I started following God for real around sixth grade. My heart was soft and I wanted less of myself and more of Him. There was real life toward Scripture, prayer, and growth. The main ongoing struggle was porn. I kept repenting but it never fully left. Even with that battle, my heart still responded and I was becoming someone softer and more alive spiritually.
Over the last year everything changed. Prayer went empty and my heart hardened. I started feeling fine with the distance. Scripture began to feel weird or get rejected while messages that call faith brainwashing or just cope started resonating. I lost conviction around porn and could relapse without caring. Church and youth group often felt like nothing. I began to feel like a different person from who I used to be. Internally I accepted the closed state even though I never wanted it.
Now I mostly do not care. My heart is set the other way and I do not see a path back to the old faith. Even when I ask for advice I either deflect it from my heart or just perform the act of receiving it without any real change. External prayers and efforts do not open anything. Advice that should help does not land because the desire is gone. I still do not want to walk away completely, so I am trying to keep a few doors open without wanting to. That means staying honest with my counselor and Arthur, not canceling the next real contact, leaving the practical limits in place, and refusing to decide it is permanently over. I am lost in a quiet way and I do not know how long even these small steps can last.

I have been Good to so many , i did what you asked of me , i have faith but most days i just dont know what im doing or whats next you blessed me with a family and for the last 5 months they have not been with me why split us up my mother raised me to never quetion you but what if i need answers ? What if i dont understand the lesson nor know why im going thru what you have written ?

From The City of God by Saint Augustine, bishop

(Lib. 10, 6: CCL 47, 278-279)

In every place there is sacrifice and a clean oblation offered to my name

Every work that effects our union with God in a holy fellowship is a true sacrifice; every work, that is, which is referred to that final end, that ultimate good, by which we are able to be in the true sense happy. As a consequence even that mercy by which aid is given to man is not a sacrifice unless it is done for the sake of God. Sacrifice, though performed or offered by man, is something divine; that is why the ancient Latins gave it this name of “sacrifice,” of something sacred. Man himself, consecrated in the name of God and vowed to God, is therefore a sacrifice insofar as he dies to the world in order to live for God. This too is part of mercy, the mercy that each one has for himself. Scripture tells us: Have mercy on your soul by pleasing God.

Works of mercy, then, done either to ourselves or to our neighbor and referred to God are true sacrifices. Works of mercy, however, are performed for no other reason than to free us from wretchedness and by this means to make us happy (and we cannot be happy except through the good of which Scripture speaks: It is good for me to cling to God). It clearly follows that the whole redeemed city, that is, the assembly and fellowship of the saints, is offered to God as a universal sacrifice through the great high priest, who in the nature of a slave offered even himself for us in his passion, in order that we might be the body of so great a head. He offered this nature of a slave; he was offered in that nature, because in that nature he is the mediator, in that nature he is the high priest, in that nature he is the sacrifice.

The Apostle urges us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, and as our spiritual worship, and not to follow the pattern of this world but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds and hearts, so that we may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect, the total sacrifice that is ourselves. By the grace of God that has been given me, he says, I say to all who are among you: Do not think more highly of yourselves than you should, but judge yourselves with moderation according to the measure of faith God has given to each of you. As we have in the same body many members, yet all the members do not have the same functions, we are many, but are one body in Christ; we are each of us members of one another, having different gifts according to the grace that has been given us.

This is the sacrifice of Christians, the many who are one body in Christ. This is the sacrifice which the Church celebrates in the sacrament of the altar, that sacrament known to the faithful; in that sacrament it is made clear to the Church that in the sacrifice she offers, she herself is offered.

RESPONSORY

Micah 6:6, 8; Deuteronomy 10:14, 12

With what gift shall I come before the Lord?

I will tell you, O man, what is good

and what the Lord asks of you:

— only to act justly, to love goodness

and to walk humbly with your God.

Heaven and earth and all that is in them

belong to the Lord your God;

and now, this is what the Lord your God requires of you:

— Only to act justly, to love goodness

and to walk humbly with your God.

Faith is the key.

What kind of faith? Dead or living.

What does dead faith produce? Nothing

What does living faith produce? Obedience to what God commands.

People who hate obedience love to shout out faith yet never explain the type of faith required and what that faith in turn produces. Paul and James warns about those who believe they can just do whatever after claiming faith yet nothing ever comes from it. Romans 6 and James 2. We are not claiming our obedience and works save us, they show that we have living faith since they are produced by it. Yet you will ignore or teist that and claim we are telling people salvation is based on works, which is not what we teach.

And before someone says it, I'm aware the thief on the cross had no works yet he was saved. We don't disagree with this as we agree it is about having faith that saves us. But how many of you died immediately after claiming faith? So you can't claim the same as he never had the chance to live out his faith, you do.

You're not going to stop sinning over night but when you catch yourself about to sin and you talk to Jesus and say, "I'm not going to do this right now to prove to you I believe you exist." Blessings will happen...

It will take less than a week to see these blessings. My brain, my ears, love hearing gossip and gossiping about negative things in the past. That's due to my brain being wired that way from growing up in a very toxic household.

When I caught myself wanting to gossip at work, at home about family member because the urge was so strong, I would tell Jesus, "because I believe you exist, I won't do this." I did it without wanting anything back, just to prove to Him I believe He exist and because that's His desire and to please Him, guess what I noticed? Blessings started to occur.

He is very generous and merciful, look at what He did for Job. He gave Job more than when it started. He gave the Israelites more than what they started out with. He gave Solomon way more than what he asked for. All you have to do is show a sincere attempt. It's not going to end overnight and you'll go back to the same sin but actually showing Him by catching yourself and resisting is like a form.of sacrifice.

Those of you who struggle with prn videos, you should try this, when the urge become super strong, try resisting and tell Him you're not going to commit this sin because you believe He exist and it's Him you're trying to please by giving Him what He desires. He knows how hard it is for some.of you because you may be demonically oppressed but just fighting the temptation in His name will make Him proud and He will bless you. If you're too weak, don't let the shame, guilt, seperate you from talking to Him, tell Him. That means more than ignoring Him and because Hes so generous, He will still bless you with a gift.

(For the moderators: I am not on desperate help. I am not depressed nor suicidal. I need help and visions from christians. I need to discuss this with real people and not AI bots)

(I am brazilian, used google tradutor because what I texted was massive. Sorry!)

It is a future that never arrives—a dream that takes forever to manifest. I find myself consumed by anger, explosive emotions, hatred, sadness, and loneliness; I isolate myself because, in that state, I feel alive—as if I am actually doing something. I may long for love, yet I cannot see it as something attainable; it feels entirely pointless. Every choice I make seems insignificant and futile. I am trapped in a future that never arrives.

What future you ask for?

I just endure it, really. I might pray for Him to show Himself to be real—but nothing happens. Nothing at all. I don’t trust Him; I don’t truly see that Jesus died for me (I’m not rejecting Him, mind you), and I don’t see myself as someone chosen by God. It’s not even a matter of being excluded; it’s as if there was never anything there to begin with. I’m trapped in a future that never arrived—that longed-for future where I am truly myself: free from ADHD (or at least living well with it), free from anxiety, being a son, a brother, a crazy, fun friend—and being with God. But a real God—the Lord revealing His true love.

Just to give you an idea—I used to seek things out; Search about my ex, about her and everything related to her—I would look for things that would trigger anxiety or fear in me. It wasn’t even sadness I was after; it was that specific kind of anxiety, that jolt of nerves from seeing certain images—anything to make me feel something. I would look at gore, violent videos—anything to feel something. I watch pornography to feel something. I don’t see God in anything; I don’t see God at Mass; I don’t see Jesus in the Eucharist. I don’t see God anywhere. I don’t see God in this world—I just don’t.

It’s an obligation, really. Choices cease to have any real meaning and become nothing more than obligations. What’s the point of asking for the intercession of saints if nothing ever happens? If the Holy Spirit doesn’t seem to be present on earth—even though Jesus says He is—then what’s the point? Why have I never seen Jesus’ sacrifice as something significant, but rather as something that amounts to nothing? Why I never saw Jesus as dying for me?

I don't even see that I have a guardian angel to be honest, not accompanied by him, no protection. Nothing.

Not even protestant churches seem to have God in it, NOTHING SEEMS to have.

I am getting close to definitive resignation, that God is just... not here. I am not one of His children, and there is nothing I can do. Hope is useless and false. "It is what it is..."

I don't know anymore. This yearning happened since childhood and wasn't satisfied. I left christianity to paganism for 7 years then returned, still the same.

The Bible has no answers for this IN MY OPINION (if I'm wrong, sorry.) I'm starting to believe calvinists are speaking the truth.

How do you know when God or the Holy Spirit is the one urging you to do something? I’ve been having recurring thoughts about pursuing a certain way to procure income but I’m unsure as whether it is my will or the God/Holy spirit. I’ve had these thoughts for awhile now and I see videos on multiple platforms I’m on about others doing the same thing and some feeling like they were led by God to lead this lifestyle to earn income. I feel as though I’ve been in a wilderness season for years now or just life has been bad/down and I don’t know if this is how things finally turn around for me. I started learning the process to do this thing and I felt very motivated and excited and it was making sense to me in a fluid way. Is it a matter of reading specific parts of the Bible to ask for clarification or what could I do/pray/read to get or feel more clarification.

Hi. It's been hard. I feel so hopeless. For over 8 months I've been dealing with severe malnutrition and it's just ruining my life. I'm only 15 years old and my developing body is just suffering for it. I struggle at school when I used to be a highly gifted kid who studied years ahead of her grade level. I had my life together. Now it has collapsed. My parents and brother think I choose to be an internet addict. I rely on whatever gives me enough of a dopamine rush to cope with the pain. For my entire life, I've already had insecurity issues. I likely have undiagnosed BPD and OCD, which I can infer based on my horrifying, compulsive, and obsessive thoughts, which cause me to go insane and completely hate myself. I have such an unstable self-image and I am too attached to whoever is still willing to put up with me and my exhausting, intense emotions. I recently converted to Christianity and began eating meat because the malnutrition from my unidentified, persistent G.I issue is truly just torturing my body constantly. My mother sort of hates me for it now, or at least she had a phase where she resented me. My brother is truly just a hypocritical, futile mediator who always just has a damn bias for my mother solely because she contains the most authority of us all. My father, who currently lives away from us, simply lectures me over the phone and assumes that my suffering is caused by my own decisions, even if I didn't choose to be born with asperger's, which would obviously cause my migrating motor complex to be hypersensitive or faulty: hence cause the current, debilitating G.I issue that literally caused my severe malnutrition, which would cause me to almost pass out today during my English class. Even before this phase, I always felt as though my fate foreshadowed some sort of eternal misfortune. That I am just scum and worthless. I can't believe the idea of Jesus really loving me. I seem like a filthy, disgusting human being who probably has awful intentions inside. I truly can't believe I am a good person. I feel as though God is just punishing me. That when I die, God will lecture and criticize me in the end. I will die miserable. Jesus is one of the only individuals I have left to turn to. I don't even know if I truly earned an answer from Him. I don't know if He truly cares; If I will ever survive the inevitable pain; If I am worth caring for. My dad keeps convincing me to return to Hinduism and become vegetarian. It's not what I truly want, at least not the Hinduism decision. I never really felt fulfilled. I never felt like there was someone who truly cared. I took the initiative to read the Bible and felt like I was literally being recognized, for the very first time. The Bible contained answers. It's just these days that my brain is throbbing so badly that even when I read the Bible, there are certain phrases that require more contemplation, which is difficult when your concentration is compromised by this insufferable, legitimate brain fog or literal dizziness. There are also times while reading the Bible in which the horrifying thoughts come into mind: that something awful will happen to me because it's what I deserve. I hate my life so much. I really am glad it's just one life. I can't stand the Hindu philosophy of rebirth and karma: That's genuinely horrifying. I just want an answer and some peace. The malnutrition is getting so bad that I may genuinely be hospitalized because I'd be at the verge of passing out from the sheer asphyxia of anemia. In fact, I hope nobody finds me if that happens. Please eradicate my suffering. I don't want to vent too much. I just wish Jesus would answer me one day. That He'd assure me there's hope. I'm sorry. I'm being so self-absorbed. I just can't take these thoughts. They are driving me insane. I am hyper-vigilant practically constantly. I feel as though I'll be left, decomposing and forgotten. Thank you.

I think that in all of the churches I've been a part of, and perhaps all of the Bible studies I've been taught in, the sole teaching has been that Moses is the author of the first 5 books of the Bible (ie, the Pentateuch).

But in my 1st year of college, in a secular college, I was taught there are 4 different authors of the Pentateuch -- among them, "J" and "D". One additional thing I remember was that Genesis contains different creation accounts; one difference was (is) that two of the accounts differ in order of what was created before which.

Later on, I encountered a fellow Christian (and a very astute, very high-achieving, seemingly very well-adjusted, very intelligent academic mind) who attended a Christian college that has been known for its liberal views. To my surprise, he also believed that the "J" and "D" accounts differ from each other. I assume that he learned it from that Christian college, although I never conversed at length with him.

Then, later on, I found out that the basis for my particular college's teaching was Richard Elliott Friedman and/or his work, "Who Wrote The Bible". I don't recall ever meeting him, although I do recall having heard an NPR broadcast involving the writings of Friedman.

How do we counter the "J and D authorships" teaching? Surely we cannot answer, "Moses is the only author; thus we must completely ignore and abandon any and all conflicting teachings" instead of dealing with the actual material?

I did some research on this, and apparently a solid Reformed Christian source says that Moses was not, in fact, the sole author of the Pentateuch.

Surely they can explain their position better than I can.

Thank you for your understanding

(If repeated themes that I have mentioned before is here then, there's the warning)

May I have a prayer?

I'm going through a very dry and tough season where work, compulsions, life, and even myself have drawn me away from God.. I wish I wasn't so socially distant from others or lodged in self isolation. (Now I'm not saying I want to be around bad company that corrupts good character, which I continue to surround myself with.) I wish I had more visual and Godly friends to talk to, especially male friends. I don't truly have a genuine connection with anyone at school so I'm just there.. I wouldn't say alone because God is always with me. Also, I wish that I stop living in this stagnancy and complacency because it's damaging my relationship with Him.

If I can say something that I'm not doing is walking by faith.. I've noticed that each day that God has granted me to be alive.. it was in the same region: By God's grace, He'd wake me up and I'd try to read the Word but I know I got school and or work. But when I do actually try, I'm not consuming... just scanning. Then school or work comes and most of my mind is set on what I need to do. Especially today, I know I got a lot of work.. and by a lot it's not just 4 assignments.. I'll leave it at that. It's not fun.. at all.. and it's caused me to drift from Him, prayer and the Word.

(If you notice by now that I'm prideful and very self critical then that's a part of me that I've picked up and carried with me for a long time..)

I don't want to keep living in habitual sin because I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY HATE LUST & SEXUAL IMMORALITY. IT'S NASTY, GROSS, AND DISGUSTING. I'll even add that whenever in times of need and struggle, I go to ai/ Google.. or others for support instead of running to Jesus.

The mental scrupulous bondage in my mind has been present for a long time..

And serious question: How do y'all keep faith in Jesus in the good and bad days?

i’m 24 female, never really cared to believe in God until i was 17. my life was changed by something that happened to a close family friend who passed from cancer- it instilled horrendous health anxiety in me. i’ve been diagnosed with quite a lot mentally (ADHD, ASD1, GA, and OCD) my adult life so far has not been easy for me mentally. it’s a constant battle with my mental health and always thinking i’m going to die. i came to Jesus at 17 because i felt i had no other choice. i got sober 12 weeks ago and have been trying so hard to live in my faith but i feel like something is wrong with me. i hear all these stories about God healing people, answering prayers, and speaking to them. i have never heard a response i know it wouldn’t be audible but what am i supposed to be listening for. it’s so hard for me to admit this because i feel so wrong and like a fraud. I do love God so much i just always feel like im putting on a mask and i don’t know how to get better about it. I’ve don’t bible study, reading my bible etc. I guess the point of this post is because I would just love some guidance on what i’m supposed to be listening for or waiting for when i’m praying begging God to help me with my anxiety and ocd if that makes sense. sorry for the ramble. TIA

I’ve been an atheist before, my father is Muslim and I’ve tried to look into it. BUT, sometimes I can’t stop thinking about Jesus. I’m 25F.

I’m watching the chosen, and I start crying every single time he appears on screen.

I’m looking for advice, I want to get closer to god through Jesus. But I know nothing, I’ve never been to church. My uncle is Christian but I think I want to do it on my own so the whole family doesn’t know right away. Half my family are atheist’s and because I’m bipolar I fear they would just assume I’ve gone crazy.

But I want to do right by Jesus, and live a life as close to his wishes as possible.

Any and all advice is welcome and helpful

What do you guys think of the claims of people who say they went to hell and came back? I know Jesus says no one can go to hell and return, but I wonder if visions of hell/near death experiences are different? A podcast I listen to just released an episode with a former Buddhist who says he went to hell (and is now a Christian because of it)........not sure what to think

hello, to keep things short and simple I’ll do bullet points:

- Past trauma from friends who left me behind because I was insecure and overreacting, I thought they did not want me there, which became true later on

- rekindled with those people after we stopped hanging out, forgiven them for the hurt (even though it wasn’t really their fault), but now it’s bleeding into other friendships

- Very controlling about new friends, who they talk to, because I feel like if they knew someone else and did not depend or need me, they would leave me.

- Not sure how to move on as this has made me prideful too, I push people who I like away from me and self-sabotage out of pity.

- I need God to change me

- Is this relatable on some level or no?

Please consider my question from a sincere seeker. These verses and come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. And others like this. Are they actually promises? Or are the like in proverbs it says train up a child and he will not depart from it. Why could just say at w end. Oh. I didn’t mean that for you. Or even if He did at the moment just change His mind. He can do anything He wants to. I’m very concerned that could happen to me

Proverbs 3:5-6 is is one of the principle/basic/first verse(s) I memorized in one of the Navigators' Bible studies. But now that I contemplate it, in a rigid, literal fashion, am I to abandon my own understanding?

I later earned a bachelor's degree. If I had to abandon my own understanding, would I have earned a single course credit? Or a single lecture? Surely God doesn't want me to abandon my own understanding?

I realize my question might sound awfully rigid/literal/childish/silly. But it is an earnest one.

Answer: use a Study Bible? The reason I grew very cautious about Study Bibles (such as the official NIV Study Bible) is that a fellow Christian (whose views I valued) told me that Study Bibles are not infallible.

Thank you for your answers.

Good afternoon brothers and sisters . How do you guys and girls deal with family troubles . I know that the lord designed a family to behave a certain way , but time and time again things of my family seems to be going in a direction that is not of God . I’ve prayed, and prayed but what always happens is that my mother tries to carry on about God knows what and repeat a behavior pattern that’s destructive for her well being . I try to converse with her about these things , but it seems to fall on deaf hears . What do you guys recommend i do ?

I was reading the other day (don't recall where) that there are some Christian based games like Castlevania or Doom and I found that odd, since you can see a lot of horrible creatures on those games, but you are supposed to work for the church or be the good guy.

Even the first Zelda games which is based on Christianity or Blasphemus that takes a lot of its lore on the Catholic Church.

What do you think about those games? Are they actually good or is it better to avoid them? And no, I am not looking for the kind of answer that it is about my self believe and being good with it as Paul say with eating meat and your consciousness. I think those games might have too many "demon" references that can't be overlooked, but again I would like to read about your perspective about that. Thanks for reading.

So we were home alone and sometimes I'm like too emberessed to talk to her about Jesus because she's in that phase where she is all cool and rhinks siblings are emberesing ect. Well we had a privat moment and I was washing the dishes while thinking of what to say and praying for God to help me. I'm telling you, I was so anxious, I could feel my ears and face heat up. Bur something was telling me to tell her. And I did. And it went so wonderfully. She asked questions and was actually interested. And I'm very glad I got to talk to her about life and how to include Jesus and how Jesus made my life better. PRAISE THE LORD!!!! Blessed are you Lord our God, King of the universe, who is good and does good!!!!

Years ago, I survived a tragic train accident and lost both of my hands. This August, I underwent lung surgery. Yet, despite everything, I am not afraid. I wanted to share this short reflection on why we shouldn't let fear control us.

I refuse to live in fear of illnesses, viruses, or alarming news. My only true fear is a life lived without God. We all owe a death to this world, no matter how cautious we are, our earthly destination remains the same. Passing away with a soul cleansed by Christ is a peaceful transition to a better harbor, where suffering does not exist. I will be wise, but I will never live under the terror of fear, which weakens both body and spirit.

I will not fear tomorrow, economic crises. It was never man who provided my daily bread, but the Heavenly Father through man. When one door closes, another opens. We do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

I will not be afraid to love and to help. Far more important than this temporary shell is the love it carries inside. In the past, Christians cared for plague victims with their own bare hands, taking risks out of love. Even though I lost my physical hands, I know my true identity, not that of a coward, but of a person of faith, sacrifice, and hope.

I have a 27 month old and a 13 week old baby. I have never felt so far away from God. My husband is gone almost 60 hours a week at work while I stay home with the kids. Not necessarily out of want, but because I’m the only option. I have completely lost myself. I don’t have time to shower most days, brush my teeth, eat, etc. I have no adult interaction. I am a shell of myself. I change diapers, feed, soothe, and listen to screaming all day. I have broken sleep each night. Why did God place this on mothers? I have no help when my husband is at work. My husband goes to work, gets to joke around with coworkers, and have an identity. He makes a lot of money so I am sure he feels fulfilled providing for his family. I make nothing. I don’t use my masters degree that I worked hard for. When he comes home, he is such an amazing father and partner. He cares for us deeply. But he never does this alone, with no help. I do. I am really struggling to understand why God gave mothers this role. I have horrible pregnancies. We carry the babies, birth them, then feed them with our bodies (which is utterly unpleasant for me), go through huge hormonal shifts, ruin our bodies, completely lose our identities. All on top of being expected to be the primary caregiver. I love my children desperately. I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. But I can’t help but get the “unfairness” out of my head. Help me change my heart posture.

Sub Tuum Praesidium (~250AD):

We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God;
despise not our petitions in our necessities,
but deliver us always from all dangers,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Amen.

The Memorare (15th Century):

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Hail, Holy Queen (11th Century):

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

The Hail Mary (11th Century):

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Consecration to Mary (17th Century):

I, a faithless sinner, renew and ratify today in thy hands the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before. In the presence of all the heavenly court I choose thee this day for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God in time and in eternity.

Do you have any favorite Marian prayers or devotions? Every day she serves me as a reminder of subservience to God and His Divine Will.

Hi,

I’m curious if seeing a psychic is a sin? Or how it goes against God and his words. I am a believer but honestly I feel like I just haven’t been hearing from God. I’m considering this because I know that God does bless some people with the gift of prophecy, but I know a psychic may cross that line… thoughts?

I've been going to my current church for a year now. I have a really good friend there, who was invited there years and years ago by her good friend.

So the original church member who was there for years has stopped going to church. She told my friend that she watches Jimmy Swaggart on TV and pays her tithe to his ministry. Her husband still comes to church every Sunday. No one knows why she stopped going-not even her husband. She's not sickly or has difficulties getting there. She just stopped after decades.

Has anyone heard of something similar?

when they say jesus died for our sins, what did they mean by that? like did he die for the peoples' sins at that time or was it for all future peoples' sins as well??

cause i'm thinking, if that happened before I was born, then I didn't have sins at that time - I didn't exist. I don't see the benefit of knowing he died for my sins, unless it means that it was for the future as well.

but then I'm confused again, because if he already paid in advanced for my future sins, then why do I have to be forgiven for my sins? Did he die for all of my sins or just some of them? If it's all, then wouldn't that imply that regardless of seeking forgiveness through prayer etc, that I'm automatically forgiven? Or would I still have to do those things and seek out forgiveness?

why is it critical to know 'jesus died for my sins' if I'm still judged by those sins to determine whether or not I get into heaven? If I still have to seek forgiveness for them today, then what did jesus really die for then?

maybe i'm overthinking this. maybe it was a way of saying that for the sins you commit, there is a possibility of forgiveness through worship is all. idk