So, I guess I go to a "false church"??

elkhound · #21 04/13/13, 08:09 AM

heres some clues

easter = ishtar

christmas= nimrod's birthday

Riverdale · #22 04/13/13, 08:09 AM

I am a Pastafarian

Laura Zone 10 · #23 04/13/13, 08:40 AM

Wow....
I guess I am always, and I shouldn't be, amazed at the things perfect strangers will say to, perfect strangers.

If you have the opportunity to take an elder from your church with you, that would be fantastic. HE could speak to this man, and you could just carry on with your agreement.

Asking the question "what church do you go to" means nothing to me personally.
I put no stock or value in the building that one visits.
Show me a life worth living, following Christ?
That will catch my attention.

People today have lost the filter on their mouths.
So many folks are so used to sitting online and spewing, that it now has become part of who they are in real life.

If I had a dollar for every time a perfect stranger asked me:
"why aren't your kids in school".
I'd be rich.
I was always polite, on the off chance that they were actually interested in home schooling, but 99% of the time, they just had no filter on their mouths.

ETA: Just don't be snarky or hateful.....you are conducting a business transaction.
Shake his hand, tell him you will take his comments under advisement, and it was nice to meet him.
Smile and go.
Saying something snarky or hateful will just FUEL his fire.

Proverbs 26:20
Without wood, a fire goes out, without gossip, a quarrel dies down.

trulytricia · #24 04/13/13, 08:41 AM

I hope you don't cancel because ya know this is apparently a subject that is not going away! We've all been there.

You might as well find some simple light hearted way to deal with this. What ever you do don't get angry or irritated that will only hurt you .

Actually this could be good practice for you.

BigHenTinyBrain · #25 04/13/13, 08:42 AM

Some people don't hve the sense to respect others with differing beliefs. They DO give their religion a bad name. Keep your meeting, sell your chicks and do your best to deflect all of this zealot's religious commentary. Then happily go to your own church, enjoy your own beliefs and try to forget that guy ever bothered you.

I believe that your relationship with god is between you and god (or spaghetti, Riverdale). It's personal and private, to be shared at your desire with supportive folks tht you love. It would be extraordinarily offensive for me to question the validity of your relationship with god, just like it would be out of line for me to ask about your sex life with your husband and pass judgement on that. Some people just have no manners!

MJsLady · #26 04/13/13, 08:56 AM

I had another couple thoughts.
1) IF you cancel, what will that say about your word? Things like that spread and may affect your business down the road.
2) Folks get an earful when they ask me where i go to church. My reply is where ever the Lord leads me on Sunday. I joined HIS church not some man made religious social club.

nodak3 · #27 04/13/13, 09:19 AM

When my Sunday School teacher (SBC) and his wife started ragging to me how their daughter had married a Catholic and how would they ever "get him saved" I had one suggestion:

If you think your way of loving Jesus is superior to his way of loving Jesus, just live it so he can see it and hush up.

Meet the guy and refuse to discuss religion. Or just tell him you appreciate his concern, will be watching his life over time, and if his way of loving Jesus is better you'll show up someday at his church.

Shygal · #28 04/13/13, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grandmotherbear

Back in 2004 when I lived at the lake cabin for 6 months, and worked for Good Shepard, a Hospice patient asked me if I was saved by the blood of the Lamb. When I replied as you did, Shygal, she accused me of consorting with demons "since no one comes to the Father but by the Son", so it was obviously not God I was talking to. What was worse was she called up the Hospice office and demanded a new nurse since I "consorted with demons". My boss was waiting for me when I got back to the office, demanding to know just what I had told her!

She also had the gall to demand that I not bring up Spiritual matters to patients. I don't do that! It was the Patient started it and kept ragging on me till I finally tried to answer diplomatically!

Eek! I know they told us not to initiate any spiritual conversations, but we could talk if the patient started it. Ive been asked to pray with patients, I just bowed my head and let them pray.

Ive seen enough to know God is real but they probably would not agree with my belief

mnn2501 · #29 04/13/13, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren

That is one of the reasons I am not a Christian. BTW, I don't have anything against Christians. I do have a problem with the my dog is better than your dog argument or mentality.

Not all Christians are like that.

I like the saying attributed to St Francis:"Preach the Gospel all the time, if necessary use words"
The Church I belong to I joined 20 years ago after watching many of its members preach the gospel in the way they lived rather that trying to shove it down someones throat. When I finally asked them about it they taught me what they believed but left it up to me to decide whether it was for me or not.

Shygal · #30 04/13/13, 09:45 AM

Grandmotherbear's post brings up a question though that I have had, and maybe someone can answer.

Christians believe Jesus is God, one God, three persons, the trinity. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit , all are God, yes?

Then why do they say talking to God has to come through Jesus, if in fact they believe Jesus is God? Isn't talking to Jesus, talking to God in that case? Why would someone complain if you said you spoke to God?

watcher · #31 04/13/13, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longhorngal

Uh, huh, okie dokie then that's very nice was my general tone after that. Would someone tell me why people do this?

People do it because they feel others are lost and need to be shown the way. There ARE a lot of false "churches" and a lot of people who are claiming the name of Christ who are not really Christians. How many are there going to be surprised when they hear 'Go away I never knew you." instead of "Well done my good and faithful servant."?

Quote:

Originally Posted by longhorngal

I seem to attract them!

If you seem to have a lot of people from different backgrounds (e.g. they are not all from the same church) telling you that you are going to a 'false' church maybe you should step back and take a good look at your church.

I've been in false churches and didn't want to hear anything against them. But as I grew in Christ I started seeing the church was NOT teaching what the Bible really said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by longhorngal

I would never say someone else's church was "false" much less someone I didn't even know!

You wouldn't? If someone told you they went to a church which taught a child had to had sex before they were 8 y.o. or that child was doomed to Hell you would just nod you head and say "That's nice."?

Quote:

Originally Posted by longhorngal

Now, I am really leery about meeting him, my husband will be with me of course and in a public place but I DO NOT want to get into a religious discussion with this guy. I'm tempted just to cancel. What do you all think?

Then don't get into a religious discussion. When he tries start talking about what you are there for and how you need to get back home and get chores done.

watcher · #32 04/13/13, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narshalla

The nicest thing I can come up with is that he was under the mistaken belief that he can make sure you go to Heaven by annoying the Hell out of you.

Other than that, I have no idea, because there's the one part in the Bible that says "Judge not . . ." We all know that one.

You know that PART but do you know the rest?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narshalla

What most people miss is that this is referring specifically to the state of another's Salvation -- that presuming to know, judge, weather someone is going to Heaven is not a wise course of action.

You can't tell if someone is really a true Christian but you can tell when some is really not. How? You judge they by their actions. What do you use to judge them? The teachings of Christ. If someone is a liar, cheats people in his business dealings, has a wife and a couple of 'girlfriends' yet says he's a Christian are you going to not judge him and let him go to Hell? Or are you to judge him and show him where he is failing?

watcher · #33 04/13/13, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longhorngal

I heard a good sermon once-something to the effect that you have to win people over to you before you try to win them over to Jesus. I'm not putting it right probably but it really stuck with me. I can't stand to have people come up to me and say "do you go to church?" it is too confrontational to me. Personally I work Jesus into the conversation in other ways. I don't like debating either though. I think what I think and you are free to think the way you do.

You can't win them over to Jesus. I read a great thing comparing people to apples. You have green apples and red apples. There's no way you can make a green apple ripe no matter how hard you try, no matter how much you talk to, no matter how you show it ripe apples, no matter how much you want it to be ripe. Only God can cause that green apple to ripen and turn red. And only after it is read is it ready to be picked.

In the same way you can't make a red ripe apple unripen and turn green.

Miz Mary · #34 04/13/13, 10:40 AM

Maybe he just isnt politically correct in his speaking ..... try not to take it personal ...

I believe ANY talking about God and Jesus is a good thing !!

ronbre · #35 04/13/13, 10:55 AM

hubby and I have been seeing how christians are being totally villified..but the sad thing is..it is often by other christians..

we are believers but we do NOT go to a church building ..the people are the church body anyway..thank God..we don't need all t hat

jwal10 · #36 04/13/13, 11:36 AM

I would not let it bother me. Each person has there own relationship with whatever supreme being we believe in. Be secure in yours. We are not to judge, lest we be judged....James

Annsni · #37 04/13/13, 12:00 PM

My husband is a pastor. We belong to a Baptist church. Yes, I believe there are false churches out there but telling a complete stranger that they go to a false church is NOT how you deal with it IMO. Get to know the person. Know their heart. Know if they are even saved or not. It's not the church that saves you but Christ. Make sure they are in Christ first. Once you are sure of that and you are friends, then you can start discussing some issues you might see if the other person is willing.

Jeepers. Some churches teach their people maybe parts of the Bible but nothing about true ministry.

ErinP · #38 04/13/13, 12:59 PM

I agree. All admonition is supposed to be done in love.
How can that be accomplished when you're virtual strangers?

watcher · #39 04/13/13, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErinP

I agree. All admonition is supposed to be done in love.
How can that be accomplished when you're virtual strangers?

How is not telling someone they are going to Hell (not saying the OP is) because you don't know the person loving?

Annsni · #40 04/13/13, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watcher

How is not telling someone they are going to Hell (not saying the OP is) because you don't know the person loving?

Do you walk up to a person that you don't know and say "You're going to hell."? How many times have you successfully led someone to the Lord that way?