A Conversation with Friends...

 


Two nights ago, I was hanging out with some friends.  At one point we got onto the subject of religion.

One friend said she believes we are all products of our environment.  She said where we were born and how we were parented has a lot to do with our own belief systems, and that it is most likely that if I had been born in Saudi Arabia, I’d be Muslim.

Maybe.

Yesterday we continued the conversation via text, and at one point she wrote, “I’m disturbed by the thought that you think I’m going to hell.  What about our families?

My short answer is, “I’m very concerned.”

Though I recognize I am not as well-spoken on the subject as I’d like to be, and that in many cases, my behavior AS a Christian is not always Christ-like, and therefore may be off-putting, I KNOW I believe the Bible.

  • Historically, the Bible has been proven to be accurate.
  • Prophesies recorded in the Bible have come true.
  • There is internal consistency and coherence even though the books of the Bible were written over the course of 1,500 years by over 40 authors.

That said, the Bible tells us that sin serves to separate us from God. 

  • But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. - Isaiah 59:2
  • And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. - 1 Corinthians 15:17
  • The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. - Exodus 32:33.

I think my friend might have thought my belief was that she was "not good enough", even though I know her to be a very kind and thoughful person.  

No - that's not it at all.  The sad truth is we are ALL sinners and none of us is "good enough"…so, how do we ensure Hell is not our final desination?

We CAN'T!!!  Not on our own!  Hence the reason for my concern.

There are twelve major religions in the world (and many sub-strata within that).  The idea of being saved or of going to heaven, or of being with God, no matter how explained, is part of every one of them.  However, in most, the burden relies on the individual - you must DO before you can RECEIVE.  But not Christianity.  Christianity says there is NOTHING we can do to EARN salvation.  We can NEVER be “good enough.” 

That leaves us in a pretty awful predicament UNLESS we recognize our sinful nature, and believe that Jesus was sent as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Your sins.  My sins.

I KNOW I am not enough, and I believe that Jesus bore the penalty for my sins by dying on the cross.  I also believe there is an afterlife and the choices we make here (even the non choices) impact what that looks like.  

If sin separates us from God, then Hell is an eternal separation from Him.  I don’t want that for anyone, especially not for those I love.

 

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