Just Wondering.....

[Naomi]

How much sooner our Lord would return to claim His own if all the energy spent fighting for, or focusing on "issues" (social, political etc) was spent on how to better focus on personal evangelism. How if our time, energies, and prayers were spent on how to better bring more people to the foot of the cross.

Just wondering ...........

[Stan]

wise question.

[Gail]

AND it's much more personally gratifying, as there is a blessing connected with it that comes back to the person sharing the message of God's grace

[Woody]

Quote:

Edit Reason: Fixed the UBB code

Just wondering ...

What is a UBB code?

[Gail]

Those are the codes that provide the formatting that make your posts special, like Italics, bolding, quotes, etc.

Sometimes in the editing process a poster will delete a bracket or add too much (by clicking on the icons) and they get all messed up.

[Woody]

thanks

[Stan]

[Naomi]

Gail, Thank you so much for the edit. I saw it and tried to correct but didn't take. Server or system running slow and clock running fast. Was hoping a good samaritan would fix it.

[phkrause]

Great question.. How we comment is a very big part of evangelism. when we attack others posts, there are those who are thinking about there choice's in life and when they see the verbal abuse that some spew out, I can just wonder what there thoughts are about SDAs in general.

[Naomi]

Great question.. How we comment is a very big part of evangelism. when we attack others posts, there are those who are thinking about there choice's in life and when they see the verbal abuse that some spew out, I can just wonder what there thoughts are about SDAs in general.

That is a big concern of mine. If I came here and wanted to learn more about Adventism, or had left perhaps due to some unresolved issues with members and such, would what I read make me want to become a member?

Sometimes I wonder how my actions and words represent being a Christian not to mention being a SDA Christian and pray for more self-control and a more positive, loving attitude. Even more so when I am driving ... even if the guy that cut me off doesn't know that I profess to be a follower of Christ ... he knows.

[phkrause]

That is a big concern of mine. If I came here and wanted to learn more about Adventism, or had left perhaps due to some unresolved issues with members and such, would what I read make me want to become a member?

Sometimes I wonder how my actions and words represent being a Christian not to mention being a SDA Christian and pray for more self-control and a more positive, loving attitude. Even more so when I am driving ... even if the guy that cut me off doesn't know that I profess to be a follower of Christ ... he knows.

[M. T. Cross]

How much sooner our Lord would return to claim His own if all the energy spent fighting for, or focusing on "issues" (social, political etc) was spent on how to better focus on personal evangelism. How if our time, energies, and prayers were spent on how to better bring more people to the foot of the cross.

Just wondering ...........

You know Naomi, I have often wondered about that in observation as well.

Often I read it said "don't look to the people, look to Christ". But the thing is that if the majority of the people that follow Christ are busy taking stabs and jabs at each other, bickering and judging - it really leads one that is not a follower to wonder if thats where looking to Christ leads you.

[Naomi]

You know Naomi, I have often wondered about that in observation as well.

Often I read it said "don't look to the people, look to Christ". But the thing is that if the majority of the people that follow Christ are busy taking stabs and jabs at each other, bickering and judging - it really leads one that is not a follower to wonder if thats where looking to Christ leads you.

EC I have been blessed with knowing some of the most loving, accepting, non-judgemental Christians one would ever hope to find. By their standards I fall very short.

I did move to a new area and stumble into a group who were bitter, angry, hostile, judgemental (I could continue but there are not enough adjectives)people you could ever wish to find. If that sounds judgemental it is not meant as anything short of the way it was. I left the church and decided to find my peace someplace else.

PTL Today I realize that the negative people are not what Christians are about. Here again, it is difficult to say this without sounding judgemental but ...........

Perhaps I have matured a bit and make my choices as to whom I care to spend my time. What attitudes and thoughts I allow to enter my mind. I am still learning and sometimes slip up. I treasure and truly love the kind, caring people who for the most part fill my life.

And, you EC represent the kind, loving people of whom I am speaking.

[phkrause]

You know Naomi, I have often wondered about that in observation as well.

Often I read it said "don't look to the people, look to Christ". But the thing is that if the majority of the people that follow Christ are busy taking stabs and jabs at each other, bickering and judging - it really leads one that is not a follower to wonder if thats where looking to Christ leads you.

I hear you EC, I tell others all the time to look at Christ and not man, but I've finally realized that that is easier said than doing it. Paul tells us that we should be careful how we behave in front of new believers and I take that a little further, to how we behave to those that are not believers. Reminds me of a story I once heard about a Pastor that was going to preach at a church, he was a guest speaker. As he was driving to the church, he came upon a accident, and he saw one guy yelling at another guy, the drivers of the 2 cars, and also heard the language being used. When he got to the church he was told that the head elder had not yet arrived. Just as they were getting ready to go up to the front the head elder arrived and said he'd been in a accident. the Pastor than recalled the head elder as the guy doing all the cursing and yelling at the accident. So you never know who's watching.

[M. T. Cross]

There is the real point.

There are very kind, loving, great people that are Christians. I have known them in my life, I have seen it here at CA.

I have known people from many different faiths that fit both sides of that coin.

So that begs the question of, is it the person or is it the religion of that person? Or even - is it that some people take something positive out of their religion no matter what it is and others don't?

Quote:

Perhaps I have matured a bit and make my choices as to whom I care to spend my time. What attitudes and thoughts I allow to enter my mind. I am still learning and sometimes slip up. I treasure and truly love the kind, caring people who for the most part fill my life.

Yes indeed! That is something I am learning to do as well!

And you Naomi fit that bill as well.

[Naomi]

There is the real point.

There are very kind, loving, great people that are Christians. I have known them in my life, I have seen it here at CA.

I have known people from many different faiths that fit both sides of that coin.

So that begs the question of, is it the person or is it the religion of that person? Or even - is it that some people take something positive out of their religion no matter what it is and others don't?

You always ask questions that make me dig deeper into my beliefs. This is a good one. I believe that it is the religion of the person. Without going into scripture, I will off-handly say that people use religion for various reasons: including business reasons, joining the right church, etc. Some pratice all of the laws ... do this, don't do that ... signs, signs everywhere signs... and never really develop a relationship with their saviour.

We can talk the talk, walk the walk and still not have divine guidance or a personal relationship/connection.

And, thank you.

[M. T. Cross]

I think people tend to find religion for 3 basic reasons, Fear, Power, or a need to find a closer walk with the Divine.

I don't think that people that do so for the first two reasons get a lot out of it, but if you find your way into the third reason your life will be changed.

[Naomi]