My Train Wreck Conversion..., I despised Christians. Then I somehow became one.

Christianity Today ^ | 2/7/2013 9:26AM | Rosaria Champagne Butterfield

[daniel1212]

The word Jesus stuck in my throat like an elephant tusk; no matter how hard I choked, I couldn't hack it out. Those who professed the name commanded my pity and wrath.

I began researching the Religious Right..

Ken Smith encouraged me to explore the kind of questions I admire:

Ken and his wife, Floy, and I became friends.

I started reading the Bible. I read the way a glutton devours.

I counted the costs. And I did not like the math on the other side..

Then, one ordinary day, I came to Jesus, openhanded..

[Elsie]

I said, "Die, heretic scum", and pushed him off.

We do things a bit differently here in central Indiana...

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013130208021

[huldah1776]

I just read a list of the 10 worst books ever printed in the world, cause of mass genocide. (2008 list) the responses of the public were mostly - Why isn’t the Bible #1? More people have been killed because of it than any other book! (it isn’t on the list—neither is the Torah or the Koran)

It is public education-—PERIOD.

[Notary Sojac]

Nothing is claimed for Socrates other than that he was a guy who ran a school, taught ideas that the government held subversive, and as a result was forced to kill himself.

So if he was merely a character who was made up in order to expound philosophical doctrine, it really makes no difference. The doctrine itself can still stand or fall on its own merits.

On the other hand, if it were claimed by Plato that Socrates was born of a virgin, performed many miracles, and survived the grave, we would all rightly demand far more proof, or more likely reject the account out of hand as a fiction.

In the end, all the arguments you make rest upon the historical accuracy of the New Testament, and very little else. You are of course entitled to accept that, and I respect your decision to do so.

But for me, I find that C.S. Lewis' "trilemma" (later expanded on - poorly - by Lee Strobel, whom I doubt was ever an atheist) fails to consider a fourth option. Jesus - Liar, Lord, Lunatic, or Incorrectly Reported.

[HarleyD]

LOL!!!! :o)

[huldah1776]

Yup, you have to step out of the boat ONTO the water...

[stansblugrassgrl]

I’m sure Buddhists have done the same thing. I’ve heard of Buddhists committing murder. Obviously, they are not walking the Buddhist walk. In it’s purest form, Buddhism is a philosophy. It doesn’t require belief in God, and especially, Jesus. It was Jesus I had the conflict with. No more. Now, I know what people mean about a personal relationship with Christ.

[Lee N. Field]

Actually; it does...

I was a broken mess. I did not want to lose everything that I loved. But the voice of God sang a sanguine love song in the rubble of my world.

In the context of the article, I took that to mean, she anticipated at the time of her crisis and conversion that she would probably loose what she loved.

[stansblugrassgrl]

Bellflower, I wasn’t aware that anyone had responded to my post until this morning. I read your post about coming to the Lord. It was beautiful.

I agree with you about the old hymns. I love them, too. Actually, I love a bunch of different types of music. I play such a wide variety, when my bass player first start playing with me, he said our style is schizophrenic.

As the worship leader/music director of our church, I draw from a wide variety of sources for our song service - hymns, gospel, CCM, and some times, secular sources. I think it’s important to have the song service and the sermon complement each other, enhancing the message of God through music and word.

One of my favorite songs to sing is “Closer Walk With Thee”. I learned it right after my conversion to Christianity, borrowing from the country swing style of Pasty Cline.

Here is a list of songs for our service tomorrow:

I’ll Fly Away (Albert Brumley, country gospel)
Here I am (old blues songs)
Above All (CCM)
Jesus Paid It All (hymn)
To Canaan’s Land (country gospel)
I Don’t Want To Get Adjusted To This World (country gospel - I love this song)
Peace Give I To Thee (70’s Jesus Movement song, I think)
There’s Something About That Name (Gaithers)

Last week, we had many more CCM songs then we do this week, but God gave us many voices. Why just listen to the radio and hear only a few?

Now, I’ll get off of my soap box. My web site is http://www.kandkband.com There are several videos of solo and band music. As a band we play at a lot of secular events. As Christians, we always bring in gospel music. It’s amazing how people respond to it out in the world. They don’t know they are missing it, until we start to play something. Some people get turned off. Those are a small minority.

I thank God that He kept me around because I can use the gift He gave me to give back a little bit. We’re having a ball!

[Lee N. Field]

Don't forget also, Jesus came to the synagogue at Capernaum, and was given the scroll of the book of Isaiah, for him to read from.

I think a lot more people were literate in the Roman world, that many people assume.

[ReformationFan]

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.

[metmom]

Now, I know what people mean about a personal relationship with Christ.

It doesn't make any sense until you have it.

Then you you GET IT!!!

And Praise God for it.

[stansblugrassgrl]

It’s the best thing EVER.

[Lee N. Field]

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.

More to the RPW than exclusive psalmody. (Which is arguable, but not here and now.)

I think I'd like to read her book.

Definitely a world that’s a far cry from the left-wing/feminist/lesbian one she used to inhabit.

OH, true that.

[Nifster]

Can’t argue with that

[SuziQ]

Many Jewish men knew how to read, if only the Torah, because they would have had to do so in order to go through the rituals of becoming a man in the religion.

[Syncro]

"...software state(ed) CT could only be 100 words"

Hmmm, interesting.

It could be that it has been added as excerpt and link only (and not added to the "list" thread yet), and CT demands no more than 100.

Some sites won't allow for FR to even post anything from them, some only allow a title and link. This attitude only hurts them.

[thecodont]

Books were in short supply, so they were carefully stored and shared.

Each “house of study” (synagogue) had its own copies of the holy writings. Adult believers would go there to ask for a copy of the stored scrolls to study and discuss.

[SuziQ]

Yeah, I get annoyed at Christmas when Joseph and Mary are depicted as destitute and homeless, when they arrive in Bethlehem for Jesus's birth. Joseph was a skilled craftsman, so it's likely they were not destitute. When they arrive in Bethlehem, they are not 'homeless'; they have a home in Nazareth. It would be as though someone arrived in a decent sized city during a large event, and there were no rooms in any hotels. That doesn't make them homeless, just not able to find a room for the night.

I know why folks compare the Holy Family to the poor and homeless; it's a 'Social Justice' thing, but it's very annoying.

[thecodont]

If a Christian believes and it turns out they were wrong, no downside.

If an atheist is wrong, the downside is HUGE!

Choose wisely....

Pascal's wager.

[metmom]

Call it what you will.

It’s still true.