Posted by Helen on: 04.10.2007 /
Micky posted the following comment on Class #9: the forgiveness of sins, or justification.
About 3 years ago I dropped into a black hole — four months of absolute terror. I wanted to end my life, but somehow [Holy Spirit], I reached out to a friend who took me to hospital. I had three visits [hospital] in four months — I actually thought I was in hell. I imagine I was going through some sort of metamorphosis [mental, physical & spiritual]. I had been seeing a therapist [1994] on a regular basis, up until this point in time. I actually thought I would be locked away — but the hospital staff was very supportive [I had no control over my process]. I was released from hospital 16th September 1994, but my fear, pain & shame had only subsided a little. I remember this particular morning waking up [home] & my process would start up again [fear, pain, & shame]. No one could help me, not even my therapist [I was terrified]. I asked Jesus Christ to have mercy on me & forgive me my sins. Slowly, all my fear has dissipated & I believe Jesus delivered me from my “psychological prison.” I am a practicing Catholic & the Holy Spirit is my friend & strength; every day since then has been a joy & blessing. I deserve to go to hell for the life I have led, but Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross, delivered me from my inequities. John 3: 8, John 15: 26, are verses I can relate to, organically. He’s a real person who is with me all the time. I have so much joy & peace in my life, today, after a childhood spent in orphanages [England & Australia]. God LOVES me so much. Fear, pain, & shame, are no longer my constant companions. I just wanted to share my experience with you [Luke 8: 16 — 17].
Peace Be With You
Micky
Micky, thanks for sharing your experience with us. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to be raised in orphanages. I’m not sure what I believe these days, but regardless of that, I’m very happy for you that you didn’t end your life and that you’ve been delivered from your ‘psychological prison’.
Comment by: April Terry
1That’s a great post from Mickey, Helen. It causes me to ponder something that I have been thinking about lately…
Can we assume that people’s experience of God counts as some sort of evidence that God truly exists and is active in our lives?
I know that I can’t prove God’s existence in any scientific fashion (I can’t see, hear, touch, or smell him), but I can certainly point to the people that I know and my own experience as well of feeling and experiencing God in my life. Surely that type of experiential evidence must count for something.
I know that it can be said that a lot of people say that they experienced an alien abduction as well, but the numbers of people who believe in God is far closer to a majority than for those who do not.
I was just curious what others might think about that.
Comment by: Rachel
2Micky, I’m so happy that you have found peace and freedom.
Comment by: Helen
3April, I feel like it would be disrespectful of me to argue with people about their own experience and say “No, that’s not God - that was something else”. On the other hand I have become unconvinced that my own experiences prove God’s existence to me.
So, I’m not sure how to interpret other peoples’ experiences; however I am sure I’m happy for anyone who has found greater joy and peace and freedom from a past of shame and self-hate. However they find it.
Comment by: benjamin ady
4April, Mickey,
I just love the way postmodernism is totally happy to totally buy into Mickey’s story, no matter what the listener may or may not think/believe about God. It’s a really kewl, uplifting story, and Mickey does not try to argue that there is some sort of objective truth, or that what worked for him will necessarily work for everyone, or anything obnoxious like that. It’s just “here’s what happened to me”. I love it. That sort of story is so fascinating and inviting. How could you not be drawn in? thankyou for sharing, Mickey.
Comment by: Karen
5Helen, I agree with you, and I’m very glad Micky feels much better now.
However, I do cringe when I see things like this crop up in anyone’s thoughts or writings:
Any ideology that teaches people such self-loathing that they believe they deserve eternal punishment for things they’ve done in this short life is just wrong, and sad, to me.
As parents, as a society that strives to be just, our goal is to make punishments fit the crime. What crimes could be so horribly heinous that they deserve never-ending torment? Eternity is a very, very, very, very long time. It’s hard to imagine that punishment being a “fitting” or just reaction to even the worst of crimes.
Comment by: jim henderson
6Mickey
Stay close to Jesus and in time you might discover that he would never send you to hell. Hell could only exist for demons not people. You might find Brian McLarens book “The Last Word and The Word After That” helpful regarding more accurate information on hell
Comment by: Micky
7I want to thank April, Rachel, Helen, Benjamin, Karen & Jim, for your loving, honest & supportive comments. May God remember you in his KINGDOM!!
Peace Be With You
Micky
Comment by: Helen
8Thanks Micky!
Comment by: Rachel
9I feel the same way, Karen.