Why would Sam be a "thing". Oh yeah, cause religion spreads hate. Would you have the same feeling if you had not "found" jesus?
And by your logic, if I go out to drink, I'm following satan? The Satan is my best friend cause getting wasted is pretty much a birthright for us Mexicans.
I never called Michael Sam a thing...what I mean by "the Michael Sam thing" was the Michael Sam situation. I do not consider Christianity a religion. Same feeling if I had not found Jesus? What same feeling? I am confused by what you are asking.
And here is what I mean by drinking...it is not a sin to have a beer or two or enjoy a cocktail, glass of wine, etc...you are sinning (doing what Satan wants you to do) when you go out and drink too much and get drunk.
Appreciate your answers.
Damning people as in going to hell. So the bible states love your neighbor, respect their differences, maybe even embrace their differences? but ultimately they are going to hell for those differences
A1: I don't get how the Michael Sam situation relates to my question. It was why not connect with god, humble yourself, etc, through different customs/traditions. But you did later on answer this by saying you learned that the only way to connect with god is through Jesus. So in your mind the only legitimate means of connecting with a higher being is through christian customs?
A2: So you learned you can only connect with God through Jesus. A question for you, how exactly did you come to accept/agree with this statement? What proved to you or what convinced you the only way to connect with God is through Jesus?
So I know you stated you had rough situations in your life which led you to a group where you found God through Jesus. Let's say in a similar way, a person has very rough situations that he has had to constantly deal with, which ultimately led him to a group where they learned from the Quran. So a very similar situation as you, but the only difference is Bible vs. Quran. What makes one right the other wrong in your mind? You guys ultimately achieved tranquility in almost the same manner.
A3: So if you are friends with a non-Christian, you pray for them? You pray they accept Jesus? What exactly are you asking for in your prayers. And you just related a person who believes a different religion/no religion to drug addicts, murderers, an adulterer etc. Does that really make sense?
A1: I was confused by your question to be honest. But I understand what you're asking now and realized I did answer it...to answer your question of in my mind the only way of connecting with a higher being is through christian customs...yes, that is what I believe. John 14:6....Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
A2: I came to accept this statement when I decided to live my life for Him and dedicated my life to God and started spending time in The Word every morning.
The second part of that question I'll do my best to answer but OP would probably be able to answer that question for you...he has more wisdom than I do...but I'll give it a shot. The only way I can think of to answer that question is John 3:16..."For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."...if you believe in God, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit (the Trinity)...you will live forever in Heaven. The Quran (as far as I know) does not say that.
A3: YES! I do this constantly. My best friends are non-Christians, they are going to be my groomsmen in my wedding. I pray everyday to God that He will embrace them, that something will take them to Him so they can experience a relationship with him.
I hear that a lot about comparing murderers, drug addicts, etc. about comparing them to "simple" sins. Every sin is equal in the eyes of God...someone checking out a woman he is not married to and doing heroine is that same in the eyes of God. Best example of this from The Bible I can think of is 1 John 3:15...Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.