Encouragement and Advice

[Drich]

Hi Folks,

So as most of you know I have been called 'Agnostic Theist' whatever the heck that means I dont know lol.

Anyway - I had a friend round to my house tonight and he started arguing with me about christianity and how it is right.

Can someone please refute them. I know that there is no evidence to prove god or gods exist but I am afraid of hell and I am also finding it difficult to stop believing.

Any tips or things to do to keep my mind off it.

Here are the arguments and questions can someone please pick at them.

Be glad to.

1) Do babies and children go to hell?
No because children are not old enough to understand and make their own decisions to be accountable.

2) Is the New Testament reliable?
Yes because the Old Testament points directly to Jesus and the New Testament.

I would like to also add that there are very specific promises Christ makes to potential believer, that have been full filled for nearly 2000 years of belief. God says if you do "x" He will give you "Y"

3) If God is Omnipotent and Omnipresent he created hell, so therefore how can hell be separation from God if he is everywhere?
Hell is separation from God as God chooses not to be in hell with others.

:Great:

4) Why did God create hell for eternal torment and torture?
God never mentioned hell as eternal torment and torture – Well not really, many people think dying and having nothing when they die is Torture much like the same way being without God will be torture. God does not tell us a lot about hell.

:Great:

5) Jesus took the punishment for all our sins – So based upon that to pay our debt should he not be in hell for eternity considering he died a sinner?
No Jesus did not die a sinner at all Jesus was sinless but took the burden of other peoples sin creating a paradox that he could not stay in hell because he himself was a sinner however he could get there because of the sins.

:Great:

6) As we know the Bible has been edited and re-written many times, do you think God would punish people for not believing when those same people want to believe but cannot because they cannot trust the Bible?
Yes because they should trust the bible irrespective – It’s God’s word and is never wrong.

I would have pointed to the parable of the talents to explain why God will hold everyone in who He has placed in proxcimity to a version of the bible. (In Short we are responsiable to whatever God has given us. Not to some standard above and beyond our comprehension.) If God gives you X version of the bible then you are responsiable for X.

7) Why would God punish us for eternity in hell for a Finite sin?
It’s not that he wants to punish us, It’s because it’s basically the final straw – God did all he could during our earthly lives after which we will be removed from his presence.

I would have simply asked: What makes you think your sins are finite?

8) Did God create evil?
No God created rules in which he deemed were against what his will was, People going against Gods will are evil.

9) Why did God Punish Job?
Because Job was to act as an example for future generations.

I completely agree, but would also point out, that just because Job's fortune had changed did not mean he was being punished. From His own Mouth he said: The Lord gives and the Lord, takes away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

10) Why when I started breaking away from God and asked for him to Guide me one last chance did he ignore me?
It’s because for years you have been walking further and further away and you don’t know which way to turn this is of your own making.

if this is what you did then I agree. Look at the story of the prodigal son. It was no longer the "father's" job to make the son who abandoned Him life better. The lost son carried himself beyond the Father's house and therefore out of His circle of protection. That is why in the story the son wound up eating pig slop and sleeping with them for warmth. It wasn't till the son returned to the Father did the Father completely restore him.

11) If an Ancient Tribe has not heard about God where do they go?
They will go to heaven because they have now knowledge.

I disagree. The bible does not say they will goto heaven. It simply says Christ will Judge them completely.

12) So what you’re saying is that Christianity should not be preached as people who are ignorant can go to heaven yet those who hear Gods word and reject it will go to heaven?
Yes this is correct, it is because in their heart and mind and soul they will seek God.

Ah, no. Again parable of the talents. "We are only responsiable to what we have been given." This includes teachers. In that if there is opportunity we are to teach, not judge who is or is not able to comprehend. That task belongs to Christ alone.

13) Would it not have been better not to have been born?
No because God gave us free will we then decided to go against it!

I would say it would have been better if you had not been born if you choose to willingly and willfully ignore God's invitation, but that's just me. I want to praise and worship God for eternity.

14) I don’t like or trust the Apostle Paul, He contradicted a lot of what Jesus and the OT said, Prove it (I got stuck here).

Like what?
I've studied both for sometime and have never ran across a contradiction, just people saying there are contradictions.

15) When God says ‘I AM’ he is meaning ‘Mind your own business’?
No God is saying that is name is the unspeakable name that the taught to Moses.

No. Religion (The man/men who wear funny hats who reside in Rome) tells us God is Omni-Max Deity. Which means He is bound to those definations (as per one of your first questions) to define who He is. "I AM" simply means God is who or whatever He chooses to be. Which means He is not bound by the Omni-Max definations (and the subsequent paradoxes) you all like to confuse yourselves with. God has the Power to be who God is. Something we like to think we have the ablity to do but not really.

16) Do you believe in the Book of Revelation?
I don’t know.

It is ok not to know. I do. That said it may not play out to that last generation(they may not describe it) as John recorded it.

17) Do you believe it is in some way scriptural and literal?
I don’t know.

18) If someone decides not to believe in God throughout this life – Although God said he would cast people into the lake of fire for eternity, Do you think at the end he will save everyone?
No because God cannot show his Justice to these people if he saves them anyway?

We know He will not save Everyone, Per the teachings of Christ. Christ even said not everyone who calls themselves 'christian' will be saved. In Short it is up to Christ who will be saved.

19) What if people in heaven pray to God to forgive them or to take pity, Surely Jesus said anything they ask for he will give them?
Yes but this does not show Gods love if he allows them forgiveness as he has to be a fair and Just God.

You guys are always turning that passage in Matthew around. Christ said, "Anything you ask in My Name." Which means Anything you ask that I have told you to ask for. If you were to order something like a computer through your work, you are ordering or asking for a computer though the company name. Now in the same sense could you ask for the company that just bought you a computer to pay for all of your other living and personal expenses? Of course not, when you use the company name to purchase something it has to be for work. Why would you think it is different here? Luke 11 is the parallel verse to the one in Matthew, and in that chapter Christ clearly is telling us to ask for the Gift of the holy Spirit "In His Name.."

20) What is heaven like?
We worship and praise God forever!

Why don't you ask God to Show you.