http://www.christianforums.com Congregation forum for moderate Christians. en Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:12:35 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.christianforums.com/style/misc/rss.jpg http://www.christianforums.com http://www.christianforums.com/t7418403/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:49:48 GMT I know people like Lutherans, Catholics insist on a lot of doctrinal instruction, answering questions, believing a catechism, is there anywheres you can just go get baptized, what you believe is between you and God, no questioning? I'm knowledgeable about the Bible, but my conclusions are a bit unorthodox, not terribly. It has to do with the nature of the trinity among other things, so I do not want to answer lots of questions, 'Do you accept Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?' etc., I am not anything close to unitarian, I do believe in the definite importance of the Bible as a holy book. My problem is a desire to be baptized without lying to someone about what I think. Who does this some type of revivalist or baptist? ]]> Bridge Builders - Moderate Christians nathanielfirst http://www.christianforums.com/t7418403/ http://www.christianforums.com/t7417742/ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:20:50 GMT Well, actually, I've rather overstated the subject line, but I've got you to read.
I wanted to find an open item on healing but couldn't so I've started another topic.
A very thoughtful friend shared in our small group about her eating disorder. This was quite serious and involved aspects of both anorexia and bulimia.
She had this for a long time and was involved in serious, front-line Christian ministry most of the time. (evangelistic groups and outreach)
All the time, she was praying and bible-reading and fellowshipping and doing the right things spiritually. She was also praying for the sorting out of her disorder. (admittedly more initially). She did manage to share her issue with one or two other members.
She also received 2 very accurate words of knowledge, but which were descriptive but not directive. Relationship with distant father had a lot to do with it.
She was finally 'sorted out' when she found her marriage partner and realised that her new social responsibility (for husband and family) meant she had to be physically healthy.
By effort of will she is now relatively 'normal'.
But the interesting thing is, all the time she was in Christian work she was spiritually very on-fire, and very sharp and effective. But her soul life (mind, body and emotions) was limping along and damaged. I'd never really thought that possible before. Surely if you had relationship with God and in his will, you'd be emotionally healed of compulsive disorders.
But it's obvious now and it chimes with my own experience and most of the people in my church. Spiritual sickness needs spiritual cure, loneliness needs community and shalom, physical healing needs a doctor and medicine, emotional damage needs the support of loving others.
And this is how God intended it. It's all 'Christian'.
And it explains how lop-sided and unbalanced some 'earnest' Christians are and how they can say they are (and feel) healed when they manifestly aren't. And how pentecostal and charismatic church members can be particularly vulnerable to this self-delusion. ]]> Bridge Builders - Moderate Christians salamacum http://www.christianforums.com/t7417742/ http://www.christianforums.com/t7416988/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:55:25 GMT Hi, its always bothered me that i cant find solid proof that what the bible says is truth. sometimes id wonder how do we know its inspired by God? or perhaps the authors of the new testament saw the old testament and wrote to fulfill the prophecies of the old testament. but the gospels have a lot... Hi, its always bothered me that i cant find solid proof that what the bible says is truth. sometimes id wonder how do we know its inspired by God? or perhaps the authors of the new testament saw the old testament and wrote to fulfill the prophecies of the old testament. but the gospels have a lot of similarities in telling about Jesus' life. based on a line or two from the old testament its very hard for matthew or john to recreate Jesus' story so similarly. but then maybe they knew each other and collaborated? i know it would seem stupid for them to do that though. why go through the trouble of making up a story? besides the people in their time, knowing Jesus didn't exist would have known that the matthew and john were lying. theres no fooling any1 and such an uproar might be recorded in history, yet there isnt something like that. ive asked a lot of people this question already but no one has given me a good answer. please help thx :) ]]> Bridge Builders - Moderate Christians bubbleperson http://www.christianforums.com/t7416988/ http://www.christianforums.com/t7414633/ Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:31:45 GMT I don't know what category I belong to, if any.

I'm a born again Christian. I attend a community church. I am a bi sexual but trying to live as the bible says to.

Any suggestions? ]]> Bridge Builders - Moderate Christians Pats http://www.christianforums.com/t7414633/ http://www.christianforums.com/t7414084/ Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:38:48 GMT Went round to my local supermarket 2 days ago.
They'd gone mad on Halloween. Cobwebs and skeletons over the delicatessan, witches and warlocks stacking shelves, creepy music and screeams above the chemist's.

I wonder how I would have reacted if I'd been working for them (a big chain). Would they have relegated me to the warehouse and been 'sent to Coventry'?

Would they have said "stop being a killjoy" "where's your sense of humour"?
To be po-faced is the ultimate accusation - one I don't like.

Anybody been given a difficult time at work? ]]> Bridge Builders - Moderate Christians salamacum http://www.christianforums.com/t7414084/