Christians, what if you're wrong?

Hello, Lyn.

You ask a very challenging question that all of us should think on ... and i will continue to think on.

Initially i can explain say this though, although i am only speaking for myself.

Personally, i do not mindlessly accept everything ANYONE tells me. I evaluate EVERYTHING against logic, reason, balance, and what ALL of the Bible says, not just one or two verses or parts of verses. I ALWAYS use the attitude "show me" with EVERYONE ... although i do agree with you that far to many people don't, regardless of a person's belief systems. But i will admit that i became that way only when i had been betrayed by several pastors/teachers and knew that there was only one Person that i could truly trust, and that was Jesus Christ Himself.

* If you will allow me to go to your third question before your second, i am 60 years old at this point so i have gone through enough of life to have had my faith/trust in Jesus Christ to have been proven countless times. And the older i get and the more struggles that i face because of my increased struggles, the more He proves my trust in Him.

* To answer your second question, i heard someone answer this same question this way. "If atheism is right and Christianity is wrong, i don't lose anything ... and in fact have lived the best life that a person can live, living honestly and helping people in every way that i can. But if Christianity is right and atheism is wrong, then that person loses everything." And this sounds like a reasonable explanation although it does feed back into your "show me" critique ... which for me is not the case ........ and it also makes the unreasonable assumption that atheists/etc. don't live honestly and kindly and givingly because that is dramatically and decidedly untrue ----- because, as you have said yourself, i have seen Christians do some of the cruelest and most unconscionable things using God, the Scriptures, and Jesus Christ as justification and rationalisation --- including to me. And i eventually had to decide that i would be a Christian because i was a follower and obeyer of Jesus, not because of any Christian ~~~ which leads me back to #1. And the pastors/teachers that i love and trust the most are those that agree that i should be putting my obedience to Jesus Christ FAR above any belief i'd have in them.

* Would you be interested in checking into something? There is an author that i know about and deeply respect who might be able to answer your questions. He was an atheist investigative reporter who set out to prove that Christianity was a lie ..... only to prove just the opposite and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior himself. His name is Lee Strobel; he has a website and many books, the first being "A Case for Christ". He is one of the VERY FEW people and Christians that i respect ... and from what you've shared, perhaps it might help answer some of your own questions. There is also a book that has helped me with some of the things Christians have done to me that perhaps might help you, too; "The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse", by David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen.

~~~~

I will continue to think on your question, because it is a good one that challenges.

I hope the thoughts that i have shared are something that you can use, too.

I will be keeping you in my thoughts, Lyn (and, if you will permit, my prayers ---- i've had some of my non-Christian friends laugh and tell me, "it certainly can't hurt" :-D LOL).

~~~~~

PS: Thank you for sharing your past, Lyn; it helped me to know how to answer your question. Unless i know otherwise, i usually guess that the person that i am answering is unfamiliar with the Bible and Christian beliefs. But, yes, there are many times i am ashamed to admit that i am a Christian because of what i see so many Christians doing ... finally only being able to continue to be a Christian by deciding that the reason i was a Christian was because of Christ, not because of other Christians. I don't know if you'd be interested, but there are two Christians that i very deeply respect because of the loving way they treat people and live. Both of them have websites so i believe that you should be able to pull them up no matter where you live; Dr. Mark L. Walker, head pastor of Mount Paran North Church of God in Marietta, Georgia, United States (one of my former pastors) and Max Lucado, a pastor and prolific author, maybe starting with his book, "When God Whispers Your Name".

Another resouce that i think you might be interested in checking out is New Life Ministries; they have a website, too. One of the books that they offer, too, is one having to do with the damaging things Christians do; i haven't read that book, but i know NLM and can suggest it based on my knowledge of them.

You take care of yourself, Lyn, okay?

You will be in my thoughts.

I appreciate your question and appreciate that those "obnoxious Christians" make the Christan neighborhood as a entire appear dangerous. Sincerely, these "obnoxious Christians" undoubtedly undergo from the delight of "self-righteousness. A real CHRISTIAN would really like the soul as a human and make an effort to point out to that particular soul why their behavior or manner(s) opposes the phrase of God. It is a proven fact that it's not possible to get all the world's population (say 6 billion) to agree on the identical thing for any problem. The giant variety in beliefs, expertise, education, upbringing, subculture and lots of different explanations impasse this matter into the chaos that is a foremost part of our everyday lives. Concerning your announcement "also, about a 1/3 of the world's population is Christian. Appear at any nontoxic supply. This implies, shockingly, the opposite 4 billion humans usually are not"... I do find this to line up in contract with the bible (A riskless supply) scripture determined in MATTHEW 7:13-14 thirteen Enter ye in on the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and vast is the best way, that leadeth to destruction, and many THERE BE WHICH GO in thereat: [Hell] 14 because strait is the gate, and slim is the way in which, which leadeth unto lifestyles, and FEW THERE BE THAT to find IT. [Heaven] that is hardly a twist of fate... And feel that the real question is "WHAT if you are wrong?"

Well, if Christians are wrong, then we have nothing to worry about. When I die, I will turn to nothing. I may have spent my life believing in a God, but at least I had lived my life to love and serve others. You may say that we wasted our lives, but then, if we turn to nothing, it really doesn't matter, does it?

However, if you're wrong...you have a lot to worry about, my friend...

Actually, a number of atheists who have done research have converted to Christianity...just look at Lee Strobel

@Colonel Panic: Here, the question was addressed to Christians by an atheist...it was not addressed to 'people of all religions' so naturally, we would only discuss Christianity and atheism. Certainly, there are other religions who may be correct, but we are only answering the question here. If you would like, you can ask a another similar question directed to all religions...

OP: I don't know what denomination you were a member of, but the Bible teaches assurance of salvation the moment put our full faith and trust in Christ. That's what makes Christianity unique from all other religions in the world... All Christians will encounter doubt...after all, if we don't bump into Satan once in a while, it may be because we're in the same direction.

I've considered the idea that I might be wrong.

I have researched the Bible, quite extensively. I haven't always been a believer. In fact, if you'd asked me ten years ago if I thought I would ever become a Christian, I probably would have cussed you out and/or laughed at you.

I don't just "trust other Christians".

I put my faith to the test every day.

If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. I haven't wasted my life or anything. I like the life I lead as a Christian.

What if I'm wrong?... nothing. We all just rot in the ground, and we won't know we're rotting anyway since we'll be dead, so it won't mean anything to us. Basically, I've got nothing to lose, but you sure do. I'm not trying to be rude, but the fact is that there are no consequences to me being wrong, but there are to you being wrong.

We know that the bible was written by many authors over 1000s of years (we know God didn't write it lol. The books tell you the authors Matthew, Jude, etc.) There is actual non-religious record of Jesus and the apostles along with several other historical figures in the bible. Paul is mentioned in the same texts as the emperor Nero, his executioner, - I know that from doing my own research by the way.

I hope I answered you, and God Bless you

How could I be wrong? The people in my bible were PROVEN to have existed and done the things they did. The places mentioned in it either still exist today or did exist at one time. The prophecies in it have NEVER been WRONG... We CHRISTIANS have all this PROOF... Yet ATHEISTS only have THEORIES.. Kinda hilarious that u guys like to argue about this.

If I'm wrong I'm wrong. If there's no God then nothing matters and the fact that I would be wrong would not matter.

Furthermore, we don't have blind faith. Isaiah 1:18 says "come let us reason together". Quite the opposite of blind faith without reason!

@Ephraim: Actually what'd be worse is if it turns out the Muslims are right and we both go to hell...

Or the Ancient Greeks. Or the Norsemen. Or anybody but either of us basically.

@Charles: If there's no such thing as blind faith then how do you explain that billions have faith in hundreds of religions other than your own.

Edit: Why do you people seem to think the only beliefs out there are atheism and religion?

Simple, if I am wrong as a believer then I will die, turn to dust and exist no more. I have gained or lost nothing. However if an atheist is wrong he will die, turn to dust and exist for eternity in Hell whereas I will die turn to dust but be resurrected and spend eternity in paradise with God.

I HAVE researched and have felt the Holy Spirit in my life and I've seen how God can change everything and just always be there.So I really don't believe I'm wrong