Posted on 05/04/2007 5:46:36 AM PDT by Saundra Duffy
That's wonderful Saundra! How long have you been a member?
Thank you, Saundra, for sharing your story. Sounds like you had a confusing experience!
I would say that a church that says you need to keep getting “saved” over and over is out of line with Christian doctrine. Yes, once saved, always saved is true.
If a church says that speaking in tongues is of the devil, I would say that is out of line too, as the Bible clearly lists it among the spiritual gifts. But it is not a necessary gift, some people have it and some don’t, as it is with the other gifts.
I think the issue of healing is confusing, but I would say that if a church teaches that it is always God’s will to be healed, and that if you don’t get healed it is a lack of faith, that is out of line too. I think most Christians would say that God heals when it is his will to heal, and if he doesn’t then it is not the person’s fault or lack of faith...but perhaps God has some higher reason for not healing in that particular instance. His thought are higher than our thoughts. I can see how it would be difficult to see someone in a wheelchair not get healed, while someone with a headache claims to get healed (who knows if they really did or not, as they may not have wanted to be accused of having a lack of faith in that situation).
That’s interesting that you were with YWAM, and were sent to “save” other Christians? I don’t know a lot about YWAM, although I do have an aquaintance who works with them. What exactly were you commissioned to do in the churches where you served? I’d be interested to know.
Yes I can see how it would make you feel sick to hear preachers contradicting each other. I have to say that there is a lot of crap out there...preachers and teachers who grieve the Holy Spirit by making people feel guilty or feel they are lacking in faith or what have you. That’s why Jesus got so angry with the Pharisees. They put burdens on people, while Jesus says his yoke is easy and his burden is light. That is why the Bible tells us to be discerning, to test the spirits, to be careful about false teachers and prophets.
I am sorry you had such a confusing experience in Christian churches. I don’t have any easy answers for you. I guess in my experience, I have used my intellect, the Bible, and spiritual discernment to test what is true and what isn’t true when it comes to individual teachers and churches. I do believe the Holy Spirit will help make things clear to us in our minds and hearts if we ask for wisdom. Thanks again for sharing your story!
So how to you know when the Lord is talking to you?
What is it that convert you to your faith?
I don’t think you should vote for Mitt Romney. You should vote for Hillary Clinton; now there’s a good example of a Christian. She would be so much better as President of the United States than Mitt Romney. She’s not a Mormon.
“Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. That’s my Jesus.”
But Adam was also apparently a God, and eve just one of many wives. The conundrum, who to worship?
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is not a feeling. I have faith in our Heavenly Father, in His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost.
“Duncan Hunter is the true blue conservative in the race.”
I think the best he can do is VP to Thompson. But that would give us possibly a 16 year run, so I could settle for that.
Bill Clinton is southern Baptist. Although Romney is a johnny come lately convert to the prolife movement, and at least on paper shares our values. you have to admit you would hold your nose and vote for him over Billary. Duncan Hunter however is the best choice out there and only true blue conservative. A real bulldog conservative. Sheesh
“If that were true, then they would believe it possible for Orthodox Christians to go to heaven.”
FC, we have explained this time and time again. You have failed to hear us.
We believe that the Celestial Kingdom - what you refer to as “heaven” - is attainable to EVERYBODY who follows Christ as best as they know how. Be that person Mormon, Orthodox Christian, Muslim, or pagan Bushman.
God judges us according to the desires of our hearts, not the knowledge of our minds.
“appreciated the pro LDS posters gentle thoughtful responses.”
Calling me a bigot, with loony grey matter, and an empty skull, along with two half ass threats to have me banned, lead me to believe your reading skills are a bit lacking.
Thompson hasn’t entered the race. I wouldn’t have to hold my nose to vote for him.
seem like you are needling Saundra!
“His thought are higher than our thoughts.”
Amen to that.
Oh, you asked about what YWAMers were doing in Belize. Actually, we were supposed to help the Christians there to be better Christians (among other things). For example, we were to lead Bible studies but I felt silly leading them in Bible study when they were better Christians than I. Also, one time a YWAM team came and I asked if they would help with Vacation Bible School over in the village. The leader said they’d pray about it. I remember thinking, “What’s to pray about?!” Sure enough, next day, she told me they prayed and the Lord said “no”. I was horrified and I told her that she was full of crap that the Lord would never have said no to that.
Anyway, we struggled with the Vacation Bible School and we had 100 kids show up but it was a glorious experience!! I let the Belizean Christian women do the leading and I did what they told me to do. It worked out fine but the experience with the YWAM team left a bad taste in my mouth to this day.
Sheeeesh.
SD, as a born-and-raised member, I am always fascinated by the experiences of those who find the Church later in life; I think part of it is because I wonder how I would have reacted to the Church if I hadn’t been raised in it.
Without getting uncomfortably personal, what about the Church attracted you? Why did you find it preferable over the faiths in which you’d been raised and nurtured?
“You should vote for Hillary Clinton; now there’s a good example of a Christian. “
Actually, she is quite an evil woman who falsely claims to be Christian but believes she is a God. Oh wait, that sounds like Romney.
At least with Hillary, she will be opposed face to face - everyone knows she is flawed.
But don’t gripe to me, gripe to the 5 million evangelicals who will stay home.
Needling? I hadn’t noticed.
Thompson also has a nice piece of arm candy. I love him on Law and Order
“But Adam was also apparently a God, and eve just one of many wives.”
Ah, the “Adam-God” theory. Haven’t seen that one in a while. Pity, too; I researched it pretty thoroughly.
Suffice it to say, that rumor is derived from a single out-of-context (probably mis-transcribed) quote from Brigham Young, despite the fact that he taught precisely the opposite on several occasions.
Really?
Is that an inappropriate question? If so, I am sorry.
Reminds me of the flawed logic when conservatives failed to vote for zschou over cranston. They stayed home. Guess what? Cranston led the fight against Robert Bork. Zman woul d have at least voted for Bork and roe V. wade would have been overturned. Can you honestly tell me you would rather have hillary appoint supreme court nominees than Romney. Really?Romney bites don’t get me wrong, but stay home and let hillary or obama win. Doesn’t make sense to me. Thompson hunter 08 it does have a nice ring to it.
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