Posted on 09/13/2013 7:17:47 PM PDT by jodyel
You are listening to Search the Scriptures Daily, a radio ministry of The Berean Call. Still ahead, Dave and Tom continue their weekly in-depth study of the doctrine of salvation, please stay with us.
CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH
In this regular feature Dave and Tom respond to questions from listeners and readers of The Berean Call. Here is this week’s question:
Dear Dave and Tom: I have friends who are conservative Roman Catholics, and they just went through the experience of seeing their daughter become a Roman Catholic Buddhist. I know that sounds like a contradiction in terms but it’s literally true. Since you both know a lot about Roman Catholicism, I wondered if you could give me some insights that I could share with them because they are quite shaken over their daughter’s conversion. This may be an opportunity to share the gospel with them as they are truly questioning their faith. Thank you for your help.
(Excerpt) Read more at thebereancall.org ...
Right on, Dude!
When I was living in Michigan, a good friend I worked with was Buddhist and I used to tease her all the time about the chanting saying “Rang me, hang me.” She didn’t think it all that funny but I did. Love her to bits but she is still searching.
Now I live about three miles from a Buddhist temple in the boonies near DFW and they rent that sucker out to all the Mexicans and anyone else who wants to partay. Can hear the music blasting from that far away. Drove by it one night and the cops were there with their decibel readers (not sure that is what they are called) making sure the volume was not breaking the city noise code. I have never understood the need to listen to something so loud it can be heard 3 miles away. Guess I don’t know what I am missing. lol
Thanks for your posts, JSDude1.
“Roman Catholic Male Lesbian”
Wow, that is a new one to me!
“RCC wiped out”
Now THAT is a telling phrase!
There is another article on the same site that mentions how Catholics can only argue history.
http://www.thebereancall.org/content/why-are-evangelicals-turning-catholic
“Tom, I could give you—I’ve debated two or three of them—and one of the reasons they give—Well, I went to the church fathers. You want to know what Christianity is, get back as close as you can to the apostles and see what the church fathers—why, it seems to me they were Catholics. I mean, they had this ritual, and they had that, they believed in the real presence, and the Eucharist, and so forth. Well then, I think I had better become a Catholic too. ******That’s really the basis, not the basis of truth, Tom, not the basis of sound doctrine, but the basis of history. You remember when I debated Karl Keating, we offer that debate, and the debate was “Which is the True Church ?” Is the Catholic Church the true church? He was really upset with me because I didn’t go to history.***** I say you want to know what the true church is, go to the Bible.”
“It is certainly possible to be Buddhist while also being Christian”
Um no, it is not. Bible believing, born-again, Spirit-filled Christians are just that and do not incorporate anything from any other false religion.
And I am afraid you do not know much about Christianity.
I’m pretty sure that was meant to be a joke making fun of the oxymoronic notion of a “Roman Catholic Buddhist” and not a provocation against Catholics per se... there was no need to ping JR about that.
Where did they get personal?
Sorry, I don’t see it.
He did not. Carmelites practice meditation and contemplation. Read the works of St. John of the Cross or St. Teresa of Avila, both Doctors of the Church.
Here's a good reference to Carmelite spirituality and contemplation, from the Discalced Carmelites of Australia: Sprituality
http://www.openbible.info/topics/suffering
What does the Bible say about Suffering?
Romans 5:3-5 ESV
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
James 1:2-4 ESV
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
1 Peter 5:10 ESV
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Romans 8:18 ESV
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
1 Peter 4:12-19 ESV
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. ...
Just a few of the 58 verses on suffering in Scripture.
Avoiding suffering is not Biblical.
ah, No.
Interesting....I have never been meditating when the Lord has spoken to me.
I have, however, been reading my bible and praying and have been answered in some of the following ways:
http://www.intouch.org/you/bible-studies/content?topic=how_god_reveals_his_will_study
How God Reveals His Will
The Father always wants the best for His children. So when we begin to wander from the center of His will, He acts to recapture our attention and protect us from harm. If necessary, God will move heaven and earth to show us His will. He speaks directly to our hearts through the Holy Spirit, but also has other ways to get our attention:
1. A restless spirit
Read Esther 6:1-10. How did God direct the king to honor Mordecai?
If you experience inner restlessness—connected to dissatisfaction with the status quo—first make sure you aren’t ignoring an area of sin. Then ask the Lord if He’s trying to say something to you.
Think about the last time you experienced a major life change—for instance, changing jobs, moving to a new area of Christian service, or entering a season of rest. Did God speak to you through restlessness?
2. A spoken word
God also gets our attention through the wisdom of others.
From what two sources did Eli learn that his sons would die (1 Sam. 2:22-36; 3:1-18)? Why were they cut down in the prime of life?
If several people in a short span of time tell you the same thing, ask the Lord if He’s speaking through them. For example, sometimes a message at church, a radio sermon, and a friend’s advice will be similar.
Why do you think God often gives the same message in multiple ways? What has He been saying to you lately?
3. An unusual blessing
To get our attention, God may show His favor in unexpected ways.
What prompted one Roman jailer to ask how he could be saved (Acts 16:16-34)?
The jailer recognized that supernatural power was at work, and his experience prepared him to become a follower of Christ. God can also use things such as financial provision, the beauty of nature, or the birth of a child to awaken people spiritually.
What types of blessings renew your desire to seek the Lord wholeheartedly?
4. Unanswered prayer
Sometimes God will answer a prayer with “No.” He may want to deal with sin or misplaced priorities. Or He may have something more important in store for us.
What did the Lord eventually reveal to Paul about why God did not remove his “thorn” (2 Cor. 12:9-10)?
Think of an unanswered prayer from your life—either one that was eventually fulfilled or one that remains unanswered. What has the Father done in you as a result?
5. Disappointment
When the nation of Israel refused God’s command to take possession of the Promised Land, they were judged for unbelief. Through disappointment, the Lord got their attention.
How were they punished for failing to trust God (Num. 14:27-32)? Describe the people’s reaction when they heard what their punishment would be (Num. 14:39-40).
In a similar way, God may use setbacks to keep us from charting our own course. Give an example of how the Father has used a disappointment to draw you closer to Himself.
6. Extraordinary circumstances
The Creator can use unusual phenomena to get our attention.
To attract Moses, God used a burning bush that was not consumed by fire (Ex. 3:1-22). Based on the future leader’s reaction to the Lord’s command, why do you think God chose to get his attention this way instead of simply speaking to him (Ex. 4:1-16)?
We must learn to look for the presence of God in our daily lives. He leaves his footprints and handiwork all around us.
What types of extraordinary circumstances has the Lord used in your life?
7. Defeat
God may use defeat to show us the truth.
Why did the Israelite army lose the battle at Ai (Josh. 7:7-12)?
Even defeat can be a steppingstone to success when we pray, “Lord, what are You saying? Help me see where I have taken a wrong turn.” (See Romans 8:28-29.)
Choose a time when you failed—lost a job, made a mistake, ruined a relationship, etc. How did the Father use that experience for your spiritual growth?
8. Tragedy, sickness, and financial troubles
We should regard our afflictions as reasons to ask the Lord, “What are You trying to tell me?”
What was God’s purpose in Hezekiah’s illness (2 Chron. 32:24)?
Why did the Father allow the Midianites to devastate His people’s land (Judg. 6:3-6)?
God wants to speak to us in the midst of hardship—even if our troubles have no connection to sin. He will impart new wisdom, show how to overcome despite suffering, or give fresh revelations about Himself.
If you are facing adversity right now, ask the Lord what He wants you to learn in this season.
See my post 93.
It was actually to draw attention to the fact that Catholicism is a false religion and combining elements of Buddhism only shows it up for what is really is....false.
Like I said, he cratered his own argument.
Catholics may well practice meditation but born-again, Spirit-filled bible believers do not.
Therein lies the difference.
The practice of meditation comes from Eastern religions and is not biblical.
If a Buddhist told you that the sky was blue, would you agree with him?
Do you see my point? The reason to believe anything is because it is true.
Jesus is truth. To deny truth is to deny Christ.
If a Buddhist or a Protestant tells me something that is true, I should agree. And if a Buddhist, Protestant or Catholic tells me something that is false, I should disagree.
Both of you make the same false assumption, that not just salvation, but all knowledge, is to be found in the Bible, or in a direct relationship with heaven. (Some Muslims say the same thing about the Koran.)
As far as salvation goes, that may very well be correct. But salvation is not “all knowledge”, almost all of which has little or nothing to do with salvation.
The miniscule fraction of knowledge that has to do with Christianity and Christ may indeed be key, whether it is common knowledge or direct knowledge. But that does not mean that it is all knowledge of value or usefulness.
Most of Christianity recognizes this fact, and tolerates children being taught vast amounts of knowledge in addition to their faith, seeing it as not contradictory, but complementary to their faith. A person may be a garage mechanic, a surgeon, a cook, or even a banjo player, and still be a good Christian.
And likewise, Christians are free to learn knowledge that was developed by atheists, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, and others, which if excluding the religious principles of these other faiths, may prove useful, without offending heaven or their faith.
Perhaps instead of acupuncture, of which many Christians are still dubious, how about more universal knowledge, such as herbalism? Specifically authorized in the Bible, the majority of the herbalism in the world has long been associated with Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, etc., and was deeply intertwined in their religions.
Does a Christian refuse to use a medicinal herb mentioned in the Bible, because that same herb is used extensively by pagans and other religions? So what about the hundreds of other herbs not mentioned in the Bible that they use for religious purposes?
A Christian is no less a Christian when they stay limber into old age by using yoga. Nor are they less a Christian when they defend themselves and their families with kung-fu. Christians can even play that “devil instrument” the saxophone, which still retaining their righteousness.
Post #47 was making the thread "about" the other poster ... "you’re delusional"
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.