ok, it's time...is being a Christian about a private relationship with the Lord?

[reallyME]

I have seen this over and over again, where people on this board have said "My religion is PRIVATE."

I'm not debating whether your "religion" is private, because maybe that is one of your precepts of the religion you follow.

  I am asking other like-believers to show me where they see it in the Bible that our relationship with our Lord is ever said to be or meant to be private.  I don't see it in there, have never been taught that, nor do I believe/practice a private faith.

comments...

[Certain Hope]

Dear Laura,

The shorter answer is - No, although that's where genuine Christianity begins, of course.

My belief, which I know is Scriptural =
My personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour is to be the foundation upon which every iota of my life is to be built. Unless I were to live in a cave, there's no way that my *religion* could be kept *private*.

On the other hand, in the course of guarding my own heart and respecting the role of the Holy Spirit in conversion, regeneration, and sanctification, I've learned that much wisdom and discernment are needed in order to ascertain when to zip one's lips.
Love to you,
Carolyn

[Ami]

To me ,Laura, our voice IS an  expression of who we are---in all parts. People are free to ignore it.. In that vein,"Yes"---we can talk about our faith(IMO)                 Ami

[reallyME]

OK, going a bit deeper here now...the scriptures seem so clear to me about NOT keeping our beliefs private.

They talk about not hiding our light under a bushel, but putting it into a lampstand for all to see.  I think this talks about not being ashamed or scared of who we are?

They talk about "go ye" into ALL the world, preach the gospel...to the uttermost ends of the earth.  I'm guessing this might include online too?

They talk about how if we are ashamed of Jesus before man, he will be ashamed of us before the Father.

and THIS is why I get sooooooooooo upset with people who say "my faith is private" unless they are not Christians and are instead practicing a religion.  Religions may actually HAVE the rule of not telling people about their beliefs, but Christianity and our Bible doesn't seem to say that anywhere.

~Laura

[Leah]

Dear Pastor Laura,

Firstly, may I refer you to the recent 'Spiritual Abuse' thread ....... http://www.voicelessness.com/disc3//index.php?topic=6371.0


In response to this your new thread may I refer you to a bible study of 'wisdom' ?   Please let me know if you would like me to.

Thank you.

Leah

Dear Pastor Laura,

Please, I implore you, have some respect for those who are suffering from, recovering from, or have recovered from, the control

and manipulation of Spiritual Abuse


Those who may be present as a member, guest, or hopefully, a newbie --- here on this Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Board.


Please, once again, I implore you, to show some wisdom in light of this --- which is in my bible, and hopefully, yours too.


There should never be any form of condemnation thrust at a person in life.


What stage that someone is at in their OWN walk of faith and belief is their OWN personal business, alone.


Respect, understanding and compassion with wisdom is required as someone who has suffered or is suffering Abuse in any form or guise ...

whether in a marriage, in a family, in a relationship, in a church, in a work setting, or whatever ....


may not feel, or be in a position to, share of their own faith.


The last thing the person needs is to * see * * hear * is any form of condemnation.




Respectfully,

Leah

[reallyME]

Leah,

One of the things that I learned a while ago in a church was to not take up anothers' offense personally.  I'm not sure what you are imploring me to do here...not talk?  not share about my beliefs? what?

as the song goes "and I will not be silent, no.  and I will not be quiet anymore."

I think spiritual voicelessness is one of the worst kinds.

I'm not sure if you don't realize that newcomers are well able to read the titles of threads and have an equal choice of not reading any that don't suit them.

What is your deal, Leah?

[Gabben]

Laura -

It seems to me that when people say "my faith is private I won't talk about it in public" or something along those lines, they are politely trying to tell those who are outspoken about their faith to shut up.

Lise

[Leah]

Laura posted ...

They talk about how if we are ashamed of Jesus before man, he will be ashamed of us before the Father.

That is condemnation, pure and simple.

That is the reason for my post [Reply #5]  in light of the context written.


Hope that brings clarity.

Leah

[reallyME]

bean:

For example, person says "my beliefs are private" yet I can see they're wearing a cross around their neck.  or, "my beliefs are private" yet they have a Fish symbol on their car.

what an OBSERVATION!  guess what, I don't even wear a cross, as "holy" as I think I am. lol

bean:

Again, are they ashamed?  or maybe they're trying to connect through common humanity rather than common faith at that moment

I can definitely see this being the case even at times with me.  When I found out I was in a house with pagan practitioners, I didn't freak out, but I didn't begin quoting the Bible to them.  What I did, was find common ground as human beings and stay focused on that.  I don't even wear a cross, even as "holy" as I think I am at times.


Leah:

They talk about how if we are ashamed of Jesus before man, he will be ashamed of us before the Father.

That is condemnation, pure and simple.
That is the reason for my above post in light of the context written.
Hope that brings clarity.

Leah, I think what I hear you saying is that you feel the above quotation might be seen as condemnation by some.  I am wondering if you realize where I got that from...it is not my words, but Jesus' words in the Bible.  Are you meaning that Jesus' words are condemnation, pure and simple?  Please explain.

~Laura

[Leah]

Dear (Pastor) Laura,

My post reply no.5 and post of clarity in reply no.10 clearly expains and illustrates that ....


There should never be any form of condemnation thrust at a person in life.

What stage that someone is at in their OWN walk of faith and belief is their OWN personal business, alone.

Respect, understanding and compassion with wisdom is required as someone who has suffered or is suffering Abuse or trauma,

in any form or guise ...

whether in a marriage, in a family, in a relationship, in a church, in a work setting, or whatever situation in life ....

.... as the person may not feel able to, or be in a safe position to,  be feel to freely share of their own faith.


The last thing the person needs in that situation is to * see * or * hear * is any form of condemnation.


Respectfully,

Leah

[Leah]

Izzy posted ....

(A new translation in Britain, I think it was, had printed "Thou shalt commit adultery" and shipped out the bibles. I don't know the outcome of that, but just one word changes the meaning.)

Dear Izzy,

I have the details of that here on file, and also in the 'history of the bible' resource book, what happened there was,

it was an error in the Printing at the Printers.

Certainly gave me chuckle at the time of reading about it.

Love, Leah

[reallyME]

and so, my question again goes unanswered. 

Does the BIBLE say that we are supposed to keep our belief in Jesus silent? yes or no, and if so, please give me a verse that says so.

This is a debate I had with my husband for YEARS.  Being more conservative than I, he always would argue with me when I'd say "why do you NOT WITNESS about your faith?"...he'd say "It's a PERSONAL relationship, which means I can do what I want with it." WRONG!  it is PERSONAL, but no, according to true Christian beliefs, once you are "bought with a price" you can NOT do what you want with your faith or your life...which brings up another issue...do we really have FREE will if certain things are required of us as believers and followers of the Lord?  This could go on for a while maybe...

~Laura

[tayana]

Laura,

Could you please tell me what this topic has to do with voicelessness, NPD, and abuse?  I think that's what the board is for.  If we want to have discussions like this, perhaps we should ask Dr. G for a board about general topics.

T

[Leah]

Please, I implore you, have some respect for those who are suffering from, recovering from, or have recovered from, the control
and manipulation of Spiritual Abuse

Those who may be present as a member, guest, or hopefully, a newbie --- here on this Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Board.


Please, once again, I implore you, to show some wisdom in light of this. 

There should never be any form of condemnation thrust at a person in life.


What stage that someone is at in their OWN walk of faith and belief is their OWN personal business, alone.

Respect, understanding and compassion with wisdom is required as someone

who has suffered, or who is suffering, Abuse in any form or guise ......

whether in a marriage, in a family, in a relationship, in a church, in a work setting, or whatever life situation ....

...... as the person in this position may not feel, or be in a position, to share of their own faith.


What about ....... Respect and Consideration in light of the above ?

Leah

[mudpuppy]

Being discrete where appropriate and merely loving others as Christ did rather than ramming scripture down their throat is not hiding one's light nor does it indicate shame of Christ, rather it is having His mind.
There are many ways of preaching the gospel; one of the least effective often being to preach it in capitol letters in other people's faces.
The Spirit gives us discernment and discretion on when, where and how to deliver the gospel.
Guess it depends on what your goal is; to just say it louder than anyone else or to seek and save that which is lost by becoming all things to all men that by so doing some might be saved.

mud