Born Again Christians Thread-No Bashing please

[septbride2002]

First, Thank you to WDWHound for stopping a debate here!

I agree, the Book of Mormon holds no place in my Christian life.

I don't want to get into a debate here with you Buckalew. I honestly don't know one gay person. If I met one, would I be friends with them? I again, honestly don't know. I would be nice to them. Would I have them over for coffee weekly? Probably not. We are supposed to be loving to everyone-agreed. But we are also supposed to surround ourselves with light, not people who are of the world. Yes, we are supposed to witness. Which I guess sometimes is hard. For me, I work at a Christian school. My kids go there. I have a big, friendly church. All my friends are Christians. I don't see much out of my little Christian realm! The few times I do (kids hockey, sports, etc.) I am friendly to everyone, because I live in a small town, and people know I am involved in church and our school. So I want to be a good example of Christ. I don't want to seem Judgemental or like an unfriendly hypocritical Christian.
I have probably said too much too, and really don't want to get into a debate. I just want you to know, I will be nice to all, and I teach that to my children.

I think this is sad, and not in a you are a sad person kind of way. But sad in the fact that 1) you've never had the oppurtunity to meet people who are different from yourself and 2) that you would close yourself off to a wonderful relationship with someone because of their sexuality.

I feel so blessed that God has made people of different nationalities, religions, and sexual-orientation come into my life. Because all of them have taught me more about God's love than any bible. Because all of them have taught me how to be a better person.

I pray one day God brings a homosexual into your life. And I hope you are able to look into their eyes and see God's love looking back at you.

~Amanda

 

[Aimeedyan]

I think this is sad, and not in a you are a sad person kind of way. But sad in the fact that 1) you've never had the oppurtunity to meet people who are different from yourself and 2) that you would close yourself off to a wonderful relationship with someone because of their sexuality.

I feel so blessed that God has made people of different nationalities, religions, and sexual-orientation come into my life. Because all of them have taught me more about God's love than any bible. Because all of them have taught me how to be a better person.

I pray one day God brings a homosexual into your life. And I hope you are able to look into their eyes and see God's love looking back at you.

~Amanda

If my smileys would work, I would put a smiling agreement one here =)

 

[sunni]

Maybe it is my Catholic upbringing but I just can't fall in line behind this kind of faith. You can't be "saved" and then beat your children. I would like to think that my being a good person counts for something with the man upstairs. Or else by your definition I could go and be saved and then murder someone the next day. Doesn't matter - God is on my side?

~Amanda

Eph. 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.

It's a difficult concept sometimes, God's grace. We do NOTHING to earn salvation except have Christ as our Lord and Savior. Being a good person does not get you into heaven - it only determines your reward in heaven.

We will be in heaven with murderers, rapists, thieves and such... those that have repented and love Jesus. He died for them as well. As for your question of someone becoming a Christian so they could commit murder -- God knows if we are sincere when we accept Christ, we can't fool Him! If Christ really isn't the Lord over your life, God will know it. In Matt. 7:21-23 Jesus says - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Jesus isn't concerned about how good a person is, He wants a relationship with them.

 

[pogopossum]

sunni, icouldn't say it any better than you did, except to add one thing, if you are a true Christian and do sin after accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior then you are still a Christian and have a place in Heaven. if this wasn't true then Christ would have to come back many times to cover all our sins and He only died once and that was all that needed.

john 10:27-30 27 my sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.

 

[pogopossum]

jimmiej, congrats to the horns, if it can't be the bears, then i as a texan back the horns. our middle schoolers went to highland lakes a couple of weeks ago and really liked it. dw is looking forward to going next year with our dd.

 

[studentmom]

Miss Jasmine,
I'm really interested in the prophetic books of the Old Testament and of Revelations, too! It's interesting how it's all slowly coming to be.

 

[acrucifer]

I am heartened that so many are enjoying this thread. it is obvious that it is being blessed. a couple of post have come close to debating christian beliefs. I know debate is healthy in all arenas. BUT THERE ARE OTHER THEADS FOR DEBATING AND ARGUING THE BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN FAITH AND THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM. THis thread is for christians to fellowship and to witness and testify to others. We have all to varying degrees committed ourselves to Christ and his infallible word. So I will ask those of you without singling anyone out not to debate or argue or disparage christian belief here, but please do ask your questions and seek the truth and Good News Of Our Lord and Savior. Thanks, in Him.

 

[septbride2002]

I am heartened that so many are enjoying this thread. it is obvious that it is being blessed. a couple of post have come close to debating christian beliefs. I know debate is healthy in all arenas. BUT THERE ARE OTHER THEADS FOR DEBATING AND ARGUING THE BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN FAITH AND THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM. THis thread is for christians to fellowship and to witness and testify to others. We have all to varying degrees committed ourselves to Christ and his infallible word. So I will ask those of you without singling anyone out not to debate or argue or disparage christian belief here, but please do ask your questions and seek the truth and Good News Of Our Lord and Savior. Thanks, in Him.

The last time I checked I was a Christian, not neccessarily born again since my particular faith doesn't really do that. I'm not sure why it is alway interpreted that I am "debating" when all I'm doing is asking questions and giving my opinions as a Christian.

I guess it is as Miss Jasmine says, our opinions are taboo. It is sad to me that other Christians would so quickly dismiss me because my faith doesn't agree 100% with yours.

~Amanda

 

[live4christp1]

Hi Fellow believers! Hope everyone is doing well today. God is to good!

Just thought I would try to get some more discussion going as I have enjoyed reading everyones posts.

What part of the Christian walk do you struggle with the most? Mine is trusting God with our finances. I know that His word (I think in Malichi) says to try Him and find Him faithful, that is the hardest thing for me to do.....though we have been working on it. I do believe that the our first fruits, God's part should be given first........my struggle is that I tend to want to pay all the other bills first and then give Him whats left over and I know thats wrong.

Any words of advice?

 

[disneymom3]

I think this is sad, and not in a you are a sad person kind of way. But sad in the fact that 1) you've never had the oppurtunity to meet people who are different from yourself and 2) that you would close yourself off to a wonderful relationship with someone because of their sexuality.

I feel so blessed that God has made people of different nationalities, religions, and sexual-orientation come into my life. Because all of them have taught me more about God's love than any bible. Because all of them have taught me how to be a better person.

I pray one day God brings a homosexual into your life. And I hope you are able to look into their eyes and see God's love looking back at you.

~Amanda

I just want to say that even if you know people and like them who are different than you, it doesn't mean you have to agree with what they do in their lives. I have a friend who is a Muslim and a friend who lives with her boyfriend. Does this mean I treat them with contempt? No, but does it mean I think I will see them in Heaven, honestly I have no idea, that is God's choice, but if my friend asks will I tell her that I don't think her lifestyle is right? Yes, I will.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

The last time I checked I was a Christian, not neccessarily born again since my particular faith doesn't really do that. I'm not sure why it is alway interpreted that I am "debating" when all I'm doing is asking questions and giving my opinions as a Christian.

I guess it is as Miss Jasmine says, our opinions are taboo. It is sad to me that other Christians would so quickly dismiss me because my faith doesn't agree 100% with yours.

~Amanda

Awhhh Amanda. Personally, I like your questions, they make me think, even look up stuff. I think if we didn't question our own faith we would never grow. What you mentioed is something my DH struggles with, the being Saved, yet sinning thing. So you are not alone.

 

[septbride2002]

Awhhh Amanda. Personally, I like your questions, they make me think, even look up stuff. I think if we didn't question our own faith we would never grow. What you mentioed is something my DH struggles with, the being Saved, yet sinning thing. So you are not alone.

Thanks girl. Perhaps we should start our own thread. "Christian Outsiders" or something like that This will be my last post here because to be honest I don't feel welcomed here and I realize they want to keep this "debate free." Obviously asking questions that make you think outside the box a bit are a form of debating.

~Amanda

 

[disneymom3]

acrusicifier--maybe it would help if you specifically said what you think defines Born Again Christian. I think I know what you are meaning, but clearly some people have different opinions. To me, Born Again is along the lines of believing the Bible is absolute truth and that God's word cannot change amongst other things. While I don't have a time when I "became" Christian, I think my faith is more born again style than anything else even though I go to a Lutheran Church whose worship style is very contemporary and whose beliefs are very conservative.

Anyway, I think a definition would help. We don't know if we share each others beliefs specifically if we don't know what they are.

 

[JoyG]

Hi Fellow believers! Hope everyone is doing well today. God is to good!

Just thought I would try to get some more discussion going as I have enjoyed reading everyones posts.

What part of the Christian walk do you struggle with the most? Mine is trusting God with our finances. I know that His word (I think in Malichi) says to try Him and find Him faithful, that is the hardest thing for me to do.....though we have been working on it. I do believe that the our first fruits, God's part should be given first........my struggle is that I tend to want to pay all the other bills first and then give Him whats left over and I know thats wrong.

Any words of advice?

I also have been enjoying the discussion so I'll tackle this question...

I had been struggling with our finances for a while, but really got into crown financial's money matters radio program...you can listen online to it at their website, also I listen to Dave Ramsey online. It was a gradual process by we finally feel like we're on sure footing in this area...also my church did a big series about stewardship which was really good.

 

[WDWHound]

What part of the Christian walk do you struggle with the most? Mine is trusting God with our finances. I know that His word (I think in Malichi) says to try Him and find Him faithful, that is the hardest thing for me to do.....though we have been working on it. I do believe that the our first fruits, God's part should be given first........my struggle is that I tend to want to pay all the other bills first and then give Him whats left over and I know thats wrong.

Any words of advice?

I think this is challenging for most folks. My wife and I approached the problem by setting up a schedule which eased us into it over the course of a few years. We started by giving a small percentage of our first fruits that was easy to do. Then, the next year we increased this amount. It was always a percentage of our gross income and each year we simply upped that percentage. The process was painless and we reached our target giving percentage in 5 years.

My other (and more important) advice would be to pray about it and seek God's will. Remember, giving is about the joy of serving, not about being forced to give money because you feel you have to. Talk to God about it. What is God calling you to do here? Giving that is not based in the joy of serving God and your fellow man is difficult to maintian.

 

[live4christp1]

I also have been enjoying the discussion so I'll tackle this question...

I had been struggling with our finances for a while, but really got into crown financial's money matters radio program...you can listen online to it at their website, also I listen to Dave Ramsey online. It was a gradual process by we finally feel like we're on sure footing in this area...also my church did a big series about stewardship which was really good.

Thanks JoyG, I listen to crown daily at work, it comes on Moody radio at 3:30 here.....and have heard some of Dave Ramsey's stuff. Really need to get on a budget and stick to it, I know. I just have a hard time trusting that if I give God his part, I'll have enough to take care of everything else. I know it is something he is trying to teach me........would appreciate your prayers that God will help me do this. TIA!

 

[WDWHound]

Regarding the term "Born Again", I don't know about the OP, but my definition is that Born Again applies to all Christians and is sybolized in our baptisms. It means we have died to sin and our worldly life and become born again to a spiritual life made possible through Jesus' sacrifice. This does not mean we should shun the world, only that we are now in it but not of it.

 

[live4christp1]

I think this is challenging for most folks. My wife and I approached the problem by setting up a schedule which eased us into it over the course of a few years. What we did was we started giving a cntain percentage of our first fruits that was easy to do. Then, the next year we increased this amount. It was always a percentage of our gross income and each year we simply upped that percentage. The process was painless and we reached our target giving percentage in 5 years.

My other (and more important) advice would be to pray about it and seek God's will. Remember, giving is about the joy of serving, not about being forced to give money. Talk to God about it. What is God calling you to do here? Giving that is not based in the joy of serving God and your fellow man is difficult to maintian.

Thanks for your response also WDWHound. That is another issue, I know that when I do give it should be out of wanting to do it and that it should also be done joyfully. I remember one time when we first started attending church (before we had kids) that when it was time for the offering I realized I only had a $50 bill, I wrestled with, well all the money in the bank is alloted to bills and if I put this in there will be no gas money or grocery money this week. I put it in anyway, believing God would take care of me. Later that day when I went to get the clothes out of the washer (top loading type) there were two $20 bills laying right on top of all the wet clothes just like someone had placed them there. No one else had been in our house.

We went through a very difficult financial struggle last summer and still haven't fully recovered (still trying to catch up on DS tuition payments). DH took a job with a "friend" at church (learned the hard way this is not a good thing to do)......made some really good money for a while. But then friend decided to hold DH responsible to some damages to the company vehile that were not DH's fault. It ended up in a big mess......had to go before pastor, etc......friend lied about DH.......withheld a 70+ hour paycheck and wouldn't allow him to work again unless DH agreed to sign a paper stating (after he found out what he had done to DH's pay was illegal) that he wouldn't take legal action. DH refused to sign because the document he was asked to sign was full of lies. Any way, I know I am way OT here but playing catch up isn't fun. We both have been working extra jobs to bring in more money but it seems like something is always breaking......etc. I really believe part of it is the enemies attack as DH really wants to finish his studies to become a youth pastor and I think the enemy is trying to hold him back from accomplishing this.

Sorry way to much information I know......would appreciate your prayers.

 

[Buckalew11]

Cristy, I have also struggled through this. Paying big bucks for DD to be in Christian School and saving for college/ retirement, tithing and daily living is always hard to do. What it has meant for us to not living above our means, priorities being set straight and all of that kind of thing. Trusting God to have control over everything (not just $) is hard for me as I am a control freak of sorts! When I have given things over to God totally, He has never failed and though it never makes sense to me, God works in the opposite way you'd expect much of the time.

 

[live4christp1]

Cristy, I have also struggled through this. Paying big bucks for DD to be in Christian School and saving for college/ retirement, tithing and daily living is always hard to do. What it has meant for us to not living above our means, priorities being set straight and all of that kind of thing. Trusting God to have control over everything (not just $) is hard for me as I am a control freak of sorts! When I have given things over to God totally, He has never failed and though it never makes sense to me, God works in the opposite way you'd expect much of the time.

Buckalew11, you sound so much like me. I guess I am a bit of a control freak as well. Don't know why I struggle with that so much, as I have found time and time again that when I finally let go of it and give it to God he works it all out.

Thought you might enjoy this poem I have posted on my desk....not sure who the author is:

As little children bring their broken toys in tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God because He is my friend. Then instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help in ways that were my own. Finally I snatched them back and said, "God how could you be so slow?" He said, "my child what could I do, you never did let go."

Thanks for your response to my post! Hope you have a great day!