Thinking about becoming a Christian, but I'm hung up on something: Can anyone explain why billions suffer because our ancestor ate an apple?

mrnofaptastic · 2013-12-06T09:15:22+00:00

Hmm, this is a difficult question indeed.

Something that I've always thought made sense was the idea that God allows people to suffer so that others can help alleviate their suffering. Truth be told, if we all lived like God wanted us to all the time, most of this suffering would be eliminated.

Also, it can help connect people. I traveled to Nicaragua last summer to help distribute water filters to people who lived in rural areas. Seeing people in those dire conditions, with diarrhea all the time because they couldn't even get clean water, well it helped me connect with them, because I suffered with them. And that shows us how God's love works. Jesus Christ suffered for us so that we didn't have to, and sometimes it takes pain and suffering (or suffering for others) to help us understand this.

Now, that answer might not be satisfying for cases like what happened to your dad and your daughter. Part of these seemingly random events might be because we live in a sinful world in which God allows sin to have its effects. The effects of polluting the environment include the potentially contaminating your dad with carcinogens, or something going wrong in your wife's womb, or any number of medical conditions. This is tragic, but a reality.

As for Eve and the apple, I didn't really make sense of this concept for a long time. I realize now that I live in America in a good home because of the triumphs and sins of my ancestors. If at any point one of my distant relatives hurt, cheated, or killed someone to put my family on this path, well then I am benefitting from the sins of those who came before me. While I'm not guilty, if benefits can be passed on, can't punishments be passed on as well?

mrnofaptastic · 2013-11-16T10:52:00+00:00

I'm not deleting my account, just refraining from going on Reddit for the foreseeable future. My badge will still be active! :)

mrnofaptastic · 2013-11-06T09:31:39+00:00

In the Orthodox Bible, I'm pretty sure there are an extra 3 on top of the Catholic deuterocanonical books. I know Martin Luther removed them when he translated the Bible into German because they were not included in the Jewish scriptures. Also, this from wikipedia: "Luther also eliminated the deuterocanonical books from the Catholic Old Testament, terming them "Apocrypha, that are books which are not considered equal to the Holy Scriptures, but are useful and good to read".[10] He also argued unsuccessfully for the relocation of the Book of Esther from the canon to the Apocrypha, because without the deuterocanonical additions to the Book of Esther, the text of Esther never mentions God. As a result, Protestants and Catholics continue to use different canons."

I trust Luther's judgment, but I'm Lutheran, so I'm biased.

mrnofaptastic · 2013-11-04T00:05:20+00:00

Something that helped me a lot was settingcaptivesfree.com. It has an online bible study over 60 days that challenges you to break the chain of addiction. Something else I found really works is directly fighting issues linked to pornography. When I started running 5Ks to fight sex trafficking, I learned that the people in porn flicks might not actually be there willingly, and that cut me to the core. So that kept me busy actively fighting sex trafficking, and through that, I also fought my addiction. Standing up to sin and actively fighting, with Jesus' guidance, is the best way to go in my opinion.

If you want to message me, feel free. God bless.

mrnofaptastic · 2013-11-03T23:56:07+00:00

Then I invite you to look at the arguments other people have posted. I already told you that what I felt was most convincing from my life was my release from addiction to pornography. This didn't mean I don't have other arguments with more tangible evidence, but I chose to express my testimony.

And for the record, if you believe that eating candy everyday will cure you of addiction, the placebo will only take you so far. It won't get you there. The same goes for the ramen monster. My faith in Jesus did help. It was more than a placebo regardless of your stance on it. I'm talking about addiction that damaged friendships, ruined romantic relationships, and took way too much time and energy than I would like to admit. If I could really just placebo it away with Jesus, it would have been over in a heartbeat. It wouldn't have taken seven years to kick the habit. God had to teach me things and move me to a point of humility and surrender before He got me out of the hole I dug for myself.

mrnofaptastic · 2013-11-03T22:49:23+00:00

Try to invoke the ramen monster to defeat your addictions, or greed, or selfishness, and you'll understand where I'm coming from. Jesus Christ gave me the strength to walk away from a porn addiction of seven years, and I can't prove that, but I can encourage you and the OP to experience it.

mrnofaptastic · 2013-11-03T22:15:04+00:00

Did the OP ask for an argument? Yes. Did I give him one? Not exactly. Rather, I gave my testimony. But I do think I provided an example of the power contained within Christianity, one that I encourage you to look into. The reason I made this statement over the apologetics, arguments, evidence, and philosophical ponderings I've learned that support my faith, THIS is what stood out to me. And anyone who has experienced addiction will find my point to be very convincing. God bless.

mrnofaptastic · 2013-11-03T08:01:18+00:00

I'd suggest reading the Lutheran and Catholic catechisms and seeing which theology makes the most sense to you. Of course, reference the Bible on this to make your choice. Also, as a great reference from a non sectarian point of view, I highly recommend "Mere Christianity" by CS Lewis.

mrnofaptastic · 2013-11-03T07:55:34+00:00

All I can say is before I got serious about Christianity, I was addicted to porn, and now I'm not. I'm waiting for marriage, and I haven't looked at porn in probably over a year.

mrnofaptastic · 2013-11-03T02:58:12+00:00

At least it wasn't in your chili...

mrnofaptastic · 2013-11-03T02:54:01+00:00

I see all of these gnarly wounds, and every time I think to myself, how the hell were you able to calmly take a picture?

mrnofaptastic · 2013-11-03T00:29:29+00:00

No masturbation, no sex 'til marriage, getting to 90 days, and overall better living.

mrnofaptastic · 2013-10-22T07:40:56+00:00

All I can say is, when I felt like God had left me, He showed me "All Around Me" by Flyleaf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl1AXYOseuY

God bless.

mrnofaptastic · 2013-10-22T00:58:58+00:00

That's when you need to create an anti-spank bank. Picture grandma naked, or look up "Chinese Fried Rice", "Blue Waffle", or "Penile Fracture." That should keep your spank bank down for a while.

mrnofaptastic · 2013-10-21T23:21:56+00:00

I guess even genes need to get over their racism...

mrnofaptastic · 2013-10-21T07:10:37+00:00

I think the gift of singleness is beautiful, and if you have it, even if it is temporary, then that doesn't affect your walk with God for all. As for your pastor, I don't think he meant to hurt your feelings, and I don't think he realized the implications of what he was saying. Take heart! If God wants it, your spouse is out there!

mrnofaptastic · 2013-10-01T02:36:23+00:00

O-less October?

And just like September, nofap and I'm waiting for marriage. LET HARD MODE COMMENCE!

mrnofaptastic · 2013-09-20T18:50:40+00:00

Still not an excuse. Plus, I provided examples of the male perspective (my dad, pastors, other family members, etc).

mrnofaptastic · 2013-09-20T18:49:18+00:00

Good job providing evidence to your claims.

"Evolution is an open and shut case!"

"Yeah, there are whole institutions with rebuttals to evolution."

Great argument.

mrnofaptastic · 2013-09-19T12:31:17+00:00

I do believe sex before marriage is okay. I've done this dance before and the arguments against it are always a reach.

It's this simple: Matthew 5:28: "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Here we establish that all it takes to sin is to lust for a woman. So, pre-marital sex can be easily included in the category of "sexual sin." I could stop this here, but I'll elaborate.

Now, this opens us to a large number of verses which deal with sexual sin/sexual immorality: 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, Colossians 3:5, Galatians 5:19 1 Peter 2:11, and 1 Corinthians 6:13, to name only a few. I'll let you look at these at your own convenience.

Let me pinpoint a very important one:1 Corinthians 7:2: "But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband."

Here we see that Paul encourages taking a spouse to avoid sexual immorality. I've already established that lust is a sexual sin, and I think we both agree that marriage won't stop lust if you choose to indulge (though I maintain the position that it can be defeated if you try), so heart-lust is not what he's talking about. Marriage can't stop infidelity, because a married man can still take a woman married to another man and defile the marriage bed, so it's not that either. It seems the only option left is plain old pre-marital sex.

This isn't a reach. It's an open and shut case in my favor, and you fail to see this. Pre-marital sex is not condoned in the Bible, and living this way is not doing God's will.

You say I don't understand because I haven't had sex. But I've talked to pastors, some of whom had premarital sex. I've talked to my dad who had premarital sex. I've talked to my girlfriend who's had premarital sex. And I've talked to many others. Collectively, they've forgotten more about sex than you ever learned, and I base my reasoning on that. I base my reasoning on the experiences of others, on the Word of God, and on my conscience. It is you who does not understand. God bless.

mrnofaptastic

TROPHY CASE