New here!

[LilLamb219]

Welcome!

 

[Radiata]

So you're from Warren? I'm in Romeo. Alittle north of you. As for falling away, here's my story. It's a long read and don't feel that you have to do it.
http://www.christianforums.com/t5446474-god-will-answer-your-call-i-guarantee-it.html

Welcome.

 

[ctay]

I did quit going for awhile myself

 

[Zecryphon]

Good morning!

I'm new here! Anyone from Michigan?

Also, has anyone gone through a conformation class, been baptized as an adult, fallen away (and I mean...REALLY FALLEN AWAY) only to be saved later on? That's my story in a nutshell.

Yeah I did that. In fact, if you or anyone else who has not seen this from me before is interested, you can read about it here:

http://zecryphon.blogspot.com/2006/12/confession-from-false-convert-part-1.html

http://zecryphon.blogspot.com/2006/12/confession-from-false-convert-part-2.html

 

[Zecryphon]

do you think its possible to get baptized as a false convert?

Yep. I did it. Of course I had a different understanding of baptism then than I do now.

 

[Zecryphon]

sounds very familar! so what is everyone reading in their Bible currently?

2 Timothy here.

 

[Confess]

Howdy Howdy!

 

[KimLCMS]

Welcome!!

I didn't realize I was so surrounded by Michigan people. I'll remember you all in my prayers when Ohio State beats you. Go Bucks!!!!

 

[WildStrawberry]

Welcome!!

I didn't realize I was so surrounded by Michigan people. I'll remember you all in my prayers when Ohio State beats you. Go Bucks!!!!

Woo Hoo!!!

When I was at Concordia Ann Arbor, it was my Michigan friend's favorite pastime to try and get me into the UofM store. They did ONCE...while I was kicking and yelling OSU! OSU! OSU!

LOL

Kae

 

[KimLCMS]

Woo Hoo!!!

When I was at Concordia Ann Arbor, it was my Michigan friend's favorite pastime to try and get me into the UofM store. They did ONCE...while I was kicking and yelling OSU! OSU! OSU!

LOL

Kae

 

[GSJ1967]

Not much of a football fan..more of a Tigers guy myself (baseball)..but since I was saved, the Tigers or baseball havent been very important to me..gee..I wonder why?

I used to be a HUGE fanatic of baseball before I was saved. Since the Tigers were doing poorly back then, I would take it very personally...yeeeeeeyuck!!! Praise be to God for straightening my priorities!

 

[PreachersWife2004]

I love college football and basketball, and of course I'm a huge MSU fan!!

I also like the Packers. Brett Favre has been my crush for as long as I can remember.

 

[GSJ1967]

LOL!!

Does anyone know what is decision theology?

 

[PreachersWife2004]

LOL!!

Does anyone know what is decision theology?

Decision theology is the belief that WE must do something in order to have Jesus in our lives. You'll hear a lot of people talk about how they accepted Jesus into their hearts, when this is not really how salvation works.

One of the worst children's gospel songs I ever heard was "I have decided to follow Jesus..." repeated over and over again and then followed by "no turning back". Two of the greatest misconceptions of faith perpetrated in one single song.

We as Lutherans believe that we cannot by our own thinking or choosing come to Jesus. The power is with the Holy Spirit. However, we DO possess the power to damn ourselves. We can reject the word. So we do not believe in "once saved, always saved".

Hope this helps.

 

[LutheranChick]

LOL!!

Does anyone know what is decision theology?

I know there are others on this board that can explain better than I, but basically, decision theology is the thought that people must participate in their salvation - ie, you must make a 'decision to accept the Lord'.

In contrast, the conservative Lutheran faith says that people are unable to 'decide' to accept the Lord. We are saved by the Grace of God alone, and our salvation is not dependent on anything that we do.

 

[BakaFidelis]

Decision theology is where a person makes a choice to allow God into their hearts.

Lutheran doctrine rejects this theory. We believe, rightly so by scripture, that a person is spiritually dead before the Holy Spirit awakens them through the Word.

By the time someone can "choose" they already have a saving faith and are alive in Christ. That is the whole reason they CAN "choose" in the first place.

Sorry, that's it in a nutshell. I have to run! heh. GSJ, you're still welcome at Wed bible study if you ever get the chance

And check out some of the other threads, They have some outstanding discussions going on. I know you will be wanting to jump in as you start to read.

And for the record, I don't really like sports... but I am a HUGE fan of all that is GI Joe *Sheepish smile*

 

[DaRev]

GO BILLS !!!!!!!!!

GO LIONS !!!

 

[synger]

what brought you back?

Lots of little things, working at me and worrying at me for years. Ever read The Hound of Heaven? Those opening lines were me for the longest time. Yet where can I hide, from He who made the universe, and who knit me together in my mother's womb?

I found myself listening to the unending woes of my friends, and realizing that much of it stemmed from their lifestyle... and that when I looked at our lifestyle, it had exactly the same flaws and dangers. I knew it was wrong, but "the world's" voice was loud, and pleasant to hear. So I kept trying to listen to it, even when I knew better.

And still I found myself drawn back to the church (even if only once a month), reading the Bible, getting upset when my non-Christian friends would go off on tirades about the evils of organized religion (always excepting me, of course!). I got tired of being the "token Christian." I studied Christian theology and history, the better to refute their arguments, and found a fascination with it. I learned more and more, and the Scriptures began to open to me in a new way.

And when we finally were blessed with a child, after years of prayer and doctors, my husband finally took a long look at what we were doing and said.. "I can't justify this to my daughter." It was the final straw after many years of trying to rationalize a sinful lifestyle. He made the decision for us, and I was relieved that he had. We'd had too many years of trying to support one another when deep down we both knew we were hurting ourselves and others.

I wouldn't go to a Baptist church because of their decision theology, and he thought Presbyterian was too cold and scholarly, so we looked around for something else. We found LCMS. Slowly, I lost most of the petals from my TULIP. *grins*

And here we are.

 

[GSJ1967]

I've heard TULIP before..doesnt that stand for something?

what are your thoughts about the doctrine of election? any thoughts?

 

[Zecryphon]

I've heard TULIP before..doesnt that stand for something?

what are your thoughts about the doctrine of election? any thoughts?

It's an acronym for what are traditionally considered the 5 points of Calvinism. If you ever talk to a Calvinist you can ask them how many points they are on the TULIP or 5 point scale. I actually knew a 5 point Calvinist on another forum, those are rare. You usually find 3 and 4 pointers generally. Anyway, here is the breakdown:

T = Total Depravity or Inability

U = Unconditional Election

L = Limited Atonement

I = Irresistable Grace

P = Perserverance and Preservation of the Saints

Here is a page that explains it in depth:

http://www.tulip.org/tulip.html