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How Important It Is To Have Jesus Christ As Your Personal Savior
- Thread starter Walter and Debbie
- Start date
Audie
Veteran Member
Aka s- man as I said nor implied any of that
Walter and Debbie
Member
Thank you, Walter
Exaltist Ethan
Bridging the Gap Between Believers and Skeptics
Humanity is its own savior, and each of us who has developed a conscious throughout their lives exists to spread our anthropomorphism. Jesus was a large part of this; the hospitals and parochial schools are of no exception to human excellence and exceptionalism.
The Kilted Heathen
Crow FreyjasmaðR
Phillip, did you ever read the study done during World War 1 concerning helmets and reported injuries? I forget what it's called, but in a nutshell when they started introducing helmets to the soldier's rather than uniform caps, they found that there was a startling increase in injuries. Your statistics would see this and say "With the way this war is going, we should go back to caps! There would be less injuries!"
Only there were more injuries because people were surviving getting shot in the head, rather than dying.
Your statistics paint a biased view, and one that is blind to circumstance. Additionally, your statistics present the approval rating, not the events themselves. Though some seem rather odd for approval ratings. I would love to see the sources on your studies, and what their focus group was for those statistics. Because that's the big issue with statistics; they're easy to fudge.
PruePhillip
Well-Known Member
Havent heard of this helmet study before. But often read about the bomber damage one - it's similar. Someone suggested reinforcing those areas of a bomber which came back damaged, but someone else pointed out those same areas can be damaged and the plane returns.
The figures are from American Gallop studies.
Subduction Zone
Veteran Member
I was going to bring that one up as well. The conclusion was that it was more likely that the parts of the plane with the fewest holes needed more protection. The planes that were hit in those areas had a much lower chance of getting home.
I think the answer depends on how you view the Christian God.
If we stipulate that there's a God and that God is omnipotent, is all-knowing hence all-understanding, is just and is merciful, then no one, not even Hitler, would have a problem ─ on arrival at judgment, he wouldn't be sent to Hell (because there wouldn't be a Hell), he'd simply be healed.
I know the NT doesn't say that (though it's ambiguous as to whether Hitler dying went to burn in Hell forever, or simply and instantly ceased to exist, or ceased to exist in a fiery manner).
But unless we change the premises above, I can't see how it could be otherwise.
Of utmost importance.
It defines my paradigm for living and certainly changed my paradigm for living. It redefined how I think and live out my life.
For me, it gave me new insight for understanding life.
By doing so, it saved my marriage and stopped the curse of divorce that was ingrained in us by our parents (my wife and i). It save us from passing it on to the next generation.
It has saved us spiritually, soulishly, and physically.
Thanks for asking and welcome to the forum.
Sand Dancer
Crazy Cat Lady
Same.
The Kilted Heathen
Crow FreyjasmaðR
And reinforces my same point.
You point to these statistics and say "see, the country needs god!" (or whatever), but does it really? Is that what the study shows? Does it show an increase in these rates, or a higher awareness of these rates? Who did the studies target, and where? What was their sample size?
Yes, I see that you have said it's a Gallup pole study. Of one that I could find with that title, you seem to be misrepresenting a lot of the information, both in terms of numbers (some of yours are incorrect) and in what exactly was being asked.
stvdv
Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
How Important It Is To Have Jesus Christ As Your Personal Savior
From my POV:
Most importantly: who decides whether or not it's important for any random person to have Jesus as their Personal Savior?
Answer:
God, and God alone
Not some RF poster
Obviously, God does not play favorites
Hence, my answer to your question is:
From God's POV it's not important that any random person needs to have Jesus as their Personal Savior,
Assuming God exists
From my POV:
Most importantly: who decides whether or not it's important for any random person to have Jesus as their Personal Savior?
Answer:
God, and God alone
Not some RF poster
Obviously, God does not play favorites
Hence, my answer to your question is:
From God's POV it's not important that any random person needs to have Jesus as their Personal Savior,
Last edited:
Walter and Debbie
Member
Walter and Debbie
Member
Walter and Debbie
Member
Sgt. Pepper
All you need is love.
I know that our situations are not the same, but we at least share the fact that leaving Christianity was a good decision that benefited us and made our lives better. It had a profound impact on my life because my mental health and emotional well-being substantially improved after I renounced my Christian faith. And as a result, I now have inner peace and joy as well as a sense of enjoyment for life, which is something I didn't genuinely experience when I was a Christian. My only regret is that I didn't leave Christianity years ago.
I remember that a few Christians would tell me that "God helps those who help themselves," and if I only acted like I had joy in my heart and pretended to be happy, then Jesus would meet me halfway and actually make me feel better. I wanted so desperately to feel the "peace of Jesus" that was promised in the Bible to his followers, but I wasn't feeling it at all. So, even though I felt like I was dying inside, I continued to act like a joyful Christian because I thought these Christians were right. I went through the motions, but I wasn't feeling any different than I was before. I confided in a couple of Christian friends and my pastor that nothing was changing for me, and they all basically told me that I obviously didn't have enough faith in God and Jesus, and that's why neither God nor Jesus weren't intervening in my life. They basically shamed me, guilt-tripped me, and accused me of having unconfessed sins in my life.
They obviously didn't know me because I always made sure that didn't happen because I was worried that if I died suddenly, I could still have unconfessed sin. And to add insult to injury, a pastor once told me that it was obvious to him that I'm a cursed soul and that God hates me and is punishing me for the sins of my biological parents. He said that he had a "revelation from God" about me after I told him about my childhood and the abuse and neglect I had suffered at home and the bullying and harassment I endured in school.
I thought I'd share my "testimony" with you because I find it comforting to talk to other former Christians about their experiences when they were still Christians, why they decided to leave Christianity, and how their lives have improved since they left Christianity.
Wildswanderer
Veteran Member
All important. If you want to have eternal life.
Sand Dancer
Crazy Cat Lady
There are many people who share their experiences for those who feel stuck and don't know what to do. There are also those who counsel people who feel alone in trying to escape the religion. I may look into doing that. Thanks for sharing.
Shadow Wolf
Certified People sTabber
For me it was a long and layered happening.
Such as having a Christian education that taught me how the world is, and then I got outside of that extremely insular world and found that just wasn't the case. I also learned things in history that didn't match what the Church taught me, but it made more sense seeing things through that lens (though it came as a shock to seeing Christianity listed as a reason Rome fell, but as it was taught it made sense as I saw that wasn't an attack on Christianity), and I learned science really just has nothing to with any god or devil and that too wasn't the nasty "Satan's way of pulling people away from God" that I was taught it is, nor did any of it even make any effort or attempt at disproving god.
Another layer was being taught how to hate myself, deeply and profoundly, and I was utterly terrified that because I'm trans and having attractions towards men I was risking angering god and being cast into Hell. Which, in all reality, the preachers of such Churches are very much into threats of hellfire and brimstone, they regularly condemn others and even say other denominations are going to Hell, and I ended up having nightmares of going there (I can still remember the mental anguish and pain of fire burning my flesh).
There is also the layer of Jehovah's absence. I didn't have an easy or pleasant childhood, and nothing ever got easier or better. It was just another hardship or tragedy after another. Amd I didn't find any comfort, at all, in the story of Job because he was being challenged he had a comfortable life filled with happiness and family before his challenge. I didn't have anything yanked away. I was presented with anything new. My entire life just sucked, and despite my beliefs and prayers nothing got better. My parents divorced, my dad was alcoholic, my mom an abusive authoritarian, bullied and tormented, learning of betrayal at a young age, but despite all my pleas (including praying for death) I also got to go through my bus driver running over and killing my dog.
Reading the Bible for myself was also another layer. Not reading what others tell me read and how to read it, but just read it. I was looking for guidance, looking for that love and mercy, looking for inspiration and I found tyranny, great violence, harsh punishments, slavery and misogyny, war and genocide, and none of it was comforting me. It was only helping to push me away.
I remember, as I learning things about the world, I learned many of the OT stories actually came from other cultures. I learned a lot of it just could be true. But Christianity and Jesus was all I knew, and there at the end I even rejected the OT while still clinging to Jesus. But there was no reconciling that without the OT there is no purpose or reason for the existence of the NT, that ultimately without the OT there really can't even be an NT.
And after much inner turmoil and strife I let it all go and the healing could begin. And I seem to have been lucky because when I let it go I let it go and haven't suffered doubts or further fears since I did let it go. But it was such a tremendous burden off my shoulders that I don't think I could have second guessed myself if I wanted to. One second I was a Christian, the next I renounced it all and it was if a terrible curse were lifted from me and came to an end.
PruePhillip
Well-Known Member
Well, take a look at the rate of broken families amongst African Americans. Think it's about 75% of all black children being raised in single parent homes. I shouldn't say 'black' because there's many thriving and well adjusted communities of 'blacks' such as Indian, Pakistani, Nigerian, Ethiopian etc.. But this figure must be the highest that's ever existed in history - I can't tell that, but I sure would like someone to challenge me on it.
In 1900 the divorce rate reached 3%, and people were concerned. Now it's what, 50%? I don't think that's happened before.
Just anecdotally you can see all this - gambling is no longer illegal or thought to be immoral for instance.
Gambling, drugs, prostitution and porn are a TRILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY in America. That would have blown the minds of people in 1900.