Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!hellgate.utah.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: lae@io.UUCP (Larry Enos) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: a Christian motif that doesn't make sense to me Message-ID: Date: 9 Jun 90 03:31:27 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Interleaf Inc, Cambridge, MA Lines: 29 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In his comments on the death and resurrection of our Lord, Jeff Lindborg says: "Or coming to the realization that God is, indeed, a fantasy. Christianity is perpetuated by fear and I think this post only strengthens that idea. Fear of hell/punishment/death/satan(tm)/.... If there were no provision for escaping "death" (through heaven) then Christianity would have died long ago." As an unbeliever, you do not understand that it is more than mere fear of death that motivates true Christians to follow the Lord. For the "eternal life" He promises to those who believe in Him not just an unending human life, but, in fact, His own life. When you turn to Jesus and believe in Him, you allow Him to deposit His very life, the eternal, uncreated life of God, into your human spirit. In this way, you become a "son of God" and brother of Christ. Then, after you receive this gift of life, your comission is to: (1) nurture the divine life in your spirit, so that it may grow to maturity within you. (i.e., spread throughout your whole being--spirit, soul, and body), and (2) testify to others about Jesus, so that they might also receive His life. The Gospel of John describes the matter of the divine life particularly clearly. For example, the Lord says: "I am the way, the reality (truth), and the life"; and again: "I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly." The Lord's death and resurrection testifies of the power of His divine life to overcome all negative things, including death. This is the "eternal life" that the Lord has given to us who have believed in Him. Praise Him!