Just my two cents...

Varmit · July 16, 2010, 08:49:59 AM

Ok, so I am new to this category and don't want to offend anyone and don't want to get political. But I have a question, why is it that today it seems like so many Christians have put up a wall around themselves? I mena that when they are around other Christians they talk freely about the glory, grace, and power of God, yet when the oppurtunity presents itself for them to talk with nonbelievers they clam up?

Again, I'm not trying to accuse anyone or "pick a fight" so please don't take it that way. I just don't understand it.

twirldoggy · July 16, 2010, 01:41:25 PM

Here is a story about a recent event: I was in Heartland Hospital in St. Joseph, MO. One of my nurses was a beautiful, very petite, very dark skinned woman. She shared with me that she was married and both she and her husband were from India. She wanted very much to go back to India. In my mind she was a Hindu and probably her family was for generations. So I didn't think I could talk religion with her even though I was having some intense spiritual experiences there in the hospital. To my very great surprise she came in my room and initiated with me. She asked me if I knew Jesus Christ as my savior!!! She quoted much scripture from memory and told me she was a member of one of the local Baptist churches.

Varmit · July 16, 2010, 02:50:39 PM

I always get a kick out of things like that. Its funny to me how God works sometimes. Its like He sends us little reminders that although we may be afraid to send someone His way, He isn't afraid to send someone our way.

Diane Amberg · July 16, 2010, 03:34:20 PM

Varmit, there is no way I would try to have a serious conversation with you about religion because you are so judgemental and intolerant of other people's views. I have already come under fire and so have others on here. As far as I am concerned, anyone who considers himself a Christian is. Period. I am not a fundamentalist nor a pentecostal nor a Catholic. Nor is it really any of your business. I'm not crazy about the old time missionaries because in their quest to take "the word" to "savages" they also took terrible diseases that the people had no resistance to and nearly wiped out whole cultures. Then they had the nerve to call it God's will. Modern missionaries are fine .They really do help with humanitarian projects and along the way teach some religion, not the other way around.The Spanish Inquisition and the Crusades killed many people in the name of God. I can't stomach that. Look at all the turmoil in Old Great Britain. Henry the VIII and all that. The Catholics were in, the Catholics were out, and they killed each other over it! People choose their faith based on their own needs and it's no one's business to jump in and tell them they are wrong. Sometimes people out grow their church and look for another. That's their business too ,and trying to pin someone down and probe their religious preference is RUDE. I have plenty of room in my heart and life for other people's versions of Christianity and even other faiths. Don't you?

Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship. It moved to Greece and became a philosophy. It moved to Italy and became an institution. It moved to Europe and became a culture. It came to America and became an enterprise.

Sam Pascoe Religious Tolerance.org

twirldoggy · July 16, 2010, 05:07:32 PM

Yes Varmit I consider this incident another spiritual experience, one of several while I was there.

redcliffsw · July 16, 2010, 05:35:57 PM

There's nothing in the Bible about missionaries being sent out to be "humanitarians".
Fellowships are not in the Bible either, yet the church is in the Bible.

Regardless of personal versions, the Bible is all we really have to go by.

Looks like a one world religious movement on that website and I don't see how
any Christian could be in concert with that.

Varmit · July 16, 2010, 06:04:48 PM

Diane and Red, I don't want this to turn into a debate or argument over what is or isn't Christanity. This seems like a peaceful category and I don't want to change that. I was merely curious about why it seems that in todays world Christians seem unwilling or afraid to witness?

P.S. Diane if you want an answer to your questions I will post them in the Politics section.

Varmit · July 16, 2010, 06:26:06 PM

QuoteVarmit, there is no way I would try to have a serious conversation with you about religion because you are so judgemental and intolerant of other people's views. I have already come under fire and so have others on here. As far as I am concerned, anyone who considers himself a Christian is. Period. I am not a fundamentalist nor a pentecostal nor a Catholic. Nor is it really any of your business. I'm not crazy about the old time missionaries because in their quest to take "the word" to "savages" they also took terrible diseases that the people had no resistance to and nearly wiped out whole cultures. Then they had the nerve to call it God's will. Modern missionaries are fine .They really do help with humanitarian projects and along the way teach some religion, not the other way around.The Spanish Inquisition and the Crusades killed many people in the name of God. I can't stomach that. Look at all the turmoil in Old Great Britain. Henry the VIII and all that. The Catholics were in, the Catholics were out, and they killed each other over it! People choose their faith based on their own needs and it's no one's business to jump in and tell them they are wrong. Sometimes people out grow their church and look for another. That's their business too ,and trying to pin someone down and probe their religious preference is RUDE. In have plenty of room in my heart and life for other people's versions of Christianity and even other faiths. Don't you?

Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship. It moved to Greece and became a philosophy. It moved to Italy and became an institution. It moved to Europe and became a culture. It came to America and became an enterprise.

Sam Pascoe Religious Tolerance.org

The short answer, Diane, is No. I do not have room for others faith or versions of Christianity. I have only room for God's word. As for telling somone they may be wrong, it is my duty as a Christian to point out the truth. Christians are called to witness, testify, and Disciple. They are NOT called to just sit in a corner and remain silent. As for the "old world missionaries" bit and how they had the nerve to call it Gods will...it was.

Diane Amberg · July 16, 2010, 06:38:24 PM

And that is exactly why we will not talk about this.

Patriot · July 16, 2010, 06:48:10 PM

Quote from: Diane Amberg on July 16, 2010, 03:34:20 PM
Varmit, there is no way I would try to have a serious conversation with you about religion because you are so judgemental and intolerant of other people's views. I have already come under fire and so have others on here. As far as I am concerned, anyone who considers himself a Christian is. Period. I am not a fundamentalist nor a pentecostal nor a Catholic. Nor is it really any of your business. I'm not crazy about the old time missionaries because in their quest to take "the word" to "savages" they also took terrible diseases that the people had no resistance to and nearly wiped out whole cultures. Then they had the nerve to call it God's will. Modern missionaries are fine .They really do help with humanitarian projects and along the way teach some religion, not the other way around.The Spanish Inquisition and the Crusades killed many people in the name of God. I can't stomach that. Look at all the turmoil in Old Great Britain. Henry the VIII and all that. The Catholics were in, the Catholics were out, and they killed each other over it! People choose their faith based on their own needs and it's no one's business to jump in and tell them they are wrong. Sometimes people out grow their church and look for another. That's their business too ,and trying to pin someone down and probe their religious preference is RUDE. In have plenty of room in my heart and life for other people's versions of Christianity and even other faiths. Don't you?

Diane, while your question was directed to Varmit, I'll answer for myself... NO. A careful reading of the New Testament will show that even Christ was intolerant of foolishness. It will also show that certain 'judgements' must be made by beleivers. Every 'forgiveness' was accompanied with a command to go and 'sin no more.' Without repentance there can be no forgiveness of sin. Tolerance/acceptance of non-Christian behaviors and beliefs by those who call themselves Christians may call into question the authenticity of their claim of Christianity. It was Christ himself who said he came not to bring peace, bur rather division. Virtually all debates can be resolved with a careful reading of Scripture. God's wisdom is foolishness to the unsaved/unrighteous... to the world. Those who believe will reflect God's nature (as detailed throughout Scripture), and non-believers will likely dismiss/ tolerate/accept about any thing else that trots down the road. Thanks, Varmit, your question is well put.