The Religion Thread

[Blue Knight Max]

Man oh Man, has anybody been to that thread?

It just mind boggles me how it can get so wordy and complicated. Many people are quoting books and authors but when the Bible is quoted it is shot down for a slew of reasons.

Let me let everyone know that when one gets involved in a thread like that or even a live conversation, it can get very heated. You do have many calm headed people on the thread but then you have others that have a tendency of being the opposite.

Whether you are on that thread or not ( I pop in every now and then), always remember that God is not a God of complicated facts and theories. God is not a God of confusion. God is the God of breakthrough. He is simple as he is gentle, kind and loving. When trying to explain God to others (or even prove that he exist) you need to know the type of audience you are dealing with. Their hearts (with regards to the belief in God) is not the same as ours. Don't try to prove your point with text book quotes and what have you. Just say to yourself "What would Jesus say or do in this situation?" The Holy Spirit will guide you with what to say and when to say it.

There will be many that will find that hard to believe or will just refuse to hear that. But know that God will always fight your battles. He will always defeat all the Giants in your life.

Do not jump into that thread (or any other) or into live conversations that will cause your passion about God fire you up and end up in a never ending debate.

If anything, enter the thread in love and leave in love.

Remember..What would Jesus do/say..

 

[Tin Cup]

Thanks, Max. I was feeling really guilty about staying away from those threads, because I felt like I should be in there defending my faith. I just couldn't bring myself to do it, because of all the hassle.

I agree with you, the debate will never end and the only result will be hard feelings - which is exactly what Satan is trying to accomplish. He wants a forum to bash us believers, and he's got it. As far as I'm concerned, he can keep it.

The people on there are NOT seeking God in any way. If they were, I'd be more than happy to help. All they're doing is looking for a soapbox to propagate their hatred.

I like this forum a lot better, thanks again for setting it up.

TC

 

[wanderlust]

We still need defenders of the faith in public forums but one should be spirit led in response. It seems to me the OP is usually trying to justify their "cause" just as the Gnostics attacked the early church. Any response should be loving and factual. We need to remember the public viewers and not get so caught up in the rehtoric (sp) of the poster. It's amazing how God can turn the devil's mischief to good.

 

[The Wiz]

Max........I really found that to be an unecesary thread by an individual I am generally not fond of.He always seems to be in the middle of somthing controversial IMO,usually started by himself,and comes off as an attention getter to me. I will just leave him be when I see his posts and threads.The best moments there(by far)happened when you showed up.My faith is the one thing no one can take from me...I know that to be a fact regardless of what someone else has to say,and I certainly don't have to prove my point!The Wiz!(and MissVapor....You Rock!!)

 

[wanderlust]

Hey Tin Cup my response this morning didn't sound the way I intended last night. Some inflamatory threads about God I really don't feel led to respond to and I've learned it's better for me just to lift up a prayer and stay out of it. Other times I feel the Spirit calling me for response. At those times I don't think the response is necessarily for the benefit of the OP but rather for the many viewers. People are seeking God and many are drawn to any religion thread. That's kinda what I ment about being Sprirt led. If He's not leading then we best be careful about who we're following.

 

[Zaxx]

You can't win in those situations. It's impossible to convey your thoughts accurately without being able to use your voice.

I learned a long time ago to avoid those situations. I'm not the most even tempered christian around. I know I'd fire off a few words that would land me in the prayer closet for quite some time.

 

[wanderlust]

You're probably wiser than I but I find it's not so much about winning or losing as it is about presenting the gospel message. That's all we're really called to do and the rest is out of our hands. Many of these posts as Wiz and Tin Cup have noted are simply for attention getting and promoting their own agenda.

 

[wv2win]

Good advice, Max. I'm afraid I get too caught up in the details and lose sight of the bigger picture.

 

[Tin Cup]

Hey Tin Cup my response this morning didn't sound the way I intended last night. Some inflamatory threads about God I really don't feel led to respond to and I've learned it's better for me just to lift up a prayer and stay out of it. Other times I feel the Spirit calling me for response. At those times I don't think the response is necessarily for the benefit of the OP but rather for the many viewers. People are seeking God and many are drawn to any religion thread. That's kinda what I ment about being Sprirt led. If He's not leading then we best be careful about who we're following.

Wanderlust -You didn't say anything wrong. In fact, you're absolutely right - our great commission is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was really just admitting that I didn't know how to go about that on such a hostile forum.

I admire and appreciate anyone who can successfully go in there and present the gospel without getting into an argument.

I'm not very good at that. I have a temper, and I don't have much tolerance for people that don't respect others.

That's why I stay out of there, I would only makes things worse.

Anyway.... you didn't do anything wrong, but thanks for being concerned.

TC

 

[The Wiz]

You can't win in those situations. It's impossible to convey your thoughts accurately without being able to use your voice.

I learned a long time ago to avoid those situations. I'm not the most even tempered christian around. I know I'd fire off a few words that would land me in the prayer closet for quite some time.

Or somewhere worse Zaxx...Thanks for holding back!The Wiz!

 

[muldrick]

Oops, I know I should stay out of those threads. But I couldn't resist posting one HERE. (post #26)

 

[Tin Cup]

Nice post, Muldrick. Short and to the point. You disarmed him by saying up front that you wouldn't reply. Kinda like in the old movie "War Games" - the only winning move is not to play.

I liked it.

TC

 

[Blue Knight Max]

Wanderlust hit it right on the nose!! SPIRIT LED! If we are Spirit Led in each and every situation, then we will always enter it and leave it in LOVE.

I agree that at times we have to defend our faith. But I also believe that when we go into battle, we have to let God fight our battles for us. I will always defend my faith till the bitter end. But remember, the word here is "defend". To defend, one must be attacked. I do not believe that we are being attacked over on that thread, I believe that we were just being put to the test to see if we can prove the existance of God. Some people (like for example the OP) just love to debate.

The original poster also has his own social group for atheisist.

Going off topic for a moment, I got a social group request from a user called "vaporon". Does anyone know this person? I just find it wierd that a new user with no postings anywhere (and I mean no postings like ZERO postings) would all of a sudden show up and request to join this group.

I sent him/her a PM asking how he/she got to know about this group and who referred him/her to it. I have not gotten a reply as of yet and until I do, their request to join will remain pending.

 

[muldrick]

On that same note, sometimes what you feel is Spirit Led, may not be. (I suppose that's why we pray about certain situations, and "give it time".)

A fellow at work (Fred), he's a JHW. (Jehovah Witness). We where talking about "religion". I really felt led to explain some things to him because I noticed he had no idea about the "end times". (which btw really confused me)
The conversation ended up with me telling him how Jesus will physically return, setup His Kingdom and rule from Jerusalem.
He stated how he wanted to see the scriptures related to this.
That evening I went home and printed several versus regarding this. I also looked up info about JHW's.
Well...the info that I found pretty much told me not to attempt anything more with Fred.
Also, I gave Fred the verses 2 days ago, I never heard a response from him. (From what I understand JHW's are not allowed to read anything unless it comes from their elders) I'm not sure why Fred asked me for scripture when he is not allowed to read it?

Point of my story is that I felt Spirit led...now I feel I was wrong.

Side note: no insults intended to JHW's what so ever.


Oh, BKM... any response from Vaperon?

 

[Blue Knight Max]

On that same note, sometimes what you feel is Spirit Led, may not be. (I suppose that's why we pray about certain situations, and "give it time".)

A fellow at work (Fred), he's a JHW. (Jehovah Witness). We where talking about "religion". I really felt led to explain some things to him because I noticed he had no idea about the "end times". (which btw really confused me)
The conversation ended up with me telling him how Jesus will physically return, setup His Kingdom and rule from Jerusalem.
He stated how he wanted to see the scriptures related to this.
That evening I went home and printed several versus regarding this. I also looked up info about JHW's.
Well...the info that I found pretty much told me not to attempt anything more with Fred.
Also, I gave Fred the verses 2 days ago, I never heard a response from him. (From what I understand JHW's are not allowed to read anything unless it comes from their elders) I'm not sure why Fred asked me for scripture when he is not allowed to read it?

Point of my story is that I felt Spirit led...now I feel I was wrong.

Side note: no insults intended to JHW's what so ever.


Oh, BKM... any response from Vaperon?

No, no response from vaporon.

Now about this post...

I believe that you were spirit led to have that talk with fred.

You may not know it but you have just planted a seed in him. This seed in time will bear fruit.

I have seen quite a few Jw's convert to the born again faith we christians follow. Each and everyone of them had a seed planted in one form or another.

In due time, it will bear fruit and there will be a harvest!!

Max

 

[kcr]

Can I resurrect this thread?

I didn't poke my nose too far into the thread mentioned in the OP, but I can pretty much imagine what is there. Makes me sad to think about it.

But, for those who were feeling guilty for not getting into the fray:

I am a moderator on a Christian forum, and after watching Internet battles between good and evil for several years, I can only say that it is futile and don't cast pearls before swine.

The OP said this:

I am starting this thread for all to post about religious beliefs. But, I will be calling these to the floor to be debated. This is so I cannot be accused of anything. No hijacking. I love to debate religion, and as I said the debates usually stop short. Im doing this to give myself an outlet with willing participants of a religious debate, if such a thing exists. We shall see.

He is not looking for truth, he is looking for sparring partners. It is just a game to him. There is no percentage for anyone in giving in to this guy's hobby, not for you, not for him, and not for anyone who reads the thread. He wants the verbal equivalent of a cage fight--messy and brutal. And fruitless.

Save those pearls for someone who is itching to hear the truth, and pray that someday it will be the OP of that thread.

But do not kick yourself for refusing to get suckered into his silly and dangerous spectacle. Best to leave him be and let God deal with him in His own way and time. Be kind to him on other threads, but do not give him a platform for his venom. Who knows? When the time comes that he softens his heart toward God, He may lead the guy to you for you to help him understand--which will be much easier if the prior relationship is not one of contention.

The guy needs prayer, and lots of it. Let him have what he needs and not what he wants

My two cents. Take it for what it is worth

 

[VaporInTheWind]

Where is that thread? I've looked and can't find it.
(practicing apologist)

 

[VaporInTheWind]

Point of my story is that I felt Spirit led...now I feel I was wrong.
No effort to spread the word of God is wrong. God leads us to plant seeds, just because it does not bear fruit right before our eyes does not mean that God is not watering that seed. Keep sharing the Gospel. Go to Living Waters | Living Waters and listen to "Hells best kept secret" audio. It will help you witness.

 

[Blue Knight Max]

Amen, when seeds are planted we have to wait for the season for them to harvest.

 

[LisaLisa]

I was a Jehovah's Witness for 7 years, from age 23- 30. I left the group over 10 years ago. I can tell you that the JW's do absolutely read the bible, but they also read the Watchtower publications.

They are difficult to talk to as they have a rebuttal for everything that you will say. They even have a book published and every JW has a copy, and it's actually a book of questions and answers. If someone asks you this question, you give them this answer.

They are programmed, and you can't go against the teachings of the watchtower society or you will be shunned and put out of the group, so the control is very strong and real. You actually have thousands of families torn apart by the watchtower organization, and that is disgusting to me. My best friend left the group when I did, and her own family hasn't spoken to her in 10 years and never will again. This includes her own mother and her sisters. It's very sad.

I lost all of my friends when I left, but thankfully none of my family are JW's, so I didn't loose that also.

Keep talking to your JW friend, whatever you say will remain in his mind, and possibly he will draw on that later when he is ready. Trust me, I've been there myself personally.

I"m still growing and learning everyday on my own personal spiritual journey. God is alive in my life and my heart, and I can't imagine it any other way. Praise God!!!!!