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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Purpose of this forum? | Luke 14:26 | Morant61 | 101330 | ||
Greetings Seeking4truth! I can't speak for everyone my friend, but I have no problem with honest questions, as long as they are honest. Too many people have their minds made up and use supposed contradictions as an excuse, but never really bother to research the issues or consider the possiblities. However, may I politely differ with one of your statements? You wrote: "From my exposure to the church, evangelicals are concerned about other's salvation for 2 primary reasons: 1) so that they can have another notch on their gun for bringing another Christian to Christ (more rewards, as I understand it) and 2) so that they are reprieved of the responsibility of having the weight of someone else's salvation from resting upon their shoulders. Either way, their primary concern is themselves." I would disagree with this assesement. I have been a part of the Church since I was 6 years old, over 33 years now. I have never seen anyone who evangelized for the reasons you listed, nor have I ever heard it taught in this manner. We share our faith, for two reasons. 1) We are commanded to be witnesses by Christ Himself. 2) Our faith is Good News. But, I welcome you to the forum and I pray that God will provide you with the assurances that you seek. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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2 | Purpose of this forum? | Luke 14:26 | seeking4truth | 101334 | ||
Hi Tim, Thanks for the input. Our individual exposures to different churches most likely influences some of our thoughts in this area. Personally, I have been in a number of different churches of a few different denominations so I have had a few different experiences concerning evangelism. But I have not been exposed to everything that is taught in this area. My statements concerning evangelism were never "taught" to me as a formal discourse. They were more implied by statements such as these: "God will reward you for sharing Christ." "If you don't tell your friend, relative, coworker, who will?" "You don't want this person to stand before God on judgement day and say that YOU never told them about Christ, do you?" "If you don't witness, this person's blood and the condemnation of his eternal soul will be upon your hands." I have heard these statements. Granted, I may have traveled in the wrong Christian circles (but ALL of them claim to be right and NONE of them claim to have ANY false teaching). I am inclined to believe that if the fate of an eternal soul is left up to my pitiful attempts to share what little I know (and am still unsure of), then God is much smaller than the Bible portrays Him as being. While I don't deny that I may have a command and some good news to share, I am not even sure of my own fate, let alone a positive influence on someone elses. And frankly, I won't share what I am not reasonably sure of. In closing, I don't want to lay the blame for my doubts and my questions solely at the door of this particular church, denomination, or person. What happens to me in my own faith is, to a large extent, dependant upon me to "study to show myself approved." But I often feel more like the Ethipoian who doesn't have a clue rather than like Paul who could convert Hitler if given the chance. seeking4truth |
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3 | Purpose of this forum? | Luke 14:26 | Morant61 | 101344 | ||
Greetings Seeking4truth! Thanks for the response! While I haven't heard evanglism pushed in the terms you expressed, there is merit to the concept that we bear a responsiblity to witness. For example, consider Ezekiel 33. Granted, the immediate context is the prophetic ministry of Ezekiel, but I do believe that the principle would also apply to those of us who have been called by God to minister the Gospel. I would note though that if the Church has any flaw, it is too little evangelism, not too much! :-) p.s. - It is good to be the Ethiopian, God sent the right man at the right time to share the Gospel with him. :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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