Question for Christians

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-17-2005
Question for Christians
14
Thu, 12-29-2005 - 11:34pm

OKay, this is just a question, I am not seeking a fight, flame throwing, or anything like that - i promise....

First a little background - I have my internal religious beliefs and am very much a peace with them. Recently a person has come into my life as wanting a friendship - no problem there.

The problem seems to be he is very much about his belief in God and his Christianity. While I don't see that as a problem in itself, the problem lies in that he just won't let up on trying to preach to me and ALWAYS bringing it into each and every discussion we have.

I told him exactly what my beliefs are, and he seemed okay with that, but it still isn't enough for him. he will ask a question, and if I don't answer the way he wants, he starts questioning my beliefs.

For example, he "challenged" me to read a verse, and so I did. Upon that he asked what I thought of it. I said its a good verse and exlplains the Triune (is that spelled right?) God. his repsonse was "oh". and after a lvery long pause I asked what was wrong. He said "i was hoping for more of a reaction and that something would have clicked in your head." I just asked him then - do you just assume I am an athiest or agnostic because I don't answer and repsond the way YOU want...he refused to answer.

I have politely on more than one occasion told him that I don't like people preaching to me and trying to make me believe the same as them.

So my question is, if someone explains thier beliefs to you, and your views are virtually the same as yours, would you keep pusing it until they answered the way you want them to?

Why would you want to do that if that were the case?

I am just trying to figure this out. I am not here to cause controversy, i just don't understand why people cant accept an answer an move on when it comes to religion - or anything for that matter.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2005
Sun, 01-08-2006 - 8:35pm

I may can help you understand his position if I knew a couple of other facts, such as: how long has he been a Christian? ...what kind of relationship do you two have? ...where is he trying to take the relationship? Are you a Christian with some different denominational beliefs or are you a different religion altogether? See, scripture warns people about being unequally yoked. If one is a Christian and loves the Lord with all his heart, all his mind and everything that is within him as scripture tells us to, how can you be yoked and share your life with a Buddist or a Muslim? Because according to scripture, when two are married, they become one. Now, I have been married for almost 30 years........and take my word for it if you won't take scripture, we are so much more alike now than we were 30 years ago. We know how each other thinks, feels, and dreams. We know and feel each others heart, mind and soul and how external things effect each other. Now, if you do not stand on the same basic spiritual belief system, you can not grow that way. You will become unequally yoked and your marriage will be a burden rather than a blessing.

Now, if you are both Christians and he is say, Baptist and you are Presbyterian, and you view some doctrinal differences, then all of that can be worked out. If he is a new Christian, he may not even realize the differences in doctrinal beliefs, but think that what he is being taught by whoever, is the only way to look at scripture. But it is important........it is the most important part of any lasting relationship that you have your foundation built on Christ. Marriage is hard enough without the foundation to build 30-40-50-or even 60 years together out of sand......but it must be a foundation out of rock. Without that, you have nothing to build on. Feeling change every 30 minutes....desires change often, dreams change every few months or every few years...you can not build a lasting relationship out of sex, good times, interest or fun. However, I don't know if this guy is a mature Christian or is just dogmatic. You have to give me more info for me to help you there. God bless, Martha

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2004
Fri, 01-13-2006 - 9:24pm
It's interesting to me that this friend is so pushy, but I think I know why. Sounds like he is so at peace with himself and his beliefs that he genuinely wants it for you too. I'm sorry he's like this, but I think he's doing it out of love.
Be honest with him and tell him how his pushiness is making you feel.
I'm a Christian and I don't push my friends to believe in God. I believe that how I love others will lead them to Christ. You can't "push" anyone into believing...it's NOT biblical. God wants you to genuinely believe for yourself, not because someone is pushing you into it.
Stand your ground. Hopefully you will find your peace with God before you meet him face to face.
There's a verse that I love. "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." It's your faith, not your friend's faith for you, that he desires most.
Hope this helps.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2005
Sat, 01-14-2006 - 11:11pm
Be alert to attachements .....is attachment different than Love. a sense of security with attachment but is that what you relly are headed for attachments seem normal. but the seduction of attachemts till poain comes forth or seperation or ...... True Love does not allow any or should one say no differences can seperate . This is very brief.. can include the goal of live here and you can skip it if you want. ..... The goal of life is not marriage but love. Those who function God as love are
those who have finished their course in mortal love and marriage. These can
understand what is being worked out in the
race,and note with joy the activities that partake of a higher spirit of love.
Marriage fulfills itself to any ego when the male and female qualities of being
are united within one form this making
for spiritual birth and resurection. These gain the righteous concepts fo Love
and Marriage and become the means, spiritually, by which higher order may work
out in the race. People in the race
thought and love are given to do racial work that more perfectly align it to
higher ideals of love and marriage. Companionate marriage is one of these racial
factors by which people are
prepared for a higher advancement, and then freedom of bondage is determined.
The source of being should be seen as the author of all these changes, then the
ego will find in the ideas pertaining to
them opportunity by which to advance. Ida M
also ponder this human(a kind of man called mankind) and the Real MAn...encourage you to study the 1 timothy interpetation. and here for your devotion and set your heart on the reality of being. from Ida M...the creature born o sex-force is not man, though having in him the potentialities of Being , and is the ground in which Christ works to grow his seed and to manifest the image and likeness of the Ideal. The Real Man is born, not of the will of the flesh ,nor of blood,nor of the will of man, but of God. This is to say that the operation of the laws of God in the organism of humanity brings forth spiritual being in their season of fulfilment, the will of the flesh being subjected to Divine Will at the appearing of Man . the body of the Holy Ghost is characterized in Scripture as the body of Jesus: it is the whole shadowy or outline of being. This body is not a disembodied spirit nor ghost of shadowy form, but is the identification of the essences of substance as spiritual being. .......... trust that you remain dedicated........with love and service may the (these) realizations come upon and in
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-28-2005
Fri, 02-24-2006 - 12:21am

Hi Lions!

Your friend (or should I say ex-friend now?) is carrying out the Great Commission commanded to every Christian by Jesus Christ:

"Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." -Matthew 28:19

As a Christian myself, I try and do the same as your friend - to share my faith as much as I can. I don't personally subscribe to your friend's approach, but that's just my own personal preference.

Why do I HAVE to tell others about Christ? It can best be explained like this:

1.) God's Word teaches that all men have done SOMETHING in their lives to offend a perfect and Holy God. If I've ever stolen ANYTHING, even just a stick of gum, I'm a thief. If I've ever lied, even a little white lie, I'm a liar. And so on. A pure, Holy God would not grant a liar or thief eternal life with Him.

2.) The most basic, fundamental, bare-bones cornerstone of Christianity is that God has punished Jesus Christ, a pure and blameless sacrifice, in our place, so that we don't have to be punished for our own misdeeds. So God lays before us a choice: eternal life or death. It's a simple as picking one. No particular skin color, nationality, unbringing, etc. required.

3.) Those that refuse to allow Christ to be their substitute essentially ask for punishment for their own misdeeds.

4.) So, as a Christian, I have a choice: If I really believed that every non-Christian was going to die in their sins, and I sit by and let it happen, would I be a "loving" person? If they didn't want to hear it, and so I didn't say anything, would I be a loving person? Nope. That's why it's my duty to share the Gospel of Christ with as many people as I can, and what's why it is the duty of every Christian to do so. That's why evangelicals do what they do, that's why missionaries forsake everything they have and dedicate their entire lives to teaching others about Christ.

I hope that helps you understand it better ... your friend only pushes you because he cares! Maybe he is not very experienced at sharing the Gospel, but his heart certainly seems to be in the right place.

If I said something that isn't clear, please write and I'll clarify.

Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to write!

Christine

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