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It is a mystery for sure. But God will never refuse a person free will or opportunities to turn to Him. Somehow even evil people play a role in life. Think of Gollum, he played an important role in ridding middle earth of the ring. Judas, played a role in the death of Jesus but through that salvation was won for all of us. I'm with you, I wonder why create them in the first place?

So I was raised in a Christian family but left the religious life in high school. I’m more of an agnostic now. I have always struggled with the concept of heaven and hell. I guess the simplest answer is that you should have faith in the will of God. That answer always seemed hollow to me. Anyway, thanks for commenting.

Start simple as you say it, allow God to work in your life, and develop a testimony. If you are agnostic, this will be non logical, but there have been times in my own life that I simply could not have made it, and through belief I did, and have testimony that points to supernatural intervention. I give that credit to Christ, and have no other logical explanation except very very very small odds and chances. Others that have shared my experiences have compounded my faith, and have made such small odds of success seem uncannily impossible other than the existence and intervention of God in my life. This is my own experience, you have your own. I encourage you to be open minded, this is the think tank after all!

I love that we can have respectful discussions here in the Think Tank. Ya'll have great questions!

It's a great stream! :)

Agreed!

Thanks for reaching out. I am a bit of a natural skeptic and struggle with matters of faith. I am enjoying the bit of irony of a conservative Christian (I’m assuming) telling a social liberal to keep an open mind. I will try my best. What do you mean when you say to develop a testimony?

It is a bit ironic isn't it?! but hey, like i said that's what this stream is about and i'm just offering my perspective for others to consider, and i'm totally not offended if anyone disagrees with my thoughts. as long as there is mutual respect i think dialog is hugely beneficial to all of us.

Specifically to your points, we are all skeptical by nature so i gotcha. To me, and i'm not a scholar or theologian here, a testimony is a series of events that are specific to your life that you alone have experienced and no one else can change what you experienced. Others may have been involved, and others may have been there, but only you can know exactly what your own experience is in a situation. My testimony is what drives my faith actually, my testimony is what makes me less skeptical of God. Yes, i'm a Christian, no I don't have all the answers, but I have experienced enough events in my life (that comprise my testimony) that have led me to be who I am and have confirmed to me what I believe.

So, testimony develops (as a Christian) by taking note of how things happen in your life and connecting that back to God. You say you were raised in a Christian family so you know the general concepts, and that we believe we are saved through Jesus as our savior. Most of us believe in a personal relationship with JC, and relationships are two way streets. If we don't acknowledge him, the relationship will not exist or will be at least not very fulfilling. But, back to my testimony, I can say from my experience that having a personal relationship with Christ has been extremely fulfilling and i have on numerous occasions been blessed in ways that i can only attribute back to Him.

Thanks for your dialog, i appreciate it! and i'll shut up if you want me to, lol.

How old are you.and are you my fellow brother oo sister in Christ. I love your testimony.
Your 18 year old brother in Christ

I'm 34 and I'm a brother in Christ my friend. Thanks, but this isnt really my testimony, just my definition of one :) or at least the crappiest imgflip nutshell version, it's a complicated subject you know

Of course. We all have a testimony. Some are hard to hear in both ways. Some are just I got saved at 5 years old.

You must be my twin brother in Christ, I'm 34 also!

Lol

And lets them sin. This is why, rather than Bible God, I believe more in the Subaudible. You know, like there is a God, but he doesn't control absolutely everything, he's just the balance that's there that eventually makes everything even out and keeps everything from falling apart entirely.

The Bible God doesn't control people, they control themselves.

Free will

So the only thing God has no control over us whether mankind will love Him or not.

Yes

That's kinda weird, but okay.

That's true...