Jesus is at the Door

[MJFlores]

The bible cannot answer questions. It gives me information, but since the jesus and his apostles are not alive, the bible has no meaning. What matters to me is talking to an actual person, their actual testimony, and Their answers not Pauls, Jesus, and John.

With that said, I will be blunt. It seems like you exchange one "evil" for another. I haven't met catholics who deem hellfire but most likely many do. The change to another denomination that says just the same about the "end". Based on your posts, it doesn't sound any different in regards to agreeing with god how the world will end and who will be there when it does. I can understand that before the common era. They had different views on how life works, the gods, and so forth. But now!?

The disaster one after another, though, seems like it's lasting for a long time. We have dips and curves throughout the centuries per centuries and COVID isn't as bad as many of the other ones we had in the past that killed people. It's just life. We can either accept that life does't work on our terms (we can't cure the world) and we will die or we can look for the afterlife and watch the rest of the people suffer.

It's highly up to the believer. I just don't see any humility in love in those types of teachings. I was thankful the catholic church (when I went) did not expound hellfire (and tribulations) and put more emphasis on relationships, communion, and silent devotion. Unless you judge your personal relationship in the church by others, in my opinion, it's a whole lot fulfilling than any other denominations that use the bible in place of private one to one communication with christ.

Catholicism made you an atheist but it made me a Church of Christ.
It is like when we both saw what it was, you closed your eyes and I looked for the light.

This COVID19 is still on going and it might not be lethal as it is but I am pretty sure this one would be devastating in terms of US$ with regards to health car costs, insurance costs, lost of trade and jobs etc etc. So hold your horses. Its not over yet.

List of epidemics - Wikipedia

You by your words "The disaster one after another, though, seems like it's lasting for a long time."

Reminds me of what is written in the Bible:

2 Peter 3:3-9 New International Version (NIV)
Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

So to you, the Bible is just a book but to me....

And you just proved it and thus I know these are the last days.

 

[metis]

Catholicism made ... an atheist

Bigoted non-sequitur.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Catholicism made you an atheist but it made me a Church of Christ.
It is like when we both saw what it was, you closed your eyes and I looked for the light.

This COVID19 is still on going and it might not be lethal as it is but I am pretty sure this one would be devastating in terms of US$ with regards to health car costs, insurance costs, lost of trade and jobs etc etc. So hold your horses. Its not over yet.

List of epidemics - Wikipedia

You by your words "The disaster one after another, though, seems like it's lasting for a long time."

Reminds me of what is written in the Bible:

2 Peter 3:3-9 New International Version (NIV)
Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

So to you, the Bible is just a book but to me....

And you just proved it and thus I know these are the last days.

It's interesting. Kind of like looking outside in. I don't wear masks and gloves. I also don't go in people's faces and stand so close to people so they can sneeze on me. Haven't done that in how long and never changed; so...

Now I see so many people off and on with masks. Even when I jog on a nice day, people wear masks when "no one" is around. Then they see me and literally go into moving traffic just to avoid me. I look at them, tell them to stay on the sidewalk and I'll move out the way, up the hill, in the grass. It won't take but a second. Chill.

But that's where we are these days. My co-worker is christian too and was talking about the 5G conspiracy. Others say the end of the world is coming. Some say the tribulation. Others are indifferent. While even others in denial.

Some things I just laugh to myself like the tribulation and 5G conspiracy people. When you're not a believer and you hear something far fetched like that, and it has nothing to do with atheism (which is weird believers default to that. Trying to find closure to why someone doesn't believe in god?), you tend to laugh.

Mother called me up a week ago. She works in a pretty crowded area so wearing a mask and gloves made a bit more sense where she worked. She mailed me both when I told her no and was going on about what "will" happen.

Panic.

Then I felt it. It was almost as if I couldn't go to sleep. Then I thought, "thanks ma!" and snapped out of it realizing a boat load of things, beliefs, etc that I could have entertained (maybe even read it and let it entertain me for a bit) or let it be. The final straw was after looking up the coronavirus update (I keep updated, though), and working on the computer most the day, and all this, I almost went into a big seizure (I'm epileptic).

Tribulations, etc, may help people be more alert. May help people follow god more, I don't know. But it was never part of my reality. I wasn't catholic but for four years as an adult and never disliked it. It never caused me to be an atheist. I was "already one." So, it's really like looking from the outside in-inside-both believer and former/non-believer alike).

Interesting.

Thanks

 

[Etritonakin]

Christianity in a nutshell. Gotta love it.

What is actually written is more like... If I didn't make you mortal and put you through this extreme reality check as quickly as possible (7,000 years from Adam [not the first humanoid or age of the Earth] -and usually less than 120 years for most individuals), then your making a mess of things would not be localized --would be prolonged indefinitely, far more miserable -and I could not make you gods prepared to inherit the universe -giving you much improved bodies capable of creating throughout the universe.

The specific "belief" part therein is not actually meant for most -as only "first fruits" are called during this time. Their purpose is to be called to the first resurrection -and to literally become the government/ministers under Christ on Earth after his return. The rest of the dead will have their opportunity a thousand years later -resurrected to the judgment and purified if necessary (some works will have been good even if they could not have "believed" -judged by works, not belief -and some will simply receive life then without the necessity of further purification.)

1 Cor 15:22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

 

[A Neon Gadfly]

Hmmmm....does he like you as a historical figure I wonder?

The OP on this thread and those who subscribe to it just make me laugh.....they could not be further from the truth... but no matter....they don't want the truth because they can't imagine that it will ever happen.....did we imagine that the current situation would ever happen? Things can sneak up on you when you least expect them.....

Be careful of "famous last words syndrome"....

I hope you've been preparing for Ragnarok, because it's just as likely.

 

[McBell]

It is interesting that there are so many who claim the OP is just plain flat out wrong and yet, instead of explaining why and or how it is wrong, they actually go about defending it.

 

[Deeje]

That's the point of the comic: "god gives us the end result".

Regardless of what we do and say, god gave the gift and god set up the consequence.
God knocked on the door and god gave the ultimatum if that other person didn't "let him in."

Outside of that is pure generalization, assumptions, and belittlement on both sides atheists and non-atheists (on this thread) alike.

Whose creation are we? Did we create ourselves? Did we create this planet and everything on it?

If we are created by God, as I believe we are, then we have no right to dictate the terms of our own existence....we are the clay....God is the Potter. Does the clay have the right to tell the Potter what it wants to be? It’s about knowing our place and respecting our Maker and his creation.

If the clay turns out to be a dud, it goes onto the scrap heap. If the clay is still soft, it can be re-moulded to a useful shape....but if not, what use is it to the Potter? It’s good for nothing.

You don’t seem to understand why we were created in the first place. We were put here to be earth’s caretakers....we were given God’s moral qualities and attributes like our sense of justice, the wisdom we attain from gaining knowledge and experience, controlled use of power so that it does not corrupt us....and love which is God’s dominant quality.....he gave us those qualities so that we could fulfill our assignment as God would want us to. If we are no good at the job he is offering, then our usefulness to God becomes a burden. What does he do with free willed creatures who can’t follow simple instructions and who want wreak havoc on his Earth? They leave him no choice. Eviction is the only option.

I don’t believe that this Earth is the only planet that God will introduce life to. But I do believe that this is the start of him populating the Universe with living creatures. He has to set precedents for free willed beings or else he will end up with what we have today....ungrateful rebels who are interested only in what they want and disrespecting their rightful Sovereign who gave them life and opportunity to enjoy his creation. If God does not step in soon....there will be no life left here. So what do you want him to do? Let everything just go on until we become extinct?

 

[Milton Platt]

NOT Christianity in a nutshell. But an atheist idea of Christianity.

We're all ears. What is Christianity, then?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Is this reply meant for me?

I don't see any relationship with what I said about the comic. It just says that the gift of salvation (knock at the door) and consequence of not letting christ in (to receive salvation) are both given and set up by the same person: god.

Does scripture say this is wrong?

Whose creation are we? Did we create ourselves? Did we create this planet and everything on it?

If we are created by God, as I believe we are, then we have no right to dictate the terms of our own existence....we are the clay....God is the Potter. Does the clay have the right to tell the Potter what it wants to be? It’s about knowing our place and respecting our Maker and his creation.

If the clay turns out to be a dud, it goes onto the scrap heap. If the clay is still soft, it can be re-moulded to a useful shape....but if not, what use is it to the Potter? It’s good for nothing.

You don’t seem to understand why we were created in the first place. We were put here to be earth’s caretakers....we were given God’s moral qualities and attributes like our sense of justice, the wisdom we attain from gaining knowledge and experience, controlled use of power so that it does not corrupt us....and love which is God’s dominant quality.....he gave us those qualities so that we could fulfill our assignment as God would want us to. If we are no good at the job he is offering, then our usefulness to God becomes a burden. What does he do with free willed creatures who can’t follow simple instructions and who want wreak havoc on his Earth? They leave him no choice. Eviction is the only option.

I don’t believe that this Earth is the only planet that God will introduce life to. But I do believe that this is the start of him populating the Universe with living creatures. He has to set precedents for free willed beings or else he will end up with what we have today....ungrateful rebels who are interested only in what they want and disrespecting their rightful Sovereign who gave them life and opportunity to enjoy his creation. If God does not step in soon....there will be no life left here. So what do you want him to do? Let everything just go on until we become extinct?

 

[MJFlores]

Bigoted non-sequitur.

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

We're all ears. What is Christianity, then?

It would take more time than you or I have.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Very interesting that so many atheists think they know so much about Christianity.

I was Christian for 30 years and even I know that is pretty much Christianity in a nutshell. It's why there's that book in the end called Revelations.

 

[Twilight Hue]

How so?

The comedy of it just devalues christianity but the intent of it is christianity.

For example, god so loved the world that whomever believes in him has everlasting life."

If god knocked on your door and said "if you believe me me, I'll give you everlasting life" and you say no, there is a consequence. You won't have everlasting life and the consequences where set up by god, the one who knocked at your door.

Another example is "they have no excuse" verse. Jesus knocks, you say no, he says "you've already known me, you have no excuse" does he just let you be?

In the bible, there is a consequence for not accepting god's gift and that the gift and the consequence only came from and set up by one person: god.

It's actually not an atheist quote. Something like this would be:

View attachment 39268


How's it not a sum of christianity?
Take out the humor and belittlement. The intent is the same.

Or a person can just go out and read a few Jack Chick comics.

 

[Deeje]

I was Christian for 30 years and even I know that is pretty much Christianity in a nutshell. It's why there's that book in the end called Revelations.

If you were raised in Christendom, then I think that explains why you answered that way....it means you weren't actually a Christian at all IMO. I too was in that situation and ready to throw God away....but creation always brought me back to him....I realized that I was throwing the baby out with the filthy bathwater.

So I went looking for God elsewhere.....eastern religions....mormonism....and Buddhism.....but there was too much idolatry and nothing added up or made any sense, so there was a hole in my heart that none of those could fill. Just when I had given up hope, there was a knock at my door.....I had always turned JW's away because of what others had said about them, but owing to the fact that I had just lost my father, I thought I would string them along by asking "where are the dead....? I was expecting the platitudes and excuses that my church had given me....but to my surprise they opened the Bible and showed me exactly where the dead are.....I couldn't believe what I was seeing. What they showed me struck a chord straight away. The dead are sleeping, waiting for God to awaken them. My father had promised my mother that if anything ever happened to him, he would come back and let her know that he was OK. He never came, and then I understood why. That was just the start of getting all my questions answered....

There is no hole in my heart now.....

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

I was Christian for 30 years and even I know that is pretty much Christianity in a nutshell. It's why there's that book in the end called Revelations.

Sometimes we do not know as much as we think we do. Maybe that is why we are "nowhere" men.

 

[McBell]

If you were raised in Christendom, then I think that explains why you answered that way....it means you weren't actually a Christian at all IMO. I too was in that situation and ready to throw God away....but creation always brought me back to him....I realized that I was throwing the baby out with the filthy bathwater.

So I went looking for God elsewhere.....eastern religions....mormonism....and Buddhism.....but there was too much idolatry and nothing added up or made any sense, so there was a hole in my heart that none of those could fill. Just when I had given up hope, there was a knock at my door.....I had always turned JW's away because of what others had said about them, but owing to the fact that I had just lost my father, I thought I would string them along by asking "where are the dead....? I was expecting the platitudes and excuses that my church had given me....but to my surprise they opened the Bible and showed me exactly where the dead are.....I couldn't believe what I was seeing. What they showed me struck a chord straight away. The dead are sleeping, waiting for God to awaken them. My father had promised my mother that if anything ever happened to him, he would come back and let her know that he was OK. He never came, and then I understood why. That was just the start of getting all my questions answered....

There is no hole in my heart now.....

Ah yes.
The ever popular No True Scotsman.
Surprised it took this long to appear

 

[Deeje]

Ah yes.
The ever popular No True Scotsman.
Surprised it took this long to appear

It applies....read the Bible. It’s not about what label you wear....it’s about how well you follow the teachings of the Master. The vast majority do not.
It’s the reason why “few” are on the right track. (Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 7:21-23)

 

[Milton Platt]

It would take more time than you or I have.

So then nobody ever actually knows what Christianity is, then?

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

So then nobody ever actually knows what Christianity is, then?

No, it is just not worth the time to tell it to someone who is not interested.

 

[Milton Platt]

No, it is just not worth the time to tell it to someone who is not interested.

Wow. I never met anyone who mind reads before. Do yo to Taro cards, too?