Despite her revulsion at Pat Robertson's comments, they are indeed generally accurate in the overall sense (with witchcraft being rebellion), but even abortionists and communists can value hospitality, and show some sacrifice and integrity.
Nor are all those who protest "gay" parades part of Fred Phelps' tribe, or make it wrong.
But she was also valued morality, and was a seeker, and if one obeys the light they have, more will be given, and confronted with the reality of Hell, she did not rationalize it away, but being called of God, she found Him.
Note that while God promises understanding after obedience, this is not blind faith, but a step of faith for which God has provided some warrant, and which step is confirmed.
And in being drawn of God, He used believers who geuninley cared for her as a whole person, which is what Christian love does, and a church which was not mostly ritual, but relationship.
None of which is contrary to confrontational evangelism, if done out of a heart that genuinely cares for souls, but not simply for their soul, though that must be primary and salvation and sanctification the goal.
Ping: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/january-february/my-train-wreck-conversion.html?paging=off
I continue to be alarmed by the ongoing contempt/hatred of Christianity from individuals I thought I knew. Fortunately, Christianity has a built-in firewall that helps manage one’s reaction to such revelations. Whenever provided, the reasons for the contempt are not reflective of Christ, but of flawed cultural messaging and perceptions.
thanks for the post. great job pastor ken, gently making that small opening for Him.
What a powerful testimony.
Eternal Salvation comes somewhat disguised in a plain brown wrapper...
Rejected by the intellectuals and the wealthy, but grabbed on to as a life preserver by the failing, the poor, the destitute and other less fortunate souls in this incarnation.
The last shall be first and the first shall be last...
I accepted Jesus as a matter of fact when I was a child. As I grew up to many things made me rethink his existence. To many facts are missing,, undocumented, and lacking and form of proof.
NOT one document was EVER survived or even mentioned where as enough writings of everyone else of any importance has survived. Jesus was not even mentioned by anyone with the exception of Paul and the Disciples, and THAT only occurred over two Decades after his was supposedly crucified.
Even Herod’s records of crucifixions make no mention of Christ or anyone but criminals, political enemies, captured soldiers but no religious profits.
Nor is there any mention anywhere that Jesus EVER wrote - period. It is also noted that NONE of his disciples were ever capable of writing. No scribes were ever mentioned which many illiterate (most were so).
Only Paul wrote but 1. he was not a disciple, 2. He was a Roman Citizen and well educated in Greek and other languages. His writings are prolific.
I have become closer to the fact that there is definitely a God. I see it not only in everything around me but also in the actual evolution of mankind and every creature on this planet.
Jesus may have existed. I can’t say - but his teachings (or whoever originated the concepts attributed to him), definitely were extremely important to mankind.
I was a Buddhist right up to the moment I became a Christian. I had seen Christian treat each other (and myself) incredibly poorly and decided, if that was what it meant to be a Christian, I wanted none of it.
I’m now a worship leader/music director at a church in north Phoenix and have self-produced two CD of original Christian songs. God has such a sense of humor. The fact that He’s let me live is proof!
This article doesn't go into it, but this had to have cost her everything she valued at that time.
Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
Some entities are not on the excerpt list...Christianity Today is one of the ones not there.
So the whole article can be posted.
You can always check on This Thread (<---click there) to see if a particular newspaper or website is on the must excerpt list.
This is the hardest part for some to cross. I have said "If you're not going to believe what he says, why should he talk to you?" But this hasn't always "worked"--they can't do it somehow. Sometimes I think the less said, the better.
Interesting what a google search can turn up.
She mentioned Syracuse in the article and I began so suspect that she lived in Syracuse, otherwise, she would not have been able to establish a friendship easily with the pastor and his wife.
That led me to suspect Syracuse University as her place of employment.
Sure enough......
http://www.ipcsav.org/article/false-identity/
“At the age of 28 years, Rosaria was finishing a PhD in English Literature & Cultural Studies and working as a teaching associate in the Women’s Studies Department at Syracuse University, one of the strongest such departments in the nation. “
Ultimately it is always about attraction rather than promotion. By living the Word, Pastor Ken and his wife Floy showed what a Christian walk looks like. An amazing story thanks for sharing it
Wow! What wonderful testimony. Lot’s of lessons in that story.
Like every blessed conversion. Praise be to God for His grace and mercy.
And...it's good to know she's going to a Reformed church. ;O)
It’s called “irresistible grace”.
Interesting that she is now a pastor’s wife in a Presbyterian denomination that practices the regulative principle of worship, i.e., exclusive psalmody without instruments. Definitely a world that’s a far cry from the left-wing/feminist/lesbian one she used to inhabit.
God’s grace is freakin awesome !!!
A powerful testimony to the power of Jesus to change lives.
I’m reading her book right now. Very moving.
Marvin Olasky Interview with Rosaria Butterfield; January 11, 2013 Youtube, an hour
Conversations that Matter: Homosexuality & the Christian Faith Q&A . Youtube 1.5 hour
Tin Challies and David Murray podcast: The Testimony of an Unlikely Convert, audio, a half hour.
Carl Trueman Much Better Than the Daily Mail
Third, it shows how conversion often does not immediately solve problems. Butterfield's description of the impact of her conversion is 'comprehensive chaos.' It shattered her career, her network of friends, her reputation with those she loved. It left her confused and at times lonely and depressed. This is no Hallmark Channel production; it is raw and real, chaotic and messy.
Fourth, for those satisfied with the broad evangelical type of reformed evangelicalism, it is a paean to the delights of deeply rooted, confessional Reformed Christianity. For instance, Butterfield's knowledge of social and critical theory means that she understands at a profound level how world-view communities are formed, how the intricate network of ideas, social conventions and narratives combine to forge identity and outlook. It reminded me of why I am myself a 'sectarian' as some have said, and happy to operate in a small, culturally irrelevant denomination. I need roots, I need stable, biblically based, historically tested and ecclesiastically responsible theology. That is what confessional churches provide. And only such provide.
Carl Truman is always worth reading.
Book is on order.