I know nothing

[Guest living_in_awe]

I became a Christian just over 10 months ago, when I first told people this most of them were unsurprisingly shocked.

My brother, a strong atheist, was probably most surprised and took it the hardest making comments like 'but Church is just brainwashing, people telling you what you have to do, how you have to live, what decisions to have' and so on. I find these conversations really tough as aside from this one major difference in our lives my brother and I are so so close, we share everything, we have so much in common but I had one reply for him.

It was something along these lines: "Only God knows what's best for my life, only He knows what decisions I should make, only He can guide me. I go to church to hear how He has guided other people, I listen to the wisdom they have inherited from Him. Sometimes I think perhaps what they're saying doesn't quite fit with what I believe so I refer to the only true source, God's Holy Word. I check what they say, I check it with my Christian friends, I check it with the Bible, I pray about it. God passes His wisdom onto others so that they may help the rest of us, He draws us towards the right teachers."

OK so I was way to flustered by his comments to phrase it as elegantly as that but that's basically what I told him and he seemed prepared to accept that.

So I agree with both of you and I'm grateful for everyone's advice, just know that whatever you say I may be checking up on you!

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings Living In Awe,

So I agree with both of you and I'm grateful for everyone's advice, just know that whatever you say I may be checking up on you!

YES! Be a good Berean and search the Word DAILY to see if what is said is TRUE. It is the Holy Spirit ONLY that is going to plant the truth in your heart, the rest only goes to your head FOR FURTHER PROCESSING.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[irishcowboy]

come on now guys.... you know you are all wrong..... and i am all right.....

( NOT )

you all have good things to contribute, with the Spirit of God working thru us...

lets not get into some squable about who has all the knowledge and wisdom... for compared to God we are all foolish and ignorant.....

the "I am right, you are wrong " thing is not very conducive to Christian Brotherhood....

one thinks that the rapture happens first then the 7 year trib, another thinks that after 3.5 years into the 7 year trib is when we are raptured, and yet another thinks it is after the 7 years of tribulation we are taken up..... there are some that believe that there is a pre trib, and a mid and a post trib rapture ( a continuous rapture as people come to the Lord during the Trib )

there is disention among the people..... this is what will split the church, as it has many times in the past, over some petty differances....

whether it is a pre, mid, post or continuous, matters not.... if a person is not living in Jesus at the time, they can say good bye to the eternal life thing.... if they have not accepted Jesus as their savior before they die, they will stand before the Lord with no more excuses to give, cause the Lord already done heard them all and knows the heart of each and every one......

and why not listen to each other...... making a blanket statement that a person is not worthy to be listened to, is also saying that you are not worthy to be listened to either, and tends to drive "FRIENDS" away.....

I, myself, do not like the idea of not having friends...

each of us has our own ideas, thoughts, and yes, even revelation from the Lord thru His word as to what it means to that person.......

I can read a passage, and the Spirit will allow me the understanding that i may need for a peticular situation, but that same passage, will come to an understanding of something totally different to some one else, as the Spirit leads them......

if a person is not willing to listen to anothers point of view with out becoming offended or argumentitive, then maybe it be best to let the tongue (fingers) rest for a while and not allow that weapon to wag in other peoples faces.....

I too, have done the same thing, and do not like doing it, for like pointing fingers, there always seeem to be more garbage coming back then what was sent out...

when a person is slinging mud, for some reason, that same person will get muddy from their own mud slingin.......

let us chill down on the I know it all stuff..... cause we do not know it all, if we did, we would also be perfect, and if we was perfect then there would be no need for Jesus to have given up His life.....

thanks.....

please do not misunderstand me, I too, like a good discussion, but when it comes to arguing when there will never be a settlement between either party, then it is in vain..... when both parties have hardened their hearts where they are unwilling to listen to the other party, when they become such they are insulting the other party, then it is time to terminate the conversation..... before there is hard feelings, and hatred formed.....

peace be with you all

mike

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings Mike,

and why not listen to each other...... making a blanket statement that a person is not worthy to be listened to, is also saying that you are not worthy to be listened to either, and tends to drive "FRIENDS" away.....

I DID listen, sorry to say, and I didn't follow Jim Jones nor did I follow David Koresh, and I certainly won't follow someone who insists that I LISTEN TO HIM. I don't need "friends" like that.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie