I certainly wish that all people would see the truth that I have come to know. I pray every day that people will accept the free gift of salvation from the loving God and seek a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I know that not all will. Many will become or remain Buddhists, Wiccans, Moslems, etc. And that's ok, because it is their decision. I believe that all people and all religious faiths should love one another and cooperate with one another in love. We are all brothers and sisters. I do not agree with the popular belief that "all paths lead to God". From the very words of Jesus Christ himself we learn, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through Me." He doesn't leave any room for interpretation or misunderstanding. At the same time Jesus never rejected a person just because they believed a different way or even those who didn't believe in Him. He spent time with the rich and overtly religious, the very same people that hated Him behind His back and plotted to kill Him. He spent time with the so-called sinners and those that didn't even believe in God. All they knew was that this Man was different. He didn't judge them, didn't talk down to them, didn't try to cram His beliefs down their throats. He loved them and worked with them. That is the example I follow. Just because we don't believe exactly the same things doesn't mean that we can't be friends, that we can't work together for the common good. Many so-called Christians avoid those who don't believe the exact way they do, and even discriminate against others. Jesus Christ taught us love. We are not asked to clean ourselves up before we come to Him. He asks us to come to Him as we are, with all our problems, at what ever belief or level of spirituality we are. We don't have to have all the answers, because He does. We don't have to know and understand all the secrets of the universe, because He does. We are asked to simply trust in Him and He will do the work inside us. I'm following the example of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and showing love and friendship to those who are obviously not receiving love from these self-proclaimed, self-righteous people. Christians are told in the Bible specifically to not judge non-believers. Many people, such as myself, needed to explore and research, to see what is "on the other side of the fence" before they are able to understand and come to a final decision. I don't know of a single person that goes to a car dealership, walks up to the first car they come to and simply purchase it. We do research, we check around. What is the best model? Do they make it in the color I like? Can I afford it? I have also never seen anyone who has purchased a car without test driving it first. Just because you don't believe the way I do doesn't mean that I'm supposed to automatically hate you. No, I am supposed to love you all the more because you don't believe. I am supposed to introduce you to my Lord and let you decide, never force you. God is a perfect gentleman; He never forces Himself on anyone. It must be your decision and no one else's. Do you force all of your friends to be friends with each other? How well do you think it would go if you told your friends, "I can't be your friend if you aren't friends with all my other friends. We must all be together and must all agree or I can't be any one of your friends." How selfish and self-centered. How childish. I simply introduce you to my friend Jesus and let you decide. I love and appreciate all my friends here and wish you all the very best.
