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<blockquote data-quote="joey_downunder" data-source="post: 58589494" data-attributes="member: 242214"><p>Sorry - guilty of emotions influencing typing at that point. </p><p></p><p>I disagree that it is inappropriate for you. You would benefit from hearing/reading how feeling and non-feeling writers/speakers still agree on fundamental truths. Some people have a better understanding of doctrines or backgrounds behind certain passages than others. Remember I am trying to find resources that are relevant to you personally at the same time as I am typing. </p><p></p><p>I think the Bible is difficult to understand in many places whether someone is a believer or not. That is why it is so essential to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. <a href="http://www.esvbible.org/search/romans+12%3A1-3/" target="_blank">romans 12:1-3</a></p><p>Renewing of a christian's mind will come AFTER genuine conversion and continued study and fellowship. In my case I had/still have to read and study a great deal to keep my <em>emotions </em>under control. Feelings are my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achilles'_heel" target="_blank">Achilles'_heel</a>. </p><p>For you if you become a Christian/return to Christianity I think you will have to do the same to keep your <em>thoughts</em> focused on God's mind/God's will. </p><p></p><p>I think your mind is by far your strongest point as you have mentioned several times that you have led Bible studies and taught people very successfully. I think your difficulty in understanding feelings and metaphors is behind a lot of your comprehension struggles of deeper passages. Kind of like the situation when Jesus healed the blind man who saw trees before he saw things as they really are <a href="http://www.esvbible.org/search/mark+8%3A22-25/" target="_blank">mark 8:22-25/</a>. </p><p></p><p>I want the Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes as well. I bet all christian readers so far want the same outcome for you. </p><p></p><p>I was being very blunt there. God can use the Bible, God can use special understanding/insight, God can use people, God can use special circumstances. It all depends on God's will for that person at that time. The vast majority of spiritual <em>knowledge</em> will come through study of the Bible and the Holy Spirit enlightening the christian's mind through study of the Bible. Any genuine christian extra-Biblical experience will agree with the Bible's teachings.</p><p> </p><p>It would be so much easier if God responded to us in obvious ways that 1. we always knew for sure that God was with us 2. outsiders could not dismiss as wishful thinking or an emotional crutch (hubby's an atheist, I know that attitude too well). If that happened we would never need faith. We are told faith is what pleases God. Look at how all the people in the Old Testament are praised <a href="http://www.esvbible.org/search/hebrews+11/" target="_blank">hebrews 11</a> because they had <em>faith</em> in God. </p><p></p><p>Knowledge of God does increase via the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to those who are born-again. <a href="http://www.esvbible.org/search/john+3%3A1-8/" target="_blank">john 3:1-8/</a> Yes you do need to know if you were/need to be born-again. You do have to examine yourself extremely carefully to find out if you really are one of God's children or not. </p><p></p><p>I agree with you that you need to experience the work of the Holy Spirit. That will only occur after genuine belief in Christ and genuine repentance/change of mind. </p><p></p><p>Although I may misinterpret what you are saying and at times reach different conclusions from being a very "feeling" personality (other side of the spectrum!) I relate to what you are saying about your concerns very well. I went through an extremely difficult struggle with my faith and I don't want a (potential) brother-in-Christ struggling as much as I did. <img src="/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/old/hug.gif" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":hug:" title="hug :hug:" data-shortname=":hug:" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="joey_downunder, post: 58589494, member: 242214"] Sorry - guilty of emotions influencing typing at that point. I disagree that it is inappropriate for you. You would benefit from hearing/reading how feeling and non-feeling writers/speakers still agree on fundamental truths. Some people have a better understanding of doctrines or backgrounds behind certain passages than others. Remember I am trying to find resources that are relevant to you personally at the same time as I am typing. I think the Bible is difficult to understand in many places whether someone is a believer or not. That is why it is so essential to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. [URL="http://www.esvbible.org/search/romans+12%3A1-3/"]romans 12:1-3[/URL] Renewing of a christian's mind will come AFTER genuine conversion and continued study and fellowship. In my case I had/still have to read and study a great deal to keep my [I]emotions [/I]under control. Feelings are my [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achilles'_heel"]Achilles'_heel[/URL]. For you if you become a Christian/return to Christianity I think you will have to do the same to keep your [I]thoughts[/I] focused on God's mind/God's will. I think your mind is by far your strongest point as you have mentioned several times that you have led Bible studies and taught people very successfully. I think your difficulty in understanding feelings and metaphors is behind a lot of your comprehension struggles of deeper passages. Kind of like the situation when Jesus healed the blind man who saw trees before he saw things as they really are [URL="http://www.esvbible.org/search/mark+8%3A22-25/"]mark 8:22-25/[/URL]. I want the Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes as well. I bet all christian readers so far want the same outcome for you. I was being very blunt there. God can use the Bible, God can use special understanding/insight, God can use people, God can use special circumstances. It all depends on God's will for that person at that time. The vast majority of spiritual [I]knowledge[/I] will come through study of the Bible and the Holy Spirit enlightening the christian's mind through study of the Bible. Any genuine christian extra-Biblical experience will agree with the Bible's teachings. It would be so much easier if God responded to us in obvious ways that 1. we always knew for sure that God was with us 2. outsiders could not dismiss as wishful thinking or an emotional crutch (hubby's an atheist, I know that attitude too well). If that happened we would never need faith. We are told faith is what pleases God. Look at how all the people in the Old Testament are praised [URL="http://www.esvbible.org/search/hebrews+11/"]hebrews 11[/URL] because they had [I]faith[/I] in God. Knowledge of God does increase via the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to those who are born-again. [URL="http://www.esvbible.org/search/john+3%3A1-8/"]john 3:1-8/[/URL] Yes you do need to know if you were/need to be born-again. You do have to examine yourself extremely carefully to find out if you really are one of God's children or not. I agree with you that you need to experience the work of the Holy Spirit. That will only occur after genuine belief in Christ and genuine repentance/change of mind. Although I may misinterpret what you are saying and at times reach different conclusions from being a very "feeling" personality (other side of the spectrum!) I relate to what you are saying about your concerns very well. I went through an extremely difficult struggle with my faith and I don't want a (potential) brother-in-Christ struggling as much as I did. :hug: [/QUOTE]
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