> General Discussions
Does God Talk?
Dave in Tenn:
I think it could be a great thing to give him the paper. It's vital to remember though, whatever you do, that unless AND until God chooses to open his eyes, your coworker CANNOT be convinced solely by arguments--no matter how well-delivered.
I'll confess to doing a little imaginative role-playing in the comfort of my own home, running down 'what-if' scenarios like your conversation. I also used to tie a bath-towel around my neck and flex my 'muscles' when Superman came on the TV, though I haven't done that lately. :D If there is any value to it, I think it's mostly for fortifying our own understanding and working through all that. Kat's recent post about how we best retain what we learn comes to mind.
The only scripture I know of that 'seems' related (maybe a spiritual application if not a perfectly practical match) is:
Luke 12:11 (YLT) `And when they bring you before the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, be not anxious how or what ye may reply, or what ye may say, 12 for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that hour what it behoveth you to say.'
So I think a superior 'method' is to get filled up with the Word of God and not rely on Theological talking points and sales methods.
Galatians 5:22 And the fruit of the Spirit is: Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law;
Until then, hopefully that's what we are all developing, ven if some of us never become great debaters..
I also keep coming back to this point--the exposing of heresy, though necessary to lesser or greater extent (depending on who you are talking with) in western cnristian cultures, is not the complete Gospel. It was necessary in Paul's day and is even moreso now. But the fact that there is no Hell is not equivelant to 'God is not willing that any should perish', and neither are the full message. There are two sides to a coin and it takes at least two cards to play blackjack. And tango.
Kat:
Hi Anthony,
I am like you about being careful who I present these truths to. But I thought your scenario was very interesting. I liked the way you 'try to get a feel for the person to see if they have some kind of interest in what is really true' before you jump right in and "cast your pearls before swine." I would think it would be great to have the situation where you come in contact with these people frequently, so you are able to build up this kind of scenario over time. Of course if you determine those that have a sincere interest, it would be good to plant a seed. Who knows that this isn't the means that God is using to open a person's eyes.
It is hard to hold all this true in, when you have your eyes opened. I think your approach is a really good way to search for those that you might be able to discuss these things with. So keep at it :)
mercy, peace and love
Kat
AK4:
thanks Dave and Kat
Dave,
I agree with you wholeheartedly about that God saving all men is not the whole gospel. What i try to do is see what it is that that person might hold fast to i.e. the christian hell, or tithing etc. and try to get them to see that maybe what they were taught is not the truth--to get them to start questioning what they have been taught. This ends up becoming another way to feed in more seeds of truth if God opens up their eyes to that one point. Then hopefully this sparks more curiosity and they may want to know more and more. Well this is how it basically happened for me. when i first read one of Rays papers--In the day of the slaughter, when the towers fall--- at first i was just wanting to read it about 911, but they way Ray backed up everything in scripture, it got me to want to read more on what he had to say. Its great how God did this to me because each time i read one of his papers i wanted more and more and the way Ray writes his papers, he puts a little seed in everyone of them. then its up to me or any person, God willing and leading, to follow up on that seed.
which by the way reminds me of something he wrote in one of his papers he states the scripture where it says the foolishness of preaching is why he is doing what he does which i believe can be linked to what the apostles had gone through when they first got the Spirit where they couldn't help but talk about the Gospel. I'm at work so i dint have esword to find these scriptures.
i know what you mean Kat about how hard it is to hold it all in, but i have A question-- we shouldn't cast our pearls to swine, but in the same sense when we tell some one a truth we are to speak boldly and defend it(paraphrasing). what is your thoughts on that?
Kat:
Hi Anthony,
I guess once you have engaged someone in a conversation about this truth, then it is up to you to defend it. That's another good reason to be careful who you share it with, because the rest of that Scripture goes on to say, "lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you." (Matt 7:6)
So it is necessary to have at least a knowledge of the foundational truths in order to defend this truth. Ray has mentioned this a number of times, here are a few email.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,4865.0.html -----------
In 1Peter 3:15 we are told, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"
This is really the basis for the best way to answer anyone. You cannot be persuasive unless what you tell someone is something that you yourself are living and experiencing. You need to tell them about the "hope that IS IN YOU." The them how you feel about God and about how you live your life for God, and there can be no better witness than this. If your faith is solid and your life is an example of godly living, then it will have an effect on those you comfort.
God be with you,
Ray
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,5799.0.html ---------
STOP TRYING TO TEACH!! I have stated for years and years now that "EVERYBODY wants to be a teacher." If God has not called you to teach, DON'T TEACH. Thousands of people read my site and then go out and try to embarrass their minister by trying to making a fool of out him. They usually fail one hundred percent of the time. Knowledge puffs up. Give it up. Let God humble you before you try to show everyone all the secrets of the Bible and the universe.
God be with you,
Ray
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3926.0.html ---------
The more you understand God's Truths, the more you will be able to explain them to others. We don't expect that people will casually read the material on our site and become expert teachers on the subject in short order. It takes many years of study AND MEDITATION to fully comprehend even the basic of the doctrines of Christ. I meditate virtually all of the time. I THINK about the Word of God, day and night. And in my meditation, God gives me flashes of spiritual insight, as He did just minutes ago while I was sitting in my bedroom. A simple truth, yet very profound. One that I have never heard expounded by anyone in my life. Maybe I will share this one at our Nashville Conference.
One thing you can do, is as you read a doctrinal paper, when you come to what is a profound thought and a profound Scripture regarding it, WRITE IT DOWN or at least make a margin notation in your Bible. These will become key Scriptures for you as you grow in grace and knowledge. And when the need arises, you will be able to quote the Scripture, find it in the Bible,and explain the concept to others. Don't try to memorize all the facts and all the Scriptures, not even I can do that with my own writings.
God be with you,
Ray
winner08:
So true: When I first started reading Ray's papers on the lake of fire I couldn't wait to tell someone that there is no hell we are not going to burn forever. That my grandparents were not in hell because they were not born again Christians. This is what I told them and after I said this to them I had nothing else. Nowhere to go from there. They would ask me questions and all I could say is, I don't know. It made me look stupid. I learned a hard lesson. Now I can give a better account and then I tell them look it up on Bible Truths.com. Some actually come to me afterwards and tell me about what they read on Ray's site. This ends up to be a very good discusion.
Darren
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