From the posts here, it appears that most atheists have a fallacious understanding of Christianity. They think that we Christians either think we're better than non-Christians or that we
are better than they are. Both are
wrong.
As Jesus said, "Only the truth will set you free." He also said; "He who humbles himself will be exalted and he who exalts himself will be humbled."
Once we admit the
worst about ourselves, there is nothing more to fear...nothing.
We no longer have to lie or boast about ourselves, or pretend we're better than we are, we no longer have to run from the consequences of our behavior, we no longer have to run, period.
So since we have
all: lied to ourselves and others, cursed God and our neighbors, lusted after whatever has aroused us, kept money that could be given to the poor, eaten food that could have been given to the hungry, envied out neighbors possessions, cars, houses, looks, intelligence, success, etc. been slothful about helping people, and worst of all, claimed we're good people for doing the above thousands of time in our life time, then we're
all guilty of sin whether we want to be or not.
There are thus only 3 ways to deal with the above; 1) deny that we do them, (which is lying) 2) admit that we do them and justify them so we can continue them 3) accept Christ's atonement on the cross for all of them.
Only the last one represents
complete and total freedom because it
eliminates them by giving us less and less of a reason to commit them.
Knowing that
Jesus took away our sins by paying for them by his death on the cross, means they are wiped off the record and we have a clean slate. We then can stop;
1) lying about the fact that we sin
2) stop envying outside things that don't make us free
3) Stop lusting after anything that arouses us because it doesn't satisfy the way inner freedom and Christ's love does
4) Stop cursing God and our neighbors because God redeemed us from sin and misery and our neighbors are in the same boat we are so there's nor reason to hate or judge them.
5) Stop thinking that money can buy happiness
6) Stop boasting about our goodness because we know we aren't good
7) And thus spend our lives thanking God for what he did for us and helping our neighbors to have His love as well.
So Christianity takes about as much effort as thanking someone for rescuing us from a burning fire. But those who don't want to see their own sins will hate us as Jesus says they will. But I remember how I didn't want to see my sins at one time either so I can understand them and still love them even though they don't love me.
So Christianity represents
total and complete freedom and the best part of all is, it can never go away throughout all of eternity because no one can ever take God's love out of our hearts. And that's heaven.
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