2006-11-20 13:12:33 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
He was a very strong christian, but now he's sucked into the desires of the world.
2006-11-20 13:24:49 · update #1
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
James 5:19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
You can't do a whole lot except to pray for him unless he wants to repent. Without any details, I don't know what to tell you. Is he using drugs, having illicit sex, not showing up for church? As for desires of the world, does he know this passage?
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Does he care? Does he know that those who fall away may end up in hell?
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they then fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
Hebrews 10:26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
2006-11-20 13:26:33 · answer #1 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If he's backslidden, there's a good possibility that he never grasped the need for repentance. Explain to him the Law of Moses (Ten Commandments) which is the standard we'll all be judged by. Ask him if he's kept them (he hasn't...no one has) and then let him know that the wages of sin (breaking the Law) is death.
Then, you can explain grace, which is Jesus's death and resurrection (The Gospel). This opens his eyes to why Jesus had to die (to pay the debt for us) and why repentance and trusting in Christ is what is needed to be a Christian. (Not just a prayer asking Jesus into the heart. He's not a genie.)
Good luck!
2006-11-20 13:18:39 · answer #2 · answered by gachickinaz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't give up on them!! Pray and ask others to pray for them. Always be kind and encourage them. I was backslidden once and my friends never gave up on me. I thank God for them and now am a much stronger christian. I still make mistakes, but I will never fall away like that again.
2006-11-20 14:13:33 · answer #3 · answered by Lynn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm finding it hard to stay at my level of faith at the moment, so if it were me i'd like someone to pray for/with me , not be too critical but at the same time not let me get away with too much & spend some time with me ie: go grab a pizza & a video together or whatever .just be a real christian friend , don't take it upon yourself to reconvert , lecture etc: , thats the holy spirits job . prayer is probably the most important . sometimes for the sake of the watching universe & the record books , god needs earthly permission to send in angels
(otherwisethe devil could claim that god was unfairly protecting the victim so he couln't have his way with him/her)
cheers:
paul :-}
2006-11-20 13:41:15 · answer #4 · answered by iammoza 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pray for is the first thing the Scriptures teach us.
Then go to that person and patiently talk with them about your concern. Do not be judgemental but concerning.
If they do not understand or listen, then go with an elder - to discuss the issue or offer help but not judge.
Then loving express that the Lord is there for them regardless.
Express that you are there if needed - for support or prayers.
Thanks for being concerned!
2006-11-20 13:17:53 · answer #5 · answered by Marsha 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get on his case and don't let up until he chucks religion altogether. Nothing like a harping Christian to drive someone to rationality
2006-11-20 13:29:01 · answer #6 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
more information would help us to answer. pray,be supportive,don't judge the friend or put them down,accept them for who they are and with charity,time,patience and prayer you may lift them up again.
2006-11-20 13:16:01 · answer #7 · answered by fenian1916 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pray to God that he finds His truth, what ever it is.
Love and blessings Don
2006-11-20 13:17:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Show them the truth.
http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/
2006-11-20 13:15:40 · answer #9 · answered by LIVE4TRUTH 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congratulate him on his insight.
2006-11-20 13:15:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋