Since birth I've spent nearly every Sunday morning at church

[animal]

And I haven't considered myself to be a theist in the last 10 years. Does this seem strange to anyone?

 

[Gabe]

Only if you don't enjoy it.

 

[animal]

I really do. For the last 8 or so years we have had a pastor who fits my definition of what it means to be a Christian. He is one of the nicest most caring men you have ever met and he without a doubt walks the walk AND talks the talk. And it's reflected in his sermons. Also I've been away from home for a few years and visiting my dad every sunday is great as well.

 

[John]

My question is why do you not consider yourself a theist after all those years of attending church and enjoying it?

You must know

 

[animal]

I never really had a good enough reason to believe in anything supernatural. And most of the bible really wasn't giving me a reason to even try.

I remember being a child, probably 6 or 7 and knew I was supposed to believe in the easter bunny. I set out some cookies or something for him (no idea why.. my parents thought it was cute I guess) and the next day they brought me a note that I was supposed to believe was from him and it had a paw print drawn on it in pencil. I remember holding the piece of paper like it happened yesterday. It was obviously drawn with the same mechanical pencil my father always used and I rememebr thinking "wow.. this is so stupid."

What I get from church is what I believe Jesus meant for us all to get from church. I see the message of Jesus Christ in my pastor and in many of the people I spend sunday with and many of my friends. Even though many of my friends are not Christians and some openly admit to being atheists. I don't think there is anything weird about grasping Jesus' message of kindness and compassion and leaving faith out of it. But I wanted some other opinions.

 

[John]

Yes but its easy to see things like the Easter rabbit, Santa, scooby doo, sponge bob etc are all fictional charters but with all the study of history which shows the Bible to be accurate in at least some respect, all the places, people and even the times are right on, the only arguable points spring from events (flood, bable, etc) but even then its not enough to discredit the Bible.

ever hear of pascals wager?

 

[animal]

I'm not sure how the Bible's historical accuracy has anything to do with the existence of anything supernatural.

And I'm quite familiar with Pascal's wager. But I'm pretty sure God would be able to know whether or not I was lying to myself and to him. :gah

 

[Gabe]

I really do. For the last 8 or so years we have had a pastor who fits my definition of what it means to be a Christian. He is one of the nicest most caring men you have ever met and he without a doubt walks the walk AND talks the talk. And it's reflected in his sermons. Also I've been away from home for a few years and visiting my dad every sunday is great as well.

That's good to hear. At the Anglican church I attend, we refer to our priests as "father" and the vicar of my church has really been like a father-figure to me and my siblings. He too IMO walks the walk & talks the talk. My biological father was a Muslim and passed away a long time ago, so I've been blessed to have such a man help me with my walk in Christ.

...And I'm quite familiar with Pascal's wager. But I'm pretty sure God would be able to know whether or not I was lying to myself and to him. :gah

True. Someone who "believes" out of fear is not a Christian. Its strange, I have an atheist friend similar to you who attends church every now and again.

 

[animal]

What do you feel about Pascal's wager, Gabriel?

 

[Gabe]

I'm not familiar with it, so I couldn't really comment. I know that belief is not something that can be forced on you (actually it can, but it would not really be belief, you'd just be going through the motions)

 

[lovely]

animal,

Welcome to the board. The Lord bless you.

Concerning your topic, God is the One who converts men's hearts, and He uses the foolishness of preaching and the lives of believers to do it, and so I am glad that you are among such things weekly. You can grasp the principals of Christ, and even apply them, but they will only be good for you here apart from faith. God's principals have earthly benefits, but it is the eternal benefits that are really what is being revealed in the earthly things. God is so gracious to all men, and so the Sun shines, and the rain falls, on us all, but He goes far beyond this in His great love and mercy for mankind.

It is heartbreaking to think that many are in the pews, hearing only part of the message and unable to 'Behold the Lamb of God." It pleased the Father to bruise the Son for men who are depraved and sinful, and yet men consider themselves too intellectual to believe in the supernatural...even when truth, reason, and intelligence all point to God. I do not condemn you in this, because we were all there once. Satan continues to be cleverly deceptive with each generation as he uses pride to blind men's hearts into thinking they are too intelligent to believe in a God who's foolishness is wisdom compared with the wisdom of men. The Word is Truth, and there is no lie in it, and those truths...which benefit men physically when applied in the here and now as you seem to know for yourself...are also true when we consider eternal things. One truth is simply a picture of another greater truth, and all of it comes from God, and so in these things we have no reason to doubt God.

I will say one last unpopular thing. There is a reason to fear God. God has given us emotions and affections, and they will work to move our will at times...and so I give you a warning. God Himself gives us warnings in His Word. He is Holy and Just, and He will do what He says. I am not encouraging false faith, and in fact I warn you agains that entirely, but I do encourage you to seek Him sincerely and soberly as you attend. I have prayed for you tonight that you may be convinced by the Holy Spirit in your spirit of who Christ is...The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The Lord bless you.

 

[animal]

My problem is Satan and that I consider myself to be too intelligent? That's pretty condescending.

 

[lovely]

It is through no merit of my own that I know Christ, but simply the grace and mercy of God, and my post was not crafted in pride but love for you...I say this only for the sake of Christ, because I can't boast even of the love I felt for you as I wrote. I have told you the truth. Your are deceived as all men are until they 'see' the Lamb of God. You are free to reject it and see me, or my words, as condescending if you so desire, but you opened the thread and I gave you honest comment concerning the Gospel. I have no desire to be contentious, and so I leave you in peace. The Lord bless you.

 

[lolcat]

True. Someone who "believes" out of fear is not a Christian. Its strange, I have an atheist friend similar to you who attends church every now and again.

There are some wonderful poetic passages in the bible, he probably sees the bible as art, not as 'truth'.

 

[animal]

True. Someone who "believes" out of fear is not a Christian. Its strange, I have an atheist friend similar to you who attends church every now and again.

There are some wonderful poetic passages in the bible, he probably sees the bible as art, not as 'truth'.

Job is pretty nice. Even though I really don't care for the fact that God allowed for the mass massacre of pretty much everyone he knew.. Assuming that actually happened.

But really I just like Jesus' message of goodness and compassion. And I just like going to church because my pastor's messages reflect it. He never talks about anything meaningless. Noah's flood, tower of Babel, Adam and Eve, etc..

 

[John]

^ History is not meaningless ;)

 

[animal]

oh no he din't

You know by now I'm an evidence man ;)

And no scientists believe the universe came from nothing and Darwin was more of a realist/naturalist than and atheist. Someone who calls themselves an atheist is usually proud of it.

 

[John]

You know by now I'm an evidence man

Ditto ;)