I ask you to accept me

[TJJJ]

Originally Posted by houston

Only in Mexico. Devils don't cross our borders.

Snicker, snicker, bwahahahahahahahaha

Ya got that right C!

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by nahkoe

You don't know how it's going to end.

IF JA continues in paganism, it will not end well.

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

IF JA continues in paganism, it will not end well.

I trust God entirely too much to worry about that. I do not know the future, you do not know the future, JA does not know the future. God alone knows the future. I refuse to believe or act in accordance with an outcome that is not yet determined.

Respect for a person means treating them as an intelligent individual capable of making their own decisions, regardless of whether or not you agree with the decisions. Making dire predictions (that, again, you have no way of actually knowing are accurate) does nothing but push a person away. Especially a person involved in the occult. Especially especially a person who is exceedingly familiar with Christianity who is now involved in the occult. A decision to surrender your entire identity, everything you know, everything you believe, everything that fills your life, provides comfort, provides guidance, provides a sense of order to your life in order to pursue a different spiritual path is not a decision that is ever made lightly. The losses are intensely real. So are the gains. I deeply respect any person who passionately pursues truth, even at great personal cost. *Even if I do not agree with the conclusion they reach or the method by which they reach it.* Their right to make that choice and to journey along the path they feel drawn to is something I will always defend. Even when I may have seen further down the path, even when I know what could happen, even when my beliefs are contrary to theirs. We cannot convict anyone and we certainly should not condemn anyone. Unfortunately, many of the posts in this thread are entirely too close to condemnation for my comfort. Dire predictions fall into that category, as well as the category of claiming to know the future.

Instead of telling someone that bad things are going to happen to him, why don't you try telling them that you're glad to see/hear from them, that you wish them well, that you care about them and would like to be part of their life? Love is the most powerful force I know of.

[Abiding Now]

If I know the Bible teaches a certain doctrine, hell, baptism, Godhead, justification, whatever and see a person violating those doctrines, I am OBLIGATED to try and turn that person away from their path.

Ezekiel 33:8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Ezekiel 33:9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

[mfblume]

If JA is here to simply connect with friends as his post indicated, and not spread paganism, I think it is okay for him to be here./ May see some truth that rubs off onto him!

[Encryptus]

Originally Posted by nahkoe

I trust God entirely too much to worry about that. I do not know the future, you do not know the future, JA does not know the future. God alone knows the future. I refuse to believe or act in accordance with an outcome that is not yet determined.

Respect for a person means treating them as an intelligent individual capable of making their own decisions, regardless of whether or not you agree with the decisions. Making dire predictions (that, again, you have no way of actually knowing are accurate) does nothing but push a person away. Especially a person involved in the occult. Especially especially a person who is exceedingly familiar with Christianity who is now involved in the occult. A decision to surrender your entire identity, everything you know, everything you believe, everything that fills your life, provides comfort, provides guidance, provides a sense of order to your life in order to pursue a different spiritual path is not a decision that is ever made lightly. The losses are intensely real. So are the gains. I deeply respect any person who passionately pursues truth, even at great personal cost. *Even if I do not agree with the conclusion they reach or the method by which they reach it.* Their right to make that choice and to journey along the path they feel drawn to is something I will always defend. Even when I may have seen further down the path, even when I know what could happen, even when my beliefs are contrary to theirs. We cannot convict anyone and we certainly should not condemn anyone. Unfortunately, many of the posts in this thread are entirely too close to condemnation for my comfort. Dire predictions fall into that category, as well as the category of claiming to know the future.

Instead of telling someone that bad things are going to happen to him, why don't you try telling them that you're glad to see/hear from them, that you wish them well, that you care about them and would like to be part of their life? Love is the most powerful force I know of.

What she said

[Sasha]

I am troubled by John's words, however, he is a friend of mine and always treated me with respect and was always a friend. He still is, and I pray for him as we all should one another.

Love ya, Man!!!

[Jack Shephard]

Christians often give themselves bad names by their own actions. Here, on this thread, that has been put into action. John, you have the right and ability to choose your path. You have. I support your right to choose whatever you want to choose. It might not have been my choice nor something I'd be interested in. It is however something you chose. I celebrate your right to choose and I celebrate you feeling happy. I would also celebrate if you changed your mind. Our job as believers is to meet anyone wherever they are and to not try to change them, but to show them a God that loves them so much. It is God's doing to help the change. We also also assist in the change when needed. We can't manipulate the change. I say, John, if you choose to change back to exactly what you were before, then do it. If not, then don't. At the end, if God judges like we have been taught then you have to answer for all this. Either way, my job is to be tolerant and love people. Does that make me better or worse than anyone? Who cares!

[shazeep]

yup

Originally Posted by Abiding Now

If I know the Bible teaches a certain doctrine, hell, baptism, Godhead, justification, whatever and see a person violating those doctrines, I am OBLIGATED to try and turn that person away from their path.

Ezekiel 33:8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Ezekiel 33:9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

i would argue that you have seen nothing, but only heard some stuff which may or may not be spiritually true. God is not going to judge you based upon what you say you believe--that is completely irrelevant.

[Abiding Now]

Originally Posted by shazeep

yupi would argue that you have seen nothing, but only heard some stuff which may or may not be spiritually true. God is not going to judge you based upon what you say you believe--that is completely irrelevant.

Huh. What does your post have to do with anything I posted?