Challenge: Can you convert me?

[RedBalfour]

I know christians, i got to a catholic school 6th form, and some of my best friends are christians. well...three. They dont try and evangelise me because they were there when i stopped being christian.

 

[E-beth]

Hi RedBalfour!

I am not gonna preach at you or quote scripture at you. What I will say is that your description of that feeling you get while in nature is beautiful.

When I walk into my church, and often times when I am communing with God while out in nature, I feel Him pointing things out that are just wonderous. His creation is indeed awesome, and like you, I want to preserve it. He has gifted us with a beautiful world, but we humans ruin everything.

It's true that satan wants as many away from God as possible. Misery loves company, as they say. Sometimes it is like we are walking across a raging river, and satan is there putting rocks in front of us to walk on. How helpful! What we don't realize is that his rocks lead us of the best path and often lead to greater dangers. If we just look around, God has built us a bridge! Satan would use your experiences with God wanting to show you the great stuff He has made to confuse you about other gods. He uses science and logic to take our eyes off the bridge. He will make us think the bridge is an optical illusion.

The bridge, by the way, is Jesus Christ. We cannot even get to God without Him. Otherwise, those rocks will just keep going forever, and you will never get to the other side.

I am not trying to "convert" you. I do want you to know what you are missing. And I am praying that your heart will become receptive, and that God clears away some of that confusion that Satan has put there.

If you ever need to talk something out, please let me know. I am no scholar, but I do love my Savior.

 

[Criada]

RedBalfour

I am not going to try to "convert" you - only the Holy Spirit can change your heart.
I am, however, very willing to answer any specific questions you may have.

And I am going to be praying for you!
And I know that God loves you much, much more than you can ever understand!
God bless you.

 

[RedBalfour]

I've got so many offers for people to answer my questions, but i dont have any questions. I know all i need to know to make the informed decisions i make about my belief...you all sort of talk about Unending Love and that stuff, but what's to say Satan doesn't love those who he's brought to him?
All you've got is scripture saying that he doesn't, and scripture saying he's evil. what if he's just a victim of political spin?

 

[Criada]

satan didn't die for me.
Jesus did!

 

[IamRedeemed]

First of all, people aren't argued into believing in Christ. The Holy Spirit draws them.

amen. This is basically what I was going to say!
No one can come unless the Holy Spirit draws them.

But I for one am willing to try to answer any questions or doubts you may have!

 

[dimwhitt]

RedBalfour,
let me begin by crediting you for coming to christians for answers about christian things

there are many things we can know about God apart from the Bible, but there is even more we can know about God in the Bible

start by reading a gospel (Mark is the shortest)
u can read it in about 1 hour or two

see what the disciples wrote about Jesus and tell us what u think

 

[RedBalfour]

I've read it, i was raised catholic so i had to read a lot of the bible before my first communion. and i went to, and still go to, a catholic school.

It doesn't get me spirit-filled...

 

[E-beth]

...what's to say Satan doesn't love those who he's brought to him?
All you've got is scripture saying that he doesn't, and scripture saying he's evil. what if he's just a victim of political spin?

Maybe Satan does love his followers. Maybe he even gives them great stuff, or the power to make stuff happen. I am sure there must be some reward, or else people would resist him. Satan is described as an angel of light, beautiful. That means evil feels good, looks good, tastes good, etc.

But at the end of the day, Satan can't save your soul. All he can do is watch as you die and go to hell, where he can't make it fun anymore. There is no good way to describe torment. I really REALLY don't want that for you. Or anyone else.

 

[indagroove]

Good luck in your walk RedBalfour.

I was wondering how you gain forgiveness in your transgressions?

How will you atone for these?

Cheers,

 

[RedBalfour]

Well its not going to happen to me, so dont fret about it.

Atone? Hmm...well, I today i used public transport and walked a lot, which is better than a car, so that makes up for that boiled sweet rapper i dropped the other day...thats my atonement, making a sacrifice for somethign i did wrong. I could have got a lift, but i walked.

If you mean what am i going to do for being a pagan, leaving christianity and everything like that...
Nothing. see my reply to the other post mate, i'm not going to hell.

 

[dimwhitt]

but read it now with fresh eyes and a brain full of question u cant put words to

its not supposed to get u "spirit-filled"
that a term used by a specific segment of the american christian populatin and is not a term that comes to us from church history

its supposed to get you thinking about how you can know who Jesus is and what u are going to do about it

 

[RedBalfour]

I know who Jesus is, and what i'm doing about it though...

SIDE NOTE: Someone here PMd me about christian metal, i need it sending again, i accidentaly deleted it before i'd read it.

 

[dimwhitt]

then why the hesitation to embrace the faith that embraces Him?

 

[RedBalfour]

Because his message isnt the one i'm hearing...he's not in my msn contacts...he's just some guy i know from school. If you understand that?

 

[indagroove]

Well its not going to happen to me, so dont fret about it.

Atone? Hmm...well, I today i used public transport and walked a lot, which is better than a car, so that makes up for that boiled sweet rapper i dropped the other day...thats my atonement, making a sacrifice for somethign i did wrong. I could have got a lift, but i walked.

If you mean what am i going to do for being a pagan, leaving christianity and everything like that...
Nothing. see my reply to the other post mate, i'm not going to hell.

EDIT: never mind ....

 

[dimwhitt]

...Because his message isnt the one i'm hearing
all the more reason to read what he said of himself


...he's not in my msn contacts...
but he does send us the Holy spirit who will "teach us all things" and abides IN us

...he's just some guy i know from school. If you understand that?
i certainly do - again read the gospels with fresh eyes and a mind full of questions
i cant describe what happened to me when i started to read the bible for the first time as a high school student. i was shocked that what it said was nothing like i was ever told

forget everything u think u know and start over

 

[RedBalfour]

Is it all going to be about the boundless love and merciful nature of God?
Give me a synopsis...you dont read novels without reading the back...

 

[dimwhitt]

Is it all going to be about the boundless love and merciful nature of God?
yes and no

Give me a synopsis...you dont read novels without reading the back...

Matthew emphasizes Jesus authority over all
Mark emphasizes Jesus service towards all
Luke emphasizes Jesus humanity among all
John emphasizes Jesus diety for all

 

[RedBalfour]

Its the same as i remember it the first time...

That's not the kind of book i like realy. He's not the kind of figure i respect more than as a smart bloke. i respect other deities more...