PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Jul 23, 2019 8:53:34 GMT -5
The question has come up this week on what we should tell Christian babes to expect.
On one extreme, there’s the Billy Graham method to get them saved by any means possible and hope they’ll figure it out as they go.
On the other extreme are churches who demand total commitment to a lifestyle before they’ll even let you in their fellowship.
Where do you believe the happy medium is? How transparent should we be? How much should we warn?
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Post by John on Jul 23, 2019 9:20:14 GMT -5
We should be honest. Jesus said to count the cost.
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Post by 2fw8212a on Jul 23, 2019 9:22:57 GMT -5
The question has come up this week on what we should tell Christian babes to expect. ... Where do you believe the happy medium is? How transparent should we be? How much should we warn? A babe Christian know sin is dangerous. If they do not care about fleeing from sin, chances are they are not a Christian babe.
I believe we have to warn against sin and to encourage growth in holiness, that is where the true security is (in Christ).
“Whoever abides in Him does not sin.
Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” - 1 John 3:6
Do not be deceived by the talk that you are doing damage or scaring babe Christian by talking the truth about sin.
Hearing the truth in a lovely way, and correctly encouraging them into growth is what they really need.
Beware of those who insist in error and resist to the truth.
“Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,
knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” - Titus 3:10-11
“And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear,
pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” - Jude 1:22-23
Blessings!
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Jul 23, 2019 9:28:17 GMT -5
I believe the worst thing you can possibly do is to get someone to “try Jesus” through emotional hype, and then watch them fall away when they return to their senses. There’s a very high likelihood that they will never try Jesus again because they’ll say they went down that road once. Unless you know the Holy Spirit is working on them, you should not try to lead them in a salvation prayer.
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Cletus
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Post by Cletus on Jul 23, 2019 9:35:47 GMT -5
the goal is to make disciples. BG's method leaves this off... let them figure it out?... is this what Jesus commanded us to do? let them figure it out?... or go make disciples?
my approach to a new believer is to give them what they need, and be led of The Spirit on what to say. we do not want to cram to much warnings in them at first because they do not know enough... and even more, do we know which sin God has dealt with them on as of yet? i used to think if i smoked a couple fatties before church it made it better/so i could understand better. God had not dealt with me on that yet. once He did... He didnt budge. Its The Holy Spirits ministry to convict, and draw us closer. we... in love... are to help guide them with our knowledge. not biblical knowledge alone... but knowledge of God. who He Is, and His ways. we need to be gentle, and patient with them, as their legs are just starting to get worked by walking. do you remember when you were a babe in Christ? how gentle God was with you? do you have children? when they were first learning to walk how were you with them? we must remember these are Gods new borns.
now dont get me wrong.. we do need to warn if we see them heading for a ditch... thats hot dont touch it. but if you answered yes to having children you know very well when you warn its hot dont touch it, as soon as you look away... your child lets our a heart beat skipping cry. and then you are mad... i told you it was hot, why did you not listen? well, they didnt really know what hot was. they learned pretty quick tho... didnt they?
a babe in Christ dont even know who they are in Christ yet. they dont even know how great, oh how great, the gift they have inherited really and truly is yet. let them sip that milk until they are ready to chew on some meat. let their teeth come in. it takes time, but it comes before you know it. and then them gums are hot. and they cry. oh how they cry. keeping you up late night... do you see the analogy i am using here yet? babes. precious little babies. Give them what they need as they grow and develop. and one day the task will be to raise them up to a man or a woman of God, able to stand on their own two feet. mature, in The LORD.
I say again, Give them what they need.
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Post by John on Jul 23, 2019 9:37:29 GMT -5
Jesus was straight forward with people. He didn't sugar coat anything. It almost seems like he was weeding all those who were not fully committed out, and he let people walk away.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Jul 23, 2019 9:53:02 GMT -5
Any approach we do in the flesh will have limited effects. Since each person is different, we should rely on the Holy Spirit to inspire us in each situation. There are some things I can discuss with a seeker friend that I cannot discuss with a certain Christian friend. What one person sees as a carrot they have to chew on feels like pudding to someone else. There have been times when the Lord told me not to press an issue because someone wasn’t ready to hear it. unfortunately some zealous evangelists will badger these people to no end.
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Post by justinadams on Jul 23, 2019 11:32:16 GMT -5
The question has come up this week on what we should tell Christian babes to expect. On one extreme, there’s the Billy Graham method to get them saved by any means possible and hope they’ll figure it out as they go. On the other extreme are churches who demand total commitment to a lifestyle before they’ll even let you in their fellowship. Where do you believe the happy medium is? How transparent should we be? How much should we warn? So Yeshua met a woman at a well. He told her to go get relationship counseling and because she had sinned, she should go sacrifice some animals before He would talk to her further. RIGHT ON. What He actually did was offer her what she really needed; Living Water.
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Post by John on Jul 23, 2019 11:47:31 GMT -5
The question has come up this week on what we should tell Christian babes to expect. On one extreme, there’s the Billy Graham method to get them saved by any means possible and hope they’ll figure it out as they go. On the other extreme are churches who demand total commitment to a lifestyle before they’ll even let you in their fellowship. Where do you believe the happy medium is? How transparent should we be? How much should we warn? So Yeshua met a woman at a well. He told her to go get relationship counseling and because she had sinned, she should go sacrifice some animals before He would talk to her further. RIGHT ON. What He actually did was offer her what she really needed; Living Water. He met a woman caught in the act of adultery and told her to go and sin no more.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Jul 23, 2019 12:22:15 GMT -5
I’m not sure I understand what Justin is getting at. Jesus told that woman she worshipped a God she did not even know.Those are pretty harsh words.
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Post by joseph on Jul 23, 2019 13:10:46 GMT -5
As seen on 99.9% of forums, tv, in services, in life, etc etc etc
most people worship (serve) a god they do not even know. And they are ENCOURAGED to continue doing so.
THAT is far far far far far far (eternaly) WORSE.. more harsh, more devastating, destroying souls ......
than Jesus telling "that woman" the truth ....
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Post by John on Jul 23, 2019 13:18:52 GMT -5
There seems to be this idea we shouldn't scare people with too much truth, so if I see a new Christian about to fall into a pit, I am not to scare him by telling him about the scary pit. Better to let him fall in and break his neck. At least he feels safe right up to the end.
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Post by 2fw8212a on Jul 23, 2019 13:20:26 GMT -5
Unless you know the Holy Spirit is working on them, you should not try to lead them in a salvation prayer. I believe we should not force people to say a salvation prayer, nor say they are already saved.
This has to be completely spontaneous.
“...for whatever is not from faith is sin.” - Romans 14:23
Once someone is saved they experience something, they receive knowledge and faith.
And is exactly from that the other reactions will occur.
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted...” - 2 Corinthians 7:10
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins...” - Ephesians 2:1
Our part is to encourage people in the right path. God saves them.
“...I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” - Romans 9:15
“...is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” - 2 Peter 3:9
And we share the same feeling sometimes, but we have to be patient and do what is within our reach.
To convince someone is saved when they are not will not do them any good.
“...and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” - Philippians 3:15
Blessings!
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Jul 23, 2019 13:34:21 GMT -5
There are times when a little strategy can go a long way. One of my friends was a baby Christian who had never been told it was a sin to be gay. She had heard this idea, but she had never encountered a biblical case for it. I could’ve jumped all over her with talking points, but the Lord told me to wait. Instead we talked a lot about our sin nature under Adam’s curse. Eventually she put two and two together that people born a certain way might have a nature they have to suppress. When she was forced to confront the issue, she was able to quickly and peacefully grasp this element of sin nature. So I preached the truth to her in a roundabout way.
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Post by Tabitha3319 on Jul 23, 2019 13:37:41 GMT -5
Telling the truth in love has always helped me grow as a Christian.
Share your testimony, speak the truth in love, do the best you can and God will take care of the rest.
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