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geej
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 93
| Posted 7/29/2002 2:09 PM (GMT -6) |   | For the first time, I was asked about and openly shared my views of God and salvation with a non-Christian friend.
It was interesting and sad but I truly believe God used me to witness to her.
This girl is 28 and has stated that she does not know of anything good that has come of bad things that have happened to her. Her mother and grandmother both have cancer and her mother hates God and blames him for everything.
My friend asked me about wether I believed in hell (and what it is)and also asked me point blank "Do you believe that God knows about and is planning on giving me cancer in the next five years (this question was tied in with whether God makes things happen to people)
When asked these questions, I got the "deer in headlights" look, nearly choked on my pop and nearly drove off the road! (we were returning from a dog show in Thunder Bay to the Twin Cities) This is something with which I am very uncomfortable because I grew up having a twisted form of God shoved down my throat; I get queezy every time non-Christians start talking God. This time, I swallowed hard, prayed that God use me and that I not screw up too much and answered. I explained the very basics of Open Theism and how I handled evil (that I do not believe that God causes things and plans things out the way they describe in Calvinism - I call it "puppet master theology")also that I believed that while God doesn't "give" us more than we can handle, he lifts us up and helps us endure whatever pain comes our way and that he cares about and has emotional feelings for us, etc. I also used the marriage metaphore for a relationship with Christ... She kept asking more and more questions and kept saying that everything I said was making more sense than what she had been taught and grew up with (I kept quaking in my boots and wishing I could remember what the heck I was saying so I could use it again). Anyway, the upshot of it is this. She did not make any decisions but she was greatly softened to the idea of God and what a relationship with Him means. There is NO WAY I could have answered any of these questions without the theological training I have received from my church, it's institute and my former training in college; knowledge definitely helped me become a stronger witness...it also didn't hurt that the Spirit was right there because some of the things I said were definitely not expressed in the same way I normally would have. This experience really helped drive home the fact that staying tied into the Christian community, prayer and study have very practical and kingdom building applications; it also drove home the fact that it is truly amazing to see and be able to articulate how God has moved in one's life. While it wasn't a total success, it was a pretty amazing experience that I hope to repeat soon!
Geej
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Tom
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 10353
| Posted 7/29/2002 5:14 PM (GMT -6) | | Geej-
Awesome report. So good to hear! May you have many more opportunities to share like this.
Tom
"Every saint has a history and every sinner a future." Oscar Wilde | | Back to Top | | |
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GregBoyd
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 1818
| Posted 7/29/2002 6:06 PM (GMT -6) | | AMEN
"In Christ...the ONLY THING that matters is faith energized by love." Galatians 5:6 | | Back to Top | | |
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BJS
Registered Member
Date Joined Dec 2001
Total Posts : 587
| Posted 7/29/2002 6:19 PM (GMT -6) | | | | |
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markus
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2002
Total Posts : 100
| Posted 7/29/2002 9:02 PM (GMT -6) | | I was really moved by this report. I feel it also contains some wise instruction for others who are often not sure how, where and when they should raise these topics with non-Christians.
It is a good example how it is not possible to sell or impose belief on others. The gate is open only once they themselves show an interest, a thread of curiosity, a whisper for help.
Then we can blow of those small embers and spark a small flame. Once the flame is kindled it needs constant attention until it is strong enough to blaze on its own. Otherwise like in Jesus' parable it may grow no depth of root and shrivel away.
A great account, and I think the heavenly host is starting to cheer....
Markus
Edited by - markus on 07/30/2002 02:04:40 AM | | Back to Top | | |
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Starkman
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1747
| Posted 7/30/2002 3:47 AM (GMT -6) | | | | |
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Springs
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 636
| Posted 7/30/2002 4:40 AM (GMT -6) | | How wonderful Geej! Praise God!
quote:
...wishing I could remember what the heck I was saying so I could use it again
I know the feeling.  If we could remember it, we would use it again. We would idolize the words, instead of praising the Spirit that inspired them.
Blessings,
Springs
...but I have called you friends... Jn 15:15 | | Back to Top | | |
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