“We've already discussed how you should not befriend someone who is an athiest.”
But I’m not the athiest! I’m athy, but not THE athiest person I know!
“You, as a Christian, cannot be unequally yoked together with an unbeliever.”
And you think ‘friends’ is yoking them together?
What a snowflake. I mean, I did have to consider my wife’s religion before we married, but i never use it as a filter for being friendly with people.
I can just imagine gossiping and joking with a classmate, but if the teacher assigns a group project, saying ‘I can’t do a dual report with you, that would be yoking me to the athiest person in school.’
“Now, on to the second issue. Having faith is most certainly a choice.”
No. BEHAVING as if you had faith would be a choice. Attending church, telling conservative jokes, prayer.
In the military, when we’re information, the Chaplain tells us ‘let us pray.’ That’s not an invitation. It’s a drill command. Upon the order, we all bow our heads. No one gives a shit if you spend the time praying or choreographing a pornographic scene, you will bow your head. And when he says, ‘Amen,’ you lift it back up, another drill command.
But deep down inside, your feelings are your own.
“You choose to believe the chair you are sitting in will hold you up.”
Usually, that’s a matter of trust, not faith, built up over YEARS of experience with chairs. And sometimes I’m wrong and get dumped on my ass.
But when it happens, that’s another data point for the next time I evaluate a chair before I sit in it. Not a blow to my faith.
“You choose to believe the bridge you drive under will not fall,”
Another evaluation, based on years of driving on and under overpasses. But also, if a cement truck just crashed into it, i might nottrust that bridge nearly as much.
“and you choose whether you will trust Jesus or not.”
That would be a difficult choice to make, as i’m not sure if anyone named Jesus is at the center of the myths, much less see any reason to think the more fantastical stories are based on history.
And, again, trust =/= faith.
“Really, it is easier to trust God than it is to trust the chair or the bridge.”
No. Not even close.
I’ve seen chairs. I’ve touched bridges.
"Things made by man will fail.”
There is a failure rate for all things, yes. Which is why it’s a matter of trust, not faith.
“God will never fail!”
A number of holocaust veterans would like a word with you.
Not to mention people killed in their churches.
