Bible Validity

[Deborah]

I have been having a hard time talking about the bible with people. Why do so many people have little faith that the bible is very important?
Some people are belligerent by saying some things in it are good and forget some the other stuff (the ones they don't want to pay attention to).
And some just say its just a book.
Today some chick told me that she can prove the bible was written 300 years after the death of Jesus. She said I'll learn a whole bunch of twists and turns that will really amaze me! (she's unaware of the conspiracy theory school I went through lurking on this sites for a couple of months).
It'll seems like people really want to insert their opinion strongly so that I don't talk about it. Then I usually get upset and stay quiet, when I really want something smart and strong. Even sarcastic if it will provoke thought and conversation.
Any suggestions?

Thank you, Deborah

[Eli's Foe]

Even sarcastic if it will provoke thought and conversation.
Any suggestions?

Thank you, Deborah[/b]

Hit them over the head with the bible, and say "see the truth hurts doesn't it" ??!

EF :stupid:

[Jeshurun]

It amazes me that people will arbitrarily state that the Bible was written by men without God's involvement while they claim to believe in "God". But you will never hear them say that things in the Encyclopedia are not true, even though it was also written by men. They haven't studied God's Word or put it to any kind of testing, they merely accept the opinions of others.

I think it was the Watchtower's "Reasoning" book that gave a great illustration about buying something that requires an owner's manual, what would people think about a company producing some contraption without providing instructions. Yet they believe God put us here to wallow in all this muck and mire without a clue as to how to survive it or what will happen to it. They are simply open to any interpretation of reality that they are offered by those they think have the wisdom to know what's good for this world.

It's only by investigating what's in the Bible that anyone can make an educated decision as to it's validity, yet without knowing the book, just what little is fed to them, they can write it off as the work of men. It's probably just a poor excuse for not wanting to face reality, that their lives don't live up to what God requires of them. These are the ones that will fall for the New Age babble of Oprah, MacLaine and the like.

But our Father in Heaven does have some surprises in store for these people, He does not take the issue of eternal destruction lightly, so we'll have to wait and see how they react once they've seen proof that the Bible could not possibly have been written without inspiration from their Creator.

Jesh

[Jinnvisible]

It'll seems like people really want to insert their opinion strongly so that I don't talk about it. Then I usually get upset and stay quiet, when I really want something smart and strong. Even sarcastic if it will provoke thought and conversation.
Any suggestions?

Thank you, Deborah[/b]

I Seed takes on fertile ground.</span>

<span style="color:#0000ff">John 6:43-44 In answer Jesus said to them: "Stop murmuring among yourselves. No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him; and I will resurrect him in the last day

[Deborah]

Eli&#39;s Foe,

I really like that one! I&#39;m going to use it on one of my kids today, (Lightly, of course).


Jeshuran,

I think the owners manuel one is used in the Knowledge book and Bible Teach book. I used it today, and use it often. The response is usually agreement, that God would give us guidelines.
Then, the same stupid stuff. Like, "Well man wrote it, so its imperfect, can&#39;t trust other men." Or "That applied in those days, it doesn&#39;t apply now."
Sometimes it is easier to go door to door with people. At least then, we know we are knocking with the purpose of talking about Jehovah and Jesus.
People always say we can&#39;t talk about politics or religion. Why not? Because people will get upset? Wouldn&#39;t it be better to get passionate about something than to ignore it?
Why wouldn&#39;t talking about our salvation be important?

Thank you for your comments.
Does anybody here do informal witnessing? I think I use the conversation to try to make friends in the area. So I guess that makes me The Loner Bible Girl.

With Love To You, Deborah

[Deborah]

Dear Jinn,

Such an endearing reply. You are so right. I can only talk about it with people who want to.
I don&#39;t argue because I want to make my conduct effective for a future opportunity. It just seems like I have to keep my mouth shut alot. I have been talking to my neighbors.
Maybe people think I want to sell them a religious concept. I don&#39;t, I would just like to talk about the bible for a little bit and move on to another subject.
Do you what makes it hard, too? I need multiple visits to really be able to talk. So I have cooked for neighbors, offered to mow their lawn (single mom) and find ways to invite myself into their life. It is sometimes very fun, and other times stressful. I am afraid of being turned away or arriving at a bad time.
I&#39;m am trying really hard to show Jehovah that I care.

Thank you, Deborah

[Jade]

Deborah, this was the scripture I thought of:

Hebrews Chapter 4 verse 12 &#39; For the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of the soul and spirit, and of joints and their marrow and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart.&#39;

We mustn&#39;t underestimate the power of this special book. If it doesn&#39;t reach the heart then it&#39;s because the heart is unreceptive. A friend of mine has ceased to believe in God at all after 25 years as a Jehovah&#39;s Witness. In a world filled with this kind of mindset there is little that we can do but demonstrate our own love for Jehovah.

Some of the best chats I have had have been informal ones, usually initiated by the other person. They ask the questions that interest them about your beliefs rather than us targeting someone and them not really wanting to know.

What makes me laugh is people disown the bible but read about celebrity culture like it is is their bible.

[Deborah]

Dear Jade,

Thank you for your very kind and sincere reply. Each paragraph was like being given spiritual flowers. :liefde026: Sorry if I sound corny. I&#39;ve had a little difficult day. I went to take a moment to check the board and this reply was gentle, funny, and heart touching. That scripture is awesome! I forgot about it. It&#39;s now marked in my bible.

Its sad that some people just really don&#39;t want to hear. Life has us in so many actions and emotions. Shifting head gears is difficult for me. I&#39;m sure everyone else has the same hard time.

Some feel sad for their neglect and sin-guilty and that stands in their way in order to be able to seek God. I love meeting those people, they will listen a little( and I feel a kindred spirit). I made friends with a girl I met here. She served a negligent death, felony sentence. This girl is so sad inside. I met her during a wild self-destruct stage. She&#39;s currently in a 30 day rehab, after a couple of arrests. She called me right before she went in. She was reaching out for God. She was so honest with me, I could feel the torment of her pain. Unfortunately, I have a whole Lotta self destructs myself. If she calls again when she gets out, I&#39;ll finally have a real life bible buddy here(besides my family).

I personally love the treasure hunting scripture.(Proverbs 2:4) I can really get into that one. Pirates of the Caribbean gave me a cess pool of opportunities to bring the conversation about the treasure in the bible. Let it hit and move on to another person talking. Another scenario is to have a Rum cocktail out socializing with my husband and turn the rum to pirates to treasure hunting to the bible, and then let the conversation go whatever way it goes. Here&#39;s one more- when family vacation conversations come around, I can use we went panhandling gold in Georgia and diamond mining in Arkansas. I suggest those places and then throw in the bible remark.

I talked to that lady last night, the one I started my frustration with the thread. She starts talking all omens and signs, this and that. This is after she put up a wall that basically says no bible talk (just fluffy angels and talking to dead people) I told her that its not OK to talk about omens and signs and push her spiritual thinking in front of me if she doesn&#39;t give me fair time with my feelings and spiritual points of view. She said she talked to her sister about me. They just decided that I have had the bible drilled into me so I am programed to do this, so they have to tolerate and forgive me for my tendency to do this.

With Love, Deborah :liefde026: