RE: Heaven seems awful 2 me-"Theist laughs at loudly & with great cruelty"
May 16, 2016 at 5:37 pm
(May 16, 2016 at 4:14 pm)ChadWooters Wrote:(May 14, 2016 at 3:28 pm)Godschild Wrote: I didn't want to call them wicked and unrighteous, but that's what anyone is as you say that deals in the sex slave trade. I wasn't referring to anyone here, but you know as well as I do that a Christian can't do such a thing. I'm sure there are people who call themselves Christians that deal in the sex slave trade, but those people are also the wicked and unrighteous and that means they couldn't be Christians. If I'm not mistaken any who reject Christ are called the wicked and unrighteous.
GC
We both agree that we are all sinners in the eyes of the Lord. Of course. The distinction I'm making is between orthodoxy and orthopraxy. It is common for sincere believers to know what they should do and yet act to the contrary. Saint Paul said so himself.
A Christian can believe very strongly that adultery is a sin and yet in a moment of weakness succumb to temptation. He or she doesn't stop being a Christian. They just failed to live-up to their beliefs. In other words their will was not strong enough to conform to their beliefs. Likewise a drunk who hits bottom and gets on his knees to say the sinners' prayer is as of that moment a Christian. He understands the Truth of his sin and his need for a Savior. Even so, it may take some time for him to gain the strength to overcome. He may backslide several times. Yet he doesn't stop being a Christian.
The theoretical "Christian slaver" could be someone so deeply embedded in the slave trade that getting out of that could be immensely difficult. Even though he has come to know the Truth, he may have to go through a period of great struggle to completely sever himself from that life. The bottom line, as I see it it that, repentance isn't always instant and complete; but rather, an ongoing process of gradually opening ourselves to the Lord so we can learn to live in accordance with His Will.
I guess all I'm saying is that just because someone is Christian, it doesn't mean they are a good one.
I agree with all you're saying, except for one thing, I personally can't see how someone who is a Christian could traffick children, one coming to the truth out of such a life must realize that they can't treat other humans that way especially children. Jesus warned the apostles and others about keeping the little children from Him. I do not consider my self all that good of a Christian, I have a long way to go.
GC
God loves those who believe and those who do not and the same goes for me, you have no choice in this matter. That puts the matter of total free will to rest.