Why should it matter where I believe people go once they die? I should just live my own life following my own path to God. My path is Jesus Christ and all that He is. Other people have a different path.
The problem is in all that Christianity encompasses and the messages it teaches. He is pretty specific about going to the ends of the earth to spread the Gospel and tell people about Christ. It is why you get all those well meaning evangelists who so often put people off totally. Do I want people to know Christ and all the amazing blessings and life that comes with it? Of course. Its a rush for me, that love, forgiveness and life and seeing the world in a whole new way. The problem for me is as discussed in the previous post. If I don't believe their path is the wrong one FOR THEM or that they are going to hell, then it makes trying to convince them to follow mine rather rude actually. Even Rebeka asked me once if it wasn't rude to tell someone they are wrong and their God is a lie. She has a little Muslim girl in her class. Yes Becks, I do think it is rude and I know telling people about Jesus is hard so you just show Him in how you live each and every day. Be kind, forgive others, share what you have, love Him with all your heart & mind & soul and love & treat other people like you love & treat yourself. If people ask you why you are not being ugly back then you tell them its because you love Jesus who lives in your heart and who simply doesn't allow us to have nastiness living in our hearts too.
Like many things I will just have to put it aside and focus on loving others and myself and loving Him and trying to live a life that reflects who I believe Him to be. I certainly hope I will spend eternity with Him and we can hang out in His garden one day and all my crazy questions and issues will cease to matter.
I leave you with this amazing scripture:
Romans 8:35-39
New International Version (NIV)
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[a]
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
On a side note... great book for kids...
http://www.amazon.com/Sandwich-Queen-Rania-Jordan-Abdullah/dp/1423124847
Posted by: JC | 06 October 2011 at 10:34 AM
Whenever I run into that "exclusive" attitude, whatever the religion, I, too, find myself thinking that the best way to convince anyone that you have an answer that is better than their answer is to LIVE IT. As Edwin Markham said in the poem "Outwitted"
He drew a circle that shut me out-
Heretic , rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him In !
Keep searching, keep loving, keep living what you believe.
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