[Tar Heel Sk8tr]

Re: Knowing God through Jesus

So where do you go to Church? What are some of your favorite Bible verses? Keep in mind we only use the A.V. 1611 King James Bible.

How do you generally go about sharing His Gospel?

Yours in Christ
Brother Lazarus

I go to a local Baptist church in North Carolina.

I love every verse of the bible. If I had to pick some favorites they'd probably be along the lines of...

Romans 8:31-39 -- "... (38)I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, (39)nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 -- "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Give no offense to the Jews or to the Greeks, or to the church of God, ...."

Matthew 5:14-16 -- "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

Just to name a few

I spread the gospel with my life. In everything I do and every interaction I have, I try, humbly, in my imperfection, to glorify God. I have faith that He will touch the hearts of those who do not yet believe and that He alone has the power of conviction, to change someone's life. I believe that anyone who actively pursues a relationship with God through our savior Jesus Christ and strives continually to build His kingdom on the earth by spreading His gospel, who humbly lives by His teachings is guaranteed salvation.

[Tar Heel Sk8tr]

Re: Knowing God through Jesus

Since you have read the Bible, you know that Jesus gave many loving sermons. He was also, very often, rebuking. Would you have us do otherwise? Would you not have us point out sins that will result in eternal damnation? Would you have us be gentle when a soul is a stake? No, we care so much we are willing to give the tough love necessary to get a sinner's attention.

Is it hate speech to call out a homosexual? The Bible clearly states that this sin will be punished with eternal damnation. We do raise our voices to these people in hopes they will not only hear, but listen. That isn't hate speech, it is love speech.

Yours in Christ
Brother Lazarus

I understand your position and I agree that we should lift up those who are struggling and fallen. The problem is that the people you're trying to reach will believe that you hate them and that they have no hope, if you go about it using those words and phrases. I wrote two paragraphs earlier that both had the same exact message and the same exact intentions, but the way they were conveyed was completely different. Regardless of the message of the gospel that WE (you and me) see behind your words, the common unbeliever will not see it, they will only see hate. That's all I'm trying to say.

[Brother Lazarus]

Re: Knowing God through Jesus

I go to a local Baptist church in North Carolina.

We are neighbors!

I love every verse of the bible. If I had to pick some favorites they'd probably be along the lines of...

Romans 8:31-39 -- "... (38)I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, (39)nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 -- "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Give no offense to the Jews or to the Greeks, or to the church of God, ...."

Matthew 5:14-16 -- "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

Just to name a few

Nice choices!

I spread the gospel with my life. In everything I do and every interaction I have, I try, humbly, in my imperfection, to glorify God. I have faith that He will touch the hearts of those who do not yet believe and that He alone has the power of conviction, to change someone's life. I believe that anyone who actively pursues a relationship with God through our savior Jesus Christ and strives continually to build His kingdom on the earth by spreading His gospel, who humbly lives by His teachings is guaranteed salvation.

I appreciate your intentions, but it is my belief that we as Christians need to do more than lead simply by example. You seem to think that in your goodness you will inspire others to come to Jesus. You're preaching to the choir. If the people inspired by the way you lead your life aren't already Saved, they will be in short order.

There are real sinners out there. You probably associate only with other soft Christians. It doesn't sound like you're preaching the word of God to actual sinners. Do you seek out and rebuke sinners? Actual sinners that need hear the word of God in very real and sometimes shocking terms? There are homosexuals, thieves, adulterers, and all sorts of other actual sinners who will never hear the Word of God unless it is hurled directly into their faces.

I believe in the more direct approach to lead sinners to Salvation.

Yours in Christ
Brother Lazarus

[James Hutchins]

Re: Knowing God through Jesus

Most excellent post, Brother Lazarus.

What a lot of people do not realize is that with an Internet forum, it is not effort for people to come in. A real brick and mortar building, you have to get showed and dressed, drive park and so on. Here, people just barge in and spew. So we have to be tough to deal with these street people. I think Brother.In.Christ's attitude is about .1% of the visitors we get here. It is a shame he is so negative and hateful though and refuses to see the war we are waging for the Lord.

[Tar Heel Sk8tr]

Re: Knowing God through Jesus

We are neighbors!



Nice choices!



I appreciate your intentions, but it is my belief that we as Christians need to do more than lead simply by example. You seem to think that in your goodness you will inspire others to come to Jesus. You're preaching to the choir. If the people inspired by the way you lead your life aren't already Saved, they will be in short order.

There are real sinners out there. You probably associate only with other soft Christians. It doesn't sound like you're preaching the word of God to actual sinners. Do you seek out and rebuke sinners? Actual sinners that need hear the word of God in very real and sometimes shocking terms? There are homosexuals, thieves, adulterers, and all sorts of other actual sinners who will never hear the Word of God unless it is hurled directly into their faces.

I believe in the more direct approach to lead sinners to Salvation.

Yours in Christ
Brother Lazarus

I think we're on the same page, but we're communicating a little differently. While I, personally, haven't done the best job as a missionary for God I do agree with you that we should be actively spreading His word to the world. If I meet someone who God leads me to approach in a more "shocking" fashion, I will listen. We should be totally reliant on God for how to interact with unbelievers, He is the only one who can save them. Nothing we say or do will ever be able to bring someone to Christ, I trust that you believe that as well.

I've been disagreeing with the idea that it's appropriate to take a full-forced completely shocking approach to ministry no matter who we're interacting with. I don't believe that I am soft or sub-par in God's eyes if I am looking to Him for what to say and what to do.

[Tar Heel Sk8tr]

Re: Knowing God through Jesus

Most excellent post, Brother Lazarus.

What a lot of people do not realize is that with an Internet forum, it is not effort for people to come in. A real brick and mortar building, you have to get showed and dressed, drive park and so on. Here, people just barge in and spew. So we have to be tough to deal with these street people. I think Brother.In.Christ's attitude is about .1% of the visitors we get here. It is a shame he is so negative and hateful though and refuses to see the war we are waging for the Lord.

I was almost brought to tears when you called me negative and hateful. I love you and I love God and I love Christ. I am sorry that I have made you feel anything to the contrary. I am fighting against evil every day just as you are, and I'm trying as best I can to rely on God to tell me how I should do that.

[Brother Lazarus]

Re: Knowing God through Jesus

I think we're on the same page, but we're communicating a little differently. While I, personally, haven't done the best job as a missionary for God I do agree with you that we should be actively spreading His word to the world. If I meet someone who God leads me to approach in a more "shocking" fashion, I will listen.

Thanks for sharing your view.

We should be totally reliant on God for how to interact with unbelievers, He is the only one who can save them.

Here I disagree somewhat. The Bible is clear. It mandates that we go out and preach the Gospel. Jesus has shown how to interact with non-believers. He is clear. Jesus says find God though Him, or burn in Hell. Should not Jesus be our inspiration as we call sinners to come to Salvation? Only Jesus can save, but no one will come to Jesus without hearing the Word. That is our mission, getting the Word out to non-believers. They can listen, or not.

Nothing we say or do will ever be able to bring someone to Christ, I trust that you believe that as well.

I totally disagree. How will anyone come to be Saved if they aren't told what they need to do? Only Jesus can save, but someone needs to tell even the most vile sinners what they need to do to get to Heaven because they need to know that the only alternative is eternal fire.

I've been disagreeing with the idea that it's appropriate to take a full-forced completely shocking approach to ministry no matter who we're interacting with.

We shock those that need to be shocked. Sometimes it takes a shock to start listening.

I don't believe that I am soft or sub-par in God's eyes if I am looking to Him for what to say and what to do.

You are soft in your approach to Evangelism. I don't doubt your faith.

I do suggest you re-read your Bible. I think you may have missed the parts that tend to be unpleasant. Like I noted earlier, Jesus didn't do away with the O.T. The laws still apply except for what I noted in an earlier post. People need to understand that.

Yours in Christ
Brother Lazarus

[Pastor Ezekiel]

Re: Knowing God through Jesus

Why does that matter?

It only matters if you care about being washed in His blood.

I usually read either the NRSV (because it was constructed by scholars of ancient texts and is respected by most academics, both the believing and the unbelieving) or the KJV (because that's what I grew up reading).

Why on earth would a Christian care about which false Bible version unsaved heathens vouch for? Please take a look at my sermon HERE on how to tell which is the one true version of God's Holy Word.

[James Hutchins]

Re: Knowing God through Jesus

I re-read this post. I noticed the OP has avoided the tough questions and was attempting push an agenda. Pretty slick.