Are you nominal Christian or true Believer?

[Brandli5]

this is all fine and good, but does anyone remember the original question? because i am not hearing anymore answers. who says christians can't dance?

Yesterday, 01:52 PM Post #4

Advanced Member

Group: Advanced Member

Posts: 261

Joined: 15-April 06

From: Bothell, Wa

Member No.: 42553

Either way I answer is going to be awkward..

So if I say I am a true believer and keep my lamp oiled and am ready for my bride-groom then am I not (figuratively speaking) honking my own horn?

And if I say that I am nominal, then am I not saying that I am not quite ready and am waiting for the last minute. To top that, am I not saying that I am hypocrytical?

No I don't see this as a thread that will be fruitful but I do see it as a thread that will allow folks to become judgemental towards each other.

--------------------

Your Sister in Christ

Jackie

This remains my answer.

We must remember though, we would not be honking our own horn, we are to praise GOd for giving us the strength to live for him. We do not have to be boastful about it, but we know in our own hearts the answer to that question.

Its not boasting to tell the truth. Someday we might even have to answer it in front of the master.

Give all the glory to God that we are who we are, we live for him, and know him. Its all him!

[David from New Bern]

This thread reads like a preacher who lost his notes...questions are popping up...more questions than answers. The term nominal Christianity is about like "a little bit pregnant" I have used the term myself, so I'm not the executioner on this, just honestly dealing with the OP. Jesus used the term "sheep" to describe the children of God, and used the term "goats" to describe the unregenerate. Sheep might behave badly like goats, but a sheep's species is determined by birth not behavior. Simply put there are no nominal sheep. You are a sheep or a goat, or a sheep behaving like a goat, but a sheep none the less. "You are a saint or you aint"

[Times]

This thread reads like a preacher who lost his notes...questions are popping up...more questions than answers. The term nominal Christianity is about like "a little bit pregnant" I have used the term myself, so I'm not the executioner on this, just honestly dealing with the OP. Jesus used the term "sheep" to describe the children of God, and used the term "goats" to describe the unregenerate. Sheep might behave badly like goats, but a sheep's species is determined by birth not behavior. Simply put there are no nominal sheep. You are a sheep or a goat, or a sheep behaving like a goat, but a sheep none the less. "You are a saint or you aint"

AMEN

[Christian]

Jesus used the term "sheep" to describe the children of God, and used the term "goats" to describe the unregenerate. Sheep might behave badly like goats, but a sheep's species is determined by birth not behavior. Simply put there are no nominal sheep. You are a sheep or a goat, or a sheep behaving like a goat, but a sheep none the less. "You are a saint or you aint"

Then I would be a sheep

[Guest jckduboise]

this is all fine and good, but does anyone remember the original question? because i am not hearing anymore answers. who says christians can't dance?

Yesterday, 01:52 PM Post #4

Advanced Member

Group: Advanced Member

Posts: 261

Joined: 15-April 06

From: Bothell, Wa

Member No.: 42553

Either way I answer is going to be awkward..

So if I say I am a true believer and keep my lamp oiled and am ready for my bride-groom then am I not (figuratively speaking) honking my own horn?

And if I say that I am nominal, then am I not saying that I am not quite ready and am waiting for the last minute. To top that, am I not saying that I am hypocrytical?

No I don't see this as a thread that will be fruitful but I do see it as a thread that will allow folks to become judgemental towards each other.

--------------------

Your Sister in Christ

Jackie

This remains my answer.

We must remember though, we would not be honking our own horn, we are to praise GOd for giving us the strength to live for him. We do not have to be boastful about it, but we know in our own hearts the answer to that question.

Its not boasting to tell the truth. Someday we might even have to answer it in front of the master.

Give all the glory to God that we are who we are, we live for him, and know him. Its all him!

Problem with that for me Brandi is that what I do to make me a true believer may not be perceived that way in God's eyes. I have a good relationship with the Lord-I believe. But please tell me how can I be so sure (just at in the letter to the churches in Rev) that there is not something that I do that the Lord holds against me.

Besides, my telling all of you where I stand in my faith is not necessary. You see it each and everyday here at worthy. So without opening my mouth (figuratively speaking) and giving people room for judgement I can just let my actions speak my words.

[dakota190]

God did not give us a spirit of fear. yes, a heartfelt answer can be embarressing, and can open you to the judgement of others. if others judge you, then they have an issue of judgement, they need to work on and correct with the lord. that is their load not yours. i know i am not making many friends here on these boards with some of the things i point out, but i am honestly trying to help. often i need someone to reopen my eyes to just what a failure my flesh is. no matter how long we have been christians or even been counselors in the faith, we are still weak in the flesh and sometimes we need the cleansing of taking an honest confession to other christians. God, walks with us in all of our fears.

your brother in Christ!! with all love and respect.

the confessions we make to our brothers and sisters in Christ, are for us not God, God already knows, and as for the others, they may need exactly what we share. God works through us in the strangest ways at the oddest times, to the glory of his name and the furthance of his plan. i pray that God will choose to use me in any way at any time, for his purposes, for his glory. even if it embarrasses me. afterall i embarress myself on a regular basis for no good purpose, for no glory. i much prefer God does it.

Edited May 19, 2006 by dakota190

[dakota190]

i appreciate this thread, it is a chance to explore ourselves. in our weaknesses, God is strong, through our weaknesses, God shows his strength and wisdom. if i give good advice, it is because the Holy Spirit is working through me. when i give bad advice, i know i am trying to do it in my flesh. a thread like this can and has evolved and can provide all of us an opportunity to face something about ourselves. is what we say and write, of the Lord, always? how often is it of my flesh? i hate my weaknesses, but i rejoice that in my weaknesses, God can get closer to me, if i allow it by putting my pride aside. God has searched our hearts and often finds them lacking. when we allow his light to shine into our dark and hidden places, (they're not hidden from him) we allow ourselves to see our own rot and at that time we can, with the Lord's help, replace the bad with the good. remember, God is a gentleman, he will, only if we allow him to.

God Bless you and don't be afraid of letting others see our weaknesses, as a body we are here to help each other in each other's growth and in our own walk with the Lord.

Edited May 19, 2006 by dakota190

[Guest jckduboise]

God did not give us a spirit of fear. yes, a heartfelt answer can be embarressing, and can open you to the judgement of others. if others judge you, then they have an issue of judgement, they need to work on and correct with the lord. that is their load not yours. i know i am not making many friends here on these boards with some of the things i point out, but i am honestly trying to help. often i need someone to reopen my eyes to just what a failure my flesh is. no matter how long we have been christians or even been counselors in the faith, we are still weak in the flesh and sometimes we need the cleansing of taking an honest confession to other christians. God, walks with us in all of our fears.

your brother in Christ!! with all love and respect.

the confessions we make to our brothers and sisters in Christ, are for us not God, God already knows, and as for the others, they may need exactly what we share. God works through us in the strangest ways at the oddest times, to the glory of his name and the furthance of his plan. i pray that God will choose to use me in any way at any time, for his purposes, for his glory. even if it embarrasses me. afterall i embarress myself on a regular basis for no good purpose, for no glory. i much prefer God does it.

In Response

I don't believe at anytime during this thread did I express fear. I do not fear judgment by any of you. I fear judgement by God see my point below.

If I am speaking up and sharing these things about myself one or all of you will form a judgement on my character. Which then takes me back to what I originally said that this thread puts us in a position where we are in judgement of each other and we are not to judge each other.

Perfect example you judged that my reluctance to share with you regarding my relationship with God is saying to you I have and carry a spirit of fear. Which sir you can be assured I DO NOT.

I appreciate what you have said and would have to stand in my position regarding this matter.

God Bless

[dakota190]

my point about the spirit of fear was not a judgement, and by your interpretating it as such i feel you made my point for me, in that we too often let our fear of what someone else will think of us stand in our way. nothing i wrote was meant in a judgemental way. it was said for the purposes that i included in my post. not to hurt anyone's feelings. in the post that i stated that no one was answering the original question, it was my observation there was a lot of evaluation of the question and explanation as to why one would not answer the question, but there was no substantial answer relating to the original inquiry. i apololgize again for stepping on anyone's toes. it was not my intent. as for judging anyone else, it has not been given to me to do, nor do i feel qualified.

God bless us in our growth!!!!!

Edited May 20, 2006 by dakota190

[Guest jckduboise]

my point about the spirit of fear was not a judgement, and by your interpretating it as such i feel you made my point for me, in that we too often let our fear of what someone else will think of us stand in our way. nothing i wrote was meant in a judgemental way. it was said for the purposes that i included in my post. not to hurt anyone's feelings. in the post that i stated that no one was answering the original question, it was my observation there was a lot of evaluation of the question and explanation as to why one would not answer the question, but there was no substantial answer relating to the original inquiry. i apololgize again for stepping on anyone's toes. it was not my intent. as for judging anyone else, it has not been given to me to do, nor do i feel qualified.

God bless us in our growth!!!!!

God blesses us indeed.

Have a peacefilled day.