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My friend's cousin...

Last post 09-03-2008, 8:10 AM by Ricki. 10 replies.
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  •  03-17-2008, 10:23 AM 286974

    My friend's cousin...

    ... is not a beleiver in Christ. She beleives that everyone will go to a 'heaven-like' place, where, depending on how 'good' you were in life, the better you have it.

    I have been kind to her, listened to her, asked her questions about what she beleives, and gained her trust. But I don't quite know how to try to breach the topic again. I once asked her what she thought abt. Christianity, and she said, "I tried that, but it didn't work for me". If it 'didn't work for her' She obviously never had it in the first place!

    Any advice on what I should do?


    But there'd be no story without all this dissention
    So I inflict the conflict with the utmost of intentions
  •  03-17-2008, 11:09 AM 286983 in reply to 286974

    My friend's cousin...

    I think you are already doing the right things - being a friend, listening, not being confrontational.  As for "tryng Christianity", it sounds more like your friend tried "religion" and didn't like it.  You can explain to her that different people worship in different ways and that perhaps all she needs to do is to try a different church.

    As for believing that "everyone will go to a heaven-like place", that sounds an awful lot like Mormonism. I presume you've asked her the basis for her beliefs. If just "feelings", show her in the Bible why you believe the way you believe.  Show her that you don't have to rely on "feelings" but rather on the Word.
  •  03-17-2008, 11:51 AM 286994 in reply to 286983

    Re: My friend's cousin...

    No, its not Mormonism. My mother was Mormon before she met my dad, so I know a bit about it.

    The heaven like place is more like a grassy field where everyone lolls around, to hear her talk about it. It is one of those 'build-your-own-religion' things, where they just sort of make something up to beleive in, they have no basis for the 'beleif'.

    She doesn't 'get' Christianity. I think when she says she 'tried' it, she means that when she took a religion class in school, they did abt. an hour skipping quickly over it. I don't know. But I do know that the class she took at school really messed her up in her thinking abt. religion. She's got the idea that all religions are equally good, and that some things work for some people, etc. I did try to argue that one a bit, because, really, if all religions are equally good, then none of them serve any purpose.


    But there'd be no story without all this dissention
    So I inflict the conflict with the utmost of intentions
  •  03-17-2008, 11:58 AM 287001 in reply to 286994

    Re: My friend's cousin...

    Ricki:

    The heaven like place is more like a grassy field where everyone lolls around, to hear her talk about it....



    Sounds like a nice place for cows, but not necessarily for people....Stick out tongue

    I was just using Mormonism as an example of a religion where everyone goes to heaven - though some get to go to a "better" heaven if they can figure out how to earn an "upgrade".  Since you mom was a Mormon, she may have some tips on how to witness to your friend.  Mormons are very difficult to witness to because so much of what they say they believe is bound up in "feelings" and not in any sort of factual evidence. 
  •  03-17-2008, 12:04 PM 287003 in reply to 287001

    Re: My friend's cousin...

    LOL! Yeah, that was my view of it...

    Yeah. She uses the 'heaven-like-place' as an excuse to do things she knows are wrong, sometimes, too. Appearently, she thinks that everyone goes there, no matter how bad, and they just don't have as much 'fun'.  Hmmm....

    My mom has had some advice, but she is weirded out by the girl. She doesn't know quite how to approach her, because other than the heaven like place, the girl sort of flits around beleiving in different 'gods' or 'non-gods'


    But there'd be no story without all this dissention
    So I inflict the conflict with the utmost of intentions
  •  03-30-2008, 12:23 AM 289523 in reply to 287003

    Re: My friend's cousin...

    My advice is just to say what Jesus said: "Marvel not that I say unto thee, Ye must be born again." Then just commit her to the Father.
  •  03-30-2008, 5:21 PM 289656 in reply to 289523

    Re: My friend's cousin...

    Thanks, Josef. I think thats what I will be doing, because I am not getting anywhere. I'll continue to pray for her, and be her friend, but...
    But there'd be no story without all this dissention
    So I inflict the conflict with the utmost of intentions
  •  05-06-2008, 10:04 AM 296216 in reply to 289656

    Re: My friend's cousin...

    Saw this post and had to put in .02, if you really want some direction in responding to people like this and a great evangelism tool as you pass through this realm look at www.wayofthemaster.com . It is an incredibly effective process of witnessing that allows the spirit to convict through you without the arguments. I'm teaching this to my Adult Sunday School class and we are soon running an open class for the church and a version for our Youth Bible Study. I think you will enjoy it.

    David
  •  05-07-2008, 4:44 PM 296430 in reply to 296216

    My friend's cousin...

    David - Your post link just takes one to a "home page".  Is there some specific tool that you are particularly enthusiastic about using or are you just trying to promote "Way of the Master" in general?
  •  08-29-2008, 1:13 AM 303433 in reply to 296430

    Re: My friend's cousin...

    my bible study at church did a study on Way Of The Master.
  •  09-03-2008, 8:10 AM 303914 in reply to 303433

    Re: My friend's cousin...

    Thanks for the site! I'll look it up. Smile
    But there'd be no story without all this dissention
    So I inflict the conflict with the utmost of intentions
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