has a doubt about some part of religion (be it the Bible or God) or asks what might be an odd-sounding question (to you) or professes to have a serious dislike of certain witnessing/preaching habits...why the assumption that they're "non-believers"? Unless they tell you that outright, you don't really know, now do you?
BTW, I'm not just talking about what happens here in YA...I'm asking about what happens in the real world, too.
2006-10-01 19:16:58 · 17 answers · asked by WhyAskWhy 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"Because if you have questions you are obviously not a believer. Thought and questioning are strictly forbidden as sinful. How dare you ask questions about the Word?"
I've run into that one so often I can quote it verbatim now...
2006-10-01 19:21:42 · answer #1 · answered by Scott M 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I see your point and have to agree with it. I have seen that happen many times over the years.
I have always made and effort to take a person at what and who they are, if they come to me and ask me a question as a pastor or simply as a person I do my best to honestly answer that question as long as they are not mocking or being fecicious about it.
If a person has a genuine question or something that is confusing them and I can assist them I will gladly. And if their question is something I cannot readily answer I have no problem whatsoever going to the Bible and learning together with them.
As for the witnessing and preaching habits, those vary by individual mostly. Sometimes it is done by a paticular faith in a certain manner. Im sure that over the years there have been people that didnt like my manner of preaching. Thats okay, not one Pastor or Preacher is meant for everyone, there are different styles of people so it stands to reason there are different styles of preachers thats okay :)
I never assume that someone is a non-believer, I am not their judge and I dont know their heart. And... if I have question whether they are based on something they say or do.... I have no problems whatsoever asking them.
God bless and have a great evening :)
2006-10-01 19:26:30 · answer #2 · answered by PreacherTim63(SFECU) 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because often times, those supposed "non-believers" are asking question that those devout worshipers from whatever religion have no answer to, and they are scared. Easiest way to deal with a threat? Call it off as blasphemous. Works time and time again across the world.
Word of advice to the general public: only you can know what you truly believe, and God can only come from within you. Anyone else trying to force you otherwise is wrong.
2006-10-01 19:22:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like me. I believe in The one true God and his only begotten Son. I love God with all that I am and I try to follow the foot steps that Jesus set for us to follow. But I don't have much use for the churches. I feel that some churches have some truth, but with what little truth they have, they do not LIVE by it. I try not to condemn anyone. I study the bible for myself, and dig for truth. Everyone on here and in the real world thinks that I am a condemned to Hell because I believe differently.........
2006-10-01 19:30:15 · answer #4 · answered by GraycieLee 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Interesting observations!
It's similarly ironic that Trinitarians repeatedly pretend that Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christian. Trinitarians use an artificial, trinity-specific definition of the term "Christian" which excludes anyone who does not believe that Jesus is God Himself, rather than the Son of God. Interestingly, pagans in the first century pretended that Christ's followers were Atheists(!) because the Christians had a somewhat different idea from the pagans about the nature of God.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that no salvation occurs without Christ, that accepting Christ's sacrifice is a requirement for true worship, that every prayer must acknowledge Christ, that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom, that Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, that Christ is immortal and above every creature, even that Christ was the 'master worker' in creating the universe! Both secular dictionaries and disinterested theologians acknowledge that Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian religion.
The Trinitarian arguments are intended to insult and demean Jehovah's Witnesses, rather than to give a Scripturally accurate understanding of the term "Christian".
In fact, the bible most closely associates being "Christian" with preaching about Christ and Christ's teachings. Review all the times the bible uses the term "Christian" and note that the context connects the term with:
"declaring the good news"
'teaching quite a crowd'
'open eyes, turn from dark to light'
"uttering sayings of truth"
"persuade"
"keep on glorifying"
(Acts 11:20-26) [The early disciples of Jesus] began talking to the Greek-speaking people, declaring the good news of the Lord Jesus... and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.
(Acts 26:17-28) [Jesus said to Paul] I am sending you, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God... Paul said: “I am not going mad, Your Excellency Festus, but I am uttering sayings of truth and of soundness of mind. ...Do you, King Agrippa, believe the Prophets? I know you believe.” But Agrippa said to Paul: “In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian.”
(1 Peter 4:14-16) If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy... But if he suffers as a Christian, let him not feel shame, but let him keep on glorifying God in this name
So why do anti-Witnesses try to hijack the term "Christian" and hide its Scriptural implications? Because anti-Witnesses recognize that it is the preaching work that makes it clear that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are by far the most prominent followers of Christ:
(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded
Learn more!
http://watchtower.org
http://watchtower.org/library/ti/index.htm
2006-10-02 21:48:56 · answer #5 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
On the Y!A, you know from their answers and questions and the way theY compromise with scoffers and heretics on this site. In the real world, The same thing.
=0P
2006-10-01 19:46:46 · answer #6 · answered by Pashur 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps some are confused between a non-believer who is asking, but has their mind made up that they will NOT believe...and a seeker with questions that are keeping them in doubt.
When confronted with a person who seems to be confused...if you CARE how they think...explain (further) why you are asking, and what exactly it is you are looking for in asking.
2006-10-01 19:21:12 · answer #7 · answered by Mc K 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The only way I would know that someone is an unbeliever is if they told me. Many people believe differently, that's why there are so many religions and denominations of those religions.
2006-10-01 19:22:16 · answer #8 · answered by ~♥~ *CHEEKY* ~♥~ 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Jesus said to know the truth. You have to look inward to do that, do what you feel is right in your heart. Question everything if necessary, it is the key to knowing the truth even if others don't agree.
Your life is between you and Jesus, do what you feel he would want you to do. What anyone else thinks doesn't matter.
2006-10-01 19:23:32 · answer #9 · answered by Sean 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I know what you mean. i personally don't believe in organized churches but I consider myself to be a religious person, but most people take that to mean that I don't believe in God and that's not the issue at all.
2006-10-01 19:21:41 · answer #10 · answered by nicole f 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋