This is the final installment of reader comments on this topic. If you did not read the initial message, published on May 15, 2009, go to www.YourSpiritualJourney.net  .

Reader Comments:

“I’ve read your article and wanted to drop a comment.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that
anyone who believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal
life.” (John 3:16)

You mentioned that john would go to heaven and bill would go to hell according to that verse but you need to understand that there is a unity which binds the whole together. It means that you can’t come up with one verse and ignore the other (there’s a lot of verses about sins and its reward which is eternal death)

And speaking about the other verse you mentioned — it was only because the Corinthians women were new in faith and they had a big problem there, which is adultery, (the temple girls)
where the women would stay at the greek temple waiting for a man…. so saint paul gave them a few rules to behave in church because they are new to the Christian faith.

I’m not saying that I don’t have questions — i do — but i pray about them and God answers and i encourage you to do the same because our God is a living God who cares abut us.

So what is your question? Tell Jesus about it, and understand that when you accept Jesus to your heart it’s only the beginning of the way. You have a salvation to complete, a lot of things he’ll speak to you that you’ll need to change, make and remove from your life, and this is not easy. You need the grace from God.

I hope that my reply helps a bit (i wanted to answer more in depth but it’s hard for me because I’m Arab and don’t speak english very well so its hard for me to reply correctly)”

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“What a great topic. I love the simplicity I feel with this one. I went to The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s witnesses when I was a kid with my Mom. I knocked on doors and shared the word of God with strangers. I held my seat in the early days of elementary school in pride to my allegiance only to God. I wanted to learn to read so I could read my bible. I saved all my change for my first bible because I wanted to buy my own. I was five and six through all of this I guess. Although I knocked on doors up until I was about ten.

My Dad got custody of my younger brother and me when I was eight. I went to a Methodist Church when I was between the ages of eight and ten with step grandparents. I asked a ton of questions and never really received any good answers there. Around the time I was eleven my Mom was disfellowshipped from the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

In the end I found the truth in me. I think man can’t help but over complicate the truth of God because we are man. The Bible was written by men inspired by God? I don’t know and I avoid the Bible and churches of all kinds now. I respect their place in this world and the service they provide to those who need their guidance.

I however refuse to live in fear of God because I am too busy being in love with him.

The most astounding growth must root itself in that crystal clear truth of no emotion, just facts. The emotion can flow beside of it or underneath of it, however truth must stand alone of emotion to be real. I believe truth is like a river that flows through the soul. We have to silence our lives to hear it. The roads of life roar with the traffic of doing. The people clamor to fill the air with the happenings of mind. Truth whispers with Gods song, strong and quiet in the essence of us. We must breathe even and deep. We must reach for the calm. Still the sound of life’s distraction, to feel that beautiful simple truth and speak it aloud, the freedom that comes with such bravery is amazing and true.

I don’t believe God created petty laws or stupid ones. We are all from him and I believe we will all return to him. Even lost souls need a home to be repaired. Where else could that be if not with him. He did not create us flawed as much as we have worked at twisting each other into would be monsters when all any of us really are, are lost children looking for a way to no longer be lost.”

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Thanks to all who submitted comments and participated in this discussion.

– Jeff Keller

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