I'm an evangelical Christian - ask me anything

[Insieme]

I'm happy to answer questions, though I'm not interested if people just come on to be insulting.

I can only give my views and talk about what I believe - evangelicalism covers a broad spectrum of beliefs and I can only speak for myself.

Ask away!

Hi Insieme thanks for answering my question. Another question - which denomination of church do you attend?

And sorry, Synecdoche, I missed your second question. I do think my non-believing friends and family are missing out on something. I think they might be happier with a faith of their own. But I can't convert anyone or save them or anything like that, and I don't think they'd thank me for trying! God can change people's hearts, and maybe he will at some point. I'm prepared to trust him on that.

What do you think of the pope and Vatican?

Given how many things in the Bible are now outdated, proven to be incorrect with science etc, does that make you doubt the rest?

Why do you think that god hasn't made a comeback? It's been over 2000 years, do you think people would benefit from another tangible sign, if it's real, instead of an ancient book, of which there are many.

And the thing I struggle with the most, what kind of a loving god, who is supposed to be perfect, all seeing, all knowing, would create such an imperfect world full of suffering and why would the most important thing be our belief in him, instead of simply being judged on all of our actions in this life... Why is faith in him so important?

Oh one more, if god is so great, why did he create evil in the first place? If you believe he created us, then he created the devil and hell. He could have created everything as good. I'm sure you can tell that j really struggle with the whole thing and find it quite unbelievable that so many people still believe, in this day and age.

Sarahlou63 I don't trust in an invisible friend. I don't have to work up a sense of trust or faith in God. Any faith I feel or experience comes from God. In myself, I'm a mess of doubts and difficulties.

Golden. Yes.

Thanks Insieme

Rebelrosie two pretty big questions! Briefly, no I don't pity my friends who don't believe. There was a time when I didn't believe and I would have hated to be pitied for it. I think they could benefit from faith, but it's their choice. It's not my role to 'convert' someone - that's up to God, and it's his choice not mine who he works in. Sometimes I do regret that they might never know God at all, but in the end only God knows who is saved, or will be saved in the future.

As for other religions. Jesus said he was the way, the truth and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except by him. If I take that seriously (and I do) then you have to follow Jesus to be right with God. That doesn't mean you have to be a particular sort of Christian, or believe what any one church tells you. But you do have to follow Jesus in some way.

Springmachine I know nothing about him beyond his name.

Look morecloselier - Can you give an example of things disproved by science etc that you mention in your first paragraph?

Lots of Christians believe there are plenty of recent signs btw. Brexit for one; Ezekiel 38

Tenredthings. Yes, I do believe that. If Jesus is the only way to God, then anyone who rejects him finally will spend eternity separated from God. How do I reconcile that with God being just?

Briefly. God sets a standard for moral behaviour. Use the 10 commandments as an example. Everyone without exception, has failed to keep that perfect standard. Everyone has spoken in anger, or lied, or thought something unfair about another person. We've all failed.

God is perfect and just. He looks at what we've done wrong and has to punish us for it in some way. He can't just overlook it, because that wouldn't be fair. Jesus volunteered to take the punishment for us, for anyone who wants him to, and that is why he died on the cross.

So if I believe Jesus died to take the punishment for my wrongdoing, God will forgive me. If I choose not to ask Jesus to do that for me, then God will punish me instead. That punishment is whatever people mean when they talk about hell.

Ohsoamazing. Honestly? Yes I do. I find it hard when people laugh at me or assume I'm stupid, or unthinking.

Do you believe in the Big Bang / évolution ?

Scrabbelator. That's such a wide question I'd be here all night! I think I've answered some of it. For me it's about what Jesus has done for me, and how that can put me right with God.

The main thing I want people to know, I suppose, is that Christianity is not about being good or doing things to earn your place in heaven. You don't have to do that, and you couldn't succeed anyway. It's about admitting you can't live perfectly, and letting Jesus pay the price for what you've done wrong.

Smallhorse no. Neither of my parents are Christians.

Millybingbong, yes the whole creation story makes no sense scientifically. Dinosaurs. Oh and the woman who had a baby aged 90. For starters.

*Briefly. God sets a standard for moral behaviour. Use the 10 commandments as an example. Everyone without exception, has failed to keep that perfect standard. Everyone has spoken in anger, or lied, or thought something unfair about another person. We've all failed.

God is perfect and just. He looks at what we've done wrong and has to punish us for it in some way. He can't just overlook it, because that wouldn't be fair*

God isn't a particularly good mentor huh???

Bigpinkball it really doesn't. Throughout my life I've lived with more than one world view. The Christian one involves far less mental gymnastics than the atheistic one I used to hold.

Aaaaargggghhhhhh!!!!!

Milky bing bong My beliefs are evangelical in the reformed sense. So my theology would be not too far from Luther's, or Calvin's, though the way I live that out might be very different!

The church I attend is independent /congregational. We use the FIEC's statement of faith.

fiec.org.uk/about-us/beliefs

Dangerrabbit I'm a teacher. My faith may influence me in as far as I try to see all the children as made in the image of God, which tends to mean I try to put their well-being above the pressures of the job and the mind-numbing paperwork! As do most teachers, whatever their faith, I would think.

SPOFS I give the pope and the Vatican very little thought, to be honest. He's the leader of a church I don't belong to and don't follow. I think he's mistaken in his views. That's about it.

Do you have a favourite set prayer?

Two beliefs caused me to realise that my faith was built on sand - I couldn't believe in original sin, and the idea of eternal life horrified me. Do you struggle with either of those?