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Post by jay0heavenly on May 12, 2008 11:49:38 GMT -5
Many people say "I believe in God! I go to church!" I'm a Christian", BUT they (for example) get drunk/high on the regular, have sex with people that are not their spouse on the regular, curse like a sailor, you name it. Now...as the bible is CLEAR about all of the above things, insofar as it states that these behaviors are prohibited and will prevent one from going to heaven (Galatians 5), if one engages in that activity without remorse, can he/she be said to actually believe? To illustrate, lets just say John and Bob are driving in two separate cars, one mile apart on the same road, traveling in the same direction. If John calls Bob and tells him to slow down because there is a cop behind a tree a 1/2 mile up the road, if Bob really believes what John has said, he will slow down and take heed to what John has said. If he does not slow down, it is because he doesn't believe him. (Or he might just be stupid, but thats another thread all together.  ) Your thoughts... |
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Post by No Screen Name on May 12, 2008 11:55:11 GMT -5
Posts like this always make me sad, because they make me realize how far I miss the mark.  I *DO* believe in Jesus, and that he is the only way to salvation. |
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Post by 123Diva on May 12, 2008 12:05:05 GMT -5
Interesting food for thought...
Jay be having folks on their knees repenting at work.
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Post by jay0heavenly on May 12, 2008 12:15:01 GMT -5
Posts like this always make me sad, because they make me realize how far I miss the mark. I *DO* believe in Jesus, and that he is the only way to salvation. Don't be down my sister, just resolve yourself to get up! And ask the Lord Jesus to pick you up and set your feet on the Solid Rock of Christ. This is one of my favorite scriptures that I've recited to get back on the path of God...Enjoy! Mic 7:8 Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me. Mic 7:9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, And I will see His righteousness. |
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Post by jay0heavenly on May 12, 2008 12:16:23 GMT -5
Interesting food for thought... Jay be having folks on their knees repenting at work. lol...thats a funny image.... your boss walks in and you in the office crying out for God.... But hey, do what you gotta do to get right in His eyes! ;D |
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Post by Cambist on May 12, 2008 12:18:29 GMT -5
Interestingly Jay....I was always a fan of Micah
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Post by Cambist on May 12, 2008 12:22:06 GMT -5
Actually, I would dare to say that reading Micah was what made me take a look at Alpha Phi Alpha...even with it's contridictions to Micah's disgust at excess and glut.
It's a long story but you know the book....you know what i'm talking about.
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Post by Prissy New Year!!! on May 12, 2008 12:41:06 GMT -5
Let me ask you Jay, do you think that some things are just weaknesses, or strongholds? My older brother is addicted to crack and pornography. He is a believer, and he can go months at a time without indulging in either, but he will always fall back in. Do you think that he is not really a believer?
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Post by jay0heavenly on May 12, 2008 12:50:33 GMT -5
Yes, some things are strongholds... I wouldn't say your brother is not a believer, just a man struggling with oppressions. The struggle implies his faith and desire to be free.
What I alluded to is the blatant and purposeful disregard of piety just because its "fun". In the example I gave above, your brother would be trying to slow down but have some type of brake problem. He's trying, which to me evinces his belief.
Don't give up on him, one day soon enough, he'll be walking in the freedom God has given him forever.
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Post by Mrs. Eyes on May 12, 2008 12:54:32 GMT -5
Yes, I am believer. Do I have my moments, hang ups, issues, faults, etc.? Yes.
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Post by coldfront06 on May 12, 2008 12:58:33 GMT -5
I believe...I think thats what makes me feel bad about certain things that I do. I have a desire to eliminate those things that I know God hates, but its a daily struggle.
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Post by Prissy New Year!!! on May 12, 2008 12:59:55 GMT -5
Yes, some things are strongholds... I wouldn't say your brother is not a believer, just a man struggling with oppressions. The struggle implies his faith and desire to be free. What I alluded to is the blatant and purposeful disregard of piety just because its "fun". In the example I gave above, your brother would be trying to slow down but have some type of brake problem. He's trying, which to me evinces his belief. Don't give up on him, one day soon enough, he'll be walking in the freedom God has given him forever. Your explanation makes sense. Why do you think so many Christians are oppressed? Do you think that is a part of unbelief? Like if a person truly believes in God, why would that person continue to struggle as opposed to believing that God has the ability to set them free? |
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Post by Highly Favored on May 12, 2008 13:11:16 GMT -5
"Thou believest that there is one God: thou doest well; the devils also believe and tremble."
James 2:19
I used to say "I believe in God...I go to church...I'm not a bad person." What I really meant (at that time) was I believed in His existence. But believing in God's existence is only the beginning of a right relationship with Him. As you well know, there is so much more to being a Christian than that.
I even believed that God's word was true and that one day I would be judged. I, like most people, didn't think that it could be at any time, whether I was prepared or not. The devil has done a good job of making people think that they still have a lot of time to forsake sin and turn to the Lord.
I cannot honestly say that I didn't enjoy life before I came to the Lord, but now I enjoy that abundant life that only He can offer. I don't miss my old life and I really wish I had come to know him in a personal way much sooner than I did. I love Him more than anything.
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Post by Highly Favored on May 12, 2008 13:14:43 GMT -5
Yes, some things are strongholds... I wouldn't say your brother is not a believer, just a man struggling with oppressions. The struggle implies his faith and desire to be free. What I alluded to is the blatant and purposeful disregard of piety just because its "fun". In the example I gave above, your brother would be trying to slow down but have some type of brake problem. He's trying, which to me evinces his belief. Don't give up on him, one day soon enough, he'll be walking in the freedom God has given him forever. I agree. |
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Post by jay0heavenly on May 12, 2008 13:36:06 GMT -5
Your explanation makes sense. Why do you think so many Christians are oppressed? Do you think that is a part of unbelief? Like if a person truly believes in God, why would that person continue to struggle as opposed to believing that God has the ability to set them free? No, I don't think it's linked to belief, rather its linked to our knowledge, or lack thereof. Hosea 4:6 "MY people perish for the lack of knowledge". We are ignorant of the enemy's ploys to get us off track and in turn, we struggle. I have struggled in a lot of things before and once I was truly taught and sought out God for wisdom, those struggles became exponentially easier. When we learn that "Bad company corrupts good character" and to "Flee (Run away from) fornication" we will put ourselves in better positions where the struggle can be won. God knows we are humans and prone to mistake. But in a nutshell to me... Christianity is not about perfection, its about progression. |
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Post by 123Diva on May 12, 2008 13:37:29 GMT -5
Interesting food for thought... Jay be having folks on their knees repenting at work. lol...thats a funny image.... your boss walks in and you in the office crying out for God.... But hey, do what you gotta do to get right in His eyes! ;D Yea, but my boss would actually probably pray with me...atleast for me. He wouldn't think I was crazy...just troubled to be in prayer in the middle of the day at work on my knees in the open. |
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Post by jay0heavenly on May 12, 2008 13:37:46 GMT -5
"Thou believest that there is one God: thou doest well; the devils also believe and tremble." James 2:19 I used to say "I believe in God...I go to church...I'm not a bad person." What I really meant (at that time) was I believed in His existence. But believing in God's existence is only the beginning of a right relationship with Him. As you well know, there is so much more to being a Christian than that. I even believed that God's word was true and that one day I would be judged. I, like most people, didn't think that it could be at any time, whether I was prepared or not. The devil has done a good job of making people think that they still have a lot of time to forsake sin and turn to the Lord. I cannot honestly say that I didn't enjoy life before I came to the Lord, but now I enjoy that abundant life that only He can offer. I don't miss my old life and I really wish I had come to know him in a personal way much sooner than I did. I love Him more than anything. very nicely said. |
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Post by jay0heavenly on May 12, 2008 13:39:09 GMT -5
Actually, I would dare to say that reading Micah was what made me take a look at Alpha Phi Alpha...even with it's contridictions to Micah's disgust at excess and glut. It's a long story but you know the book....you know what i'm talking about. which part? The part that says "What doth the Lord Require of thee, but to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with thy God? |
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Post by QueenOH on May 12, 2008 13:39:41 GMT -5
I believe in God and talk to him everyday
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Post by Cambist on May 12, 2008 13:59:48 GMT -5
I guess what i'm asking is what is that one (or two or three) things that every Christian must do or believe if they are to say that they are Christian?
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Post by jay0heavenly on May 12, 2008 14:58:56 GMT -5
Faith in Christ...and surrendering your heart and soul to Him. Now, while its faith alone that is necessary, our actions are generally clear cut indicators of our faith.
The altar call where Preachers tell people to come and give your heart to Jesus is the invitation to come to Christ and die to themselves.
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Post by Highly Favored on May 12, 2008 15:45:33 GMT -5
"...and die to themselves."
Dying to self is key. And it is a daily, sometimes hourly, process.
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Post by water on May 12, 2008 22:57:36 GMT -5
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Post by denounced on May 18, 2008 8:25:43 GMT -5
So Cold, are you a Christian?
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Post by denounced on May 26, 2008 19:52:01 GMT -5
Judgement
"I think that most Christians would be better pleased if the Lord did not inquire into their personal affairs too closely. They want Him to save them, keep them happy and take them to heaven at last, but not to be too inquisitive about their conduct or service. But He has searched us and known us; He knows our downsitting and our uprising and understands our thoughts afar off. There is no place to hide from those eyes that are as a flame of fire and there is no way to escape from the Judgment of those feet that are like fine brass. It is the part of wisdom to live with these things in mind."
That Incredible Christian, 105-106.
A.W. Tozer
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