3 1/2 Days to Grow Up

[GarageAlchemist]

Also friend, you may want to look up the verses where it tells you to pray in a room, with the door shut, as to not bring attention to yourself. I'm all for spreading the love, but you are being a bit pushy, and that tends to push people AWAY from God, not towards it. It is much more meaningful, and long lasting if someone seeks Him, and you are there, prepared and ready to guide them, rather than PUSHING them towards Him. Take it from someone who had it crammed down their throat for years, it is more rewarding and fulfilling to look for the answer and find Him, than to have the answer just given to you.

[Trafik Jamz]

GarageAlchemist;325568 wrote:
Also friend, you may want to look up the verses where it tells you to pray in a room, with the door shut, as to not bring attention to yourself. I'm all for spreading the love, but you are being a bit pushy, and that tends to push people AWAY from God, not towards it. It is much more meaningful, and long lasting if someone seeks Him, and you are there, prepared and ready to guide them, rather than PUSHING them towards Him. Take it from someone who had it crammed down their throat for years, it is more rewarding and fulfilling to look for the answer and find Him, than to have the answer just given to you.

In fairness though, the bible also states that you should go out and spread the word of the Lord. I understand what you are saying however, that most people are turned off by hearing the word of God "forced" upon them.

My instinct when I see/hear someone pushing their views on my is very similar to what you described, yet I go to church on most Sundays because I want to know more. I know that church going isn't the "trendy" thing to do and I know that some of my friends/peers/acquaintances think me foolish for attending. Ultimately, I don't care what they think. At this point in time I consider myself a believer in God, but not necessarily a Christian. The lifestyle choices I make daily make it hard for me to label myself as such, and by doing so would make me a hypocrite.

As for Steve (Sweet-WRX-Lovin) he has been a good friend of mine for close to 20 years. For those that know him, this sudden change in him may come as a bit of a shock, but I STRONGLY believe that the changes he has made are for his overall good, even if he is a little bit pushy on here with his beliefs. I don't think he made those posts to try and convert anyone really, but rather to have a solid foundation on which to confirm his reasoning. Kind of a "I don't agree with it, and this is why" mentality. Some people ridiculed him for it, to the point of claiming he was of a different religious sect. He took offense to it and responded in kind, yet never once resorted to name calling.

And Steve, I'd suggest reading this as well as it relates to wars among nations/kingdoms. http://www.bible.com/bibleanswers_result.php?id=219 I'd copy/paste the article but I'm sure I'll already get a TLDR from most of the members on here.

[GarageAlchemist]

i didn't call him names did I? if i did i didn't mean to...

[Sweet-WRX-Lovin]

First off this is burning in me so here it is: Matthew 28:20 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "ALL AUTHORITY in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore GO and MAKE disciples of ALL nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and TEACHING THEM to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

I believe you are confusing Matthew verses a bit, lets start at chapter 6. "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." (Now this verse by itself seems to confirm what you are saying, but aha, here comes that next verse that puts it into context...) "So when you GIVE TO THE NEEDY, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored BY MEN. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. BUT (<-this is a big but) when YOU give to the needy (as a follower of Christ) do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. (why?) Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward YOU. (what he is saying is give to the needy without seeking the attention and rewards of men and seek the attention and rewards of God)

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when YOU pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward YOU.

Now this does not say you can only pray in your room with the door closed, but it is saying do not pray for the recognition of man.

Does this clear up anything for you?

[GarageAlchemist]

Haha, yes it does. You and I just choose different ways to express our faith. I have observed, and been in the category that when you try and MAKE someone a disciple, they tend to resist, this is especially true of Americans who tend to push against authority...

[Sweet-WRX-Lovin]

GarageAlchemist;325573 wrote:
Haha, yes it does. You and I just choose different ways to express our faith. I have observed, and been in the category that when you try and MAKE someone a disciple, they tend to resist, this is especially true of Americans who tend to push against authority...

You are right, we as humans cannot make each other become disciples. We only plant seeds, good and bad (examples: saying good morning cheerfully to the co-worker who hates you versus pissing in their coffee when they are not looking), all the time (the world refers to this as karma, "what comes around goes around"). It is then the work of the Holy Spirit to act on those seeds, and on the individual to CHOSE to come back to the Lord. As you know that is what our God wants, those that have made the choice out of their own free will.

[Rexwagon]

so u study your bible in dildoville? holy bible thumper batman.

[Rexwagon]

There are only 2 forces that have ever been willing to give their life for you, an American Soldier and Jesus.
Jesus save's your soul and the American Soldier gives you freedom. ----Unknown

do you attend that church over off 25th st and the ambulance building?

[DaveH]

Trafik Jamz;325569 wrote:
I consider myself a believer in God, but not necessarily a Christian. The lifestyle choices I make daily make it hard for me to label myself as such, and by doing so would make me a hypocrite.So you are gay?

[Trafik Jamz]

DaveH;325578 wrote:
So you are gay?

As if YOU would not know the answer to that....you silly goose! LOL

I meant partying, not always remembering to filter my potty mouth, looking at porn, etc. Things that definitely are not considered "Christian" activities is what I was referring to.

[Sweet-WRX-Lovin]

Rexwagon;325577 wrote:
There are only 2 forces that have ever been willing to give their life for you, an American Soldier and Jesus.
Jesus save's your soul and the American Soldier gives you freedom. ----Unknown
do you attend that church over off 25th st and the ambulance building?

Jesus’s finished work saves your soul by giving you the freedom from the guilt, condemnation, and punishment reserved for you because of your sin so that you can be seen righteous again by God. I am sorry to say the American soldier has done nothing that God has not enabled him or her to do. We are not saved by our works, but by Grace alone.

I do not attend that church.

[dubbsy]

Sweet-WRX-Lovin;325585 wrote:
Jesus’s finished work saves your soul by giving you the freedom from the guilt, condemnation, and punishment reserved for you because of your sin so that you can be seen righteous again by God. I am sorry to say the American soldier has done nothing that God has not enabled him or her to do. We are not saved by our works, but by Grace alone.

I do not attend that church.

I really really really hope you're trollin'.

EDIT: With a location like 'Dildoville' I'm going to go with troll.

[Rexwagon]

lol nice

[Sweet-WRX-Lovin]

Nice one fellas Probably should change that eh?

[Rexwagon]

that musta been before you were saved. tricky

[Sweet-WRX-Lovin]

Rexwagon;325595 wrote:
that musta been before you were saved. tricky

You are correct sir