Will God forgive me for this?

midlandsmissus

I am a christian now, but I was an atheist for most of my life. I'm 25 now and I've only fully accepted God and Christ in the last year.

I grew up in an atheist family and was taught to believe that it was all "a load of s**t", that religious people were brainwashed, and how we were so much more intelligent from them.

I fully believed this at the time, went around telling anybody who asked me that I didn't believe in god, and worst of all, tried to dissuade other christians from their beliefs. I would point out all my arguments to them, and say how ridiculous their beliefs were. One of my favourite arguments was "If God is a forgiving God as you say, how come he killed everybody in the whole world at the time of Noah". I fully believed all this at the time and really thought christians were just afraid of the church and that's why they believed in all that.

Anyway after alot of conversations with some very kind people I finally came around to understand religion, started up my own conversations with God, and have felt more peaceful than I have done the rest of my life.

But after reading the bible I read that there was one sin we would not be forgiven for; if we spoke against the Holy Spirit.

I have said aloud that I don't believe in god, and tried to turn other people away from him. I am so sorry for this now, but what's done is done. It was what I was taught to believe at the time. I was as brainwashed by my parents as I thought other people were.

Will god forgive me for this? I feel so bad about it. When I pray I do feel at great peace and hope that he might forgive me, but at other times I am still in torment over it. any help would be great, thanks.

I'm sure he will be ok with it. Just sweeten him up with a cold beer*





*last i heard God was drinking Corona(with a slice of lime)

abouttobebanned

The bible is the most ambiguous piece of literature ever written. If you think everything from it literally you would probably have killed yourself years ago.

Tell me this, you're a Christian, so you believe in God now yes? Ok this is the ever loving, all forgiving God that we have allcome to know and love...if He really is up there, do you think that he's that fickle?

I believe that a belief in God is a very personal thing and something that definitely shouldn't be influenced by any thing, or any body, especially those things that are written and spoken by people who don't know any better than you or I.

abouttobebanned

Rarnes, After Hours is down the hall, 3rd door on the right.

kelly1

midlandsmissus wrote: »

I am a christian now, but I was an atheist for most of my life. I'm 25 now and I've only fully accepted God and Christ in the last year.

Great news midlandsmissus! The angels in Heaven must have rejoiced. Welcome to the family

midlandsmissus wrote: »

But after reading the bible I read that there was one sin we would not be forgiven for; if we spoke against the Holy Spirit.

I have said aloud that I don't believe in god, and tried to turn other people away from him. I am so sorry for this now, but what's done is done. It was what I was taught to believe at the time. I was as brainwashed by my parents as I thought other people were.

Will god forgive me for this? I feel so bad about it. When I pray I do feel at great peace and hope that he might forgive me, but at other times I am still in torment over it. any help would be great, thanks.

There's no need to feel bad. If you say that God can't forgive any sin, it means that His mercy is finite which of course is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit because it is the Holy Spirit who cleanses the soul of sin.

The only time God can't forgive us is when we refuse to repent and ask for forgiveness. There is no limit to God's mercy but only when we're open to it. God respects our decision to accept of reject Him.

God bless you!

Puck

Welcome to the Christianity board, midlandmissus, where rabid anti-Christians like to hang around and attack the faith of people asking for the help of their fellow Christians. Quality people, really nice.

I am absolutely confident that God can and indeed has forgiven you. If He forgave Saul/Paul who was actively persecuting Christians, chasing them down to have them arrested for their faith, then He has forgiven you. The very fact that you feel convicted regarding your past sins shows that God is working in your life through His Spirit.

Fanny Cradock

Lets all play nice, folks.

That was exactly my line of thinking, Puck. Paul says himself that the went out of his way to persecute Christians and destroy the faith. He turned out to be one of the most important figures in Christianity.

midlandsmissus, you are a Christian, and central to this is that God has forgiven you. That is the power of grace (a much underrated and misunderstood concept). I don't believe you have anything to fear.

philologos

I have read a good source on what the blasphemy of the Spirit is:

http://christianity.about.com/od/faqhelpdesk/i/blasphemyagains_2.htm
and:
http://www.gotquestions.org/blasphemy-Holy-Spirit.html

Most importantly OP, put your mind at rest. It is only through the Spirit that you have gained faith in God in the first place.

Kershaw.D

No Sorry But Your Goin To Hell
Yea Course He Will ,Once You Go To Confesion And Say 800 Hail Marys Or Sent Him A Check for €1m

AtomicHorror

Puck wrote: »

Welcome to the Christianity board, midlandmissus, where rabid anti-Christians like to hang around and attack the faith of people asking for the help of their fellow Christians. Quality people, really nice.

I think you'll probably find that the attackers are randomers from other boards who got in through the front page. The anti-Christians who "hang around" here will generally not enter into unsolicited debates. We're here by the grace o' PDN and FC. And we're pretty nice people too, when you get to know us.

MrPudding

AtomicHorror wrote: »

I think you'll probably find that the attackers are randomers from other boards who got in through the front page. The anti-Christians who "hang around" here will generally not enter into unsolicited debates. We're here by the grace o' PDN and FC. And we're pretty nice people too, when you get to know us.

Shame we are all headed for hell.

MrP

Fanny Cradock

Kershaw.D wrote: »

No Sorry But Your Goin To Hell
Yea Course He Will ,Once You Go To Confesion And Say 800 Hail Marys Or Sent Him A Check for €1m

We have all had quite enough of this 'humour'.

Fanny Cradock

AtomicHorror wrote: »

And we're pretty nice people too, when you get to know us.

Lies!

I'm addressing no one in particular, but midlandsmissus is asking a question that is of great personal importance. So lets treat this thread solely as an attempt to answer her, not to start a scrap.

wolfsbane

midlandsmissus wrote: »

I am a christian now, but I was an atheist for most of my life. I'm 25 now and I've only fully accepted God and Christ in the last year.

I grew up in an atheist family and was taught to believe that it was all "a load of s**t", that religious people were brainwashed, and how we were so much more intelligent from them.

I fully believed this at the time, went around telling anybody who asked me that I didn't believe in god, and worst of all, tried to dissuade other christians from their beliefs. I would point out all my arguments to them, and say how ridiculous their beliefs were. One of my favourite arguments was "If God is a forgiving God as you say, how come he killed everybody in the whole world at the time of Noah". I fully believed all this at the time and really thought christians were just afraid of the church and that's why they believed in all that.

Anyway after alot of conversations with some very kind people I finally came around to understand religion, started up my own conversations with God, and have felt more peaceful than I have done the rest of my life.

But after reading the bible I read that there was one sin we would not be forgiven for; if we spoke against the Holy Spirit.

I have said aloud that I don't believe in god, and tried to turn other people away from him. I am so sorry for this now, but what's done is done. It was what I was taught to believe at the time. I was as brainwashed by my parents as I thought other people were.

Will god forgive me for this? I feel so bad about it. When I pray I do feel at great peace and hope that he might forgive me, but at other times I am still in torment over it. any help would be great, thanks.

Hi, Sister.

I endorse what the other believers have said. Paul is the great example of those who reviled Christ and harrassed the church. God has forgiven him, the chief of sinners.

The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit was a specific offence that required plain knowledge that it was God the Spirit at work and a wilful lie that attributed His work to the devil. That happened when men saw Jesus' great miracles, His holy life and gracious words, knew it was of God - but attributed it to the devil because they hated Christ.

It does not apply to silly unbelievers who in ignorance deny God or any of His works.

lugha

Hi midlandsmissus
I find your story very interesting although I imagine your fellow Christians will say, not entirely unique. Alas I am in no position to answer your question as I am a non believer but I would genuinely love to hear more about your conversion. I am quite sure that I would not be forgiven for derailing this thread so, on an appropriate thread and if you care to do, perhaps you might say more about your journey to becoming a Christian?
Many thanks. L.

catbear

hi midlandsmissus
if you are feeling bad about what you said about other peoples faith/beliefs in the past, then that will pass.
if you feel that maybe you have to somehow atone for this then be tolerant of those who feel they have to knock your faith.
they like you were once, are a test of personal beliefs and as such their doubts are to be received as gifts. they like you once did, are trying to make sense of this life and their role in it.
patient tolerance will lead them as it did you to understanding and that is atonement enough.

Pompey Magnus

For the record the relevant passage is from Matthew:

"Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come,"

This is one of the clearest and least ambiguous statements in the Bible. The only question is how blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is defined. I'm no expert but I assume it is a deliberate and conscious act, I doubt the regular atheist comments about not believing in God would count so as long as you didn't specifically insult the Holy Spirit this particular threat wouldn't apply to you.

That said, for people who do break this rule it seems like they are doomed though.

Húrin

midlandsmissus wrote: »

Will God forgive me for this?

Of course he will! You remind me of me, as I too was a proselytising atheist until I was 21. But from the Bible and my wonderful church I learned that God is awesomely forgiving and loving to us who recognise our problems. If we prodigal children go to God with genuine recognition and sorrow for our sins, he will never turn us away.

Pompey Magnus

Húrin wrote: »

If we prodigal children go to God with genuine recognition and sorrow for our sins, he will never turn us away.

Except in the cases where the person actually did blaspheme against the Holy Spirit in which case no amount of sorrow can make up for it.

Gareth37

midlandsmissus wrote: »

I am a christian now, but I was an atheist for most of my life. I'm 25 now and I've only fully accepted God and Christ in the last year.

I grew up in an atheist family and was taught to believe that it was all "a load of s**t", that religious people were brainwashed, and how we were so much more intelligent from them.

I fully believed this at the time, went around telling anybody who asked me that I didn't believe in god, and worst of all, tried to dissuade other christians from their beliefs. I would point out all my arguments to them, and say how ridiculous their beliefs were. One of my favourite arguments was "If God is a forgiving God as you say, how come he killed everybody in the whole world at the time of Noah". I fully believed all this at the time and really thought christians were just afraid of the church and that's why they believed in all that.

Anyway after alot of conversations with some very kind people I finally came around to understand religion, started up my own conversations with God, and have felt more peaceful than I have done the rest of my life.

But after reading the bible I read that there was one sin we would not be forgiven for; if we spoke against the Holy Spirit.

I have said aloud that I don't believe in god, and tried to turn other people away from him. I am so sorry for this now, but what's done is done. It was what I was taught to believe at the time. I was as brainwashed by my parents as I thought other people were.

Will god forgive me for this? I feel so bad about it. When I pray I do feel at great peace and hope that he might forgive me, but at other times I am still in torment over it. any help would be great, thanks.

I also ridiculed people who said that God existed and so on.

But when you have the Holy Spirit you have the Holy Spirit.

Save as many as you can, that is all you can you do. Preach the scripture. God can forgive anything and if we repent I think that God will forgive us.

Gambler

AtomicHorror wrote: »

I think you'll probably find that the attackers are randomers from other boards who got in through the front page. The anti-Christians who "hang around" here will generally not enter into unsolicited debates. We're here by the grace o' PDN and FC. And we're pretty nice people too, when you get to know us.

Hear hear!

I'm addressing no one in particular, but midlandsmissus is asking a question that is of great personal importance. So lets treat this thread solely as an attempt to answer her, not to start a scrap.

Fully agree, this thread is not a place for discussing whether or not there is a god, the OP knows all the arguments having grown up as an atheist and has made their mind up. No need for us to weigh in and try to change it back here!

Pompey Magnus

Gareth37 wrote: »

God can forgive anything and if we repent I think that God will forgive us.

Except in the cases where the person actually did blaspheme against the Holy Spirit in which case no amount of sorrow can make up for it.

kelly1

Charco wrote: »

Except in the cases where the person actually did blaspheme against the Holy Spirit in which case no amount of sorrow can make up for it.

Charco, I think you're scaremongering.

There an article here about Unforgivable Sin. As far as I know the only unforgivable sin is final impenitence i.e refusing to repent before dying.

Pompey Magnus

kelly1 wrote: »

Charco, I think you're scaremongering.

There an article here about Unforgivable Sin. As far as I know the only unforgivable sin is final impenitence i.e refusing to repent before dying.

I think I will take Jesus' word for it, to repeat the great man himself:

"but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come"

This is one of the clearest statements he makes, he says in no uncertain terms that if you blaspheme against the Holy Spirit you will not be forgiven. Does he say that if you really, really repent he will change his mind? Does he say extenuating circumstances may excuse the sin? No he doesn't. He makes it absolutely clear, there will be NO forgiveness.

Are you saying, in direct contradiction to your God, that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will in fact be forgiven?

javaboy

Charco wrote: »

This is one of the clearest statements he makes, he says in no uncertain terms that if you blaspheme against the Holy Spirit you will not be forgiven. Does he say that if you really, really repent he will change his mind? Does he say extenuating circumstances may excuse the sin? No he doesn't. He makes it absolutely clear, there will be NO forgiveness.

I'm a little confused on that one. Surely a huge amount of atheists would be guilty of some form of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Yet I have never ever heard this concept mentioned before when people try to convince non-believers to find God. If my understanding of this is right, then one slip up and you're gone.

They would have committed an unforgivable sin and there would be essentially no point after that in trying to turn over a new leaf, become a better person or convert to Christianity. Basically they would be in a "nothing left to lose" situation as regards sin.

Pompey Magnus

javaboy wrote: »

I'm a little confused on that one. Surely a huge amount of atheists would be guilty of some form of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

I suppose the context of the passage in Matthew is all important. Jesus had just cast out demons by the power of the Holy Spirit but some people accused him of using the power of Satan. He then made the statement that speaking against him is a sin that can be forgiven, but speaking against the Holy Spirit is unforgiveable.

The blasphemy Jesus had been talking about appears to have been that if the Holy Spirit did some act and you claim that the act was the work of Satan then you have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit and you will not be forgiven for your error.

This is not the normal run of the mill mistake an atheist would make (an atheist doesn't believe in Satan just as much as they don't believe in the Holy Spirit so wouldn't attribute an act to him either). Therefore the OP is presumably ok.

javaboy

Charco wrote: »

He then made the statement that speaking against him is a sin that can be forgiven, but speaking against the Holy Spirit is unforgiveable.

That would be my interpretation after reading a bit more about it.

The blasphemy Jesus had been talking about appears to have been that if the Holy Spirit did some act and you claim that the act was the work of Satan then you have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit and you will not be forgiven for your error.

Imo that seems to be an interpretation designed to play down the significance of the 'rule' so to speak. Perhaps so as not to alienate some atheists who might have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit and now see no point in converting.
It's possible of course that something has been lost in translation(s) but to me it seems pretty clear cut.

Fanny Cradock

It does seem clear from Jesus' words that it is an unpardonable sin. However, defining what this blasphemy against the spirit entails is quite another matter. Given the context and the nature of the sin, it could be argued that it not possible to sin against the Holy Spirit as an unbeliever. From what I gather (again, bearing in mind the context), the sin seems to be a wilful attempt to undermine God and his work.

I found [URL="[url]http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2272[/url]"]this source[/URL] (brief conclusion below) to be quite compelling. But it's certainly a topic worth exploring a little further.

In conclusion, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the only unpardonable sin mentioned in the Bible, and it is mentioned in the context of the Pharisees accusing Jesus of being possessed by the Devil. The context indicates that it was a specific sin, and not a series of forgivable sins, or an attitude of persistent unbelief. After the resurrection, no inspired writer mentions the sin, and no warnings against it were recorded. There is no concrete evidence that it can be committed today. The fact that it is not mentioned after the resurrection, lends itself to the idea that it cannot still be committed. In fact, the indication from passages such as 1 John 1:7,9 is that “all unrighteousness” that a person could commit today can be forgiven by the blood of Jesus. As Howard said when concluding his remarks about the eternal sin: “In the same scripture our Lord gave full assurance that every sin and blasphemy against the ‘Son of man’ shall be forgiven him. Today the gospel of Christ is to be preached to every man on earth and any man on earth may be saved by obeying the gospel (Mark 16:15-16)”

ChocolateSauce

The question is which Christian god do you believe in, a kind one or an unkind one? This is a problem that comes from within.

Fanny Cradock

Given the unanimity of every Christian poster on this thread, I would think that you have a basic misunderstanding of what we believe.

TravelJunkie

midlandsmissus wrote: »

I am a christian now, but I was an atheist for most of my life. I'm 25 now and I've only fully accepted God and Christ in the last year.

I grew up in an atheist family and was taught to believe that it was all "a load of s**t", that religious people were brainwashed, and how we were so much more intelligent from them.

I fully believed this at the time, went around telling anybody who asked me that I didn't believe in god, and worst of all, tried to dissuade other christians from their beliefs. I would point out all my arguments to them, and say how ridiculous their beliefs were. One of my favourite arguments was "If God is a forgiving God as you say, how come he killed everybody in the whole world at the time of Noah". I fully believed all this at the time and really thought christians were just afraid of the church and that's why they believed in all that.

Anyway after alot of conversations with some very kind people I finally came around to understand religion, started up my own conversations with God, and have felt more peaceful than I have done the rest of my life.

But after reading the bible I read that there was one sin we would not be forgiven for; if we spoke against the Holy Spirit.

I have said aloud that I don't believe in god, and tried to turn other people away from him. I am so sorry for this now, but what's done is done. It was what I was taught to believe at the time. I was as brainwashed by my parents as I thought other people were.

Will god forgive me for this? I feel so bad about it. When I pray I do feel at great peace and hope that he might forgive me, but at other times I am still in torment over it. any help would be great, thanks.

Read the writings of Paul in the new testament and I think that will be of comfort to you. He explains a lot about himself (because he was also against JC at first) . You didn't know any better before you became a christian and that is why you are forgiven.

midlandsmissus

Thank you to people who posted really kind replies. It means alot to me. And to Lurgha - I have now posted a different thread on my story. Thank you to everyone again.

Gareth37

midlandsmissus wrote: »

Thank you to people who posted really kind replies. It means alot to me. And to Lurgha - I have now posted a different thread on my story. Thank you to everyone again.

Mary said that anyone who says the rosary will not perish.