Non-Christian help

[LilLamb219]

Could someone help out in a thread in the Questions by Non-Christians board...

http://www.christianforums.com/t2441190-is-this-how-to-become-a-christian.html&page=9#post21208364

I hope this link works ok. If not, I'll tell you the title of the thread.

I tried answering some things as best as I can, but the person is really looking for some experience to "feel" a relationship with God. If you could help, that would be awesome :)

[Protoevangel]

Wow, I can't believe the length of my last post over there. I didn't even think it was that long until I tried to post it and it was denied.

Thanks for pointing us over there LilLamb!

[LilLamb219]

I'm really glad you are helping out there. The more the better with the truth of the Gospel.

Too many people have a false notion of what the Gospel means. I didn't really go into that particular forum for the longest time because 1) I thought the non-Christian posters would just want to be argumentative, which they're not and 2) I thought that the long-time Christian posters from the rest of the boards here were covering things pretty well, which only a handful are actually presenting the Gospel that gives faith. I'm astonished actually.

So, now I try to make it a point to spend some time there daily. We have the truth of the Gospel and people there need to hear it...not the let him into your heart, surrender to him, ask him and he'll save you, choose him, blah, blah, blah.

[KEPLER]

Dan and Littlelamb,

Good posts both of you! Keep it up.

K

oops! and Spalatin too!

[LilLamb219]

LOL I was going to say the same thing to you!! :)

[RedneckAnglican]

Dan and Littlelamb,

Good posts both of you! Keep it up.

K

oops! and Spalatin too!

I thought so as well...perhaps I wrong, but it sounds like someone asked GOD for a pony and got angry that they didn't get it...

[KEPLER]

I thought so as well...perhaps I wrong, but it sounds like someone asked GOD for a pony and got angry that they didn't get it...

It sounds to me like someone told him God always gives a pony...and then he got angry.

Perhaps you or some of our other Gulf Coast residents should tell him what the "Victroious Christian Life" is like during hurricane season?

[LilLamb219]

Sadly enough, God has been turned into some great vending machine by a lot of modern day evangelicals :(

It reminds me of VBS years ago when my daughter was younger and the verse of the day was about through God all things are possible (Matthew). My daughter got in the car after the day was over and said, Then that means I can do my backhandsprings after all!!! (it's a gymnastics stunt for those who don't know...a back flip).

I had to explain to her that our wants are not always going to be fulfilled because it might not be according to God's will.

Ok, so she didn't get her backhandsprings right away...but she did get them soon after. I think it was more of the confidence she gained from practice ;)

[KEPLER]

Quoting from the other thread....

After all we've written, you still resort to feelings :(

Christianity and salvation isn't about your feelings or whether you've had some major experience. Repentance is actually a gift from God and not something you can conjure up within you. Being convicted of sin, well, do you mean to say you're never sorry for anything you've ever done wrong? I can't believe that. If you have ever felt sorry, then THAT is conviction of sin.

You're giving me the impression that you think God is waiting for something to happen on your side first before salvation can take place. Salvation took place at the cross over 2000 years ago, but man rejects this. God gives faith to believe in it but men still reject.

What do you mean when you keep saying that God hasn't given you a response? Could there be a possibility that you just are not recognizing the responses He is giving to you? Could you be ignoring the mundane because it's just not glamorous enough for you? Not everyone gets blinded on the road to Damascus like Paul. Not everyone will have that grand experience. Not everyone needs to.

God has given you a great response. He has given you His Word. You apparently have read the Bible at some point. There within is His Word and with His Word you cannot detach the Holy Spirit. He has given to you the message of salvation which is a HUGE response and you still want more? What more are you looking for?

In church, in baptism (which I haven't seen an answer as to whether or not you've ever been baptized) He gives a big response which might not even be felt by some, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that God gives promises. He promises forgiveness because of Christ's death on the cross. He promises that in baptism, because His Word is in the water to clothe you in Christ's righteousness and wash away your sins. He promises to give you His very own body and blood in the Lord's Supper. His responses are filled with gifts that you ignore because you want something different. Why?

God has responded by sending people here to answer your questions and direct you back to Him and the cross. He keeps telling you over and over that you are forgiven. But that isn't enough. I'm so sorry to hear that His life for you isn't good enough :(

Preach on, Sister!!! :preach:

[LilLamb219]

I thought I was kind of being a little hard on losthope in my last posting. I admit to feeling some slight frustration. I mean, after all we've said to this person about keeping feelings separate, this person still clings to that hope of having a feeling or experience.

I realize the desire to want to be "special" in God's eyes and to have an experience might fill that need to be special. But after reading some pastor's postings years ago on LutherQuest about baptism and God's giftings to us, wow, I couldn't feel more special :) I just want to convey that to losthope.

[RedneckAnglican]

It sounds to me like someone told him God always gives a pony...and then he got angry.

Perhaps you or some of our other Gulf Coast residents should tell him what the "Victroious Christian Life" is like during hurricane season?

I would LOVE to...to be honest things for us have gotten 1000000000 times better since Rita...but I have to admit I couldn't see a lot of GOD's plan sitting in the woods with no food, no water, no ice, no electricity, no way to bathe, no gasoline, no anything...