I hear this alot. let me hear your explantions for how you know that this is ttruelly the case.
Keep in mind this verse when you answer
HEB 6:4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace
2006-09-01 18:33:30 · 14 answers · asked by CJunk 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Christians are Atheist. They disbelieve in an infinite number of possible gods and believe in just one.
They're huge Atheists, they just don't want to admit it.
2006-09-01 18:36:15 · answer #1 · answered by Toronto 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That does sound like once saved always saved. Do not forget(or maybe some of you need to have this called to mind) that Adolph Hitler studied the Bible for many years as a child and a man, before he came to power. He considered himself a Christian, and sought to find a Christian lineage in the Aryan race. I have seen many a person who was once powerful in the Christian faith, who if you had heard them "back in the day", would have been called "on fire" for God, but then something happened in their life, and they got discouraged. I have also seen a friend of mine who when I met him was probably the biggest atheist since Madelyn Murray O'Hare(sp), and now he is preaching. It is VERY possible for a true Christian or a ttue atheist to go to the other end of the spectrum. It is just a matter of finding out in each situation, what brought them to their decision.
2006-09-01 18:44:20 · answer #2 · answered by savvyd 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read Romans 8:29 - "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be confored to the likeness of his Son...". Salvation is more about what God has done than what we can do. He chose us before birth. And it is he that conforms and keeps us. He even says no one can snatch us from His hand. Also, when you have two different scriptures seemingly saying two different things you must determine why and which one may be being interpreted incorrectly. I would say in this case that if you were to study the book of Hebrews as a whole and determine the context as you go from chapter to chapter you will discover that the writer progresses telling what will happen if a Christian does lose his/her witness for God. The ultimate result will be physical death as discipline. And that is why a true Christian can't ever become an atheist because in the end he/she will be face to face with their God.
2006-09-01 18:55:23 · answer #3 · answered by Waterboy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know about they can't, since I was at one point a "true Christian."
What I do know generally is that they have been indoctrinated into believing in god since young age and/or have had a life changing situation that they interpreted as witnessing god. Christianity takes up all aspects of their lives including family, friends, hobbies, and even choice of programming, music, and literature. There is also a great deal of misinformation and fear.
The programming is all christ-based in the fact that they are biblical stories or people talking about how wonderful jesus has been to them. The music comes in all tastes, rap, rock, even heavy metal, but all with jesus loving lyrics and giving up your life to him. Their literature and programming play a big role because it is all focused on believing in god. When I was a christian and wanted to learn about evolution, I bought a christian book (wrong idea), and certainly the book had inaccuracies, outdated data, and flat out lies about what evolution was; yet at the momment I thought it was true. Interestingly enough, the literature focuses on how evolution is wrong and argue with evolutionists rather than what it is.
They find ways to confirm "Christ" in every day things such as getting on time to work when they thought they'd be late, and interpret bad things as either a) god giving them what they "needed" to learn or b) Satan spoiling them. This is what could be called psychological misinformation by interpreting acts incorrectly, but there is also direct misinformation like the fake evolution books.
Finally, there is a lot of fear. Feeling that you are finally alone in the world is really tough at times. Thinking that all your issues are on your sholders to solve is even harder. Not seeing family you love again is another tough one.
Oh, and your bible verse is nothing more than an apologist thing to keep those that left having the idea to come back in the back of their minds and their loved ones waiting for them to do so.
2006-09-01 18:46:25 · answer #4 · answered by Alucard 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've known born-agains who've turned atheist when they "figured out" that God doesn't exist/is impossible... whatever it is (it depends on the person). I don't really get the "once saved, always saved" argument... if someone backslides, does that mean that they're hellbound because they weren't really saved since they're currently in sin?
I don't know if you're familiar with the two question test ("Do you believe you'll go to heaven when you die? Why do you beleive this?" and give a bunch of check boxes and bible quotes that show that good works and trying not to sin and blah, blah, blah won't get you into heaven), but I remember going with my old church to give it out at local malls and there were people who were saying "once saved, always saved," even though they were living lives that didn't show that. (I'm not trying to be judgemental... I'm pierced and tattooed and used to go to church in spikes and fishnets!)
A lot of people I've known who've claimed themselves as Christians live a life far from it... 6 days of the week they'll be living like they normally do, but when Sunday morning comes around, they act prim and proper. Be hot or cold, but the lukewarm will be spit out.
2006-09-01 19:27:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nice try! A true Christian believes in God. A atheist does not believe that God exists. If you changed your mind about Gods existance then you never did really and totally believe! Am still praying! God Bless!
2006-09-02 00:18:51 · answer #6 · answered by yourdayscoming 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Atheist Christian is like boiling ice.The verse is a warning to Christians not to deviate from the path. The difference between "impossible" and "difficult" is very thin.
2006-09-01 18:42:49 · answer #7 · answered by J.SWAMY I ఇ జ స్వామి 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
One filled with the holy spirit, can see through the lies, and dispersions of mere man!
And only if given enough time could the God of this world dis sway them.
The God of this world is Satan himself!
2006-09-01 19:37:02 · answer #8 · answered by Grandreal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they have turned into a True Christian and since I am one I never want to be an Atheist.
2006-09-01 18:35:27 · answer #9 · answered by Da Great 1 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The key word here is TRUE Christian. Once you are saved you are saved. It is not a switch that you can turn on and off.
2006-09-01 18:40:05 · answer #10 · answered by Michael R 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋