I am a Christian, a student, and a dreamer.
My faith is the most important thing in my life. It is my life. I'm kind of random but I don't bite, feel free to message me.
I received a question from a guy in high school who wanted to know what he should do about his atheist friends who belittled and made fun of his faith. They were his only friends and he wanted to know if he should stop associating with them or not. I did not post all of his question because of its personal nature. Below is my response, perhaps it will help someone else.
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Hi, I’m so sorry to get back to you so late! :) I don’t normally give advice because I don’t find myself to be an “expert” on life’s issues. BUT I’ll answer your question to the best of my abilities.
I’ll start off by saying that it’s not your job to “convince” people that there IS a God. For believers that is a “given”. You can’t prove to non-believers that God exist because they are carnal or fleshly/worldly, and God is Spiritual. You could NEVER compare Spiritual things with Fleshly. Since non-believers are of the flesh they CAN NOT believe in Spiritual things, because it’s not given or revealed to them, so they don’t “get-it”. 1 Corinthians 1:18 tells us, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”. Christ and his teachings are foolishness to them, but to us it is not. I would recommend that you spend your time with the “foolishness of the Gospel”, but don’t try to prove that there is a God, let your testimony of Christ do that.
When someone wants me to prove that there is a God, I challenge them to prove to me that there is NO God. :) I want them to try to take my joy in Christ away, and they CAN’T. They can not prove to me that God does not exist, as I can’t prove to them that he does. Comparing things of the flesh to Spiritual is like comparing cars to broccoli (excuse the poor metaphor :)) It’s just not possible. What you can do is pray for those that don’t believe that God will reveal himself to them, also testify of Jesus since you know him. The rest is out of your hands.
As for your atheist friends. Understand that you can be “friendly” to people without being “friends with them. We are commanded by God to love but not to be-friend unbelievers. You as a believer should be affecting your friends but they should not be “rubbing-off” on you. I would recommend that you spend more time with people who believe in God and love Jesus so that they can help you grow in Christ. If I know someone doesn’t love God, not wants to love him I don’t spend much time around them. If I do, I’ll be witnessing to them all the while talking about Christ.
I’ve found out that the more you talk about Christ to unbelievers the less time they want to spend around you. So don’t be surprised if you start to talk about Christ more and those “friends” disappear.
I’ve found that it’s easier to find friends at Church, Prayer Meetings, and Christian organizations. Maybe there are other Christians at your school? Maybe there is a FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) at your school? I would look into any Christian organizations and join them, you’d make friends right away. I totally understand about not having many friends while in school, and the ones that wanted to be my friend were unbelievers. I had to make some decisions that I thought were really tough. I ultimately decided that I couldn’t have a closer friend than Christ, so I prayed about it and asked the Lord to give me earthly companionship and he did. Pray about it!
I would ask myself how someone who claims to be my friend could “constantly talk bad about my faith in front of me”? Are they really your friends? Would your friends belittle your “faith” constantly when they know how important it is to you? What kind of friends would make you feel bad about who you are? I think you know the answer to these questions.
When you start to grow in Christ and you talk about him often, that’s when you realize who your friends are. John 15: 19 say’s, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” ?Remember this when people you thought were your friends start to hate you, and they no longer want your friendship.
You shouldn’t hate the atheist or treat them in an un-Christian like way, we are commanded to “love” as Christ did. So, we can be friendly to them without beings friends with them. “Loving our enemies” (Luke 6:35 & Matthew 5: 44) does not mean going to the movies with them, eating out with them, hanging out and socializing with them. It means to Love our neighbor as ourselves. Matthew 22:39. Feed them when their hungry, clothe them when their cold, visit them when their sick, etc.
Remember, you are a strong child of God, you can speak boldly and unashamedly of God. Hebrews 13:6 “So that we may boldly say , The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me”. Don’t fear losing friends, you must stand with God. Perhaps when you start spending less time with your atheist friends they’ll want to know why. When you tell them you’re standing with God, they’ll see how serious you are and want to know more, then you can witness and testify, and maybe they’ll be saved. If not, be content to know that you did what was right and you stood with God.
Thank you so much for your question, I hope I helped. Feel free to stop by again. ANY TIME.
simplyheavenlyfood.tumblr.com will answer ANY QUESTIONS you have in the future. She answers questions on her blog and I’d recommend her to you since I don’t normally give advice.
May God bless and keep you, Keptsojourner :)
You wrote that Muslims r*ped Christians in Africa, oppressed them and killed them. STOP CONTRADICTING YOURSELF. Islam is completing against those things... so if that happened it was not muslims, it was people who called themselves muslims, they were not muslims, get that in your brain, islam is against intimacy before marriage especially through violence, and islam is against murder! so how come you're saying, 'oh christians are not allowed to force convert!' WELL NEITHER ARE MUSLIMS!!!!!!!!!!
Please tell me how I CONTRADICT MYSELF??? I said people rape people, I don’t see any contradiction in that statement. It’s a fact!
Oh so you deny the fact that these things are happening? Are muslims not persecuting Christians? If you can answer yes with a straight face, and clean heart, I have nothing more to say to you, because you are a liar, and I don’t conversate with blatant liars.
I think you may want to share your beliefs with people who call themselves muslims, and who rape and kill Christians. Please let the suicide bombers know that. Please let the muslims (or people who claim to be muslims) know that. Because OBVIOUSLY they don’t know it.
I don’t know where you’ve been but take a trip to say Sudan, parts of Nigeria, Ethiopia, just about any part of West, North, Central, and East Africa, and it’s the most obvious thing. You can put your blinders on and pretend that it’s not happening, but it’s still happening. The marriage of these 13 year old girls is also rape in my opinion. A child can not consent!
I’ll give you a link to some literature they may help you to understand, since I can’t.
http://www.barnabasaid.org/Christians-in-peril-as-Sudan-and-South-Sudan-head-towards-war.html
http://barnabasaid.org/Syrian-Christians-in-desperate-straits-will-the-churches-survive.html
http://www.barnabasaid.org/Boko-Haram-declares-war-on-Christians-in-Nigeria-and-threatens-to-eradicate-them-from-parts-of-the-country.html
http://www.barnabasaid.org/Condemned-Christian-mother-Aasia-Bibi-spends-third-Christmas-behind-bars.html
Use Google: if you want to see interviews from survivors, I won’t post them due to the graphic nature.
May God, our Lord and Savious Jesus Christ save your soul.
Peace and Love
You need to stop writing shit about Muslims, you a sell out. You and your white god. When they brought your ancestors to America as slaves, how you feel about them having to convert to Christianity against their will?
I’ve never wrote anything about muslims, only answered questions I’ve received. In what way am I a sell-out? God does not have a race, I’m sorry you’ve been mis-informed. I love God, the One true God, Christ who died for my sins, so that I wouldn’t have to. The God who created the world. The God who I know personally. The God who I talk to everyday. I don’t know allah, he’s never died for my sins, he didn’t create the world, he didn’t create man in his own image. This god that you follow, allah, is nothing more than a idol. BUT I’ve received this question many times before, and I shall answer once more.
Christianity is not the white man’s religion! Christ is for the Greek, the Gentile, us. To the Jew first, and also to the Greek/Gentile. I’m not interested in any man’s religion. I’m a Christian.
First you should know that no one is converted to Christianity through violence, you can not force a person to believe in Christ. True conversion is not brought about through violence. Being converted only happens through Christ Jesus and the Word of God (The Bible). Forcing people to not practice their religion, does not equate that person being converted. For instance if I were to go to Nigeria, and some muslim sought to kill me if I didn’t convert to Islam… I could easily pretend to ‘convert’ so that I won’t be killed, and I could dis-continue my practice of Christianity (show no outward signs) so that no one would become suspicious. This may be conversion to some people or in some religions, but not in Christianity. In the Christian faith, conversion is not just speaking words with your mouth or looking like a Christian. It’s about a personal walk and fellowship with our Savior Jesus Christ. So there is not conversion to Christianity by the whip. That abuse does not bring about conversion. No man, not I, my pastor, my mother or father can bring about conversion. I can’t convert anyone, or save anyone. I can introduce them to God, I can pray for them… Whether they are converted or not is out of man’s hands. That’s up to God.
Also, just because our ancestors practiced a “religion”, for thousands of years does not make that religion valid. For instance, if my ancestors practice female genital mutilation or (female circumcision) for thousands of years, that’s not something I would want to participate in, nor would I continue the practice just because they did. I don’t blindly condone or follow my ancestors if what they’re doing is not right.
Today in many place throughout Africa, such as Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Nigeria, etc. many of my Christian brothers and sisters are being murdered and raped by muslims. Christians have been in Africa and in parts of Africa for thousands of years. In fact Jesus’ parents hid him in Egypt, when he was an infant. Christians although a minority, have been in Africa for thousands of years. This murder and rape of my Christian ancestors has also been practiced for thousands of years in Africa by muslims. Have you ever thought about that? If so how do you feel?
In the bible Joseph the son of Jacob was hated by his brothers to the point where it is said they could not speak well of him, so they conspired to kill him, ultimately they sold him into slavery, in Egypt. The next 20 years of Joseph’s life were spent in slavery, being a stranger in a strange land. In the course of time God promoted him and blessed him so that every thing that Joseph touched prospered. His wisdom and the ability to interpret dreams was displayed before the Pharaoh, and through Joseph all the world was saved from a famine. To make a long story short Joseph’s brothers and his father, and all of his people were saved as well. Now the Bible says in Genesis 50:20 When Joseph was speaking to his brothers, But as for you, ye though ye did evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now mind you the white people who carried our ancestors bound in chains to be slaves in a new world, could not have envisioned that God would use their evil to save so many of our ancestors from death in this life and in the life to come. They could not have envisioned that God would free this class of slaves and give them inheritance in the new world. They meant their bringing us here for evil, yet God always purposed it for good.
Basically long story short, just because some men who claimed to be Christians; beat, whipped, raped, and killed some of my ancestors and forced them not to practice their religion in public. Does not mean that’s what my Christian faith is.
Hope to hear from you soon…
Thanks for the question, May the One True God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ save you. <3
I see you stated you have a lot of questions about Catholicism. Do ask? I am a Catholic who is studying theology and morality. One day I hope they add philosophy and latin to the school system. Also, I do not discriminate nor debate. I am just telling you what Catholics believe, if you have questions! :o))
Hi! I’ve been getting a lot of replies to that post, and many Catholics have expressed their beliefs. I was raised Catholic (until 16), so I am familiar with the practices, I just don’t understand why they are necessary. For instance praying to the saints, and/or Mary. I used to pray to Mary and ask her for help, when I was a Catholic. Even though, it is the official position of the Roman Catholic Church that Catholics do not pray TO saints or Mary, but rather that Catholics can ask saints or Mary to pray FOR them. The official position of the Roman Catholic Church is that asking saints for their prayers is no different than asking someone here on earth to pray for us. However, the practice of many Catholics diverges from official Roman Catholic teaching. Many Catholics do in fact pray directly to saints and/or Mary, asking them for help – instead of asking the saints and/or Mary to intercede with God for help. Whatever the case, whether a saint or Mary is being prayed to, or asked to pray, neither practice has any biblical basis.
The Bible nowhere instructs believers in Christ to pray to anyone other than God. The Bible nowhere encourages, or even mentions, believers asking individuals in heaven for their prayers. Why, then, do many Catholics pray to Mary and/or the saints, or request their prayers? Catholics view Mary and the saints as “intercessors” before God. They believe that a saint, who is glorified in Heaven, has more “direct access” to God than we do. Therefore, if a saint delivers a prayer to God, it is more effective than us praying to God directly. This concept is blatantly unbiblical. Hebrews 4:16 tells us that we, believers here on earth, can “approach the throne of grace with confidence.”
First Timothy 2:5 declares, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” There is no one else that can mediate with God for us. If Jesus is the ONLY mediator, that indicates Mary and the saints cannot be mediators. They cannot mediate our prayer requests to God. Further, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ Himself is interceding for us before the Father: “Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25). With Jesus Himself interceding for us, why would we need Mary or the saints to intercede for us? Whom would God listen to more closely than His Son? Romans 8:26-27 describes the Holy Spirit interceding for us. With the 2nd and 3rd members of the Trinity already interceding for us before the Father in heaven, what possible need could there be to have Mary or the saints interceding for us?
Catholics argue that praying to Mary and the saints is no different than asking someone here on earth to pray for us. Let us examine that claim. (1) The Apostle Paul asks other Christians to pray for him in Ephesians 6:19. Many Scriptures describe believers praying for one another (2 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:19; 2 Timothy 1:3). The Bible nowhere mentions anyone asking for someone in heaven to pray for him. The Bible nowhere describes anyone in heaven praying for anyone on earth. (2) The Bible gives absolutely no indication that Mary or the saints can hear our prayers. Mary and the saints are not omniscient. Even glorified in heaven, they are still finite beings with limitations. How could they possibly hear the prayers of millions of people? Whenever the Bible mentions praying to or speaking with the dead, it is in the context of sorcery, witchcraft, necromancy, and divination—activities the Bible strongly condemns (Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10-13). In the one instance when a “saint” is spoken to, Samuel in 1 Samuel 28:7-19, Samuel is not exactly happy to be disturbed. It is clear that praying to Mary or the saints is completely different from asking someone here on earth to pray for us. One has a strong biblical basis; the other has no biblical basis whatsoever.
God does not answer prayers based on who is praying. God answers prayers based on whether they are asked according to His will (1 John 5:14-15). There is absolutely no basis or need to pray to anyone other than God alone. There is no basis for asking those who are in heaven to pray for us. Only God can hear our prayers. Only God can answer our prayers. No one in heaven has any greater access to God’s throne than we do through prayer (Hebrews 4:16)
There’s many, many things that I know Catholics believe and practice that contradict the scripture.
The Bible clearly and consistently states that receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, by grace through faith, grants salvation (John 1:12; 3:16,18,36; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10,13; Ephesians 2:8-9). The Roman Catholic Church rejects this. The official position of the Roman Catholic Church is that a person must believe in Jesus Christ AND be baptized AND receive the Eucharist along with the other sacraments AND obey the decrees of the Roman Catholic Church AND perform meritorious works AND not die with any mortal sins AND etc., etc., etc. Catholic divergence from the Bible on this most crucial of issues, salvation, means that yes, Catholicism is a false religion. If a person believes what the Catholic Church officially teaches, he/she will not be saved. Any claim that works or rituals must be added to faith in order for salvation to be achieved is a claim that Jesus’ death was not sufficient to fully purchase our salvation.
I went and had a talk with my old priest and he basically affirmed my convictions. I know for me, I didn’t become a Christian until after I left Catholicism and was saved. Since becoming a Christian I realized there’s a lot of things that Catholics believe, that I can’t believe, because I go by the Bible and I don’t want to practice a tradition if it’s not what the Bible says.
Thanks for the question, Be blessed Tiff
I just don’t get Catholicism??? I have a lot of questions, and when they’re answered, they just make me think Catholics are idolaters. Christianity is different things, to different people is what I’ve learned.
I think being a Christian is the most…
Won’t let me re-blog your answer, so I’ll just answer in this form.
1 & 2.) The concept of confession of sin to a priest is nowhere taught in Scripture. First, the New Testament does not teach that there are to be priests in the New Covenant. Instead, the New Testament teaches that all believers are priests. 1 Peter 2:5-9 describes believers as a “holy priesthood” and a “royal priesthood.” Revelation 1:6 and 5:10 both describe believers as “a kingdom and priests.” In the Old Covenant, the faithful had to approach God through the priests. The priests were mediators between the people and God. The priests offered sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. That is no longer necessary. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can now approach God’s throne with boldness (Hebrews 4:16). The temple veil tearing in two at Jesus’ death was symbolic of the dividing wall between God and humanity being destroyed. We can approach God directly, ourselves, without the use of a human mediator. Why? Because Jesus Christ is our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-15; 10:21), and the only mediator between us and God (1 Timothy 2:5). The New Testament teaches that there are to be elders (1 Timothy 3), deacons (1 Timothy 3), bishops (Titus 1:6-9), and pastors (Ephesians 4:11) – but not priests.
When it comes to confession of sin, believers are told in 1 John 1:9 to confess their sins to God. God is faithful and just to forgive our sins as we confess them to Him. James 5:16 speaks of confessing our trespasses “to one another,” but this is not the same as confessing sins to a priest as the Roman Catholic Church teaches. Priests / church leaders are nowhere mentioned in the context of James 5:16. Further, James 5:16 does not link forgiveness of sins with the confession of sins “to one another.”
The Roman Catholic Church bases their practice of confession to a priest primarily on Catholic tradition. Catholic do point to John 20:23, “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” From this verse, Catholics claim that God gave the apostles the authority to forgive sins, and that authority was passed on to the successors of the apostles, e.g. the bishops and priests of the Roman Catholic Church. There are several problems with this interpretation. (1) John 20:23 nowhere mentions confession of sin. (2) John 20:23 nowhere promises, or even hints, that the authority to forgive sins would be passed on to the successors of the apostles. Jesus’ promise was specifically directed to the apostles. (3) The New Testament nowhere states that the apostles would even have successors to their apostolic authority. Similarly, Catholics point to Matthew 16:19 and 18:18 (binding and loosing) as evidence for the Catholic Church’s authority to forgive sins. The same three above points apply equally to these Scriptures.
Again, the concept of confession of sin to a priest is nowhere taught in Scripture. We are to confess our sins to God (1 John 1:9). As New Covenant believers, we do not need mediators between us and God. We can go to God directly because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us. 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
3.) According to Catholicism the Pope is the “Vicar of Christ” (a vicar is a substitute), and takes the place of Jesus as the visible head of the Church. As such he has the ability to speak “ex cathedra” (with authority on matters of faith and practice), and when he does so his teachings are considered infallible and binding upon all Christians. On the other hand, Protestants believe that no human being is infallible, and that Christ alone is the head of the church. Catholics rely on apostolic succession as a way of trying to establishing the Pope’s authority. But Protestants believe that the church’s authority does not come from apostolic succession, but instead is derived from the Word of God. Spiritual power and authority does not rest in the hands of a mere man, but in the very Word of God recorded in Scripture. While Catholicism teaches that only the Catholic Church can properly and correctly interpret the Bible, Protestants believe that the Bible teaches that God sent the Holy Spirit to indwell all born again believers, enabling all believers to understand the message of the Bible.
This is clearly seen in passages such as John 14:16-17: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” (See also John 14:26 and 1 John 2:27). While Catholicism teaches that only the Roman Catholic Church has the authority and power to interpret the Bible, Protestantism acknowledges the biblical doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, and that individual Christians can trust the Holy Spirit for guidance in reading and interpreting the Bible for themselves.
I used to be Catholic so I’m familiar with the practices. God bless :) Simplyheavenlyfood.tumblr.com might help with what I’m trying to say
I need some inspiration in my walk, can you suggest any videos or blogs?
Hey, if you’re into videos I would suggest you check out the YouTube videos “Almost Saved” “Silence is Deadly”, and “Ready or Not”. These are all spoken word poetry videos by p4cm (Passion for Christ Movement).
Just remember that nothing beats the Bible, you can even download a Bible app if you have a smart phone, and you can listen to the word.
Be blessed <3
You are so lost. How can you follow christ, when our people were brought over here and forced to accept christianity? Our people were beat and had to give up their own religion. A religion that they practiced for centuries before they were enslaved in America. You are still reaping the effect of our people being forced to convert. Sister, you and so many other Black Christians are just lost. Please tell me how you could love Africa so much, and then accept the white man's religion?
No brother, I’m not lost, I am saved through Christ Jesus. I love God, the One true God, Christ who died for my sins, so that I wouldn’t have to. The God who created the world. The God who I know personally. The God who I talk to everyday. I don’t know allah, he’s never died for my sins, he didn’t create the world, he didn’t create man in his own image. This god that you follow, allah, is nothing more than a idol. BUT I’ve received this question many times before, and I shall answer once more.
Christianity is not the white man’s religion! Christ is for the Greek, the Gentile, us. To the Jew first, and also to the Greek/Gentile. I’m not interested in any man’s religion. I’m a Christian.
First you should know that no one is converted to Christianity through violence, you can not force a person to believe in Christ. True conversion is not brought about through violence. Being converted only happens through Christ Jesus and the Word of God (The Bible). Forcing people to not practice their religion, does not equate that person being converted. For instance if I were to go to Nigeria, and some muslim sought to kill me if I didn’t convert to Islam… I could easily pretend to ‘convert’ so that I won’t be killed, and I could dis-continue my practice of Christianity (show no outward signs) so that no one would become suspicious. This may be conversion to some people or in some religions, but not in Christianity. In the Christian faith, conversion is not just speaking words with your mouth or looking like a Christian. It’s about a personal walk and fellowship with our Savior Jesus Christ. So there is not conversion to Christianity by the whip. That abuse does not bring about conversion. No man, not I, my pastor, my mother or father can bring about conversion. I can’t convert anyone, or save anyone. I can introduce them to God, I can pray for them… Whether they are converted or not is out of man’s hands. That’s up to God.
Also, just because our ancestors practiced a “religion”, for thousands of years does not make that religion valid. For instance, if my ancestors practice female genital mutilation or (female circumcision) for thousands of years, that’s not something I would want to participate in, nor would I continue the practice just because they did. I don’t blindly condone or follow my ancestors of what their doing is not right.
Today in many place throughout Africa, such as Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Nigeria, etc. many of my Christian brothers and sisters are being murdered and raped by muslims. Christians have been in Africa and in parts of Africa for thousands of years. In fact Jesus’ parents hid him in Egypt, when he was an infant. Christians although a minority, have been in Africa for thousands of years. This murder and rape of my Christian ancestors has also been practiced for thousands of years in Africa by muslims. Have you ever thought about that? If so how do you feel?
In the bible Joseph the son of Jacob was hated by his brothers to the point where it is said they could not speak well of him, so they conspired to kill him, ultimately they sold him into slavery, in Egypt. The next 20 years of Joseph’s life were spent in slavery, being a stranger in a strange land. In the course of time God promoted him and blessed him so that every thing that Joseph touched prospered. His wisdom and the ability to interpret dreams was displayed before the Pharaoh, and through Joseph all the world was saved from a famine. To make a long story short Joseph’s brothers and his father, and all of his people were saved as well. Now the Bible says in Genesis 50:20 When Joseph was speaking to his brothers, But as for you, ye though evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now mind you the white people who carried our ancestors bound in chains to be slaves in a new world, could not have envisioned that God would use their evil to save so many of our ancestors from death in this life and in the life to come. They could not have envisioned that God would free this class of slaves and give them inheritance in the new world. They white people meant their bring us here for evil yet God always purposed it for good.
Basically long story short, just because some men who claimed to be Christians; beat, whipped, raped, and killed some of my ancestors and forced them not to practice their religion in public. Does not mean that’s what my Christian faith is.
Thanks for the question, May the One True God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ save you. <3
Be blessed brother
I don't know how old you are so i'm going to ask you a question assuming you can understand/answer it like an adult. How do you reconcile your christian faith with the knowledge that our african ancestors were killed and converted to christianity by the whip? They were forced to except this new religion whether they liked it or not. They had their own beliefs which they practiced for thousands of years. Many slaves rejected it all their lives. Have you ever thought about that? if sohow do u feel
I’ll look over your condescending tone, and I’ll answer your question accordingly. I’ve received this question many times before.
First you should know that no one is converted to Christianity through violence, you can not force a person to believe in Christ. True conversion is not brought about through violence. Being converted only happens through Christ Jesus and the Word of God (The Bible). Forcing people to not practice their religion, does not equate that person being converted. For instance if I were to go to Nigeria, and some muslim sought to kill me if I didn’t convert to Islam… I could easily pretend to ‘convert’ so that I won’t be killed, and I could dis-continue my practice of Christianity (show no outward signs) so that no one would become suspicious. This may be conversion to some people or in some religions, but not in Christianity. In the Christian faith, conversion is not just speaking words with your mouth or looking like a Christian. It’s about a personal walk and fellowship with our Savior Jesus Christ. So there is not conversion to Christianity by the whip. That abuse does not bring about conversion. No man, not I, my pastor, my mother or father can bring about conversion. I can’t convert anyone, or save anyone. I can introduce them to God, I can pray for them… Whether they are converted or not is out of man’s hands. That’s up to God.
Also, just because our ancestors practiced a “religion”, for thousands of years does not make that religion valid. For instance, if my ancestors practice female genital mutilation or (female circumcision) for thousands of years, that’s not something I would want to participate in, nor would I continue the practice just because they did. I don’t blindly condone or follow my ancestors of what their doing is not right.
Today in many place throughout Africa, such as Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Nigeria, etc. many of my Christian brothers and sisters are being murdered and raped by muslims. Christians have been in Africa and in parts of Africa for thousands of years. In fact Jesus’ parents hid him in Egypt, when he was an infant. Christians although a minority, have been in Africa for thousands of years. This murder and rape of my Christian ancestors has also been practiced for thousands of years in Africa by muslims. Have you ever thought about that? If so how do you feel?
In the bible Joseph the son of Jacob was hated by his brothers to the point where it is said they could not speak well of him, so they conspired to kill him, ultimately they sold him into slavery, in Egypt. The next 20 years of Joseph’s life were spent in slavery, being a stranger in a strange land. In the course of time God promoted him and blessed him so that every thing that Joseph touched prospered. His wisdom and the ability to interpret dreams was displayed before the Pharaoh, and through Joseph all the world was saved from a famine. To make a long story short Joseph’s brothers and his father, and all of his people were saved as well. Now the Bible says in Genesis 50:20 When Joseph was speaking to his brothers, But as for you, ye though evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now mind you the white people who carried our ancestors bound in chains to be slaves in a new world, could not have envisioned that God would use their evil to save so many of our ancestors from death in this life and in the life to come. They could not have envisioned that God would free this class of slaves and give them inheritance in the new world. They white people meant their bring us here for evil yet God always purposed it for good.
Basically long story short, just because some men who claimed to be Christians; beat, whipped, raped, and killed some of my ancestors and forced them not to practice their religion in public. Does not mean that’s what my Christian faith is.
Thanks for the question, May the One True God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ save you. <3
Be blessed brother
You are a hypocrite you want to advance black people, but you don't support gays and women.
Please stop equating the black struggle with the gay movement, and “women’s rights”!
They are not the same things, I know plenty of gay white people who don’t support black people.
When Gays have been enslaved for centuries b/c of something they can’t control…. then come and talk to me.
I’m so through with this black people and gays have so much in common crap…
As for women, I am one. I don’t support abortion and never will, I don’t support genocide in any fashion. If that upsets you, too bad.
Please spare me with the hypocrite talk. Toodles
