Born Again Christians Thread-No Bashing please

[septbride2002]

Amanda, I can't and shouldn't try to put words in other people's mouths, but I think that the post Albertan mom was referring to as being "bait" so to speak was the comment about Jesus possibly being a homosexual. I don't think she meant the bigoted comment that was made after that. I agree with you that no one baited anyone to make such a blatantly bigoted and hateful comment.

Elisabeth if that is her meaning then I will publicly apologize for mistaking her. However, the tone of this thread does bother me. Not including the stupid Jesus is gay remark (which just makes ya go ) anyone offering any questions of faith, or the bible, or beliefs has been told to stop debating and go elsewhere. I find it rather frustrating, and yet we are also told that they will pray for us. I would rather they try to honestly answer the questions. BTW, these comments are not directed at you - we've always been able to discuss!

~Amanda

 

[septbride2002]

I don't think she meant me..

Yea, I think I see that now. Sorry I get defensive when it comes to my best buds!

~Amanda

 

[Albertan mom]

I don't think she meant me..

Nope, didn't

 

[Albertan mom]

Elisabeth if that is her meaning then I will publicly apologize for mistaking her. However, the tone of this thread does bother me. Not including the stupid Jesus is gay remark (which just makes ya go ) anyone offering any questions of faith, or the bible, or beliefs has been told to stop debating and go elsewhere. I find it rather frustrating, and yet we are also told that they will pray for us. I would rather they try to honestly answer the questions. BTW, these comments are not directed at you - we've always been able to discuss!

~Amanda

If you look up at the thread I last posted, I said I would welcome any GENUINE questions, as I am sure any of the BAC on this thread would.

All I said is there is other threads open for debating these things. The OP specified he wanted this to be without debate. Sure, there is always going to be a little debate, but none of us on here want to hear that our God is a Homosexual--know what I mean?

And as I said before-welcome here, we want to be here to witness, support and encourage, and yes, if you have any prayer requests-let us have them, we will be thrilled to pray for you. We just don't want to fight.....

Have a good day!

 

[mick67]

If you look up at the thread I last posted, I said I would welcome any GENUINE questions, as I am sure any of the BAC on this thread would.

I have a genuine question. I have stayed away from this thread (other than the occasional lurk) out of respect for the born-again sect to have their own space and to fellowship with one another. But I am curious...

Why do you have faith in something that (IMO) exists mainly as lore that has been handed down through the generations? I honestly don't mean demean your faith; I really am curious. BTW, I have faith as well, just not in the conventional teachings and not in an afterlife.

 

[Aidensmom]

Gee, sorry guys, that'll teach me to leave the DIS for 5 hours......I feel like it was a response to my post, as respectfully as it started out, turned into this mess. Sorry .

 

[JoyG]

I have a genuine question. I have stayed away from this thread (other than the occasional lurk) out of respect for the born-again sect to have their own space and to fellowship with one another. But I am curious...

Why do you have faith in something that (IMO) exists mainly as lore that has been handed down through the generations? I honestly don't mean demean your faith; I really am curious. BTW, I have faith as well, just not in the conventional teachings and not in an afterlife.

If you're really curious there's an author named Lee Strobel who has written a book called The Case for Faith. He goes into this topic in great detail. He discusses alot of the common objections non believers have to Jesus and Christianity. He was an atheist and when he did his research he became a born again christian. I would gladly give you my copy if you were really interested. PM your mailing address if you want it.

Joy

 

[mick67]

If you're really curious there's an author named Lee Strobel who has written a book called The Case for Faith. He goes into this topic in great detail. He discusses alot of the common objections non believers have to Jesus and Christianity. He was an atheist and when he did his research he became a born again christian. I would gladly give you my copy if you were really interested. PM your mailing address if you want it.

Joy

Thanks, but I'm curious about why the people posting here have faith. I'd like to hear your answers, in your own words, if you don't mind sharing it with me.

p.s. I'm not baiting anyone so I can bash them.

 

[binny]

Why do I have faith?


I believe because God said it, thats enough for me.

Yes, people have believed in things that have been passed down throughout history. It is the same with my Native American ancestors. They believed in the power of Mother Earth and that everything had a spirit. Their belief system was passed down through every generation as well. Their stories, their faith it was part of their everyday existance. Just as my Faith is of mine.


I guess it is the need to have hope in something larger than ourselves that
is the root but the Belief in the Bible and in God, for me, is the foundation for everything in my life. I dont remember ever not believing. Have I questioned? you bet. Do I still have questions? Most definately. But for me the Faith is who I am. Its what I am. I want to serve God because I know that He has made the difference in my life. He has been my fortress and my strength when I thought I had no where else to go. He has been the one true constant in my life. No matter what the problem I know He is bigger, no matter what the doubt I know He has the answer.


I want to live my life in a way that Glorifies Him because I know He is the answer.

 

[JoyG]

I have faith because:

1. When I heard the story of Jesus' gift of salvation it rang true in every fiber of my being.
2. God answers my prayers in miraculous ways.
3. There is evidence that Jesus' life, message and miracles were not just lore (as in The Case for Faith).



The free book offer is open for anyone who is truly curious. First one to PM gets it.

 

[mick67]

Thanks Binny. Is it OK if I engage you in a discussion about this?

 

[binny]

Thanks Binny. Is it OK if I engage you in a discussion about this?

Most definately I cant guarantee I have the answers but I can tell you how I feel.

 

[Grandma Bear]

Thanks, but I'm curious about why the people posting here have faith. I'd like to hear your answers, in your own words, if you don't mind sharing it with me.

p.s. I'm not baiting anyone so I can bash them.

Many events have occurred in my life that I was told would never happen or were impossible to occur. I think faith for me is a trust issue. I have trusted God to do things that no one else could do. Sometimes The answers I got were not the ones I had wanted or at the time understood. As time passed I saw the wisdom in what I received and it turned out to be a lot better than what I originally asked for! Until I was fully able to put my trust in God,I never realized all he could do. This does not mean I get everything I ask for. It means I get what is best for me! I have learned that even when people conspired against me, if it was what I was supposed to have it came my way, if not it didn't. To sum it up, I belive God opens doors no man close;and closes doors no man can open. Please understand that I am speaking for myself!

 

[mick67]

I'm not looking for answers. I'm curious about how you feel.

What you said about your Native American ancestors is what rings true with me. The power of Mother Earth and the recognition of life and spirit are things I think we all experience. In humans, faith and hope drive that spirit and are cornerstones of human existence and the human experience.

The big difference is, the Native Americans recognized a power that was unlike them, and beyond them, so they paid homage and respect to it. That makes sense to me. Religion teaches us that God created man in his own form and that through him, the afterlife is possible. This does not ring true to me. It sounds like the human ego telling itself what it wants to hear.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Wow, a lot has happened since this morning! I knew the OP seemed a bit judgemental the other day which is why I didn't feel comfortable w/this thread! I see my instincts were right unfortunately. I have decided to stay though b/c the majority of the posters are decent, kind-spirited people and I am glad they don't share the OP's views about Jews! What a terrible thing to say! I can assure you that the majority of Christians don't feel that way! And I for one am up to discussing things whether you are a BAC or not!

 

[Talking Hands]

From what I understand of my Native American ancestry and their beliefs there is an after life. And my ancestors walk in the spirit world as I will walk with Jesus in heaven. My God is awesome and does powerful things. If he didn't I wouldn't be alive today.

 

[Aidensmom]

Thanks, but I'm curious about why the people posting here have faith. I'd like to hear your answers, in your own words, if you don't mind sharing it with me.

p.s. I'm not baiting anyone so I can bash them.

I was brought up going to church and Catholic school, so I was introduced to faith that way, but in no way do I have faith just because of that. I have been through some very difficult and traumatic experiences in my life, even as a very young child. I, however, always felt God's presence and I know that it was Him that gave me the strength to no only get through the circumstances but to overcome them. He has always been there for me, and I know that He always will be. I have seen answers to prayers that have confirmed his presence to me, and have been provided with overwhelming peace at times when I would have ordinarily been stressed and practically going insane. Like binny said, I do sometimes have questions and do not always know the answers. I do know that God will always provide me with what I need to know when I need to know it, even if it is not what I want to hear.

 

[Aidensmom]

The big difference is, the Native Americans recognized a power that was unlike them, and beyond them, so they paid homage and respect to it. That makes sense to me. Religion teaches us that God created man in his own form and that through him, the afterlife is possible. This does not ring true to me. It sounds like the human ego telling itself what it wants to hear.

God created man in his image, not as identical to Him. He is beyond us, that is what makes him God. I do not have faith in God, nor did I become a Christian, because of a reward in an afterlife. I have faith in God and am a Christian because His love makes this life so much greater. Being able to spend eternity in awe of Him is just a bonus.

 

[luvthatduke]

I was horrified to "catch up" since this afternoon,
but could not find the incredibly offensive post??
I'm assuming it & WDWHound's response were removed,
unless I somehow skipped it?

Anyway, glad to see the thread has moved on,
but please know that I agree 100% with Elisabeth:

Jenny and other Jewish DISers, please know that the opinion stated by a particular poster does not reflect born again Christian beliefs. I am appalled and disgusted by the comment, as I know are the other posters on this thread. Please continue to share with us here--I enjoy our dialogue very much. An interesting note is that Christians are to side with Israel according to Scripture. I am so deeply sorry for the disrespect you were shown.

acrucifer needs to remember that Jesus is a Jew - shame on you!!

 

[mick67]

Do you really think that God is providing for you? God being God in the sense that He's a being that looks like the guy Michaelangelo painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? I'm not bashing, really, but this is the part about Christians that I don't understand.

I understand faith. I believe in the power of prayer. But I believe in it as a focusing of positive energy that can have very powerful affects.

Do you believe that God looks like a man, watches what you do, listens to your thoughts and acts on those thoughts?