there are alot of things that were said and discussed on this forum that extremely bothered me.
Despite the polls that claim that most of the nation is of the Christian faith, that is a lie. That is because most people have a misperception of what a Christian is. I have been born and raised in the church, yet i cannot say that i was truly a christian until a few months ago. A Christian is one who not only believes in God, but in his son, Jesus Christ. He/she believes that "[Jesus] is the way and the truth and the life. Noone can go to the father except through [him]" and that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Most people that attend church every sunday are not christians. Even if you said a little prayer asking Jesus to come into your heart, you may still not be a Christian. A Christian is someone who is holy; someone set apart from this world. So if you are living in sin, and living exactly the same way you did before you "became a christian," then, sorry to burst your bubble, but you are going to that burning hot place that even satan fears; hell.
The problem with society today is that there is such a loose definition of Christianity, when clearly the bible states that many will claim to believe, but few will be true followers of Christ.
And yes, it is sad that most churches are very closed minded and judgemental when it comes to people who are different, and are considered "sinful" people. But true Christians are not as such. Friend, wherever you went, you didn't my God that day. Jesus said that he did not come to save the clean, but the unclean. He welcomed the "dirty" prostitute into his kingdom and forgave her many sins, washing her white as snow. Therefore, there will always be a place in God's kingdom for those willing to call out to him and repent. He is waiting with open arms, just like the father welcomes the prodigal son. There is a celebration in heaven every time some believes.
Supersix, who said his devoted brother-in-law is fighting cancer, and wanted to know what kind of God would do that... well, Job was a man who was blameless before the Lord, so the Lord blessed him with many things in the world. But one day when God and satan were talking, God said, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." But satan said that the only reason why Job feared God was because of his many blessings. So he allowed satan to test Job's faithfulness. Satan killed all Job's children, took away all his possessions, and even took away his health, yet Job did not curse in God's face as satan expected him to. And so God blessed him twice as much as before, doubling his possessions and giving him many children. (Book of Job) Those of you with children, which of you would smack your child around after he did something that pleased you, like getting you a nice gift? Or if they asked you for food would give them a rock? "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give to those who ask him?"
God is a loving God, and he does not harm his children. He is always in control because he is omnipotent. Often things happen that we cannot understand at the present, or we may never understand, but that does not mean that God does not exist, or that he does not care. He does care. A lot! A quick example of this is in my brother's friend. He lived life to the fullest, and had strong faith in the Lord, yet just last year, he died in an auto accident. Of coarse we asked why, but because of his death, many more came to believe in Christ. I do not know why the cancer is afflicting your brother in law. All i can say is that God is in control. And as Paul said in prison, if you kill me, i will be closer to my God in heaven. If you let me live, then that is another day i can praise and serve my God. If your brother in law is a true Christian and is as dedicated as you say, then he will share the same attitude and be joyful because he is able to live for God.
Call me a freak, call me a fanatic, but i don't care because my God is real, he is alive, and he is awesome.
Just two weeks ago, i got in a car accident at church in which someone's rear end bumper was caved in completely. I went inside to pray with my pastor, and talked with the other person. Later, i found out that a half hour after i left church, the bumper came out, and the car looked like it had never been in an accident. At first i did not believe it, so i had to touch it with my own hands before i could comprehend what had happened. Call it what you will, but i know it could only have been the hand of God that could do such a thing.
My challenge to you "christians" out there is this:
re-examine your life and see what you are doing to serve God. If you have no personal relationship with God, you are not a christian, and no matter what you think, that is the truth.
What i have said here, you may not agree with, but these are the things I hold as truth. I realize that this is hard to understand and believe, but that is what religion is based upon: faith. I, myself, have often struggled with my faith, as most believers do, but God has shown me time and time again that he is the one, true God.
So for those who do not believe, and for those who may have once believed but now are lost, i can only say this: I will pray for you, and God loves you, even if the world hates you.
Even if you hate him, he still loves you. If loves you so much, he died to save you, if only you will accept his free gift of life.