Healthy dialogue.

There are many folks out there that are deep thinkers, and they ask hard questions about God that often throw us off course. Breathe deep, acknowledge the question, if it stumps you don't be afraid to say, "I don't know but give me some time and I'll search it out."
One of those questions has recently been posed to me;

How can you believe in a religion that condems good people who don't think exactly like you to eternal hell?


This question appeals to the P C'ness in all of us. It is God's love that has drawn us to him, and yet there is certainly an element of judgement found in Gods word also.

Here are some of the steps I use when answering questions.



First of all value the question. If a person asks a question assume it is because they think it is important enough to ask it. So respect the question. Don't be judgemental and assume a motive for the question, just answer the question on it's merits.

Secondly, value the questioner. Remember another one of Gods creations asks the question. Remember that we are called to be known by our love. The sacrifice of Jesus was for the person who ask the question.

Thirdly, Keep the question in a positive form. Avoid turning the question back at them. This is usually a defensive move because we have assumed the motive of the other person or think that the question is disrespectful in some way. Responses like "Are you a Pagan?" Don't usually help and can be dialogue killers.

Fourth, Never fear questions. Questions are not dangerous. Our discomfort often comes from the reason we think the person is asking the question. We assume that the person is trying to belittle us, or prove us wrong by asking the question. Don't assume anything. Answer the question without prejudice.

Lastly, even if you can't answer the question engage in dialogue and find out what they think about it.

So here is how I answered the question;

How can you believe in a religion that condems good people who don't think exactly like you to eternal hell?

One of the reasons I am a Christian is because of the incredible freedom that we have been given by God, the freedom to think, dream, fail, grow. The freedom to know that I am not responsible for the world, I am responsible to the world. God has given me gifts and callings. One of those callings is to share his unfailing, unconditional love with those who haven't experienced it. Judgement is Gods job alone. While I think we must use good judgement, we as Christians have no authority to condemn others to hell, or to elevate them to heaven. Just to love them and share Gods love with them as we are given opportunity. What I think about who God will allow to go to heaven is irrelevent and just plain none of my biz. God is all knowing, and completly just. He alone will make proper decisions based on knowledge that is far above my ability to grasp.

Notice this answer makes no assumptions about the person asking.
It is positive and dissarming in nature, and opens oportunities for further dialogue.

Black and White

The bright day
The dark night
late or early
black or white
in or out
now or never
yes or no
one or none
stay or go
my way or the highway
to be or not to be
left or right
you or me
depth or height
all or nothing
feast or famine
up or down
good or bad
God or Satan
saint or sinner
rich or poor
good or evil
on or off

The words that now seem to define our culture
They are the death of dialogue
Communication killers
Judgementalism at its best,
Dismissing those we don't understand or see
eye to eye with.
Limiting our thoughts, goals and plans
with principled fortresses forged of straw.
Dividing us by shallow rivers of polluted thought, eroding our commonalities exposing our differences.
We have lost the ability to love
We have honed the ability to judge.
We fear the unknown, instead of asking why, we ask what.
We have forgotten how we've gotten to where we are, so we have no patience for those who have not yet arrived.
We assume we are in the perfect philosophical place, so we have stunted our growth.
Where is love?
Where is grace?
Where is mercy?
Where is our ability to love unconditionally, to give the benefit of the doubt,
to seek truth, to allow God to work in our lives and take his time in the lives of others?
We have defined our existence in the narrowest terms, and worse we have defined the existence of others.
We are polarized and not able to discuss it, and just as we, are mired in me, it is time for the next presidential election.


We must remember God loves us all, He is love
1 Chorinthians 13 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. 6 It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. NLT