my declaration

[Mike182]

my central belief has been in christ for a longtime now, but the question of salvation has always bugged me - are people of other religions saved?

this is not a debate, this is an announcment from me to say i have reached what i feel is my belief on this!

i have prayed/meditated on this for almost a year now, and although i don't (and probably never will) have ALL the answers, i feel i have made conciderable growth

the traditional view of christianity is that those who believe in christ will be saved (putting aside all other issues, for i am only focusing on this one issue at the moment) and those who do not believe in christ will be cast out - "i am the only way to God" etc ....

this view does not sit with me, and i have reached the conclusion that it is faith we are saved, and i have faith in a great many things, and i have long had a belief that their is truth in the true meaning of wicca, aswell as my central belief in christ

basically, i have long struggled by asking and searching for where christianity and paganism don't agree, and this is completely the wrong perspective, i should have been looking at where they do agree/reconcile - and boy, i have an immensely overwhelming feeling of truth in what i have learnt

so, to round up this thread, i want to anounce that i have alterd my religious label to christian/wiccan

blessed be

 

[Aqualung]

Ah. That's pretty neat. I hope that works out for you.

 

[Mike182]

Ah. That's pretty neat. I hope that works out for you.

thanking you

 

[Scuba Pete]

As with any trip, spiritual or physical, I bid you a "Bon Voyage!"

 

[jonny]

I'm glad you've found a belief that you feel comfortable with. I believe that we should take the truths from all religions and add them to ours. Truth can be found everywhere! Sounds like you've been able to do this.

 

[ChrisP]

Hi C_P glad you've found some spiritual peace! the Wiccan religion is one that I hold a lot of respect for

 

[Solon]

The old gods are not jealous like that God of the Israelites. Welcome to the Pagan world.

Solon

 

[michel]

Oh, I am happy for you C_P. You do realize, however that you're messing with my mind ?:biglaugh:

 

[joeboonda]

A Christian witch, man, I have no words, I have no words...we have the good news that God sent his son to pay for our sins, offering salvation as a totally free gift. We are to tell everyone this good news, someone does not believe it, says they're a witch, and you cave. Get some kahuna's man, stand up for the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel! Sure they have some nice beliefs, but they do not worship God or believe in Jesus. In the 15th century a man of God said white witchcraft was much more dangerous than black, because white witchcraft claims to be the 'good' kind. Witchcraft is an abomination and those who practice it are placing their faith in the wrong thing. I can put my faith in the cookie monster, but I can tell you right now, he ain't gonna save me! There is only one person who died and rose again, for us, and that is Jesus Christ. Man, are we ever moving to the one-world religion of the false prophet spoken of in revelation. Come on, man! Be a Christian or be a witch, but ya can't be both! Jesus said he is the way and no man comes to the Father but by him, either believe him or call him a liar, man, its too late for sittin on fences, its time to chose your side. I just have no words...unbelievable. Good luck dude, whatever.

 

[robtex]

CP congradulations!! May I ask what you read that altered your belief structure? Were there any posters on here who gave you insight into marrying the two belief systems?

 

[Mike182]

Oh, I am happy for you C_P. You do realize, however that you're messing with my mind ?:biglaugh:

then atleast i have done somethign right

A Christian witch, man, I have no words, I have no words...we have the good news that God sent his son to pay for our sins, offering salvation as a totally free gift. We are to tell everyone this good news, someone does not believe it, says they're a witch, and you cave. Get some kahuna's man, stand up for the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel! Sure they have some nice beliefs, but they do not worship God or believe in Jesus. In the 15th century a man of God said white witchcraft was much more dangerous than black, because white witchcraft claims to be the 'good' kind. Witchcraft is an abomination and those who practice it are placing their faith in the wrong thing. I can put my faith in the cookie monster, but I can tell you right now, he ain't gonna save me! There is only one person who died and rose again, for us, and that is Jesus Christ. Man, are we ever moving to the one-world religion of the false prophet spoken of in revelation. Come on, man! Be a Christian or be a witch, but ya can't be both! Jesus said he is the way and no man comes to the Father but by him, either believe him or call him a liar, man, its too late for sittin on fences, its time to chose your side. I just have no words...unbelievable. Good luck dude, whatever.

this is exactly what i have beed struggling with, and researching, and preying about

why would jesus die for us, and be one with a God of infinite love, mercy and compasion, and still let decent people of different faiths be cast out of the kingdom for not believing in God

then it finally fell upon me, that God does not cast these people out, but his followers do

i mean no offence by this to those christians i know who are very open minded, but i have found this to be relatively true, that it is Jesus' followers who are trying to dictate who is saved! because i have come to believe that all religious paths based in love will lead us to the same God

wiccans worship a lord and a lady (the God and the Goddess) who are worshiped as aspects of a higher unknown diety - and this is true for christians, in that they worship jesus as their means by which they can have relations with God - when push come to shove, and all is stripped down to basics, they are one of the same thing

the bible tells us that God wants nothing more than to come to know us, and have relations with us - this is why he sent his only son - and i believe that with the whole of my heart, but i also believe a lot of what is based in wiccan, ie

divinity manifests itself through all living beings
every living spirit has an entity that is connected to and part of every other spirit
power through knowledge
the law of attraction
progressive reincarnation

i have reconciled my beliefs, and undoubtedly they are heretical, controversial and maybe even slightly shocking to some, but that does not overly concern me, as i am at peace, and i am in love with my understanding of God - an understand i hope will continue to grow and deepen with time and more research

blessed be

C_P

 

[Mike182]

CP congradulations!! May I ask what you read that altered your belief structure? Were there any posters on here who gave you insight into marrying the two belief systems?

a large accumulation of articles, sermons, and yes, posters on RF, whom i shall not even begin to name as i am bound to leave a lot of them out but i owe thanks to a lot of the pagan posters on this site who have made wicca accessible to me through their postings of their beliefs, as it has been through this i have deepend my understanding of paganism. the same to a lot of the chirstian posters aswell, i have grown a lot in life and in belief sinse joining this forum, and i am thankful to you all

blessings

C_P

 

[nutshell]

C_P,

I must ask, how do you reconcile Matthew 6:24? "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." KJV

 

[Mike182]

C_P,

I must ask, how do you reconcile Matthew 6:24? "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." KJV

because through both systems of belief i am serving God

 

[robtex]

CP I noticed you were hitting walls with belief structure a while back. I had a sneaking suspicion that you were going to alter your belief system though I thought you would shed your christian belief either for paganism UU or some other non-dogmatic belief as dogma seemed to be your source of internal conflict. It is funny watching various posters on here. It is like watching a game of chess played with muliple players and trying to see how everyone's information will alter or affect other opinions.

 

[Draka]

Congrats C_P on finding your new path. It can be daunting to admit your views have changed and trek down a new path. Especially, as you have already seen...trying to defend or explain that alternative path to someone who does not understand. Remember...it is not your responsibility to change their minds...only live your life as you see fit...whether or not anyone else agrees or disagrees with your beliefs. But I think you already know this. Just giving you heads up warning that you attach the word Wicca/Wiccan to yourself and it will immediately provoke questioning and criticism. Double so when you combine Christian and Wiccan. A lot of Wiccans find that hard to comprehend as well. Just so long as YOU know what you believe then that is all that matters.

 

[nutshell]

the traditional view of christianity is that those who believe in christ will be saved (putting aside all other issues, for i am only focusing on this one issue at the moment) and those who do not believe in christ will be cast out - "i am the only way to God" etc ....

this view does not sit with me,
blessed be

Can I ask, specifically, why does this view not sit well with you?

 

[Mike182]

Can I ask, specifically, why does this view not sit well with you?

because i know many good, religious people, who by this definition, are living in complete and filthy sin, despite the fact that they are some of the most moral, loving, compasionate people i know

i simply cannot believe in this, it defies the very nature of what i understand God to be

 

[joeboonda]

then atleast i have done somethign right


this is exactly what i have beed struggling with, and researching, and preying about

why would jesus die for us, and be one with a God of infinite love, mercy and compasion, and still let decent people of different faiths be cast out of the kingdom for not believing in God

then it finally fell upon me, that God does not cast these people out, but his followers do

i mean no offence by this to those christians i know who are very open minded, but i have found this to be relatively true, that it is Jesus' followers who are trying to dictate who is saved! because i have come to believe that all religious paths based in love will lead us to the same God

wiccans worship a lord and a lady (the God and the Goddess) who are worshiped as aspects of a higher unknown diety - and this is true for christians, in that they worship jesus as their means by which they can have relations with God - when push come to shove, and all is stripped down to basics, they are one of the same thing

the bible tells us that God wants nothing more than to come to know us, and have relations with us - this is why he sent his only son - and i believe that with the whole of my heart, but i also believe a lot of what is based in wiccan, ie

divinity manifests itself through all living beings
every living spirit has an entity that is connected to and part of every other spirit
power through knowledge
the law of attraction
progressive reincarnation

i have reconciled my beliefs, and undoubtedly they are heretical, controversial and maybe even slightly shocking to some, but that does not overly concern me, as i am at peace, and i am in love with my understanding of God - an understand i hope will continue to grow and deepen with time and more research

blessed be

C_P

Only Jesus paid for our sins, the Bible say the heart of man is black and wicked, we have all sinned, there may be 'decent' people, but compared to God's Holiness we all fall way short. Jesus had to pay for our sins. He is the only way, there are not many ways, that is the truth, that is what he said. There is one God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, thou shalt have NO other Gods before him. He provided the way for us to be able to live in his Holy presence, the shed blood of his Son. You are decieved, my friend. Have no fellowship with the works of darkness but rather reprove them. Witchcraft and its powers, whatever sickly-sweet, syrupy, dress-up it takes on, is still of Satan. Its good to be open-minded, but don't lose your mind!

 

[nutshell]

because i know many good, religious people, who by this definition, are living in complete and filthy sin, despite the fact that they are some of the most moral, loving, compasionate people i know

i simply cannot believe in this, it defies the very nature of what i understand God to be

What if God (who does love each and everyone of us), in his infinite wisdom, provided a way that all people that ever were, are, and will be would have the opportunity to accept Christ?