For
instance, what if you believed that a drug necessary for life, did not actually sustain
life, or what if you believed that a drug that will bring forth death, in your
opinion (& others) actually brings forth life?
Does sincerity, majority opinion, personal or group feelings prevent the consequences, affects and
ramifications of believing something that you thought was true, but in reality was
actually not true and false?
How is
truth determined? How should truth be
determined? How can you be sure what you believe is true is in actuality, true? By what means can we discover or realize that
something once thought to be true is actually not true regardless of our
opinion (or others) sincerity, feelings, experiences, or beliefs? As stated above how tragic and what a
tragedy to believe something is true, but is actually not true, but false. Even though this is a great tragedy, there is
an even bigger tragedy that the bible refers to.
What if
you actually knew something was false, absolutely false and not true and since
it was false it would definitely lead to dire, severe, significant and even
fatal consequences. Even though you knew
all this to be true, you not only chose to continue believing and order your
actions and words as if it was true, but heartily approve of others believing
it as true and encouragin them to act and behave in accordance to it’s
truthfulness. Suppose you knew that if a
certain drug was taken regularly and consistently that it would eventually end
in your death. Even further what if even
though you knew this to be true, you not only decided to acquire this drug and
faithfully, consistently consume it, but deceptively speak of the benefits of
taking it to all others and heartily encourage them to do the same?
I can imagine someone pushing others to take
a drug that would be detrimental to those who take it if there was some personal
or monetary gain derived from doing so, but if there is no benefit, advantage,
gain from proclaiming and encouraging this falsehood, and in fact there is
personal detriment and even fatality that will definitely come to past, why
would someone continue to work towards their own demise and that of others? Let’s say that the progress towards death
includes painful physical (internal and external) consequences – meaning your
body exhibits evidence that it is progressing towards death, but instead of
deciding to discontinue taking the pills you continue to take them and heartily
approve of and encourage others to do the same.
Who would do such a thing?
The
Bible boldly proclaims that the majority of humans on the earth have done this
since the beginning of humanity. Can
this be true? According to the bible it is
absolutely true and of course Tragic and a great Tragedy!!! Many will deny this, many will ignore it,
many will dismiss it, many will reject it, many will ridicule or mock it, but
none will ever disprove it’s truthfulness nor escape the pending, eternal
consequences associated with continuing to pursue this path of knowingly engaging in acts
and behavior that leads to death and heartily approving of others to do the
same. Of course the results or consequences are manifested in the spiritual realm and are experienced in the spiritual sense, but most people are not aware of the spiritual realm or attempt to convince themselves that it does not exist - knowing full well that it does, because God himself has revealed it to them, but they have chosen to reject it and him and have willingly chosen to believe in false gods.
Someone
recently brought up the fact that there are people today who are willing to
sacrifice their lives and the lives of others (unwillingly) based on what they
believe to be true. The reality the
Bible teaches is much worse than this.
It is that some suicide bombers and those who instruct them actually
know that they will be going to Hell for completing such an act and sentencing
others to immediate and final judgment of God.
There are some that have heartened their heart to the extent that they
have convinced themselves that an act is beneficial because they have been
deceived by their own deception. This is
basically the reprobate mind that a person who consistently hardens their heart
against something that is true and continues to reject it’s truthfulness. This person is condemned to having a mind
that no longer accepts what is true, but only accepts what is false and is not
true, thus condemning themselves and ensuring they will suffer any
consequences, judgment, wrath of God that has been promised to those who reject
the truth in unrighteousness. Are there any consequences if a suicide bomber regardless of the prolonged brainwashing decides not to go through with? Can they be allowed to make such a decision without suffering any consequences, torture and possible death? Are they in fact, forced to commit such an act and only promised reward or benefit in a so-called after life filled with things that would appeal to a man and not what you would assume God would prescribe in accordance to his revealed nature and will?
Christianity
unlike and uniquely different to any and all other religious movements, never
proposes a list of doctrines that must be adhered to or else. There are nations and countries who
popularize religions that are not based on Truth, but rather fear, threats,
intimidation, and force. You must
believe or suffer the consequences, even death after torture and humiliation to
the worse degree. Any religious system
that demands or threatens you to believe in it’s tenants should definitely be
questioned. A person should be given the
option to accept or reject the truth claims of all religions without suffering
consequences for not choosing to accept or continue in the religious
faith.
The only faith system that will
allow a person to reject it or change their mind about it without consequence
is Christianity. No one will ever be
forced to become a Christian and suffer horribly if they choose not to do so. Any
system that utilizes this tactic is NOT of God, but originates with and by man. No one should be forced to believe a certain
way or else. What (so-called) god would accept such belief other than the god of a
false religion? Would you be pleased and
accept your wife’s love for you if you knew she loved you because she was
required to do so or suffer torture, humiliation and a painful death if she didn’t
love you? This would not be love at all
and I assure you, you would not be pleased with this or accept it. How can we think that God is so unsure of
himself or his truth that he has to force people to believe in him? There is no quality of devotion or love
without earnest sincerity, desire, and unprovoked or coerced willingness from
the one proclaiming the love. Consider
the following verses from the word of God, the Holy Bible:
Isaiah 1:16-20 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from
before My eyes! Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do right! Seek justice, relieve the oppressed,
and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless, plead for the
widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord.
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they
are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good
of the land;
20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the
sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.
Deuteronomy 30:19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you
that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now
choose life, so that you and your children may live.
Joshua 24:15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to
you, then choose for yourselves this day whom
you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the
Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But
as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
John
8:32 And you shall know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.
John
14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the
Father except by (through) Me.
1 Kings
18:21-22 Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you halt and limp between two opinions? If the Lord is
God, follow Him! But if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer
him a word.
22 Then Elijah said to the
people, I, I only, remain a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450
men.
`
Romans 1: 18 :32 For God’s [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed
from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their
wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative.
19 For that which is known
about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness,
because God [Himself] has shown it to them….So
[men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification],
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing
to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].
31[They
were] without understanding, conscienceless and faithless, heartless and loveless [and]
merciless.
32 Though they are fully
aware of God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die,
they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them.
Make no
mistake, there are severe, eternal consequences for rejecting the truth in
unrighteousness and especiallyfor encouraging others to reject truth and accept a
lie or that which is false. The
difference in Christianity is that God himself is responsible for administering
the consequences. No Christian has any
authority from God or from scripture to demand anyone to believe in Christ,
accept his free gift of Grace, Love, and acceptance, etc. or suffer a painful,
prolonged humiliating imprisonment or death.
Christians will never prevent someone or deny them the right to believe
any way the want to.
Shame
on all religions who demand acceptance and submission or suffer penalty of
death. Furthermore, religions that make other religious views illegal and punishable by law for adherence
to and belief in them. These religions do not proclaim
truth, but religious dogma. There is no
life, value, or benefit derived from submitting to religious dogma by force,
threat, fear of negative consequences or being tortured into submission after intitially rejecting the truth and validity of such false religious dogma.
If all
religious dogma is compared to the word of God, the Holy Bible, it is clearly
evident which doctrine is from God and which doctrines(s) originated in the mind
of a man. All people of the world should
be given the right to review and assess the truthfulness of the claims of all
religions and be given the right to choose one and reject the others or reject
them all and live as they want to live and believe the way they want to believe
as long as their beliefs do not infringe on the benefits, safety, property,
well-being or security of others.
Truth
never has to fear falsehood or the beliefs of others. Truth never has to demand, coerce, threaten
or punish people who choose not to accept, believe in it or submit to it. There are already certain, unavoidable and
eternal consequences for rejecting truth, there is no need for any others instituted, ordained or directed by man.
What
have you actually accomplished if the majority of those who accept your religion
and the dogma that is associated with it if most of the adherence or devotees were forced to accept it and
forced to obey and observe it’s edicts or required observances?
What a
futile, pointless, meaningless, and worthless waste of time.
Would any god desire to receive such devotion and adoration. Would any god (who really is God) accept and
be pleased with the quality and sincerity of this so-called worship, devotion, or praise? I think NOT!!
Thanks
for your time and may God continue to richly bless you & yours and lead you
all to accepting and submitting to His Eternal, undeniable, always prevailing,
constant and abiding – TRUTH!! – Amen.