I hope this does not sound selfish, but I need people to pray for me...
There are just a lot of friends who are anti-Christian, and sadly, their accusations are making me begin to doubt.
And that scares me. I don't want to doubt Him, because I don't want to stray from Him...but I'm afraid I am...
I've also had a number of friends who I thought were Christians, and they turned out to be the exact opposite...it's hard to know who to trust now...
There were also some friends whom I found out something about them, though due to controversy here, i'll refrain from saying it...(though i guess you can PM me if you want to know...)
Yeah...this sounds more like an emotional ramble...but just pray that I'll be able to get through this, and that I may grow as a Christian. Also, pray for my friends and my anti-Christian friends...
Thanks! ^_^
I need Prayer...
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I need Prayer...
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Ren_sama - Posts: 587
- Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 7:48 pm
I will pray for you, sis. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit would give you answers by His revelation to answer both your friend's accusations and your own doubts. I struggled a lot with this at the begginning of this semester of school and it proved to be a catalyst for growth. The Lord bless you.
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Syreth - Posts: 1360
- Joined: Thu Jul 15, 2004 3:12 pm
- Location: Central Washington
Wel maybe this will you win the fight aginst those doubts...
Christ is Truth
In coming to Jesus Christ, you found the truth behind all things, you found him who is in himself the truth, the key to life, the secret of the universe, final reality! You find the truth used in that sense in this very letter. In Ephesians 4:20-21, “You did not so learn Christ! [i.e., in uncleanness and licentiousness, etc.] -- assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus." He is the truth, he is reality, he is the key to life. "In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," (Colossians 2:3)."Well," someone says, "how do you know that? How do you know you are not performing an act of blind faith without any supporting evidence at all? You say you believe in Jesus, but you have accepted him as the authority without any evidence to support it. That's blind faith." But that is not what a Christian does. Christian faith is not blind faith. When we believe Christ is the truth, we believe it because he demonstrated he was the truth. We need to put it on that basis.
How did he demonstrate that he was the truth? First, by what he said. Read the things he said. Incomparable things! He gave the clearest insights into what human life was about ever given in the hearing of men. Even his enemies say so. No one ever saw so clearly as he, no one ever probed so deeply or put his finger so precisely upon the elements which make up human life and thinking. In what he said you can see he spoke the truth. "No one ever spake like this man," (John 7:46)
But not only that, he demonstrated the truth by what he did. This New Testament record is an amazing account of mighty deeds and historic events. Miracles? Yes, there are evidences of the intrusion of the spiritual kingdom -- that invisible realm of reality -- into the visible realm. He capped it all, of course, by showing that he had solved the one problem which is insoluble to every other man -- the problem of death. He rose from the dead! Who else has ever done anything like that? What other philosopher, what other thinker, what other man who has ever challenged men has ever done anything like that -- solved that basic problem of life? That is why I know Jesus Christ is the truth, because he solved the problem of death.
This, by the way, is why the enemies of the Scriptures fight so fiercely to destroy the historicity of these events, if they can. They want us to think it does not matter whether these things were historically true. Of course they are historically true, and of course it greatly matters, for these events demonstrate that Jesus was the truth.
But it is not only by what he said and what he did, but further, by what he is. Bring this into the present. What has he been to you? What has he been to others? Look back at your own Christian life and its beginnings. Did he deliver you? Has he set you free? Has he broken any chains in your life? Has he been your friend? Has he brought you back into balance and harmony? It has been pointed out that through the centuries men have been calling on others for help. You may lack courage and call on a great contemporary hero to help you, but nothing happens. You may lack wisdom and call on one of the great philosophers of the day. Or, lacking eloquence, you may cry, "Shakespeare, help me!" But no help comes. Yet for twenty centuries men and women in desperate plight have been calling our, "Lord Jesus Christ, help me" -- and help is given! Deliverance comes! That is how we know he is the truth.
Remember that all conflicting systems and philosophies must be tested at all points, not just at one. Many philosophies can do something. Ah, yes, many systems which basically are wrong still can help in a limited area. They can help somewhere, they can accomplish some good. But, my Christian friends, we must learn that this is never the mark of truth. Because something does some good is no mark of truth. Truth is a complete entity. Truth is reality, the way things really are. Therefore it is the explanation of all things. You know you have found the truth when you find something which is wide enough and deep enough and high enough to encompass all things. That is what Jesus Christ does.
Further, ultimate reality never changes. Here is another mark. Truth never needs updating, never needs to be modernized. If something was true ten thousand years ago, it is still true today. If it is true today, it was true a hundred thousand years ago. Truth does not need updating.
I delight in the story of the man to came to his old friend, a music teacher, and said to him in that flippant way we moderns use, "What's the good news today?" The old man never said a word. He walked across the room, picked up a hammer and struck a tuning fork. As the note sounded out through the room, he said, "That is 'A.' It is 'A' today, it was 'A' five thousand years ago, and it will be 'A' ten thousand years from now. The soprano upstairs sings off-key, the tenor across the hall flats his high notes, and the piano downstairs is out of tune." He struck the note again, and said, "That is 'A,' my friend, and that's the good news for today!" That is what Jesus Christ is -- unchanging. He is "the same yesterday, today, and forever," (Hebrews 13:8). That is how you know you have truth. Remember that when you feel defeated, when you are under attack, when doubts come flooding into your mind. Remember that you have girded up your loins with truth; you have found him who is the solid rock:
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
I hope this helps. I'll be praying for ya.
God Bless
HS5000
Christ is Truth
In coming to Jesus Christ, you found the truth behind all things, you found him who is in himself the truth, the key to life, the secret of the universe, final reality! You find the truth used in that sense in this very letter. In Ephesians 4:20-21, “You did not so learn Christ! [i.e., in uncleanness and licentiousness, etc.] -- assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus." He is the truth, he is reality, he is the key to life. "In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," (Colossians 2:3)."Well," someone says, "how do you know that? How do you know you are not performing an act of blind faith without any supporting evidence at all? You say you believe in Jesus, but you have accepted him as the authority without any evidence to support it. That's blind faith." But that is not what a Christian does. Christian faith is not blind faith. When we believe Christ is the truth, we believe it because he demonstrated he was the truth. We need to put it on that basis.
How did he demonstrate that he was the truth? First, by what he said. Read the things he said. Incomparable things! He gave the clearest insights into what human life was about ever given in the hearing of men. Even his enemies say so. No one ever saw so clearly as he, no one ever probed so deeply or put his finger so precisely upon the elements which make up human life and thinking. In what he said you can see he spoke the truth. "No one ever spake like this man," (John 7:46)
But not only that, he demonstrated the truth by what he did. This New Testament record is an amazing account of mighty deeds and historic events. Miracles? Yes, there are evidences of the intrusion of the spiritual kingdom -- that invisible realm of reality -- into the visible realm. He capped it all, of course, by showing that he had solved the one problem which is insoluble to every other man -- the problem of death. He rose from the dead! Who else has ever done anything like that? What other philosopher, what other thinker, what other man who has ever challenged men has ever done anything like that -- solved that basic problem of life? That is why I know Jesus Christ is the truth, because he solved the problem of death.
This, by the way, is why the enemies of the Scriptures fight so fiercely to destroy the historicity of these events, if they can. They want us to think it does not matter whether these things were historically true. Of course they are historically true, and of course it greatly matters, for these events demonstrate that Jesus was the truth.
But it is not only by what he said and what he did, but further, by what he is. Bring this into the present. What has he been to you? What has he been to others? Look back at your own Christian life and its beginnings. Did he deliver you? Has he set you free? Has he broken any chains in your life? Has he been your friend? Has he brought you back into balance and harmony? It has been pointed out that through the centuries men have been calling on others for help. You may lack courage and call on a great contemporary hero to help you, but nothing happens. You may lack wisdom and call on one of the great philosophers of the day. Or, lacking eloquence, you may cry, "Shakespeare, help me!" But no help comes. Yet for twenty centuries men and women in desperate plight have been calling our, "Lord Jesus Christ, help me" -- and help is given! Deliverance comes! That is how we know he is the truth.
Remember that all conflicting systems and philosophies must be tested at all points, not just at one. Many philosophies can do something. Ah, yes, many systems which basically are wrong still can help in a limited area. They can help somewhere, they can accomplish some good. But, my Christian friends, we must learn that this is never the mark of truth. Because something does some good is no mark of truth. Truth is a complete entity. Truth is reality, the way things really are. Therefore it is the explanation of all things. You know you have found the truth when you find something which is wide enough and deep enough and high enough to encompass all things. That is what Jesus Christ does.
Further, ultimate reality never changes. Here is another mark. Truth never needs updating, never needs to be modernized. If something was true ten thousand years ago, it is still true today. If it is true today, it was true a hundred thousand years ago. Truth does not need updating.
I delight in the story of the man to came to his old friend, a music teacher, and said to him in that flippant way we moderns use, "What's the good news today?" The old man never said a word. He walked across the room, picked up a hammer and struck a tuning fork. As the note sounded out through the room, he said, "That is 'A.' It is 'A' today, it was 'A' five thousand years ago, and it will be 'A' ten thousand years from now. The soprano upstairs sings off-key, the tenor across the hall flats his high notes, and the piano downstairs is out of tune." He struck the note again, and said, "That is 'A,' my friend, and that's the good news for today!" That is what Jesus Christ is -- unchanging. He is "the same yesterday, today, and forever," (Hebrews 13:8). That is how you know you have truth. Remember that when you feel defeated, when you are under attack, when doubts come flooding into your mind. Remember that you have girded up your loins with truth; you have found him who is the solid rock:
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
I hope this helps. I'll be praying for ya.
God Bless
HS5000
Live your life, love the Lord, and don't forget to laugh...
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holysoldier5000 - Posts: 771
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 5:31 am
- Location: Off the page of the map... here there be monsters!
That does sound difficult. Yes, I will pray. It would be nice if you had more Christian friends to back you up and encourage you.
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence.
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence.
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Alice - Posts: 1707
- Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:58 pm
- Location: Scarborough Fair
I agree with Alice. Perhaps you should distance yourself from those anti-Christian friends and pursue friendships with those whom you feel are truly Christians. Those relationships can strengthen you and your testimony and perhaps allow you to retain some kind of connection with the anti-Christian friends to eventually witness to them and lead them to Christ in any way you can.
I'll pray that God will guide, strengthen, and lift you up.
I'll pray that God will guide, strengthen, and lift you up.
Zar wrote:Praise God for all things awesome. Life ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But sanctify the Lord your God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
-- 1 Peter 3:15
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Rogie - Posts: 2975
- Joined: Thu Oct 09, 2003 12:00 pm
- Location: Virginia
Don't lose faith!
It's just The stinkin' devil lying to you. He says:
"listen to them...it's obvious. There is no God. How can there be? Isn't what they're saying perfectly logical? look at what they think of you...what could they be thinking? hmmm?
Give up your God. There is no such thing...you're such a fool to try to keep stong in faith..."
Tell him to SHUT UP, and that you can take authority over him WHENEVER you want...because he's weaker than you in Christ.
"greater is he that lives in me, than he that lives in the world."
Pray for your friends. They're foolish and wicked...and of this world. They can't understand spiritual things, they've got no concept of it. Satan, that lyer is blinding them. Only God can open their eyes.
And he will. If you just keep praying.
here (some of my fave verses), please read them all, they're important:
Matt 17:20
20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
NKJV
Luke 17:6-7
6 So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
NKJV
Ps 14:1
The fool has said in his heart,
"There is no God ."
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.
NKJV
Prov 14:12
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death .
NKJV
Col 2:1-10
2:1 Not Philosophy but Christ
For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
NKJV
There's also proof for the events in the Bible. How can you say no??
Don't listen to that lord of the flies.
There's PROOF!!! Whether your friends say so or not. They can't change the fact.
I'll be praying for you and your precious friends.
It's just The stinkin' devil lying to you. He says:
"listen to them...it's obvious. There is no God. How can there be? Isn't what they're saying perfectly logical? look at what they think of you...what could they be thinking? hmmm?
Give up your God. There is no such thing...you're such a fool to try to keep stong in faith..."
Tell him to SHUT UP, and that you can take authority over him WHENEVER you want...because he's weaker than you in Christ.
"greater is he that lives in me, than he that lives in the world."
Pray for your friends. They're foolish and wicked...and of this world. They can't understand spiritual things, they've got no concept of it. Satan, that lyer is blinding them. Only God can open their eyes.
And he will. If you just keep praying.
here (some of my fave verses), please read them all, they're important:
Matt 17:20
20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
NKJV
Luke 17:6-7
6 So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
NKJV
Ps 14:1
The fool has said in his heart,
"There is no God ."
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.
NKJV
Prov 14:12
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death .
NKJV
Col 2:1-10
2:1 Not Philosophy but Christ
For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
NKJV
There's also proof for the events in the Bible. How can you say no??
Don't listen to that lord of the flies.
There's PROOF!!! Whether your friends say so or not. They can't change the fact.
I'll be praying for you and your precious friends.
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Ryupower - Posts: 1056
- Joined: Sat May 14, 2005 8:55 pm
- Location: Germany, currently
Thank you everyone. Thank you for praying, and for your concern and help! I really appreciate it all...^^
So yea, I'll try and look for more Christian friends to support me...I'll make sure that they're Christian too, not pretenders...(one of my friends said they were Christian, but I found out they were acctually wiccan...)
Sadly, the only real Christian friend I have just graduated...
Quite ironic too. This school I go to is a Christian school, yet even our Bible class does not teach the Bible. They teach, and I quote, "Bible History". Which is accutally the teacher contradicting everything that is said in the Bible.
This teacher is acctually what made many people doubt Christianity...I've heard many people say, "But in Bible class, Father (name of the teacher), said that the Bible is all fiction, and none of it is true. It's just made up examples people wrote down..."
-_-;;
So yea, I'll try and look for more Christian friends to support me...I'll make sure that they're Christian too, not pretenders...(one of my friends said they were Christian, but I found out they were acctually wiccan...)
Sadly, the only real Christian friend I have just graduated...
Quite ironic too. This school I go to is a Christian school, yet even our Bible class does not teach the Bible. They teach, and I quote, "Bible History". Which is accutally the teacher contradicting everything that is said in the Bible.
This teacher is acctually what made many people doubt Christianity...I've heard many people say, "But in Bible class, Father (name of the teacher), said that the Bible is all fiction, and none of it is true. It's just made up examples people wrote down..."
-_-;;
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Ren_sama - Posts: 587
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thats why there are churches! (not saying you must find one, just a statement ^^) for christians to gather!
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Mr. SmartyPants - Posts: 12541
- Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2004 9:00 am
Wow. seems like a hard time your going through. Ya I've had my times when the devil tempted me to doubt. But I just kept reminding myelf that He is more real than I can ever imagine and I have TANGIBLE Proof of it. He has done a lot in my life and when I remember that (With the guidance of His Holy Spirit of course) He continues to strengthen me. As for friends, I have plenty of Christian friends an dplenty of non-christian but good thing is most of them are Catholic so they are a lot easier to convince tahn my Muslim friends. Ryupower's right. Just pray for them. My advice do what I do prove them wrong by showing what Christ has done in Your life an dthat He's continuing to do miracles right now. Hope this helps ^_^. Be strong and may you walk upon the faith of the Lord.
Crusader's Oath:
I, (state your name), promise to lay down my life for Jesus. To fight all my daily battles for Him. To dedicate my whole life and time to Him. To never cease in doing His commands. And to gladly fulfill my purpose and fearlessly go into battle with teh assurance of victory!!!
I, (state your name), promise to lay down my life for Jesus. To fight all my daily battles for Him. To dedicate my whole life and time to Him. To never cease in doing His commands. And to gladly fulfill my purpose and fearlessly go into battle with teh assurance of victory!!!
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lostlamb99 - Posts: 83
- Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2005 10:58 am
- Location: Philippines (Currently in Saudi Arabia)
Mr. SmartyPants wrote:thats why there are churches! (not saying you must find one, just a statement ^^) for christians to gather!
Oh don't worry, I go to church. ^^ Every Sunday, though sometimes I feel like I can't wait till Sunday
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Ren_sama - Posts: 587
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Alice wrote:0.0 That is scary!
It is...>____<
lostlamb99 wrote:Wow. seems like a hard time your going through. Ya I've had my times when the devil tempted me to doubt. But I just kept reminding myelf that He is more real than I can ever imagine and I have TANGIBLE Proof of it. He has done a lot in my life and when I remember that (With the guidance of His Holy Spirit of course) He continues to strengthen me. As for friends, I have plenty of Christian friends an dplenty of non-christian but good thing is most of them are Catholic so they are a lot easier to convince tahn my Muslim friends. Ryupower's right. Just pray for them. My advice do what I do prove them wrong by showing what Christ has done in Your life an dthat He's continuing to do miracles right now. Hope this helps ^_^. Be strong and may you walk upon the faith of the Lord.
It does help, thank you!
I try to prove them wrong, but I'm really bad at debating on the spot...
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Ren_sama - Posts: 587
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i wonder why-
Mr. SmartyPants - Posts: 12541
- Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2004 9:00 am
Oh, man, I feel for you. There is a girl I work with who wears Christian T-Shirts, swears up a storm, and flaunts the fact she goes to XXX stores and doesn't spare details in describing what she did there. And I have the responsibility of being the only genuine Christian counter to this girl. But if I remember to use Jesus' strength and not mine, it'll all be okay. Praying for you.
[color="Red"]As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. - Proverbs 23:7[/color]
The Sundries
Robin: "If we close our eyes, we can't see anything."
Batman: "A sound observation, Robin."
The Sundries
Robin: "If we close our eyes, we can't see anything."
Batman: "A sound observation, Robin."
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Doubleshadow - Posts: 2102
- Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2004 7:04 pm
- Location: ... What's burning?
Doubleshadow wrote:Oh, man, I feel for you. There is a girl I work with who wears Christian T-Shirts, swears up a storm, and flaunts the fact she goes to XXX stores and doesn't spare details in describing what she did there. And I have the responsibility of being the only genuine Christian counter to this girl. But if I remember to use Jesus' strength and not mine, it'll all be okay. Praying for you.
Oh my goodness! I'll pray for you too!
Ren_sama, you have my prayers and empathy, been through the same thing. You'll go through periods of doubts, but hold fast to the truth, the Bible, the word of God. You're His child. You may be tried and tested, but He won't allow you to fall away. God could be using this to allow your roots grow deeper, to strengthen you for a difficult task head.
Search for yourself. There are books and internet sites all about the crediblity of the Bible. You might go to one site and find a question and then the next site you see, you find the answer!
Here's a few to start you with, if you're interested:
Book: The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel (it can be found just about anywhere) Mr. Strobel also wrote a book called The Case for a Creator, it's supposed to be phenomanal!
Web sites: http://www.apologetics.johndepoes.com/bible.html
http://gregscouch.homestead.com/apologetics.html
That site, while mainly for preparing people to defend the faith, should definantly be able to answer some questions and then some!
PM me if you need anything.
"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." -1 Corinthians 13:13
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Vash is a plant - Posts: 182
- Joined: Sat May 29, 2004 5:49 pm
- Location: Florida!
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