I never knew until I started debating on nairaland how really to read the Bible. My approach was to try to read through a book or a letter or read through the Bible. Why? Well, um, because it's good to read the Bible as a Christian. See? No real reason. There were many "why's" that I had very poor answers to until I met a Christian who could not separate faith from reason.

I had only recently been brought into the understanding that God had reasons for doing things and it seemed He wanted me to know them. And that scared me! I was walking alone in that till I met you. With you, I took off like a rocket and the Lord started to open up incredible things to me.

I have learned, for instance, that we are even to examine critically that inner feeling that we trust so much to tell us whether someone is a child of God or not. We are to look for those things that are found only in Christians as proof that they are indeed. I have learned that we are not to be afraid of asking why an interpretation of the Scriptures should be accepted considering that a part or parts of the Scriptures appear to disagree. I have learned to accept everyone who says that they are Christians as though they truly were and treat them as such because if they are not true brethren, that treatment will show that they aren't.

I have learned that my day job or career is God's ministry of love to the men whom my life touches and that I should pour all that God has made me into it. I have learned to not be afraid to be tested, for whatever fails and cannot stand a strong test is not worth holding and that which is true and acceptable is found in letting go the unworthy. This is why I submitted the proposed framework of my plans to your intelligence.

I want you to be strong too. To be like a rock. To be unafraid of braving the tearing storm and rending earthquake. To not be so intimidated by them that you fail to hear the gentle whisper when they have passed.

If nairaland is anything to go by, there is very great trouble in the Church. It is not new to us but we may have become inured to it. We who are true believers should not be difficult to distinguish from the false especially at the time when that which separates us comes: the time of fruit.

I allowed myself to be accused of pride and arrogance before on the forum because I was afraid that the revelations/understandings being entrusted to me were beginning to make me proud. The result was that I nearly started to hold them back and stop giving them. Do you know what would have happened? Many whom I do not know would have gone hungry. Terrible. And that while I had that which would have sustained them and built their strength for battle.

I allowed false compassion to cost me resources entrusted to me for the Church. Another very terrible thing. There is a reason why Jesus said to give your message and, if you are rejected, to SHAKE OFF THE DUST OF YOUR FEET AND LEAVE. Why?

Because there is far much more to do than just try to win one person. The time of the Gentiles is almost done. The important thing to our Father now is that we make sure the things which do remain not focus our work on bringing in unwilling ones. It is a willing, heart-hungry Church that has washed her garments and made them white that He is coming for.

• "I have learned that my day job or career is God's ministry of love to the men whom my life touches and that I should pour all that God has made me into it."

• "I have learned to not be afraid to be tested, for whatever fails and cannot stand a strong test is not worth holding and that which is true and acceptable is found in letting go the unworthy.

• I allowed false compassion to cost me resources entrusted to me for the Church. Another very terrible thing. There is a reason why Jesus said to give your message and, if you are rejected, to SHAKE OFF THE DUST OF YOUR FEET AND LEAVE.

JeSoul: Wow, fantastic! this post is a gem of gems, bursting at the seams with golden nuggets. Lemme quote a few:



Ihedinobi, thank you for this thread. I pray our heavenly father continue to increase your wisdom, bless all that concerns you and equip you for all that He has planned. Amen and amen.

Mr_Anony: My brother, thanks for this thread.....

FOLLOWING!

Enigma: I think this is a very good, indeed excellent thread. In my opinion, from the Christian point of view, this is the kind of thing that the Religion forum is most useful for.

Challenge one another, let each examine his thinking, approach, attitude and practice. Let each learn from others and reexamine his own way of thinking and doing.

However, there are qualifiers for this to work ---- since we do not want to be carried away by every wind of doctrine.

Certain things/conditions must exist to make the most of this including but not limited to:

* honesty - each must be committed to ascertaining the truth of scripture and even truth generally as best as possible;
* humility - each must accept that there is sooo much that we really don't know and perhaps simply cannot know;
* balance - we must recognise that on many issues, each position that seems to be the true or correct position in Scripture can be qualified;
* charity or perhaps what bros Ihedinobi called Grace elsewhere - while we remain committed to what we believe to be true, we all should strive to be accommodating of our brethren and sistren who honestly see things differently
* firmness - on the other hand, charity/grace does not mean we should (always) tolerate falsehood, particularly things capable of shipwrecking people's faith.

Please, understand that these are general ideas and do not by any means represent a claim that I myself always observe these things.

wiegraf:
However, it also makes it perfect for trolling...
Maybe I'll be back...

SNCOQ3: ... I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matt 16:18.
Isn't it assuring?

I'll make a contribution later in the evening...God willing *back to study. preparing for exams*

Kentus: To all the Christians on this thread, remember that there's a difference between evangelizing and arguing.

The Word of God you believe clearly says that the things of the Spirit are foolishness to the carnal mind. They cannot be carnally discerned.

Therefore, if you truly believe the Word you preach you would understand that this is not a matter to be argued.

Remember also that the Holy Spirit does not convince. He convicts.

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. "
II Cor 4:3-4

...They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 2 Thess 2:10-11

SNCOQ3: @Enigma, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for sharing.

How do i start? Should i respond directly to my brother's topic or just share my thought? which ever direction i take, please be gracious to me if i happen not to be as coherent has i should.

I joined nairaland with the intent of learning and making contributions in the technology and programming section. On finding little or nothing of interest, i became a classic 'frontpager'- responding to anything of interest that 'makes' it to the frontpage. I was drawn to the religious section by the need to expose the lies that disbelievers are rational people and Christians are not. My participation as been been more of a passionate reaction to defend the faith for the sake of young believers who might get confused than the need for a calculated debate to 'win' atheist into the fold...I can go and on but time wold not allow me at this time.

to the apologist: We know that faith is not reason but faith is reasonable. Just because we play 'logic' with the disbelievers on nairaland by 'reducing' Christianity to the rational doesn't mean that their is not much more: ...daily miracles...answered prayers...the still small voice...prophecies...Abba Father!

to the evangelist: It's not enough to preach; You have to back it up with fervent prayers- their is much more to unbelieving than we think.
This is what a sister shared with me when i was neck-deep in an an argument on this post https://www.nairaland.com/901719/atheist-state-reasons-not-believing/5#10488593



Its instructive to know that some skepticism are supernatural in origin, so just trying to 'convince' without 'breaking strongholds' won't do:


For the insincere disbelievers: I've come to discover that some are just God-haters who're using the argument for atheism as a cover for their deep moral failures(lesb.ianism? g.ay?) their lack of sincerity is evident for all to see. Jesus loves you; He did not come to make bad people good but to make dead people live. Change from your ways before you get to a point of no return:

SNCOQ3: ^ Good morning my bro,
i use the word "reduce" for lack of a better word as at the time of writing. I think the word that best convey my intent is "simplify". We christian apologist are not reductionist like the atheist; We only simplify, permit me, the super-rational to the rational for the "children" to understand deep spiritual truth(i believe the ability to do this effectively is a wonderful gift from God). Jesus Christ, by His nature- the Logos, is the interaction between the Creator and the created, Supernatural and the natural, the spiritual and the material...Consider the parables; Our Lord uses trees, seeds, fruits etc to convey truth that is technically beyond our grasp(in computer science lingo, its known as providing an "abstraction layer" ).

My call to for the apologist is that of caution lest we go "off-balance". A long 'fight' with disbelievers can have its side-effect if wisdom is not applied. example of what i mean is what I'll call the "Thomas factor" ....I'll explain later.

SNCOQ3: ^ Good morning my bro,
i use the word "reduce" for lack of a better word as at the time of writing. I think the word that best convey my intent is "simplify". We christian apologist are not reductionist like the atheist; We only simplify, permit me, the super-rational to the rational for the "children" to understand deep spiritual truth(i believe the ability to do this effectively is a wonderful gift from God). Jesus Christ, by His nature- the Logos, is the interaction between the Creator and the created, Supernatural and the natural, the spiritual and the material...Consider the parables; Our Lord uses trees, seeds, fruits etc to convey truth that is technically beyond our grasp(in computer science lingo, its known as providing an "abstraction layer" ).

My call to for the apologist is that of caution lest we go "off-balance". A long 'fight' with disbelievers can have its side-effect if wisdom is not applied. example of what i mean is what I'll call the "Thomas factor" ....I'll explain later.

Goshen360: .....still following o, make una no think say I don contribute and run comot....I have one or more issue to contribute in my observation on this religious session as it relates to this the OP. I will like SNCOQ3 to conclude on his "Thomas factor" and more (if any).....God bless y'all.

SNCOQ3:

*when we finish we go talk about about your sister. the babe go cause fight between Ihedinobi and his twin brother, Mr Anony too young for marriage so the reasonable choice na me.*