Some Evangelical Christians evangelizing in predominantly Christian countries

[Thekla]

Exactlly! I agree with freedom of religion but believe that once shown a relationship with Christ nothing else will come close.

Which Russia understands and practices, in the Russian way.

 

[Livindesert]

But in stating your choice that your minor children ca be actively proselytized by Muslims, you are making a choice on their behalf. Per the Golden rule, then you should accept Russians can make a choice on behalf of their children, too.

No I am stating that any country be it Christian or Islamic controlled should allow us choice as Christ allows us. Why dose Christ give us the ability to turn him down......That is one of the first questions I want to ask him.

 

[Thekla]

I have faith that they will choose correctly

Then you should talk to other parents whose children did not keep the Christian faith.

 

[Livindesert]

O.k. well I gtg to the market catch you all later. Thanks for the interesting disscusion, it gives me a lot to ponder over

 

[Livindesert]

Then you should talk to other parents whose children did not keep the Christian faith.

Actually I probably should it would be enlightening.

 

[Livindesert]

O.k. now bye

 

[Tangible]

Exactlly! I agree with freedom of religion but believe that once shown a relationship with Christ nothing else will come close.

Come close to what, exactly?

Close to their desire for religious expression?
Close to their desire to adopt Western culture?
Close to their desire for a guide to living a moral life?
Close to their desire for dedication to a cause greater than themselves?
Close to the ideal American Evangelical notions of Your Best Life Now?

When you count the cost of becoming a disciple of Christ in many countries of the world, it becomes obvious that we in our nice, developed, Western countries with religious freedoms enshrined in our laws have very little idea of what it means to take up our cross and share in the sufferings of Christ as did the early church.

We are called to preach Christ crucified. Everything else is up to the Holy Spirit.

 

[Thekla]

O.k. now bye

Thank-you

 

[Dorothea]

Come close to what, exactly?

Close to their desire for religious expression?
Close to their desire to adopt Western culture?
Close to their desire for a guide to living a moral life?
Close to their desire for dedication to a cause greater than themselves?
Close to the ideal American Evangelical notions of Your Best Life Now?

When you count the cost of becoming a disciple of Christ in many countries of the world, it becomes obvious that we in our nice, developed, Western countries with religious freedoms enshrined in our laws have very little idea of what it means to take up our cross and share in the sufferings of Christ as did the early church.

We are called to preach Christ crucified. Everything else is up to the Holy Spirit.

 

[katherine2001]

I want to add my to Dorothea's for that post. The Communists tried everything they could to destroy the Orthodox Church during their time in power. Many thousands of Orthodox priests, monks, and lay persons were killed because of their faith or spent many years in prison camps because of their faith. However, no matter how hard the Communists tried to destroy the Orthodox Church, they were not successful--as Christ promised, the gates of hades shall not prevail against His church.

CantateDomino is right. Here in the West, we have no idea what real persecution and suffering for Christ is.

And, just speaking for myself, I have never felt closer to Christ than since I've become Orthodox (I never felt as close to Christ when I was Baptist). You can't get much more intimate with Him than to receive His Body and Blood into your own body!

 

[elizabethevangeline]

I plan on showing them all of the options and then explain why I personally put my faith in Christ.

...words spoken by someone who does not have children.

When theory meets reality, life (and faith) isn't so neat and pithy.

 

[Magentic]

I haven't read the rest of the thread but I'm assuming your talking about children who have left your faith. Personally I think that is assuming that God is not looking after them because your not. So I have to wonder if perhaps there is a reason why God would condider them orphans. I'm not sure if I explained that well, but I find a sort of pathetic pride in calling offspring rebellious when they don't do things the way that you have found God, as if he is limited to your reality.

 

[Livindesert]

...words spoken by someone who does not have children.

When theory meets reality, life (and faith) isn't so neat and pithy.

Actually I have one

 

[Tangible]

And, just speaking for myself, I have never felt closer to Christ than since I've become Orthodox (I never felt as close to Christ when I was Baptist). You can't get much more intimate with Him than to receive His Body and Blood into your own body!

Same for me, Sister. Ex-Baptist, Confessional Lutheran here.

 

[Mikeb85]

I read a manual one time I think from a Baptist church on how to convert the Orthodox in Russia to the Baptist religion. I think it was Baptist, but I am not sure as it was a long time ago that I seen it.

True... When I was a Baptist (growing up) our church was sending missionaries to Russia, and using this manual. Later on, at my grandmother's funeral, I met an Orthodox priest, and realized everything I was taught about the Orthodox was lies...

9 years later I was baptized into the Orthodox Church... And I never really knew what a 'personal relationship with God' (evangelical catchphrase) was until becoming Orthodox...

 

[boswd]

True... When I was a Baptist (growing up) our church was sending missionaries to Russia, and using this manual. Later on, at my grandmother's funeral, I met an Orthodox priest, and realized everything I was taught about the Orthodox was lies...

9 years later I was baptized into the Orthodox Church... And I never really knew what a 'personal relationship with God' (evangelical catchphrase) was until becoming Orthodox...

Does anyone else see the sad irony, people calling themselves "Christians" purposley teaching lies about others?

 

[Benedictiō]

Such is the nature of things in this world, I'm afraid.

 

[Thekla]

I haven't read the rest of the thread but I'm assuming your talking about children who have left your faith. Personally I think that is assuming that God is not looking after them because your not. So I have to wonder if perhaps there is a reason why God would condider them orphans. I'm not sure if I explained that well, but I find a sort of pathetic pride in calling offspring rebellious when they don't do things the way that you have found God, as if he is limited to your reality.

I trust God, indeed ! I have 6 children, and know that each has a particular path to God as given by Him - if they will have it. I also know that my children are not "mine", but are God's and entrusted to me by Him. It is my love of God and responsibility to God that my children are raised as Christians.

If we have full trust in God, do we then raise our children as atheists as a demonstration of our trust in God ?

 

[Kaella]

When the choose is growth in Christ, that's not conducive with the water downed faith found in the churches represented by what i see on this forum.

remind me again why I don't go to church

 

[laconicstudent]

remind me again why I don't go to church

Um, that is not a good thing.