Bible Belt Definition

Growing up in Thomasville, North Carolina, I used to travel between two churches; one Baptist and the other Pentecostal (Holiness). Each has its’ differences, theologically, however, both had one thing in common, that God was a God that was out to get me. Growing up, I thought God was only concerned with punishing me and not loving me. I seem to accept Christ in my life every Sunday as a result of the preacher’s sermon. “Considerable confusion on this topic has resulted from trying to think of being lost in terms of its outcome. Theologically, that outcome is hell—a most uncomfortable notion,” shares Willard. For me, I was accepting Christ to keep from going to hell rather than to gain heaven. In the ‘Bible Belt,’ this seems to be the theological teaching at that time. It is a blessing to know that God is a good God, who loves me, and wants to bless me.

In reference to the question, “What is the difference between ‘making God a part of one's life’ and ‘living one's life unto Him’”? …show more content…
“God’s desire for us is that we should live in him. He sends among us the Way to himself. That shows what, in his heart of hearts, God is really like—indeed, what reality is really like.” (Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, 2009). He shows us this in His word how to live for Him in Romans 12:2 (RSV), “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Additionally, in Gal. 1:10, Matt. 6:33, 22:37; 1 Cor. 10:13, to name a