Born Again Christians Thread-No Bashing please

[WDWHound]

Not to pass judgement on it straight away but that does kind of kill off the Book or Mormon...



Rich::

Actually, it doesn't. I am not a beleiver in the Book of Mormon, but The Book of Revelation passsage sited here does not apply to whether or not more books can be added to the Bible. The reason is that there was no Bible when The Book of Revelation was written. Relevation was written around 68 AD. The list of books we now call the New Testement first apeared in 367 AD, and the Coucil of Trent was still taking up the subjkect over 1000 years later.

The reference about adding and taking away can either apply to God's word in general, or The Book of Revelation specifically, but it really can't apply to adding or taking away from a collection of books that hadn't even been completely chosen yet.

 

[dcentity2000]

Actually, it doesn't. I am not a beleiver in the Book of Mormon, but The Book of Revelation passsage sited here does not apply to whether or not more books can be added to the Bible. The reason is that there was no Bible when The Book of Revelation was written. Relevation was written around 68 AD. The list of books we now call the New Testement first apeared in 367 AD, and the Coucil of Trent was still taking up the subjkect over 1000 years later.

The reference about adding and taking away can either apply to God's word in general, or The Book of Revelation specifically, but it really can't apply to adding or taking away from a collection of books that hadn't even been completely chosen yet.

I find this all fascinating...

It's an education and one I gladly undertake



Rich::

 

[ead79]

I enjoy the NIV translation when studying/reading and the NASB when memorizing Scripture. I went to a Christian school as a child, and we memorized our verses in the NASB translation, so that’s my frame of reference.

As for the book of Mormon, I do not believe it is the inspired word of God. Though I cannot claim to be highly familiar with it, I do not believe that God sent a greater prophet (Joseph Smith)—I believe that His Son Jesus was the only person God chose to reveal His new covenant to us. It is interesting that most Mormons I know consider themselves to be a branch of Christianity, though from my admittedly limited study of Mormonism, I have found several of their views to be quite contradictory to Scripture. Obviously based on the behavior of most Mormons I know, the book of Mormon must contain many excellent ideas about living a good life. They are generally such kind, polite people.

I believe the additional books in the Catholic Bible are collectively called the Apocrypha (sp?). I’m not familiar with them at all, but I believe my parents have an old family Bible that has them in it.

 

[ead79]

I understand what you are saying, and for the most part I agree with you. But you have to admitt that man's hands have been involved with the bible. And since the authors of the New Testament were Jesus' disciples you must ask yourself why Thomas' testament was left out. Or why the testament of Mary Madageline was also left out. They were followers also followers of chirst.

As for your revelations text - who do you think wrote that?

~Amanda

Hello Amanda

I believe that the area of the Divine inspiration of Scripture is an area where Catholicism and Protestantism are sometimes at odds, but I could be wrong about that.

Basically, I believe that God inspired the writers of the Bible to pen the text exactly as God wanted. I also believe He has protected His Word since the beginning (and this has been evidenced by the finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls and discovery that there were not translational errors between then and now). In other words, I do not believe that the Bible is just filled with the thoughts/understanding of the men who wrote the actual words, but rather was breathed by the Holy Spirit to the writers. It’s hard to explain, so I hope that made some sense.

 

[WDWHound]

OK, I've got a question for y'all. How do you pray?

As I posted over on the heathen thread (an interesting thread BTW), I see prayer as much more than a means of asking for stuff. I sse it as a conversation with God. I few years ago I took a course called Companions In Christ (highly recommended). It featured serveral chapters on different prayer techniques, new ways to converse with God. It was facinating. Some techniques worked well for me, some didn't, but I was overwhelmed by the richness of the various ways people use to talk to God. I learned several wonderful ways of simply listening that have helped me a great deal.

I personally find that when I'm really upset, singing to God (yes, out loud) works very well. It beings my emotions to the forefront and help me bring my whole self into his presence. I make up the tune as I go to fit the words I need and don't worry about rhyme. I just sing out everything I am right to God. When I do this, I find God gives me comfort, clarity and a view to paths I had not even considered.

I try to carry on an ongoing dialog with God as I go through my day. I also try to find at least a few minurte of quiet medidation to listen for his voice. I have been trying visualization as well, but not having a whole lot of success there yet.

So, how about you? Are their any prayer techniques you find useful?

 

[JoyG]

I talk to God like I'm talking to my best friend, slang and all.

Sometimes I just read scripture alound or recite verses.

Sometimes when I'm scared and can't focus or think clearly, I recite one verse or statement over and over again, or when my cousin got shot, it was just "Dear Lord Jesus" over and over again...I don't think I had to say anything else, he knew what my heart meant.

I thank God for blessings, I shower Him with praises and compliments , I pray for other people, and I present my requests with prayer and petition.



Here's a followup question-How much time do you spend in prayer each day? That was on a church survey I completed recently...that's hard for me to judge, maybe 30minutes a day...sometimes more sometimes less, that doesn't really take into account the one liners during the day.

 

[EltonJohn]

Greetings fellow Christians, I am begining this thread to give Born Again Christians a place to fellowship with each other before and after their trip to Disneyland or Disneyworld. I am hoping the discussion will remain civil and there will be no Bashing of Christianity or Christ as seen on some of the other similar named threads. I received Christ into my heart some thirty years ago but only began my Christian Journey as a born again Christian Last August. I hope this thread will grow and flourish in the coming weeks. I would like to start off the thread with its first discussion. Has anyone read Rick Warrens "Purpose driven life" and would did you think of it? he seems like he has the gift of evangelism to me. what do you think?

Define "Born Again Christian".

 

[disneymom3]

Define "Born Again Christian".

There have been several answers to this question if you read the last several pages.

 

[Buckalew11]

Prayer. I think I'd like to learn more of what you talk about, WDWHound. It sounds interesting to me.
I often use the model prayer (The Lord's Prayer). Not word for word but idea by idea. I try to prayer very often throughout the day. Short prayers, long prayers, prayers of thanks, prayers of forgiveness, prayer requests. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Therefore, I believe that we are allowed to pray anytime, any place, about anything.
I have been made fun of even here about my praying about everything. Sorry folks. I'll either amuse you or you can make fun of me. I have no problem with either.

I believe that God is powerful, so caring, so all knowing that I can turn to Him with my biggest concern (such as the terminal cancer that my dad has) to the smallest thing (such as "finding a parking space"). The Bible tells me that I can go to God with ALL my concerns because He cares for me. I have "bothered" God with many a thing that many people would find trivial and yet, He has answered the prayer in some way even though it might seem trivial to most people.
I have always had a lot of faith in prayer. I talk to God just like I'd talk to anyone. I have cried out to Him, I've screamed at Him, I've begged Him, I've laughed with Him. I figure it is OK to really pour out my heart to God because if I'm really mad, He knows anyway so why fake a nice polite prayer?

I don't worry about the words I choose and how they sound or if I am praying "right". I believe one of the things the Holy Spirit does is to help my words be received to the Lord in right way.

I am a mother. My daughter knows she can come to me with anything. She is my child. I am God's child. I also know I can turn to Him with anything. I think that is the way God wants it (the relationship because God and His people).

I allow God to speak to me through His word. Some people like this method and some don't.

 

[Otto's Doll]

Prayer. I think I'd like to learn more of what you talk about, WDWHound. It sounds interesting to me.
I often use the model prayer (The Lord's Prayer). Not word for word but idea by idea. I try to prayer very often throughout the day. Short prayers, long prayers, prayers of thanks, prayers of forgiveness, prayer requests. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Therefore, I believe that we are allowed to pray anytime, any place, about anything.
I have been made fun of even here about my praying about everything. Sorry folks. I'll either amuse you or you can make fun of me. I have no problem with either.

I believe that God is powerful, so caring, so all knowing that I can turn to Him with my biggest concern (such as the terminal cancer that my dad has) to the smallest thing (such as "finding a parking space"). The Bible tells me that I can go to God with ALL my concerns because He cares for me. I have "bothered" God with many a thing that many people would find trivial and yet, He has answered the prayer in some way even though it might seem trivial to most people.
I have always had a lot of faith in prayer. I talk to God just like I'd talk to anyone. I have cried out to Him, I've screamed at Him, I've begged Him, I've laughed with Him. I figure it is OK to really pour out my heart to God because if I'm really mad, He knows anyway so why fake a nice polite prayer?

I don't worry about the words I choose and how they sound or if I am praying "right". I believe one of the things the Holy Spirit does is to help my words be received to the Lord in right way.

I am a mother. My daughter knows she can come to me with anything. She is my child. I am God's child. I also know I can turn to Him with anything. I think that is the way God wants it (the relationship because God and His people).

I allow God to speak to me through His word. Some people like this method and some don't.

I agree! I pray about everything, and pray often throughout the day. I do have a devotional time at night set aside specifically, but as for prayer... anytime I feel led, I pray.

 

[Albertan mom]

Wow, there is some big spiritual warfare going on on this Forum!
I have only been on the DIS for a couple of monthes, but has this ever happened before? I saw a thread on "Salvation question", then one on "Born again-what does that mean?", "Oijua boards" and of course the "Heathen thread"

I think the Heathen thread was made to mock this thread. But after reading a few pages of it, I see that there are people on there that are really searching. Lots of confusion. Lots of people have a bad taste in their mouths for Christians. Lots of questions. They are searching! So I am asking this. I would like every "Born Again Christian" on this thread to pray for one "Heathen" (their words-not mine!) Pick one person and pray for that person every day. Pray that they will get the answers they are looking for. Pray that they will be touched by a Christian person. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. Pray! Whenever they come to mind. And with prayer, I am hoping that they will one day come over and join our thread as a new "born again Christian!"
Thank you my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Who knew that this Forum would become a place to hopefully witness!

 

[jimmiej]

Define "Born Again Christian".

See post #142 for a possible answer.

 

[bytheblood]

I have always been curious why the Catholic Bible has additional books.

Anyway I use a NIV and KJV as my main Bibles.

Here is a website you can look at...
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/apocryph.htm

I will speak openly on this coming from a catholic background.

The Bible, the one that is recognized by Christians (Protestants if you will) was canonized in the 300s (335 AD I believe). It was in 1555 AD, 1225 years later, that the pope at the time (forget his name) added the apocrypha to the Bible that Christians (Protestants) use and called it original text. This text supports the catholic beliefs of purgatory, mary worship, praying to dead saints and a few other beliefs that the vatican teaches.

These books are rejected by Protestants because there is no support that these books were inspired by God. Also, the men that wrote these books are not beleived to have had any type of relationship or encounter with God, such as Paul, James, disciples, etc, therefore they are rejected as inspired text.

I hope that helps.

 

[WDWHound]

Prayer. I think I'd like to learn more of what you talk about, WDWHound. It sounds interesting to me.
I often use the model prayer (The Lord's Prayer). Not word for word but idea by idea. I try to prayer very often throughout the day. Short prayers, long prayers, prayers of thanks, prayers of forgiveness, prayer requests. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Therefore, I believe that we are allowed to pray anytime, any place, about anything.
I have been made fun of even here about my praying about everything. Sorry folks. I'll either amuse you or you can make fun of me. I have no problem with either.

I believe that God is powerful, so caring, so all knowing that I can turn to Him with my biggest concern (such as the terminal cancer that my dad has) to the smallest thing (such as "finding a parking space"). The Bible tells me that I can go to God with ALL my concerns because He cares for me. I have "bothered" God with many a thing that many people would find trivial and yet, He has answered the prayer in some way even though it might seem trivial to most people.
I have always had a lot of faith in prayer. I talk to God just like I'd talk to anyone. I have cried out to Him, I've screamed at Him, I've begged Him, I've laughed with Him. I figure it is OK to really pour out my heart to God because if I'm really mad, He knows anyway so why fake a nice polite prayer?

I don't worry about the words I choose and how they sound or if I am praying "right". I believe one of the things the Holy Spirit does is to help my words be received to the Lord in right way.

I am a mother. My daughter knows she can come to me with anything. She is my child. I am God's child. I also know I can turn to Him with anything. I think that is the way God wants it (the relationship because God and His people).

I allow God to speak to me through His word. Some people like this method and some don't.

Breanda,
You talk about crying, screaming, screaming, begging and laughing with God. I think you have found something I have only recently found, that you can bring EVERTHING to God. It sounds like you have found true honesty with God. I needed to understand some very extreme examples before I learned that lesson.

I learned this lesson a few years back from a minister who taught me about the Book of Psalms. So many of the Psalms are beautiful, peaceful and full of worship. At the same time, some Psalmist's wish for the violent, painful, destruction of their enemies, and this distrubed me a great deal. I couldnt understand how the book could contain such contrasts.

What this minisiter taught me was that the Psalms teach us how to bring EVERTHING to God. He knows about our angers, fears, joys, pains, and everything else, and offering all of it to him openly in prayer is simply being honest with him about what we feel. Sometimes these feelings are good, sometimes bad, but by bringing them all to God, we offer him the chance to to meet us where we are and to guide us to where we need to be.

What an amazing lord our God is. He meets us where we are, accepts honesty in prayer, and guides us to places we would never find on our own. Yet another gift without meausre from the one who gave his son for us.

 

[bytheblood]

OK, I've got a question for y'all. How do you pray?

You are so correct, prayer is much more than asking. Prayer is not a get on your knees on Sunday ordeal, nor is it a God - I'm in trouble bit. Prayer is more like relationship to me. I am in constant communication with God. Thanking Him for small things, thanking Him for the big things, praising Him for His gifts, love, salvation, sending His Son to die on a dirty tree for my filthy sin, thanking Him for saving me from me..asking Him to show me His will and to lead me away from those things that would place me in bondage..quick prayers for those who may be involved in an accident, prayer for my unsaved family, prayer for the people on the prayer chain at church, prayer for my pastor, prayer for our president, praise for keeping my daughter safe from somebody who would hurt her, prayer for my husband that he would come to know Jesus as I do, prayer for anything.

I believe the Holy Spirit, as our intercessor, knows what we need and what we are really praying for. He is God and understands our prayers, so even when I am not praying right, He knows and completes the work. After all, it is not about me, it is about Him.

There are times when I do pray and these are serious prayers, where I drop down on my knees or even feel the need to lay with my face as low to the ground as possible.

 

[WDWHound]

Wow, there is some big spiritual warfare going on on this Forum!
I have only been on the DIS for a couple of monthes, but has this ever happened before? I saw a thread on "Salvation question", then one on "Born again-what does that mean?", "Oijua boards" and of course the "Heathen thread"

I think the Heathen thread was made to mock this thread. But after reading a few pages of it, I see that there are people on there that are really searching. Lots of confusion. Lots of people have a bad taste in their mouths for Christians. Lots of questions. They are searching! So I am asking this. I would like every "Born Again Christian" on this thread to pray for one "Heathen" (their words-not mine!) Pick one person and pray for that person every day. Pray that they will get the answers they are looking for. Pray that they will be touched by a Christian person. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. Pray! Whenever they come to mind. And with prayer, I am hoping that they will one day come over and join our thread as a new "born again Christian!"
Thank you my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Who knew that this Forum would become a place to hopefully witness!

Regarding the Heathen thread, I think most of the people there are simply being honest about what they feel. Yes, the sarcastic humor can seem demeaning, but if you get a chance to get to know most of the folks who use such humor, you will usually discover that they don't mean to deeply insult. Those of faith approach the world very differently than those who do not beleive in God. This leads to a very different understanding (or misunderstandings) of the things that motavates both groups, and the misunderstandings sometimes lead to sarcasm.

In short, I don't see it as warfare. Rather I see it as a chance for us to understand each other, and that is the most important componant of loving each other, which in turn is what Jesus tells us is one of the most important things we can do.

 

[bytheblood]

I would like every "Born Again Christian" on this thread to pray for one "Heathen" (their words-not mine!) Pick one person and pray for that person every day. Pray that they will get the answers they are looking for. Pray that they will be touched by a Christian person. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. Pray! Whenever they come to mind. And with prayer, I am hoping that they will one day come over and join our thread as a new "born again Christian!"
Thank you my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Who knew that this Forum would become a place to hopefully witness!

Funny you say that, I was thinking that in my car on the way to work this morning and prayed the follwing.......

Heavenly Father, I humbly ask that you would use the words of your children who hang out on the Disboards to plant seeds of Your words and Your truth into the minds and hearts of non-believers. I pray that Holy Spirit, You would work in the hearts of those who have not yet accepted Jesus and show them that they can be free and that through Your Grace Lord, there is a beautiful eternity waiting for them. I ask Father, that you would use each and every one of us according to Your will to accomplish Your will that You many be honored and glorified. I pray this in the name of Your precious Son, my Lord, Christ Jesus. Amen.

I would ask that you all pray as well. If only one comes to Christ, it is worth it.

 

[Praise2Him]

Great idea, Albertan mom! I had not looked at that thread, but at your suggestion I went over there and scanned through it and chose a person to pray for.
I'm really enjoying reading this thread.
In Him,
Lisa

 

[ktink]

I talk to God like I'm talking to my best friend, slang and all.

Sometimes I just read scripture alound or recite verses.

Sometimes when I'm scared and can't focus or think clearly, I recite one verse or statement over and over again, or when my cousin got shot, it was just "Dear Lord Jesus" over and over again...I don't think I had to say anything else, he knew what my heart meant.

I thank God for blessings, I shower Him with praises and compliments , I pray for other people, and I present my requests with prayer and petition.



Here's a followup question-How much time do you spend in prayer each day? That was on a church survey I completed recently...that's hard for me to judge, maybe 30minutes a day...sometimes more sometimes less, that doesn't really take into account the one liners during the day.

I tend to do the same things that you mentioned. I just find talking to God as a comfort regardless of what emotion I'm bringing to him, so I talk to him like I talk to my family and friends. I can also remember being a young child and being afraid of thunderstorms, my mama taught me Isiah 12:2, "I will trust and not be afraid" So many times throughout life when I feel frightened about anything I will recite that verse. God is so good and helps us through so much.

 

[bytheblood]

I talk to God like I'm talking to my best friend, slang and all.

I do that, too. I do not feel like I have to try to get all formal when I talk to God. I find it comical when people say, "You have to be exact, formal and thorough with your prayers or God will not know who you are talking about." I am like, uuummm.....isn't He ALL KNOWING? If I pray for Juanita, but don't give a last name, God knows who Juanita with cancer is that is who I am talking about.

If I tried to pray like a KJV writer, I would feel so phoney. Dearest Lord, I pray to Thee in Thouest Holy Name.....could you imagine ......