just a way of lookin at stuff

[peace4all]

alright. As a few ppl know, I work ina nursing home.run by an episcopal church. one of my co-workers, ashley, is very deeply religous. She is studying he bible and christianity as a whole. well, we have alot of pretty deep talks. We talk about human morality and everything. Well, eventually, the topic of my religion popped up, and she was, like most christians, surprised.

atheist? you? and you like working with the elderly? well, it only took her a few minutes to get over the steryotypes, and we talked about how i enjoy debating with people. SHe asked, how i felt about christianity as a whole.

well, I explained that, the theory of christianity (love everyone, peace, prosperity, happiness) is good, its a great thing. However, when you try to organize it, people that have diffrent opinions on happiness, diffrent interpretations ect, things get out of hand.

We went through which sect is right, and then i began to explain abotu 2 ppl on this forum.
BB and stovebolts. You were both my examples. Stove, you were my example, of a christian similar to ashley. You seemed more concerned, about being like jesus. Being peacfull, happy, seeking jesus's guidance, then going out and trying to force others to do it, or telling others that they are wrong. Im not sure if this is 100% like you, but she was saying how, although she studies the bible, the bible does is not why she is christian. It is pure faith, it comes from the heart, and from the soul. A material book, can not help you get to heaven, if your soul and your heart, are impure. she said that the only way to reach salvation, and be like jesus (and eventually with him) is to follow his path. TO walk as he did on earth. Help those in need, but when people refuse, to let them use their free will. ANd later, if they decide to change, to help them find god.

Then we talked abotu the exact opposite of her, which is BB. Now i know, when i tell a story abotu u, i would glorify myself, and make you seem worse than you are, SO i told her, ahead of time, to be wary of that.


She said that you remind her of a counselor she once had at a VBC. She said, the counselor was too concerned with others sins, and tryign to fix the world, then to follow the path of jesus. We both agreed that there are people that give each religion a bad and good name. her, and stovebolts, give christianity a good name, and would make it appealing to anyone. Falwell, BB, her councilor, well, dont...

then we got into the most interesting topic. End time prophecys. Well first, she sorta ranted at me for being like the pharisees' for wanting proof of jesus's existance, but then we got into the end time prophecy. How the world would get worse and worse, until jesus came. In her belief, she believes that the christians, are hurting jesus, more than others are. (yes of course, there are some ppl of other religions that are horrible, but..)

we tried to figure out, which is worse. Followers, that are not properly spreading the words of god. Who tell people to walk in the path of jesus, but dont walk in their own, or unbelievers. We sorta came to the conclusion, that it would be the dilluted minds of those that get so hyped on the term christian, and not on jesus.


idunno that was really long, but it was a great convo i had with this person, ANd i really wanted to share. My familly would have gotten to the first line and been like "i have to go now" and ehh idunnno. so anyways. Its a good topic to think about (think deeply) there is more than just this at the surface. It is like a huge zit. u can see it, u know its there, But u dont know how much, until it is taken care of.

 

[lovely]

Peace,

I think it is very nice that God is surrounding you with Christians in your life. Keep talking to your friend at work. I am also happy that you post here, though you are not a believer. I pray that you will come to know Christ everytime I read your posts.

The thing is, that there are many people, and personalities, that are important for the body of Christ. We are not all alike. We all have different personalities and gifts.

I think that Stovebolts has wonderful posts. I also agree with what you said about him, that he desires to be like Christ. I would also say that he is probably concerned about the sin of others, and grieves sin in the church. I would also guess that he is concerned about those who are lost, bound in sin, and dying without Christ. I have been both convicted of my own sin, and encouraged by his posts.

Then you have BB. I can say all of the same things about him, did you know that? I know that the two of them have different gifts and personalities, but they both love God and His truth. I have been both convicted, and encouraged, by his posts as well, a great deal in fact.

Most of the time you spend here is debating for the side of sin. Did you know that we love you, and want you to know the Truth, God's Truth? Did you know that when BB comes on, and tells you that you are wrong, and gives you Scripture to show you that you are, that he is acting lovingly towards you? He hates sin, and he doesn't want you to die in your sin. Did you know that when he does not permit promotion of sin on this site, that he is loving God, and the other believers who want to post here? That he is holding up God's Truth, and that he is protecting Christians who are grieved by the hatred for God that they see on other sites.

None of us are perfect, I am speaking more for myself here than anyone else. I am thankful for Stove, and BB. They have both blessed me here, but ultimately it is God who blesses me through them. I think you need to try and understand that you can not pick out a few personality traits of a person, that you deem negative, and then place them in a sterotypical category. You have "typed" both men. We are all different here, but for the believers our common bond is Christ.

You entitled your post, "Just a way of lookin at stuff", but maybe you should have added, "from the perspective of an unbeliever". Believers here are looking at things from the perspective of faith, filtered through Christ and His Scripture. The best thing we can do for you is to pray that you come to know Christ, and show you what the Truth of His word says about sin, about everything, and most importantly about the Gospel as it relates to you individually. Perhaps it will convict your heart one day if God wills it. Perhaps He has you here, and has believers in you life, for reasons of drawing you to Him. I pray it is so. I would like nothing more to welcome you into the family of God as a brother one day. I bet BB and Stove could say the same.

BB and Stove, I hope I have not misrepresented either of you. If I have, I welcome correction.

Blessings

 

[Merry Menagerie]

What a lovely story! Thanks for sharing!

I agree with people having different personalities. I think it's so we can reach different people. So you might consider stovbolts one way and BB another way but someone else might disagree. Stovbolts is called to reach a certain group, those who will hear what he has to say the way he says it. Likewise BB is called to reach a different group and maybe their 'judgemental' (for want of a better word - sorry) type nature is needed to reach this group.

I think the answer is that we must learn when to back off and to learn balance I guess.

 

[peace4all]

Lol.. This was more a combo of her an d my beliefs. Mine is a little more :\.. well its not aestheticly pleasing on a christian forum lets say.

I enjoy posting here. I really love debating, over alot of things, and although I am debating usually "for" sin, Through my readings and interpretations of the bible, I am also doing what it says. I take more heed in the Peace, and love, and let everyone be equal and happy, then I do in the rest. That is what I want christianity to be. That is what I think it should be, and i think many intend it to be..

I really like posting here, and i do have fun most of the time. It is always interesting. Sometimes (as i have admitted) i have been proven wrong, and other times, we have reached stale mates.. rats..

You guys can keep praying for me, and hoping that I convert. It most likely wont happen, But on my side, if it does, I will thank you in heaven for trying, and if it doesnt, well then, good luck with whatever death brings/.

 

[stovebolts]

First of all, I must say that I was surprised to see my screen name mentioned here. Lovely and Merry, I agree with everything you have written. Both of you have also lent much in God's word to me as well.

Lol.. This was more a combo of her an d my beliefs. Mine is a little more :\.. well its not aestheticly pleasing on a christian forum lets say.

That's too bad. When I look at your screen name, I see Peace For All. For me, peace is when your co-existing with others in a civil manner. Not from an outside perspective, but an inward perspective lest ye be considereed a hypocryte... True peace comes from the inside and to have peace with ones self, is to achieve peace with others. For the Christian, we have found not only our peace, but our rest in Christ Jesus because to be at peace, does not mean to be at rest. Peace, it's what you do... Rest, it's who you know.

I enjoy posting here. I really love debating, over alot of things, and although I am debating usually "for" sin, Through my readings and interpretations of the bible, I am also doing what it says. I take more heed in the Peace, and love, and let everyone be equal and happy, then I do in the rest. That is what I want christianity to be. That is what I think it should be, and i think many intend it to be...

I enjoy posting here as well as many others. As far as debating... it wears me out at times and I get tired. But it's not really the debating that I love, but rather the insight of what God has done in my own life that keeps me seeking His word and His will. At times, I don't like what the Bible has to say and other times, I don't like what the Spirit is convicting me of. Paul states that we must die to sin and Christ says that we need to be born again. Now, I know of some older people that have passed from this life and I can say that a few of them went in peace and comfort so I can only suppose that dying isn't that bad in some cases. However, birthing is another story all together as any mother will tell you. And you know what? I've never heard a new born child NOT cry. My point? Being born again isn't easy...and we shouldn't be afraid to die and it's sad when some are afraid when they don't have to be. (I'm not saying to go seek death.)
As far as being equal.. that's a John Lennon dream. Brace up lad cause were not equal and lifes not fair and it's not always about being happy. Happyness doesn't always bring about peace and it's nothing to do with fairness. Some of my keeness insights have been found in the depths of sorrow, pain and misery.

I really like posting here, and i do have fun most of the time. It is always interesting. Sometimes (as i have admitted) i have been proven wrong, and other times, we have reached stale mates.. rats..

Ohh, I've been wrong many many times not only on this forum, but in my walk with our Lord as well and you know what? I dont' believe in stale mates because stale mates don't get you anywhere except deeper into the mire of your own pride. Actually, by not allowing the stale mate I have two choices. The first is to accept God's word for what IT says and bite my pride and allow God to do his wonders in me. Or, I can allow you to have your opinion even if I disagree with it and "Kick the dust off my feet" as were told to do in the book of Matthew. You see, it's not about being right, it's about continually seeking to better yourself and for me, that's to have a greater relationship with Christ. If you really need to think that your right, then go ahead and be right. It simply doesn't change my view on Christ or the relationship that I have with Him.

You guys can keep praying for me, and hoping that I convert. It most likely wont happen, But on my side, if it does, I will thank you in heaven for trying, and if it doesnt, well then, good luck with whatever death brings/.

If it does it does, if it don't it don't. It's not my job to force you or control you or any other thing you except be who I am and let God's light shine through me. If that light has touched you, then I know that all the pain and suffering in my life was not in vain and that God has placed me right were he want's me to be. When I look at my past, and some of its pretty horrible, I see God forming me into who he wanted me to be. When I look around me, I see God's grace everywhere in my life, especially in my wife and kids. This is but one way that God works in our lives and my friend, it is no accident that you or any other 'athiest' is here. Part of the problem I think is that we want things on our time lines and we fail to have patience with God's time line.

In closing, I must say something about BB. First of all, I have a great respect for the man. Like all men including myself, neither of us are perfect and I don't think I've ever heard BB claim that he was. Actually, a side of me envies BB for his boldness and broad understanding of the word. Yes, I know that his boldness might not be the best tact for some, but for others like me, it's just what I need at times because sometimes I need sombody bold and in my face with scripture scripture and more scripture until I finally get it. So you see, God can show himself in many different ways and make no mistake, it is God's spririt that you see in the both of us at times and God's spirit is love.

Take care and know that many of us have kept you in our prayers.

In Christ,
Jeff

 

[Relic]

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I thank God for bringing BibleBerean to this web forum! And I appreciate teachers/pastors like him as well as Christians with a different approach. :D

Many times, we all need a good kick in our but's!

Stubbornness and persistence in loving sin needs a SWIFT KICK IN THE BUT of IT!

And when that doesn't work....
well.... there's always the door to hell. :-D

Take truth or leave it. BB presents truth and I appreciate it very much.
I have learned much from his postings. And I thank God for people like BB! :D


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[peace4all]

I do really enjoy his ability to basically quote any scripture off the top of his head.

Must make posting and arguing much easier. i always have to go back and read whole passages to find the exact spot :-\

 

[Relic]

...I've never heard a new born child NOT cry. My point? Being born again isn't easy...

You Got that right!

Yes! It's a daily thing, to kick those but's out of our lives.



Luke 9:23 - And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 11:3 - Give us day by day our daily bread.

Luke 19:47 - And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,

Acts 2:46 - And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Acts 5:42 - And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Acts 17:11 - These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Acts 19:9 - But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

Hebrews 3:13 - But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.


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