-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Meh me thinks one would have to ask what exactly definition of Heaven is for this OP question, and by the general discussion herein.
Way I see it, I guess I am a newish Christian too. Maybe lukewarm Christian, or maybe just still learning, a noob Christian idk, but I am willing to know more and learn. Way I see it if the Bible be true from my perspective of only reading the whole thing once, and some of my more favorite passages and ones peopel share here I'd be in the camp saying Resurrection through Jesus. I was under impression the heavens was up in the sky lol. Perhaps the soul can go there, perhaps not. This I do not know so, for at least in my current understandings on Bible and Jesus then I'd keep to the safe side and say I at least believe Jesus can resurrect anyone so this seems like the best answer.
Way I see it, I guess I am a newish Christian too. Maybe lukewarm Christian, or maybe just still learning, a noob Christian idk, but I am willing to know more and learn. Way I see it if the Bible be true from my perspective of only reading the whole thing once, and some of my more favorite passages and ones peopel share here I'd be in the camp saying Resurrection through Jesus. I was under impression the heavens was up in the sky lol. Perhaps the soul can go there, perhaps not. This I do not know so, for at least in my current understandings on Bible and Jesus then I'd keep to the safe side and say I at least believe Jesus can resurrect anyone so this seems like the best answer.
My own rejection of Christian belief never felt like a rebellion. I was never angry with God. I started moving from belief because the biblical explanation of things came to make less and less sense. Belief simply fell away.
Why would you say that you went from atheism to heresy? What is the difference? Heresy is simply the view of the religious toward atheism, is it not?
I too explored eastern philosophy (I have a statue of Buddha on my desk to this day), but I quickly came to see it as just another false system of belief. I've never felt myself consumed by hate.
I've always been interested in mythology, and from the beginning have seen it as a primitive attempt to understand the world that we call home.
Why would someone who thinks of herself as an atheist jump right into the lap of another faith system that required belief in gods? Atheists don't believe in gods.
I've always avoided New Age religion. The occult did hold my curiosity for a while, but by age 25 I decided the so-called evidence for it had flawed thinking. I wonder though, you wouldn't have associated any of this with Satan at the time. You have only come to see Satan in it after adopting the Christian perspective, yes?
I later came to see my early interest in the occult as an attempt to hang on to a belief in the afterlife.
Happily so.
A friend of mine, before I knew him, had sunk into a downward spiral of drug use. A vision of Christ gave him the strength and motivation to claw his way back. By the time I met him he had become a happy and well adjusted individual with a young family. We became good friends. He is now an atheist and interprets his vision of Christ as a fatigue and drug induced hallucination derived from his early Christian up-bringing. I tend to agree.
A matter of religious opinion. As my friend shows, there are always others ways of interpreting our experiences.
Thank you for sharing. It sounds like you had a rough time of things for a while, and I am glad you found a better way.
Why would you say that you went from atheism to heresy? What is the difference? Heresy is simply the view of the religious toward atheism, is it not?
I too explored eastern philosophy (I have a statue of Buddha on my desk to this day), but I quickly came to see it as just another false system of belief. I've never felt myself consumed by hate.
I've always been interested in mythology, and from the beginning have seen it as a primitive attempt to understand the world that we call home.
Why would someone who thinks of herself as an atheist jump right into the lap of another faith system that required belief in gods? Atheists don't believe in gods.
I've always avoided New Age religion. The occult did hold my curiosity for a while, but by age 25 I decided the so-called evidence for it had flawed thinking. I wonder though, you wouldn't have associated any of this with Satan at the time. You have only come to see Satan in it after adopting the Christian perspective, yes?
I later came to see my early interest in the occult as an attempt to hang on to a belief in the afterlife.
Happily so.
A friend of mine, before I knew him, had sunk into a downward spiral of drug use. A vision of Christ gave him the strength and motivation to claw his way back. By the time I met him he had become a happy and well adjusted individual with a young family. We became good friends. He is now an atheist and interprets his vision of Christ as a fatigue and drug induced hallucination derived from his early Christian up-bringing. I tend to agree.
A matter of religious opinion. As my friend shows, there are always others ways of interpreting our experiences.
Thank you for sharing. It sounds like you had a rough time of things for a while, and I am glad you found a better way.
J
it deeply saddens me that your friend thinks a drug induced hallucination saved him from the very things causing the hallucinations in the first place.
The story reminds me of the parable of the sower.
18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
The story reminds me of the parable of the sower.
18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
P
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,
1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 (ESV)....( through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.) asleep is the word for death! and since he will bring us with him!! means that we would be there already!! brought to the new earth..
1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 (ESV)....( through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.) asleep is the word for death! and since he will bring us with him!! means that we would be there already!! brought to the new earth..