Very nice post. This is certainly clearer than your previous descriptions of salvation - I can tell you are inspired. I must admit it is rather contagious. I'm very clear on the sin issue. I have no problem admitting that I am flawed and guilt ridden and chalk full of sinful desires. I came to terms with that a long time ago. And it wasn't hard at all. What WAS hard was trying to maintain the illusion that all of my problems had nothing to do with ME personally. It was a great RELIEF to discover that my number one enemy was myself and not the external random bullshit I had no control over whatsoever.
I also know the story of Jesus and I'm extremely well aquainted, as you well know, with modern Christianity's many interpretations of his teachings, his death, and his resurrection.
The stumbling block for me, though, is in the following excerpt from your post:
:Kristin: "So now Wayne, all you have to do if your willing, is admit your sin, believe that Jesus died to
free you from your guilt and give you life, and ask him to come into your heart and do for you
what you have been trying to no avail to do for yourself. Trust Him for everything and He will
not fail you. This is God's promise and God doesn't lie. If you trully do this and nothing changes
then you can call Him a liar and hoax. If he transforms your life then you will understand why
all of us "Freaky, weak willed" Christians can't shut up about this incredible and loving God."
First of all, how could he have died for my guilt when I hadn't even been born yet? What guilt could I have acquired prior to my existence?
Secondly, I can't honestly say that I currently "BELIEVE" that this fella died to absolve me of my guilt (Especially since I hadn't even been born yet). How do I go from a state of NOT BELIEVING to a state of BELIEVING?
Thirdly, how do I ask a dead guy to come into my heart? He did DIE, didn't he? You said he "died to free us from our guilt".
Fourthly, it is not true that my attempts to absolve myself of guilt have been to "no avail" as you state above. Many times I have screwed up and many times I have done what was necessary to make good on my mistakes and have come out the other end feeling darn good about myself for it and much less likely to make the exact same mistake ever again. How do you account for this? How do you account for someone being able to have such experiences and growth when they can't even understand the instructions for salvation much less EXECUTE them?
(P.S. "Wayne" is an alias ALSO. Na na na Na na.)
