Questions from an atheist.

[stovebolts]

A much better story than I had been raised to believe, but let me ask you this. If this is true, and it wasn't Jesus' destiny to die on the cross, and god didn't create him specifically for this destiny, why was he created? I mean, its easy to talk about free will, but if you are god's son, kinda hard to say no, you know? I look forward to your reply

Hello Trinity.

You ask some good questions and it's kind of sad that the people from your past that couldn't answer your questions couldn't admit that. That being said, I'm not sure if I can answer your questions either, but I can try to point you to the Bible.

Now, according to my understanding of the Bible, the simple purpose of Christ was to suffer. Let me know if these two sections answer your questions.

Hebrews 2:5-9 5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, R10 And set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet." R11 For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

As Klee Shay stated, we need not worry about dieing as Christ suffered this for us.

Hebrews 9:23-28 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another-- 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

You kind of have to know about Isreal traditions and the tabernacle, Moses etc to better understand this passage.

Take care.

P.S.
I helped build ASHO

 

[Trinity]

Thank you all for taking the time to respond to this thread. I have definately seen things explained in new and refreshing ways, and that is exactly what I was hoping to find.

There are still some issues I am having, but those are my issues I need to really think about, if that makes any sense, lol.

Can't say I'll be at church tomorrow, but it is nice to see so many Christians openly answering my questions without judgement. It is not something I am used to. You all have definately opened my eyes.

 

[Imagican]

trin,

Do yourself a favor and understand that the churches are very limited in their understanding. They are 'caught up' in something that requires a lot of management thus allowing them to become kind of 'generic' in a sense. Stuck in a mostly static position. And this doesn't even take different denominations into account. Learn from the Word FIRST, then decide which direction you need to go to bring a further fulfillment into your life.

Read your Bible and honestly ask, (no, BEG would be a better word), for guidance. Many will tell you that God won't offer signs to those that ask. I, for one, can assure you that this is NOT the case. God wants you to know Him and will do much within His power to 'show you' this.

Not a bad thing to take advice from others, but the important thing in the long run is the personal relationship that you are able to build with the Father through His Son. THIS is what matters MOST.

Good luck and God Bless.

MEC

 

[gingercat]

Excellent advice Imagican :angel:

 

[reznwerks]

convert

Trinity,

Christianity is a very disciplined religion, but no one forces their belief on anyone.

.

Do you know of any other religion that proselytizes as much as Christianity?In fact the bible tells you to do so.When was the last time a Jew tried to convert you? How about a Hindu, or Buddhist? They may move from their area and practice their religion but I honestly can't say I have heard of any other religion that sends out missionaries for the sole purpose of helping while converting.

 

[gingercat]

Re: convert

Trinity,

Christianity is a very disciplined religion, but no one forces their belief on anyone.

.

Do you know of any other religion that proselytizes as much as Christianity?In fact the bible tells you to do so.When was the last time a Jew tried to convert you? How about a Hindu, or Buddhist? They may move from their area and practice their religion but I honestly can't say I have heard of any other religion that sends out missionaries for the sole purpose of helping while converting.

God does not want us to force anyone to become Christian. But He wants us to inform them about Jesus. This is our main mission. I can do it joyfully because I know once you get to know Jesus, you will appreciate Him with all your might!!!

 

[Vic C.]

A very interesting thread indeed. Don't have much to say at this point because a few here have already expressed my thoughts. I would like to say something though:

Christianity, in it's purest form, is NOT a religion, it's based on having a relationship, am intimate relationship with God, our Creator. Religion, for the most part, is conforming to a set of man-made standards and rules; something that Jesus was against and spoke out about many times.

This relationship I speak of is one of uncondition love for our Lord. Jesus' love for the Father was this kind of relationship. He knew why He was sent and accepted it, as we should also.

Matthew 26:39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Aside from the fact that it was the Roman way of execution and not God's way, we ought to realize this:

What better way for God to relate to His people than to deliver His Son to us in one of the most lowly ways possible; He was born under one of the leaat favorable conditions possible and was taken out of the world in a less than desirable way also. For this, I have the upmost respect and reverence for God.

Much more than if Jesus was born a true Earthly King, in all worldy glory and died in the most honorable way. I could not respect or relate to a God who would bring His so-called Savior to us in this manner. This is however the way the Jews thought their Messiah would come to them and is partly the reason why they rejected Him.

To truely relate to One's creation, One should be able to "walk a mile in their shoes" and this is exactly what Jesus did.

God knows and understands us more than we will ever know... at least in this life. 8-)