Despair Over the Future
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All I'm saying is, if someone asked me why they should be a Christian, I'd be hard-pressed to tell them why.
Why? Because most of the benefits are purely spiritual and only apply after we die. We humans are physical as well though. And most of our lives revolve around the physical whether we like it or not.
Why? Because most of the benefits are purely spiritual and only apply after we die. We humans are physical as well though. And most of our lives revolve around the physical whether we like it or not.
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Some people (even here) impugn this truth as if it limits God's omnipotence -
God does not run the world.
All souls belong to Him. We are His creation.
Christians started the first places of higher learning (universities), found many hospitals, run numerous charity organizations, and all manner of endeavours are carried out by Christians making valiant efforts to reduce the suffering in the world. I see a lot of value in that. They have made myriad contributions to human progress in a broad and diverse range of fields, both historically and in modern times, including science and technology, medicine, fine arts and architecture, politics, literature, music, philanthropy, philosophy, ethics, humanism, theatre, and business. Many have won a Nobel prize.
Humanity has done that, not God. More specifically, people refusing to live by His principles.
Overly focusing on what you think is wrong does not help. Do you look for and ever see the good? Do you ever say the serenity prayer?
What pay-off did you expect to get but did not receive?
How do you feel when you do something wrong, or that you know you shouldn't have, or learn that you have hurt someone you care about? Do you want to feel like that all the time, every day? I sure as heck don't.
Not mine, either...
God does not run the world.
All souls belong to Him. We are His creation.
Christians started the first places of higher learning (universities), found many hospitals, run numerous charity organizations, and all manner of endeavours are carried out by Christians making valiant efforts to reduce the suffering in the world. I see a lot of value in that. They have made myriad contributions to human progress in a broad and diverse range of fields, both historically and in modern times, including science and technology, medicine, fine arts and architecture, politics, literature, music, philanthropy, philosophy, ethics, humanism, theatre, and business. Many have won a Nobel prize.
Humanity has done that, not God. More specifically, people refusing to live by His principles.
Overly focusing on what you think is wrong does not help. Do you look for and ever see the good? Do you ever say the serenity prayer?
What pay-off did you expect to get but did not receive?
How do you feel when you do something wrong, or that you know you shouldn't have, or learn that you have hurt someone you care about? Do you want to feel like that all the time, every day? I sure as heck don't.
Not mine, either...
If this is true, then why did God give Adam Eve? If what you say is true, then instead of giving Adam a human companion, he should have said "you need to be satisfied with Me."
And to bring that into the world of today, I should be satisfied with knowing there is a God, even though I still exist in a human, mortal state, and he does not; I'm expected to compete here in the lower world for work, money, a place to live, food to eat; God has none of those worries. I'm surrounded day after day by other beings, primarily humans, but also cats, birds, dogs; we're all stuck down here in the physical realm, so I think it's only natural that physical beings desire companionship with physical beings.
It's not like I want millions of dollars; I don't care about that. I don't care about having a big mansion on a hill; I grew up in a small house in the suburbs, and I would rather be there than in some gated community, hiding behind locked doors, served by maids and butlers.
I don't care about having a fancy car; I just want something that can get me to work and back everyday.
But you are saying all of this is wrong, I shouldn't want any of this, I should only want God. So it's wrong for me to desire a soul mate, a life companion, someone who's hand I can hold, someone to talk to and share my life with.
This is partly what my recent songwriting has been about. And the person telling me these things is always someone who is happily married. The church likes to throw us a bunch of ideas that don't comfort us at all; eventually it always gets back to DENY YOURSELF. YOU ARE NOTHING, YOU DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING, SO BE THANKFUL THAT JESUS DIED FOR YOU, BECAUSE YOU ARE A WORTHLESS EVIL SINNER. IF YOU ONLY GET ROCKS TO EAT AND POLLUTED WATER TO DRINK, IT'S STILL MORE THAN YOU DESERVE. And at that point, I say "I give up. If I'm so bad, just kill me."
And to bring that into the world of today, I should be satisfied with knowing there is a God, even though I still exist in a human, mortal state, and he does not; I'm expected to compete here in the lower world for work, money, a place to live, food to eat; God has none of those worries. I'm surrounded day after day by other beings, primarily humans, but also cats, birds, dogs; we're all stuck down here in the physical realm, so I think it's only natural that physical beings desire companionship with physical beings.
It's not like I want millions of dollars; I don't care about that. I don't care about having a big mansion on a hill; I grew up in a small house in the suburbs, and I would rather be there than in some gated community, hiding behind locked doors, served by maids and butlers.
I don't care about having a fancy car; I just want something that can get me to work and back everyday.
But you are saying all of this is wrong, I shouldn't want any of this, I should only want God. So it's wrong for me to desire a soul mate, a life companion, someone who's hand I can hold, someone to talk to and share my life with.
This is partly what my recent songwriting has been about. And the person telling me these things is always someone who is happily married. The church likes to throw us a bunch of ideas that don't comfort us at all; eventually it always gets back to DENY YOURSELF. YOU ARE NOTHING, YOU DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING, SO BE THANKFUL THAT JESUS DIED FOR YOU, BECAUSE YOU ARE A WORTHLESS EVIL SINNER. IF YOU ONLY GET ROCKS TO EAT AND POLLUTED WATER TO DRINK, IT'S STILL MORE THAN YOU DESERVE. And at that point, I say "I give up. If I'm so bad, just kill me."
Feels like I'm reading my own words. I can't say I have the answers you're looking for. But I will say, for all its issues, at the end of the day, however angry or frustrated or lonely I feel, faith does provide some measure of comfort. Then again, maybe I just feel compelled to say something 'cause I empathize with people who feel down. Like you. It's not much but I hope it sounds genuine.
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Two things, one positive, one negative.
1) to be made perfectly righteous and holy by the Blood of the Lamb.
2) to be "saved" i.e. acquitted of our guilt and our sin.
Which then qualifies us to become adopted sons and daughters of God. THAT is the ultimate purpose of this existence.
Jhn 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
1Jo 3:1
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
We are trading that which we cannot keep (physical life) for that which we cannot lose (spiritual life). Sounds like a good deal to me.
BTW, one of the major themes in the Bible is that the SECOND BIRTH is the important one. And for the Christian, enduring the pain and trials of the first merits crowns and rewards at the Bema seat. My exhortation to you: HOLD FAST! The Rapture is very near, the revealing of the Sons of God is nigh.
Rev 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Rev 3:11
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Rom 8:19
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
And partake in the victory that Christ Jesus has achieved for us.
Rom 8:37
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
1) to be made perfectly righteous and holy by the Blood of the Lamb.
2) to be "saved" i.e. acquitted of our guilt and our sin.
Which then qualifies us to become adopted sons and daughters of God. THAT is the ultimate purpose of this existence.
Jhn 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
1Jo 3:1
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
We are trading that which we cannot keep (physical life) for that which we cannot lose (spiritual life). Sounds like a good deal to me.
BTW, one of the major themes in the Bible is that the SECOND BIRTH is the important one. And for the Christian, enduring the pain and trials of the first merits crowns and rewards at the Bema seat. My exhortation to you: HOLD FAST! The Rapture is very near, the revealing of the Sons of God is nigh.
Rev 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Rev 3:11
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Rom 8:19
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
And partake in the victory that Christ Jesus has achieved for us.
Rom 8:37
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Eph 5:19
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Col 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord
The heart of the Christian resonates with these sweet sweet songs and hymns. Feel free to join in.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l5LV-1GRHL4NM2zsMq75xJEuVGkn8swOg
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Col 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord
The heart of the Christian resonates with these sweet sweet songs and hymns. Feel free to join in.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l5LV-1GRHL4NM2zsMq75xJEuVGkn8swOg
This may be a good thing, since according to what you say, the things you have invested in
have neither been fruitful nor satisfying. Another way of saying that is: it is time to tear down
and rebuild on more solid ground.People nearing the end of their third decade often face this
reality of re-assessing their values.Back in my day, young people did not trust anyone over thirty -
have neither been fruitful nor satisfying. Another way of saying that is: it is time to tear down
and rebuild on more solid ground.People nearing the end of their third decade often face this
reality of re-assessing their values.Back in my day, young people did not trust anyone over thirty -
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But in the world outside, it's possible she is treated like a child because she has yet to marry or raise a family. These are the standards that the world judges us by - yes, even the world of the church. Unless your reason for being single is to go jump into bed with anyone that comes along - and I can assure you that is not the case here.
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Putting too much weight on the opinions of the outside world would crush us, and that's what the world would love to do.
"The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high." Proverbs 29.26
Should we behave as children because the world treats us so? That is agreeing with it, even if just in sarcasm. We should not allow the world to influence us in that case either, or in any case. It doesn't matter if the entire earth considers me "old." Old is a relative term, and relative to eternity, I'm a babe.
"The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high." Proverbs 29.26
Should we behave as children because the world treats us so? That is agreeing with it, even if just in sarcasm. We should not allow the world to influence us in that case either, or in any case. It doesn't matter if the entire earth considers me "old." Old is a relative term, and relative to eternity, I'm a babe.
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