> General Discussions

Followers of L.Ray Smith ?

(1/4) > >>

loretta:
Seems like we're being labelled as followers of L.Ray Smith.  I came across one internet discussion group where a lady put up a spirited defence of the truth and she was called such. 

Is it ok to be called followers of Ray, because we're not.  We are followers of Christ.  With all due respect to Ray, and God knows how much we all love Ray, we ought not to give the impression that we a cult like the JW. (Joseph Smith)

I have a few Christian friends on my mailing list and since coming to BT, I've been forwarding excerpts from Ray's teachings with links to the site.  Ofcourse, no one has responded!  But now I am loathe to send out further links for fear of being labelled a follower, and a deceived one!

What can we do?  What should we do?

indianabob:
Dear friend Loretta,

It is very tempting to try to inform your dear friends in order to help them to see what only God can show them.
I have had the same habit in my communication to friends and found it mostly counter productive.

One alternative is to study Ray's writings carefully until you can rehearse them in your own mind and then write your true feelings in your own words with Bible references that may appeal to your friends.

This would be an exercise of benefit to yourself as it will train you to answer for the faith that you hold.
I also read other forums and write responses to their questions and then email them to myself privately so that I have a record of my own thoughts over time. It is quite interesting to reread what I thought last year and the year before. Then I edit my own words for clarity and brevity.

It is usually best to share our new understanding ONLY when asked and then briefly so as to allow God's spirit to do the work when God is ready. If God is working with the individual it will become obvious.

Try it, you may like it.
Regards, Indiana Bob

Extol:
It doesn't matter what they call you. What matters is what God is doing in your life.  ;)

Joseph Smith was Latter-Day Saint (Mormon), not JW.  8)

Kat:

--- Quote from: indianabob on June 29, 2013, 09:02:23 AM ---One alternative is to study Ray's writings carefully until you can rehearse them in your own mind and then write your true feelings in your own words with Bible references that may appeal to your friends.

This would be an exercise of benefit to yourself as it will train you to answer for the faith that you hold.
--- End quote ---

This is what I do as well Bob. When I have learned a truth verified it in Scripture (from Ray or anywhere for that matter) and come to understand it, then I express it in my own words, when speaking to someone.

I think that we may be considered/called "followers of Ray" if we always refer to him in our conversation about what we have learned. Ray was a great teacher for us and I gained a great deal while I studied his work. But what I learned was not his/Ray's truth, it was from God. Now I can stand on my own, and I believe we eventually have to. Nobody will get into the kingdom riding on Ray's coat tail...

Heb 5:12  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

mercy, peace and love
Kat

cheekie3:
Loretta -

If it is Truth that we have learnt - we would have drunk and eaten of Christ - and as such it becomes a part of us - and when it is part of us, it is us - and we will express it in our own personal way - as it will be drawn from our embedded spiritual characteristics that the Lord Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father Jesus have imparted in us.

George.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page