Eva Marie's Seventh email

From evamarie9@mindspring.com Thu Apr 15 00:14:52 1999
Date: Mon, 01 Mar 1999 19:26:05 -0500
From: eva
To: jan@christa.unh.edu

Dear Jan,

I realized after the several lengthy e-mails that I forwarded to you, it may be awhile before you have an opportunity to respond. I did explore your website in its entirety this weekend, and I wish I had done so before writing to you, as it cleared up several questions that I had regarding your views.

Let me begin, though, by telling you that I find you to be a sensitive person, and I was quite impressed by the tender tribute you paid your grandfather. He was obviously the light of your life, and you honored him in a most loving fashion. Jan, you mentioned previously that your parents were raised in a "religious" home, and since you grandfather was a man of God, you can be assured that he is experiencing overwhelming peace and joy in heaven. I know you do not believe this, but it is so, and he lives on, not just in your heart. You will see him again.

I now have a clearer picture as why you forfeited your new-found faith and "returned" to atheism. Apparently, you had doubts regarding the validity of the Bible, and possibly questioned several theological points as well. As a "new believer" this is common, if not expected. With time and research, your doubts/confusion could have been laid to rest.

I do not believe that this was the core issue as to why you returned to atheism, though. When you became a Christian and realized your belief assured your eternal destination, you obviously became spiritually "burdened" for your parents. You realized that because they were atheists, they could not enjoy eternity as you would. Perhaps you even felt a bit guilty, and most certainly, hopeless to help them. As you expressed in your previous e-mail, you questioned a God who would "condemn" your parents, who were honorable and good people. You stated you refused to worship a God who would make such a rule. This is very sad indeed, as you made God responsible for the choice your parents have made. In fact, you forfeited your faith for your parents.

Jan, I would like to make a point here. If you read the Bible, you are aware of one central theme Jesus stated over and over, and that is that he loves us and desires no one to be lost. You can find this in the parable of the lost sheep, the prodigal son, the woman's lost coin plus many other examples. He ate and drank and lived amongst society's outcasts to demonstrate this love.

The fact is, the only requirement for getting into heaven is accepting him. Merely "being good" is pointless without belief. The reason why a person who out and out rejects God/Jesus cannot get into heaven on "good deeds" is because they are actions of pride in and of themselves. In other words, I didn't need God to get here, I achieved salvation through my own actions. Literally, a person who denies God makes himself the center of the universe. What makes you think a person who wants nothing to do with God in life will want to serve him in the afterlife? Is that even fair?

I want you to consider this, Jan, as you are contemplating becoming a mother in the near future. You will give your child life, raise him/her with tender devotion and give the child all the best in your power, including unconditional love. When that child becomes an adult, you hope and pray he will have a close relationship with you. It may be he moves far away, or decides he wants nothing to do with you at all. (This does happen). You can wish, plead and do all in your power to persuade your child to maintain the relationship, but if he refuses, what can you do? Nothing. Your love is not enough. He will have to desire that relationship. This is how God feels about those who do not want to know/believe in him. He is powerless, in a sense, against their own free will. A person who rejects God has chosen their own eternal destiny.

Jan, you are planning on becoming a mother. Can you fathom the incredible responsibility that you are undertaking? I want you to consider very seriously the implications of allowing your child to be raised devoid of a relationship with God. Do you want the child to undergo the same spiritual turmoil you, yourself have undergone? You are fooling yourself if you believe that in waffling on spirituality, "letting your child choose" is going to be loving and beneficial. It will be total confusion. A child deserves more than that. I am a mother of four teenagers, and I am speaking from experience Jan.

One final point, Jan. If you had remained firm in your faith, it is very possible that you may have been able to help your parents through several avenues, such as by example, prayers and your own testimony. As it stands now, no one will be benefit. I will pray for you and your family Jan. I care about you and them. I know there is still hope:) Your pal, EVA

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Eva also sent me this poem by Dorothy Sayers, which... well, read it for yourself...

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