From time to time I feel the need to make this very clear to my readers and friends. I have a number of friends that are not followers of Jesus. I truly appreciate my readers that have different religious beliefs and yet choose to read my posts anyway. I do want to maintain a dialogue that allows us to freely share the things that we each believe.
However, a couple of things have prompted me to write this now--a letter from an atheist to the Christian Left Facebook page, and a conversation with an unbeliever.
It is important for you to know that even though I accept that we don't all have the same views on God, Jesus, heaven, hell, afterlife and a host of spiritual things; it doesn't mean that I think that there are many ways to heaven or that all religions have eternal value before God.
A friend recently commented that he could talk to me and I wasn't like other Christians that were always wanting to tell him that he's going to hell if he doesn't believe in God or in Jesus as Savior. I told him that I wanted him to know that he could always talk to me and I would do my best to answer any questions that he might have. But I also told him that it was important that he knows that I also believe that ... well, that he's going to hell if he doesn't trust Jesus as his Savior.
In the Bible, Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
And I believe that. With all of my heart, I believe it.
Regardless of your beliefs, you are welcome to stop by and read my posts. You are welcome to disagree with me. You are welcome to leave comments or ask questions.
And if the Holy Spirit is tugging at your heart and you are not sure of how to respond, you can contact me by comment, Facebook message, e-mail or phone.
John <><
Atheists are more obsessed with God than than Fundamentalists. It would be so much easier to just say they were Agnostic and leave it at that. Saying they are an Atheist usually invites a fight.
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteI agree. I believe the Bible is very clear on this point. Jesus is the only way.
As Romans 10:9 says, "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." NIV
Let's make sure we get the Word out!
Mike makes a good point ... there's no point in getting in each other's faces about contending religious views. And John, you are correct that the Bible is very clear on that point ... however, not everyone with strong religious views accepts the truth of the Bible as you do. Jews, Muslims, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, and a bazillion other religious groups each believe as fervently in the absolute truth of their scriptures as you do in the absolute truth of the Bible. From your perspective, they're wrong. From their perspective, you are. All of you are betting eternity on being right. Good luck! I'm just glad we can agree to be virtual friends in spite of our competing beliefs.
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