Declaration of faith - If I kept this quiet does this make me less Chr

[Denise37]

I'm sorry to vent my frustration here, I'm just in need to get your opinions on if I did the right thing. I went to a dinner catch up with my friends and another friend who is exploring the whole spiritual element and we kind of had a bit of a clash.

I thought the main bite size is this - I got sick, suffered, miraculous speed of recovery and became interested in Christianity and now a studying the bible and everything with a fine tooth comb. My friend married a Devout Christian and now suddenly has transformed into Captain Christianity! (they weren't even christian before! ). When we met we some how got into the topic of our recent start to a change of faith. When I said that I haven't in his words declared my new faith or had been baptized. He said it was impossible for me to consider myself a Christian.

I did reply and say the the line: well this is all between me and God. What im interested in to know is how do you avoid altercations like this?

I think we are at different stages and he is way past me however it didnt stop me from getting angry and stressed out!

I totally understand both sides.. His for being so excited for what he knows & you for juss starting all over again... I think that both parties should be respectful enough to consider what each other is saying.. My mother & I are the same, but what I do is juss pray to God for patience & understanding of everything she says.. Plus, I squeeze in there every now & then, "Breath momma, take a breathe plz"..

I hope I. Helped... Oh, & it alwayz helps to pray before hand..

[gdemoss]

I am like your friend. I am ultra zealous for God and have a desire to see those who believe get to the next level as quickly as is possible but for their benefit. What happened to me early on is that I didn't understand what it meant to meet someone where they were at and encourage them in their growth having my speech always with grace and seasoned with salt. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul shared about the need to have love in all that we do. That our motivation for all things must be rooted in love. There is a time to have compassion and lift up through encouragement to gently move our brethren in the right direction through both our words and our actions. There is also a time for us to come bringing fear and confrontation before our brothers in hope that they will respond in a worthy way. Both of these approaches must be done out of love and both can be seen in scripture. The hard part is discerning when and what is appropriate for every given situation.

I would like to encourage you to forgive your friend as it sounds like he has a zeal of God but not yet according to knowledge. It seems that he came at you with both barrels firing instead of meeting you where you are at and encouraging you to continue moving in the right direction. I believe that God sent him though. Through his offensive behavior, you came here to vent your frustration and have received good counsel from those who posted before me. Praise God for moving you in the right direction through whatever means he sees necessary. His ways are not our ways. In the end I think you ought to encourage your friend in his walk with God by confessing to him that you became offended by him because you felt that he wasn't being loving in his approach by having his words with grace and seasoned with salt. I would also encourage you to go to God in prayer and praise him for sending this trial upon you so that the trying of your faith would work patience within you. It is through much tribulation that we must enter into the kingdom of our dear Father and he is preforming a work in you that he will continue until the day of Jesus Christ.

My heart is with you in this. My hope is your growth becomes exponential in recognizing the work of our Father on your behalf bringing you toward the image of his dear son through sanctification of the spirit.

Gary

[freeinnocentspirit]

I am like your friend. I am ultra zealous for God and have a desire to see those who believe get to the next level as quickly as is possible but for their benefit. What happened to me early on is that I didn't understand what it meant to meet someone where they were at and encourage them in their growth having my speech always with grace and seasoned with salt. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul shared about the need to have love in all that we do. That our motivation for all things must be rooted in love. There is a time to have compassion and lift up through encouragement to gently move our brethren in the right direction through both our words and our actions. There is also a time for us to come bringing fear and confrontation before our brothers in hope that they will respond in a worthy way. Both of these approaches must be done out of love and both can be seen in scripture. The hard part is discerning when and what is appropriate for every given situation.

I would like to encourage you to forgive your friend as it sounds like he has a zeal of God but not yet according to knowledge. It seems that he came at you with both barrels firing instead of meeting you where you are at and encouraging you to continue moving in the right direction. I believe that God sent him though. Through his offensive behavior, you came here to vent your frustration and have received good counsel from those who posted before me. Praise God for moving you in the right direction through whatever means he sees necessary. His ways are not our ways. In the end I think you ought to encourage your friend in his walk with God by confessing to him that you became offended by him because you felt that he wasn't being loving in his approach by having his words with grace and seasoned with salt. I would also encourage you to go to God in prayer and praise him for sending this trial upon you so that the trying of your faith would work patience within you. It is through much tribulation that we must enter into the kingdom of our dear Father and he is preforming a work in you that he will continue until the day of Jesus Christ.

My heart is with you in this. My hope is your growth becomes exponential in recognizing the work of our Father on your behalf bringing you toward the image of his dear son through sanctification of the spirit.

Gary

I have I guess my frustration at this friend was due to another snowballing issue. I do admire his ability to become a sponge for all aspects of faith, history and even going into ancient history. He is very full on and like me an all-or-nothing personality type too so thats where we meet in the middle. I've realized i'd rather be surrounded by people like him than with those who just are thrill seekers and live for the moment type. So I have forgiven him

Thanks for all the advice and replies everyone its much appreciated.

Edited February 26, 2012 by freeinnocentspirit