Danger and faith

[enoob57]

I'm curious as to how many people in the world are religious simply as a "safety harness". There are many many people who've never even considered praying to God, ever. Then something drastic happens. You're going to lose your house to the bank, you're in such emotional distress after a breakup in a serious relationship, you can't provide for your family or you've been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Any one of these events happen and suddenly people become believers.

Is this selfish of people? Does God look down on them as opposed to those who've always believed? Or does he welcome them with open arms as if to say "its about time you showed up"?

Thoughts?

When you consider the temporary to that which is eternal- one might think the better would be the eternal. It is God Who has made all the rules for He is the only Ruler. All else are subjected to rules! We are appointed to death an unbreakable rule submitted unto by all. You, me, all are subjected to rules- why not subject yourself to the Ruler (God loves and keeps those who are in subjection to His Son Jesus Christ).

2 Peter 3:9

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

NKJV

Ezek 33:11

11 Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord God, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'

NKJV

I'd say according to the Bible open arms (the son that was lost)-

Luke 15:20-24

20 "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'

NKJV

There is no love but that which has come down from The Father by The Son impowered by The Spirit which will take eternity to understand. Love Steven

[enoob57]

Is this selfish of people? Does God look down on them as opposed to those who've always believed? Or does he welcome them with open arms as if to say "its about time you showed up"?

Most people have to be broken before they come to repentance. Some just have to be more broken than others.

The real question is do they continue to follow the Lord after the situation is passed through?

This may surprise you, but there are atheists in fox holes and no amount of adversity turns them to God. I have had personal experience of this. If one doesn't believe in God one doesn't suddenly start to believe just because death comes knocking on the door.

The many- The proud- The stupid who deny God. Eat, drink and be merry for the flower of grass brings this to urgency! Love Steven

[enoob57]

That be as it may, I only wanted to point out that for adversity to bring anyone to God the individual must sort of already believe, or be inclined to believe.

I can't believe the overwhelming truth of what you have said here!

John 6:43-51

43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." NKJV

You might say at this point well it's all up to God and not the people at all but this is also written-

2 Peter 3:9

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

NKJV

Every man will have a conscience rejection of God when passing form this life to the eternal life- either I don't believe or I will live my life the way I choose or I love this and even though its probably not good I like it anyway and will not quit doing it or I am way to smart to fall for this santy claus fable or evolution is the answer to life as I see it. etc.

In all- rejection of The God is replacing Him with yourself, yet knowing that you were not the causation of yourself but were caused!

... for the flower of grass brings this to urgency!

I have never heard this expression before.

1 Peter 1:22-25

22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because

"All flesh is as grass,

And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.

The grass withers,

And its flower falls away,

25 But the word of the Lord endures forever."

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

NKJV

Those who believe not that there is a God they are flesh only and this is the only life they will know for hell is torment and separation from all life (but) those who believe His Word are born into and everlasting life of truth and peace! Love Steven

[Fez]

I'm curious as to how many people in the world are religious simply as a "safety harness". There are many many people who've never even considered praying to God, ever. Then something drastic happens. You're going to lose your house to the bank, you're in such emotional distress after a breakup in a serious relationship, you can't provide for your family or you've been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Any one of these events happen and suddenly people become believers.

Is this selfish of people? Does God look down on them as opposed to those who've always believed? Or does he welcome them with open arms as if to say "its about time you showed up"?

Thoughts?

Jesus saved me because I was in such a situation. It was depression with me, major depression.

Now?

I am His, 100%. So I think the situations might differ, but I have often thought that I had to go through what I did because there was no other way to break my pride, which was huge

So there are people who probably call out to Him in times of crisis or danger (I have seen this happen - "there are no athiests in foxholes"), and then revert to what they were before. But there are others, like me, that were made to understand that He is the only way to live.