Why Is It Meddling And Offensive If An Atheist Answers A Question Asked By A Christian.?

C. : Hold this question for a while. Rick does have a valid question, however, we have the kind of freedom that slaves have and will touch more on this later as I have to run.

Also asking for others to contribute. Thanks for your persistence in Rick's question! Rick: The bible never depicts one as having total command or freedom over self.

Following our every desire is not what freedom or free will is. We do have free will to make our own day to day decisions but we are not free from the conditions/consequences set forth which clearly says we are not in total control of ourselves. Much like the slaves.

They were free to earn money, make important decisions for their lives and their family, had time off, but were under the authority of their master to perform the duties given them. A slave is one who is totally dependent on another. No matter how we look at things, we are dependent on something in everything we do.

The decision making is ours to make freely in respect to the choices we have before us. We never have ultimate control over our lives and would be unrealistic to think so. Something as simple as God’s Canvas expecting to go to church, suddenly found his free will shattered to do so because of car trouble.

We are always dependent on something to pull through for us to accomplish the choices we make. For me, that is Christ. Why?

Because He has always proven to me, to be dependable and one who shows dependability is trustworthy. I don’t always agree or see things His way, but I know He always never ceases to amaze me and makes me see just how shallow my own thinking is. Look my friend.

We had no control over being born nor do we have control over physical death. But the fact is we are here and what are we going to do about it? We can rebel under self-destruction in this life and the afterlife or embrace what is offered to you having a life of prosperity, peace and joy on this side of heaven and everlasting.

Jesus did not die just so we could go to Heaven. We love ya man! New Answer #1 That is a really good question!

It illustrates wonderfully how we use our wrong understanding of so many issues to reach incorrect conclusions about God and faith. You cannot define “free will” as the ability to freely make choices AND the ability to choose the consequences of those choices. The two are mutually exclusive!

Could I “freely” choose to jump in front of a bus AND “freely” choose NOT to die? Or fire a gun at your head AND NOT have YOU die and ME go to prison? Can I “freely” choose to smoke 100 cigarettes and day AND “freely” choose NOT to have lung cancer?

On and on we could go…. Whether one admits that God created the world or not, one MUST admit that a world of “freedom” also MUST be a world of “responsibility” – you cannot have one without the other. That in essence means that I am FREE to make choices, but I am NOT free to “choose” the consequences of my “Choices”.

That fact is true even in an atheistic world-view! Even without God, I am free to punch my fist into a tree, but I am NOT free to choose that the bones in my hand do not shatter! When one realizes just how fallen our world is and the impact of sin on all of us, especially the personal impact in their own human heart, they should rejoice that God would provide salvation through the atoning work of His Son Jesus and the reality that one DOES NOT have to suffer the condemnation of sin and Hell for eternity!

They should RUN to him for forgiveness in spirit of Humble adoration and submission! Hope that makes some sense! Pastor Tim Answer #2I will work on this.

Seems they want the goodness and blessing of God without God. There are two choices, two kingdoms: Light and Dark, Good and Evil, God's and Satan's. Only for this brief time on earth does there seem to be a middle choice, enjoying the blessings of God while choosing Satan's pathway of self-absorption.

God does send rain on the just and the unjust. God is a jealous God; He will not share His glory with any other God. We are free to choose against God but if we choose God's Kingdom we must serve Him alone.

Satan says the same. Two options. What God would this person want to serve?

I suspect he wants to serve himself, which is no where need being a god. The end of our "self" resources, power, pleasure, wisdom, blessing and cursing, is reached very quickly. "Self" is not a god, though many think that is a kingdom they can choose.

Your friend does have free will to choose. What he really wants is more options.

The question is valid. Try to look at it this way: would you admit all who apply into your private home, just because they claim to be good people, when they don't even acknowledge your existence, no matter how much others have told them about you? Well, you might, just because you think they are your kind of people.

But if you did, would it be in a way that permits them to continue to ignore you? In your own dwelling? Well, again, you might, depending on how generous you feel, but.... And so on.

It's a mistake to think of Heaven as a reward for good behavior. Heaven is the Creator's personal dwelling. It's for himself, his family and loyal servants of his household.

That's why admission is only by grace. Naturally God can give the gift for admirable behavior as well as for ardent devotion as well as for child-like trust, but the point is that it's gift for whatever reason. So perhaps the scenario described is possible.

And we can't forbid God that option merely because someone didn't forgot to put it in the bible. But that doesn't give us authority to declare it true. One can only hope for it and perhaps pray for it.

We might try that.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.