I have a heart to help people; especially young people. I have a Bachelor's degree in pastoral studies and I can't wait to find a youth pastorate. Right now, I'm trying to pay off my school bill. I am married to a wonderful young lady who completes me. I don't know everything, by far, but I'll make this promise to you. Any advice I can offer will come from the infallible Word of God. What makes me think I can offer anything worthwhile. Well, it's God Who has the answers, but He utilizes His people as instruments. I, by reason of use (Heb.5), am able to help you understand what God says about your problem and how to respond to it. May God bless you and use me for His glory. --ByReasonofUse
Gender: Male
Location: Hendersonville, NC
Occupation: Mortgage Loan Analyst
Age: 24
Member Since: August 11, 2005
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Last Update: March 16, 2006
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FunnyCide
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My sunday school teacher says it's wrong being a vegeterian.
Well... to my friend she showed scriptures and stuff sayign that it's wrong to be a vegetarian. and i'm like what's the heck.
so anyway i found a scripture that says it's okey being a vegetarian and that's a sin to be racist against people who are vegeterians.
So anyway I plan to debate this whole thing out.
Can you please give me some supporting vegetarians scriptures or a website which can tell me where to find a debate on this topic? (link)
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Your Sunday school teacher needs to be more careful in how she phrases things. The Scriptures do not call it sin to be vegetarian, but neither do they say that it's a sin to be racist against those who are. Mainly because vegetarians aren't a race. I believe the correct way to address the issue would be to ask why someone chooses to be a vegetarian. God created animals and He Himself commanded that certain of them be killed for sacrifices, etc. However, in the New Testament, He also said that what used to be "unclean" in the Old Testament, was now fine for human consumption. If someone chooses vegetarianism because meat grosses him/her out, fine. If they choose that lifestyle because they think God is against killing animals, they just need to be taught from the Scriptures. If they continue to choose that way of life, fine, no problem. This is a preference issue and as long as the problem of ignorance (in the non-derogatory use) is solved, then people are free to choose.
Let me now address your approach to your Sunday school teacher. "Debating" is not the correct approach. You are certainly within your right to question and ask for Biblical proof, but go into it with that mindset. "I'm asking honest questions, that's all." Don't be argumentative or attacking in your approach. If your teacher can't prove her statement, then maybe she will change her mind on the subject. If not, maybe, in a right way, she needs to be reminded that she needs to focus on what Scripture says, not what she thinks.
Hope this helps,
ByReasonofUse
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hey i am 13 and i want to go to my grandmas church and i have to pay sumbody 10 dollars to take me and i dont have it and i waz wunderin if any body has an idea what to do?
cause i know if i do sumtin mabey the pursonn that usually takes me will take me but i dont know what to do so plz help i rate good!:) (link)
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Speak with the pastor/minister of the church. Ask him if he knows anyone who lives out near you. He can probably find someone to help get you there. Even if noone lives very close to you, if the church is doing what it is supposed to do (making and maturing disciples into the likeness of Jesus Christ), then someone will help.
If you're looking for something to do to earn money, yard jobs are always a good route for young men or babysitting for young ladies. Sorry, you didn't specify.
-ByReasonofUse
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I am a Christian who doesn't go to church. I pray every night and believe that Jesus died for our sins and that God exists.
My question is that why do so many other Christians put down other ones that don't go to church? I have a relationship with God, too! Thanks. (link)
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Hebrews 10:24-25 says, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
God commands believers to assemble together to worship, fellowship, serve, etc. How can you provoke your fellow believers if you're not taking the time to be around them. How can you place yourself under the proper authority of the local church if you're not attending? Christ is the Head of the church, the universal body of believers, and He has given authority to undershephards. You must choose to submit to this authority and to God's teaching on church membership and attendance. Believers still live in unredeemed flesh meaning they need accountability. Where does your accountability come from if not from a local church full of believers that love and care for you? Study this in God's Word and allow Him to challenge your thinking.
By the way, I don't condone Christians "putting down" other Christians for not going to church. I do believe in proper confrontation and exhortation, though. It must be done in a spirit of love and meekness.
--ByReasonofUse
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Does anyone know if the pendulum actually works? I just bought a pendulum workbook and kit at the bookstore.
I hold the pendulum over a board and ask it questions. It either answers yes or no by swinging in different directions.
What are good ways to test the pendulum? Someone told me to get a deck of playing cards and then ask whether the card was black or red.
It's not dangerous like the ouija board, is it?
(link)
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Here's my take on it. I don't know if it works or not, but I can tell you it is very dangerous. Some have already answered you and said that it is "just a game" and it may be intended that way by the human manufacturer, but anytime you mess with something like that, you're opening yourself up to evil spirits. I'm not a big "this place is haunted" person. That's not to what I'm referring. Satan and his legions can/will/do use ouija boards and other like things. I can assure you, if the thing works, it's not God answering. God has given us all we need for life and godliness in His Word, the Bible. There is no needed revelation at this point. He's given us all we need for this life. So my advice is to get rid of it and stay away from it.
-ByReasonofUse
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ok well, ive read your advice and i think its good so im going to ask you a question that i hope you'll answer. ok, now, i just started going to a new church or old church...well, i went there at a young age then stoped going then started again but anywho...here it is. i go to the youth group there and there are these two guys that are really purvy. there 13(eight grade) and they have already had sex. i mean i kid around about that stuff but they wernt kidding. and its beginging to freak me out. but i love the church and its bringing me closer to god. so i DONT want to leave. how can i get them to shut up with out telling on them, or leaving the church? there really nice too! and i dont want to get them in trouble! thank you! (link)
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Scripturally, you have only one option. Confront them. Galatians 6:1 says, "Brethren, if a man (or boy) is overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore him in a spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." You don't really have a choice about this. You must follow the pattern of Matt. 18:15-20 and go to them alone. Confront them with the Word of God, because the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to convict and change His people. One thing you might consider is not joking about the subject yourself. Maybe your testimony will pressure them to straighten up. If they refuse to repent of their sin when you speak with them, take a friend or two and confront them together. If they still fail to repent, God says you must take the matter to the church. This is the system prescribed by God to keep the testimony of His church pure on this earth. At the very least let them know that if they insist on talking about their sin (rebellion against God), that you do not want to hear it. If these boys are saved, God will work in them. I'd love to have a chance to email them myself, but they would have to initiate that. Keep me posted.
-ByReasonofUse
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ok so in 3 days i leave my dad u see him and my mom are divorced and well i visit him every summer now that the summer is almost over. well i am goin back to my mom. but i am a male so it is hard for me to say goodbye to him ever since i was little sain bye killed me but as i aged and got older it got harder. i pray to god to protect my dad so i may see him again. and i ask for me to be safe while taking the plane. and then i ask y does my heart hurt so much. now it is about 3 days till i leave here. and i am not ready to leave because at the age i am now 15 my heart needs my dad. my question is well what are some versus i can look into to help me with my heartache. and if u all would pray for me to have a safe trip and to be able to handle my heartache with passion and with out guilt cause i always feel like it is my fault. i am apodted and since i didn't know my real parents and my real dad the dad i have here is the closest thing i have and withouth him i am a lone or so it feels like
thny
monn (link)
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Monn,
Where to begin. I know this answer may be too late and you may already be feeling better, but here goes.
I know what you're saying. My parents divorced when I was 9. I too went through a time when I felt like it was my fault. The truth is, I loved both of my parents so much that I didn't want to blame or be angry at either one of them. But I learned as you will that they made a decision. Maybe out of selfishness, maybe out of pain, nonetheless, it was their decision. You are not at fault.
It's great that you have a good relationship with your dad. My dad and I hardly ever got to see each other. My dad was and to some degree still is unconcerned with my life. My dad didn't come to my wedding or my college graduation. All my life I grew up and developed a lot of bitterness in my heart. God dealt with me about that and I learned that I have to honor my father because he's my father, even if I was hurt by him.
It is hard to say goodbye, even if it is for a short time. I hope that you and your father are believers. If you are, then you can spend eternity together worshipping our Great God.
Finally, let me try to encourage you. The Bible says that God is a Father to the fatherless. I'm not saying that your fatherless (obviously, you're not), but I am saying that you must find your rest and peace in God. Even though your daddy isn't there physically, God is watching over both of you. If something were to happen to one or the other of you, His grace would be sufficient. Enjoy the good times and permanently embed them into your memory. Then, trust God because He knows what's best for you.
--ByReasonofUse
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hey...well within the last year i have become christian. but lately i have been having my doubts. i have depression, and have had it for about 2 years now. i pray so much but i dont seem to be making any progress to becoming happier. i dont understand why my prayers arent getting answered. (link)
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Wow, you've got some really good answers so far. I don't know if there is much I can add. I think FunnyCide is a very wise counselor. That advice was wonderful and I agree with it 100%. Remember that prayer is not you telling God what the problem is, for He already knows. Prayer is your humbling yourself before God and admitting to Him that you are depending on Him.
This may be a bit, straightforward, but I am trying to be kind and loving. Discouragement happens to all of us. Depression begins when we stop being impressed with God and His loving care of us. Simply put, depression is a lack of trust. Many will say that they trust God, but fail to act on it. Trust is an action that is confident about God's sovereignty, love, and concern. Did you know that the Bible says that God thinks about you more times in a day than there are grains of sand on the seashore? That's a lot of thinking He does about us. And what does the Bible say about His thoughts towards us? Jer. 29:11 says that His thoughts are thoughts of peace, not of evil, to give you an expected end. What is the expected end? Romans 8:29 says it is to be conformed to the image of Christ. Is God doing that work in you, the work of bringing you to Christ-likeness? If you're a believer, you can take it to the bank. Philippians 1:6 says, "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you (bringing you to salvation) will perform in until the day of Jesus Christ (when you're ushered into the very presence of Christ through death or the rapture). And the great thing about all I've said is that these are promises and we know that God cannot lie.
Sometimes, we all have to do as David did and encourage ourselves in the Lord.
If I can be of further service to you, please let me know.
-ByReasonofUse
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Ok so my best guy friends are freshman and im a sophmore and all i can say is that i love them more then life itself. i would seriously do anything for them. well they just became freshman so they will be moving up in my youth group at church,and they will be with me more.my friend adrienne(who is also a freshman)and i are kinda like leaders in our grade. and my guys friends(the freshman) are known to sometimes talk during service and they just pretty much dont care about it. my friend adrienne and i have gotten in trouble many times because of them talkin but we love them so much we just defend them. so we are trying to decide whether or not we need to still sit with them in church , because we are scared that they might bring us down. please let me emphasize how much i love this guys the thought of telling them that i wont sit with them brings almost brings me to tears. im just really stumped i need help please (link)
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You've gotten some pretty good answers from what I've read. Let me add just a couple of things. First, the Bible says that a parent who loves his/her child will correct the child. I know you're not a parent to these boys, but here's the principle: true, Biblical love includes loving, but bold confrontation. These boys are going to be freshmen. They know what they are doing is wrong. It is your responsibility as a friend and as a Christian to hold them accountable. If others in your youth group see you as a leader and you don't do anything to help bring these boys to maturity, then others will see the boys as leaders and start following their example. Galatians 6:1 says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest ye also be tempted." This verse says that in order not to be tempted to fall into the sin of your friends, you must realize that were it not for grace, you could be in the same situation. Then, with that in mind, restore them to usefulness by confronting them with God's Word. You've heard the phrase "tough love." You might think it tough to confront your friends, and it is to a point, but if your motive is to restore them and to honor God, then His commandments are not burdensome. I hope this helps.
--ByReasonofUse
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