Here is what I saw inside a Neighborhood Walmart in Hot Springs, Arkansas today. The shelves that normally hold fruit juice was barren. I thank God, however, that everything I was there for was available. How do the grocery stores look in your area?

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[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Thanks. I genuinely want to know why you think I should repent, and why my soul is otherwise dead. I ask as a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers), because we don't use this language. I also grew up with Catholics, and they don't use that language. For example, if we should repent for something, we must be specific, or else the repentance is meaningless. You note that your struggles are 'unique' to you. There are however 7 deadly universal sins that we should also consider. The other problem is the assumption that my soul is dead at some point. This is problematic for those of us who were Baptised, or had Communion, or do not follow all aspects of the Christian faith, or are not Christian. The other problem is the assumption that the soul would continue living after death if one 'found' Jesus. In short: I consider these notions relatively extreme, whereas the true Christian, the truly Christ-like person, would focus on Christ's teachings, kindness to others, reading the Bible and bible commentaries, focusing on peace and social concerns, reaching God directly through prayer, and all of those standard practices. I worry that there are extreme approaches to Christian concepts. Thanks for your replies. I won't ask other questions.

[–]In-the-clouds[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I genuinely want to know why you think I should repent

You are free to do as you like, but if you want to live you should repent. God will not force you to repent.

God is the source of our life and strength. And God is love. Without love, there is no life and no strength. When we step outside of God's will, we are no longer acting in love, which is sin, and the longer we live outside of his light and love, the weaker we become. The adversary will not tell you this, because he thinks of his followers as his source of power, since he is now outside of God's influx of strength. When we sin, we are serving the adversary. Without our willing sin, he has no power. God is the source of all power and the adversary is disconnected from that source, so he depends on his followers to willingly give them their power. The gift of grace Jesus gives us is the strength to separate ourselves from the adversary's control when we call on Jesus for strength. All who call on his name shall be saved.

I am not telling you to do anything, but I hope you would repent so you may be blessed. It is the very first teaching of Jesus recorded in the Bible, so it must be important.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

[–][deleted] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

First teaching, arguably:

Matthew 3:15

But Jesus, answering, said to him [J. Baptist],

"Allow it now [Baptise Jesus], for this is the

fitting way for us to fulfill all

righteousness." Then he allowed him.

Until c. 1500, Jesus was appreciated as one of a team, with Mary and John, and the three of them essential for salvation. Salvation has been a process, including several steps, and one is 'alive' before and after repenting, and regardless if one is Christian or not. Perhaps you refer to the 'life everlasting' or eternal life in Heaven, which is the continued life of the soul, rather than the body. One has to clarify:

John 3:36: "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Happy Easter.