Leading people astray....

DeerGlow · Apr 11, 2017

So I was driving home and saw two people I used to play clarinet with in band. One of them had a strong dislike for me for a while, and I was trying to remember why we fell out. Then I remembered. For some reason we were talking about salvation. Her grandmother had just died an unbeliever and she asked if that meant her grandmother was in hell. I think I responded poorly (trying to be honest as best as I knew) and she some time later became an atheist and as far as I know is still an atheist. Does the passage about false teachers and making children or brothers stumble and better to have a millstone around the neck and be tossed in the sea apply to me? I'm worried I'm the reason she left the faith.

PollyJetix · Apr 11, 2017

DeerGlow said:
So I was driving home and saw two people I used to play clarinet with in band. One of them had a strong dislike for me for a while, and I was trying to remember why we fell out. Then I remembered. For some reason we were talking about salvation. Her grandmother had just died an unbeliever and she asked if that meant her grandmother was in hell. I think I responded poorly (trying to be honest as best as I knew) and she some time later became an atheist and as far as I know is still an atheist. Does the passage about false teachers and making children or brothers stumble and better to have a millstone around the neck and be tossed in the sea apply to me? I'm worried I'm the reason she left the faith.

I worry over some replies I have made in the past to people who ended up badly.
But we can't go back for a retake. That only happens on movie sets and in our imaginations.

Life moves on. God forgives. We learn some things the hard way.
And we even learn to forgive ourselves.

Phil 1:21 · Apr 11, 2017

Pray for her that The Lord enters her heart and brings her to Him. But as far as what you said condemning you for eternity...not a chance. We are not saved by our acts but by faith and grace alone. In three days we celebrate Good Friday, the day Jesus willingly went to his death to atone for all of our sins. Jesus took that proverbial millstone off your neck when he went to the cross. Give thanks for such an amazing, unwarranted gift.

Tull · Apr 11, 2017

People need to also remember that its highly unlikely that you will escape the Hell you lead another to,the truth must always be spoken and those who hate the truth will hate you regardless of how you say it.

ChristianFromKazakhstan · Apr 11, 2017

DeerGlow said:
So I was driving home and saw two people I used to play clarinet with in band. One of them had a strong dislike for me for a while, and I was trying to remember why we fell out. Then I remembered. For some reason we were talking about salvation. Her grandmother had just died an unbeliever and she asked if that meant her grandmother was in hell. I think I responded poorly (trying to be honest as best as I knew) and she some time later became an atheist and as far as I know is still an atheist. Does the passage about false teachers and making children or brothers stumble and better to have a millstone around the neck and be tossed in the sea apply to me? I'm worried I'm the reason she left the faith.

If you were honest in your conversation, you shouldn't worry. As long as you were trying to be truthful and loving and caring. Jesus judges only according to your level of understanding. If you believe that this button is for administering good medicine to a patient, but instead the syringe was filled by poison by somebody else but you didn't know it, you're not responsible for the death that followed...

However, if you caused somebody to stumble knowingly, on purpose, and with a malignant plan, then that's a very different story. Then it's a matter between you and God.

Well, there is no hard proof that it was your words that caused your musical partner to stumble, is there? You might be imagining things. Talk to her, and most probably you'll find out her decision to disbelief God had nothing to do with you and your conversation about her late unbelieving grandmother.

Besides, if you were correct in suggesting that all unbelievers in Jesus go to hell, then all you did you told the truth. If truth of Jesus causes somebody to stumble, there's nothing we can do. Most of the world rejects Jesus, it's not my or your fault.

DeerGlow · Apr 11, 2017

Tull said:
People need to also remember that its highly unlikely that you will escape the Hell you lead another to,the truth must always be spoken and those who hate the truth will hate you regardless of how you say it.

The hell you lead another to?

Tull · Apr 11, 2017

DeerGlow said:
The hell you lead another to?

You lead others to hell when you teach them lies and they believe them,they go for believing them instead of the truth and you go for teaching a lie.....false teachers.

DeerGlow · Apr 11, 2017

Tull said:
You lead others to hell when you teach them lies and they believe them,they go for believing them instead of the truth and you go for teaching a lie.....false teachers.

I wasn't trying to lie. I'm just worried that response made her reject the truth so she wouldn't have to think of a family member in the fires.

Edit: By the truth I mean Christianity, not her grandmother being in hell because I don't know I never met her grandmother I cannot say for sure what will happen to her soul.

ChristianFromKazakhstan · Apr 11, 2017

DeerGlow said:
I wasn't trying to lie. I'm just worried that response made her reject the truth so she wouldn't have to think of a family member in the fires.

Edit: By the truth I mean Christianity, not her grandmother being in hell because I don't know I never met her grandmother I cannot say for sure what will happen to her soul.

Sounds like you didn't say anything criminal and should really focus on your service to Jesus today, not what you probably said incorrectly in the past. We can't undo past, whether good or bad. We can only change our future.

Tull · Apr 11, 2017

DeerGlow said:
I wasn't trying to lie. I'm just worried that response made her reject the truth so she wouldn't have to think of a family member in the fires.

A person rejects the truth because they want to,the bible is plain on the fate of the unsaved and Jesus mentioned it many times and from what I can tell it was with little regard to the feelings of the people around him.....Jesus said many things to people that would be considered in today's PC seeker friendly world.

yeshuaslavejeff · Apr 11, 2017

DeerGlow said:
So I was driving home and saw two people I used to play clarinet with in band. One of them had a strong dislike for me for a while, and I was trying to remember why we fell out. Then I remembered. For some reason we were talking about salvation. Her grandmother had just died an unbeliever and she asked if that meant her grandmother was in hell. I think I responded poorly (trying to be honest as best as I knew) and she some time later became an atheist and as far as I know is still an atheist. Does the passage about false teachers and making children or brothers stumble and better to have a millstone around the neck and be tossed in the sea apply to me? I'm worried I'm the reason she left the faith.

You're probably not a false teacher.

Put everything before YHWH (GOD), for HIM to open up and reveal. (men do not know)

The conscience HE gives is for a reason - maybe to bring something to light, or to seek understanding .....
He will reveal this.

-Luca · Apr 11, 2017

I understand your trouble. But what if another influencer was behind the influencee, let's say...Devil! Yes! Great example. Because, I can assure you although you may have had a slight minuscule effect do you not think that the Devil would have intervened too? If you agree to this then I would simply state assuming that the Devils influence was greater and more deceiving than yours (as in most scenarios) thus, if we were to compare his doing against yours, even if you had not said anything to her, she still would be in this current state, you being involved or not. Thus, to conclude, although it would appear that you caused this, in reality it was Lucifer. Do not worry yourself and feel guilt, that is what he wants you to feel. Regret and guilt is of the Devil!

longwait · Apr 12, 2017

DeerGlow said:
So I was driving home and saw two people I used to play clarinet with in band. One of them had a strong dislike for me for a while, and I was trying to remember why we fell out. Then I remembered. For some reason we were talking about salvation. Her grandmother had just died an unbeliever and she asked if that meant her grandmother was in hell. I think I responded poorly (trying to be honest as best as I knew) and she some time later became an atheist and as far as I know is still an atheist. Does the passage about false teachers and making children or brothers stumble and better to have a millstone around the neck and be tossed in the sea apply to me? I'm worried I'm the reason she left the faith.

You shouldn't blame yourself for that. You didn't purposely lead her astray. God looks at the motives and intentions of the heart too. If you are uneasy about what happened pray for this woman and her salvation. Thats the best that you can do.

Tull · Apr 12, 2017

We seem to be on this journey to find someone or something to blame for the free will decisions of the individual......responsibility,the most hated of all things.

GandalfTheWise · Apr 12, 2017

We've all said and done things we later regret or question. Once in a while, we might be the straw that breaks the camel's back. But if that is the case, it's because there already was a lot of stuff building up that wasn't just us. If there is a graceful way of making up for it, okay. If not, it's best just to learn from it. Sometimes we can reconcile relationships by being humble and asking forgiveness; other times, that may not do anything.

It is very common in some Christian circles to view "plain speaking of the Truth" to be a virtue under all circumstances. I think many of us take this to heart and act this way at times. Most of us eventually learn to temper that with wisdom and discretion. Call it life experience, but I no longer look for every opportunity to be an aggressive advocate for the Truth. I look for opportunities to have a big impact in people's lives. I view it as planting a garden by carefully choosing which seeds to plant where rather than grabbing handfuls of seeds and wildly throwing them everywhere hoping that some might grow.

Goodbook · Apr 12, 2017

Just put it to God and pray for her salvation...the verse is talking about offending little children...how old is this person you were talking to?

GOds hand isnt too short to save and He loves children, that chapter talks about how we come to Him as a child and the angels are always looking after them..in my experience the age when children reach puberty is when they are really tested and those that become atheists or have their hearts hardened need much prayer during that phase of their lives as teenagers. But they are making their own decisions then.

In future be careful what you say to children that they know there is a father in heaven that loves them, what you said wasnt wrong just pray they realise the importance of putting trust in Jesus. I have grandparents who have passd away that im not likely to see in heaven as they werent believers and have come to accept that, but that doesnt affect my faith.

It actually takes more than that to harden ones heart against God..just ask God what it might be if you concerned and pray for her parents that may still be alive also.

DeerGlow · Apr 12, 2017

Goodbook said:
Just put it to God and pray for her salvation...the verse is talking about offending little children...how old is this person you were talking to?

GOds hand isnt too short to save and He loves children, that chapter talks about how we come to Him as a child and the angels are always looking after them..in my experience the age when children reach puberty is when they are really tested and those that become atheists or have their hearts hardened need much prayer during that phase of their lives as teenagers. But they are making their own decisions then.

In future be careful what you say to children that they know there is a father in heaven that loves them, what you said wasnt wrong just pray they realise the importance of putting trust in Jesus. I have grandparents who have passd away that im not likely to see in heaven as they werent believers and have come to accept that, but that doesnt affect my faith.

It actually takes more than that to harden ones heart against God..just ask God what it might be if you concerned and pray for her parents that may still be alive also.

Around eighth or ninth grade so.... I'm young for my grade between 12-14 I guess?

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