Members,
Many times after reading Ray's teachings and coming out of the church, believers wonder 'What should I/We be doing now?' These are a few of the many comments Ray has made regarding what we should be doing, according to the scriptures.
Email reply from Ray (
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,25.msg34.html#msg34):
Dear Scott:
I don't know what you mean by "to do something?" Just living, is "doing something." Overcoming is DOING A LOT OF SOMETHING. But if you mean does God have a work for you in the ministry of spreading the Gospel, I can't answer that. There are thousands who would wish to "do something" in this life for or in God's Gospel Ministry, but they wouldn't think of giving a penny to aid those who are already "doing something." Ask God to show you what it is that He wants of you. I assure you that your life will be lead accordingly as God has predestined.
God be with you,
RayEmail reply from Ray (
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,4577.msg35182.html#msg35182):
Dear James: I can appreciate you enthusiasm for God's truth, but you also need
to approach your actions with a bit of Scriptural wisdom. If you have a wife and
family, you have a huge obligation to support them. You know what Paul said
about a man not supporting his family being worse than an infidel. So don't be
in a rush to give away all your possessions and hit the streets with a Bible. After
about 72 hours, you will begin to see the folly of your decision. Even I feel
inadequate for the job I am doing, yet I have had a lot more life experience, and
probably study of the Scriptures than many.
We are reaching two to three thousand visitors a day at our site, and that would
be hard to duplicate or surpass with a Bible out in the street. Many dozens of
people have written me over the years desiring to become teachers and preachers.
Some have wanted to come to my home, live with me, and have me be a mentor to
them so that they can teach this gospel to the world. I have never heard from even
one of them since.
I know of no where on earth where a dollar goes further in bringing
hundreds of thousands of people to the truths of God, than at bible-truths.com, and
yet we have very very little financial support. I have personally held off on buying
reference books, and other needed expensive materials that would help me in my teaching
and preparation for articles, simply because I didn't want to take away from our main
use of funds, and that is advertising on the major search engines. I am debt free,
but we live off of social security, that's all.
My Web Master and I muse sometimes over what God might let us accomplish if
we had but one week's income from TBN or one of the big money-makers. As I stated in
my tithing paper: "Never have so many accomplished so little with so much!"
Concerning repenting: Yes, certainly, we are to repent of our sins (always) as well as
forgive all others for their sins.
Just take care of your family for now and keep studying God's Word. If God wants
to use you in some other capacity, it will become evident to you without selling out
on your family.
God be with you,
Ray Email reply from Ray (
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,4814.msg37171.html#msg37171):
Dear Nate: I get asked this a lot, but there is no easy formula for me to give you. You know that you should obey God. This is the primary thing we must all do. But for me to tell you how to live your life on a daily basis, I'm afraid I can't do. If you don't know whether you should continue living in the Babylonian Church system, what good would it be for me to tell you that God says, "COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE...." (Rev. 18:4)? If you try to convert your family, friends, and relatives to your new-found truths, they will think you crazy or may even turn on you. So leave them alone. The way you conduct your life will speak volumes about what you believe, however, clever arguments will convince no one. Of the tens of thousands of detractors who have tried to contradict my teachings, which I then answered and proved them wrong with the Scriptures, how many do you suppose said: "Oh, okay, now I see it. I'm sorry. I was deceived. I see now that you do teach the truth"? Would you believe 2 or 3? That's right--2 or 3 out of tens of thousands.
You will face ever-changing challenges in your life--every few seconds, minutes, and hours of every day. You will have to decide how to handle these situations, one at a time. Learn the Truth and then live by the Truth. Did Jesus teach His apostles how to react to every situation that would confront them after He was gone? No, no He didn't. Life is indeed a challenge, and in the final analysis it all comes down to YOU AND GOD. I am at the same place that you are, Nate. No one tells me how to solve all my problems. I just obey God and rely on Him to see me through. Many people want to be teachers after learning a few of the basic truths of God. This is generally a mistake, as it takes more to be a teacher than a desire to teach. I might desire to be a great singer, or a great speller--the reality is both are totally out of the question. I am what I am by the grace of God. I realize that most think it is rather scary to try and live a righteous life not knowing exactly what to do and how to do it. Your darn right it's scary. Life is scary. But knowing that there is a loving God Who is carrying out a righteous and wise purpose on this earth is a giant aid to our infirmities.
There is no better way to assuage our own inadequacies than to help others with theirs. I remember when I was going to college back in California, we took a weekend camping trip to the San Bernadino Mountains. One day we climbed this mountain. A couple of chaperone's brought their children. At one place high up the mountain we followed a trail that was precariously close to a cliff with a long drop. I was getting a little nervous. However, close to me was one of the children (a girl of maybe 8 or 9 years), and she was beginning to have a panic attack. I took her by the hand and put her on the inside and assured her that we would not fall. My fear left me immediately, and the little girl did just fine also. I never forgot that experience. Help and love others, and your life will begin to take on meaning.
God be with you,
RayMarques
