quote:

Originally posted by Bill Gray:
Hi Zip,

You tell Annie, "Frankly, annie, your question somewhat vexes me. I suppose you consider yourself a religious person; hence, you assume the right to post on a religious forum."

No, Christian believers do not consider themselves "religious." Religions consist of sets of traditions, rituals, and honoring of created things, i.e, a churches, idols, nature, etc. Christians do not have rituals or tradition; we have a "relationship" -- a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Webster's New World College Dictionary defines "religion" as:

"Belief in a divine or superhuman power or powers to be obeyed and worshiped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe. The expression of such a belief in conduct and ritual. Any specific system of belief and worship, often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy. Any system of beliefs, practices, ethical values, etc. resembling, suggestive of, or likened to such a system, i.e., humanism as a religion. Any object of conscientious regard and pursuit."

When the TimesDaily Forums decided to implement what we now call the Religion Forum; I personally asked that it be labeled the "Faith Forum," or the "Faith and Family Forum." I wanted a separate Forum for these discussion -- but, did want to see it labeled a Religion Forum. Obviously I lost that round. But, while, technically, Christianity is a religion -- religion being defined as a "belief system" -- we do not practice a religion; we practice a relationship -- with Jesus Christ.

Next, you tell Annie, "However, the irreligious also provide a valuable contribution here. Often religiosity is simply a learned behavior, without any foundation. The irreligious will often pose questions that are designed to challenge your beliefs."

What you call the "irreligious" -- the Bible calls non-believers. And, then this category divides into atheist, secularist, secular humanist, agnostics, and just vanilla flavored non-believers.

Do their posts provide a value on the Religion Forum? Yes, in the sense that we Christian believers can take their comments and questions and use these as a platform from which we can share the Truth found in God's Word, the Bible.

Do their posts present any dangers? Yes, their atheistic and secular rhetoric can confuse new Christians and it can sidetrack new seekers. They most certainly represent a "clear and present" danger on the Religion Forum.

And, the New Age religion which some preach is even more dangerous. Why? Because they use Christian jargon and Christian words -- to camouflage their Satanic false teaching. This can be very confusing to new believers and new seekers. I know, first hand, for I was involved in the New Age religion when I became a Christian believer. But, praise God, I had a strong, loving Christian pastor who could show me the evils of the New Age religion.

Zip, since Deep, Fish, and all the subsequent atheists on the Forum for the past three years, adamantly deny that they have a religion; like Annie, I ask "Why are you on the Religion Forum?"

And, I will give you the answer. They are on the Religion Forum for the same reason that Satan and his demonic angels spends most of their time in churches -- they go where the action is and where they can do the most damage to God's kingdom. Satan has no need to hang out in bars; he already has those folks in his hand. He is after the Christians; especially the new Christians who have not yet gain a mature knowledge of God's Word, and the person who has just begun to feel the tug of the Holy Spirit upon him and has begun to seek knowledge of God.

The atheists and their friends want to destroy the kingdom of God; they want to lead everyone down the same path of destruction they are following -- and, as our old Friends, Deep and Fish, often said -- they just love to argue.

Next, you tell Annie, "If your beliefs are sufficiently strong, why would you not want to examine them?"

It is not a matter our faith being strong. We have an obligation to new Christians and new seekers to see that they are not misled by false teachings.

We are instructed, in 2 Timothy 4:1-5, "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

The young Christian and new seekers can be led into the false teachings of unsound doctrines found in atheism, secularism, Liberalism, and New Age religion -- if we more mature Christian believers do not stand in the doorway.

We, as Christian believers, are told to Go, Make Disciples, Baptize Them, Teach Them (Matthew 28:19-20) and as Jesus Christ told His apostle, Peter, we are to, "Shepherd His sheep" and "Tend His sheep" (John 21:15-17) -- His people.

Finally, you tell Annie, "Spare me from the curse of the unexamined life."

Zip, a number of times before, you have told us you are a Christian believer. Yet, you prefer the company and the fellowship of the non-believers and atheists -- over that of Christian believers. I suggest it may not be Annie who needs to examine the personal spiritual life.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

quote:

We have an obligation to new Christians and new seekers to see that they are not misled by false teachings.