Sunday, May 06, 2012
Answers: How to reach my mo r m on neighbor
Mormonism, Christianity and the Truth
I wish more Christians expose the lies of the mormon cult, like this pastor did. Some important points: Mormons dont believe in the (only existing) true God, they dont have the Christian Jesus Christ, God did not have sex with mary (discusting i know, but their religion is founded like Islam on the belief that they will have sex for eternity with multiple wives). They dont have the Christian gospel of salvation, they don't have the Christian Heaven or Hell, they dont have the Christian Adam or Eve, they dont have the true Satan and fallen angels, they live as legalists and in bondange to their religion and traditions created by mormonism, instead of knowing the truth and living free in Christ.
Christians need to know this. And while they use the same "terms" we use, they have TOTALLY different meanings. So you can be easily decieved by them, which they are counting on, and sucked into their cult or have a brain washed thought about them - thinking they are a Christian when in fact they are a counterfit false religion.
Mormons use words such as Salvation, Grace, Gospel, Born Again, etc. This is why when i run into those who have been decieved by this cult, i use very specific wordings, when i share the truth with them. There is only one God who has ever existed; three (uncreated) persons. They are co-equal, co-existant and co-eternal. If you look at the example God has given us on earth to sort of point to the word "God" just look at your family. What is a family? A family is not a family until there are three persons. Three who are united together as one family - they are called a family. We look at The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and they are One God - called "God". So Jesus, who always was God, came to earth and took on human flesh - covering his glory and divine nature by putting on flesh, kind of like if you were to put on a full body suit. He was fully God and fully man. He lived a perfect life on earth, because only God can live a perfect life, he did that for an important reason. He also died for an important reason. God, through Scripture, declared there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood. Since man is sinful (rebellious towards God because he was born in Sin and violates God's 10 commandments), man cannot do anything to get right with God, so God did something wonderful for us, because he loves us even though we were his enemies (because of our sins).
Jesus perfect life was lived on purpose and his death was on purpose, part of God's plan to save us from himself, from the wrath that is to come on all those who are not forgiven by God. In the old times people only needed to be redeemed if they were enslaved. They could be bought with a price from the slave owners. We are slaves to sin and Jesus has come to "redeem" us from our sins by paying our fine in his life's blood. When he died, he died as a sacrifice - a payment was made to God for believers. If anyone repents of their sins (totally turns from their rebellion towards God once and for all, according to God's terms as explained in the Bible, and trusts in the Biblical Jesus Christ, then Jesus payment on the cross is applied to us. His resurrection proved he was victorious over the grave and completed the work necessary for us to be saved from the coming wrath and eternal Hell that we deserve.
Plus, when God looks down on us, he sees Jesus Christ. He took our place and it's as if we took his place - he lived a perfect life on earth as a human as part of the ministry work of salvation he did for us. It wasnt just about the cross, everything he did was to fullfill the Law of God so that we could be free. This is why Jesus is the only perfect sacrifice available for mankind, becuase only God is unstained by sin, and is totally holy and perfect. So God can see us as totally perfect through Jesus live, sacrifice, death and resurrection. Now if we turn from our sins and turn to Jesus to save us, then God's Spirit converts us and we are spiritually born "Born Again".
Jesus said we must be born again. So if you have followed a false god, one that was invented by men, or by your self, you are not following the true God who is revealed in the Bible. God's word is eternal, and it never changes. God never changes, Jesus never changes, his Word will never change, and has never changed. So what you need to do is forsake your false religion, and turn to the true God. Repent of your sins, turn your back on sin and false religion, and surrender to the true Jesus Christ. If you do, God will convert you right here and right now. You will be able to read the Bible with a new eye and a new heart and a new way, seeing the truth and have the ability to live it, and the Christian life free from legalism and rules, by the power of the Holy Spirit. He will guide you and help you become more and more holy and righteous as he brings you to to become more like Christ and to spiritual perfection revealed on the day of Jesus return. You wont have to fear death or God's wrath or Hell. You will walk in truth and life and liberty in Jesus Christ.
But if you decline Jesus free gift of salvation (which he paid for), you will have a worse place in Hell for all eternity according to Scripture. Think about this - no one goes around proclaiming "I'm in a cult." Yet, if you look at Catholicism, Jehova Witnesses, Heavens Gate cults you would see that they are not Christian, just as mormonism is not Christian. They are all created by Satan, who was a spirit created by God (not by sex, but by speaking them into existence), to serve God, yet Satan rebelled and wanted to be God. Satan still dupes people today into thinking they can be a god; cults teach this as you know. So.... You can read the Bible in the Old and New Testament to find out the truth about Satan. But these religions are created by Satan for a purpose. He Hates humans because God forgives humans of their sins, but will not forgive Satan and the fallen angels for their rebellion against God in Heaven. They were in the presence of God serving Him and knew who God is. False religions pop up all over the world either as counterfit Christian religions or other world religions through Satan. Scripture says he is an angel who can masqurade as an angel of light when he's really an angel of evil. Satan's goal is for people to live morally (but never to repent and trust in the real Jesus Christ and never to follow YHWH according to the Bible), which only leads to being damned by God after they die (because moral people, and those who live by rules....they arent saved from their sins. We can only be saved/forgiven on GOD's TERMS)... See, Satan's goal is to take as many people to hell with him as possible. He hates us and hates God. Why would anyone serve Satan and be a slave to sin when they can be free from sin and satan through the true Jesus Christ? We arent guaranteed antoher breath or day on this earth, and eternity is too wrong to be long. If mormonism is wrong, and it is according to God's holy Word (Bible), then you'll be damned for eternity and punished severely eternally. So do as God commanded - repent and trust in the True Jesus Christ and live in a right relationship with God now, and eternally with Him. visit www.NeedGod.com and give SERIOUS thought to what God calls every human to do. Either we will obey God or we will obey men. Men are decieved by Satan very easily, so i'd follow God. Your eternity is dependant upon what you do with what you now know.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Airplane Evangelism
She was thinking on the plane for a way to be a way to talk to the lady next to her about the gospel. I told her that since people talk about where they’re from, where they’re going, plans they have, stuff about life and family, that she’d be able to say that she does graphic designing for Christian materials, and be able to give a tract to the person she spoke to. Well….she said she planned to do just that. I told her it was very easy to do, and it flowed in the course of a regular conversation.
Cindy sat between her husband and my mom on the plane. Dad was in a different seating area, as they couldn’t get seats next to each other. I think in the future this is a good idea for Christians. Divide and conquer! Lol.
Mom was able to talk to them about an hour before the flight. They had to fill out the customs form when on the plane they got to Hawaii. She wanted to chat with the wife, and so she asked the husband if she was filling out a portion of the form correctly. He showed her what she needed to know and thanked him. A few minutes later the guy said something to her, and then his wife Cindy started talking to mom. The wife switched seats with her husband so mom and her could talk for a little bit. Cindy and mom talked about where they were from, ancestry; which turns out to be almost the same. How they had never been to this island, they talked about what they did. By doing this, mom got a chance (which she hoped to do) to slip in there that she does graphic art work for me on Christian websites and tracts. She wanted to bring up the gospel so she shared this with the lady. Cindy asked what kind of software she uses. Mom says its old software and she has no training for graphic art work or animation, but enjoys doing it. Cindy said her mother also does graphic art, but has training from college for it, and it's her full time job. This is neat that God set THIS lady next to my mom! So Mom was able to discuss some of those things with her, and then learned that Cindy and her husband go to church. Mom doesn’t know if they are saved, but she was able to give Cindy one of my gospel tracts and encouraged Cindy to check out the website as well. She also offered for Cindy to contact her to talk in the future. So we’ll see how that goes.
Cindy’s husband joined the conversation and they talked about snorkeling and stuff. Mom shared some things about locations in the area that are good (and bad) spots, that we knew from last year’s experience. She told them there are new things on the island that she learned about as well; Some things aren’t there anymore, some cost a lot now, and others have changed. Mom told him she always checks things like that online so she knows ahead of time when they return to places they like to travel what they can and can’t do this time.
When mom left the plane, she left tracts on a couple of seats for passengers getting off or the flight staff to get.
I was so proud of her for doing her best to share the gospel. Mom is very shy around strangers, but is outgoing around family. This was a real step of faith for her. Last year in Hawaii I was able to get her and my dad to go street evangelizing with some Christians I know who witness in Kona every week. We all went out and even my young nephew was participating by handing out tracts. She was shut down a few times during that afternoon, and we shared that information in the Hawaii post (click here to read). She also has spoken to people at her small church whenever witnessing conversations comes up in Sunday School, and she has offered really good tips that encouraged the ones she spoke to. I first shared biblical evangelism material with her at Christmas 2005, and after reading the information and watching videos about it she agreed it was the real gospel, and stopped using modern evangelism methods and materials that are not biblical. She tracted places but not people. Then after a few visits (a yearly thing) when we went as a family to Los Vegas, for vacation at their time share, I was finally able to get them to go out one early evening and hand out tracts near a popular tourist attraction on the strip. Since then she hasn’t gone out, until last year in Hawaii. She does tract regularly wherever she goes, but this was the first time she talked to someone on an airplane about the gospel. She has beat me on that one! Haha. Well, it has never worked out for me to be able to do that; circumstances and the people around me on the planes have prevented it. Though, on hindsight….I could have done like Kirk Cameron and tracted the whole plane on the way to my seat. Perhaps I’ll do that next time I fly somewhere. I rarely fly anywhere, but I’ll have to keep it in mind next time I do!
So I’m exited that she did this, and hopeful that she’ll try for a gospel conversation on the return flight home.
Note: You don’t have to follow a specific method to sharing the gospel. What you include in the gospel is important, but how you get to the gospel conversation can vary. You simply have a conversation and swing naturally from the conversation to spiritual things. This is another example of that. For more examples, read more of the blogs here.
.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Missed Opportunity
When I got there at 9am the line was wrapped around the building all the way around. This was going to be a long morning. About 10 minutes after standing in line an older lady came out of nowhere and cut in front of me. She said she had forgot something at home and had to come back, and the guy in front of her “saved her spot”. Now, I know that those things are invisible, lol, but with such a line around the building, who cares if someone else is in front of you. I don’t. So I figured maybe this was a divine appointment. Her name I later found out was Nadia. When we started talking she was chit chatting about her vehicle not passing smog inspection and worried about it. I felt bad for her because she was older, and had an older vehicle, and probably couldn’t afford a new one. I took my earphones out of my ear, to make me more approachable. Then, while her back was to me, I told her [to chit chat] I had come to the D*M*V* yesterday both at this location and one another town over, but the lines were far too long and it took so long to wait for a parking spot that I decided to come back today, this morning. She said yesterday was windy, today is nice and sunny, and Sunday was sunny. [I was about to say that I was glad Sunday was sunny, because I do not like to be in the rain when I go to Church, and then I was going to ask her if she goes to church somewhere nearby, and find a way to hand her a good tract, but that didn’t come out of my mouth. And a few seconds later she picked up her phone and started calling people to handle some things while she was in line].
We moved closer to the entrance, and I noticed a sign that said “Products or services provided by advertisers are not promoted or indorsed by D*M*V*” And I wondered, can we hand out fliers here? I thought it wasn’t legal. Maybe the law changed, or maybe they can’t seem to stop the people who do it. I wondered if people leave fliers on the vehicles also. So I started watching the flow of people and looked for security cameras. There were no cameras.
Then, when we were close to the door I found out she cleans apartments and helps older people shop. I told her I had a few friends who do that. I have one friend who actually lives with a very old lady and assists her. I said it’s great when people help out older people, and its such a “blessing” that they have lived so long. I then told her that I have a friend who is turning 100 next weekend. She said Wow. [We were in the door at this point and she was next in line to grab her “number” to be seen. I had hoped we would run into each other again and I’d make sure to give her the tract, and mention to her that I might like someone to come and clean my apartment if she is not fully booked]. She went off her way and I went off mine. I had 35 people in front of me, and it ended up taking 3 hours of my time.
I heard a few people coughing and so I decided to go outside and wait around, popping in every 10 minutes or so to see what “number” was being listed available for the section on my ticket. I noticed a security guard behind me on the side of the building (where he had full view of the side doors and those on the sidewalk in front of it), I had no idea they had guards there. I then noticed another sign saying the same thing as before. Posted on each side of the building. I was walking around, avoiding any one coughing or smoking at the corners (which blows the smoke right to the door and down the side of the building, so the “no smoking 20 feet in front of the doors” sign was useless, because the smoke still blows that way. I started watching the security guard, in spy mode, lol. Wondering what his patrol patterns are. He was on foot. I turned around to see where he was a minute later, and he was gone. I have no idea where he went. How could he move so fast on foot, so quickly. Nothing was happening for him to be so fast. When I looked down the other way, I noticed another security person was there. I thought maybe they turned over at shift change, but not long after that I saw someone else. So I think they have 2 – 3 security people there regularly. Weird. Going to be hard to try and tract this place. And the funny thing was, once I got in the door originally, there was another sign saying said “Products or services provided by advertisers are not promoted or indorsed by D*M*V*” within the first 15 feet in the doorway, heading to the reception desk where you get your “number”. I am interested in seeing if I can tract there sometimes. Even if I get shooed away, there are other ones in the county I can go to.
I saw Nadia ½ way down the walkway as she was returning from her vehicle and entering the building again. I thought “bummer!” cause I wanted to catch her, speak to her for a minute saying it was nice to have met her, and then give her the tract. I kept an eye out for her to go back to her vehicle again, or to leave having finished her purpose there. Since I was outside most of the time it was easy to try to do, but unfortunately I did not see her again. Such a missed opportunity. I suggest anyone who has the slightest opening to say something to someone while you’re in line somewhere…DO IT!, don’t pause to think or wonder, just do it. Give the tract and say something to them related to what you were discussing.
The D*M*V* issue wasn’t resolved. I had the letter documentation from the lien holder bank, but not the D*M*V* forms my husband was supposed to sign. grrr... oh well, next time I'll be prepared with tracts!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Evangelism Weekend Report
I had a great time witnessing in the community this weekend.
This
weekend I was out with a group witnessing in our community. We had a
time of fellowship and lunch together before we hit the streets. I
was glad our day was covered in prayer, as we encountered people, I
was glad the Lord had prepared the way for us to reach out to them.
I had the blessed opportunity of reaching out to 15 high school seniors and some college age guys who were hanging around outside the subway station. There were two girls there in the group too.
I had a shy young lady with me, who spoke very softly. She seems to be new at witnessing, and I’m glad she’s getting the opportunity to step out in faith to interact with the lost and pair up with a believer to see how we interact, and to interact herself. She was sweet. She went with me and I talked to the group of guys. Later told me she was very nervous to go there with me to approach them. I said I was a little nervous to, there were so many of them, but I encouraged her, that the guys seemed outgoing and friendly.
I found out when I first spoke to them that they have been approached several times in the past by people from our group. haha, they must hang out there often. So I spoke in general way and then focused on the Cross and the Darkness and Judgment and Wrath on Christ, so they could understand the seriousness of our sin and the lengths God went to in order to make us right with God, and the cost to redeem us. How God went to such lengths to do so, though he didnt need to, we deserve Hell but He offers forgiveness and peace with God. I then talked about Hell, and pointed to the value of the issue, and importance of obeying the gospel message.
One guy behind me said something about "partying" in Hell. I told the guys that there will be nothing good in Hell. We have eyes to see, taste buds to enjoy food, ears to hear and light to see and move about in. That it wont be like that in Hell. Nothing good will be there. I spoke about how we are in a holding cell, we have the ground and things here on earth, we have the sky, but we are limited to the things on this earth. One day God will call us to stand before Him and if you die unforgiven for your sins, God will toss you into an eternal Hell. There is only judgment and punishment and torment there.
I talked a few more minutes and I also said that, while they may joke about these things with their friends around them, it doesnt mean that "you" dont think about these things when you're by yourself. And I just wanted them to understand some things that they may not have been told before. I explained what it would be like in Hell, correcting his understanding, and those listening.
I spoke mainly to three guys and one girl, the rest listened. One other guy goofed off towards the end when I had asked if they had any questions. He said something about 2012, and then said something I was able to use to get back into the conversation and wrap it up: "So do you believe Jesus is coming back?" I told him I do, and went through some of that, told him that according to the Scriptures those who hear the gospel now and reject the free gift God offers in Christ, will not be allowed to be redeemed when God's patience runs out, because they had the opportunity to be made right with God, have forgiveness, and receive salvation.
I talked about Hell a little, about God being the Just Judge, and talked about the gospel importance again. Again spoke of the fact that they dont know when they will die. I asked if they had any other questions, and no one did. I told them that I come through here often, and if they see me and have thought of a question that they’d like to know the answer to, to just come over and ask me. I’d be glad to talk to them. At the end, I thanked them, shook their hands, and we left. During the conversation I had asked if any of them had repented and trusted in Christ, one girl said she had. I spoke for a minute with her, encouraged her, and continued the conversation with everyone.
After
we left, The girl who was with me said we should have offered them a
Bible. I told her I sometimes forget 'two' things after talking with
people. I forget to ask them "if there's anything that would
prevent them getting right with God today" and encourage them to
do so. Not to let any pet sin stand in the way, because eternity in
Hell is not worth it. And I also forget to ask if the have a Bible at
home. If not, I could leave a Gospel of John with them. And encourage
them to Read the Bible at home, either borrow a family members to
read, or go to the Dollar store and get a KJV Bible for 1 dollar, or
read it for free online.
I encouraged her "to remind me to do that today with other conversations we have, or to jump in and say that at the end". I know that when we witness for so long (years) we tend to forget some things that are beneficial to say, because we want to get the gospel in there, and we leave the rest to God. I know that if they want to investigate or read the Bible, they will. But it is a good idea to say something to them after the conversation.
We also spoke to a woman, her daughter and son, and her friend. They are catholic. We asked if they had received a tract before, and the daughter said they had, the same ones we offered. The mother took a tract and we began talking to them. I asked them a couple of questions and then moved into the Law. The lady didn’t want to say liar, but she said we all lie. I told her that is true. Then I said “if your daughter told a lie to your face you would call her what?” she relented and said “A Liar.” And the daughter laughed. I asked the daughter if she had ever stolen anything. She said she had. I looked at her mother and said “If the cops were chasing you down because you stole something, they would yell 'stop...’!”. She said, “thief.” I said yes. I then asked if they have ever used God’s name in vain, inappropriately. The daughter said she had. Then, their ride arrived and they had to go, though the mother was still sitting there and listening to what I was saying. I told her that the rest of the information we’d like them to know about God and Judgment day, is on the back of that tract. We wished them a nice day and moved on. I encouraged the shy lady, who was with me, that even if we only get in part of a conversation we can at least make sure they have a tract to take home.
I encouraged her to talk to the next person we encountered. I didn’t want to be the only one between us who was talking, and I wanted to give her opportunity to share the gospel with others that day. So we were about to talk to a guy but he stepped inside the white ring in front of the subway escalators, (that go down underground to where the subway is), which is apparently a place the metro security doesn’t want us at, it impedes traffic flow they say, so we don’t go in that small area.
The girl and I ended up walking around the corner and saw a high school or 19 year old guy and his girlfriend cuddled up. They were sitting down and talking. We walked over there and the girl with me said, very quietly, almost inaudibly “did you get one of these?” I let her talk so she could interact, but after a minute I wasn’t sure that they could hear her, she talks too softly. And with the traffic and the noise around the subway they aren’t going to hear her. I jumped in a couple times when the guy said he didn’t understand. I am assuming he didn’t hear what she was saying or he was faking that he doesn’t understand English. We gave him a tract in Spanish, I think he thought we were only talking to English people, haha. Not this group! We’re prepared. ;)
So anyway, we talked with him and I gave the conversation back to her a few times. The girlfriend only lasted one minute, then she got up and walked away. But we were able to tell the guy some of the same things we said to “the group” of young people we talked with earlier. It was a very good conversation. He was nice, and polite. I was glad that worked out for the girl who was with me, because I hoped she would have good encounters today, that would encourage her.
We switched team mates, and so I was going to take David with me, but he was having health problems, and needed to take some time to rest. I’m glad people who have physical limitations still get out there for the gospel. And I believe he just ran into our evangelism group at the church today for the first time. It was great. Anyway, he spoke to me about a lot of things, and stuff about evangelism. We never did get a chance to get to witness together during the rest of the time we were there. But at least he got to step out for Christ, and he had a good time with Jonathan, whom he teamed up with earlier.
David
feels called to witness regularly, so maybe he will be back and
participate with our team again. It’s always great to have new
people come out with us to witness.
I saw a few other team members talking in various conversations while I was sitting with David. I saw the flow of traffic coming from the subway, pass us to the bus stop. There was one guy I saw I almost gave a tract to, but I felt held back and I’m not sure why, but I just left it as it was. You would think I wouldn’t have a problem breaking away from what I’m doing to walk up to people and hand them a tract. The guy had a buzz cut but he also had hair in the form of a short mohawk too. I don’t know if that is what deterred me or not, but that seems silly cause the guy appeared normal. I mean I just spoke to a huge crowd of young people and now I’m not going to give a tract to this guy. Its just weird how that goes. Well then a few minutes later I notice Jonathan and the new girl, were talking to him. They had such a great conversation with the guy, and it lasted at least 15 minutes. They even gave him a book and a cd in addition to the tract and he seemed encouraged when he left. He had a smile on his face and it was nice.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Publicly Sharing the Gospel
In the New Testament, we are told about an African called Apollos, who was an educated man with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, and had been ‘instructed in the way of the Lord’. He spoke with great fervour yet didnt have all the correct information. He still needed further study and instruction/correction because he had some parts wrong. Priscilla and Aquila provided this missing information to him in their home. From then on he taught about Jesus accurately. When he went on to Achaia, ‘the brethren’ encouraged him and gave him a warm welcome. Once there, he proved a great help to the believers, for he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 18:24-28).
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul arrived at Ephesus. Initially he got involved at the synagogue, where for 3 months he “argued persuasively about the kingdom of God.” Subsequently, he engaged in daily, public discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus, and this went on for two years (Acts 19:1, 8-10).
The word most commonly used to describe Paul’s method of evangelism in Thessalonica, Athens, Corinth and Ephesus is that he “reasoned” with people, but the Greek word for ‘reason’ actually means ‘dialogue’. Paul and Apollos were doing their evangelism by public dialogue.
Through our blog and our ministeries we share "missing information" with believers today so they can be correctly equipped to reach the Lost. In todays American churches you will hear messages about God's Love and having a life of happiness if Jesus is in your life. However that is not really true. Its not the biblical gospel. American Chrisitans need to get the full truth in order to share the gospel message and rightly divide the Word of God with others. That missing information, which is Scripturally accurate and fully true, can be learned at the below website.
Information, http://www.hellsbestkeptsecret.com/
Book, What Did Jesus Do? http://tinyurl.com/yehv97h
Brethren please pray over this information seriously, consider it, meditate on it, search the Scriptures about it, pray about it and then implement it into your faith conversations with those you know and meet. Follow the Example of Christ and the Apostles and the Lord will be pleased with your service and desire to share the true gospel with those who are lost, and you will be able to equip the believers you know with this information as well.
Legalism says you must keep the law, the gospel says "you cant".
Chatting with Emmy
Born Again Christian: Greetings. I'm here to help you with information on this site, help you get to know God better, and assist you with learning why you need Jesus and how to obey the gospel.
emmy has joined.
Born Again Christian: Good evening Emmy, How may I assist you
emmy: good afternoon!
emmy: lol
Born Again Christian: lol
Born Again Christian: Different times for different people
Born Again Christian: Where are you located?
emmy: its 12 mid day here in Japan
emmy: how are you
Born Again Christian: Im well. thank you.
Born Again Christian: I know someone in Japan
emmy: wow! where about?
Born Again Christian: Good question. LOL. She was in a city I cant pronounce (hehehe) but recently moved with her sister to another area there.
emmy: I am a Tanzanian living here in Japan
Born Again Christian: neat
Born Again Christian: So How Can I help you tonight with knowing God better?
emmy: i dont have much Christian company here. so i always grab chances like this one to chat online.
Born Again Christian: I see.
Born Again Christian: Ok,
Born Again Christian: So tell me, when did you see your need for Jesus?
emmy: well, i have always seen the need for Jesus but one thing or the other was holding me back
Born Again Christian: What do you believe is the "need" people have for Jesus?
emmy: this year i said no. i will go Jesus way. i failed after a few days because i put my strength in myself.
Born Again Christian: Would you agree that "sin" or a sin that someone really doesnt want to give up, is the reason that someone is "held back" or "holds them back"?
Born Again Christian: In my experience (in talking with others) that is the case
emmy: exactly
emmy: but i later realized that i had to put all my luggage in one pack and bundle them at the cross and let Him do the rest
Born Again Christian: What is the “luggage” you left at the cross?
emmy: lots!. adultery to start with
emmy: judging others
emmy: anger
emmy: bad speech
emmy: unforgiving others
emmy: lots… but the main was adultery
emmy: i was so misserable
Born Again Christian: Are you married? [going use this to Q to define adultery]
emmy: wanted to give him up. couldnt. feeling pitty for him. doubting how life could be without him ......
emmy: no iam not married
Born Again Christian: so how do you know you committed adultery?
emmy: but was living with a man who was married back home. he has been alone. i met him years ago and been living with him
Born Again Christian: I see.
emmy: is that adultery, or is it sexual immorality?
Born Again Christian: Actually (and to much shock to most people) adultery (in its original language meaning from the Bible) means so much more....
emmy: what does it mean?
Born Again Christian: It includes sexual thoughts, looking at things sexually (so magazines and movies would certainly be able to be included here), having sex before marriage,
Born Again Christian: also, it includes being with someone who is married, and your not the spouse,
it also includes sex with animals, with someone of the same gender, and so much more
Born Again Christian: Its not just connected with marriage
Born Again Christian: that's a misconception from church teachings, trying to make it simple for those they teach, their definition is more like a kindergarden definition that is never fully explained to an older person who goes to church. So they fail to do that correctly when the people get older. And so society thinks it only means one thing, when it totally means so much more
emmy: that doesnt exclude me does it :(
Born Again Christian: Most everyone (not just men) are guilty of doing that. And you’re right, it doesn’t exclude you.
Born Again Christian: We are each responsible for our own actions before God
emmy: certainly
emmy: yes...we both are guilty. unfortunately he hasnt seen that it is wrong to do either. im praying for him to see to see the truth i have seen
Born Again Christian: well its something to hope for and pray for, but not everyone will agree about the truth of it. People have treasured sins that they couldn’t imagine to give up for anything
emmy: i know. but we keep our hope that they wont perish
Born Again Christian: on that note, can i ask you some things about your conversion - turning to Jesus?
emmy: yes
midou has joined.
Born Again Christian: Midou, welcome. Please hold your questions a minute
Born Again Christian: (Please be as specific as possible), What was the reason you believe you needed Jesus?
emmy: i am not sure i can be specific enough. but the thought that i was breaking Gods commandments kept me uneasy.
Born Again Christian: So do you believe that your need for Jesus was to save you from your crimes against God (against His Law)?
midou has left.
emmy: at that time my mind is that my son is stuck on alcohol. there was a time i cried on the phone and told my son he doesnt love us otherwise he would stop drinking.
Born Again Christian: well addiction is something that people slowly let control them. they seek comfort in it instead of in God who promises to comfort and care for us
Born Again Christian: it's unfortunate that people get involved with alcohol.
emmy: you know what, for a while was a voice telling me......”but you are also on the same boat with your son. why do you keep on breaking my laws”
emmy: that if you yourself can not get out of adultery, how culd i think my son could. it became worse. i was miserable. then it said...you should repent before you can ask others to repent
Born Again Christian: Everyone is in the same boat, if we dont take the rope of rescue that Jesus offers us, then we are under God's wrath and our sins make us enemies of God.
Born Again Christian: ok. well. lets look at a few points here then. Just to go over it and give you something to think about today. Would that be ok?
emmy: ok
Born Again Christian: ok
Born Again Christian: Can you tell me what it means to "repent". do you know the definition? (give it a try, if you cant get it out right - I'll explain it)
emmy: i dont think i know. but for me it meant...there was nothing i could do by myself. but i should confess all my sins i know of and those i dont know. and ask Jesus to be in control of my life
Born Again Christian: you’re on the right track…
Born Again Christian: Repentance means to Call out to God, to not only admit your a sinner, but to ask Jesus to forgive you for all your sins. When you cry out to God, your hearts desire is to forsake any and all sin (from that day forward). To no longer want to sin (even though you'll make mistakes and do it again, but you will struggle against it and temptation to do what is displeasing towards God).
Born Again Christian: Is that your understanding of the word Repentance also?
emmy: yes
Born Again Christian: Your right that there's nothing you can do by yourself. God is the one who redeems us through Christ Jesus, based on his work on the cross. We need to receive the free gift and God applies it to our debt account/court case.
Born Again Christian: Do you believe that Jesus Christ has paid your debt (sin debt) to God, by His work on the cross? that your debt is paid in full by Jesus blood and death?
emmy: yes. thats the basis of salvation of what I know
Born Again Christian: To obey the gospel command is to (1) Repent and (2) Trust in Jesus.
Born Again Christian: When Jesus started his ministry the first warning he gave and thing he said regarding salvation was: “Unless you repent, you will perish.” Luke 13:3
Jesus stated this more specifically: “Jesus told them, it is written, that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all nations.” Luke 24:46-47
Born Again Christian: Have you had a talk with God where you repented of your sins and trusted in Christ? (its a one time event)
emmy: meaning??!!
Born Again Christian: oh...
Born Again Christian: I mean have you ever prayed to God (somewhere just between you and God) where you asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins, for God to forgive you, and at that time you placed your trust in Jesus Christ's work on the cross (his shed blood and death) to pay your fine in full.Born Again Christian: Its something you only do once
Born Again Christian: like a "come to God" conversation with God
emmy: yes
emmy: i went to God and said...here i am. i have failed miserably for depending on myself and in the process sinned against you. Please forgive and im so sorry. and take over. help me to obey you. help me to listen when you talk
Born Again Christian: So when you talked to God, you realized your serious situation before God, that God as a Just and Holy and Righteous God must by nature punish sin, and that sin's wages is death and eternity in Hell
Born Again Christian: you talked to him and in that conversation not only told him you were sorry for depending on yourself (like any works or trying to be better to get God’s approval, by what is called self-righteousness) but that you repented of your sins. Sins are crimes you have committed against God, violating the 10 commandments.
Born Again Christian: reflecting on that: God tells us in James that if we break one commandment we break the whole law.
emmy: yes, true
Born Again Christian: Sin is transgression of the Law
emmy: yes
Born Again Christian: But that God, by Jesus Christ, by his sacrifice on the cross, offered you a way to be rescued from the judgment and eternal punishment.
Born Again Christian: God's Grace and Mercy was extended to you by The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.
emmy: yes. i asked for forgiveness cause the wages of sin is death
Born Again Christian: wonderful.
Born Again Christian: So even though you have problems in this life, and temptations just as any other human does, you can rest in the promises of God (for He is not a liar, and always does what He says He will). Philippians 3:13, we, through Jesus Christ, are to "Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead." God has created us a new person with new and right desires that are "God-ward" not self centered. Our desires are to be towards God and no longer to the former ways and desires of our life before we came to Christ. Ã 2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come.” And the Bible says that we now "have the mind of Christ." (1 Cor. 1:16).
emmy: yes & Amen
Born Again Christian: That’s Great Emmy. Praise the Lord
emmy: we are new. the old person is dead
emmy: a new one have been created
Born Again Christian: Exactly!
Born Again Christian: You know, not many people realize Jesus said we have to Repent and trust in His Work on the Cross (nothing else).
emmy: we have to. without repenting there is no forgiveness. Dont matter how much we try to follow the rules and regulations we need Jesus.
emmy: we have to be born again
Born Again Christian: Exactly. That's also what Jesus said.
Born Again Christian: And we are born again by obeying the Gospel message
Born Again Christian: the gospel command is what God commands us to obey
emmy: yes
Born Again Christian: so as Phillippians 3:13 says above, “we are to look forward to what lays ahead” such as our eternity with Christ. On earth we persevere in the godly things in this life, center our life on Christ, do our best to show our gratitude towards Christ and love Him "Because He first loved us."
emmy: we know who God is and what God wants...from his Word. the Bible. and his purpose for mankind
Born Again Christian: That is absolutey true.
emmy: the more we read the bible the more we know God
Born Again Christian: In The Old and New Testament God has revealed special information to us, and it helps us to live a godly life and follow Jesus example!
emmy: yes.
Born Again Christian: So is there anything Else I can help you with tonight?
emmy: please pray for my son. i dont think you have much time that i can explain his problem to you
Born Again Christian: Its ok. God knows the situation. I will pray about it, and for your patience and love during all that situation too
emmy: Amen
Born Again Christian: A website you may find helpful, Emmy, as you live for Christ
is http://www.sbcfellowship.com/
emmy: thank you so much
emmy: God Bless, & thank you for listening
Born Again Christian: You're welcome. Have a blessed evening, and I look forward to meeting you in Heaven!
I thanked the Lord for this chat I had with a professing Christian tonight. I rarely run into anyone who appears to be a born again believer (protestant). I hoped that I was able to encourage her in the Scriptures, in the things of Christ, and through all the things she encounters in life, now and in the future. I hope that the way I explained things to her will help her share the gospel with others; articulate it, and explain it to those she meets. Please pray for Emmy's situation with her son, and that she will resist temptations to get involved with/date anyone in the future who is not "single" and that she will grow strong in the knowledge of Scripture and her trust in the Lord will never waiver but always grow more and more until the Lord returns or calls her to heaven.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Encounters of an ATH&IST kind
I am no Ken Ham, but I know a fair amount about Ath3ism& Evilution to be helpful when reaching out to ath&ists. I am a strong Christian, solid in Scripture & my relationship with God and the Lord Jesus, and the power of God and the Holy Spirit IS WITH me when I witness.
Ath3ists dont even realize that posting/replying to Christians (while trolling online as a wolf looking for a victim)...allowing us to reply ... and opened all the doors God plans for them to, to reach the eyes (heart and mind) of any Ath3ist/agnostic or person looking into the things of God, enabling them to see/visit the websites we post and to consider the truths of Christ. Scripture said if we search with all our being we will find the truth and the truth will set us free. God also told us in Scripture that he who seeks finds, and Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
We were limited on how many words we could post on this miniblog, but here is the conversation we had.
1. Ath3ist: My invisible friend is named Steveo, and I love him too!
2: Christian reply: Creation shows the Creator exists. I will not debate the facts of what U clearly can see naturally & http://ow.ly/hi0c (learn about).
2a. To Believers: Dear Christians , feel free to regularly share this link with Ath3ists/agnostics and those who believe in Evolution - http://ow.ly/hi0c2b. Extra Post (incase he came to my page to read what I post): There is no prison in the freedom of Salvation. Sin is the true prison, those who remain in it and dont come to Jesus for liberty are prisoners of Satan; enslaved in sin.
3.Ath3ist: You would think (reference to #2), but science disagrees. And let's not forget that proving a Creator does not mean proving your religion is right.
4. Christian Reply: Science does agree (but evolutionists just refuse to accept it). Also, I do not have a religion sir, I have the truth and Christ.
5.Another Reply: MzrAth3ist You didn't even check out the information at the website - http://ow.ly/hi0c - "did" you?
6.Ath3ist: Sorry, I don't do Flash (websites). But I find it ironic you claim to have no religion, though the only reason to believe Jesus was anyone…is because of the (Catholic) Church really, since no other documents corroborate any significant part of the Gospel."
7.Christian Reply: I think you didn’t want to see that site, your answer was a “cop out”.
8. Ath3ist: (quotes me:) "I do not have a religion sir, I have the truth and Christ.” If I had a nickel for every time I heard that...
8. Reply: Christianity is not a religion, its a personal relationship with the person (God) Jesus Christ. You do not know Him... therefore you can not say that I do not [ reference to: knowing Him; a real person/the creator].
9. Ath3ist (this is when this post posted): "…is because of the (Catholic) Church, really, since no other documents corroborate any significant part of the Gospel."
9.Christian reply: Your facts are wrong sir. 1. Catholicism has nothing to do with Christianity. 2. the Bible is the most reliable book in all of antiquity (historically and as literature).
10.Another thought: Ur attempts to get us to leave our faith is really satan's attempt try and drag me to hell, but you should appreciate my attempts to get you into Heaven.
11. ...if you believe we're not created (& nothing matters; we're all accidents) why then do you-waste your time against Christianity instead of on other useful/enjoyable things in life?
12. PS: your bio says you don’t want to worry about Hell. I wouldn’t worry about that – you should be worrying more about God and his coming wrath against unrepentant sinners. (ie. Flee to Christ sir while there's time).
Then I blocked MzrAth3ist from being able to contact me further. You don’t have to do that, but I don’t believe this guy was open to reason. I dont want to waste my time with those who want to keep me from doing anything profitable for the Kindom of Christ. They have enough info available in what we said available online these days and several churches in their towns to go and speak to someone more on the issue, but they won't. My goal is to just get them thinking about spiritual things. This as well as the rest is in God's hands.
Christians----You can then Post these msgs:
1. ...Pointed the ath3ist to a Gospel site n "blocked" them. They are "closed" to reason and truth.
2. A tip for Christians: Don't let #Ath3ists and those who are against #Christianity continually waste your time in 15 words or less on miniblogs.
3. A great gospel site for Ath3ists agnostics and false religion followers can be found at a growing resource ******
Side Notes:
I offered believers to send me a message to receive our conversation so they could use it to assist them with weeding out closeminded Ath3ists. To get a copy of that link for some reason… I went to the search section of the miniblog and looked up my name...I then realized the Ath3ist had replied back two times, but I had already blocked him. So it didn’t show up on my page. But I wanted other Ath3ists who may have read his final replies to me to know my response to that issue. If they reply back about "God sending people to hell" as this guy did (see below)...
11. Ath3ist: Any god who sends those who do not believe in him to hell is, frankly a @)#*%
Reply on your page (cause youve already blocked him). just post on your own blog wall:
11. Sir, God doesnt send anyone to Hell. People send themselves there. They chose to violate God's law. Criminals are punished for their crimes.
12. God is merciful, and gracious to undeserved criminals and He proved it by His lovingkindness offered through Christ. Yet you reject Him.
13. I blocked Mr foulmouth as you can see. I also find it funny he lists what Ath3ism hasnt done, but forgot to list the atrocities it "has" done.
note: Christianity has done more for the people of this world than anyone else. Ath3ists seem to remove the Christian faith from the Earth but don’t seem to have a problem with Muslims or other Religions or Cults as far as I can see. Based on what I learned about the philosophy and history of Atheistic views their end result is for Christians to be eliminated from the world (by various ways and methods), and only reward those who are conniving and dupe people or step on people to get what they want in life with their “survival of the fittest” mentality. Christians help the poor, they have compassion and empathy and care about others. They created hospitals and schools, colleges and so much more, they even take in orphans and care for widows. Ath3ists don’t do that and don’t care about anyone but themselves. Christians care about everyone, their physical needs as well as their most important need – to be right with God and have salvation through Christ. Eternity depends on it. It’s the truth, its reality. Ath3ists can continue to pretend it isn’t true, but deep down I believe they know it is true, and they hate that “fact”. They only have one hope in Christ:"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
If you have any problems with interacting with Ath3ists feel free to use the same responses i posted (above) to try and reach them. Sometimes when people receive truthful answers to their objections the bricks fall out of their wall and they learn something they dindt know before and it brings them closer to the knowledge of the truth of Jesus salvation. They will certainly leave a different person than they were before they interacted with you and that is because God's word doesnt return void.
If you have any idesas for tweet responses to common objections from Ath3ists please contact me with the info, so I can post them and we can all use them on the internet. May we reach some for Christ by all possible means available.
*******************************************************************
Additional Helpful Resource:
"Do you withstand God's Word?": http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1123081834580 Good Sermon, feel free to share it with those you know online. Christian, Atheist or other religious person. It too can break down barriers they have between themselves and God by humbling them and leading them to the truth.
********************************************************************
Four Questions Atheists Cant Answer http://www.bethinking.org/news-and-views/2009-09/did-darwin-kill-god
Monday, July 06, 2009
Mission: Street Fishin (Hawaii)
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Hawaii Witnessing (part 1)
They
showed us some tracts and materials they had there, and offered that
if we felt moved to share them with those we talked to we could. They
showed us a neat gospel tract post card that they published this
year. I think it is a good one. Plus, whoever sends these in the
mail, no one will ever know who sent it to them, so it shouldn't
cause anyone to be afraid to reach others for Christ. Then they
showed us the celebrity millions, which I had not seen before "in
real life", and wondered if they would actually work. Would they
be a stumbling block or would they be useful in reaching people? We'd
find out.My dad sat down to observe how we witnessed, as he has not participated in sharing tracts in public yet and is a little introverted. It took me a couple years from learning WOTM material before I stepped out, so I am just glad that they came along, even just to watch and see how conversations happen in real life.
The last few years in Los Vegas I have been unable to get them to come with me on the streets, to observe (and be there because there is safety in numbers, esp. in that town). My mom has handed out some tracts to children at VBS when she was a teacher in it at their Church. She then moved on to showing the curved tract to children in restaurants in the last few years whenever she felt bold enough to do it. They do leave MDB's and other tracts at restaurants. Their favorite was the large Quarter sized tract Living Waters made.
Well, I wondered if she was going to step out and hand tracts to people today. I wanted to pair them with the couple, mom with her, and dad with him, so they could see how people minister in conversations, but we ended up doing all our own thing.
The guy went across the street and so did my nephew. He handed tracts out pretty boldly, even about 20 yards away from those who were coming our direction. I don't know that anyone refused a tract from him. Kids are kind of cute that way, no one wants to hurt their feelings.
The lady said the area is usually very hard to witness in and they are always encountering spiritual warfare there pretty intensely; which Mom would later find out to be true. She and I stayed on the side of the church and my mom hung out near us by the church, (as a tourist pretending to be a tourist, lol). We handed out tracts and people took them.
It was a little weird with the celebrity tracts whenever I tried using them. I had my own stash of tracts that I brought the living waters million dollar bill, a couple good person tracts from fellowshiptractleague.org, and the your moment of truth tract, (which are good to use because if you don't finish your conversation, they'll read it later and end up with all the things you wanted to share with them, and there is more information on the website the tract points to).
The guy ended up in a good long conversation with a big guy across the street and he took a full sized Bible with him. I hope he shares that encounter with us, because I overheard him telling the lady and my mom parts of it, as I passed out tracts a few feet away while trying to start conversations with people. Not a lot of people stopped to talk to us, but some did take tracts. Others didn't want them.
The Your Moment of Truth tracts worked pretty well and they enabled me to get a foot in the door to a conversation for a minute. However, regardless of the tract we used to start a conversation most people walked away not wanting to talk to us about religious things. It was a little hard to get people into conversations with the celebrity bills than with the other tracts. People did not seem as interested in them as the million dollar bill. I don't think I am going to offer them to people, even in my own area (Hollywood, CA). But maybe because it was Hawaii instead of Hollywood blvd the other tracts worked better.
We handed tracts out to college age and older adults, and also to a few locals who might be homeless. A Korean lady with a stroller and her little 2 year old boy walking next to her stopped to let me show the boy something neat. I held up the two curved tracts & asked him which one is bigger? He pointed to the pink one, then I switched them and looked at his mom for a split second and asked him again "which one is bigger?" he pointed to the blue one. I told him "they are both the same size. They just look like they are bigger." And then I said "you can have this for free to take home with you" and he took them and started running gleefully down the pathway while his mom was still surprised by the illusion and smiled at me while she chased after him. He was like the happiest kid ever, it was so cute!
Witnessing in Hawaii (part 2)
In Part one of our Hawaii witnessing blog… I shared how we got to Hawaii, and pre-arranged to meet with local believers there, to share the gospel in the main touristy area.
We went back past our group and down the waterway path and ran into a homeless looking Rastafarian guy (a colorful character with a few missing teeth) came by us holding a ukulele (guitar). Rhonda offered him a tract and the guy told us he believed in God. He stopped for a minute and we attempted to strike up a conversation with him and ended up asking him about his ukulele. He said he plays “backyard style” which means he just strums on it. So we asked him to play something and he strummed a little. I told him he “played really well.” I also mentioned that it appears one “doesn’t need to know how to play that instrument to make beautiful music” (it truly is beautiful). Then he asked us which church we go to. Rhonda told him where she goes and I told him I am here on vacation and go to a church in Los Angeles, California. So he then broke out in song with the ukulele paying “Amazing Grace”. And Rhonda started humming and singing along so I joined in and then before I knew it she was recording us singing. I’m not sure if you will find that popping up on Utube, but if you do… forgive my voice it’s just a joyful noise box.
Hawaii Evangelism pt 3
I asked the mom if she had a religious background. She said yes, catholic. And I told her the back of the million dollar bill asks an important question. Will you go to heaven when you die. I asked if she could name any of the 10 commandments. She said she couldn’t think of any. I told her I’m sure she could remember at least one. (I tried to get her motivated to talk with me). She said she couldn’t, and she really didn’t want to talk to me about religious things. It’s a personal thing for her.
I shared we are out today talking with people, because we know its important to make sure we know where we are going when we die. She was adamantly in her attitude, not really nice, and kind of non responsive (I could tell she did not want to talk). She wasn’t rude or mean, just in a weird way just not wanting to talk. Her preteen daughter was sitting with her and so, I tried to encourage her to read the back of the million dollar bill because its important. I felt like that was a swing and a miss. At least they had the tract, that is the great thing about it. The gospel does the work it is meant to do, by the power of God. So when they read it, hopefully what I was trying to say, would make sense after she read the tract.
We went back to our meeting spot with the group and attempted to give out a few other tracts. Some college age guys took some from me, a few younger girls, and a couple who were walking by.
When the couple was approaching, I wanted to call him a bit closer to us, and then my nephew reached out and offered the Million dollar bill tract. The lady nicely asked him what it was. He looked at me for a second and wasnt sure what to say or do, so he quickly flipped it over and showed her the text on the back. And read he it right out to her “the million dollar question: Will you go to heaven when you die?” She said yes and then they and I talked a minute.
She said her and her husband go to a church down the road from here [so they are locals] and that they know people at YWAM. We talked for about 10 minutes. We shared with them that we are on vacation and are out with a local couple who witness there to the locals and those who come off of the cruise lines. We told them how we share the gospel and etc. It was a nice conversation.
While we were with the others when witnessing (safety first), at one point a creepy older homeless guy (white but very tan, with long blond dreadlocks) came our way. We decided to try to talk to him briefly, to at least hand a tract, he was just not interested in talking. Then I spoke to another native Hawaiian lady who also appeared homeless and had a local friend with her. Most of the people there are Hawaiian natives, white, or tourists.
Later on we packed up and headed back to meet up with the rest of our family. I’m sure we were out for about 3 hours and that was a pretty long time for my parents’ first street “outing.” And I was glad to hear that my mom had been handing out tracts in the walkway in front of the church. After we got back to the resort, she told me she had the hardest people come past her when the other lady and I had shortly walked down the boardwalk.
She said she handed out to a few people as they were walking by and they took the tract and didn’t stop, others turned their face and snubbed her or would not only refuse the tract, (either thinking it was cult material or because they were anti-Christian), but they would also speak rudely to her or say “No” in a very mean way. She tried to hand a large 100 dollar bill to a mother of a couple young children who were walking by, offering it as “play money” and the mother grabbed her little children by the arm and dragged them away as she firmly said in a rude and aggressively way “NO!” Her kids didn’t understand and she treated her children badly because of her (the mom’s) behavior.
My mom told the believer she was teamed up with at the moment that she couldn’t understand how the mother would react that way since the kids can’t even read. When she told me, I mentioned that there could be many reasons; It could be due to a situation in her life where she is mad at God right now, had a pushy family member or someone else she knows try to get her to church, or she had a bad experience with someone who professed to be a Christian and ended up causing her to walk away from spiritual things. No one knows but God, and at least my mom tried. She did her part to share the gospel, even after several people treated her like that.
After we returned home from Hawaii the ones who lived there and joined up with us to share the gospel, had went back to see if the Egyptian couple was still there, so they could talk to them, and encourage them. They were there, and they had a great conversation! The very next day they ran into that couple in a local store and had mentioned to the witnessing couple that they were greatly encouraged by all of us to share the gospel. That was an encouragement to us because we’ve found it’s rare to get a YWAM’er interested in sharing the gospel. I look forward to hearing about their witnessing encounters from this outing too.