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“evangelical Christianity, which I held in particular contempt” [Kirsten Powers]
Legal Insurrection ^ | November 3, 2013 | Professor William A. Jacobson

Posted on 11/03/2013 10:31:56 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Kirsten Powers in Christianity Today:

Just seven years ago, if someone had told me that I’d be writing for Christianity Today magazine about how I came to believe in God, I would have laughed out loud. If there was one thing in which I was completely secure, it was that I would never adhere to any religion — especially to evangelical Christianity, which I held in particular contempt….

I remember walking into the Bible study. I had a knot in my stomach. In my mind, only weirdoes and zealots went to Bible studies. I don’t remember what was said that day. All I know is that when I left, everything had changed. I’ll never forget standing outside that apartment on the Upper East Side and saying to myself, “It’s true. It’s completely true.” The world looked entirely different, like a veil had been lifted off it. I had not an iota of doubt. I was filled with indescribable joy.

The horror of the prospect of being a devout Christian crept back in almost immediately. I spent the next few months doing my best to wrestle away from God. It was pointless. Everywhere I turned, there he was. Slowly there was less fear and more joy. The Hound of Heaven had pursued me and caught me—whether I liked it or not.

(VIDEO-AT-LINK)


TOPICS: Current Events; Evangelical Christian; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: bornagain; christianity; christians; jesus; kirstenpowers; liberalmedia; salvation; saved; skeptics; timkeller
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But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.~Matthew 19:26
1 posted on 11/03/2013 10:31:57 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
HAHAHA!! God got another one! Same thing happened to me: just going along w/life & BLAM! THE BIBLE IS TRUE!!! IT'S ALL TRUE!!!; trying to go back or hide, etc.
2 posted on 11/03/2013 10:37:40 PM PST by Darteaus94025 (Phony President)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Amen.

Hopefully she will become a mighty voice.


3 posted on 11/03/2013 10:55:11 PM PST by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

i pray everyone currently against us has this experience, and becomes a part of the body of Christ.

we know God says He’s gonna get everyone who truly wants to be.


4 posted on 11/03/2013 10:59:57 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Interesting.


5 posted on 11/03/2013 11:16:29 PM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Her Pastor, Tim Keller, is pretty impressive. Mrs. Submareener and I listened to this Sermon on Exclusivity: How can there be just one true religion? and it put the Gospel in a perspective we had not heard before.
6 posted on 11/03/2013 11:24:59 PM PST by SubMareener (Save us from Quarterly Freepathons! Become a MONTHLY DONOR!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

If God could reach ME, then he could reach anyone. Where would I be without the love of Jesus? I dare not contemplate that. He is so good!


7 posted on 11/04/2013 12:12:01 AM PST by 60Gunner (Fight with your head high, or grovel with your head low.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
All I know is that when I left, everything had changed. I’ll never forget standing outside that apartment on the Upper East Side and saying to myself, “It’s true. It’s completely true.” The world looked entirely different, like a veil had been lifted off it. I had not an iota of doubt. I was filled with indescribable joy.

Yep! That's how it happens. The veil is lifted off - the Holy Spirit opens eyes and hearts to the truth of the gospel of the grace of God through Jesus Christ. He knows those who are His and they hear His voice and follow Him and He gives to them eternal life, they shall NEVER perish and He will never cast them out or lose even one.

8 posted on 11/04/2013 12:24:08 AM PST by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: SubMareener
I have attended Redeemer several times. Wonderful services with Christ centered preaching.

This is not the place for you if you want organs and robes. That being said hymns are sung, with a jazzy tune. At 50 I was one of the oldest folks attending. Most people were in their 20s and 30s. It was great to see how God was working in New York.

Look for Tim Keller on YouTube. There are a couple of powerful lectures he delivered at Berkley and the Google campus.

9 posted on 11/04/2013 12:31:14 AM PST by Gamecock (Many Atheists take the stand: "There is no God AND I hate Him.")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

That’s what it is.

I couldn’t figure out why she was so attractive and at least made sense when I heard her on tv.

Good for her.


10 posted on 11/04/2013 1:23:50 AM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

sniff....OMG....I had no idea she turned into a Christian!! Powerful.


11 posted on 11/04/2013 1:45:58 AM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion......the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I do not find her account of her conversion to be remarkable but typical. That does not imply that it is not an occasion for rejoicing it is only to say that her spiritual journey is one last has been replicated often.

Since this is a political forum, it is appropriate to remark that I had thought for some time that I was watching someone moving to the right politically when I watched her on TV. She often conceded that the left was wrong and sought to make a distinction which was plausible but not of standard talking points.

Finally, I find her observation that she is entitled to no credit for "courage" to be revealing of a person who has come to the Lord with a certain sense of humility which speaks well of her and her experience as one who is drawn rather than self-propelled.


12 posted on 11/04/2013 2:22:33 AM PST by nathanbedford ("Attack, repeat, attack!" Bull Halsey)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...

She’s an Obamacare supporter too.

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/kirstenpowers/index

Fox News’ Highly Reluctant Jesus Follower
Christianity Today | October 22, 2013 | Kirsten Powers
Posted on 11/03/2013 6:47:04 AM PST by don-o
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3086997/posts


13 posted on 11/04/2013 4:04:48 AM PST by SunkenCiv (http://www.freerepublic.com/~mestamachine/)
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To: boatbums

Amen. :)


14 posted on 11/04/2013 4:07:53 AM PST by Springfield Reformer (Winston Churchill: No Peace Till Victory!)
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To: SunkenCiv
"She’s an Obamacare supporter too."

She is yet a babe in the Faith, a work in progress - if she continues to seek she will gain more clarity.

15 posted on 11/04/2013 4:11:39 AM PST by Psalm 73 ("Gentlemen, you can't fight in here - this is the War Room".)
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To: nathanbedford

I too watched in amazement as Kirsten started thinking for herself and her former liberal fanaticism began to fade away. Didn’t know until now that it was because she experienced a spiritual awakening & rebirth in Christ.

So, it’s indeed true that “ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”.

Praise the Lord!


16 posted on 11/04/2013 4:15:03 AM PST by elcid1970 ("In the modern world, Muslims are living fossils.")
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To: Psalm 73

Good words


17 posted on 11/04/2013 5:19:57 AM PST by Guenevere (....)
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To: Darteaus94025

Stuns them to admit it is all true. They think that a bunch of uneducated, people who could not even write their names, goat herders, poor people, sitting around a bunch of camp fires could come up with what is in the Bible. It boggles the mind to think those people back then could think up and write down what is in the Bible. Just the Major Prophets put down enough information to boggle your mind. No way these guys could have accomplished that. It had to be a higher level intelligence that came up with the Bible and it was. It was GOD!!!


18 posted on 11/04/2013 5:24:06 AM PST by RetiredArmy (I am proud to be a Christian and follower of my Lord Jesus Christ. Time is short for U to know Him!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I read the entire article at the Christianity Today website, and one thing that struck me is that she doesn't seem to be joyful about her newfound knowledge of the truth. I hope that thrill and gratitude and deep-down happiness that comes to most of us when we are converted comes to her too.

I wonder if she got back together with the Christian boyfriend who walked her toward Christ in the first place. The article doesn't say. But how fascinating to see someone attracted to Jesus on intellectual grounds.

19 posted on 11/04/2013 6:44:59 AM PST by ottbmare (the OTTB mare, now a proud Marine Mom)
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To: SubMareener
Thx for posting Tim Keller's sermon on "Exclusivity." I just listened to it and thought it was just the right tone to speak to New Yorkers about the true nature of Christianity.

I can see how Keller was influential in getting Kirsten Powers to come to the Cross.

As a former New Yorker, I will be excited to follow Tim Keller's work in bringing New Yorkers to Christ. Makes me wish I were there now so I could attend his Church. I used to live around the corner from where the new building is going up on W 83rd.

20 posted on 11/04/2013 7:04:50 AM PST by RoosterRedux (The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing -- Socrates)
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