'You must be 'born again' or else'!

 

Response to comment [from an agnostic]: "This was the theme of my childhood, slammed into me by my parents and the ghastly Pentecostal church I was forced to attend. I resisted until I was eleven before giving into the pressure of giving 'my heart to Jesus'. I played the part but never felt comfortable with the concept. I never had the slightest feeling any deity was there for me. I had a problem I couldn't share with my parents, and asked Jesus to give me some help with it, but he never came through for me. I drew the obvious conclusion that either he didn't care, or more likely died 2000 years ago. By the time I left home at 19 when I married I had lost my faith, as had my husband.

When our kids were born we left it up to them to decide if they wanted a faith or not with no pressure from us. All three are Christians but not Biblical literalists and liberal in their approach. Religion is never discussed by us."

 

Dereliction of duty (Pr 22:6).

See:

Why are there times when God seems silent / absent in a believer's life?

 

Response to comment [from an agnostic]: "...I make a point of challenging extremist Christianity on forums as it can be very abusive as I know to my cost."

 

Are you an extremist agnostic (lit. without knowledge to an extreme).

"Truth is hate to those who hate the truth." ~ Bob Enyart

 

See:

Atheism & Agnosticism

 

Response to comment [from a Catholic]: "So you are a victim."

 

It's not too attractive is it?

 

Yes, you must be born again (Jn 3:7) or you will go to hell (Matt. 10:15).

 

Response to comment [from an agnostic]: "The idea of only the 'saved' going to heaven and others, however good they are..."

 

They aren't (Ps 53:3, Mk 10:18).

 

"...going to hell, is very sick indeed."

 

To you (Rom. 2:8, 9).  For us, allowing the wicked into heaven would be sickening (Rev. 21:8).  Hell wasn't created for you (Matt. 25:41).  You've got to step over a lot of Christians to go there (Matt. 10:15).  Why have you rejected the light of truth? Ps. 89:15. 

 

"In theory someone as evil as Hitler could have made a deathbed conversion and gone to heaven..."

 

You think you're better than him? Ro 3:12. He doesn't blame anyone else (Gen. 3:12). He doesn't claim to be innocent (Matt. 27:24). He put his trust in Jesus (Matt. 12:17–21).

You are rejecting an eternal God (Mk 3:29). Your punishment should be eternal (Matt. 25:46).

 

"...whilst an atheist who has done a lot of good in their life..."

 

They've done no good (Isa 64:6). They are not in Christ (Is. 19:25).

 

 "...would go to hell. The deity would be a psychopath if that was its plan!"

 

Is this Bill O'Reilly? We don't refer to God as the deity. He's got a name (Ex 3:13-14). He's got many names (See: Names of God). God has a plan. He is calling out a people for his namesake. If you don't care for his plan, get your own universe.

Your motto: "I am a figment of my own imagination".

No, you exist. Ask Descartes. After you accept that, God has something to tell you. He is holy (Rev. 4:8). You are responsible to him (Jn 3:18–20).

 

'You must be 'born again' or else'!