RigMedic

Running Gator And how many schools, bridges, stores and homes have been targeted for vandalism or arson this week? Are all those people being persecuted also? We need to be careful when we call something persecution or we will end up like the boy who called wolf when it starts to happen in earnest. I think it becomes persecution when acts of violence are done specifically because your Christian.

I agree to a point. Allow me to add that there are those who are brothers and sisters that say nothing and do nothing, believing that Jesus will do everything, so sit back and watch. They are not bad people at all, but have been led to let go and let God for everything. Letting go and letting God does not mean to do nothing, but allowing Him to lead in what should be done. I agree

Yeah, Gods timing is perfect. I guess Jesus came when he did because God knew, that was the best time.

One quick thing I would like to add is this. We need to remember that there are many tares among the wheat. Out of the 3/4 of the nation professing to be Christian, how many of those are false converts, or wolves in sheeps clothing so to speak? When I think about that, it makes it easier to believe that we are a minority.

Heres a question that just popped into my mind. Why did God send Jesus when he did? Since God knows everything, he must of known how wicked people were going to become. Why then did Jesus not come sooner?

I think OneLight has it best. You will always know a true Christian by their fruits. No good tree will produce bad fruit, no bad tree will produce good fruit.

These are my thoughts on this question God is indeed LOVE, he is also GOOD, JUST, and RIGHTEOUS. I think first off that we as humans cannot fathom what a true and abounding holy love must be like. Trying to make it fit into what we think it should be, sort of waters it down. God has an infinite LOVE. We are unable to have a perfect love like God, because we are tainted with sin. I think your question is quite difficult to answer. All we can know of the mind of God is whats given to us through the Bible. Trying to understand it beyond that is more then our minds are capable of. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

All this advice has been great. I think first before I try to learn more about the Mormon beliefs, I will become more proficient with the Bible. The more I know of the truth, the easier it is to spot a lie.

Rufus and Botz are both correct, and I only present the Gospel to someone in love. I think my problem is this, as you have mentioned. I think I blew this witnessing encounter simply for this reason. I got to a point where I just couldn't think of anything else to say, and we began to argue. I should not have, and in the end he just left. I feel like I took the gift of the Gospel, and ruined it for him.

How do you witness to a Mormon? How can I explain the trinity? I said that it is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. All the same ONE God, but existing in three persons. How am I supposed to explain it further then that? How can I convince a Mormon that they do not in fact worship the same God? Jesus was not a polygamist, he did not come from some distant galaxy, and he most certainly was not the brother of the devil. I feel like I really blew a good witnessing encounter. I explained the Gospel as best I could, put emphasis on the need for repentence, and to trust Jesus. I dont think he understood, or just plain didn't believe me. I could really use some advice here.

Amen Nebula!

The other point im trying to make though is that you shouldn't even have the appearance of doing evil. It would be very easy for someone to think yall are giving into the flesh and fornicating. Hence the reason I gave you this verse. I used the King James Version for that verse, however "to avoid every kind of evil" would mean also to avoid the appearance of it as well. To appear as comitting evil, is in itself evil. In my opinion, I would not have her as a room mate. Keep looking, or move out on your own to a cheaper apartment.

I have to say this does not sound like a good idea to me. You would be intentially placing yourself in a situation that could be sinnful. Just by admitting that you find her desirable means you have already thought about making her your girlfriend. Why else would you have inquired about her relationship status. Even if you didnt do anything with her, you might create the appearance that you are, that is also spoken against of in the Bible. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Read 1st Corinthians 5. 1 Corinthians 5 Immorality Rebuked It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. you have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES. Any christian that embraces sin, or makes any sort of provision for the flesh is not a christian but a hypocrite.

Did you read the article? She doesn't belong to that church. She did at one time, but not anymore. How would you like it if someone you were not associated with started airing your dirty laundry? While I was in sin I would hate it. Now that I am saved I could care less. I dont put myself into sinful situations anymore. The reason she doesnt like it is because she knows that what she is doing is wrong, she doesnt want her sin exposed to everyone because it is shameful. Thats my opinion.

And I do agree that someone should feel safe in their church. However, the church is supposed to be like a family, a loving family will do whatever it takes to try and keep you safe. Sometimes we may not understand that the actions are ones that stem out of love until after we have come away from our sin.

True everyone has sinned. But the difference between a christian and the rest of the world is that we have now made a choice to turn away from sin, we forsake it. By repenting, and trusting Jesus we are made righteous not be anything we have done, but by the blood of Jesus. We are meant to make righteous judgments, to stand by what is right, and expose what is wrong. 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

I find that very ironic as well, good point.

I would agree that just listing ultimatems right from the get go would not be an ideal way to do things. However I think that if the church was doing these things from a loving standpoint, then they would not jump straight into an ultimatem. Counseling should absolutely come first. I would also like to point out as well that we as Christians are meant to judge others. It is the hypocrites, and the false converts, and the sinners who are not. Look at Matthew 7. Matthew 7:1-5 Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

I understand what everyone is saying on here so far, but I kinda agree with what the church is doing. It is biblical, they are following the steps laid forth in Matthew 18:15-17. Of course she is going to be upset, she is living in sin, and enjoying it. She does not want to quit. The people in her church have a responsibility to her. They should make every attempt to save her and warn her of the consequences of her actions. The world may view this as harrasment, however it appears to me like the church trying to bring her out of her sinful relationship. It looks like an act of love to me.

Only if you're paranoid and ignorant of how the law works and of how many good people would resist. Gimme a break. I thought the links were interesting, no need to be rude.

Could America be heading for Martial Law? http://www.uhuh.com/control/garden.htm http://uweb.txstate.edu/~lf14/conspire/rex84.html

This just goes to show that now, more then ever, we as Christians need to be spreading the Gospel. This is also yet another example of how satan will try to keep people from coming to God. In my opinion, I think we really need to become more active in preaching the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ. Otherwise, its just like we are watching people jump off a cliff and doing nothing about it.

Thanks everyone, you have all been exceedingly helpful Worthy is so great

Was wondering if anyone has ever tried witnessing in an online chat room. Do you think it works, or does the gospel message just fall on deaf ears?