My intro and my dilema

[JoshuaJ]

I've been a christian all my life. I was brought up in a presbyterian church and later on moved to a baptist church. I'm currently 21 years old and I believe i'm pretty rooted in my faith. I accepted Jesus as my personal lord and savior during the eight grade year of middle school.

Well i'm in a bit of dilema right now. i recently meet an awesome woman of god. She loves the lord and also has the fire and passion because shes a new born christian. At first i didn't know what denomination she was, but it didn't matter as long as she loved the lord. Later i found out that she went to a The Lord's Recovery Church (the local church movement). which I did some research and found that some of their christian doctrine is off. I did bring this up with her. And i'm not sure if shes reluctant to change. She seems really attached to her church and their interpretation of the scriptures. i haven't had the nerves yet to bring up the arguements against the lord's recovery church. Is there anyone in these forums that did attend this church? any advices to present the correct views so she doesn't get scared off?

i'm kind of worried because god wants us to be yolked equally with our significant others.. it might mean the end for both of us...

 

[cygnusx1]

I've been a christian all my life. I was brought up in a presbyterian church and later on moved to a baptist church. I'm currently 21 years old and I believe i'm pretty rooted in my faith. I accepted Jesus as my personal lord and savior during the eight grade year of middle school.

Well i'm in a bit of dilema right now. i recently meet an awesome woman of god. She loves the lord and also has the fire and passion because shes a new born christian. At first i didn't know what denomination she was, but it didn't matter as long as she loved the lord. Later i found out that she went to a The Lord's Recovery Church (the local church movement). which I did some research and found that some of their christian doctrine is off. I did bring this up with her. And i'm not sure if shes reluctant to change. She seems really attached to her church and their interpretation of the scriptures. i haven't had the nerves yet to bring up the arguements against the lord's recovery church. Is there anyone in these forums that did attend this church? any advices to present the correct views so she doesn't get scared off?

i'm kind of worried because god wants us to be yolked equally with our significant others.. it might mean the end for both of us...

What doctrines are they "off" on?

I personally would take a long term view,if you cannot agree and it's a serious issue of doctrine sort it out now in a spirit of love,not later.

Perhaps she will be glad you made her research her own faith.


God Bless you in your endevours.

 

[JoshuaJ]

I don't want to convert her to any denomination.. thats up to her and for her to decide i want to present clear bold statements that don't agree with the bible... and of course i want her to choose if its right or wrong.

heres my source.. i know its bias but it does have very good arguments for the foundation of salvation.

http://www.bcbsr.com/topics/lc.html

How to be Born Again
According to the Local Church

"If you sense the oldness and deadness, the emptiness and vanity, the confusion and frustration, and the tragic destiny of the first life, you need Jesus. Only He can enliven you by bringing the life of God into you to give you a new birth, a new life. Only thus can you be born again to be a Christian, a Christ-man, an adherent of Jesus Christ, full of life, joy, peace, rest, purpose, and fulfillment in God. Say to Him boldly, "Lord Jesus, I need You as my Savior. Save me from eternal death. Give me God's life. I want to be born again of God. Make me a Christian." Then you will receive the life of God to make you a born-again Christian."


While to many Christians today, this sounds pretty good, it is not a sufficient presentation of the gospel, but rather taken alone advocates easy-believism. That's about as extensive as they get in presentation of the gospel. In actual practice it's even more condensed. Notice in particular the absence of any mention of sin and Christ's atoning work on the cross. The person is portrayed simply as a victim of circumstances rather than guilty of sin and worthy of condemnation as such. And there is no mention of the forgiveness of sins.

 

[JoshuaJ]

JoshuaJ, you are too young to have a girlfriend. She will only spell trouble. Just keep a couple of chicks on your booty-call list and take your time.

hahah i should.. but shes a really great person.. our interest, personality, and everything matches... yet she isn't rooted in her faith..

 

[JoshuaJ]

i'm willing to break it off for the lord... i'm prepared.

 

[Kris_J]

I've been a christian all my life. I was brought up in a presbyterian church and later on moved to a baptist church. I'm currently 21 years old and I believe i'm pretty rooted in my faith. I accepted Jesus as my personal lord and savior during the eight grade year of middle school.

Well i'm in a bit of dilema right now. i recently meet an awesome woman of god. She loves the lord and also has the fire and passion because shes a new born christian. At first i didn't know what denomination she was, but it didn't matter as long as she loved the lord. Later i found out that she went to a The Lord's Recovery Church (the local church movement). which I did some research and found that some of their christian doctrine is off. I did bring this up with her. And i'm not sure if shes reluctant to change. She seems really attached to her church and their interpretation of the scriptures. i haven't had the nerves yet to bring up the arguements against the lord's recovery church. Is there anyone in these forums that did attend this church? any advices to present the correct views so she doesn't get scared off?

i'm kind of worried because god wants us to be yolked equally with our significant others.. it might mean the end for both of us...

My first and foremost assumption is that all church/individual interpretation is always somehow "off". Nobody can truthfully say "yes I know everything & exactly what God wants us to read in these passages of the Bible".

I wouldn't allow anyone to tell me about being "equally" yolked. This is a mere manipulation used by people to control via double standards. From what I've noticed, these are usually the same people that expect to be equally yolked but women are submissive to men's "equal yolk".

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Kris_J]

i'm willing to break it off for the lord... i'm prepared.

Just make sure you point your finger at the right person if you feel miserable for (edit- not trying harder), letting go of someone you "Love" out of fear that in your mind God *might* be unhappy with you.

Yourself.

It may be for the best anyway, then she is free to ... ah forget it.

 

[Kris_J]

LoL!

 

[The Midge]

How to be Born Again
According to the Local Church

"If you sense the oldness and deadness, the emptiness and vanity, the confusion and frustration, and the tragic destiny of the first life, you need Jesus. Only He can enliven you by bringing the life of God into you to give you a new birth, a new life. Only thus can you be born again to be a Christian, a Christ-man, an adherent of Jesus Christ, full of life, joy, peace, rest, purpose, and fulfillment in God. Say to Him boldly, "Lord Jesus, I need You as my Savior. Save me from eternal death. Give me God's life. I want to be born again of God. Make me a Christian." Then you will receive the life of God to make you a born-again Christian."

Seems OK to me. Lets see what we have here:

1. A statement of the problem of the human condition. A description of spiritual death.
2. A statement of who will solve the problem i.e you need Jesus
3. The need to have a new life or to be born again. i.e. a description of repentance.
4. A description of Discipleship i.e. an adherant of Jesus Christ. Obviously if I were to take baptism or confirmation classes I would expect exspansion and clarification on this issue,
5. A form of the sinners prayer. An expression of need to God and sking Him to change you. When you ask God to "make me a Christian" it is a big thing, you will be made penitent and in its fullest sense it is a very hard road to chose.

While to many Christians today, this sounds pretty good, it is not a sufficient presentation of the gospel, but rather taken alone advocates easy-believism. That's about as extensive as they get in presentation of the gospel. In actual practice it's even more condensed. Notice in particular the absence of any mention of sin and Christ's atoning work on the cross. The person is portrayed simply as a victim of circumstances rather than guilty of sin and worthy of condemnation as such. And there is no mention of the forgiveness of sins.

Are you effectively judging a church because they do not say the right words? Jesus did not dictate a Gospel presentation or a response to it. This is just a different and perhaps creative expression of it. Christianity is about heart and attitude. Something we are not qualified to judge.
We become Christians by confession in Christ as a Lord and savior not through a perfect understanding of theology. Are you sure this Church isn't just leaving that hurdle to later? Do you think it is accpetable to get people praying and through the dorr and then encourage them in to deeper faith later, one step at a time? Have you examined their creeds? Their induction and training courses?
I think this is an invitation and commitment to discipleship which is not easy 'believeism'. The Church is a diverse community and has many expressions of discipleship.

 

[john14_20]

Hi JoshuaJ

How can you be so sure that you are right and your girlfriend is wrong?

If you really are that sure, then perhaps you should open yourself to the possibility that you are a pharisee.

If you really are not that sure, then it is clearly not worth ending a relationship over.

Blessings, Pete

 

[A Brethren IN CHRIST]

as long as This girl believes that God did everything for her salvation ...

then you can be longsuffering if you love her as long as you go to the same church.


The holy spirit is all are teachers 1 cor 2:10
but the holy spirit may use you to bring forth truth gentlely not arguementive

teach about God character then go into his grace
this is foundational for one growth

 

[EmSchmem]

I know I can not throw out a peice of scripture and change you mind of your heart but to add anything necessary to be saved than believing in Christ's death is an insult to Christ.

 

[A Brethren IN CHRIST]

1 cor 15:2-4

1 cor 15:17 and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins.

 

[bliz]

Hi, Josh -

Have you been to her church?
Have you read anything they have provided?
Have you had conversations with any of the leaders there?

Sure, that particular statement (in addition to needing a major re-write) does not mention sin, no small omission. But, (and especially considering the quality of the writing) that may be an oversight rather than a theological perspective. If you really want to know what this church teaches, go, more than once or twice, and hear for yourself. Be sure to bring an open mind and heart with you.

I know the web site you gave us calls this "easy believism". That's what they think. Does that make it so? I have a feeling that you are looking for your girlfriend to say just the right words, in the right order - "right" of course, meaning that with which you are comfortable. Our personal comfort zones are never a great test of theological soundness.