#should Christians doubt their salvation

[thinkingonscripture]

When Jesus Says: “I Never Knew You”

Towards the end of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7), Jesus warned His disciples to “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matt 7:15). These false prophets will bear bad fruit (Matt 7:16-20), which is their false teachings and demonically empowered miracles. These pseudo-prophets are deceived, thinking they’re doing…

[brontes]

Gonna get in trouble at church because I genuinely don’t think “Christian” media should exist as a genre. I think Christians should write good and even excellent stories about the nature of the human condition and if they truly follow Jesus the evidence of that joy and wisdom and goodness will pervade whatever they make whether they like it or not. Stop worrying about what you want people to learn like it’s a lesson and just say something true and beautiful.

And as an audience, stop being afraid of stories that might not agree with you and seek things that are good and true and beautiful.

[katakaluptastrophy]

"I’ve already pretty much revealed that Alecto begins with the descent of Christ into Hades." - Tamsyn Muir

That's right...it's time for more Bible study for fans of weird queer necromancers!

It's currently Holy Week, the week where Western liturgical Christians reenact the events of Jesus' death and resurrection in real time. And today, it's Holy Saturday. So Jesus died on the cross on Good Friday. He rises from the dead on Easter Sunday. But what happened in between? His body lay in the tomb...but his spirit was otherwise preoccupied. Because on Holy Saturday, Jesus went to Hell.

But why would Jesus go to Hell? Because the resurrection was not just about saving the people who came after it - it was a bit more...wibbly wobbly, timey wimey.

To be a bit more specific, he didn't visit Hell Hell. The place Jesus visited isn't Hell in the sense of eternal punishment of the damned, but Hades or Sheol or the Underworld or Limbo - a place for those who were mostly good but lived before Jesus' resurrection had made salvation possible. So before his resurrection, Jesus went to make that salvation retroactive. Particularly, according to tradition, to major figures from the Old Testament, including Adam and Eve.

So Nona the Ninth ended with Harrow walking off into the River in search of theological truth. And Alecto the Ninth apparently begins with Harrow in Hell:

Alecto the Ninth, ACT ONE HARROW IN HELL CHAPTER 1 At a point in the slit she was carving through life, Harrowhark Nonagesimus woke to find herself lost in a dark wound. She had been walking when it had all gone black– any path ahead or behind was blotted out; now she was here.  - Tamsyn Muir reading at TorCon

This is riffing heavily on the beginning of Dante's Inferno:

"In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself within a dark wood where the straight way was lost." - Dante Alighieri, Inferno

But lots of people go to Hell. What's so special about Harrow going there? Because the traditional name in English for Jesus' chthonic salvation adventures on Holy Saturday is "the Harrowing of Hell." "Harrow" comes from an Old English word meaning to attack or despoil - a very martial way of expressing the idea of Jesus as the victor over sin and death.

Harrow ended NTN realising that she cannot trust John's account of metaphysics. That she needs to discover the reality for herself. The faith of the Nine Houses and John's own styling as god rests on the foundation of the Resurrection - John is the "ransomer of death, scourge of death, vindicator of death", his power is understood to be absolute: "Let the whole of everywhere entrust themselves to him. Let those across the river pledge beyond the tomb to the adept divine."

And yet even that prayer - "let those across the river..." - introduces doubt. Magnus jumps in to silence Abigail when she expresses her heretical belief in the River beyond, and Harrow herself scoffs that "it has been thousands of years since anybody bothered to believe in the River beyond." Abigail believes that John knows nothing about what exists beyond the River. And what about Hell? In HTN, Ulysses the First is described as "languishing in Hell" after his run-in with a Resurrection Beast. John himself describes the stoma as "the mouth to Hell", "a portal to a place I cannot touch - somewhere I don't fully comprehend, where my power and my authority are utterly meaningless."

In the Book of Revelation - the Bible's account of the end of the world - Jesus holds "the keys of death and Hell". John may have resurrected the dead, but he does not comprehend what is beyond it. Both the destination of the good, the River beyond to which the souls of little Isaac and Jean should have traveled lightly after their short and brutal lives, and the Hell that lies beneath the stoma are outside of his power. He is a few keys short of the full divine bunch. He can manipulate death, but he is not really its master.

And so Harrow walks off into the River to look for something or someone she can call god. Harrow, who shares a name with the defeat of death across time and space. Harrow, who is of the unbroken line of Anastasia. Anastasia was kind to Alecto, who like Eve is the mother of all and like Adam walked on the empty earth with god.

In Orthodox icons, the Harrowing of Hell is depicted with Jesus triumphant, leading Adam and Eve by the hand from their tombs. The traditional term for this image is an anastasis, the Greek term for resurrection. Adam and Eve, whose sin broke the intended shape of reality, are restored to wholeness with god.

How will Harrow answer her questions about god? What really is beyond the stoma and what would it mean to conquer it? What does it look like, metaphysically, to restore the world of The Locked Tomb to wholeness, and what will it cost?

[cath-lic]

Hello, I was wondering if you believe non-Christians can be saved? I know many Catholics believe everyone that doesn't accept Jesus will go to hell. Personally, I find this outlook very sad and I was curious on other points of view so please anyone respond with their own opinions. I mean to ask you this: If God is love and is forgiving of our sins, why would he send everyone to hell simply because they could not find their way to him?

hi!! YES absolutely everyone is saved!! now, everyone and their brother has a conflicting opinion on this, but i’ll throw in my two cents.

my first, more concrete point: john 3:16. the everyman’s verse!!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

okay, but what if someone doesn’t believeth? vatican ii’s lumen gentium, no. 16, also covers this. (italics added by me)

Those also can attain to everlasting salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the gospel of Christ or his Church, yet sincerely seek God and, moved by grace, strive by their deeds to do his will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience. Nor does divine Providence deny the help necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God, but who strive to live a good life, thanks to his grace.

however, it’s important to note LG no. 14. bear with me here.

Whosoever knowing that the Catholic Church was made necessary by God through Jesus Christ would refuse to enter her or to remain in her could not be saved.

i’m not a theologian, i’m just joe off the street—so i may be taking things out of context. forgive me!

however—as much as i am catholic, i believe that this is putting WAY too much importance on the catholic church as we know it today. it is far, far different than the original organization founded upon the rock of st. peter, and i believe that there are many things that god takes issue with in the catholic church (notoriously, jesus criticized large institutions like these). therefore, i don’t know how much i believe that the catholic church today, nor as a whole, was made necessary by god through christ.

my second point: my most fervent belief is that god is love. pretty much all of my friends are atheists, and they are kind and caring and loving people. it is, therefore, impossible for me to believe that they are not saved.

my second-and-a-half point: i take a little bit of issue with your phrasing of “send” to hell.

personally, i believe that hell is not necessarily Dante’s inferno, but a place of complete and total separation from god. i also believe that hell is not a place you are sent to, but rather a place you send yourself.

i mentioned purgatory in my earlier answer to a different anon; this is where that comes in. i generally concur with pope francis when he says that he likes to think of hell as empty (note: he was not issuing doctrine here). i believe that in purgatory, 99.999% (you get it) of people, if not 100%, are able to reconcile with god and see the consequences of their decisions, good and bad, throughout their life.

you know when you tell someone something that is true, but they keep on rejecting it, no matter what evidence you show them? that’s what i imagine is happening to the other .001%.

god is endlessly patient; he doesn’t mind spending eons trying to convince others to have empathy for their fellow man. however, humans are not as patient. they get fed up and walk away—and this is my (limited) understanding of the process of going to hell.

i’ll be honest, i don’t know if hell is permanent, temporary, etc. i’m not sure how helpful it is to debate it, either. but what i do know is very helpfully summarized in this post by the lovely hymnsofheresy.

whenever i have doubts about some aspect of what i believe being incorrect, i remind myself that god is love. he loves us more than anything in the world, and nothing we can do will ever change that. he doesn’t look for reasons for you to go to hell; he wants to be with us all the time.

thank you for sending in this ask, and i hope it helped ❤️❤️❤️

[deservedgrace]

part of what makes explaining evangelical cult stuff so difficult for me is that a lot of tactics are only as effective as they are because they work in tandem with other tactics, and it requires a lot of explaining and context that's hard to talk about in a way that's coherent lol

example: i'm going through a transcript of a sermon from the church i used to go to and one of the things they did was talk about confirmation bias. thing is, they gave the webster dictionary definition and went "that's super confusing so let me break it down for you" and gave other definitions and examples and ended up with an example that wasn't really of confirmation bias, it was basically just having positive associations with certain things. and then they talked about using "confirmation bias" to have positive association with things throughout your day to remind you of christ

and i think a lot of things are pretty obvious surface level issues, like landing at an insufficient definition and understanding of confirmation bias, not engaging with the term as its meant to be used, treating it like something you have to lean into in order to further your relationship with christ

but the preacher also made an effort to make it seem like this incomprehensible and convoluted concept, both in language ("you guys are like 'confirmation bias? what does that mean?'", "that didn't make sense either lol, okay let me try to give you an example") and intentionally giving confusing definitions and using examples that don't really fit what confirmation bias is

and i can't help but think that's not a coincidence when a frequent argument i see against evangelical christianity is pointing out the confirmation bias that's kind of embedded in the culture. i can't help but wonder if making it sound like a really difficult concept to grasp makes it easier for people to dismiss those arguments because "it's super complicated so they probably don't understand it." i can't help but wonder if equating confirmation bias with Positive Associations and Thing You Should Be Doing to Help Your Relationship with Christ will only make members think outsiders' criticisms of it is an attack from Satan trying to tempt them. i can't help but wonder if making it seem like something that's impossible to understand deters people from looking into it on their own. i can't help but wonder if the pastor was trying to send a message (even subconsciously) that "you couldn't possibly understand these things on your own, you need the church to do it for you"

but like, all of these things are only effective because outside/alternative beliefs are demonized. you're taught "worldly" people are evil and satanic. you're taught you're supposed to be dependent and obedient to god/the church. you're told not to "fall victim to worldly thinking". you're taught non-believers think they're smart and knowledgeable, but they're actually foolish and don't know anything

and those things are only effective because you're told the church has the absolute truth. you're told you can't question doctrine. you're taught that doubting is sinful and you falling into your human nature and risks your salvation. you're told outsiders are empty and broken and incapable of real happiness or peace or goodness or love. you're told that you're like that too, by nature, and the only reason you're not is because you're here

and these things maintain effectiveness by using music, prayer, meditation, speaking in tongues, etc to alter your mental state. encouraging fasting and sleep deprivation and otherwise denying your needs to induce emotional states. using hypnotic methods. claiming brain chemistry is the holy spirit

and like, in my case of growing up in it, it's as effective as it is because the church is shaping your morality, your reality, your thought process, your beliefs, your common sense, your critical thinking skills, all of it. because you're not allowed access to outside perspectives. because you're constantly emotionally dangled just above the flames of hell. because you have to listen to and trust the adults around you or else they'll drop you in. because even if they do that, you only have yourself to blame for being sinful

like, how do you explain all that? that it's never just that one thing?

[pupyr0arz]

Thinking…serial killer reader x priest price. Am I cooking? Murder, religious/Christian themes cw

Divinity is something you find under the knife. It’s the last, brightest gleams in a man’s eyes as he bleeds his last breath, the moment of surrender beneath your fingers. The moment you and they are one, blood turned to ichor in your veins as they kiss your palms and leave for the holy gate. You dispense mercy in God’s vision, a heavy hand and mournful eye. In a world so rotten and sick, sons and daughters of Adam fall astray, crying silently for angels to lead them back to their flock. Pain is cleansing, and cleanliness is holiness. God’s janitor, you call yourself when you are feeling particularly egotistical.

You work quietly, as any agent of a higher power should. Demons outnumber you, staring back with jewel bright eyes and false promises, begging you to overstep. You find beauty in routine, cleaning yourself and disposing of any marks of sin. The police call you a hundred names, but never your own, and you take each paper as they come and fold them neatly into the trash.

you find joy, beauty in your work. It sends you higher than any satanic touch could give you, polishes you into a gleaming weapon wielded by holy beings. Yet, your favorite day is Sunday, the day of rest.

each Sunday, you walk to church. It’s the third closest to your home, you’d have an easier time to go to them but if you did things merely because they were easy you’d be dammed for your laziness. The two other churches are rot filled, disgusting vestiges that you’d burn down and watch cleanse the ground they were built on if it wouldn’t interrupt your duties. But the third, the third.

God, in His infinite wisdom, has laid his hands upon another in your time. You could nearly cry. You did when you found him, his voice, his eyes, his sermon…it felt as though you were in your workshop, on your knees with bloodied hands praying and being heard. Hope has blossomed within you at the mere sight of the priest, that other agents of God existed, that your war was one that could be one. Father Price, and wasn’t that a beautiful name? The price you paid to see him, that humanity paid to be absolved of their sins, the price the two of you would extract by pound and pound of flesh from demons.

You’ve seen him for a month and four days now, you’ve been counting. You wouldn’t dare approach him too quickly, too fervently, lest you be mistaken for some kind of trick. You could hardly believe the Father existed at all yourself, you wouldn’t blame him for doubting you, but it would unravel your plans. You had to move slowly, integrate yourself with his flock.

Wasn’t that a difficult ask. You weren’t blessed in the way Father Price was, with infinite patience and words sweeter than any sugar on Earth, no Heaven-kissed smile comes from your lips. You are shaped to the words of the oldest books, of wrath and hellfire, storm and lightning. The two of you are counterparts, damnation and salvation, and it makes you adore him all the more. But the hours spent sitting with the inane, idiotic sinners that stumble over themselves to dirty Father Price’s feet send your fingers twitching.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

A Golden Treasury for the Children of God by Carl Heinrich von Bogatzky

"As obedient children, not being conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your conduct;" – 1 Peter 1:14-15

"Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and choosing sure; for in doing these things, you will never stumble;" – 2 Peter 1:10

None can be so sure of his salvation, as to be for ever free from fears and doubts, for there is no assurance without conflicts. Therefore all diligence is required, to be evermore sure of it, so as to have boldness even in death. But let us take heed of presumption, since we do not know what may befall us at last; and be careful not to despise, and over-drive the weaker sort of Christians, that by making general rules of our own experience, this comfortable doctrine of assurance may not be matter of torment to others.

How short and hasty is our life! How vast our soul’s affairs! Yet senseless mortals, vainly strive To lavish out their years.

God from on high invites us home, But we march heedless on, And ever hastening to the tomb, Stoop downwards as we run.

How we deserve the deepest hell, That slight the joys above! What chains of vengeance should we feel! That break such cords of love.

Draw us, O God, with sovereign grace, And lift our thoughts on high, That we may end this mortal race, And see salvation nigh.

[fortressofserenity]

Bad company

I said before about the Harry Potter fandom is how it risks enabling somebody else's sins, especially if these are things they're vulnerable to in some way or another. It's like you have a cousin who likes Harry Potter and is especially vulnerable to lust that reading a lot of Harry Potter slash is enough to give them a taste of gay porn in some way, it wouldn't be true for others but the fact that Harry Potter slash is a thing should tell you about how it could lead others to reading more M/M erotica.

Actually it needn't to be Harry Potter to do the job, any other fandom would do and it would be the same thing. I remember this blog post by somebody who said that while they didn't really get into the occult from being into Harry Potter a lot, it did make them doubt God and do idolatry that they grew more cautious towards it. A love of Harry Potter wouldn't necessarily lead somebody to the occult, but if somebody has issues with lust that a mere romantic attraction to a certain character could risk setting up a wildfire.

Like if they have the hots for say Severus Snape that they feel compelled to sexualise him a lot more, seek out stories that do the same and so on and so forth. It needn't to be him to do the trick, any other Harry Potter would do and it would still be the same thing. Liking Harry Potter in isolation could pose a problem, but the attendant fandom magnifies the risk, especially to those who're spiritually immature and vulnerable to any particular sin. Especially when it comes to things like idolatry and lust.

I feel all fandoms are concentrated forms of idolatry, like whatever time is spent on knowing a lot about well, say Warhammer lore should've been spent on reading the Bible, devotionals and listening to sermons. I feel any story with anti-Christian tendencies could still pose problems for those with a weaker conscience, in the sense of glorifying said sin unless if somebody intercedes for someone else's salvation. I did this to Antonia Fraser because she has a character who cheats a lot.

I prayed to God to help her write a story where this character no longer cheats and is married, in addition to praying for her salvation that in the foreseeable future she could do more than that really. This character will no longer cheat and become a married mother instead, one who goes to church and is married to a Christian pastor or something. The author herself would even write devotionals, so that's off to a good start. One could do the same with JK Rowling, really if someone's willing to.

Or any other author one wants to settle scores with and/or is sympathetic to on some level, if you intercede for their salvation God will grant you more than that really. That you prevented them from going to Hell is a good accomplishment for as long as they're still alive, I guess if more people are willing to pray for their authors' salvation and have them stop certain bad habits, then God can do that and much more.

But I feel for other people, it's easier to make an idol out of something and it's something I've done before so, than it is to trust God fully because sometimes we tend to worry a lot or distrust him on some level. So I feel with secular fandoms, they provide a kind of relief. Though it's a relief more akin to drugs, which gets more apt when it comes to wanting more of the same bad thing. It's not healthy, it's no good and it's never good to begin with.

While it is possible to pray for the salvation of JK Rowling and have her stop certain bad habits, like I did with Antonia Fraser, when it comes to something as immersive as Harry Potter the risk of idolatry would be way too easy. One may not develop an interest in witchcraft because of Harry Potter, but one could turn Harry Potter into a idol by neglecting a relationship with God or anything else in his place really.

It's hard because you want to do something, but you put more faith in something than in him that you better repent or something, as hard as it is as I know from experience. It could be said that it's not wrong to like Harry Potter for as long as it doesn't become an idol in your life, but the thing with any fandom is that it's this easy to slip into idolatry. Especially when such enthusiasm for those stories begins to mimic religious devotion to the Lord that it replaces it at times.

Regardless if it's Harry Potter or not, secular fandom will always pose a problem to those who're spiritually immature. Being not too set in their faith, they risk being vulnerable to worshipping anything other than God that they need somebody more spiritually mature to set them straight or some event to make them draw closer to him again. Secular fandom will also lead them to other problems, especially those that take advantage of their other vices.

Like if your cousin is vulnerable to lust that a romantic attraction to a certain character would take them to a really bad place, like they might come out admitting they got into gay porn because they read HP slash a lot and they fetishise black men a lot because they had a crush on say Blaise Zabini for instance. It needn't to even be him to do the trick, but the risk is always there if somebody's vulnerable to certain bad habits like these.

So as what the Bible says, it's best to stay away from bad company lest they take you to places that'll corrupt you all the more. Perhaps by discovering and joining more Christian Facebook groups and discovering better influences, I may not always get on track but at least I have somebody else who'll lead me on the right track. Along with my growing addiction to devotionals and sermons that these are all good influences on me, after a period of backsliding.

This could help for others, especially when it comes to discovering and/or seeking out better influences, to put themselves on the right track. It's not necessarily wrong to like Harry Potter, but if you're spiritually immature you're way better off following more mature Christians instead. The path isn't easy, you'll still sin from time to time, but you'll learn to grow from your experiences and develop a stronger bond with God as you mature in your faith.

[midnight-in-eden]

Sorry to bother you. I'm a transmasc exmo and my brother is inactive but intends to leave someday. He brought something to my attention, but so far I've only seen a reddit post about it, allegedly a story about a transgirl was affected by this already is on facebook, but I can not find it. It's being said that a new policy has gone to affect, that "Any one who has socially transitioned, is now excluded from baptism." In other words, transgender children can not be baptized, and neither can any other transgender individual, unless they detransition. People are confirming that this policy is going into the Handbook within the next few weeks. I don't have a big exmo support system, has anyone heard of this policy? Are they going to announce this change or are they literally just trying to slip this in and hope it goes unnoticed?

You’re not bothering me at all. Yes, I’ve heard of this. I don’t know any more than you do, I’m afraid.

I think the surface reason is this way they just don’t have to deal with transgender people. Just like they don’t have to deal with gays. Either group will still be “welcome”—as long as we don’t “act on it.” “We love you, but only if you stay in the closet and don’t make problems for us.”

I think the underlying reason is the church has elected to try and ingratiate itself with mainstream American Christianity. (I mean, it’s been doing this since it got rid of polygamy, but it’s accelerated in recent years.) That is why they’ve emphasized the church’s full name instead of “Mormon,” that’s why they’ve quietly backed off more outlandish beliefs (Kolob, exalted people getting their own planets, etc). That’s why they got rid of the various pageants showing parts of 1800s church history—and kept the Easter pageant in Arizona, redoing the soundtrack and script to be more appealing to Christians in general. And that is why they’ve dug in their heels when it comes to accepting LGBTQ people. Genuinely, I believe that this policy is meant to play out like the first Policy of Exclusion, which banned the children of gay parents from baptism until they turned 18 and could disavow gay marriage. That policy was reversed after a few years, but not before flushing out a lot of people who—up until then—had been trying to stay in the church but advocated loudly for LGBTQ acceptance. A lot of undesirables, in the church’s view. A wave of those people left when the original PoX was instituted. Another wave will leave with this one. That will leave the church with a membership that skews even more strongly conservative, that is even more acceptable to American evangelicals. They do not want gay and trans members. They want to be respectable to American Republican Christians.

(Most evangelicals are never going to accept Mormons as Christians, imho, but that isn’t going to stop the church from trying.)

My feelings on this are torn. I think it is actually better for LGBTQ people to leave/not join the church, and perhaps this will protect some trans people from the harm the church does. On the other hand, I know queer people who consider the church their spiritual home. I think everyone should have spiritual autonomy—but in Mormonism, you really don’t. Your access to every covenant necessary for salvation and exaltation is locked behind a gate that is only opened if a priesthood leader decides you are worthy. Trans people who transition are being deemed unworthy en masse and that seems like spiritual abuse to me.

We’ll have to wait and see how this plays out. Even among Mormons I know who are relatively accepting of gay people, few are as welcoming of trans people, so I doubt they’ll get much pushback from the majority of members.

[wisdomfish]

ON GOOD STANDING

As fallen creatures, even though redeemed in Christ, people simply cannot perfectly and consistently emulate the moral example of Jesus Christ (though God motivates and encourages a person’s attempt).

Believers are called and commanded to grow in godliness and maturity, but behavioral injunctions should take into account that Christians still struggle with a sin nature even after receiving salvation.

At times Christians confuse and overestimate their “righteous” abilities. They then misrepresent Christianity as a religion of “self-help” (clean up your act through rigid discipline), rather than as a religion of true “divine rescue” (Jesus Christ has rescued believers from the penalty of their sins through his life, death, and resurrection).

Christianity is a strongly ethical faith. This does not, however, mean that Christianity is about a set of rules, in which Christians mechanically conform to a set of instructions [you can find that, if you so desire, in the cults such as Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses; the other monotheistic religions Judaism or Islam, and most starkly in the practices of Eastern religions]. Rather, Christianity is about a set of values which arises from being redeemed. [Alister E. McGrath]

Christians don’t achieve redemption or good standing with God by “being moral.”

Rather, because they have been redeemed (forgiven and reconciled to God) by God’s grace through faith in Christ, they desire and strive to conform their [new, 2 Cor. 5:17] lives to divinely revealed moral values (Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 3:5-7).

Grace, the unmerited favor of God, is the source and cause of believers’ salvation and of their progress in sanctification.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14

~ Kenneth Samples

[iesnoth]

Any advice for a Christian who "technically" isnt a Christian? A few months ago, I was on the rocks with my faith. Everything I stand for like LGBTQ acceptance (I'm undecided on my sexuality) and being pro-choice and what not goes against the Bible. At one point, I felt lost- like I didn't believe anymore because that's not what a Christian should believe in. But then- I felt this warm blanket cover my shoulders and it reassured me I still believed in God, even if I believed in those other things too. It makes me conflicted because obviously- if I don't follow the Bible's teachings, I'm going against God's word. But whenever I talk to him and pray, I never feel shunned for thinking such things. If anything, I feel reassured.

I'm saying all this because my By-the-Bible Christian friend says I'm not truly a Christian for these reasons (as does just about every single other "real" Christian I've seen on those videos like "Conservative Christians vs. Liberal Christians". So I don't know what to do. I still believe in god. I still pray, and love him- and I feel that deep down he loves me and all his other children no matter what. What do I do? Have I guaranteed my place in hell?

Thank you for reaching out with your very thought-provoking message.

First of all, I'm not going to tell you whether or not you are a Christian: that is between you and God. I'm also not going to tell you "The Rules," because it seems you know them. But I am going to take a few statements from what you've written and, Lord willing, give you some encouragement.

You mention "going against God's word", and though I agree in the sense that we all sin and we all doubt, our salvation isn't contingent on what we do. There's a whole theological discussion to be had about how "works" fit into "faith," but the crux of salvation is:

"If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in Your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

That's all it takes for salvation. That's it. There's another verse that's been a great encouragement to me recently:

"--work out your own salvation with fear and trembling [ie: respect for an absent authority], for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." Philippians 2:12b-13 (ESV)

In sum, God has made all of us (Christian and non-Christian) because He loves us. Christianity is reciprocating that love and entering His confidence. He has a path for us which we can't change, but we can share in His joy by sharing in His plan. Each plan is designed to suit each person, and through the Spirit we discover it. But if you are in the Spirit you will discover it. (I'm sorry to the non-Christians out there for the religious lingo, but it's the shortest way for me to say this atm.)

You say you feel reassured when you pray. I don't know your situation well, but the Lord still loves you, and will always love you all your days. And He does want a relationship with you. (However, if you're receiving affirmations about beliefs you know are contrary to the Bible, I implore you to really dissect that warm feeling and make sure you know where it's coming from.)

Finally, you have not guaranteed your place in hell. No one alive can do that, because Jesus can wash away ALL sin if we ask Him to. And God gives us that opportunity, every day until we die, no matter what we've done. As long as we believe in Him and love Him, He forgives. Because He has loved us from the beginning of time.

My advice to you, as much as it is, is to make sure you truly KNOW Jesus. This is the "working out your salvation," what all Christians should be doing all their lives. Read the Gospels and KNOW Him, read the Old Testament and the prophecies about the Messiah. Ask hard questions and research them out without bias. The problem I find in both conservative and liberal Christians is the tendency to make "their Jesus." 'Judgmental' and/or 'all-tolerant' are two terms which should never be used to describe Him. Jesus of history fits into no box: He loved those society hated, He said controversial things to make people upset (Jesus could be quite the edgelord), He was endlessly compassionate, but also tired and angry. He was all this while blameless, all human while God. He did not bend to society then or now, but because of (and in spite of) that, loved everyone. You will not agree with some of what God says, because our sin nature keeps us from being in line with him. But Jesus said the most important command is just this:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength."

If someone is lazy, a coffee addict, a murderer, whatever, it doesn't matter to God as long as they love Him enough to surrender to Him. But if the coffee addict refuses to give up coffee if He asks, do they love Him with their whole heart? If a lazy Christian refuses to get up when God asks, do they love Him with all their strength? God takes into account our weaknesses. He won't ask the impossible of us unless He equips us for it. But just as He sacrificed for us, He tells us we will have to sacrifice for Him, if for no other reason than this world is in opposition to Him.

Again, He knows our weaknesses. He knows our thoughts, our questions. And He knows how to answer us, if we'll reach out.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

I could go on and on about this, because there is so much nuance here. Instead, I'll leave you with a few resources.

I know Christians can get into echo chambers, where they come to believe God only works in a set way. Something which helps me avoid this is listening to other peoples' testimonies. Delafé Testimonies on Youtube is great for learning the myriad of ways God works. I've been surprised by how gentle He is in these stories.

This might seem hokey, but The Chosen series has helped me steer my understanding of Jesus in a more Biblically accurate direction, and it's genuinely one of the best shows I've seen. You can watch all 3 seasons on the Chosen app.

Mere Christianity by CS Lewis, or anything by Lewis. I've heard critiques about the man, but in consuming his theological work, I've found him to be progressive when it comes to sex and gender identity, especially for his time.

I hope this was helpful. I understand what you're going through, and am working out my salvation right along side you, friend. It's normal to have questions about theology and your own salvation. Let me know if you have any more questions and I'll be happy to help: I'm not an "expert" by any means, but I like talking about Jesus. I'll be praying for you, and praying for empathy and love in your friend group.

Peace be with you.

[catenaaurea]

The Roman Catechism

Part One: The Creed

ARTICLE I : "I BELIEVE IN GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH”

The Meaning of this Article

The meaning of the above words is this: I believe with certainty, and without a shadow of doubt profess my belief in God the Father, the First Person of the Trinity, who by His omnipotence created from nothing and preserves and governs the heavens and the earth and all things which they contain; and not only do I believe in Him from my heart and profess this belief with my lips, but with the greatest ardor and piety I tend towards Him, as the supreme and most perfect good.

Let this serve as a brief summary of this first Article. But since great mysteries lie concealed under almost every word, the pastor must now give them a more careful consideration, in order that, as far as God has permitted, the faithful may approach, with fear and trembling, to contemplate the glory of His majesty.

“I Believe”

The word believe does not here mean to think, to suppose, lo be of opinion; but, as the Sacred Scriptures teach, it expresses the deepest conviction, by which the mind gives a firm and unhesitating assent to God revealing His mysterious truths. As far, therefore, as regards use of the word here, he who firmly and without hesitation is convinced of anything is said to believe.

Faith Excludes Doubt

The knowledge derived through faith must not be considered less certain because its objects are not seen; for the divine light by which we know them, although it does not render them evident, yet suffers us not to doubt them. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath himself shone in our hearts, that the gospel be not hidden to us, as to those that perish.

Faith Excludes Curiosity

From what has been said it follows that he who is gifted with this heavenly knowledge of faith is free from an inquisitive curiosity. For when God commands us to believe He does not propose to us to search into His divine judgments, or inquire into their reason and cause, but demands an unchangeable faith, by which the mind rests content in the knowledge of eternal truth. And indeed, since we have the testimony of the Apostle that God is true; and every man a liar, and since it would argue arrogance and presumption to disbelieve the word of a grave and sensible man affirming anything as true, and to demand that he prove his statements by arguments or witnesses, how rash and foolish are those, who, hearing the words of God Himself, demand reasons for His heavenly and saving doctrines? Faith, therefore, must exclude not only all doubt, but all desire for demonstration.

Faith Requires Open Profession

The pastor should also teach that he who says, I believe, besides declaring the inward assent of the mind, which is an internal act of faith, should also openly profess and with alacrity acknowledge and proclaim what he inwardly and in his heart believes. For the faithful should be animated by the same spirit that spoke by the lips of the Prophet when he said: I believe; and therefore did I speak, and should follow the example of the Apostles who replied to the princes of the people: We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. They should be encouraged by these noble words of St. Paul: I am not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; and likewise by those other words; in which the truth of this doctrine is expressly confirmed: With the heart we believe unto justice; but with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

“In God”

From these words we may learn how exalted are the dignity and excellence of Christian wisdom, and what a debt of gratitude we owe to the divine goodness. For to us it is given at once to mount as by the steps of faith to the knowledge of what is most sublime and desirable.

Knowledge Of God More Easily Obtained Through Faith Than Through Reason

There is a great difference between Christian philosophy and human wisdom. The latter, guided solely by the light of nature, advances slowly by reasoning on sensible objects and effects, and only after long and laborious investigation is it able at length to contemplate with difficulty the invisible things of God, to discover and understand a First Cause and Author of all things. Christian philosophy, on the contrary, so quickens the human mind that without difficulty it pierces the heavens, and, illumined with divine light, contemplates first, the eternal source of light, and in its radiance all created things: so that we experience with the utmost pleasure of mind that we have been called, as the Prince of the Apostles says, out of darkness into his admirable light, and believing we rejoice with joy unspeakable.

Justly, therefore, do the faithful profess first to believe in God, whose majesty, with the Prophet Jeremias, we declare incomprehensible. For, as the Apostle says, He dwells in light inaccessible, which no man hath seen, nor can see; as God Himself, speaking to Moses, said: No man shall see my face and live. The mind cannot rise to the contemplation of the Deity, whom nothing approaches in sublimity, unless it be entirely disengaged from the senses, and of this in the present life we art naturally incapable.

Knowledge Of God Obtained Through Faith Is Clearer

But while this is so, yet God, as the Apostle says, left not himself without testimony, doing good from heaven, giving rains and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. Hence it is that the philosophers conceived no mean idea of the Divinity, ascribed to Him nothing corporeal, gross or composite. They considered Him the perfection and fullness of all good, from whom, as from an eternal, inexhaustible fountain of goodness and benignity, flows every perfect gift to all creatures. They called Him the wise, the author and lover of truth, the just, the most beneficent, and gave Him also many other appellations expressive of supreme and absolute perfection. They recognized that His immense and infinite power fills every place and extends to all things

These truths the Sacred Scriptures express far better and much more clearly, as in the following passages: God is a spirit; Be ye perfect, even as also your heavenly Father is perfect; All things are naked and open to his eyes; O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! God is true; I am the way, the truth, and the life; Thy right hand is full of justice; Thou openest thy hand, and fillest with blessing every living creature; and finally: Whither shall go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy face? If I ascend into heaven, thou art there; if I descend into hell, thou art there. If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, etc., and Do I not fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord?

Knowledge Of God Obtained Through Faith Is More Certain

These great and sublime truths regarding the nature of God, which are in full accord with Scripture, the philosophers were able to learn from an investigation of God's works. But even here we see the necessity of divine revelation if we reflect that not only does faith, as we have already observed, make known clearly and at once to the rude and unlettered, those truths which only the learned could discover, and that by long study; but also that the knowledge obtained through faith is much more certain and more secure against error than if it were the result of philosophical inquiry.

Knowledge Of God Obtained Through Faith Is More Ample And Exalted

But how much more exalted must not that knowledge of the Deity be considered, which cannot be acquired in common by all from the contemplation of nature, but is peculiar to those who are illumined by the light of faith?

This knowledge is contained in the Articles of the Creed, which disclose to us the unity of the Divine Essence and the distinction of Three Persons, and show also that God Himself is the ultimate end of our being, from whom we are to expect the enjoyment of the eternal happiness of heaven, according to the words of St. Paul: God is a rewarder of them that seek Him. How great are these rewards, and whether they are such that human knowledge could aspire to their attainment, we learn from these words of Isaias uttered long before those of the Apostle: From the beginning of the world they have not heard, nor perceived with the ears: the eye hath not seen besides thee, O God, what things thou hast prepared for them that wait for thee.

The Unity Of Nature In God

From what is said it must also be confessed that there is but one God, not many gods. For we attribute to God supreme goodness and infinite perfection, and it is impossible that what? is supreme and most perfect could be common to many. If a being lack anything that constitutes supreme perfection, it is therefore imperfect and cannot have the nature of God.

The unity of God is also proved from many passages of Sacred Scripture. It is written: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; again the Lord commands: Thou shalt not have strange gods before me; and further He often admonishes us by the Prophet: I am the first, and I am the last, and besides me there is no God. The Apostle also openly declares: One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

It should not, however, excite our surprise if the Sacred Scriptures sometimes give the name of God to creatures. For when they call the Prophets and judges gods, they do not speak according to the manner of the Gentiles, who, in their folly and impiety, formed to themselves many gods; but express, by a manner of speaking then in use, some eminent quality or function conferred on such persons by the gift of God.

The Trinity Of Persons In God

The Christian faith, therefore, believes and professes, as is declared in the Nicene Creed in confirmation of this truth, that God in His Nature, Substance and Essence is one. But soaring still higher, it so understands Him to be one that it adores unity in trinity and trinity in unity. Of this mystery we now proceed to speak, as it comes next in order in the Creed.

[psalmonesermons]

Dealing with fear Part 1

Antidotes to fear

The 20th century was called the age of anxiety

Fear plays an increasing key role in the 21st century consciousness.

We seem to engage in many issues today through a narrative of fear.

Our language has now incorporated the language of fear into everyday language and includes expressions such as ‘the politics of fear,’ ‘fear of crime,’ and ‘fear of the future’ etc. reflect the growing cultural significance of fear.

Many people today try to make sense of our experiences through a narrative of fear.

Our fears are not just confined to high profile risks such as terrorist attacks, climate change, or pandemics but also the ‘quiet’ fears of everyday life.

Biblical definitions of fear: there are several Hebrew words in the old testament that have a connotation of fear and the Greek equivalents of these in the New Testament are phobos and phobeo from which we derive the English words phobia and phobic.

The biblical words for fear cover a wide range of meanings ranging from mild uneasiness to stark terror and are usually defined by the context.

Fear and worry (anxiety etc.) are sin!

Faith and fear are opposites and mutually exclusive.

What does our fear/worry say about God?

Is he unable to help you in your life situation?

Or is he unwilling to help you in your life situation?

The Christian should expect to become progressively free of fear.

Proof that fear and worry are sin

Romans 14:23 And he that doubts is damned if he eat, because he eats not of faith for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

This scripture does not just apply to eating and drinking but more broadly to all our activities. If what we are doing is not done in faith, then it is sin.

So fear and worry are sin. (we say this not to condemn anyone but to encourage us to confess such sins).

Like father like Son

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers (imitators) of God, as dear children.

Here the word followers can be more accurately translated as ‘imitators'.

Since God himself is not into fear and worry then we should be like him.

God is able and willing to set you free. God cares. Do not doubt.

Fear and worry detract from your new identity in Christ (will say more later).

The word of God is a powerful antidote to the fear we experience.

Antidote means a medicine or action taken or given to counteract a particular poison.

Fear is like a poison to us and can affect our health.

Jesus brought peace to the frightened disciples on resurrection day by speaking to them.

John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus, and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Paul’s prayer for peace.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which ‘passeth’ all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

One bible teacher [1] suggests using the word ‘bypassing’ in place of ‘passeth’ help us grasp the meaning of the scripture.

God has provided in the bible many other antidote scriptures to our fear. Here are two more examples.

Ex 13:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today:

for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

Imagine never seeing your pressing problem again!

Proverbs 3:23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yes, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

A scripture that can help you sleep well.

Amen

Prayer

In part 2 we discover that there are two main kinds of fear- good fear and bad fear.

[1] The late Roger Price of Chichester Christian Fellowship.

[childofchrist1983]

It is easy for us to fear we may not know Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ when we backslide into sin or when we are trusting our own feeble wills to make ourselves believe we are saved. One purpose for which the Apostle John wrote his first epistle (letter) was to show his believing Christian readers how they might be assured of the eternal life they in fact had.

It is possible to be a true child of God and yet suffer from doubts and fears over our true state before God. But in such cases, we should remember that "God is greater than our hearts and knows all things" (1 John 3:20). His Spirit can witness to our spirit that we are the children of God. When we rely on His Holy Word and Spirit to assure our hearts and let no cloud of sin come between us and Him, then we have confidence toward God. May God give us such confidence in what He has done for us. Thank God for His presence during each season of life. The fruits we bear are the product of His light and love that surpasses all our expectations. May He help us to be more sensitive to the teaching ministry of His Holy Word and Spirit, relying on Him and allowing Him to speak to us and guide us every step of our Christian journey.

God gave us the Holy Bible - His living and Holy Word - to let us know of Him and His abiding love and care as well as guide and prepare us for all our lives. May He help us encourage one another as we continue our walk with Him and our duty to Him daily. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for being present for all our new beginnings and all our lives. May He redirect any anxiety we feel as He provides countless opportunities for growth and change. May we humble ourselves before God always, asking Him to forgive our sins and make our hearts and lives anew through His Holy Word and Spirit. May He help us make Him and His Holy Word top priority, so we can grow spiritually and grow in our relationship with Him as we apply it to our daily lives. Thank God that we can focus on Him and everything about Him, for that is what keeps us sane and at peace. May our words and actions always be a reflection of Him and His Holy Word and Spirit and will.

Everyday, we must remember to thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the grace that He poured out for us on the cross at Calvary. He has freed us from the burdens of sin and guilt. May He help us to always walk in His grace and Holy Spirit, not by our own measure. May He give us the humble humility to know that our freedom and eternal salvation is found only in Him, so that His grace may sustain us, and we may never lose sight of His love and light and mercy. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for calling us to Him and to serve Him. May He equip us to do all that He has called us to do so that as He works through us, He may use us to produce fruit, to reach others, and to encourage all brothers and sisters in Christ. May He work all of these things in us and through us for His Kingdom and His glory. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all His creation, for His miraculous ways and for everything He does and has done for us! Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your walk with Jesus! He loves us and He knows what is best for us. Seek, follow and trust in Him - Always!

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Word and for sending His Holy Spirit so that we might have His grace, not only to awaken us and transform our hearts in our spiritual rebirth and guarantee our eternity with Him, but to also call upon Him whenever we are in need. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all the reminders of His love and mercy and faithfulness within His Holy Word. He is bigger than any challenge or circumstance in our lives. Knowing this within our minds and our hearts, nothing can deter our faith in Him and His Truth. May we all accept Him and His eternal gift of salvation and ask that He would transform our hearts and lives according to His will and ways. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit who saves, seals and leads us. May we always thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He is our strength, and He alone is able to save us, forgive our sins and gift us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful LORD, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

[freebiblestudies]

The Disciples of Jesus Lesson 05: Thomas

Have you ever heard the phrase “don’t be a doubting Thomas?”  A “doubting Thomas” is someone who refuses to believe something without direct observable proof.  What does this phrase have to do with our Bible  study on the disciples of Jesus?

Let’s read together Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; and Acts 1:13.

Today we are going to study the disciple Thomas.  He is infamously known to most Christians as the “doubting disciple.”  However, is that all there is to know about this disciple?

Let’s read together John 11:1-16;Romans 8:35-39; and Revelation 14:4.

In this passage, Jesus received word that his friend Lazarus was deathly ill.  However, Jesus waited a few days where He was and Lazarus died during that time. 

When Jesus told His disciples of His intentions of going to Judea, they were worried for His safety.  Jesus could be killed by the Pharisees.  

However, Jesus would not be deterred.  Interestingly, Thomas’ response was a mixture of pessimism and undying loyalty.  He felt going to Judea would he akin to a suicide mission.  Yet, Thomas was willing to follow Jesus wherever He went, even to death.

Thomas may not be the most optimistic of disciples, but he had great love for Jesus.

Let’s read together John 14:1-6; Isaiah 1:18; Romans 3:20; and Titus 3:5.

In this passage Jesus explained His mission to the disciples.  Jesus also foretold His second coming.

Thomas had a practical question for Jesus. How can they know “the way” if they are not sure where they are going?

Jesus answered that the way to salvation was not a path or a process.  Rather, the way is a person: Jesus Christ.  You cannot reach salvation on your own merits.  You must go through Jesus and accept Him as your Lord and Savior.

Jesus’ interaction with Thomas teaches us that God does not want us to blindly follow Him.  We can have a reasonable and rational faith.

Let’s read together John 20:24-29 and Hebrews 1:1-3.

Why did Thomas doubt?  Was Thomas really a skeptic because He did not have enough evidence Jesus was the Messiah?  It seems Thomas’ doubt of the other disciples' testimony of Jesus’ resurrections came from a place of pride.  Perhaps Thomas reasoned that if Jesus truly rose from the grave, then there would be no chance of a literal earthly kingdom.  The Jews would not overthrow Rome.

Moreover, Thomas may have been envious of the women and the other disciples.  Why did Jesus appear to them but not him?  Thomas’ wounded pride prevented his faith from growing and rejoicing at their testimony.

When Jesus met Thomas, He did not scold or reprimand His doubting disciple.  Jesus showed He knew Thomas’ thoughts by allowing him to touch His hands and side.  Thomas immediately professed his faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  

We should follow Jesus’ example in dealing with people who have questions about our faith.  Rather than engage in debates and arguments, we need to lovingly reveal Jesus to them.

Thomas was not merely a “doubting disciple.”  He may have been pessimistic at times, but he was also thoughtful and very  loyal to Jesus.  While his faith was momentarily weakened by his pride, Thomas overcame it with the help of Jesus.

Friend, are you willing to learn these lessons of faith as Thomas did?

[hoursofreading]

David: Yeah. Well, that’s, I think leads into a lot of the similarities and differences between Judaism and Christianity. Let me give you my interpretation of it. You can tell me where I’m right, where I’m wrong. Judaism does not look at every human being as automatically sinful in a way that Christianity does. Christianity says you are going to sin, you have sinned. Judaism, it seems like sin is, I want to say, more of a choice, but there’s probably a more precise way of putting that. Rabbi Wolpe: Now we’re speaking about classical Christianity. Classical Christianity based on Augustine, who won this argument with Pelagius, who didn’t feel this way. Augustine said, we are born in sin. It’s called original sin. Ever since Adam ate the fruit … It wasn’t an apple by the way. But that’s a separate question. Ever since Adam ate the fruit, human beings are essentially sinful. Therefore, it is only by the sacrifice of Jesus, by an act of grace, that we are permitted to have salvation. It’s one … An analogy that I once used in a class about this is, it’s like you’re in a 300 foot hole. It doesn’t matter how high you jump, you can never get out. Someone has to come down and get you and bring you out. That’s the function of Jesus. Judaism doesn’t see human beings that way. In fact, every single morning, in the morning, prayer, we say a phrase that says, “God, the soul you have given me is pure.” Now, I have no doubt, although I done research on this, but I have no doubt that that line was put in there specifically to say, we don’t believe in original sin. Instead, in Judaism, we believe in what I would call original splitness. You have good and evil inclination in you. No human being manages to make it through life, much less not even a day, without some evil inclination, some sin, some … I mean, I love the story of Heschel. Where Heschel was a great Jewish theologian. He was once talking to someone who said to Heschel, where he said, “I’m going to synagogue.” The guy said, “I don’t have to go to synagogue because after all I’m a good person. I don’t hurt people. I’m nice.” Heschel said, “I envy you.” Heschel said, “I’m always saying the wrong thing. I’m always not saying the thing that I should have said. I’m always inadvertently wounding people. I really envy you. You must be so special.” Now, of course, Heschel knew quite well that he was at least as good as this person was. But the point is, Heschel had much greater ethical sensitivity and he took things that this other guy thought that no big deal as serious. If you think about it that way, every single day goes by when we say things in irritation or we’re unkind, or we don’t reach out when we could. Therefore, it’s not like Judaism believes that people aren’t sinful, but it’s not encoded in your DNA. It is a product of your actions, not your nature. You really can do repentance and you really can change who you are. It’s not an instant process that all of a sudden you are saved. Rather it is a daily … At every moment, says Maimonides, the greatest Jewish philosopher and legalist, at every moment someone should see themselves as perfectly balanced between good and evil. What you do now will tip that scale.

https://perell.com/podcast/rabbi-david-wolpe-jewish-wisdom/