If you are an athiest... on the Peoria.com Forums - Page 9

I'll try not to!

Actually... There's a bit more to it than that, but His Grace is amazing.

Kev,

Although I've lost my faith, I did teach Sunday school for years. I was kidding.

oooh. what would make you lose Faith man?

I'm a chica... (just so you know)

Why? I don't know. Started really questioning my beliefs and came up having no logical reasons to think a diety exists.

I thought back to the birth of one of my boys, when my faith was the strongest, and decided his survival was more related to science than a God.

In a nutshell, yes. There will not be as many rewards for them in Heaven as for the lifelong believer who lived his/her beliefs through actions.

Your comment is not atypical though and is a common misconception among non-believers (not saying you are or aren't a believer, I don't know where you stand.) The bottom line though is if you TRULY repent and accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will get into Heaven.

You can't just say "sorry" on your deathbed with the tone of an insolent teenager and expect to be forgiven. God knows what's in your heart, and He will know if you are true or not.

Edit: Okay, I do know where you stand. Hadn't read forward far enough in this thread when I originally posted this response.

His survival on Earth may very well be more related to science than God, but what about the survival of his soul?

When I'm sick, I don't sit at home and pray for healing, I go to a doctor and I pray that God grants the doctor wisdom. I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. Some people do.

I don't recall anything about the amounts of rewards in Heaven for the amount of time on Earth that one is a believer. Although I admit to not knowing the Bible inside & out.

Well, AV8R, all I can do is think about God/No God and whatever is in my heart is in my heart. Can't just force myself to believe. I've been a believer before and I can't say for certain I will never return, but at this time, I'm just not believing it. and I'm definitely not anti-religion.

Point taken re: Science/God not mutually exclusive.

Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds.

As Kevster said, just pray you get that chance to ask for forgiveness before you die. There's still that chance you could lose your life in the blink of an eye...or lose your mind to anything that makes sense (brain damage).

AV8R, you can do MANY great deeds w/o it being in the name of the Lord. Take, for instance, I do hours and hours of volunteer work. I sit on a statewide Board and a national Board for disabilities advocacy. And, I'm finishing up an internship with an organizaton that deals with deafblindness. All volunteer. I have given my time, treasures, and talents in many ways. Your biblican reference does not address a measurement of time, but a measurement of deeds.

froggy, you missed the part where I said I was kidding. Of course I know that... I was a Sunday school teacher for years.

correct, and I said in my post: "There will not be as many rewards for them in Heaven as for the lifelong believer who lived his/her beliefs through actions.

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." James 2:18-19

AJ, you do know that you can do all the good deeds you want but they alone won't get you into Heaven, right?

and belief w/o deeds??