He could have been me. I "converted" back in '74 and really tried to be a "good" Christian for three years. It was real and it was good until I started questioning and doubting. And then, when my supposedly "good" Christian friends started doing drugs and women, I took a real hard look into exactly what we were supposed to be believing. As you well know, some of it is pretty farfetched.
Hi CG D, what you are describing is the parable of the sower. Matt.3-23 (Mark 4:4; Luke 8:5), "And when he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: ..." Vs.15, "For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."
By your own post, you attest to listening the falsely believing friends and erroneous teachings.
There is a remedy (for any who have tried to "prepare their "heart conditions") it is seen in Rev. 3:18, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see."
But Mr. Christian doesn't care. He goes to church and does the best he can. He doesn't have to be perfect, because he knows Jesus loves him and already forgave him of all his sins. He's going to heaven regardless of a few slip ups now and again, because he believes the right things and that's all that matters. But to doubt? That's bad. To question? God forbid.
CG D, that "Mr. Christian" is a "claims to be" but at heart fails to "walk the walk".
The "best one can do" is be Obedient to GOD---not one's lusts.
Yes, Jesus does love all of mankind, and has paid the price for the redemption of all. However, each one has to accept the terms of that freedom from the death penalty which is Confession of ones sins/rebellion, Repentance of those contrary actions and submission to the Will of the Father. (Nothing hard nor requires work.
One is deluding one's self if one thinks sin is taken lightly and heaven/eternal life allows one to continue in SIN.
No! Any "beliefs" which are contrary to GOD'S LAWS are NOT Right.
Doubts following the revelation of truth from the Scriptures is "bad".
The questioning of Teachings is encouraged as seen in Acts17:11, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. "
So therefore, no matter what you say, or a what a Jew says, or even what some "christians" say (especially the liberal kind), you guys are all wrong. The Bible says it (more or less), and he believes it (the way he was taught to believe it) and it's already settled in his mind, because to doubt is not from his god but from his god's enemy, the adversary... the one that has to eat dirt and crawl on his belly.
CG D, That which you are claiming---computes to---The whole of the Biblical Scriptures is erroneous. The Creator GOD was in error in correcting those HE chose out of the nations to be HIS witnesses to all Peoples. What those leaders(created being) chose as a fit to their whims was superior to the instructions and laws that GOD gave in love for a right relationship to HIM and neighbor.
And lastly, there isn't any adversary---it is all just a myth.
That may be your understanding, but it isn't what the Scriptures declare nor does it explain the evidence I see about me.
But you know, if it really made sense I'd love to believe. But, it just doesn't. Like with your question the seed of the woman is Jesus? To quote one of my favorite posters "Absolute nonsense!"
As the scriptures state concerning the sower, unless the stony heart is broken up nothing spiritual will grow.
