was not offended that he made this judgement of me. I was offended that, after three years of friendship, he only told me what he believed to be true about me now. In those three whole years of silence, he was essentially condemning me to hell. So much for being my friend.
I want to let you know that I care about your soul. I want to see you all in Heaven. When I share with you what I believe to be true, I am trying to be a good friend.
We realize that you're trying to help. And we understand your intentions. I don't believe in heaven, but I believe in Hawaii. If I had free access to Hawaii, I would want all my friends and loved ones to be with me too, only because I want good things for people I like.
ReplyDeleteThe Christian message is a hopeful and enticing one, but that doesn't make it true. Ancient Vikings believed they would feast forever in Valhalla with Thor and the valkyries, which was also hopeful and enticing. But no one in modernity believes that any more.
You're right in that no one can be convinced of your religious beliefs just by talking. I've been asked what it would take for me to believe in the Christian God. I guess the best way for a Christian to understand how that sounds like to us is to have the same question parroted back at them. What would it take for you to believe in Thor and Valhalla?
The thing about Christianity is that it is not only about the afterlife, but about the current life as well. Following Jesus gives not only hope for the eternal, but freedom NOW! Thor and Valhalla did not free me from self-esteem issues and insecurity, from anger and bitterness about my past, from depression, from my sins or even the guilt of my sins. Thor and Valhalla did not give me the courage or even the thought to make amends with people with whom I've previously had broken relationships. Jesus did that.
ReplyDeleteThe next time a Christian asks you what it would take for you to believe in the Christian God, you should ask them what it took for *them* to believe in the Christian God. If they are genuine Christians, you're sure to get an interesting story =)
I don't believe in Thor or Valhalla because there's no reason for me to -- there's no proof. But if proof were to present itself, I'd believe.
ReplyDeleteDoes offering more benefits make something true? Scientology also claims to help its practitioners in life as well as the after life. There's a hosts of other religions that claim this benefit: Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, etc