I assume you guys are referring to me? Never had a gimmick account, and most likely never will.

This thread is so full of fail and sums up one of the main issues I have with Christians who believe in a polarized heaven and hell.

(Speaking to Christians) If you truly believe that there is a heaven that you are destined to reside in, while others suffer/perish/whatever for eternity in hell, then why would you not do everything in your power to guide those that are lost into the kingdom of heaven. What other purpose do you have on Earth?

I'd like to know this too. People who believe in Christian God but don't believe in spreading his message and gift of eternal love, what do you think is your purpose?

I may not be the right person to answer this, since I don't believe in Hell as a real place of everlasting torment. I believe in annihilation, which is is obviously much kinder and more in line with a loving God as I understand Him to be. Furthermore, "Hell" is a definition, not a location. It is separation from God. Given that all things physical and spiritual originate from God, He cannot both maintain a place of eternal damnation and suffering while also being completely separate from it. After judgement, there will be two outcomes: Life in the presence of God, and nothingness.

Now, to the point of guiding others to heaven, it's ultimately not my responsibility if you are saved or not. I don't mean that as a cop-out. Anyone who has rejected God will not be able to stand in judgement and say "But it was Keith's fault for not sharing truth with me!" I may be held accountable to whom I did and did not witness to, but I and I alone will be responsible for the consequences of my own actions, just as you will be for yours.

There's also the problem of what I call 'formulaic evangelism', which is all too common among today's evangelistic denoms (Southern Baptists are the worst, imo). It's a sales pitch. You might as well be knocking on my door trying to sell me a bag of crap for all I care. Personally, irl I don't share my faith with anyone who I don't already know and have at least a friendly relationship with, or someone who I feel the Holy Spirit has guided to me specifically. FWIW, weather or not you accept my same faith will have no bearing on our future. I'm friends with many atheists/agnostics, and all know where I stand and vice versa. We've had discussions, and hold a mutual respect for each other.

Then what do you think is your life's purpose?

How do you answer to those who say you're picking and choosing and even making weird interpretations that'll make you feel good about what you believe Christianity is about when so much written in the holy book is contradictory to what you believe?

Ah that sucks i thought we had our first universalist.

Is my response inconsistent with a Universalist? I reserve that judgement and 'hell' are options for those who willfully and knowingly reject God.

Universalist believe all will be saved.

My life's purpose is to be a god man, a good husband, a good father, and the love those around me with all I have.

I believe there are many interpretations that are contradictory to what I believe, but I don't believe my faith is out of line with the teaching of Christ and the nature of God. I also don't believe the apostles were w/o flaw, nor that their letters to specific individuals or specific churches are universally applicable to all believers at all times. I do hold that the New Testament books of History (Gospels, Book of Acts) are accurate.

Ok, then just put an * by my name then. I don't believe God will make you love and accept him by forcing salvation upon you.

FWIW, this is in line with my understanding of the 'unforgivable sin', blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. I believe this sin to be someone willfully and knowingly rejecting God. You are the only one who can separate you from the love of God, and God will honor your choice.

if you believe your interpretation is right, are you also implying that God made this vast universe and made this wonderful planet so you can be a good husband, father and love everyone around? Why not just create heaven and make people do these same things?

Because then it's not a choice.

Dear God, I hope this thread doesn't degenerate into another free-will discussion.

if you believe everyone goes to heaven(except those who fully understand that there's heaven and will not go there if they say god's name in vain which would never happen), what choice are you talking about?

Even though i wish if there was a God he would force salvation on me thats not what Universalist believe. They believe all will make the free willed choice to accept God.
Thats fine. I would personally say its immoral to annihilate what amounts to the mentally handicapped when in comparison with God all based on a blink of time compared to eternity. But meh its better then eternal torment i suppose.

I'll take it on good faith that you're actually reading my posts in their entirety and not being intentionally obtuse in your replies. That's not what I said. Taking God's name in vain is a sin, but it is not unforgivable.

I'm talking about the choice between spending eternity with heaven if you happen to love God, or be forever separated from him if you don't.

So you feel the purpose of your creation is to choose whether to love him or not?

And why do you think he gave us 100 year lifespan and create all the animals and other stuff? since you made the choice, what do you think your purpose is now? why the delay when you already made the choice and can go to heaven and be with him?

Ultimately, yes. I believe God created man in his own image for community and relationship. My purpose in life is shaped by that, and is why my life's purpose today is towards my family and community, and not just about myself. Knowing God has not been a burden, but a joy. I would like those around me to know this joy.

God himself has numbered my days, and I'll live them in joy and peace. If that's until tomorrow, then ok. If another 50 years, then ok.

i dont get it. you already made your choice. you're not trying to convert anyone. what's this peace and joy jelly stuff when heaven is infinitely more joyful?

can you also be more specific here? how are you doing that? how many hours are you playing poker?

Are you asking for me or for yourself?

Yes, I've made my choice. The joy in this life is just a small reflection of the joy to come. I'm secure in my place in God, and have no need to rush out of here. The days I have here are in Gods control. Just because I'm looking forward to dessert doesn't mean I don't enjoy the appetizer, right? Why wouldn't there be satisfaction/peace/joy/fulfillment in this life?


I play regularly, usually at least 10-15 hours/wk, sometimes more, usually in the evenings after I've put the kids to bed. I do not play on Sundays, and usually one other random day in the week which is determined by family and/or church commitments. In any case, it's pretty irrelevant, iyam. I'm learning the game of poker in an attempt to bring in a secondary income, so it's kinda like asking me 'how many hours are you working your second job.'

A week has 168 hours. Let's say you sleep 56 hours. Let's take 2hrs each day off for brushing/bathroom/shaving/eating all the meals. Let's say you average 1 movie/tv a week meaning 30mins on avg per day. Let's say you forum/internet surf for 30mins a day. 40hrs/week at your first job and 12hrs/week playing poker.

So if we break that down for each day: 24-8-2-30m-30m-5.7-1.7=18.4hrs/day

Now, you can spend your time however way you want. But when you say, your life's purpose is to choose God and after that, it's towards your family, community and church and not abut yourself AND then you go ahead and spend over 18hrs/day on yourself...I am a little

Ok, now I know you're just being obtuse. Either that, or you have no concept of what it means to provide for others.

My job is the only source of income for my family. It is also the source of my tithe, which is given to the Church. God will just have to forgive me for being hungry and having to take a crap every now an then.

There is a saying: 'Don't be so heavenly minded that you're of no earthly good.' I have God given responsibilities that require me to make a living in this world. It doesn't mean that just because I happen to be at work that my life cannot be of benefit to another during that time.

Ok now we're going somewhere. So, you believe God's purpose for human beings is so we can choose if we love him or not. And he designed the creation in a way such that once you make that choice, we have to spend most of our hrs away from our loved ones or sleeping or crapping, brushing etc. How does that make sense? Could it be likely that you're wrong about the whole purpose thing?

Not what I said.

Could it be that I'm not wrong about the purpose of my life?

Let's take it step by step:

Your belief: Our ultimate purpose on this planet is to make a choice whether to love him or not

1.You already made your choice. Now what? Then you claim you're still here so you can spend your time serving others(community, church, family)

2.Then I show that you're spending most of the time away from doing exactly that.

3.Then you claim that you're away from them so you can make money and again spend on them or eat to survive

Then I ask, if that is the ultimate purpose like you claim, why is the Universe designed in a way that kb coolman is spending time working 2 jobs and sleeping 8 hrs a day? What does any of these extras have anything to do with the ultimate purpose?

Correct.

No, you didn't.

Pretty callous interpretation of a noble task, but ok.

The universe isn't designed around me. My daily responsibilities are no more than what is generally expected from a Father of a middle class family in the USA. People depend on me, and I conform to those expectations. The difference is that I approach my responsibilities with the mindset that it is a blessing, not a burden. This is a direct result of my faith.

But I need to ask this simple question, just so I know if you're capable of understanding where I'm coming from. Are you responsible for the care of another person?