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

Peacock · #41 04/13/13, 03:01 PM

I think if somebody told me that, I might have to answer, "you wouldn't feel that way if you went there." Invite him to visit before he passes judgment.

If not, that's sort of like people who've never read Harry Potter claiming it's evil because it teaches children how to do magic spells, because they heard from a friend of a friend's cousin's sister that's what it says. I have no patience for that sort of thing.

elkhound · #42 04/13/13, 03:13 PM

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.

real simple and basic truths

http://www.kidsbibleinfo.com/article...s/w/witchcraft

a very long worth while read and study

http://www.bibleplus.org/witchcraft/witchcraft.htm

watcher · #43 04/13/13, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annsni

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?

If you don't ask them if they are in even a passing relationship with God how do you know?

I don't know about were you live but in most places I've lived in the South one of the first questions you ask someone is about where they go to church. If someone told me they went to a church I KNEW was teaching false doctrine I'd tell them. I might use a bit more tack or I might not.

Joshie · #44 04/13/13, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pearl B

My guess, he thinks hes sparing you a trip to a hot place.

I think some Christians get a little carried away with trying saving others.

I guess I have to disagree. I think too few of us share our beliefs. This gentleman wouldn't win any eloquence awards but it does sound as if he wanted the best for OP. As a believer, I want to spread the Word. If I had an enemy, I wouldn't even want him to go to eternal ----ation. It is sinful for believers not to spread the Word so that other may come to our Lord.

Humanly, it is difficult but I would far rather lose all friends than to see them go to hell. I would rather risk offending you than having you come to me on the day of judgement, asking why I never told you.

Annsi, one of the problems with today's thinking is thinking we can lead somebody to The Lord. We can spread the Word but God brings His own to Him. That's something beyond human ability. Too often we spread only the pretty side of the coin. There are two sides to that coin. God is a loving God but He is also a jealous God. Believer go to heaven while unbelievers go to hell. There is one God. Different denominations have some minor differences but the same basic beliefs should be constant among all churches.

The Lord and the Word don't change with the times.

jen74145 · #45 04/13/13, 06:18 PM

I used to want to spray those types with a squirt bottle, like they were a naughty cat who jumped up on the counter.

Ardie/WI · #46 04/13/13, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jen74145

I used to want to spray those types with a squirt bottle, like they were a naughty cat who jumped up on the counter.

You do realize that I just spit and sputtered some wonderful kahlua flavored coffee all over the place, don't you!!!

Shygal · #47 04/13/13, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watcher

If you don't ask them if they are in even a passing relationship with God how do you know?
.

Frankly, thats none of your business, is it.

And I guess no one can answer my question I posted earlier.

TNHermit · #48 04/13/13, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shygal

Frankly, thats none of your business, is it.

And I guess no one can answer my question I posted earlier.

I can answer it as I was taught to understand. God the father is just that he is the head and his "experience is in the holy realm". Jesus the son and his experience is in both realms . The holy and the earthly or profane. He has a better understanding of human-ness. The spirit has one mind with them and the ability to communicate not only with them but with us also. He is the non physical presence of both. They are one as they are all in agreement in all things.

That would be this bible studying heathens understanding.

Darren · #49 04/13/13, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shygal

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?

That's the kind of stuff that makes my head hurt. If you believe that anyone who does not accept Jesus as the savior is going to hell, there has to be a huge line waiting for hell to be expanded so they can get in. We're not talking just about those who are evil, you also have to include Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, Jains, Taoists, Hindus and on and on.

Then you have that pesky soul. The question I'd really like an answer to is if the soul is immortal, where are they before life on Earth? Does God create souls constantly? How about aliens on other planets?

What happened to the souls before Christ? Did they automatically go to hell?

Grandmotherbear · #50 04/13/13, 07:40 PM

Um, Shygal, I was in transit between here and there, but I'll try to answer that question. I think that there is an actual statement in one of the Gospels to that effect (he was being questioned about other "prophets" casting out demons and offering salvation) ...GFB doesn't remember any such statement, of course we don't have a Bible handy for this great debate! Grandfatherbear has a great fondness for 2 particular lines from the bible, of course taken out of context, and paired together for just such experiences as the OP is afraid is coming up-
"Judas took a rope and hanged himself".
&
"Go thou and do likewise".

motdaugrnds · #51 04/13/13, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longhorngal

I'm supposed to meet this guy to deliver a bunch of chicks to tomorrow. I had spoken to him the other day and he asked me to remind him today which I did. I'll be driving an hour away to do this, I had mentioned that our church was having something Saturday, and which one it was so he would know which area I would be in. So we could pick a convenient meeting place.

I call him today and he still wants the chicks and we're wrapping the discussion up and he says, "so, you like xyz church?" To which I replied yes we were pretty happy with it. To which he says which church he belongs to and that xyz church is a "false church" "as most of them are" and "we live as it says to in the Bible". I could sense he wanted to go on in this vein but I wasn't going to go there.

Uh, huh, okie dokie then that's very nice was my general tone after that. Would someone tell me why people do this? I seem to attract them! I would never say someone else's church was "false" much less someone I didn't even know! 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?

Well, since you mentioned "church" first, I suspect he saw it as an open door for discussion. It would be just fine for you to let him know you respect his right to have the opinion he does of your church, then simply say you are not willing to discuss the subject and would like to just deal with the chickens. (Simple mutual respect with a calm voice may actually be more representative of who you are. You don't need to respond defensively at all.)

LittleRedHen · #52 04/13/13, 10:40 PM

This is what you say then "Oh what church do you go to?" and then say "Glad to know, I will make sure to never go there because I'd hate to get an attitude of superiority and pride" lol

Dolly · #53 04/13/13, 11:39 PM

The Athanasian Creed does a fairly good job of explaining the Trinity. Taking a couple of minutes to click on and read this might help.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02033b.htm

Shygal · #54 04/14/13, 02:32 AM

I understand the Trinity. What I don't understand is that the doctrine of the trinity says Jesus is God, yet christians get upset when you tell them that you talk to God, and its between God and you, etc. that you have to go through Jesus, you cant talk directly to God.
But they say Jesus is God. So if you talk to Jesus you talk directly to God.

It doesnt make sense.

Kellkell · #55 04/14/13, 05:23 AM

Shygal, I usually don't get into these types of discussions, but here is my take on it. Those people are thinking of John 14:6, "I am the way the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me." (Now picture that being said by a priest with a heavy New York accent, as it was at my FIL's funeral, and it sounds more like a mob movie than the Bible). The people you describe seem to be taking that particular statement literally, but forgetting that in Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus tells us how we should pray to God, with the Lord's Prayer.

I was raised Catholic, so I was brought up to pray to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. In fact we start every prayer in the name of all three. I was also taught to talk to saints (not in the same way as praying) and to use their examples as well. But then we all know other Christians' thoughts on Catholics.

Tricky Grama · #56 04/14/13, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laura Zone 5

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.

So, I guess I go to a "false church"?? - Countryside Families

Riverdale · #57 04/14/13, 07:20 AM

I grew up a Lutheran. Guess I still am, even tho I haven't stepped foot in a church (any church) since my mother passed in 2006.

I have seen some 'religious' people (family and non-family) who have done some of the most (to me) morally repulsive (not illegal, but immoral) things, in about the same percentage as 'non-religious'.

My opinion on a person are based on if they are morally straight, not how much they contributed to their church, or how many times they attend.

I would rather hang out with an agnostic whom I trust with my kids than a 'religious' person (yes, family members in this group) that I would not trust with an unopened can of tuna.

Actions are louder than words

Dutchie · #58 04/14/13, 07:33 AM

I continue to be floored by why most Christians think that their "religion" is better than mine. Mine is pretty good and I like it. I don't need converting.

A few years ago a bible college here in Tulsa sent a delegation to Iraq in order to convert Muslims to Christianity. I found that to be a tad arrogant.

Laura Zone 10 · #59 04/14/13, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutchie

I continue to be floored by why most Christians think that their "religion" is better than mine. Mine is pretty good and I like it. I don't need converting.

A few years ago a bible college here in Tulsa sent a delegation to Iraq in order to convert Muslims to Christianity. I found that to be a tad arrogant.

Christians go to convert ______ to their religion.
Muslims exterminate those not of their religion.
J.Witness try to convert you to their religion, but, only 144,000 are going to heaven, so why are they bothering?
Jews do not convert. You are either born Jewish, or you are not.
Satanist recruit.

What do Buddist, Hindu's and Pagan's do?

You have brought up an interesting point.
I am only aware of a couple of religions that 'genuinely' try to convert / change a persons mind and heart.

farmrbrown · #60 04/14/13, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shygal

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?

The answer for why "they" say this, is simple ignorance.
Not all of us are "they".

For if you've seen the Son, you've seen the Father.
(Not my words, BTW)