Eleven Christians Arrested and Jailed For Sharing

[RustyAngeL]

This is sad. We can't preach to a lost and dying world but we can teach witchcraft and alternative lifestyles but not something that will bring people to salvation and give them answers.

Edited December 28, 2004 by Rustyangel

[lifeandliberty]

Law is law. If you chose to break it, you must accept responsibility to it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We agree on this point, so since no laws were violated, the charges should all be dropped.

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." -- C.T. Studd

[Guest DarkFenix]

No one said you CANT preach to the lost world.

You just can FORCE IT down peoples throat. That is HIGHLY counterproductive.

Using megaphones large signs and a confrontational attitude is rude disrespective and more importantly SAVES NO ONE.

These christens went through this drama for THEMSELFS so they could feel like victimized mayters. Very good for them. NOT good for the greater christen movement.

There are MANY better ways of spreading the message, most IMPORTANTLY of which is through our ACTIONS and the way we lead our lives, with peace HUMILITY and loving. THat is the greatest missonary work that can be done, to lead a good life and serve as an example of what it means to do so.

My question is about the teaching of alternative lifestyles and witcthcraft and anything else you can imagine is SO WHAT? You cannot run from truth. If you have truely have faith in the lord you would know that in the end these lifestyles WILL NOT result in a better life for their followers. The problem is not that there are non-christen lifestyles (FOR THERE WILL ALWAYS BE), it is that people choose these lifestyles. It is a choice people make, and a choice they alone can make, and they alone will have to respond to God what they have done. NO amount of presading and yelling and shouting is going to get them to stop. Sometimes it is the things that are NOT spoken, and are silent that move people to change their mind.

I for one am not threathen by homosexuality. Nor do I think it is right to live a life under CONSTANT threat of one thing or another. As long as I am not affected or indangered in any real way, I feel no need to interfere with people's personal choices.

You may say,..."they are corrupting sociaty",...but I would say that "it is the individual that is allowing himself to be corrpoted".

More over WHY should I be so involed with a sociaty???? Those things have a habbit of coming and going. In the end they are as empehral as the air.

Im sorry but my loyaties lie with something abit more eteranl.

[Catsmeow]

You may say,..."they are corrupting sociaty",...but I would say that "it is the individual that is allowing himself to be corrpoted".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Here's God's response:

1 Corinthians 15:33-34

33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." 34 Become right-minded and stop sinning, because some people are ignorant about God.

God apparently disagrees with you.

*Contemporary expression:

One who lies with dogs, wakes with fleas.

[Kabowd]

If this is indeed persecution (which I'm not convinced it is) but even if it is, what's so suprising about this? Did Jesus not warn us that the world would hate us because of His name?

If they are thrown in jail unjustly, they'll be in good company: Joseph was thrown in jail unjustly, John was thrown in jail unjustly, Paul and Silas were thrown in jail unjustly, Jesus the Christ was thrown in jail unjustly. Instead of whining about being persecuted they should do as Paul suggested (and practiced) in Romans 12:14 and Acts 16. They should bless those who persecute them and worship the Lord in spite of their situation. Maybe it's God's will that they go to prison. Perhaps He plans on showing them favor while there, as he did with Joseph in Genesis 39 or maybe there are ppl there who need the gospel preached to them (like those in Acts 16). Either way, instead of playing the "victim" they should rise up with courage and grace and bless those who are against them. James 1 tells us to count it all joy when we are in trials and face difficulties, knowing that they develop godly character from such things. They should use this opportunity to behave as Christ did when He stood trial unfairly....with dignity, integrity and grace.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This was ignored earlier, so I thought I'd re-quote it. Also, I disagree with Repent America's so-called "evangelism" tactics. I'm a strong believer, and they even turn me off to the gospel. So I can only imagine how they make unbelievers feel. Their "witnessing" lacks love, grace and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Salvation and repentance is never forced.

[Guest DarkFenix]

Which is WHY I DONT MAKE company with them..........

Wait so then your complaint is with people that make company with them. That would actually be a good point.

Bad company corrupts good morals

yes,... and there is, and I believe quite American, thing call personal responsibility.

So I am supposed to do everything "god" says. Hmmmm intersting. So it quite a good thing to stone your wife to death for cheating you???? It is prefectly normal thing for me to keep slaves,...as long as I take care of them properly??? After all does it not say that the punishment for "gays" is stoning to death????

Hmm I think statement is more like " do everything WE TELL YOU God said to do".

I would like to know EXACTLY what god is saying, but you see that is the problem I DONT KNOW. There is this thing called "human interpetation" which gets in the way.You may interpet your bible however you may like, (believing somehow that your literal interpetation is somehow free of BEING an interpetation ) and you can charge that by some ad hoc way the old testament is somehow "not relevant", I for one am not willing to sentence to death someone for their sexual perf and/or adultery. This of course puts me in quite a conundrum, but in these cases I tend to side with Jesus and "do unto others as you would have done unto yourself policy. The alternative is rather intolerant and quite frankly rather hateful.

And on the subject of using biblical "quotes",... this is rather not a very efficant process mostly due because you fail to include the CONTEXT of said quote, both in the bible , linguistically or in socio-cultural mores and ways of the time. This does not aid in having an intelligent debate,.... but is a rather neat way of trying to "shutup" someones argument. Summary. Dont try it on me. You wont shut me up. I've notice you guys do that alot spit out quotes,.... with little number posts and astericks. Has it ever accorded to you that life is NOT a roleplaying game where you summon up the correct spell to the correct situtation. The "winner" in life is NOT the person who KNOWS ALL THE SPECIFIC ANSWERS.

Edited December 29, 2004 by DarkFenix

[Catsmeow]

You're not getting it. I've ministered to the gay community for YEARS...bringing them love baskets full of homebaked goods, pretty holiday cards and gifts.

I've attended seminars on the best methods to approach and understand people with specific areas of weakness...since we all have our own variety of weaknesses.

The point made here is that it's one thing to "minister" in love to people. You can invite them to supper. You can give them a ride to the store. You can help them with their lawn.

You don't go hang out in the gays bars or do the porn movies with them. You seem rather defensive. Some people are always ready for a fight rather than looking for intent.

When you've been in missions, as I have, you learn about the people you're working with...as much as you can. You're also careful not to get caught in the snares of the enemy. There's a balance between being as gentle as a dove but as wise as a serpent. You need a balance and need to know how to walk a very delicate line between befriending someone who's still not saved and yet not alienating them.

It's like watching some of these fascinating wildlife videos. Professionals work with alligators, snakes, huge poisonous lizards....et al...and these things can be very deadly.

The pros have worked enough with them, they know how to handle them and even then, they recognize the risk they're taking.

It's similar when you're venturing into the dark world of drugs, porn, the occult, etc.

Been there, done that....and having been there during my "unsaved days" I recognize what I'm dealing with. It's like saying, "Kids, don't try this at home."

What people often don't grasp is that you don't venture into the lion's lair unless you've been well prepared and trained to deal with what's in the lair.

Daniel survived the Lion's Den. Most would not. When we venture in the Lion's Den, we do so only upon the orders of the Commander in Chief, Jesus Christ.

[Guest DarkFenix]

1. Lions den? I remeber a christen tired that not so long ago and got nasty cuts and was saved by the zoo keeping personal. He was VERY convicned that the JC gave him the said order to jump in with the lions. Lesson learned..... subjective experiance is a VERY unreliable meter to gauge for pretty much anything.

2. Trying them with kid gloves? ah... how about treating like you would any other human,.... like a human? "dangers", "be careful", "handle them", "dark world of"... ahhh sorry to burst your bubble but life is not a script for 007. You are not in "emeny territory avading capture". You are not a "secert agent man". People are gay. People have been gay, are gay, and Im certain they will continue to be gay. You dont "become" gay. Believe me no amount of male persassion will get me to turn gay. And if you need a more statisticall gauge,.... well a great mayoty of prisoners have homosexual relations in jail time, yet, MOST PRISONERS dont trun "gay" when brought back to "normal" life. Lessen learned,.... if "gay" sexuall relationships dont "convert" you, a gay bar wont either. This myth of people "turning" gay is a complete illusion, one only americans seem to have. In our culture gays ARE NOT accepted in the least bit, but arent so paranoid that they will "make our kids gay". That is just silly. And for that matter, if it was something sssssssooooooo easy to "turn" into, gays WOULD NOT BE A MINORTY. ( for obvious reasons it seems nature makes SURE of that they ARE a minority. I dont think it would behove our nature if every male could just get up and say, you know what from now on Ill be gay.)

2a. Proof in the pudding. Have you ONCE converted a gay man to hetrosexuallity for life????? If not it could be due to the fact that his "gayness" is not about what or not you tell him or he tells himself.

But then I ask myself what in GODS NAME are you doing in a gay bar in the frist place??? This kindof goes against your "dont keep bad company" stance now dosnt it??? But you can do it because the missonary protocal is somehow higher up??? hhhmmmmm seems like an intesting interpetation.

3. If you dont agree with gays ( believe me I dont approve of there lifestyle at all )

LEAVE THEM ALONE. If they want to be saved they will be saved. God is not a merciless dictator. He is not a callous killer. Some christens speak as if there was some kind of "race to the finish line". There isnt. It is God who will be the final judge of people and we have no place to be dicating any value judgments on anyone. For All we now Hitler is in heavan as we speak.

4. I have faith in God. It is his place to judge. It is my place to lead a good life.

Edited December 29, 2004 by DarkFenix

[refugepsa91]

You are not in "emeny territory avading capture".

Just a FYI...cats has been in enemy territory...spreading the gospel as a missionary. She has put herself directly in the line of fire so to speak. Careful what you say...you truly don't KNOW her or what she has done in her life.

Love and Blessings,

Angel

[refugepsa91]

But then I ask myself what in GODS NAME are you doing in a gay bar in the frist place??? This kindof goes against your "dont keep bad company" stance now dosnt it??? But you can do it because the missonary protocal is somehow higher up??? hhhmmmmm seems like an intesting interpetation.

Where in the world did you get the idea she hangs out in gay bars...when she said what I quoted below? Read carefully before you assume where she hangs out

You don't go hang out in the gays bars or do the porn movies with them. You seem rather defensive. Some people are always ready for a fight rather than looking for intent.

I'm done...

Love and Blessings,

Angel