Posted by James 5:16 on July 16, 2001 at 20:38:11:
In Reply to: Re: Who really cares posted by Aslan on July 12, 2001 at 01:53:57:
: Wow, that's a really good point. However, I think we all go through our times of disbelief, feeling of abandonment,unworthiness to even utter a faith in God..etc. As far as I'm concerned, He is the 'Hound of Heaven', nothing will keep Him away, if you have an open heart.
: Many Christians I've spoken with have mentioned the Chronicles of Narnia as a door opening for them. No shameless plugs here, as this has been before they learned of my online nickname.
: One woman in particular was raised in a very strict family, almost too strict. When she ventured out into the world she turned to secular things, and friends. All the while she believed that God was an iron fisted One, One who would have a 'Big Brotheresque' watchful judgemental eye on everything she did. Then she reread the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. When she first read it, as a 4th grader, she didn't see the parallels and allegories. Reading it again, as an adult, she saw them clearly, and was astounded. Never before could she see God as the playful Lion, running around and having fun, or one so full of pain as to lay His life down to spare an errant,arrogant betrayer.
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: Personally, I think we are made with a void in our hearts, one that can only be filled by divine intervention. Perhaps that is why non-believers constantly feel the need to defend their position. However, that doesn't explain why Christians can become so hostile towards others who don't share the faith.
: It's a long path, and we all stumble at different times, as well as find the energy to trot faster at different times. No one said you had to be 'this tall' to continue at a crossroad. And those who would say such a thing are perhaps the motivation for the 'Footprints' story. (IE: 'That's when I carried you'.)
I disagree that we are all made with a void in our hearts when we are born. Some of us humans are born not built to desire God at all. (Esau for example.) I think that we are given that void as a gift when we truly become Christians.
Each Christian spends the rest of our lives attempting to fill that void. We seek it. We desire it, that fulfillment. We cannot truly live without it. Only in the last days can we complete this life-long search.
I believe that non-Christians defend their state so vehemently because there is no other explanation for the reason for their existance. They look for the reason for existance. It becomes very difficult. They ultimately come to the conclussion that they themselves are able to accept an untruth that they cannot completely determine or deny argument altogether and do not find a solutions to the mysteries of the universe. It seems to me to be a very lonely existance. Ultimatley however, that person cannot finish his/her goal.
Not to say Christians don't stumble along the way. We do. Paul takes that into consideration in his epistels. He (and through him the Lord) remind us that we can remain moving forward and move toward Him. He is the goal. We cannot move forward without Him and the best unison with Him is our ultimate, unachievable goal.
Well enough for tonight,
All my love,
James 5:16