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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Christian Response To Eastern Thought? | Is 55:11 | Jensen | 29952 | ||
Dear Forum participants….I seek your help. An old friend of mine has been taken in by the Fulun Gong (Fulan Dafa, Falan Gong) movement here in the U.S. and I must find Christian critiques of this movement. (Why are Americans so intrigued by Eastern thought?) For the past few months I have searched the web and have come up empty. I chiefly find articles on Chinese repression of the sect. I should add that I have been to the FG web site and followed its’ links so I pretty much understand what they believe and, like other cults, that they are/will be gods some day. I have read their official guide to an introduction as well as the “masters” pronouncements. They are a crafty bunch!! There is much more of course and perhaps I will have to arrange my own doctrine by doctrine, point by point, response but any help you can provide will be much appreciated. I have only made headway from the Creation perspective. I have tried all the Christian resources I know of and have come up empty. The Americans who join the sect deny Jesus in the main, I suspect, as a refutation of their parents beliefs. Help nip this thing in the bud if you can. God Bless….Jensen |
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2 | Christian Response To Eastern Thought? | Is 55:11 | Motherturtlewood | 29971 | ||
Jensen: In my experience, a characteristic of friends (peers over age 50) and of younger people (my children's ages, late teens) who have been enamored of cults (et alia) is a general resistance to INTELLECTUAL responses to their precious discovery of something that SEEMS to validate them as persons. I quite agree with Emmaus that it's the same old temptation OF THE CRAFTY AND WILEY SERPENT. What also comes to mind is Matthew 28:19-20 -- 19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." In my journey, it has been given to me to understand more fully what Yeshua meant when he said that He came to fulfill the Law. remember in the "Shema" (The "Hear, Oh Israel" prayer from Deuteronomy 6, Love God with all your heart...and your neighbor...) is the summary of what God's people have been asked to do. Sometimes, in our fervor to evangelize, to set others straight, to "save," etc., we forget that before anyone can learn from anyone else they first have to give the teacher attention. To whom do we give our attention? More to people who are loving that to those who are correct, I'd wager. And that takes time because it is a process (after all God could have given the Israelites a tidy argument...but didn't...just let them wander around for 40 years). Readiness is all in teaching. Find the teachable moment. It takes a lot of loving to get there. Also, another passage that comes to mind is Psalm 25, particularly... 5 "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O LORD, THY TENDER MERCIES AND THY LOVING KINDNESSES; for they have been ever of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD. 8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies...." Blessings and patience. Once, when Mother Teresa was asked about the futility of her work, she replied something to the effect that success was not what we are called to, just the work. It's hard work to love, and we may never see the results. But it's all that we've been really asked to do. (Yes, I know, someone is going to ask, "Well, just what is love, anyway?") |
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3 | Christian Response To Eastern Thought? | Is 55:11 | Motherturtlewood | 30766 | ||
Jensen, I hope this is not a burden. No response expected. Just a few thoughts to add. (written a few days ago, but internet connx down) You are most polite to inform us that you have what you need and are coming to the realization that you might have to write something yourself. Clearly, that's how you are being led. I have been given some general insights that may be useful as you write. This forum is, of course, not the place for discussion of the understanding of the workings of the HEAD and the HEART. However, you might want to reflect on the nature of the individual entities of intellect and emotion. Steve aka IJ's point regarding God's perfect intellect can be well taken. Emmaus' suggestion re the handbook of apologetics should prove useful. Your own comments regarding emotions and Christians can be developed as well. Please consider these ideas (I believe they are based on Albert Ellis' work in rational-emotive theory in cognitive psychology.): When in perfect balance (in the order that God intended), the head and the heart work together. When disordered (from sin, concupiscience), then the problems begin. Ordered or disordered, the emotions are informed by the intellect. For example, Person A and Person B both lose a huge sum of money. Person A might completely fall apart, or get terribly and destructively angry. Person B does not. Both persons are equal socioeconomically. What's the difference? What each one thought about the money. In the case of anger, which by the way is what's called a secondary emotion, the underlying (or primary) emotion is fear. There's is (although very fleetingly) information (perhaps false) that the loss of the money will result in some sort of (albeit only perceived) disaster. Therefore, the person reacts with "negative" emotions. Extrapolate the model to two persons who might lose salvation. Proofs from the Bible and apologetics are excellent when appropriately timed, but until one knows exactly what the subtleties of thought under the emotions, efforts at intellectual proof will fall by the wayside if not do more damage. Before taking the trouble to lay out point by point what you would like to say, reflect on exactly what your friend might be thinking and what emotions might be at work. You might be already thinking about how the cycle might work; that is, false thought leads to negative emotion that leads to further false thinking (FG) which leads to emotional reactions to anything against FG, etc., etc. Psalms are always a good starting place when confronted with overwhelming problems. Many blessings in your task, mtw Psalm 5 A morning prayer for help Let my words come to your ears, O Lord: hear my sighs. Listen to the voice of my crying, my King and my God. As I pray to you in the morning, Lord, listen to my voice; in the morning I will stand before you and await you. You are not a God who loves evil. The wicked cannot stay near you, the unjust cannot remain in your presence. You hate all who do evil - you destroy all who speak falsehood - the Lord abominates the bloody and deceitful man. But in the abundance of your mercy you will admit me to your house: I will worship you in your holy temple, with fear and reverence. Lord, guide me in your justice, protect me from my enemies: let me see the path I must follow. For there is no truth in their mouth - their heart is a bottomless pit - their throat is a wide open grave - their tongue seduces. Punish them, Lord, and let their own plans destroy them. On account of their crimes, thrust them from your presence; for they are rebels against you. Let all who hope in you rejoice, triumph for ever. You will shelter them and they will glory in you. For you bless the just, O Lord, and your good will surrounds them like a shield. |
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