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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 | 30237 | ||
Thank you for your thoughtful replies. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Would you agree that one does not battle the mind with the heart…….at least if one wants to dissuade the other of a position held upon an intellectual foundation. There is seldom a feeling acceptance of Eastern thought. Christianity successfully uses emotions because the truth is written on our hearts where emotion resides. Christians are, therefore, emotional creatures by definition, made in the image of God. Cry all you want and stomp your feet but in the closing you must present a point by point refutation of an intellectual polemic if you are to make sense, and not feelings.….but sense… to a non-believer. This person has, or these Americans have, abandoned Christ. I think that to suggest that I “Use this verse” is probably nonsensical to a non-believer, one who knows of Christ but has no belief. Evangelical non-Christians use faulty reasoning or giant leaps of faith to persuade their victim but never, or seldom, is emotion used. That is why the air of arrogance surrounds all Christ haters. Intellectual arguments are based on facts at their base so we must reason with facts and logic and truth to those who have come to their beliefs as a result of an intellectual exercise. The pity is that we can not use the Word of God in our argument, only the truth of the Word. So therefore (1 Peter 3:15) “ But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,..”……… and so we must know some things such as what this child of God believes. So…If you have some resources let me know, please pray now for Jim. God Bless….Jensen |
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2 | Christian Response To Eastern Thought? | Is 55:11 | stjones | 30248 | ||
Hi, Jensen; God speaks to our brains too. I hope you'll never lose sight of the fact that Christianity is a rational religion - a "reasonable faith" as Tony Campolo, William Craig, and Winfried Corduan have titled their respective books. God is the ultimate intellectual, the ultimate philosopher, and the architect of all reason. As I said in my earlier post, God meets every need including the needs of the intellect. To illustrate, I've been programming computers one way or another for 30 years and spent seven years as a university professor in Computer Science. Nothing approaches what God has chosen to reveal through his Word and his Son for sheer intellectual riches and delight. Isaac Newton invented calculus and a big chunk of physics for the simple reason that he desired to think God's thoughts after him. I've said before on this forum that it was the reasoning of C. S. Lewis and the mysterious summons of the Holy Spirit that led me to faith in Christ. It was not the Bible, which I ignored until after my conversion. Incidentally, it was during my academic career that my brain convicted my heart. So don't despair of being able to use the Bible directly to convince your friend. As you said, use its truth. Anyone who genuinely seeks truth and has the humility to follow the path wherever it leads must end up at God. Disclaimer: I haven't read the books by Campolo, Craig, or Corduan, but they would certainly be worth a look. Another one I haven't read is Josh McDowell's "Evidence that Demands a Verdict". I have read (more than once) "Mere Christianity" by C. S. Lewis and recommend it. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |
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3 | Christian Response To Eastern Thought? | Is 55:11 | Jensen | 30266 | ||
Thank You...I have read most of your suggestions. Anything with a response to Fulan Gong specifically would help. None so far though. I may end up writing one myself :-) God Bless....Jensen |
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4 | Christian Response To Eastern Thought? | Is 55:11 | charis | 30286 | ||
Dear Jensen, Greetings in Jesus' name! I hope that what I share is of some use to you: I heard a bit about Fulan Gong from a missionary that recently returned from mainland China (Beijing). According to him, this 'religion' is as much an organization of 'political activism' as anything else. The religious aspects seems to be made up to give some kind of legitimacy to their agenda to change the system from the status quo (at least in China). What they will change it to seems to be somewhat vague. I guess the only thing you could infer is that the leaders of the cult will be 'up there' somewhere. :-) Details are wanting because there are none! It seems to be a purposely vague 'everything ought to be better' religion that uses all kinds of stimuli. Included would be bodily health, world peace, (empty) philosophy of a mystical nature, and more than anything, disatisfaction with the present coupled with (idealistic) claims of an answer for a better future. As usual, the plan or agenda has little in the way of concrete methodology to attain this goal. Friend, I know this continues to be a bit shallow, but that is because Fulan Gong is so shallow. It doesn't even seem that their ways are a 'secret of the enlightened' either, like some cults. It is simply lack of content. Maybe this is what is so enticing? I pray that this will give you something to bring up to your friend. See if he has knowledge of any true 'depth' to this rather empty cult. As others have already noted, prayer on your part, and using the Word of God effectively are the best ways to battle with cultic influence. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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