Handling fun & hard topics with love and open-mindedness

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One of the #1 things about Christ - and God - is they are not pushy.

Though the whole bible is about wanting people to hear the message of love and truth it is always in the context of 'let people decide for themselves - free will'

Jesus often tried to 'push people away from following him'. He'd say, following my way is really hard and takes sacrifice - are you sure you want to come. Think twice.

It was God's idea to give people free choice in belief.

So if you've ever gotten the impression Christianity is about 'forcing' ones faith on others - or even 'boycotting' ones faith onto others.

I'm afraid you saw something that wasn't very Christian at all.

That said - Jesus was more than 'just a nice person' or 'great example of God's love' Jesus was actually a part of God - a form of God that choose to come to earth in a tangible way to help us see God.

Jesus and God are two sides of the same coin. 

Add the 'Holy Spirit' in and it's 3 sides of a 3-sided coin.

Is there a way for people to go to heaven who have not heard about Christ or believe in Christ? 

Is there great truth in other religions too?

I think you'll love this discussion - Let's talk.

Evolution? God? Both? 

sure.

Young earth, 6 24 hour day creation, whole earth flood.

Nope.

At least, that is not what you'll hear here.

There are many Christians who believe in both evolution and Christ.

The read the 'Noah's ark' story with and understanding that when a person of that time said 'the whole world' it mean 'the whole world that they knew of and were aware of'.

A large area of land - their whole world - is different than 'the' whole world.

So Christians vary in how different stories and accounts are understood.

The key and life changing part of Christianity is where we agree.

Who Christ is, and what it means for the world.

The bible definitely has important truth in there

but, whoa, reading it without historical context, a background in all the symbolism and patterns of speech at the time can

well

(If I'm speaking honestly)

cause me to not want to be a Christian myself.

I am a Christian only because of the power of God I've experience in my life exceeded only by the Love of God that I have felt and seen for others.

Armed with those experiences and knowledge of God I was able to take the time and piece through the good and the bad of what is written in the bible.

After all, part of it is a history book. And the history of people on this planet is often not that great.

People a great - We do wonderful things and God loves us - but put us all together on a bad day, scared and angry - and it's not good.

The bible is a story of God showing up for a world in the midst of this cycle.

Side -note - And if it's this easy to have different views of what the bible says (or this hard to be sure what the bible says) why study it at all? 

Great question - and there's a super easy answer:

The parts of the bible that are most clear and easy to read and understand are the ones that share 'the way' of loving others, loving God and loving yourself.

The 'how to actually act today to have the best life I can and help others have the best life they can'

That's clear - and worth reading. :)

Between the two of us have 3-4 family members who identify as gay/bi/fluid

and counting.

I also have a close friend who committed suicide for feeling so alone and unaccepted in the combination of their faith in & authentic identity.

This is an incredibly personal and important topic.

There are many different ways Christians have read and understood scripture in this - many of which bring great comfort.

I am deeply sorry for how many (most?) Christians have gotten this wrong.

Bring your voice and help to make it right.

Um. Is there equality between men and women in the bible - because I think I've heard - or read - otherwise.

THANK YOU for asking this question. 

As 4 out of 5 of us in this family female - all intelligent, career driven and equal - we can't wait to share with you the helpful historical context to navigate this topic.

And it's not really that hard.

It fact, it's one of the most amazing topics to study as the more you stare at it the more bold, radical and amazingly equal - and counter cultural to that time - and even today's time - it is.

Because women and men are not just equal - we are also called to equally love and serve each other.

Isn't that better than many relationships around us?

So let's talk about marriage skills and strong successful relationships - or even just healthy dynamics in the work-place.

Let's talk.

A lot.

I promise you - give a 'tour of the bible in the context of history & all the other scriptures together' to vet these important issues.

It's really only a hateful, very uneducated eye, that can read the bible and walk away with bigotry.

The bible says 'if you are able to obtain your freedom as a slave - obtain it'

That in Christ there is no male or female, slave or free, but we are all equal in the site of God.

Pretty wonderful & radical?

It also says

 'slave traders' are horrible and ungodly.

'Sex slavery' is horrible and ungodly.

The four main reasons some feel the bible condones slavery is the following:

There are verses that say, in the cases we you can't obtain your freedom, 'serve your masters well as though you are serving the Lord'. The context is that we are a people of excellence and honestly. Our example is often how someone, like one's owner, might become a Christian (and therefore a better own and/or set you free) and also God does not want you abused and treated worse for not doing your best. 

I would tell the same thing to my children 'Get your freedom if you can, if not - be sure to be honest and hard working. Maybe your owner will treat you better or even become a Christian and see you as an equal'.

Also, there was a verse when a disciple sent a 'runaway slave' back to their initial owner and told the own to greet him as a brother'.

Did that mean the prior owner was to now greet him 'as a brother' meaning and equal, no longer their slave, brother in Christ? It is not clear.

What is clear is that a runaway slave was always at risk of being caught and killed or sent back without the instruction of the leader in the church to be 'treated as a brother' - so that verse is not saying 'slavery is right'.

The bible does not say 'slavery is 100% wrong, everyone must give up all slaves right now'. It does say we are all equal, it does say the other good pro-everyone is free statements - it also tells owners to treat their slaves with kindness and gentleness - but it seems to make an allowance for slavery - though also saying it is not of God.

God's perfect plan also says that ever certain number of years all slaves, even those who sold themselves into slavery, must be set free. That people are meant to be free.

  Slavery at the time the bible was written was also not 'race based' but it was due to people being caught in poverty and by debt becoming a slave, or by being concurred and caught in war.

So why doesn't the bible go all the way to say 'all slaves must be set free now'.

Let's talk - But know that God is against slavery - and any open heart who reads scriptures will see Jesus embracing people of all faiths - in hugs, partnerships calling everyone equal - exhorting people to be kind - to find their freedom, to not be 'slave traders' and the list goes on.

There is no slavery in heaven and that is what God wants now - no slavery.

Simple answer: God isn't.

There is no hell 

in any slight way that people typically refer to it as.

We admit we are in the minority viewpoint of Christians in this topic, but there are many biblical scholars and other Christians who also agree.

There are actually a TON of scriptures and scholarship to support 'there is no hell'.

We can also help you understand where other viewpoints come from, if you wish.

Just open-minded calm discussion.

Yes, you'll see the word 'hell' in the bible - but it helps to look at the Greek behind it, and the other context - to really understand what is being said.

Side -note - And if it's this easy to have different views of what the bible says (or this hard to be sure what the bible says) why study it at all? Great question - and there's a super Easy answer actually - see the 'bible question'

Heaven, however.

Heaven is real.

Let's also talk about that!

The bible speaks of 'others who also hear God's voice' and 'live according to their conscious' and how God reaches out to them.

I do think there is beautiful truth in every religion I have studied.

I also know that it is important that if there is a 'way' that is closer to God's best, that it is important to find it.

Some religions, for example, don't believe men and women are equal - like at all.

Or they say 'don't do unto others what you don't want done to you' - but that means you do not need to help others, simply not to harm them.

But Jesus says to 'do unto others what you want someone to do for you' to love your enemy, to offer forgiveness, to share your wealth (you know, all those things Christians aren't really known to do that well) - Well, some Christians are.

My mom, for example, and many people I know - it was their consistently life of kindness, charity, love, gentleness, forgiveness that did show 'the way' of Jesus.

And I know there are other wonderful people of all faiths - like this.

So let's talk. God can handle all the big questions and small ones too.

Um. Is there equality between men and women in the bible - because I think I've heard - or read - otherwise.

THANK YOU for asking this question. 

As 4 out of 5 of us in this family female - all intelligent, career driven and equal - we can't wait to share with you the helpful historical context to navigate this topic.

And it's not really that hard.

It fact, it's one of the most amazing topics to study as the more you stare at it the more bold, radical and amazingly equal - and counter cultural to that time - and even today's time - it is.

Because women and men are not just equal - we are also called to equally love and serve each other.

Isn't that better than many relationships around us?

So let's talk about marriage skills and strong successful relationships - or even just healthy dynamics in the work-place.

Let's talk.

A lot.

I promise you - give a 'tour of the bible in the context of history & all the other scriptures together' to vet these important issues.

It's really only a hateful, very uneducated eye, that can read the bible and walk away with bigotry.

The bible says 'if you are able to obtain your freedom as a slave - obtain it'

That in Christ there is no male or female, slave or free, but we are all equal in the site of God.

Pretty wonderful & radical?

It also says

 'slave traders' are horrible and ungodly.

'Sex slavery' is horrible and ungodly.

The four main reasons some feel the bible condones slavery is the following:

There are verses that say, in the cases we you can't obtain your freedom, 'serve your masters well as though you are serving the Lord'. The context is that we are a people of excellence and honestly. Our example is often how someone, like one's owner, might become a Christian (and therefore a better own and/or set you free) and also God does not want you abused and treated worse for not doing your best. 

I would tell the same thing to my children 'Get your freedom if you can, if not - be sure to be honest and hard working. Maybe your owner will treat you better or even become a Christian and see you as an equal'.

Also, there was a verse when a disciple sent a 'runaway slave' back to their initial owner and told the own to greet him as a brother'.

Did that mean the prior owner was to now greet him 'as a brother' meaning and equal, no longer their slave, brother in Christ? It is not clear.

What is clear is that a runaway slave was always at risk of being caught and killed or sent back without the instruction of the leader in the church to be 'treated as a brother' - so that verse is not saying 'slavery is right'.

The bible does not say 'slavery is 100% wrong, everyone must give up all slaves right now'. It does say we are all equal, it does say the other good pro-everyone is free statements - it also tells owners to treat their slaves with kindness and gentleness - but it seems to make an allowance for slavery - though also saying it is not of God.

God's perfect plan also says that ever certain number of years all slaves, even those who sold themselves into slavery, must be set free. That people are meant to be free.

  Slavery at the time the bible was written was also not 'race based' but it was due to people being caught in poverty and by debt becoming a slave, or by being concurred and caught in war.

So why doesn't the bible go all the way to say 'all slaves must be set free now'.

Let's talk - But know that God is against slavery - and any open heart who reads scriptures will see Jesus embracing people of all faiths - in hugs, partnerships calling everyone equal - exhorting people to be kind - to find their freedom, to not be 'slave traders' and the list goes on.

There is no slavery in heaven and that is what God wants now - no slavery.

Simple answer: God isn't.

There is no hell 

in any slight way that people typically refer to it as.

We admit we are in the minority viewpoint of Christians in this topic, but there are many biblical scholars and other Christians who also agree.

There are actually a TON of scriptures and scholarship to support 'there is no hell'.

We can also help you understand where other viewpoints come from, if you wish.

Just open-minded calm discussion.

Yes, you'll see the word 'hell' in the bible - but it helps to look at the Greek behind it, and the other context - to really understand what is being said.

Heaven, however.

Heaven is real.

Let's also talk about that!

The bible speaks of 'others who also hear God's voice' and 'live according to their conscious' and how God reaches out to them.

I do think there is beautiful truth in every religion I have studied.

I also know that it is important that if there is a 'way' that is closer to God's best, that it is important to find it.

Some religions, for example, don't believe men and women are equal - like at all.

Or they say 'don't do unto others what you don't want done to you' - but that means you do not need to help others, simply not to harm them.

But Jesus says to 'do unto others what you want someone to do for you' to love your enemy, to offer forgiveness, to share your wealth (you know, all those things Christians aren't really known to do that well) - Well, some Christians are.

My mom, for example, and many people I know - it was their consistently life of kindness, charity, love, gentleness, forgiveness that did show 'the way' of Jesus.

And I know there are other wonderful people of all faiths - like this.

So let's talk. God can handle all the big questions and small ones too.