• Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
    • Apologetics
    • Atheism
    • Bible
    • Devotion
    • Church
    • Evangelism
    • Hiddenness of God
    • Leadership
    • Philosophy
    • Religious Pluralism
    • Science and Faith
    • Theology
  • My Books
  • Video
  • Talks
  • Invite Me
No Result
View All Result
Rick Mattson Outreach Ministry
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
    • Apologetics
    • Atheism
    • Bible
    • Devotion
    • Church
    • Evangelism
    • Hiddenness of God
    • Leadership
    • Philosophy
    • Religious Pluralism
    • Science and Faith
    • Theology
  • My Books
  • Video
  • Talks
  • Invite Me
No Result
View All Result
Rick Mattson Outreach Ministry
No Result
View All Result

Conversations from Campus: Ruth in 9a, part 2

August 11, 2022

See last week for the run-up to “Ruth in 9a’s” point-blank question to me: “Am I going to hell?”

I hesitated. She reassured me: “Seriously. I want to know.”

Looking back across the empty seat between us, I could no longer see Ruth’s face. Just her profile in the fading 6pm light, framed in the cabin window at 30,000 feet.

“Hell is a place God will never bother you again,” I said. “None of his good gifts will be there. Is that what you want? It’s your choice.”

“I believe even an atheist will be accepted by God if they’re a good person. More so than a bad religious person,” she asserted.

“May I challenge you with something?” I asked.

“Sure.”

“It sounds like you’re saying that anyone who’s a good person will be accepted by God. It doesn’t really depend on any religious commitments.”

“Right.”

“That goes against how many Christians practice their faith. They believe the only path to God is through Jesus. So you’re telling us we’re wrong.”

“Yes . . . I suppose I am.”

“Usually it’s the other way around. People accuse Christians of being exclusive. But I guess everyone is exclusive at some point.”

“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

“Never sit by an evangelist on an airplane,” I grinned.

She laughed and waved a hand. “No, I love these conversations. I find them enlightening.”

“You’re a brave soul.”

I asked about her studies. She feels called to be a doctor (like her father), to help people in need.

She explained her affiliation with an organization that provides free medical service to the rural poor in Latin America.

She was articulate, impressive.

God was with me. I suggested she think of her calling and abilities as divine gifts and that if she would connect them to Jesus they’d come alive. She’d be empowered beyond her imaginings.

“I’ll have to think about that,” she reflected.

St. Louis was imminent. Before touchdown, our conversation took an unusual turn. I’ll share it next week.

Share120Tweet75
Rick Mattson

Rick Mattson

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Me

Rick Mattson Outreach Ministry

Rick Mattson

Evangelist & Writer

Hello & welcome to my blog! My name is Rick Mattson and I'm a traveling evangelist/apologist.

SUBSCRIBE! You'll be notified by email whenever a new post comes out
Loading

Categories

  • Apologetics (152)
  • Atheism (47)
  • Bible (32)
  • Church (67)
  • Devotion (102)
  • Evangelism (52)
  • Hiddenness of God (9)
  • Leadership (65)
  • Philosophy (7)
  • Religious Pluralism (14)
  • Science and Faith (3)
  • Theology (1)

Popular

  • Apologetics for Kids

    Apologetics for Kids

    328 shares
    Share 131 Tweet 82
  • Tradition as a Guardrail

    326 shares
    Share 130 Tweet 82
  • Muslim Dialogue

    310 shares
    Share 124 Tweet 78
  • Objective Truth is Back

    306 shares
    Share 122 Tweet 77
  • What I’m Working On: Part 1 of 3: Inside-to-Out

    306 shares
    Share 122 Tweet 77
Facebook Twitter

© 2022 Site by 5BCreative

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
    • Apologetics
    • Atheism
    • Bible
    • Devotion
    • Church
    • Evangelism
    • Hiddenness of God
    • Leadership
    • Philosophy
    • Religious Pluralism
    • Science and Faith
    • Theology
  • My Books
  • Video
  • Talks
  • Invite Me