|
Being A Christian is not a Mind Set
By Ray Comfort
"David W. Irish said...I think that whether or not the scriptures are true or not is irrelevant. Christianity is a mindset, a philosophy, a way of living, that depends on the practitioners/believers practicing it more than anything . . . When I was a Christian…"
David, it's important to speak truthfully about our experiences, by using the correct terminology. Rather than saying "When I was a Christian," you should say "When I professed to be a Christian," or, to be biblically sound, "When I was a false convert." Your spurious experience isn't surprising, because you believe that being a Christian is "a mindset, a philosophy, a way of living." That's not the definition of a Christian. I had those things in my surfing days. Rather, a Christian is someone who knows the Lord (see John 17:3).
A false convert doesn't know Him (see 1 John 2:3-4, 1 John 4:6-8). He fakes it, but time exposes his hypocrisy. Judas is a good example of a false convert. He faked it for 3 ½ years. He was so trusted, he looked after the finances, but the Bible says that he was a thief (see John 12:6). When Jesus said that one of the disciples would betray Him, they said, "Is it I, Lord?" They suspected themselves, rather than the trusted treasurer. When Judas went out to betray Jesus, some of the disciples thought that he went to give money to the poor. He fooled everyone but God. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray Him (see John 6:70).
Judas had no idea who Jesus was, even though he ate and drank with Him (as does the false convert, in taking communion). Judas didn't see Him as the ultimate treasure in an earthen vessel--God manifest in the flesh. When a woman broke an alabaster box of precious ointment and poured it on His feet, as an act of worship, Judas complained that the money should have instead been given to the poor. Jesus wasn't worth it. He was only worth about 30 pieces of silver.
David, if you respond to me by saying that you were a genuine Christian, then you are admitting that you knew the Lord, that Jesus rose from the dead, and Christianity is therefore true. If you didn't know the Lord, then you were a false convert. You were either one or the other.
The other thought is, if you were of the disposition that you could be deceived, how do you know that it's not happening again? The essence of "deception" is that the deceived person doesn't know he's deceived. That why we need God's Word as a guide.
If I had been through your experience, I would be as upset as you. Remember that Judas ended up hanging himself. So, be careful when you dine with atheists, because the sweet dishes they serve up contain undetected poison that will find its way into your very heart. They will feed you tasty Bible verses out of context, misquotes, and half-truths. The devil will give you enough rope to hang yourself. I would hate that to happen to you. Thanks for reading this.
Distributed by www.worldviewweekend.com
Disclaimer: Worldview Weekend, Christian Worldview Network and its columnists do not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article posted on this site. We do however, encourage a healthy and friendly debate on the issues of our day. Whether you agree or disagree, we encourage you to post your feedback by using the feedback button.
3194 Views
Printer Friendly Version |
Return to home |
Send this article to a friend
Arrogance...
| Posted On: 03/24/08 01:26:15 PM |
Age 43, MA |
Someone wrote:
"Atheists may speak the truth in some instances but inside they are lying to themselves their own souls their own conditions that there is a God and they need a way back to him.A mirror to their own soul that it is filthy and black. Christians admit honestly ours is black and filthy and truthfully needs cleaning."
Anyone who presumes to know what other people think are just arrogant and have nothing productive to say. To presume that you know that we atheists lie to ourselves is nothing more than an empty statement -- a pre-programmed, knee-jerk reaction. It's what Christians tell former believers or unbelievers to blow them off so that they don't have to actually come up with a substantive response.
|
Lying to Oneself
| Posted On: 03/08/08 09:57:44 PM |
Age 33, OK |
Former Christian/Atheist, I was recently watching a show my family was watching a gameshow about telling truth for money. They had this one young woman who had been married for a few years. Her dad,mom,and sister were there along with her husband. For money she agreed to truthfully admit that she knew a secret her dad did not tell her mom,she married her husband although she loved another man, she would have prefered to marry her ex-boyfriend,and she had commited adultery against her husband. All this she told truthfully for the money, but when they asked her do you think you are a good person she answered yes. The lie detector they had strapped to her beeped that was wrong. She was lying to herself. Inside her consciense knew she was not a good person she was sinful,dishonest towards others and her own flesh. Atheists may speak the truth in some instances but inside they are lying to themselves their own souls their own conditions that there is a God and they need a way back to him.A mirror to their own soul that it is filthy and black. Christians admit honestly ours is black and filthy and truthfully needs cleaning.
|
christian
| Posted On: 03/08/08 12:59:55 PM |
Age 64, IL |
There is a revolution coming. It is a revolt of sincere followers of Jesus against the religion called Christianity. Those who are seeking to do the will of God sense its coming and are being prepared for it by the Spirit. Those who intent on maintaining an appearance of righteousness without the substance of it will be shocked and indignant when it happens. But it will be the work of God, and it will not be stopped. It will bring Chritianity itself to an end, to the everlasting glory of the Father and his Son JESUS CHRIST, and to the very great joy of all who truly love God.
Allen
|
What was not said...
| Posted On: 02/19/08 03:32:16 PM |
Age 43, MA |
This is what i replied to Ray's above post, when he published in in his blog, http://raycomfortfood.blogspot.com
---------
Ray Comfort wrote:
"David, it’s important to speak truthfully about our experiences"
Yes, Ray. As we all know all atheists are just liars, and we lie all the time about everything. :)
Ray Comfort wrote:
"by using the correct terminology..."
If I was using the wrong terminology, then the issue clearly was not that I wasn't truthful, but that I was mistaken. When you say that a person is not being truthful, you are calling them a liar. You clearly called me a liar, Ray. If I "used incorrect terminology", then I was MISTAKEN, not a liar.
By the way -- every particular sect of Christians, from Catholics to Methodists to Wesleyans to Lutherans, to Quakers and Amish, all proclaim that their particular sect is the only "Real Christians (tm)". It's problem that has been going on for about 2000 years now.
Ray Comfort wrote:
"David, if you didn’t know the Lord, then you were a false convert. You were either one or the other. "
I "knew" all of that, and proclaimed it. But I found out after a long education that I was mistaken. You think it's impossible for someone to really believe something, then change, but in reality it happens all the time. Atheists become Christians and Christians become atheists (and some go back and forth several times)all of the time.
Ray Comfort wrote:
"If I had been though your experience, I would be as upset as you."
Ray, you must be imagining things. I don't recall once mentioning that I was upset about anything. How did you come to that conclusion? You must be confusing me with other people you talked to. My conversion from Christian to atheist was slow and painless. Sure -- I met plenty of hypocrites, on both sides of the fence. But it was not a process that involved a lot of grief or guilt. It was sort of a slow learning process that ended in liberation.
Ray comfort wrote:
"So, be careful when you dine with atheists, because the sweet dishes they serve up contain undetected poison that will find its way into your very heart."
Oh, really? Well, I guess that's because me and all the other atheists out there are all really just pawns of the devil, and we are all liars who can never tell the truth about anything, and we're all just trying to poison all of your minds, before we feast on your flesh and drink your blood in our secret satanic cannibal rituals! :)
Really Ray, Do you really think you will ever make any headway, with you always calling me and other atheists liars, right to our faces, and pretending to know everything that we think? If I was always calling you a liar, or questioned your sanity or education, you'd be complaining left and right.
|
What was not said...
| Posted On: 02/19/08 03:27:58 PM |
Age 43, MA |
I am David W. Irish, and the original letter I wrote was on Ray's blog. I was responding to a question that Ray Posted.
What is not said is my response to his response which was posted here.
Here is what I wrote in response to Ray's post:
Ray Comfort wrote:
"David, it’s important to speak truthfully about our experiences"
Yes, Ray. As we all know all atheists are just liars, and we lie all the time about everything. :)
Ray Comfort wrote:
"by using the correct terminology. Rather than saying “When I was a Christian,” you should say “When I professed to be a Christian,” or, to be biblically sound, “When I was a false convert.” Your spurious experience isn’t surprising, because you believe that being a Christian is “a mindset, a philosophy, a way of living.” That’s not the definition of a Christian. I had those things in my surfing days. Rather, a Christian is someone who knows the Lord (see John 17:3)."
If I was using the wrong terminology, then the issue clearly was not that I wasn't truthful, but that I was mistaken. When you say that a person is not being truthful, you are calling them a liar. You clearly called me a liar, Ray. If I "used incorrect terminology", then I was MISTAKEN, not a liar.
By the way -- every particular sect of Christians, from Catholics to Methodists to Wesleyans to Lutherans, to Quakers and Amish, all proclaim that their particular sect is the only "Real Christians (tm)". It's problem that has been going on for about 2000 years now.
Ray Comfort wrote:
"David, if you respond to me by saying that you were a genuine Christian, then you are admitting that you knew the Lord, that Jesus rose from the dead, and Christianity is therefore true. If you didn’t know the Lord, then you were a false convert. You were either one or the other. "
I "knew" all of that, and proclaimed it. But I found out after a long education that I was mistaken. You think it's impossible for someone to really believe something, then change, but in reality it happens all the time. Atheists become Christians and Christians become atheists (and some go back and forth several times)all of the time.
Ray Comfort wrote:
"If I had been though your experience, I would be as upset as you."
Ray, you must be imagining things. I don't recall once mentioning that I was upset about anything. How did you come to that conclusion? You must be confusing me with other people you talked to. My conversion from Christian to atheist was slow and painless. Sure -- I met plenty of hypocrites, on both sides of the fence. But it was not a process that involved a lot of grief or guilt. It was sort of a slow learning process that ended in liberation.
Ray comfort wrote:
"Remember that Judas ended up hanging himself. So, be careful when you dine with atheists, because the sweet dishes they serve up contain undetected poison that will find its way into your very heart. They will feed you tasty Bible verses out of contact, misquotes, and half-truths. The devil will give you enough rope to hang yourself. I would hate that to happen to you. Thanks for reading this."
Oh, really? Well, I guess that's because me and all the other atheists out there are all really just pawns of the devil, and we are all liars who can never tell the truth about anything, and we're all just trying to poison all of your minds, before we feast on your flesh and drink your blood in our secret satanic cannibal rituals! :)
Really Ray, Do you really think you will ever make any headway, with you always calling me and other atheists liars, right to our faces, and pretending to know everything that we think? If I was always calling you a liar, or questioned your sanity or education, you'd be complaining left and right.
----------------------------------------
Basically, I can't stand hearing people tell me that it was impossible for me to have been "a real Christian" and give it up. It presumes that they know more about my mind than I do. It's arrogant.
|
compassion?
| Posted On: 02/12/08 04:43:55 PM |
Age 19, LA |
I often times hear Christians and/or professing Christians say to someone who has spent his or her life for the lost that that person lacks compassion. Compassion isn't being so soft that you comfort a person into hell. Compassion is when concern for the lost weigh on your mind so much that you leave a puddle of tears on the ground as you pray. Compassion is going out of your way to reach out to, win, consolidate, disciple, and send everyone that God brings in your way. Compassion is when you give your whole life for the Gospel. I'm no theologian, but a person can't say that they have compassion and not have ever wept for the lost.
|
Right way round?
| Posted On: 02/07/08 06:35:12 AM |
Age 44, ENGLAND |
Do I know our Lord? I think the more important question to ask is does he know us? In the gospels he sent people away at judgement time because he says he never knew them not vice versa. This should cause us to pause for thought... It does me
|
Head Knowledge and Heart Knowledge
| Posted On: 02/06/08 04:13:30 PM |
Age 33, OK |
Head Knowledge
Many know scriptures,even copying them using them in quotes in books in conversation not knowing they came from the word of God. Your heart knowing scripture is when it reaches right unto your soul speaking to You and you know its for you its a mirror unto your being.
King David said I will hide your word in my heart that I may not sin against you.
Some scholars, thinkers,philosphers know scriptures.
But do they walk it do they love it do they live it. What is that our lord said to those who knowingly sin against others depart from me worker of iniquity I knew you not.
Satan knew scriptures the demons recognized Christ. Having a head knowledge does not mean having a heart knowledge.
When something is in your heart you are feverent about it,passionate about it, you get riled up to defend it,to live for it, to die for it if God wills it.
You know that you know. A mother knows when her child is sick or hurt, A mother knows when they are telling a lie unto her. It is in her heart that understanding that bond.
Having a heart knowledge of faith in Christ is like.You are a starving man and it is the water on a hot sandy desert.You would not survive without it.
Minds can be changed while true feelings in your heart cannot.
|
I changed my mind..
| Posted On: 02/06/08 02:58:19 AM |
Age 44, ENGLAND |
Understand where you are coming from...What changed my mind and approach to this subject though was the attempted suicide of a friend (grown up mother) when treatede in just such a way. Life is very complicated sometimes and so are people. She found her way through but is took a lot of love and care and the undoing of those who felt that such an approach as above would work. Steve
|
Sarcastic Commnet?
| Posted On: 02/06/08 12:22:40 AM |
Age 52, CA |
Steve: Are you cleverly employing obfuscation here? I applaud your ability to pull three sentences from a seven sentence paragraph and misapply it! You, sir, clearly did not comprehend the article as written. //Mr Comfort is merely stating it doubtful that Irish was, in fact, Christian. One is a Christian or one is not. Pieces for man to pick up: Zero. God can, does and will clean up the mess one makes of one's life when one comes to the saving cross of my Lord and Redeemer Jesus. Do you know Jesus, Steve? If not, I pray you contact Comfort. Blessings, Herb
|
|
Read More Feedback
|
Post Feedback
|
|
|
|
Sign up to receive our
FREE Biblical Worldview Newsletter!
|
|
