Christians: If you expect us to accept at face value the epiphany when "Jesus came into your heart"?

Question

can you accept at face value that many non-believers have had an epiphany that religion is nonsense.

In my case, I was 12 and attending an evangelical church my mother belonged to. One day it just came to me in a flash that what I was being taught was complete b.s. It was the closest thing to a "religious" experience I have had. It was a wonderful day, when a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders.

Do you deny my experience?

Answer 1

I certainly don't deny your experience. What I find troubling is that you wish to claim yours as valid and our experiences as invalid.

The secular humanist cry of "embrace tolerance and diversity...except for religion, that has to go."

Answer 2

I could not deny your experience. I am positive that it was very real. I am sure that a weight was lifted from you. after all , it is not easy being a Christian at first . It takes alot of faith and it is hard to have faith in someone that you can't see . However , after you take that leap of faith it gets a whole lot easier when you see Jesus working in your life. It becomes so unmistakenly evident when you see things happen that you know couldn't happen without Divine intervention and then well if you are blessed enough to see a miracle first hand , you would have to be either an idiot to deny it or the devil has gotten you so blinded that You Just Cant See.

Give Him a chance . I did and it was the best thing I have ever done .

Answer 3

How can we deny your experience? It is your experience.

What we can say, however, is this: that epiphany is not from God. God's desire is that you be saved, not that you should perish in sin:

2 Peter 3:9a,b "The Lord ... is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

And yet, without belief in His Son, Jesus Christ, it isn't that you WILL BE condemned, you ALREADY ARE condemned:

John 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

So, please... reconsider, not whether you had such an "epiphany" or not, but whether it came from:
a. God (John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.")

b. your own heart (Proverbs 28:26
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.") or

c. from the enemy of your soul, i.e., Satan, (1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.)


EDIT: One more thing... none of us was there, and it could very well be that the "evangelical church your mother belonged to" was, in fact, preaching "complete b.s." But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater: unless you have examined the Bible and the case for Jesus Christ, I would ask that you consider that, perhaps your impression of "religion" might not equate to your impression of Jesus Christ, once you seek to know Him.

Answer 4

genuine; although, it qualifies him for the Christian Christ. i'm sorry yet Judaism did not invent the messiah. God did. The messiah (however the be conscious is hebrew) became right into a concept previously Judaism became into created yet Moses. The Egyptians had it, and the Hindus have it. Neither of those have been inspired by Judaism in the time this concept became into formed. additionally if the Christian Christ is the Messiah foretold in the scriptures in an analogous passages because of the fact the Jewish Messiah then why could the prophets of previous point out a 2d coming? considered one of those concept could have been thoroughly pointless to the individuals looking forward to the Christ/Messiah. the best information or message became into in his FIRST coming not in the 2d. as a techniques because of the fact something it rather is your interpretation of those passages. who's to assert that there is not greater interpretations of the passages than yours. in ordinary terms God does and he hasn't spoken to you on condition that who? Malachi! BTW: I even have asked and that i've got in no way won an answer: the place do you get this concept that the messiah could desire to do each and every thing in one lifetime? or is it merely assumed? additionally just to point out i'm not attempting to %. a combat or something i'm merely attempting to stretch your recommendations slightly. I merely see countless holes on your declare and the declare of the trendy Christians that for the period of ordinary terms considered one of your messiahs exist.

Answer 5

Thomas the apostle didn't believe either until he put his hands into the wounds of Christ,
And then he was persecuted and died for believing. Would you willingly die for a lie? So did the rest of the apostles, except John who lived to write the book of Revelations.
I am a fifty one yr. old person and didn't become a believer until 2yrs. ago, after the Lord spoke to me and showed my spirit the agony of HIS Crucifixion. He is real and He is alive and HE IS GOD.
Do you deny my experience?
Shalom and may you come to know the breadth and height of His Love for you.

Answer 6

No, I just believe God was revealing to you that they weren't preaching the truth. That doesn't mean there is no TRUTH to be found. I urge you to pray and ask God to guide you. He answers all prayers. See Acts 2:38-9 for the plan of salvation. You could ask me.If you don't want to ask a stranger, see upci.org I'll pray for you! Don't let that experience condemn you forever, that's a very long time.

Answer 7

I don't doubt your experience at all...In fact, I'm sure it happened just like you said...But you have to remember the devil is the father of lies...He will do anything to turn you away from God. If he can convince you that God doesn't exist, then he's won his battle for 'your soul'...

I like your analogy that one day it came to you in a flash... I also believe that one day another realization will come to you 'in a flash' and you're not going to like it, but, by then it will be too late.

The devil will always give you something pretty to look at to distract you from the truth, as they say about illusionists, 'smoke and mirrors'. You say your 'mother belonged to'...let me ask you, in all honesty, have you ever "studied" the Bible yourself?...or were you just upset because it messed up your play time?... I'm not trying to pick a fight, but, I am trying to get you to take an honest look at what's going on here...Not for my sake but for yours...

Answer 8

No, I wont deny your experience and yes I can accept that.

Answer 9

of course not. but something obviously came into your "heart"...

there ARE other powers at work here on earth besides Jesus....

Answer 10

i knew for sure i was an atheist when i was in a car crash and not once when i was crashing into the other car did i think of god or pray. i thought for sure i was dead, but not once did i think of religion.