Understanding the bible

[Godscreated]

Since you believe it's subjective maybe it is true God did not see you as a Christian, we could be getting closer to "sure." Though it seems subjective to you it's absolute for me.

I think the greater problem here is simply: what is a Christian? Was me going to Thailand on a missions trip with my own money (while being a broke university student) and having faith in God that he will heal and bless the community not what a Christian would do? Was my 'encounter' where I was left weeping and messed up on the inside not God's doing? I think you might be tempted to somewhat agree on these things and say 'yes, you most probably were a Christian' but because currently I don't call myself one you feel the need to defend your own position by pulling the No True Scotsman fallacy on me.

Sorry if that sounded harsh. I didn't mean it like that, but I'm just stating what I used to feel when someone I knew (whether personally or 'famous') would call it quits on Christianity. It was scary because they were making a direct statement on my beliefs through their life. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same with you, but I think the best way of knowing if the possibility of the Holy Spirit being real is if we can determine some things about the Bible; how the manuscripts came to be and who wrote what. The Bible is the only thing that connects the here and now with anything remotely supernatural and eternal, given that it can be shown to be reliable. Until then, it can be said that encounters with God are merely subconscious mind tricks and fluffy feelings... as I saw them and accepted them to be after I enriched myself with a better understanding of Christianity.

I'm no fan of the No True Scotsman fallacy, I see it as a way out of a debate when one side runs out of explanations. Just because some do not have insight into a matter doesn't mean another doesn't have insight into said matter. When it comes to something like Christianity, NTS is used far to much to ignore a debatable point, beliefs of faith fall to this to often because the opposing side can not understand spiritual matters.

OK enough of that, here's the way I see things when it comes to those who eventually leave Christianity. I do believe there are those who leave and were Christians, however I can not see that they can deny God, Satan does not deny God, these that leave, reject God and His plan for mankind.
Those who leave and deny God's existence never really believed, and as you stated, actually had an experience with the Holy Spirit. When one has experienced the Holy Spirit working in their lives it is something unforgettable and undeniable. Now I'm not talking about a lightning strike kind of moment, but a peaceful experience of revelation. The scripture come alive and you see truths revealed that only Christians can understand, unbelievers can not, you understand things which happen in your life are not coincidental, they are God lead. When active in the church one will find God puts one into positions that are not necessarily comfortable, so God can show one that He is working in one's life. God will show one that He can work His will through one, and that person reaps the joy of what is done. People who experience the Holy Spirit can see God and His wonders through the scriptures, and things He does in their lives

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Didn't know there was a talking snake in scripture, oh, I guess you must be talking about the serpent. God knew the fall was going to happen, so yes this is part of His plan, would He prefer the fall never happened, yes, but God knew with free will in the plan that the fall would happen.


Man's fall was so horrible that God in His love for man was sorrowful that He created man, He knew this would also happen and that He would have to destroy most of His creation. His love for man was so great that He did keep on going with His plan. Do not think God was starting over, He knew man would fall this far, and knew He would need to destroy the world, this also was in His plan because of free will.


Yes this was the crowning moment of His plan, the redemption of man. It has worked, all the believers world wide is proof, oh I know it's not proof to you, but then God's plan never depended on what you consider proof. God's plan does include you, it all depends on how you use your free will as to the way you will fit into the plan.


Yes it's the one I described.


The one scripture describes.

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So if everything that has happened is part of gods "perfect plan" why does he then regret what he's done

Genesis6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

Generally when a plan I've conceived comes out exactly as I've planned it I don't regret it.

Repenteth means sorrow or sadness, not regret. God was saddened by the depth of man's fall, His love was so great for man and man had left their creator. Yes He knew this great fall was coming, but like I said God's love was so great it still saddened Him, this is how terrible man had become.