tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025982325946390912024-03-08T16:15:59.967-08:00Confessions of August Stinequestion37http://www.blogger.com/profile/05560096528887842082noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-402598232594639091.post-6824420752616068722012-06-03T08:14:00.002-07:002012-06-03T08:27:03.603-07:00My Son Thinks I Am Going To Hell<br />
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In spite of the
fact that I am a former fundamentalist Christian and ex-pastor, my minister son
and his family think I am headed for Hell. This is my response to him</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Different Family Beliefs</u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Your faith is
important to you.</div>
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My beliefs are
important to me.</div>
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We pray to the
same God every day</div>
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For me, He is
the Caring Creator;</div>
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Who cares about
my well being</div>
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To you, He is
the fearful God</div>
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Who demands
obedience.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I believe Jesus
was a spiritual man but not God.</div>
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I believe Jesus
said some great words of wisdom</div>
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And I am sorry
he had to die on the cross.</div>
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You believe
Jesus died for the sins of man</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And his salvation is a gift from God.</i></div>
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I do not
believe this, but let’s suppose I did.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Didn’t
you say salvation was a gift?</i></b></div>
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If it is a
gift, why do I need to do anything?</div>
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<br /></div>
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You say I am
going to hell unless . . .</div>
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You even give
me the words I should say—</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Jesus, forgive my sins.”</i></div>
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Do people go to
hell for not saying these words?</div>
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What if I wait
until just before dying and then ask?</div>
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What if I meant
to ask Him for years but didn’t?</div>
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You say “Too
late—you missed your chance!”</div>
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This is God we
are talking about isn’t it?</div>
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Is God limited
by time or death?</div>
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<br /></div>
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On the other
hand, if salvation is a “gift,”</div>
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Do I really
need to ask Him for forgiveness?</div>
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The Bible says
God freely gives this gift.</div>
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Where did all
these attached strings come from?</div>
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Why conditions
on God’s unconditional love?</div>
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<br /></div>
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New converts
are told their Christian duties.</div>
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Tithing is
one—not too bad—it is do-able</div>
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Unless you are
unemployed or on minimum wage.</div>
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But the
heaviest of all these burdens is . . .</div>
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People go to
hell unless we show them Jesus.</div>
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So their
salvation is in our hands . . .</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
thought salvation was a gift.</i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Why is this
huge ugly rope attached to this gift?</div>
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Am I
responsible for my neighbor’s salvation?</div>
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Why am I
involved with another man’s salvation?</div>
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Why does God
need Me?</div>
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Suppose I want
to play golf on a nice day,</div>
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But my neighbor
dies and goes to hell . . .</div>
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And it is my
fault . . .</div>
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Because I did
not tell him about Jesus.</div>
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Please don’t
tell me </div>
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God is so awful
and demanding.</div>
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Why am I
involved in someone's eternal choice?</div>
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I thought God
loved me and my neighbor.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Because of His
heavy guilt trip,</div>
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I can’t even
play golf without God on my back</div>
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I cannot
believe God dearly loves me . . .</div>
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But loads me
down with guilt trips</div>
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About darn near
everything I do.</div>
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If I truly am a
child of God,</div>
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Why do I have
to be afraid of Him?</div>
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Why can’t I
enjoy God</div>
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And let Him fix
the world?</div>
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I thought that
was His job.</div>
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Scripture says
God is with us always;</div>
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If so, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Come on God, let’s go play some golf.”</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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*****</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>question37http://www.blogger.com/profile/05560096528887842082noreply@blogger.com3