RDP
Very interesting, this reminds me of something HG said in the chatbox a while back about being concerned that she didn't feel like she automatically had enough love for others and was wondering whether this made her unchristian. So again, faith is like love then - an attribute to be nurtured - which scriptures could you point us to Ian, that support this notion, specifically?
I have always had the problem that I love people too much. I actually think it is a temperament thing, and certainly not anything to feel bad about if one is not automatically drawn to people. I have two daughtersd. One is an extrovert who adores people. The other one is quiet and takes a while to warm up to people. Some things come more naturally to some people than others. Over time though, god can and does change everyone who has a heart open to his word.
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
-and this is a fantastic scripture, I think, for us ex-revvers to explore -suffering? we were told we could just pray and then we would be happy though? We were the happy-clappers! Weren't we? ;)
Um, not quite all. Me being the one who refused to toe the party line could only operate on what I had seen happen. Everyone suffers to a greater or lesser extent, christian or non christian. In my experience that scripture is completely right, when one endures hardship and their heart is god's it does produce character.
Also Galien, good point about the pastor's sister-in-law dying resulting in confusion, guilt and shame.
Was difficult for a lot of people at the time. The lady who died was also a pastor's wife. The bible says that rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. I have never thought being a christian gave anyone some sort of magical protection, and I was never sure why revival thought that. Some pentes are even worse. Sometimes people get a healing, sometimes they don't. I think people sometimes think god isn't allowed to say no.
the "name-it-and-claim-it" atheology subscribed to by such people inevitably leads to a crushing sense of doubt and self-condemnation.
And why wouldn't it. Who tries to push god around by saying to god "you will do this because my words have power to MAKE (!) you act". Then they get upset when they don't succeed in pushing god around. This is one of the weirdest things I have heard belief wise, and at times it causes a fair amount of loud converstaion between myself and my dearest christian friend. But she is a Hinn enthusiast and won't be swayed. Me being my cheeky self said I would make more money getting a job for 10 years and saving it than I would from trying to convince god he owed me.
Interesting, hadn't heard of Christian triumphalism before but I can't help but think if so many weren't told this lie about God -that we are called to lead a charmed life of prosperity as opposed to suffering, trials and hardships (reality) then they wouldn't have stopped believing in God, because reality doesn't lie.
No, it doesn't, and the very fact jesus had nowhere to lay his head speaks volumes to me. One can love god or mammon, not both.
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