Most of my friends are unintelligent in their Christianity. I know i am not a very great theologian or anything but i am not being sucked into the idiocies that my youth leaders are teaching. Our leaders are teaching stupid ideas, and the students are buying it. Some of the people i hang out with i thought were more intelligent untill they talked to me about how everyone got excited at church camp because some girl started praying in her sleep. I tried to say how the girl wasn't really praying but they just got all mad at me for not being excited about it. Should i just go along with them and let them live their blissful ignorant life or should i try and help them.
2007-08-21 13:18:25 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I go to a church of around seven thousand and it would be impossible to get them to change for the less than one percent of us who feel the way that i do
2007-08-21 13:30:25 · update #1
There is a lack of discernment in the church today as people take the focus away from the word and put it on their emotions.
I suggest you ask questions that put the focus on the Word:
"Where did anything like that happen in the bible?"
"Nice sermon, but where was the Word?"
"Can you back that up with a scripture?"
Remember, always put the focus on the Word. If an argument arises, say to them, "There are no arguments between us; There is only what we say and what the Word of God says." That means that God's Word has authority, not us. You can remain humble and still rebuke a leader IF you are speaking by the authority of the Word, Jesus Christ and not that of yourself. Pray for a balance of Truth AND Grace.
2007-08-21 13:26:00 · answer #1 · answered by wassupmang 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can't really say whether you are right or if your friends are right. But, from my experiences over the years dealing with intellectuals and "unintelligent" Christians, I've realized one thing: Most of (not all) Jesus' disciples were unlearned, simple fishermen. Uneducated in the area of the Jewish tradition of that day. They did what they did based on their relationship with Jesus. Sure, some people in your church may be following the youth leaders blindly without having a relationship with God and when they get out in the real world will probably fall flat on their face. But, some are probably the real deal who love the Lord and follow the teachings of your church because in their heart they have had personal revelation. It' s safer for you to not worry about them and just focus on your relationship with God, His spirit will lead you in all truth, He won't let you be led astray.
2007-08-21 13:43:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If speaking in tongues is a gift of the Spirit, and God speaking to people in dreams is a scriptural commonplace, and signs of dreaming -- including talking in ones sleep -- are frequent occurrences, then someone praying in their sleep is only unlikely, not impossible. You can be tolerant of others' opinions without doing violence to your own. If they were rude in demanding excitement from you, it would be rude for you to tell them (which I hope you did not) that they were blissfully ignorant.
We are to love God with both heart and mind, so it is appropriate to apply your mind, especially if it is a good mind, to things of the spirit, but you must also have enough heart to appreciate others who aren't as clever, but know how to give their hearts.
For "intelligent Christianity," I recommend the Catholic intellectuals, from Augustine to John Henry Cardinal Newman, not to mention G. K. Chesterton's "Orthodoxy."
I'm a Protestant, as it happens, with an interest in how Christianity has developed in 2000 years.
2007-08-21 13:39:18 · answer #3 · answered by anobium625 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) Remember pride is a sin (read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis).
2) Start a Bible study with your friends (free chips and pop) will bring in many.
3) Read the book of Matthew about the log in your own eye. Make sure there isn't one and that you have the righ attitide. Your posting seems to suggest pride, arrogance and a condescending attitude.
and
4) The Big One - Make sure God is first, in your life and the reason you want to help them!
2007-08-21 13:42:27 · answer #4 · answered by Pilgrim in the land of the lost 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont especially agree with people praying in their sleep, but i cant immediately dismiss it either. it seems to me, the issue of the discussion really isn’t the issue to you, its the people believing it that bothers you . you cant really have much of a argument though if you are not striving to make yourself better in the faith and thus have a clearer understanding and better discernment of these things. just because it seems ridiculous, doest mean it isnt true; when the holy spirit first filled the apostles, many thought they were drunk! if you truly believe propaganda is being taught, rally the 1% and do something about changing it, perhaps speaking to a key board member?
2007-08-22 04:13:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you will need to be a bit more specific about that these 'idiocies' are...or is it just the 'praying in her sleep' thing? i've never heard of such a thing, but who am i to say it couldn't happen? are you 'wise beyond your years' or 'wet behind the ears?' the only advice i can give you from the lofty perch of middle age is...whenever you're sure you have the answers, watch out! you're about to make a total fool of yourself...been there done that, the t-shirt fits but i still look goofy wearing it...
2007-08-21 13:32:48 · answer #6 · answered by spike missing debra m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best thing you need to be doing is make sure you know true teachings.
I have personally known Christians who are not walking the walk like they should. And doing things that can harm them if they don't watch it. I have taken to praying for them.
2007-08-21 13:30:31 · answer #7 · answered by Kathy H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say dig into the scriptures. Sounds like they're getting excited about seeing a picture of Jesus in an Eggplant that you just cut open.
The focus of our faith is not on "who's the greatest Christian" but rather a relationship with the living Christ. People who base their faith on feelings, are going to be blown from one doctrine to the next, depending on how it "feels" to them. Doctrine, like Christ, is solid as a rock. Facts are facts, regardless of how we "feel" about them. I'd rather have 90% fact and 10% feeling than the other way around.
2007-08-21 13:29:25 · answer #8 · answered by Zipperhead 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You were not put here to make waves. Button you lip and smile a lot. There will be other opportunities to discuss your beliefs that won't cause difficulties.
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2007-08-21 13:26:54 · answer #9 · answered by High Flyer 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I was going to ask the same question that Summer Dawn asked. How can we answer without an explanation of that?
2007-08-21 13:27:00 · answer #10 · answered by Devoted1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋