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Post by dougedwards on Mar 21, 2011 20:01:02 GMT -5
Another comment here struck me as peculiar but it shouldn't seem particularly unusual to me since it is a very usual comment. That is the comment of religion being a very very personal issue. This thought of being reluctant to share religious views with another because of the risk of committing some unwanted intrusion, seems honorable and caring on the surface but as a Christian who is commissioned by Jesus Christ to carry the gospel into all the corners of the earth, I am embarrassed and ashamed when I miss an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with others. However this doesn't prevent me from shrinking from finding the courage to do so in certain circumstances.
Someone on this board posted a while back about an avowed atheist who contested the real "born again" change that is supposed to occur within the Christian man and woman. He posted that the evidence of this is that most Christians will stand idly by as their friends and neighbors continue in their rebellious ways with no warning whatsoever from the Christian. The atheist likened it to watching a child playing in the street while a speeding vehicle headed toward the child with no warning at all from the "born again" Christian. "How could this born again creature just watch as even members of his family unknowingly walk down the path of destruction into the pits of hell without caring enough about them to offer them the gospel??.....said the atheist.
How could I be more concerned about possibly insulting another person in some way than I am concerned about the very condition of the soul of that person?? In most cases I am comforted by the serenity prayer.......
God,
grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change..........
the courage to change that things that I can change
and the wisdom to know the difference.
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Post by deadon on Mar 21, 2011 22:22:47 GMT -5
Doug, I believe God smiles every time you speak to us Rusty
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Post by smokepole50 on Mar 25, 2011 21:06:28 GMT -5
This is a great discussion...........
Below is a bunch of somewhat random thoughts. Maybe it will help someone. I am not a preacher and I often fail my Lord but I felt lead to type.......
Ben, I am sorry to here about your loss and I will pray that the Lord God of all will comfort you during your time of adjustment. It has to be tough to be alone after so many years together but you were left behind for a reason..........
I feel we all should feel very blessed if we live past 80 years of age. I don't know how old your Angel was when she went to be with the Lord but I do believe that if she was saved then it was God's will to bring her home. Her work and time on this earth was done and so will yours be one day but I believe you have been left behind because God has something else for you to do. Maybe it's an influence to your grandchildren or some other buddy you need to point in the right direction. Regardless, God's will has been done and will be done for those who believe in Him. God said that which is bound on this earth will be bound in heaven. I believe you will see and know your wife when you get there with her. I don't think you will have the same relationship as you had here on earth but you will know she was your wife and sister in Christ.
We all live in a fallen world, tainted by sin. What God set in motion was perfect but it is now fallen and but for the blood of our Savior we would all be doomed. Almighty God provides for and intervene for the people who believe on his son and his shed blood. Does this mean that a non believer can not prosper or die a painless death, no it does not. Some people are just lucky in life, it does not always mean they are blessed, in fact based on Gods word I would say that it often means just the opposite and one day they will have a bill to pay.....................
God says it is harder for a camel to pass threw the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. A needle eye is a small gate in the walls of a city so it is not impossible, just not likely.
One thing we all forget is that God is omnipotent. He loves us like we love our own children but we are not to know the reason for every little thing that happens. As well I think it is foolish to try and reason out why all things happen that we can not understand. With all our science, math and physics we can not figure out the mind of God but we still try. We still want to go our own way and that is the reason we had to have a Savior. Gods very own chosen people that he lived amongest could not and would not follow his will. That is why Jesus had to die for us all because we can not fully believe and follow that which we can not understand. With out the Holy Spirit to give us faith to believe we can not accept the free gift that Jesus died to give us. We are but dust gathered together and yet we do not believe.......
For many years, being of a scientific mindset I struggled with my salvation. The Geology of this world and Dinosaur bones haunted me. Then one day I realized that it just does not matter. God is not obligated to tell me or explain to me every little detail. God has placed within me the need for Him and sent the Holy Spirit to convince me that He is real. All I need to do is believe that Jesus was real and He will take care of the rest........
And another thing we free will and head strong minded creations of God often entangle ourselves with is the idea that our life will be wasted if we live it believing in God the Father because we will not be free to be as sinful as we like here on this earth because of all the rules. Well if you believe on Jesus and we are all wrong, you will never know. The lights will just go out and it will be over. However if you are wrong and don't believe in God we all will know. Something to ponder.
Smokepole
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Post by ozark on Mar 27, 2011 11:58:24 GMT -5
My comments are actually a reply to the post by dougedwards. I think that religion is indeed a personal relationship with God. Many Christiaans, especially newborns, are so eager to spread the word that theyassume that their listener is a lost sinner. In their eagerness they become dogmatic. Some are intent on preaching when they should be learning and listening. They come on as ha, ha, ha, I am going to heaven and I want to tell you how to go there. You do not fit into the group I am trying to describe dougedwards. Some of these eager beavers appear to think that being able to quote bible verses somehow qualifies them to stand as superior to the meek but genuine servent. They can become irritating and cause others to shy away from the subject. It is similiar to someone making a post on the Smokeless Savage board about the steps of salvation. There is a place and a time for spreading the gospel. There is also places where keeping it personal is the best. Seldom will we find two people who will describe the experience of being born again the same. Why? I think it is because it is a personal event between the Holy Spirit and the individual. Let me close this post by saying that I am proud to have a personal relationship with God and my calling isn't to preach. I am in full agreement with dougedwards and I learn from his imput. Thanks Doug. Ben
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