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!

I am sure you are lovely to people, and I don’t know you. But even just writing on here, on this public forum, that you think homosexuality is a sin, you have given someone somewhere the excuse they need to act with hate. They will nod at your words and see them as justification of their discrimination.

This is an argument used against gender critical posters all the time when it comes to their views on trans issues. If someone 'acts in hate' they are the only one responsible for that.

Someone having a contrary view or opinion to yours doesn't mean they are liable for the actions of others who may or may not hold similar views. We are only responsible for own own actions.

Areyoubeingserviced I have never fasted for spiritual reasons.

I have never literally heard God speak, no. I think the main two ways he 'speaks' to us are through the Bible and through our circumstances.

If I'm trying to make a major decision in my life, I don't expect God to speak directly to me or write the answer in the sky! Generally the Bible tells us what we should or shouldn't do on moral issues, and also offers a lot of wise advice on life. Beyond that, sometimes our circumstances lead us to take a particular decision. Praying about a decision may help me work out what I should do - how much of that is God directly guiding, and how much is me working through the problem, I can't know. But that's the usual way of God speaking to us, I think.

Exactly, thatescalatedquickly. Thank you for pointing that out. The parallel with current trans issues had occurred to me.

And what did you think of Islam in comparison to Christianity ? Did it strike you as interesting that Muhammad cleverly integrated many teachings of Christianity but retained the tribal trappings necessary to ensure it would appeal to the local 'market' ?

I wasn't impressed. Islam really isn't 'Christianity gone local', it's completely different. Jesus is shifted from being front and centre to playing a bit part, and the God of Islam seems remote and harsh to me. Islam is largely rules driven, with little room for grace. IMHO. Perhaps I'm not the right person to analyse Islam though!

Golden God promises us that if we ask him into our lives, he won't turn us away. So if you've asked God to act in your life, he will. But that doesn't necessarily translate immediately to feelings. So you might not feel forgiven, or full of faith. And that's fine.

You may find it comforting (I do) to know that God gives us our faith in him. We can't psyche ourselves up to feel it. Sometimes it helps to see God's promises written down, so that even when we don't feel particularly trusting, we know God is still there, and will still love and forgive us. Reading one of the gospels might help, if you haven't done that already.

Even people who have been Christians many years have periods of doubt, and other times when they feel closer to God.

Have you talked to someone at church about this at all? Maybe if there's someone you trust / like there, it might be good to talk a little to them. I can almost guarantee they will know what you mean - it's very common to feel "what now?"

So are you saying you want to believe but can't? If you have no one at church you trust, maybe it's the wrong church for you.

But you say you're in church several times a week. In a way that's encouraging. Something is keeping you coming along, despite you not feeling obvious feelings of faith or belief. Many people would say that is evidence that God is working in you. He is giving you the desire to believe. Is that worth a thought?

I don't really understand why you're going to church if you don't want to believe, or at least find out more. There are obviously circumstances here that I don't fully understand because you've not told me enough of the background.

If you don't want to believe, then I don't think I'm the right person to help you, I'm afraid.

Escalated - it’s not quite the same.

Gender critical posters aren’t saying trans is a ‘sin’, I assume? Rather they are discussing other issues around it, such as safe spaces for women etc?

If sin is ‘an immoral act considered to be a transgression against gods law’.

Anyone claiming that being trans is ‘sinful’ is as bigoted as someone who claims that homosexuality is a sin.

And yes those who spread that sort of hate are responsible for the perpetuation of misery.

Act according to your ethics.

Have you read/Watched 'Th Shack'/ As a non believer that really did make me think for a while!

No sorry Atrocious your argument was that those who think being trans or gay is a sin are therefore responsible for acts of violence carried out by others. I'd agree with you if someone with that view was actually encouraging the commission of an act of violence. By that I mean clearly and specifically saying things like 'x group deserves to be beaten up' or 'all members of group y should be killed'.

Having a differing opinion or a different moral or ethical belief system does not make you liable for the acts of violence carried out by others. Opinions are not violence, violence is violence.

Trying to shut down the ability of other people to hold and express their own views, even if you personally find them abhorrent, is totalitarianism.

I like the Shack, lepetit. I preferred the book to the film, though. What struck you about it? I really like the representations of the trinity in different characters. As a Christian I thought it was a fairly good attempt at framing it in a way which can be understood and appreciated. The film lost quite a lot of the nuance but it was ok.

Golden - it sounds like you've been coerced into having to try and have faith / go to church rather than it being an active decision of your own? I've seen you post before and the situation sounds very difficult. Why are you forced to go?

What do you think of abortion?

Mongertruffle what do I think about abortion?

I have always taken the view that I am pro-life for myself, but I don't have the right to make that decision for other women. So I'm glad I live in a country where women don't need to resort to back-street abortions anymore, and women aren't forced to have babies they can't bring up or cope with.

During one of my pregnancies, a medical situation arose (for me, not the baby) which meant a doctor suggested I might want to consider an abortion. I declined. I was ill, but not in danger of my life, and I couldn't justify to myself killing my child to save me some pain / distress. So I have been in a real situation where I had a decision to make, and I couldn't bring myself to even consider an abortion. For me, that 10 week foetus was a child. She's now a grown woman with 2 children of her own. I can't imagine life without her.

I would like there to be as few abortions as needed, and that means supporting women in trying circumstances, if they want to carry on with a pregnancy. Being pro-life means being pro-child and pro-mothers, not just pro-baby.

But I also believe in letting women make the decision they need (even though I may disagree with them) and sometimes, sadly, that's to have an abortion.

I know Christians who campaign actively against abortion. I can't do that, because I want to live in a society that doesn't force women into desperate measures. But it does sadden me that there are so many abortions.

escalated I’m not trying to shut anyone down. But I am saying that anyone who says homosexuality is a sin is giving justification to bigotry and shame to innocent people.

And that’s not a good thing. It’s a bad thing.

I don't care what someone thinks, I care what they do. I don't have a problem with someone having a different viewpoint to me but I do have an issue if they use that belief to harm others by, for example, justifiying a violent act or encouraging others to be violent.

I think if we start policing people's thoughts or opinions rather than their actions, that's a dangerous and slippery slope to punishing people for 'thought crimes'.

You can think something is a sin all you like but it's only when you use that belief to actually harm someone that I have a problem with it.

Thank you for being so patient, it’s a fascinating thread. It irks me that it’s acceptable to mock/bait Christians (and people with faith in general, I’ve seen it on a few AMA religious threads) in a way which wouldn’t be acceptable elsewhere.

Do you believe once saved always saved? (Perseverance of the saints I suppose, but I’m not a Calvinist).

Atrocious, the OP is being incredibly gracious despite your continued insistence on bringing this up. Had you not asked, we’d be none the wiser on her thoughts on homosexuality. Do you need to keep trying to derail the thread? you’ve made your point and it’s clearly an interesting subject for that ther posters.

I have noticed Christians seem to be mocked by all, whilst Jews and Muslims have two extreme emotions from society, depending on political views. I have no idea why we have ended up with this situation.

I also find that heterosexual people don't fixate with multiple questions to Christians about Jesus advising people not having sex outside of marriage.

It’s not policing thoughts, OP had done something - come online and clearly espoused their belief that homosexuality is a sin.

Anyone who does that adds to the misery in the world. It’s wrong.

Flaminghaggis, yes, I do believe in the perseverance of the saints. Obviously sometimes people who have appeared to be Christians lose their faith or walk away from it. The argument then would be that they will either come back later in their life, or that they weren't really converted in the first place.

Thank you for making the point about policing people's thoughts. I think Atrocious has revealed her own intolerance very effectively.

OP you can insult me all you like. Believing and expressing the idea that homosexuality is a sin increases the cruelty and misery in the world.