Hi Chick,
You tell me, "Bill, there you go again putting words in my mouth. Where did I say a good attitude would get anyone into Heaven? You can't show me, because I didn't say it. But you should try having a good attitude."
Well, Chick, when B50 told me, "It's all good Bill. It doesn't bother me what you wrote. No, I am not a Christian. I'm not Druid, Wiccan, or New Age either. My faith and beliefs don't have a convenient pigeon hole. But I'm fine, thanks for asking."
And, when you jumped in with, "It's none of Bill's business, B, but you have a good attitude." -- just what did you mean? B50 and I were talking about her not being a Christian. What is the benefit of being a Christian? A person is saved and will spend eternity in the presence of God -- in heaven.
So, since she and I were speaking of Christianity -- and you jumped in with "but you have a good attitude" -- what would that mean except that she can go to heaven regardless of the fact that she is not a Christian? That, I believe, is what most people -- except you, Jennifer, and Vic -- would think when reading your comment. Of course, Jimi will jump in with his four word sentences just so folks will not forget him.
So, if you were not referring to B50's attitude getting her into heaven -- what were you saying?
Then, Chick, you tell me, "Just saying you're following Jesus Christ doesn't get it & won't get you through those pearly gates."
True, just saying the words plus $2 will get one a cup of coffee. However, confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10) will result in salvation. Is it really that simple? Well, we are told in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
So, Chick, yes -- I would say it is just that simple, that easy, to become a Christian believer. Of course, once one becomes a Christian believer -- the road is not always smooth. Look at me, I have so many bumps on my spiritual head from stones thrown by non-believers, and those who just love to argue, that I am running out of space for new bumps.
Chick, you preach to us, "The Bible says that on judgment day men will say 'Lord Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, And God will say, Depart, I never knew you.' "
You, of course, are referring to Matthew 7:21-29 -- which, in my Bible, is subtitled: Profession Versus Confession.
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Study Guide for Matthew 7
Pastor David Guzik, Director of Calvary Chapel Bible College, Germany
http://www.blueletterbible.org...thew&ar=Mat_7_22
4. (21-23) Jesus challenges every disciple to take heed to his own salvation.
Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' "
a. Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven: The people who Jesus speaks of here make a proper verbal confession, calling Jesus Lord. This is vital, but never enough by itself.
b. Who says to Me . . . will say to Me in that day: It is staggering that Jesus freely claims He will be the one people must stand before on that final day of judgment, and He is the one who is rightly called Lord.
c. The people Jesus speaks of here have impressive spiritual accomplishments. They have prophesied, cast out demons, and have done many wonders. These are wonderful things, but they mean nothing without true fellowship.
i. Jesus does not seem to doubt their claims of doing the miraculous. He doesn’t say, "You didn’t really prophesy or cast out demons or do miracles." This leads us to understand that sometimes miracles are granted through pretended believers, reminding us that in the final analysis, miracles prove nothing.
ii. Significantly, they even did these things in the name of Jesus. Yet, they never really had a relationship of love and fellowship with Jesus.
d. I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! In the end, there is one basis of salvation. It isn’t mere verbal confession, not "spiritual works," but knowing Jesus and being known by Him.
i. In addition, these are not people who lost their salvation. Instead, they never truly had it (I never knew you).
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Finally, Chick, you tell me, "Bill, if you ever really decide to pray outside of habit, you should ask Him to give you the wisdom & discernment of the Spirit."
Believe me, my Friend, aside from His protection and blessing upon my family -- there is nothing I pray for more than wisdom and discernment. And, that applies to my writings also. I cannot tell you how many times I have sat to write -- and come up blank. Then, I realize that I began without God. So, I stop, pray and ask His guidance -- and, viola!, I complete my writing task. Prayer is amazing! And, trying to go the road without talking with Him first -- is like trying to navigate through the wilderness without a guide.
But, I am not sure what you mean when you say, "Bill, if you ever really decide to pray outside of habit. . ." Just out of curiosity, what do you mean by this? Getting into the habit of praying is certainly not a bad thing. Matter of fact, if more people got into the habit of praying -- this world would be a much better place.
The only other habit I can think of is what the Roman Catholic nuns wear -- and I have never tried to wear one of those. Although, I will say that, in the late 1960s, early 1970s, when the nuns started wearing street clothes -- I missed their habits. My friend had a son in the Roman Catholic church school in Orange, California. When I would go there to pick him up -- I could not tell the nuns from the lay teachers. And, that made me somewhat sad -- as though their stature had been somewhat lowered. But, I am sure this is not the type of habit you have in mind.
Anyway, my Friend, I pray that I have cleared up any misunderstanding we may have had -- and that we can go forward from here.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill