Audie wrote:crochet1949 wrote:Thank you for providing your link.
One of the positives of Christianity is the Inner peace a person has through Christ -- God's forgiveness -- there are those with Lots of money and a Good education but No inner peace -- an inner searching for it.
Actually -- life can get worse for Christians -- while here on earth. They want to share their new faith in Christ and get ridiculed / can loose friends/ families might give them trouble simply because they choose to give up social drinking, they don't want to 'party' any more. Because their accepting Jesus Christ as personal Savior goes against the family religious traditions. They will be gaining New friends from church / Bible studies. God gives them inner peace that they know they made the right decision. And -- in the process of all of 'this' - people / friends Can see a positive difference in their lives and decide to listen to them and also accept Christ. And sometimes they are forever out of the family.
Being willing to do the Right thing, but for the Wrong reasons will still result in hell for Eternity. A person can put on a tie and dress slacks and go door to door handing out pamphlets --maybe even for a Baptist church Or a Mormon church -- but That 'good deed' will Not earn their way into heaven. Maybe there will be people who will visit a given church as a result --That is wonderful -- but 'visiting a church' or accepting religious material Will Not earn that person their entrance to heaven.
The person who does good things Because they love God and want to do those things out of love for Him. That's the idea.
I've known some very wealthy people who are wonderful Christians and have great educations. And I've known some very poor people with little education and who love the Lord. No one can take money or prestige with them to heaven.
Inner peace is a theme with several religions.
As for me, I am not a peaceful sort. So meditating, or whatever does not interest me.
People make a lot of rather silly claims about what becoming Christian did for them. I guess some
achieve sobriety or whatev by going thr church route. But the ones who think they are filled with el holy spirit, get access to arcane info that way, or other magic powers are fulla crap.
"Take up cross and follow" isnt promising a rose garden, which may account for why few do.
Anyway..I feel as if maybe I am leading you on, thinking I may
become Christianized. Your effort would be more productive elsewhere.
"Take up cross and follow" is what a lot of people Do. A very fulfilling life.
You've never really led me on.
God is always ready and willing to receive you -- He loves you.