As Christians, we need to defend our faith against those who are false teachers and prophet and who distorted the gospel. We need to present to them that Christ died for all mankind and showed His love through dying on the cross. What matters most is our personal relationship with Christ. He is the only way to heaven because without the shedding of the blood there is no forgiveness. Jesus said, "I am the way,the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me." God has a wonderful plan to all of us and experience an abundant life, peace and direction. We can experience the assurance of salvation when we believe and accept that only Christ can save us.We are only living a temporary world and our home is in heaven so we need to accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour. We need to isolate ourselves in the pagan culture especially when there's someone who are weak in faith and it causes him or her to stumble and fall because of the compromising act we have done. Our life is a testimony to others that they can also experience the love of Christ and the assurance of salvation that Cbrist offers.
Your right ate Dori it is a must that we need to isolate ourselves from the pagan culture. Instead of compromising to them let us stand what the Bible says and try to present it to them by praying and by the work of the Holy Spirit. Because without the Holy Spirit we might fall to compromise them specially this world is full of lies and then we do not know what our stand for this. Christian must allow the Holy Spirit to work inside out so that whenever Satan will attack we won't be defeated but we can claim the victory in Jesus alone. Why we need to depend ourselves to the Holy Spirit? Because our human nature will always contradict to the Spirit. Like when there is a person telling false often we laugh at them because what they are saying is wrong. Christian should not do that, Christian must correct the wrong doctrines of others in a gentle matter. In that way they might see Christ in us.
I agree to you sister that we should defend our faith to those people who distorted the gospel. As what I Peter 3:15 says that we should be always ready to defend our faith. Present to them the true Christ who is fully God and fully man and sacrifice his life to saved us from death. The person who forgives us from all our sins and in His presence we can truly found satisfaction.
Many people are questioning our faith and beliefs, especially pagans, cults, false teachers and atheist people etc. They would oppose us and sometimes persecute us,so as a Christian we must defend our faith to those who questions the truth, Jesus, God and the scripture. Not just for those who questioned, but the most important is to those who twist the truth and made many believe their lies and led them astray. Their reasons for attacking Christianity is because they thought what they have believed is the truth and they are being brainwashed and blinded by a lie that many false teachers or cults taught them. They don't know the truth, they don't believe with the truth and they just simply don't believe in God or a higher being who created everything. They are skeptical with what the Bible says, and what Christ has done on the cross. We should isolate ourselves in the pagan culture because people are looking at us especially those who are new believers and still a baby christian. We don't want them to be stumble, and it is a great sin for us to cause someone to fall down. We must restrict ourselves involving pagan activities because we ought to be an example to them, and we must show them that we are different from them. We can praise and worship God whenever we want without having that movement that comprise idol worshiping. Let's show them the truth by letting our light shine and not compromising.
I agree on what you have said Casey, that we Christians should be the model of this world. And that is why we Christians should be more extra careful on our words and deeds, not just in participating in the pagan's activity but also in our daily lives. we should reflect the life that is full of hope and truth given by Jesus Christ to us.
Maybe I just misunderstood how you meant it Kayzee but you are free to answer me as well. Nevertheless, I don't think that isolating ourselves would lead them to Christ ultimately, maybe we should emphasize the word COMPROMISE. We don't have to seclude ourselves from them but we should not conform with their system. That is why it is really vital for Christians to be so founded with the doctrines that we believed in because failure on this aspect would eventually lead us to their system.
Yes,Keziang, I agree on what you have said that we need to defend our stand on our faith to those who are trying to twist the truth that is why it is very important that we have a strong foundations of our doctrines. But somehow, correct me if I am wrong, I don't think so that we need to isolate ourselves in pagan culture. I mean how can we be the salt and the light of the earth if we will not reach and share the gospel with the people who are in that culture. We are in the world but we are restricted not to conform the system of the world.
For me, isolation is not a solution. I would prefer to call it integration or what Jesus exemplified: Incarnational Ministry. How can we reach them if we isolate our selves from them? How can we share Christ if we dont want to go "with" them. I would agree that sometimes, we must compromise. But this compromise is not an unwise compromise, but you compromise because you want to reach them. To illustrate: Just like what Jesus did, infact, He came here to save and seek the lost.
Yes we dont want them to stumble to us, so the problem is ourselves, not them, why not we'll just live what glorifies God(though very hard), do what is right, and be vigilant of what we are doing, speaking, even thinking. ������
if we look at Jesus, he did what is right though he was God and we that God is Holy, and righteous, but instead sitting only on the throne and watching people on earth he revealed himself through man. He ate with man, He cried like a man, he sympathized with sinners and accepting them. we should never isolate our faith and self to this pagan world, for the Romans 1:16-17 that we should never be ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God.
Yeah, the not isolating yourself from them is right. I haven't seen the different aspect of the effect of isolation, thank you tho for making me realize about it.
Isolation here does not mean not to interact with them, but the isolation from their culture. We can still share the gospel to them anytime, and this isolation does not mean we have to isolate our faith and ourselves to them completely. This isolation is staying away from their practices or not involving with them, tho there are times we tend to attend with their activities with a good motive inside but people esp. baby Christians around that is with us can't see what's inside us, and they might misinterpret us.
Yes, I think I got your idea KC. I appreciate the way you see the angle regarding our weak brothers. In fact, I did not saw that also. But I would say that you did have a good perspective to that. Thank you.
To whom do we need to defend our faith? sounds like we really need to fight for it. And it's right we have to stand for our faith and we could fight not just with our fist but also with our doctrines that is rooted in the word of God. But sometimes we don't need to fight just to tell that cultic person that our faith is right than her/him, Jesus taught us to become humble but if your out of choice then we have to defend our faith to those people who are deviating from the word of God. And still pray for that person. The reason why other cultic group oppose the beliefs of the Christians is that Satan is blinding them that they are the only church that can attain salvation. Some reasons could be maybe jealousy, they want that Christian person to change his/her faith and go to their church, it could be because they want to brag to all people especially christian people that they are the only religion who is right among all others and maybe, another reason is that they want to destroy the church. We should set boundaries with the pagan cultures but still we need to reach out to that people and pray for them. But instead of rebuking them in a harsh way, we can help them just like what our teacher said in our class. In a festival, it's hot they need water, then give water. for sure one way or another they will take notice of your kindness and in that way it be an open door that you can share to that person about the good news. There may be a lot of cultic group nowadays and persuading people to join them because of their joyous activities in glorifying their idols,but then again we should pray for them and do not condemn them as possible as you can.
Oh! What a nice idea Miss Arlyn. We must also evangelize those people who has wrong doctrine and we can do that thing in being humble to them and they will able to see Jesus in our lives. They will amaze in our lives what kind of Christ we have and they will see the difference from them to us. Amen. Prayer is powerful weapon of a Christian. I agree that the cultist person is not our enemy but only Satan. Pray pray pray for those people who are in that group because they are blinded by Satan in what is truth which is salvation through Christ alone.
Do we have to fight with our fists? I have small fists. But anyway, yes Yen. You are right when you said that we really have to fight using our doctrine and teaching. This is why we are taught as believers because we need to defend our faith. Our Scripture was given because it is good for rebuke and teaching. Rebuke in the means of wrong and false doctrines. We reallt should know what our doctrines are by mind and especially by heart, because how would we know what to defend if we do not know our doctrines by heart?
I like your idea miss arlyn, we will defend our faith to those who deviate the truth I almost forgot that word, thank for reminding, exactly they oppose Christianity because they are blinded by Satan a great point, yeah that's one of the reason also people try to convince believers on the church syndrome idea, we need to be careful on that teaching among cultic groups. i like your idea to pray, that's the proper respond.
I agree to you ate ayen. Just like what the song says kill them with kindness haha. I strongly agree that we Christian should defend our faith, but it doesn't really mean that we should cut off their head also. We should not defend our faith but we are not commanded by God to take someones life while defending it. Defending our fauth will never be easy if we also don't know what to defend. that is why we should not stop exploring about God's word and keeping it in our hearts, to be our guide. Just like how the Bbile said, we should cloth ourselves with the armor of God. our enemies are everywhere. We should not be too lax and complacent knowing that all people, especially those who do not know the Lord, needs an urgent rescue.
I believe that we are to defend our faith to "everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Pet. 3:15). In this matter, we have to consider few things. First, is ourselves. Are we ready and armored enough to justify the doctrines we believed in? Second, in what manner are we taking hold of our defense? the Bible is clear in this verse that Christians are to be ready and always prepared lest someone is skeptic or curious with how you behaved as a Christian. This anticipated situation should motivate Christians to really study and know what and whom they believed in. Just like a soldier, we should always be ready for the upcoming battle. Failure or this preparation and training would not only humiliate you,as a bearer of a Testimony but it would humiliate Christ Himself. The name of Christ would be so affected that instead of drawing people to Him, our lack of preparatory measures would shoo people away. In our context, this is one of the reason why non-Christians attacked us. We failed to guard our walls and we allowed the enemies to scoff at us and eventually would win over us. They looked at us as feeble and frail because we had been unsuccessful of winning them through our testimonies and much worse with how we lived our lives. This is the most delicate part of being a Christian-our daily living. This formulates questions of who we really believed in because it somehow contradicts with the Being's attributes. This again is a big humiliation to our God. We are not worshipping Him with our lives. Our practice is not aligned with our doctrines and that is indeed a sad fact. But this does not mean that we are to seclude ourselves from them for can we reach them of we live a monastic life? In the gospel of John, we are to be IN the world and not to be OF the SYSTEM of the world. The term I wanted to convey is about compromising. Personally, I don't discourage Christians to befriend an unbeliever but rather their good character should draw people to Christ (1 Cor. 15:33). A Christians' foundation should be well founded lest he'll be tempted to be OF the world. The Bible is full of warnings about dealing with unbelievers but it also is full or reminders that we are to be a light in this world. This world is described to be dark so there is a big necessity for Christ's followers to shine!
True Elai. I agree that we should be part of their world, but not with their practices and ways. We should be in there, snatching them out of the fire as best as we could. Even if God chooses to save or not to save them, at least we have done what we could. God would do the saving part as we do the snatching out.
yeah. its true lai. I agree that we need to defend our faith and ready always in telling what is the truth to others. we need to isolate from the practices of this world but it does not mean that we will not be a friend for them. God chooses people to be saved but we don't know whom He chooses. we need to tell others about God.
I will defend my faith to those people who did not believe in what the Bible says or have a wrong doctrines. The truth must stand. Depending faith sometimes can cause barrier and remember that they also need to know the truth and we must depend our faith in a gentle way that a person will not feel that we are fighting to them to condemn them but to tell them the truth because we love them and we want them to be save like us. Christ died for all people not only for us. Yes we know that not all people will be save but we don't know specifically who are those people that are not save and saved. That is why, we must evangelize anyone. Non believers attack Christianity because they believe that what they believe is correct and what we believe is wrong. Like us, we evangelize because we believe also that what we believe is correct and what they believe is wrong. But we cannot deny the truth that what we believe is correct and it is affirm by the Bible because Bible is our foundation. They want us to be in their church because Satan blinded them and Satan want us to deny the only true God. They believe that their church is the only true church that the only way to be save. We are different from them, because we want to get them not only to be a member of church but to bring them into a relationship with Christ and entrust their live to Christ and let Christ reign in their lives; so that, they will be saved. We will isolate ourselves from pagan if we have a company which is weak in faith because it can cause stumble to him. We must consider him and let our self to sacrifice that to save that weak in faith. God is still on process in that Christian and we must not destroy the work of God. Isolating mean not all the time, maybe someday if the right time come, you will not isolate yourself anymore.
Amen Romrick, we must defend our faith to those who did not believe the Bible and about Jesus. We can do this by approaching them with prodence and discretion and humbling ourselves when conflict arises, that still God's name will be glorified by doing so.
Yes romrick. I totally agree. That we need to stand in what we believe in and shun evil away from us. And learn to as well as evangelizing those who have not heard that they too may be able to know amd have that eternal securitu in heaven :)
I also agree with you brader but I hope that when time come that we will going to defend our faith to those people who try to weaken our faith that we may able to stand firm and fight the good fight. And I also pray that before we go out from BTC and be on the field is that we are more equip and strong enough to face those who will test to defend our faith.
We must defend our faith. Stand our grounds and defend it with all that weve got. We must defend our faith for those who is attacking it, those people who are not of God. Im pointing to those who are false teachers and those who persecute us because of our wrong teacing and belief. Defending iur faith is not easy especially for those who are not of Gods which would destroy us and our faith. Would do their best to shake us and to remove our faith in our hearts. We must defend it from them. Those people who have no faith. And is not following what God wills. Who teaches wrong doctrines and has no God in their hearts. Infact the reasons of those people who are not of Gods in attacking us, Christians is because they are letting the enemy (Satan) control them, they are tolerating him to use them to destroy those of Gods people. Also, they persecute because they themselves does not believe and have faith in God. For them, God is another fairytale and is not worthy of their time. We need to isolate ourselves from those pagam culture as fas as the north is from the south, that they may not be inclined and be virused by that culture which destroys and kills our system slowly and slowly. We need to devote ourselves to God also that we are able and we are capable of defending ourselves from being poisoned to such virus.
If we isolate ourselves from them "as far as north is from the south", how do we correct them? How do we do our Great Commission? I think that we should isolate ourselves enough not to be drenched with their paganism, but not too much that we are not able to reach out and pull them out from the dark. I mean, I respect that you want to be as far from them, but the world isn't as big as you think, and we believers have the task to snatch out people from the fire into the saving grace of Jesus. If we go that far, how would we be able to save them? Isn't it hard?
it is true that we need to correct them. we need to be a friend to them. we don't need to isolate ourselves literally but not to be influence by them. we need to influence them by God's teaching. we need them to know the truth about Jesus who can saved us all.
The Bible is not telling us to isolate our self because if it is the case then we Christians are creating walls for the unbelievers. But, there's a warning that as we live in this pagan world we should be very careful to not to conform to the pattern of this world for this is not our real home. We cannot avoid the schemes of evil by isolating ourselves, instead we be vigilant and always be ready to fight against our enemy. We should prepare ourselves in the light of the Scripture. Our response in any situation should always depend on the teaching of the Bible, and not by our own interpretation.
I believe that we must defend our faith from those who question us, those who persecute us, and those who spread false doctrines and teachings crediting it to us. We ought to watch out for these kind of people. They may say that they attack us because we are the ones with the wrong teaching, but it is our duty to defend what we teach because we know the truth. I think that even if we defend poorly but still stand our ground, it will make an impact. But it is better to be really grounded into strong defense of our faith, so that not only will they see believers who know but believers who will give up even life for the sake of Christ. Isolation from pagans should be isolated enough not to be influenced by these pagans like those kings who intermarry for power. Isolation should also still not be far enough that we could not be able to reach out and that they would not be able to see Christ in our lives. We should be far, but not too far. This is why we should strongly absorb what we are taught so that even when we "dip" into the pagan culture we are still firm.on the ground we stand on and on the foundation of Christ. This is all done by the grace of God in Christ where we should hold on to and abide in.
Christians has a responsibility to defend his faith. This is our work against the false teachers and people who twisted the truth in the Bible. They need to know the truth that is told by God and commanded by Him. There are people who misinterpreted the word of God and also add teaching that is not found in the Bible and contradict to it's teaching. "Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who ask you for a reason for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and respect"(1Pet.3:15) The reason that non believers attack Christianity because we are different from them. we believe what is in the written in the Bible. we live a life that is not like what they did. we believe that we are save by the grace of God not by works and only Jesus Christ can save us. He is the giver of life. we need to influence the world. i don't like to isolate myself from this world because we are living in it. the thing that we need to isolate is their deeds. we should not conformed to the pattern of their deeds. we will be the light to them because Jesus said "we are the light of the World" and culture is from God. The bad thing is culture that cannot please God is not from Him. it is from this world.
A very nice question to think about because this is real that we, as a believers and follower of Christ we must defend our faith from any false teaching that oppose against it, we will defend it from any wrong doctrines that can ruin our Biblical foundation of living,and we will defend it to those who distort the real message of the Gospel. Unbelievers attacks Christians because they oppose the truth and and try to stop the work of God through the life of every Christians, they try to stop the spreading of the Gospel they want that the Great commission will stop (Matt. 28:19-20)but in fact they cannot. they are attacking the Christians because they thought by doing so they did the right thing but, in contrast they did what is wrong. We as believers we are not commanded by the Lord Jesus to isolate ourselves from the pagan world but in contrast Jesus himself commanded his disciples in Matt. 5:16 that say's Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven, it is clear that we are not called by God to isolate ourselves but to shine in a pagan world, imagine how helpless the pagan culture is when all believers will hide their light, and by doing so the father will not be glorified through our lives, so as a follower of Christ we are so privileged to shine for Jesus in a pagan culture.
Defending our faith is important. we must ready and be strong enough to what the God had commanded to us. Be ready to defend session or out of session.
I agree with you Kuya Greg that we are commanded to shine for Jesus in order for them to see what the world is teaching today and to show them the true about Christ .
I believe that a part-time Christian can never defeat a full-time evil. Our enemy comes from a various forms, and one of its target is to paralyze our faith. According to the book of Hebrew faith is the evidence of things unseen. Our Christian faith can only be found in Christ Jesus who is the perfecter of our faith. In connection to this the faith that we hold on to became the reason why Satan is eager to hit this area. He knew that when we let our guard down it is easy for him to penetrate and started to create a wound inside, and when he become successful, his works starts to cover our eyes so that we can never feel the presence of putting our faith in Christ.
It is difficult to defend your faith without even knowing the nature of your adversary. Our opponent is treacherous, deceitful, and a father of all lies. He came to steal our belief in Christ, to kill the truth that we believe, and to destroy our trust and faith in Christ our Savior. We need to shield, and fight for our faith against Satan's work in deceiving us, as his minions scattered everywhere enslaving the free, and devouring the people of Christ.
The reason why non-believers attacked believers is because they don't understand our belief, and they don't have Christ in their lives. They don't know the Truth. For them we are the enemies and so they are just protecting their-selves against us because for them we are just one of those other religious people. They believe that the religion and the belief that they are holding is the real religion and no one can change that belief. Religion in our country is a big deal.
Living in a religious country is the same as living in a "pagan country" by which people are much more devoted with different saints and idols, and treat them as god. But, for us who knew what the Scripture taught us about these things we are warned against their customs, beliefs, and traditions. Our country is our marketplace by which we are ought to shine. The Bible teaches us to reach the unreach people and we cannot do it by isolating ourselves. That is why it is crucial for us to be strong in our faith and to put on the full Armour of God, to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power because we are living in a pagan world for us to take stand against the evil schemes. We need to participate in this battle and not to isolate our selves because our struggles is not against flesh and blood, but against the power of this dark world and in the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. So, take up the shield of faith. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.
I think there are lots of area where we need to defend our faith. Socially, I think this is one of the most enemies of our faith. There can be a lot of areas in our societies that can destroy our faith and we need to defend it. First of all, within our family and our relatives. I am so blessed that my my parents and brothers are already believers but there are still a lot of my relatives that are not believers and sometimes they tend to shake my faith by means of mocking and insulting me. But I needed not to let my faith shaken because I have the truth whereas they do not know about it. The influence of the world can also affect our faith. The government, what the people are doing, new gadgets and so it became a norm to us. Conformity is our main problem here. We tend to conform or compromise on what the world is doing, its system. And by that we might forget that we are Christians or we really set aside our faith in order to do these things. Secondly, is in the physical aspect. I saw a movie entitled, "Miracle from Heaven", and indeed physical aspect can shake and lose ones faith by means of finding his or her won way in solving the problem rather than trusting God. Third and last is in our spiritual aspect. We know that Satan will attack our spiritual aspect. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12 ESV). So Paul encourages all the believers to put on the whole armor of God so that we can defend our faith against the schemes of our enemies.
I think the reasons why non- believers attack Christians are: First they do not know the truth. They do not know Jesus Christ. What they are doing is right in their own eyes. They have their own conviction of what is truth and so they tend to use some areas in the society in order to attack us. Perhaps if they are in the government they can use their power or the law or if they are in a business they might used their money just to attack us. For them that is the truth. Secondly, they perverted the truth. Some group who claimed to be Christians but are not twisted their interpretation of the word of God. Many of these group also accused that the Bible can make a person insane because that particular person is unable to understand the Bible. And so, those who can read are just their ministers or leaders. I think this is an attack to Christianity because we consider the Bible as our source of authority and twisting the truth within it is a big insult to us.
Paul says in his letter to the Roman believers, "Do not be conformed to this world..." (Rom. 12:1 ESV). He is trying to emphasize that this world that we are right is a pagan world that is why he encourages us not to conform, not to follow what is on it. We need to isolate ourselves in this pagan culture as far as the farthest place from what we are standing right now.
that is true jef. the bible itself tells us no to be confronted of this. we should be an example to everyone. but can you please give more explanation why we should isolate ourselves from them?
yes it is true. we will not conform to this world. but the big question is: how can we tell them the truth if we isolate ourselves? We need to isolate ourselves in their practices but we need to be a friend to them.
Isolating ourselves from the pagan culture doesn't mean that we isolate ourselves from them as a person instead from the culture, activities, systems and the way they live their lives. It means that we should not follow or we should not conform on what they are doing. As an example Jesus. He is not from this world but he came here and lived with us. But he lived a life that is aligned with the will of his Father not of this world.
oh!!! ok Jef now I understand your stand:) knowing them more especially to their culture and practices can help us to minister them. so, we should not think about what they are doing but we should think how can we help them.
Faith is not just a words it is an action; you act without seeing anything. Faith is really matters specially for us Christians. Because we are serving the Lord without seeing His face but believing that He was there before the world begun. Not other people serving the god that can be seen; idols or imagery. These kind of people often will against our faith because they believe that they will serve only the god that whom they can see. That is why when they meet Christian they often laugh at us. There are so many kind of ways on how we depend our faith.Like for example one unbeliever attack on us base on her/his experience in life that God is not loving. So because of that He did not believe that God is loving. Therefor, we Christian need to depend on what the Bible is telling us. It is by faith and the work of the Holy Spirit that we can help the person. Because often Christians are afraid of facing this kind of case. But we need to know that this kind of person need God in her/his life. Because Jesus also died for them.
The reasons that non-believers attack us first is, they are blinded what is real. Satan is the cause why they attack us. Second, is the pride. Because they thought that what they believe in is correct so they attack us. The last is, they did not really experience how God loved them. They feel unlovable that no body care.
So, we christian need to step out reaching them because if no one will reach them we know that hell will be their destiny. Rise up Christian we need to share the gospel to them. Why afraid if they will kill us or neglect us at first we knew that we are already save. And why afraid that they might neglect the gospel that we share? The Holy Spirit is their to work on it. Just trust. We do not need to isolate ourselves because if we do that no one will reach them. Remember Jesus came here for the unrighteous not for the righteous. But Jesus did not compromise the world or He did not compromise the pagan culture. We also need to follow what Jesus did. Instead of isolating ourselves let our light shine in this darkness world and do not let ourselves compromise the pagan world or what the world is doing that cannot glorify Him.
Lots of people questioning our faith and beliefs when they think that we are different from them. They would persecute and oppose our doctrines, so as Christians bearing the name of God we must defend our faith to those who are trying to twist the truth. In this areas, we need to defend our faith to the cultic group who are claiming that they are the true believer of God and trying to convince us. Secondly, we need to defend our faith to the corrupt government employee that are trying to test and challenge our faith by letting us do the things that are not pleasing to God anymore. That is why it is very essentials for us believers to have a strong foundation of our faith and doctrines because there are lots of people who are trying to claim that they are the true one. And in this we don't need to do foolish arguments but instead to those who oppose we must be gently instruct them the hope that God will grant repentance to their heart leading them to know the truth. The reasons that non-believers attack Christian because they really think that what they have believe and put their faith is in the truth. Ironically, if they were to be asked; they will also think that we are also a cultic group trying to insist our faith which is the very sad thing to know. But somehow, your faith has been tested in this kind of situation that is why the strong foundations of doctrines that we have is very important because that is our armor against those who are trying to twist the truth. Because the fact there the one that they have believe in first is already wrong and also the teachers who teach them doesn't knew the truth. And it's stealing their innocence mind and putting some false teaching in it that they think they are in line with the one true God.This is a great opportunity to spread the gospel of God by telling them our faith. In my own perception to this I don't think that I need to isolate myself from the pagan culture because in the first place I am living in this corrupted world that has full of temptations and pagan beliefs. I know that we urge not to conform to the pattern of this world and to abstain but being aliens and strangers in this world we ought to be the salt and the light in this world and to live a godly life so that our light will shine upon them. That they can see that Christ is living in us.
Many people kept on debating with our belief about Christ, salvation, and even with our belief about eternity. We should always be ready to defend our faith to those people who are denying God, rejecting Jesus Christ and the truth of God's Word.
The reasons why the non-believers attack Christianity its because they are blinded and hard to accept with the truth of the Word of God and they are isolated to what they believe in as they thought right. As a Christian we should respect their belief, but we should make a way to help this people to know the truth about God. Tell them what Christ has done for all of us and his love that shows to everyone. That they may know Christ and the salvation that freely given to us.
For me we should not isolate our self to the pagan culture but to build a relationship to them. It doesn't mean that we compromised to their belief or any of their activities that displease God, but to be friendly and gain their trust, so that we can bring the gospel to them and even to their home. Just like what Jesus did here on earth, he gives time to the sinners rather than to the righteous people. And how can we reach this kind of people if we isolate our self from them? So being relational is one way that we can bring the gospel to them and introduce that the salvation only found in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Yes, you're right ma'am. I think relational ministry is the best way to deal people that are belong to the pagan culture. Hopefully all Christians today will have loving hearts that are willing to reach this present pagan world. Thank you so much ma'am. You're idea about building relationship with these people encouraged and reminded me to reach out many of my friends that are still in the lies of the pagan culture. GOD BLESS! :)
We are to defend our faith to those who teach falsely about Jesus Christ and to those atheistic view. In defending we are not passive, but also to give an answer to those who are questioning about our faith with gentleness not violence. Not to slap them that they are wrong, not to look them down and put them into shame, but to guide them and let them feel that Jesus loves them. Sad to say there are Christians are like that, they forgot what purpose. When Christianity is being attacked by some other group, they prove that Jesus is God and lived 2000 years ago. That Jesus is the Savior for the coming wrath of God. That this world is going to end and he will judge either righteous or unrighteous person. For me we don't need to isolate ourselves from this pagan world, but instead we should share the love of God and what did Jesus do on the cross. we are to help this pagan to escape from their illusion gods and guide them in truth. it is our responsibility to not let them fall into the hell.
I believe that we are to defend our faith for those who are false prophets and those who do false teachings. We are being told to "stand firm and hold to the teachings that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter"(Eph. 2:15). To defend, it requires an action and not just to stand and wait for them to slap us with their wrong doctrines. We are to be positive and not being harsh to correct them. Instead, we are to rebuke them by love, joy and peace. The reasons when non-believers attack Christianity are these following; because they want us to turn from our belief to their own beliefs, they want us to deny that Jesus is God, that there is no Savior who will save for those who are still unchained and God does not exists. Isolating ourselves from pagan cultures is not helpful. We are called to expose our faith through compromising them. We must teach them about Jesus Christ and help them to know that no one can escape from this world unless they know and accept Jesus in their hearts as their personal Savior. As Christians, our mission is to go to all nations and proclaim Jesus is Lord.
You are right ate inday :) I like what you said, "not just to stand and wait for them to slap us with their wrong doctrines". We must really work hard on sharing the truth to those who are falsely taught by false prophets, not just to those who are being blinded by false teaching but also to those who doesn't know the truth.
I believe that we are to defend our faith for those who are false prophets and those who do false teachings. We are being told to "stand firm and hold to the teachings that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter"(Eph. 2:15). To defend, it requires an action and not just to stand and wait for them to slap us with their wrong doctrines. We are to be positive and not being harsh to correct them. Instead, we are to rebuke them by love, joy and peace. The reasons when non-believers attack Christianity are these following; because they want us to turn from our belief to their own beliefs, they want us to deny that Jesus is God, that there is no Savior who will save for those who are still unchained and God does not exists. Isolating ourselves from pagan cultures is not helpful. We are called to expose our faith through compromising them. We must teach them about Jesus Christ and help them to know that no one can escape from this world unless they know and accept Jesus in their hearts as their personal Savior. As Christians, our mission is to go to all nations and proclaim Jesus is Lord.
Basically, we defend our faith against those who deviate from the faith. If I'm gonna put it here those who deviate one by one I think this comment will take one kilometer long (just kidding). Bitaw, there are so many religious group, sects, and churches that says they are the true one and they hold the right beliefs and doctrines. According to our class these group of people are called cults. Cult is define as group of people or someone who turn away from the biblical belief about Jesus. Cults stand on what they believe and they want others to believe in their claims. These things are reminders for us Christians to know and stand on our faith.
I'm not exactly sure the reasons of these people in attacking Christianity but I think for them Christianity is nonsense. For some, Jesus is a mere man only. Others think that believing in the unseen God is foolishness, they prefer to stay and put their faith on the mini gods. And for many, God doesn't exist at all.
Now that we found the sad things about these cults, how far should we isolate ourselves from them? We are commanded by God not to isolate ourselves from them but rather minister to them. The bad thing for many us who received the question above is that it is very easy for us to put in paper the following things or steps that we need to do in order to minister them but very difficult for us to take action. I think the best way of not isolating ourselves from these people is to change our attitude about them. I think we need to start building our passion in reaching for these lost people. These passion might refer to our concern and love for them. No matter how hard we try, no matter what church programs we follow, no matter what kind of books we read, without love and concern for them we cannot be effective ministers to them.
Your right Elton that it easy to comment here but it's hard to apply. I agree that attitude really matters when we minister to non-believers to see what really the difference a Christian have by the help of the Holy Spirit we can make difference. The important ingredient in ministering to non-believers is LOVE.
Our Faith is our weapon to everyone, especially to those people who persecute us and to those who doubt our beliefs and stands. Today there's a lot of false teachers, cultic group and group of people that against Christian. The faith that we have right now is our prove to them that no matter what will happen i believe that when the end comes our faith is not in vain. God knows that in every battle we take, we always have a victory with Him. The reason why non-believers attack Christianity, because they want to invade us and let us believe what they believe also. They were preaching false doctrine about Jesus Christ. But i may not sure what is their real purpose why they are attacking Christianity. Each group has something to prove about their beliefs and letting people to believe therm. We are the light of the world. We should not isolate ourselves from them. we are mandate to preach the truth and to make disciples. The faith that we are holding right now is the Faith that we can only found in Jesus Christ. and that is the truth that we should share to them. We should not keep that truth within ourselves and letting people to be hungry for the truth. We should be active in spreading the word of God to them. and not being silent of it. thank you.
Absolutely ate terek2x, that as a believer and follower of Christ we should not keep it from ourselves while others were barely needed it. We are accountable to be a catalyst of change in spreading the biblical truth and not the false doctrine.
As a Christian we must be ready to defend our faith to those who are against God. To the false prophets and to those who persecute us. As what Peter said we must be ready always. We don't know when God will come so we must prepare ourselves to defend our faith.
TBH! To Be honest. I don't know what is really reason but for me they have their own beliefs too and there goal also is to be like them.The reason also is that they thought we are crazy even we cannot see the God we serve but still we have this faith on Him.
We are been also persecutor back when we are not yet christian. The only thing that we can minister to them is not to isolate ourselves from them but instead to have intentional relationship to them. But we need to isolate ourselves to what their paganistic practices. It is also very important as a Christian to have a Christ like attitude. So we must check ourselves too.
I like that ate Joy, TBH. Anyway, I'd like the thought when you said about the only thing we can minister to them is not to make isolation for ourselves from them. How can we do what God commanded us if we will not go and will reach out to those who are in need in spite of what might happen for us out there for God's glory and for the accomplishment of God's Kingdom agenda.
Joy, it is good that you knew how non-believers look at Christians by the way you have been. And I believe that it could be a CLUE in having a good perspective to the pagan culture. Thus by this you may deal with them the way they like it. God bless!
I agreed on what one says that we are Christians because God says so, and we did what He told us to do, and we stand on God's word, and if the Book goes down, we'll go with it. Most likely, I think we defend our faith to those who tries to persecute, oppose, or one who want us to recant our faith. Due to that, lots of followers of Christ or martyrs shed their blood in order to stand strong to what they have believed in. Truthfully, as what Jesus said in the book of Matthew, those who deny Him before men will also be deny before the Father who is in heaven. Probably, some may recant because of the overwhelming fear. But, I do believe that many, especially those who are true and devoted in their faith would bravely do such thing though their life might be at stake as they have believed that through it, they can bring glory and honor to God in all of their life and service and it will never be in vain. In fact, I firmly believe that God would mightily used it for the expansion of His kingdom. I've remembered one story of a believer, which I think were situated in the middle-east area, wherein he was attacked by armed men, who tries to kill him if he will not undo of what he had believed in.In any minute, he would be killed because there's already guns pointing towards him by those oppressor.Human as we are, we tend to such thing especially if our life was endangered already. But, it's not what I've expected to be. In my delight, the helpless believer prayed for God's intervention, instead of doing what they want. With no second doubt, God helped him by stopping the bullets of the gun to blow, which made the armed men to tremble in fear and run away. Gracefully, the believer's faith to God's Sovereignty saves him from danger. And what I thought of their reasons to do such is that they thought of it as a diseases which needed to be avoided somehow. But truly, how far should we isolate ourselves from the "pagan culture"? Well, as far as I know, we should not do likewise. Although, we are told not to conform to the mainstream. But, let this not be our reason of isolating ourselves. Instead of, we must reach out in order for them to hear the gospel of salvation and may have a redemptive relationship with Jesus Christ---our Lord and Savior, regardless of what lies ahead.
That's pretty good Ann. But I could not understand what you mean by saying "if the Book goes down". Maybe you have something more to clarify to it. But I agree and hope that all us may be able to build our faith stronger as soon as possible, so that non of us may recant our faith if that would happen so.
Regarding your concern Mr. Olayvar, I was also caught by that statement.I understood it as: when the Word of God goes down, we go with it as well. God's word will never go down as I've learned and believe. Everything will pass away but His Word will remain. Maybe not in a hardcopy but in each and every believer's heart. And going down with it is impossible since Jesus already conquered defeat. :) If I understood it incorrectly, I'm sorry and you are free to clarify it. But I agree to most of what you say Ann. Good insight. God bless. Mwuah :*
Regarding your concern Mr. Olayvar, I was also caught by that statement.I understood it as: when the Word of God goes down, we go with it as well. God's word will never go down as I've learned and believe. Everything will pass away but His Word will remain. Maybe not in a hardcopy but in each and every believer's heart. And going down with it is impossible since Jesus already conquered defeat. :) If I understood it incorrectly, I'm sorry and you are free to clarify it. But I agree to most of what you say Ann. Good insight. God bless. Mwuah :*
I believe that all believers will defend their Faith to God to the people who ask and to give them reason for hope that we have and approach them gently in 1 Peter 3:15. But the question is that are you matured and equipped enough to defend our faith? Or are you ready to justify the doctrines that for you is right? Are you sure of your belief? If we read our Bible and familiar of it there is a lot of verses that clearly say that Christian believers should be ready and prepared to answer those people who ask about what and why we believe or have that kind of faith to Jesus. Because those people are curious about us and through that curiosity we can lead them to know Christ and have that the same faith we have in Jesus Christ. When we are ask by someone it also a rebuke for us that we should always be prepared to defend our faith and study and really know whom do we really believe in. Christian life is like in a battle we are believers are soldiers of God and a soldier should be always prepared. We don’t know when our enemy will attack us to weaken our faith. Failing to defend our faith will make people won’t put their trust in Jesus because they will see in us that we are not that equipped and it seems that we are not sure about our faith. And being not prepared is one of the reasons why non-believers attack the Christian. If we fail to equip our self and to be trained we give the enemy a chance to attack us and weaken our faith or in worst thing is that it will ruin our life. And if we fail to defend our faith it seems that we did put our self to shame but we put Jesus Christ into shame. Again we are not defending our self but we defend our faith for Jesus Christ. If know in our self that we are matured and equipped well there is no need for us to be feel ashamed to those people who ask to defend our faith and we won’t be afraid that they will not believe on us but we are sure that by God’s power they will also be like us that they put their faith to Jesus Christ. But it doesn’t mean that we will going to isolate our self from those people who will ask to defend our faith because we know that we are not that equipped well but we try to reach out them and in the same way we need to equip our self so that when time come that they will ask we are ready enough to answer them and lead them to know Christ through defending our faith to them. But I will advice that its better to be prepared and well equipped before we reach out them because we don’t know when they will ask us. Again to defend our faith is we are defending for Christ to those people who are still in darkness and its part of our life as a follower or Christ to defend or faith to the people who will try to schemed and weaken our faith. But if we are really in Christ there is no need for us to be afraid to defend our faith. Let your light shine to those people who are still in the darkness.
We defend our faith against those who could possibly give doubts to it. It does not specify what religion, or what kind of belief does the threat have as long as it can and may affect our faith. Besides, we defend our faith only if we can. Because I believe that each believers have their own perspectives of their faith. But for sure, all of us have the same faith in Jesus Christ. On the other hand, we can not defend our faith if we don't know it. Therefore, whoever, whatever may attack our faith, we can ultimately defend it by simply having it strong. Furthermore, we can only have our strong faith if we have evidences to it, and it is certainly knowing the scriptures. Non-believers may attack Christianity because they also have their own faith to their beliefs. And for that reason, they wanted to prove which is much more stronger and true belief by attacking others like us. Likewise they may also be attacking Christianity because their belief said so, even though without knowing which is true of the two. Thus Christians would find it hard to have a chance to stand and defend their faith because they would be killed immediately. Instead, they can prove that they stood strong by death but not having an opportunity to defend it. In fact, the non-believers may attack Christianity because they claim to know more what the Christians knew more. Isolation from the pagan culture could only be in terms of faith. But regarding to our mission, we Christians should penetrate to them instead. And I believe that all of us already understand this by now. For the most part, we would not have any reason to isolate ourselves from the pagan culture if we can defend our faith. Rather, all we have to do to them is to love and value. Obviously, most of us Christians need to build our faith stronger for this expected fact.
to whom should we really defend our faith. Well, if we look at the statistics, in US the population of Christian from 2014-2015 declined. Why do you think other religions were rapidly increasing in population and Christians are doing the opposite? We are to defend our faith against those people who keep on distorting the truth. to those people who's trying to sugar coat and everything and make their beliefs pleasing and admiring to other people so that they may forget the cost of following Jesus. We are to defend our faith to those who were trying to make people believe that following Jesus means riches and joy in this world. But no! we should defend our faith knowing that the truth is we receive riches, we receive overflowing joy but not in the things in this world, but in Christ alone. Most people persecute Christians because we don't believe the thing that they believe. They hate Christians because they cannot accept the fact that we believe in an invisible God. Some is because of insecurities because we found joy in the midst of pain and poverty because we have Jesus. They persecute us because of the loyalty that we give tp the one that we believe that is above all things. They persecute us for not having the same beliefs to them. they persecute us because of the evil that's reigning in their hearts.
I don't believe that we should isolate ourselves from them but instead we should be friends but not to compromise in whatever they are doing. Let us see how Jesus loved and served the tax collectors and the prostitutes. he did not isolate himself to them, yet he became their friends but he never compromised. Imitating Jesus, we should not isolate but we should help them . That is why the Bible commanded us to know our faith so that we may be ready to defend it as we go into their community. We are not to cut ties but we should strengthen it with the power of Jesus that is in us.
As a Christian, as a leader, and as a person who knows a bit about the doctrines, it is expected that people would ask. And as i read other comments, we answer to those only who ask about us(of course). We defend our Christian faith because we have seen it in His word and we saw what the church have been through, and we could say that we are in the right side. In answering to those people who tries to thwart the truth, we must answer that in the basis of the Absolute truth, not just relatively. Also, we must be ready to answer them. They have different reasons why they attack our Christian faith, but i will just give one answer that i think is the best. One of that is that they think that we are wrong and they are right. they think they are the true church, they have the true God, and that they have the right beliefs and practices. For me, I will isolate and not isolate myself from them. i will not isolate because i will lose the chance to share to them the Gospel; and to defend to them the Gospel. And i will isolate from them the practices that is compromising and things that are not glorifying. God bless:)
Christians are to defend the faith to those who question it and credit it with distorted doctrines. It is not like debating but it is more of making them understand what the Word of God really says. We should make them know that we are not just following any tradition, human teaching, or other spiritual books, but that we are following what God is really telling us to do. And it is not like we are telling them that we have the true and right religion but that we have a genuine God and faith. The possible reasons that non-nelievers attack Christianity is because they want to prove to the majority that they are the right group and they have the right doctrine. It is their way of competing and gaining members. But another reason is that some religion really thinks that we are just another cult and we are paganistic since we believe in the Trinity. Some gtoups may be aware that they are false but some are not since they made themselves exclusive. Isolation from the pagan culture should not be that tight. We are to be welcoming to those who don't know the truth. But we should be cautious as well lest we conform to their practices. We have to be isolated in a sense that we don't do what they do that doesn't glorify God or God forbid us to do. Yet we should be open too by sharing the truth and letting them see what we really believe through friendship and ministry.
Christians are to defend the faith to those who question it and credit it with distorted doctrines. It is not like debating but it is more of making them understand what the Word of God really says. We should make them know that we are not just following any tradition, human teaching, or other spiritual books, but that we are following what God is really telling us to do. And it is not like we are telling them that we have the true and right religion but that we have a genuine God and faith. The possible reasons that non-nelievers attack Christianity is because they want to prove to the majority that they are the right group and they have the right doctrine. It is their way of competing and gaining members. But another reason is that some religion really thinks that we are just another cult and we are paganistic since we believe in the Trinity. Some gtoups may be aware that they are false but some are not since they made themselves exclusive. Isolation from the pagan culture should not be that tight. We are to be welcoming to those who don't know the truth. But we should be cautious as well lest we conform to their practices. We have to be isolated in a sense that we don't do what they do that doesn't glorify God or God forbid us to do. Yet we should be open too by sharing the truth and letting them see what we really believe through friendship and ministry.
We must boldly hold the truths of Jesus Christ. If we don't defend our faith, people won't know about Christ and in fact more false teachings will be brought into Christianity. We should defended our faith because nowadays many wolves and cult people are claiming to be or even leading others astray. Furthermore, we must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that we can encourage others by sound doctrine and able to refute those who oppose.On the other hand, we should be wise in the way we act toward outsiders as we make the most of every opportunity. Let our conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that we may know how to answer everyone. Hence, Christians will get plenty of hatred from the world yet Jesus commanded us to love them and He will give us strength to do it. Throughout the gospel of John, it is evident that the religious establishment not only opposed Jesus but even sought to kill Him. As He continued His ministry, there was a tide of resentment, then hatred, and then open opposition toward Him. Due to that, believers and followers of Christ should not be surprised if the world will hate us. However, we must not isolate ourselves from them in order for us to witness and share to them our faith because Christians should seek to transform the culture by seeking to control its institutions and claim each for Christ for we have been removed from the world's power at conversion and all the while we must keep from the influence of the world (James 1:27)
in a basketball game every team need to have a defense in order to succeed their goal, so just like our Christian faith we need a strong defense and that is by defending our faith against false teachings and witnesses. apostle Paul said be strong in the faith and put the whole armor of God and stand strongly for what is the truth. in Christian world today even in a news when we saw it it become a norms of many Christians that they being attack by a nonbelievers its because they know all Christians who follow Christ are foolish and yes! indeed you and I are foolish, foolish in Christ because among all religious we are the one who hold and proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ, and the truth is because of Christianity many converts become foolishness in Christ too just like us. we were being isolated already by the pagan worlds and practices even our parents before are pagans but we are the light of the truth to these pagan community the Bible says we are the light of the world and this light we have is the hope of these people, but the question is are we ready to take a risk even if our life will take form others are we ready to die just by proclaiming the truth of the Gospel and about Jesus Christ? it is very easy to type or say yes but the truth is it is hard without commitment to the Lord.
in a basketball game every team need to have a defense in order to succeed their goal, so just like our Christian faith we need a strong defense and that is by defending our faith against false teachings and witnesses. apostle Paul said be strong in the faith and put the whole armor of God and stand strongly for what is the truth. in Christian world today even in a news when we saw it it become a norms of many Christians that they being attack by a nonbelievers its because they know all Christians who follow Christ are foolish and yes! indeed you and I are foolish, foolish in Christ because among all religious we are the one who hold and proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ, and the truth is because of Christianity many converts become foolishness in Christ too just like us. we were being isolated already by the pagan worlds and practices even our parents before are pagans but we are the light of the truth to these pagan community the Bible says we are the light of the world and this light we have is the hope of these people, but the question is are we ready to take a risk even if our life will take form others are we ready to die just by proclaiming the truth of the Gospel and about Jesus Christ? it is very easy to type or say yes but the truth is it is hard without commitment to the Lord.
Against whom do we defend our faith?
As Christians, we need to defend our faith against those who are false teachers and prophet and who distorted the gospel.
ReplyDeleteWe need to present to them that Christ died for all mankind and showed His love through dying on the cross. What matters most is our personal relationship with Christ. He is the only way to heaven because without the shedding of the blood there is no forgiveness. Jesus said, "I am the way,the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me." God has a wonderful plan to all of us and experience an abundant life, peace and direction. We can experience the assurance of salvation when we believe and accept that only Christ can save us.We are only living a temporary world and our home is in heaven so we need to accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
We need to isolate ourselves in the pagan culture especially when there's someone who are weak in faith and it causes him or her to stumble and fall because of the compromising act we have done. Our life is a testimony to others that they can also experience the love of Christ and the assurance of salvation that Cbrist offers.
Christ rather
DeleteYour right ate Dori it is a must that we need to isolate ourselves from the pagan culture. Instead of compromising to them let us stand what the Bible says and try to present it to them by praying and by the work of the Holy Spirit. Because without the Holy Spirit we might fall to compromise them specially this world is full of lies and then we do not know what our stand for this. Christian must allow the Holy Spirit to work inside out so that whenever Satan will attack we won't be defeated but we can claim the victory in Jesus alone. Why we need to depend ourselves to the Holy Spirit? Because our human nature will always contradict to the Spirit. Like when there is a person telling false often we laugh at them because what they are saying is wrong. Christian should not do that, Christian must correct the wrong doctrines of others in a gentle matter. In that way they might see Christ in us.
DeleteI agree to you sister that we should defend our faith to those people who distorted the gospel. As what I Peter 3:15 says that we should be always ready to defend our faith. Present to them the true Christ who is fully God and fully man and sacrifice his life to saved us from death. The person who forgives us from all our sins and in His presence we can truly found satisfaction.
DeleteMany people are questioning our faith and beliefs, especially pagans, cults, false teachers and atheist people etc. They would oppose us and sometimes persecute us,so as a Christian we must defend our faith to those who questions the truth, Jesus, God and the scripture. Not just for those who questioned, but the most important is to those who twist the truth and made many believe their lies and led them astray.
ReplyDeleteTheir reasons for attacking Christianity is because they thought what they have believed is the truth and they are being brainwashed and blinded by a lie that many false teachers or cults taught them. They don't know the truth, they don't believe with the truth and they just simply don't believe in God or a higher being who created everything. They are skeptical with what the Bible says, and what Christ has done on the cross.
We should isolate ourselves in the pagan culture because people are looking at us especially those who are new believers and still a baby christian. We don't want them to be stumble, and it is a great sin for us to cause someone to fall down. We must restrict ourselves involving pagan activities because we ought to be an example to them, and we must show them that we are different from them. We can praise and worship God whenever we want without having that movement that comprise idol worshiping. Let's show them the truth by letting our light shine and not compromising.
I agree on what you have said Casey, that we Christians should be the model of this world. And that is why we Christians should be more extra careful on our words and deeds, not just in participating in the pagan's activity but also in our daily lives. we should reflect the life that is full of hope and truth given by Jesus Christ to us.
DeleteMaybe I just misunderstood how you meant it Kayzee but you are free to answer me as well. Nevertheless, I don't think that isolating ourselves would lead them to Christ ultimately, maybe we should emphasize the word COMPROMISE. We don't have to seclude ourselves from them but we should not conform with their system. That is why it is really vital for Christians to be so founded with the doctrines that we believed in because failure on this aspect would eventually lead us to their system.
DeleteYes,Keziang, I agree on what you have said that we need to defend our stand on our faith to those who are trying to twist the truth that is why it is very important that we have a strong foundations of our doctrines. But somehow, correct me if I am wrong, I don't think so that we need to isolate ourselves in pagan culture. I mean how can we be the salt and the light of the earth if we will not reach and share the gospel with the people who are in that culture. We are in the world but we are restricted not to conform the system of the world.
DeleteFor me, isolation is not a solution. I would prefer to call it integration or what Jesus exemplified: Incarnational Ministry.
DeleteHow can we reach them if we isolate our selves from them?
How can we share Christ if we dont want to go "with" them.
I would agree that sometimes, we must compromise. But this compromise is not an unwise compromise, but you compromise because you want to reach them. To illustrate: Just like what Jesus did, infact, He came here to save and seek the lost.
Yes we dont want them to stumble to us, so the problem is ourselves, not them, why not we'll just live what glorifies God(though very hard), do what is right, and be vigilant of what we are doing, speaking, even thinking.
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if we look at Jesus, he did what is right though he was God and we that God is Holy, and righteous, but instead sitting only on the throne and watching people on earth he revealed himself through man. He ate with man, He cried like a man, he sympathized with sinners and accepting them. we should never isolate our faith and self to this pagan world, for the Romans 1:16-17 that we should never be ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God.
DeleteYeah, the not isolating yourself from them is right. I haven't seen the different aspect of the effect of isolation, thank you tho for making me realize about it.
DeleteIsolation here does not mean not to interact with them, but the isolation from their culture. We can still share the gospel to them anytime, and this isolation does not mean we have to isolate our faith and ourselves to them completely. This isolation is staying away from their practices or not involving with them, tho there are times we tend to attend with their activities with a good motive inside but people esp. baby Christians around that is with us can't see what's inside us, and they might misinterpret us.
DeleteYes, I think I got your idea KC. I appreciate the way you see the angle regarding our weak brothers. In fact, I did not saw that also. But I would say that you did have a good perspective to that. Thank you.
DeleteTo whom do we need to defend our faith? sounds like we really need to fight for it. And it's right we have to stand for our faith and we could fight not just with our fist but also with our doctrines that is rooted in the word of God. But sometimes we don't need to fight just to tell that cultic person that our faith is right than her/him, Jesus taught us to become humble but if your out of choice then we have to defend our faith to those people who are deviating from the word of God. And still pray for that person.
ReplyDeleteThe reason why other cultic group oppose the beliefs of the Christians is that Satan is blinding them that they are the only church that can attain salvation. Some reasons could be maybe jealousy, they want that Christian person to change his/her faith and go to their church, it could be because they want to brag to all people especially christian people that they are the only religion who is right among all others and maybe, another reason is that they want to destroy the church.
We should set boundaries with the pagan cultures but still we need to reach out to that people and pray for them. But instead of rebuking them in a harsh way, we can help them just like what our teacher said in our class. In a festival, it's hot they need water, then give water. for sure one way or another they will take notice of your kindness and in that way it be an open door that you can share to that person about the good news.
There may be a lot of cultic group nowadays and persuading people to join them because of their joyous activities in glorifying their idols,but then again we should pray for them and do not condemn them as possible as you can.
Oh! What a nice idea Miss Arlyn. We must also evangelize those people who has wrong doctrine and we can do that thing in being humble to them and they will able to see Jesus in our lives. They will amaze in our lives what kind of Christ we have and they will see the difference from them to us. Amen. Prayer is powerful weapon of a Christian.
DeleteI agree that the cultist person is not our enemy but only Satan. Pray pray pray for those people who are in that group because they are blinded by Satan in what is truth which is salvation through Christ alone.
Do we have to fight with our fists? I have small fists. But anyway, yes Yen. You are right when you said that we really have to fight using our doctrine and teaching. This is why we are taught as believers because we need to defend our faith. Our Scripture was given because it is good for rebuke and teaching. Rebuke in the means of wrong and false doctrines. We reallt should know what our doctrines are by mind and especially by heart, because how would we know what to defend if we do not know our doctrines by heart?
DeleteI like your idea miss arlyn, we will defend our faith to those who deviate the truth I almost forgot that word, thank for reminding, exactly they oppose Christianity because they are blinded by Satan a great point, yeah that's one of the reason also people try to convince believers on the church syndrome idea, we need to be careful on that teaching among cultic groups.
Deletei like your idea to pray, that's the proper respond.
I agree to you ate ayen. Just like what the song says kill them with kindness haha. I strongly agree that we Christian should defend our faith, but it doesn't really mean that we should cut off their head also. We should not defend our faith but we are not commanded by God to take someones life while defending it. Defending our fauth will never be easy if we also don't know what to defend. that is why we should not stop exploring about God's word and keeping it in our hearts, to be our guide. Just like how the Bbile said, we should cloth ourselves with the armor of God. our enemies are everywhere. We should not be too lax and complacent knowing that all people, especially those who do not know the Lord, needs an urgent rescue.
DeleteI believe that we are to defend our faith to "everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Pet. 3:15). In this matter, we have to consider few things. First, is ourselves. Are we ready and armored enough to justify the doctrines we believed in? Second, in what manner are we taking hold of our defense?
ReplyDeletethe Bible is clear in this verse that Christians are to be ready and always prepared lest someone is skeptic or curious with how you behaved as a Christian. This anticipated situation should motivate Christians to really study and know what and whom they believed in. Just like a soldier, we should always be ready for the upcoming battle. Failure or this preparation and training would not only humiliate you,as a bearer of a Testimony but it would humiliate Christ Himself. The name of Christ would be so affected that instead of drawing people to Him, our lack of preparatory measures would shoo people away.
In our context, this is one of the reason why non-Christians attacked us. We failed to guard our walls and we allowed the enemies to scoff at us and eventually would win over us. They looked at us as feeble and frail because we had been unsuccessful of winning them through our testimonies and much worse with how we lived our lives. This is the most delicate part of being a Christian-our daily living. This formulates questions of who we really believed in because it somehow contradicts with the Being's attributes. This again is a big humiliation to our God. We are not worshipping Him with our lives. Our practice is not aligned with our doctrines and that is indeed a sad fact.
But this does not mean that we are to seclude ourselves from them for can we reach them of we live a monastic life? In the gospel of John, we are to be IN the world and not to be OF the SYSTEM of the world. The term I wanted to convey is about compromising. Personally, I don't discourage Christians to befriend an unbeliever but rather their good character should draw people to Christ (1 Cor. 15:33). A Christians' foundation should be well founded lest he'll be tempted to be OF the world. The Bible is full of warnings about dealing with unbelievers but it also is full or reminders that we are to be a light in this world. This world is described to be dark so there is a big necessity for Christ's followers to shine!
True Elai. I agree that we should be part of their world, but not with their practices and ways. We should be in there, snatching them out of the fire as best as we could. Even if God chooses to save or not to save them, at least we have done what we could. God would do the saving part as we do the snatching out.
Deleteyeah. its true lai. I agree that we need to defend our faith and ready always in telling what is the truth to others. we need to isolate from the practices of this world but it does not mean that we will not be a friend for them. God chooses people to be saved but we don't know whom He chooses. we need to tell others about God.
DeleteI will defend my faith to those people who did not believe in what the Bible says or have a wrong doctrines. The truth must stand. Depending faith sometimes can cause barrier and remember that they also need to know the truth and we must depend our faith in a gentle way that a person will not feel that we are fighting to them to condemn them but to tell them the truth because we love them and we want them to be save like us. Christ died for all people not only for us. Yes we know that not all people will be save but we don't know specifically who are those people that are not save and saved. That is why, we must evangelize anyone.
ReplyDeleteNon believers attack Christianity because they believe that what they believe is correct and what we believe is wrong. Like us, we evangelize because we believe also that what we believe is correct and what they believe is wrong. But we cannot deny the truth that what we believe is correct and it is affirm by the Bible because Bible is our foundation. They want us to be in their church because Satan blinded them and Satan want us to deny the only true God. They believe that their church is the only true church that the only way to be save. We are different from them, because we want to get them not only to be a member of church but to bring them into a relationship with Christ and entrust their live to Christ and let Christ reign in their lives; so that, they will be saved.
We will isolate ourselves from pagan if we have a company which is weak in faith because it can cause stumble to him. We must consider him and let our self to sacrifice that to save that weak in faith. God is still on process in that Christian and we must not destroy the work of God. Isolating mean not all the time, maybe someday if the right time come, you will not isolate yourself anymore.
Amen Romrick, we must defend our faith to those who did not believe the Bible and about Jesus. We can do this by approaching them with prodence and discretion and humbling ourselves when conflict arises, that still God's name will be glorified by doing so.
DeleteYes romrick. I totally agree. That we need to stand in what we believe in and shun evil away from us. And learn to as well as evangelizing those who have not heard that they too may be able to know amd have that eternal securitu in heaven :)
DeleteI also agree with you brader but I hope that when time come that we will going to defend our faith to those people who try to weaken our faith that we may able to stand firm and fight the good fight. And I also pray that before we go out from BTC and be on the field is that we are more equip and strong enough to face those who will test to defend our faith.
DeleteWe must defend our faith. Stand our grounds and defend it with all that weve got. We must defend our faith for those who is attacking it, those people who are not of God. Im pointing to those who are false teachers and those who persecute us because of our wrong teacing and belief. Defending iur faith is not easy especially for those who are not of Gods which would destroy us and our faith. Would do their best to shake us and to remove our faith in our hearts. We must defend it from them. Those people who have no faith. And is not following what God wills. Who teaches wrong doctrines and has no God in their hearts. Infact the reasons of those people who are not of Gods in attacking us, Christians is because they are letting the enemy (Satan) control them, they are tolerating him to use them to destroy those of Gods people. Also, they persecute because they themselves does not believe and have faith in God. For them, God is another fairytale and is not worthy of their time.
ReplyDeleteWe need to isolate ourselves from those pagam culture as fas as the north is from the south, that they may not be inclined and be virused by that culture which destroys and kills our system slowly and slowly. We need to devote ourselves to God also that we are able and we are capable of defending ourselves from being poisoned to such virus.
If we isolate ourselves from them "as far as north is from the south", how do we correct them? How do we do our Great Commission? I think that we should isolate ourselves enough not to be drenched with their paganism, but not too much that we are not able to reach out and pull them out from the dark. I mean, I respect that you want to be as far from them, but the world isn't as big as you think, and we believers have the task to snatch out people from the fire into the saving grace of Jesus. If we go that far, how would we be able to save them? Isn't it hard?
DeleteOnly the culture. Not the people. I only meant to be far from the pagan culture. Not the pagan people. Thanks for that :)
Deleteit is true that we need to correct them. we need to be a friend to them. we don't need to isolate ourselves literally but not to be influence by them. we need to influence them by God's teaching. we need them to know the truth about Jesus who can saved us all.
DeleteThe Bible is not telling us to isolate our self because if it is the case then we Christians are creating walls for the unbelievers. But, there's a warning that as we live in this pagan world we should be very careful to not to conform to the pattern of this world for this is not our real home. We cannot avoid the schemes of evil by isolating ourselves, instead we be vigilant and always be ready to fight against our enemy. We should prepare ourselves in the light of the Scripture. Our response in any situation should always depend on the teaching of the Bible, and not by our own interpretation.
DeleteI believe that we must defend our faith from those who question us, those who persecute us, and those who spread false doctrines and teachings crediting it to us. We ought to watch out for these kind of people. They may say that they attack us because we are the ones with the wrong teaching, but it is our duty to defend what we teach because we know the truth. I think that even if we defend poorly but still stand our ground, it will make an impact. But it is better to be really grounded into strong defense of our faith, so that not only will they see believers who know but believers who will give up even life for the sake of Christ.
ReplyDeleteIsolation from pagans should be isolated enough not to be influenced by these pagans like those kings who intermarry for power. Isolation should also still not be far enough that we could not be able to reach out and that they would not be able to see Christ in our lives. We should be far, but not too far. This is why we should strongly absorb what we are taught so that even when we "dip" into the pagan culture we are still firm.on the ground we stand on and on the foundation of Christ. This is all done by the grace of God in Christ where we should hold on to and abide in.
Christians has a responsibility to defend his faith. This is our work against the false teachers and people who twisted the truth in the Bible. They need to know the truth that is told by God and commanded by Him. There are people who misinterpreted the word of God and also add teaching that is not found in the Bible and contradict to it's teaching. "Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who ask you for a reason for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and respect"(1Pet.3:15)
DeleteThe reason that non believers attack Christianity because we are different from them. we believe what is in the written in the Bible. we live a life that is not like what they did. we believe that we are save by the grace of God not by works and only Jesus Christ can save us. He is the giver of life.
we need to influence the world. i don't like to isolate myself from this world because we are living in it. the thing that we need to isolate is their deeds. we should not conformed to the pattern of their deeds. we will be the light to them because Jesus said "we are the light of the World" and culture is from God. The bad thing is culture that cannot please God is not from Him. it is from this world.
A very nice question to think about because this is real that we, as a believers and follower of Christ we must defend our faith from any false teaching that oppose against it, we will defend it from any wrong doctrines that can ruin our Biblical foundation of living,and we will defend it to those who distort the real message of the Gospel.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievers attacks Christians because they oppose the truth and and try to stop the work of God through the life of every Christians, they try to stop the spreading of the Gospel they want that the Great commission will stop (Matt. 28:19-20)but in fact they cannot. they are attacking the Christians because they thought by doing so they did the right thing but, in contrast they did what is wrong.
We as believers we are not commanded by the Lord Jesus to isolate ourselves from the pagan world but in contrast Jesus himself commanded his disciples in Matt. 5:16 that say's Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven, it is clear that we are not called by God to isolate ourselves but to shine in a pagan world, imagine how helpless the pagan culture is when all believers will hide their light, and by doing so the father will not be glorified through our lives, so as a follower of Christ we are so privileged to shine for Jesus in a pagan culture.
Indeed, we must strongly defend our faith from those who teach heretic teachings because the faith that we have right now is the true faith.
DeleteDefending our faith is important. we must ready and be strong enough to what the God had commanded to us. Be ready to defend session or out of session.
DeleteI agree with you Kuya Greg that we are commanded to shine for Jesus in order for them to see what the world is teaching today and to show them the true about Christ .
DeleteI believe that a part-time Christian can never defeat a full-time evil. Our enemy comes from a various forms, and one of its target is to paralyze our faith. According to the book of Hebrew faith is the evidence of things unseen. Our Christian faith can only be found in Christ Jesus who is the perfecter of our faith. In connection to this the faith that we hold on to became the reason why Satan is eager to hit this area. He knew that when we let our guard down it is easy for him to penetrate and started to create a wound inside, and when he become successful, his works starts to cover our eyes so that we can never feel the presence of putting our faith in Christ.
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult to defend your faith without even knowing the nature of your adversary. Our opponent is treacherous, deceitful, and a father of all lies. He came to steal our belief in Christ, to kill the truth that we believe, and to destroy our trust and faith in Christ our Savior. We need to shield, and fight for our faith against Satan's work in deceiving us, as his minions scattered everywhere enslaving the free, and devouring the people of Christ.
The reason why non-believers attacked believers is because they don't understand our belief, and they don't have Christ in their lives. They don't know the Truth. For them we are the enemies and so they are just protecting their-selves against us because for them we are just one of those other religious people. They believe that the religion and the belief that they are holding is the real religion and no one can change that belief. Religion in our country is a big deal.
Living in a religious country is the same as living in a "pagan country" by which people are much more devoted with different saints and idols, and treat them as god. But, for us who knew what the Scripture taught us about these things we are warned against their customs, beliefs, and traditions. Our country is our marketplace by which we are ought to shine. The Bible teaches us to reach the unreach people and we cannot do it by isolating ourselves. That is why it is crucial for us to be strong in our faith and to put on the full Armour of God, to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power because we are living in a pagan world for us to take stand against the evil schemes. We need to participate in this battle and not to isolate our selves because our struggles is not against flesh and blood, but against the power of this dark world and in the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. So, take up the shield of faith. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.
I think there are lots of area where we need to defend our faith. Socially, I think this is one of the most enemies of our faith. There can be a lot of areas in our societies that can destroy our faith and we need to defend it. First of all, within our family and our relatives. I am so blessed that my my parents and brothers are already believers but there are still a lot of my relatives that are not believers and sometimes they tend to shake my faith by means of mocking and insulting me. But I needed not to let my faith shaken because I have the truth whereas they do not know about it. The influence of the world can also affect our faith. The government, what the people are doing, new gadgets and so it became a norm to us. Conformity is our main problem here. We tend to conform or compromise on what the world is doing, its system. And by that we might forget that we are Christians or we really set aside our faith in order to do these things. Secondly, is in the physical aspect. I saw a movie entitled, "Miracle from Heaven", and indeed physical aspect can shake and lose ones faith by means of finding his or her won way in solving the problem rather than trusting God. Third and last is in our spiritual aspect. We know that Satan will attack our spiritual aspect. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12 ESV). So Paul encourages all the believers to put on the whole armor of God so that we can defend our faith against the schemes of our enemies.
ReplyDeleteI think the reasons why non- believers attack Christians are: First they do not know the truth. They do not know Jesus Christ. What they are doing is right in their own eyes. They have their own conviction of what is truth and so they tend to use some areas in the society in order to attack us. Perhaps if they are in the government they can use their power or the law or if they are in a business they might used their money just to attack us. For them that is the truth. Secondly, they perverted the truth. Some group who claimed to be Christians but are not twisted their interpretation of the word of God. Many of these group also accused that the Bible can make a person insane because that particular person is unable to understand the Bible. And so, those who can read are just their ministers or leaders. I think this is an attack to Christianity because we consider the Bible as our source of authority and twisting the truth within it is a big insult to us.
Paul says in his letter to the Roman believers, "Do not be conformed to this world..." (Rom. 12:1 ESV). He is trying to emphasize that this world that we are right is a pagan world that is why he encourages us not to conform, not to follow what is on it. We need to isolate ourselves in this pagan culture as far as the farthest place from what we are standing right now.
that is true jef. the bible itself tells us no to be confronted of this. we should be an example to everyone. but can you please give more explanation why we should isolate ourselves from them?
Deleteyes it is true. we will not conform to this world. but the big question is: how can we tell them the truth if we isolate ourselves? We need to isolate ourselves in their practices but we need to be a friend to them.
ReplyDeleteIsolating ourselves from the pagan culture doesn't mean that we isolate ourselves from them as a person instead from the culture, activities, systems and the way they live their lives. It means that we should not follow or we should not conform on what they are doing. As an example Jesus. He is not from this world but he came here and lived with us. But he lived a life that is aligned with the will of his Father not of this world.
DeleteYou are right, isolation doesn't mean not being friend with them rather we are keeping ourselves away from their culture and practices.
Deleteoh!!! ok Jef now I understand your stand:) knowing them more especially to their culture and practices can help us to minister them. so, we should not think about what they are doing but we should think how can we help them.
Delete
ReplyDeleteFaith is not just a words it is an action; you act without seeing anything. Faith is really matters specially for us Christians. Because we are serving the Lord without seeing His face but believing that He was there before the world begun. Not other people serving the god that can be seen; idols or imagery. These kind of people often will against our faith because they believe that they will serve only the god that whom they can see. That is why when they meet Christian they often laugh at us. There are so many kind of ways on how we depend our faith.Like for example one unbeliever attack on us base on her/his experience in life that God is not loving. So because of that He did not believe that God is loving. Therefor, we Christian need to depend on what the Bible is telling us. It is by faith and the work of the Holy Spirit that we can help the person. Because often Christians are afraid of facing this kind of case. But we need to know that this kind of person need God in her/his life. Because Jesus also died for them.
The reasons that non-believers attack us first is, they are blinded what is real. Satan is the cause why they attack us. Second, is the pride. Because they thought that what they believe in is correct so they attack us. The last is, they did not really experience how God loved them. They feel unlovable that no body care.
So, we christian need to step out reaching them because if no one will reach them we know that hell will be their destiny. Rise up Christian we need to share the gospel to them. Why afraid if they will kill us or neglect us at first we knew that we are already save. And why afraid that they might neglect the gospel that we share? The Holy
Spirit is their to work on it. Just trust. We do not need to isolate ourselves because if we do that no one will reach them. Remember Jesus came here for the unrighteous not for the righteous. But Jesus did not compromise the world or He did not compromise the pagan culture. We also need to follow what Jesus did. Instead of isolating ourselves let our light shine in this darkness world and do not let ourselves compromise the pagan world or what the world is doing that cannot glorify Him.
Lots of people questioning our faith and beliefs when they think that we are different from them. They would persecute and oppose our doctrines, so as Christians bearing the name of God we must defend our faith to those who are trying to twist the truth. In this areas, we need to defend our faith to the cultic group who are claiming that they are the true believer of God and trying to convince us. Secondly, we need to defend our faith to the corrupt government employee that are trying to test and challenge our faith by letting us do the things that are not pleasing to God anymore. That is why it is very essentials for us believers to have a strong foundation of our faith and doctrines because there are lots of people who are trying to claim that they are the true one. And in this we don't need to do foolish arguments but instead to those who oppose we must be gently instruct them the hope that God will grant repentance to their heart leading them to know the truth.
ReplyDeleteThe reasons that non-believers attack Christian because they really think that what they have believe and put their faith is in the truth. Ironically, if they were to be asked; they will also think that we are also a cultic group trying to insist our faith which is the very sad thing to know. But somehow, your faith has been tested in this kind of situation that is why the strong foundations of doctrines that we have is very important because that is our armor against those who are trying to twist the truth. Because the fact there the one that they have believe in first is already wrong and also the teachers who teach them doesn't knew the truth. And it's stealing their innocence mind and putting some false teaching in it that they think they are in line with the one true God.This is a great opportunity to spread the gospel of God by telling them our faith.
In my own perception to this I don't think that I need to isolate myself from the pagan culture because in the first place I am living in this corrupted world that has full of temptations and pagan beliefs. I know that we urge not to conform to the pattern of this world and to abstain but being aliens and strangers in this world we ought to be the salt and the light in this world and to live a godly life so that our light will shine upon them. That they can see that Christ is living in us.
Many people kept on debating with our belief about Christ, salvation, and even with our belief about eternity. We should always be ready to defend our faith to those people who are denying God, rejecting Jesus Christ and the truth of God's Word.
ReplyDeleteThe reasons why the non-believers attack Christianity its because they are blinded and hard to accept with the truth of the Word of God and they are isolated to what they believe in as they thought right. As a Christian we should respect their belief, but we should make a way to help this people to know the truth about God. Tell them what Christ has done for all of us and his love that shows to everyone. That they may know Christ and the salvation that freely given to us.
For me we should not isolate our self to the pagan culture but to build a relationship to them. It doesn't mean that we compromised to their belief or any of their activities that displease God, but to be friendly and gain their trust, so that we can bring the gospel to them and even to their home. Just like what Jesus did here on earth, he gives time to the sinners rather than to the righteous people. And how can we reach this kind of people if we isolate our self from them? So being relational is one way that we can bring the gospel to them and introduce that the salvation only found in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Yes, you're right ma'am. I think relational ministry is the best way to deal people that are belong to the pagan culture. Hopefully all Christians today will have loving hearts that are willing to reach this present pagan world. Thank you so much ma'am. You're idea about building relationship with these people encouraged and reminded me to reach out many of my friends that are still in the lies of the pagan culture. GOD BLESS! :)
DeleteWe are to defend our faith to those who teach falsely about Jesus Christ and to those atheistic view. In defending we are not passive, but also to give an answer to those who are questioning about our faith with gentleness not violence. Not to slap them that they are wrong, not to look them down and put them into shame, but to guide them and let them feel that Jesus loves them. Sad to say there are Christians are like that, they forgot what purpose. When Christianity is being attacked by some other group, they prove that Jesus is God and lived 2000 years ago. That Jesus is the Savior for the coming wrath of God. That this world is going to end and he will judge either righteous or unrighteous person. For me we don't need to isolate ourselves from this pagan world, but instead we should share the love of God and what did Jesus do on the cross. we are to help this pagan to escape from their illusion gods and guide them in truth. it is our responsibility to not let them fall into the hell.
ReplyDeleteI believe that we are to defend our faith for those who are false prophets and those who do false teachings. We are being told to "stand firm and hold to the teachings that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter"(Eph. 2:15). To defend, it requires an action and not just to stand and wait for them to slap us with their wrong doctrines. We are to be positive and not being harsh to correct them. Instead, we are to rebuke them by love, joy and peace.
ReplyDeleteThe reasons when non-believers attack Christianity are these following; because they want us to turn from our belief to their own beliefs, they want us to deny that Jesus is God, that there is no Savior who will save for those who are still unchained and God does not exists.
Isolating ourselves from pagan cultures is not helpful. We are called to expose our faith through compromising them. We must teach them about Jesus Christ and help them to know that no one can escape from this world unless they know and accept Jesus in their hearts as their personal Savior. As Christians, our mission is to go to all nations and proclaim Jesus is Lord.
You are right ate inday :) I like what you said, "not just to stand and wait for them to slap us with their wrong doctrines". We must really work hard on sharing the truth to those who are falsely taught by false prophets, not just to those who are being blinded by false teaching but also to those who doesn't know the truth.
DeleteI believe that we are to defend our faith for those who are false prophets and those who do false teachings. We are being told to "stand firm and hold to the teachings that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter"(Eph. 2:15). To defend, it requires an action and not just to stand and wait for them to slap us with their wrong doctrines. We are to be positive and not being harsh to correct them. Instead, we are to rebuke them by love, joy and peace.
ReplyDeleteThe reasons when non-believers attack Christianity are these following; because they want us to turn from our belief to their own beliefs, they want us to deny that Jesus is God, that there is no Savior who will save for those who are still unchained and God does not exists.
Isolating ourselves from pagan cultures is not helpful. We are called to expose our faith through compromising them. We must teach them about Jesus Christ and help them to know that no one can escape from this world unless they know and accept Jesus in their hearts as their personal Savior. As Christians, our mission is to go to all nations and proclaim Jesus is Lord.
Basically, we defend our faith against those who deviate from the faith. If I'm gonna put it here those who deviate one by one I think this comment will take one kilometer long (just kidding). Bitaw, there are so many religious group, sects, and churches that says they are the true one and they hold the right beliefs and doctrines. According to our class these group of people are called cults. Cult is define as group of people or someone who turn away from the biblical belief about Jesus. Cults stand on what they believe and they want others to believe in their claims. These things are reminders for us Christians to know and stand on our faith.
ReplyDeleteI'm not exactly sure the reasons of these people in attacking Christianity but I think for them Christianity is nonsense. For some, Jesus is a mere man only. Others think that believing in the unseen God is foolishness, they prefer to stay and put their faith on the mini gods. And for many, God doesn't exist at all.
Now that we found the sad things about these cults, how far should we isolate ourselves from them? We are commanded by God not to isolate ourselves from them but rather minister to them. The bad thing for many us who received the question above is that it is very easy for us to put in paper the following things or steps that we need to do in order to minister them but very difficult for us to take action. I think the best way of not isolating ourselves from these people is to change our attitude about them. I think we need to start building our passion in reaching for these lost people. These passion might refer to our concern and love for them. No matter how hard we try, no matter what church programs we follow, no matter what kind of books we read, without love and concern for them we cannot be effective ministers to them.
Your right Elton that it easy to comment here but it's hard to apply. I agree that attitude really matters when we minister to non-believers to see what really the difference a Christian have by the help of the Holy Spirit we can make difference. The important ingredient in ministering to non-believers is LOVE.
DeleteOur Faith is our weapon to everyone, especially to those people who persecute us and to those who doubt our beliefs and stands. Today there's a lot of false teachers, cultic group and group of people that against Christian. The faith that we have right now is our prove to them that no matter what will happen i believe that when the end comes our faith is not in vain. God knows that in every battle we take, we always have a victory with Him.
ReplyDeleteThe reason why non-believers attack Christianity, because they want to invade us and let us believe what they believe also. They were preaching false doctrine about Jesus Christ. But i may not sure what is their real purpose why they are attacking Christianity. Each group has something to prove about their beliefs and letting people to believe therm.
We are the light of the world. We should not isolate ourselves from them. we are mandate to preach the truth and to make disciples. The faith that we are holding right now is the Faith that we can only found in Jesus Christ. and that is the truth that we should share to them. We should not keep that truth within ourselves and letting people to be hungry for the truth. We should be active in spreading the word of God to them. and not being silent of it.
thank you.
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DeleteAbsolutely ate terek2x, that as a believer and follower of Christ we should not keep it from ourselves while others were barely needed it. We are accountable to be a catalyst of change in spreading the biblical truth and not the false doctrine.
DeleteAs a Christian we must be ready to defend our faith to those who are against God. To the false prophets and to those who persecute us. As what Peter said we must be ready always. We don't know when God will come so we must prepare ourselves to defend our faith.
ReplyDeleteTBH! To Be honest. I don't know what is really reason but for me they have their own beliefs too and there goal also is to be like them.The reason also is that they thought we are crazy even we cannot see the God we serve but still we have this faith on Him.
We are been also persecutor back when we are not yet christian. The only thing that we can minister to them is not to isolate ourselves from them but instead to have intentional relationship to them. But we need to isolate ourselves to what their paganistic practices. It is also very important as a Christian to have a Christ like attitude. So we must check ourselves too.
I like that ate Joy, TBH. Anyway, I'd like the thought when you said about the only thing we can minister to them is not to make isolation for ourselves from them. How can we do what God commanded us if we will not go and will reach out to those who are in need in spite of what might happen for us out there for God's glory and for the accomplishment of God's Kingdom agenda.
DeleteJoy, it is good that you knew how non-believers look at Christians by the way you have been. And I believe that it could be a CLUE in having a good perspective to the pagan culture. Thus by this you may deal with them the way they like it. God bless!
DeleteI agreed on what one says that we are Christians because God says so, and we did what He told us to do, and we stand on God's word, and if the Book goes down, we'll go with it. Most likely, I think we defend our faith to those who tries to persecute, oppose, or one who want us to recant our faith. Due to that, lots of followers of Christ or martyrs shed their blood in order to stand strong to what they have believed in. Truthfully, as what Jesus said in the book of Matthew, those who deny Him before men will also be deny before the Father who is in heaven. Probably, some may recant because of the overwhelming fear. But, I do believe that many, especially those who are true and devoted in their faith would bravely do such thing though their life might be at stake as they have believed that through it, they can bring glory and honor to God in all of their life and service and it will never be in vain. In fact, I firmly believe that God would mightily used it for the expansion of His kingdom. I've remembered one story of a believer, which I think were situated in the middle-east area, wherein he was attacked by armed men, who tries to kill him if he will not undo of what he had believed in.In any minute, he would be killed because there's already guns pointing towards him by those oppressor.Human as we are, we tend to such thing especially if our life was endangered already. But, it's not what I've expected to be. In my delight, the helpless believer prayed for God's intervention, instead of doing what they want. With no second doubt, God helped him by stopping the bullets of the gun to blow, which made the armed men to tremble in fear and run away. Gracefully, the believer's faith to God's Sovereignty saves him from danger. And what I thought of their reasons to do such is that they thought of it as a diseases which needed to be avoided somehow. But truly, how far should we isolate ourselves from the "pagan culture"? Well, as far as I know, we should not do likewise. Although, we are told not to conform to the mainstream. But, let this not be our reason of isolating ourselves. Instead of, we must reach out in order for them to hear the gospel of salvation and may have a redemptive relationship with Jesus Christ---our Lord and Savior, regardless of what lies ahead.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty good Ann. But I could not understand what you mean by saying "if the Book goes down". Maybe you have something more to clarify to it. But I agree and hope that all us may be able to build our faith stronger as soon as possible, so that non of us may recant our faith if that would happen so.
DeleteRegarding your concern Mr. Olayvar, I was also caught by that statement.I understood it as: when the Word of God goes down, we go with it as well. God's word will never go down as I've learned and believe. Everything will pass away but His Word will remain. Maybe not in a hardcopy but in each and every believer's heart. And going down with it is impossible since Jesus already conquered defeat. :) If I understood it incorrectly, I'm sorry and you are free to clarify it. But I agree to most of what you say Ann. Good insight. God bless. Mwuah :*
DeleteRegarding your concern Mr. Olayvar, I was also caught by that statement.I understood it as: when the Word of God goes down, we go with it as well. God's word will never go down as I've learned and believe. Everything will pass away but His Word will remain. Maybe not in a hardcopy but in each and every believer's heart. And going down with it is impossible since Jesus already conquered defeat. :) If I understood it incorrectly, I'm sorry and you are free to clarify it. But I agree to most of what you say Ann. Good insight. God bless. Mwuah :*
DeleteI believe that all believers will defend their Faith to God to the people who ask and to give them reason for hope that we have and approach them gently in 1 Peter 3:15. But the question is that are you matured and equipped enough to defend our faith? Or are you ready to justify the doctrines that for you is right? Are you sure of your belief?
ReplyDeleteIf we read our Bible and familiar of it there is a lot of verses that clearly say that Christian believers should be ready and prepared to answer those people who ask about what and why we believe or have that kind of faith to Jesus. Because those people are curious about us and through that curiosity we can lead them to know Christ and have that the same faith we have in Jesus Christ. When we are ask by someone it also a rebuke for us that we should always be prepared to defend our faith and study and really know whom do we really believe in. Christian life is like in a battle we are believers are soldiers of God and a soldier should be always prepared. We don’t know when our enemy will attack us to weaken our faith. Failing to defend our faith will make people won’t put their trust in Jesus because they will see in us that we are not that equipped and it seems that we are not sure about our faith. And being not prepared is one of the reasons why non-believers attack the Christian. If we fail to equip our self and to be trained we give the enemy a chance to attack us and weaken our faith or in worst thing is that it will ruin our life. And if we fail to defend our faith it seems that we did put our self to shame but we put Jesus Christ into shame. Again we are not defending our self but we defend our faith for Jesus Christ. If know in our self that we are matured and equipped well there is no need for us to be feel ashamed to those people who ask to defend our faith and we won’t be afraid that they will not believe on us but we are sure that by God’s power they will also be like us that they put their faith to Jesus Christ.
But it doesn’t mean that we will going to isolate our self from those people who will ask to defend our faith because we know that we are not that equipped well but we try to reach out them and in the same way we need to equip our self so that when time come that they will ask we are ready enough to answer them and lead them to know Christ through defending our faith to them. But I will advice that its better to be prepared and well equipped before we reach out them because we don’t know when they will ask us. Again to defend our faith is we are defending for Christ to those people who are still in darkness and its part of our life as a follower or Christ to defend or faith to the people who will try to schemed and weaken our faith. But if we are really in Christ there is no need for us to be afraid to defend our faith. Let your light shine to those people who are still in the darkness.
We defend our faith against those who could possibly give doubts to it. It does not specify what religion, or what kind of belief does the threat have as long as it can and may affect our faith. Besides, we defend our faith only if we can. Because I believe that each believers have their own perspectives of their faith. But for sure, all of us have the same faith in Jesus Christ. On the other hand, we can not defend our faith if we don't know it. Therefore, whoever, whatever may attack our faith, we can ultimately defend it by simply having it strong. Furthermore, we can only have our strong faith if we have evidences to it, and it is certainly knowing the scriptures.
ReplyDeleteNon-believers may attack Christianity because they also have their own faith to their beliefs. And for that reason, they wanted to prove which is much more stronger and true belief by attacking others like us. Likewise they may also be attacking Christianity because their belief said so, even though without knowing which is true of the two. Thus Christians would find it hard to have a chance to stand and defend their faith because they would be killed immediately. Instead, they can prove that they stood strong by death but not having an opportunity to defend it. In fact, the non-believers may attack Christianity because they claim to know more what the Christians knew more.
Isolation from the pagan culture could only be in terms of faith. But regarding to our mission, we Christians should penetrate to them instead. And I believe that all of us already understand this by now. For the most part, we would not have any reason to isolate ourselves from the pagan culture if we can defend our faith. Rather, all we have to do to them is to love and value. Obviously, most of us Christians need to build our faith stronger for this expected fact.
to whom should we really defend our faith. Well, if we look at the statistics, in US the population of Christian from 2014-2015 declined. Why do you think other religions were rapidly increasing in population and Christians are doing the opposite? We are to defend our faith against those people who keep on distorting the truth. to those people who's trying to sugar coat and everything and make their beliefs pleasing and admiring to other people so that they may forget the cost of following Jesus. We are to defend our faith to those who were trying to make people believe that following Jesus means riches and joy in this world. But no! we should defend our faith knowing that the truth is we receive riches, we receive overflowing joy but not in the things in this world, but in Christ alone.
ReplyDeleteMost people persecute Christians because we don't believe the thing that they believe. They hate Christians because they cannot accept the fact that we believe in an invisible God. Some is because of insecurities because we found joy in the midst of pain and poverty because we have Jesus. They persecute us because of the loyalty that we give tp the one that we believe that is above all things. They persecute us for not having the same beliefs to them. they persecute us because of the evil that's reigning in their hearts.
I don't believe that we should isolate ourselves from them but instead we should be friends but not to compromise in whatever they are doing. Let us see how Jesus loved and served the tax collectors and the prostitutes. he did not isolate himself to them, yet he became their friends but he never compromised. Imitating Jesus, we should not isolate but we should help them . That is why the Bible commanded us to know our faith so that we may be ready to defend it as we go into their community. We are not to cut ties but we should strengthen it with the power of Jesus that is in us.
As a Christian, as a leader, and as a person who knows a bit about the doctrines, it is expected that people would ask. And as i read other comments, we answer to those only who ask about us(of course).
ReplyDeleteWe defend our Christian faith because we have seen it in His word and we saw what the church have been through, and we could say that we are in the right side.
In answering to those people who tries to thwart the truth, we must answer that in the basis of the Absolute truth, not just relatively. Also, we must be ready to answer them.
They have different reasons why they attack our Christian faith, but i will just give one answer that i think is the best. One of that is that they think that we are wrong and they are right. they think they are the true church, they have the true God, and that they have the right beliefs and practices.
For me, I will isolate and not isolate myself from them. i will not isolate because i will lose the chance to share to them the Gospel; and to defend to them the Gospel. And i will isolate from them the practices that is compromising and things that are not glorifying.
God bless:)
Christians are to defend the faith to those who question it and credit it with distorted doctrines. It is not like debating but it is more of making them understand what the Word of God really says. We should make them know that we are not just following any tradition, human teaching, or other spiritual books, but that we are following what God is really telling us to do. And it is not like we are telling them that we have the true and right religion but that we have a genuine God and faith.
ReplyDeleteThe possible reasons that non-nelievers attack Christianity is because they want to prove to the majority that they are the right group and they have the right doctrine. It is their way of competing and gaining members. But another reason is that some religion really thinks that we are just another cult and we are paganistic since we believe in the Trinity. Some gtoups may be aware that they are false but some are not since they made themselves exclusive.
Isolation from the pagan culture should not be that tight. We are to be welcoming to those who don't know the truth. But we should be cautious as well lest we conform to their practices. We have to be isolated in a sense that we don't do what they do that doesn't glorify God or God forbid us to do. Yet we should be open too by sharing the truth and letting them see what we really believe through friendship and ministry.
Christians are to defend the faith to those who question it and credit it with distorted doctrines. It is not like debating but it is more of making them understand what the Word of God really says. We should make them know that we are not just following any tradition, human teaching, or other spiritual books, but that we are following what God is really telling us to do. And it is not like we are telling them that we have the true and right religion but that we have a genuine God and faith.
ReplyDeleteThe possible reasons that non-nelievers attack Christianity is because they want to prove to the majority that they are the right group and they have the right doctrine. It is their way of competing and gaining members. But another reason is that some religion really thinks that we are just another cult and we are paganistic since we believe in the Trinity. Some gtoups may be aware that they are false but some are not since they made themselves exclusive.
Isolation from the pagan culture should not be that tight. We are to be welcoming to those who don't know the truth. But we should be cautious as well lest we conform to their practices. We have to be isolated in a sense that we don't do what they do that doesn't glorify God or God forbid us to do. Yet we should be open too by sharing the truth and letting them see what we really believe through friendship and ministry.
We must boldly hold the truths of Jesus Christ. If we don't defend our faith, people won't know about Christ and in fact more false teachings will be brought into Christianity. We should defended our faith because nowadays many wolves and cult people are claiming to be or even leading others astray. Furthermore, we must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that we can encourage others by sound doctrine and able to refute those who oppose.On the other hand, we should be wise in the way we act toward outsiders as we make the most of every opportunity. Let our conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that we may know how to answer everyone. Hence, Christians will get plenty of hatred from the world yet Jesus commanded us to love them and He will give us strength to do it. Throughout the gospel of John, it is evident that the religious establishment not only opposed Jesus but even sought to kill Him. As He continued His ministry, there was a tide of resentment, then hatred, and then open opposition toward Him. Due to that, believers and followers of Christ should not be surprised if the world will hate us. However, we must not isolate ourselves from them in order for us to witness and share to them our faith because Christians should seek to transform the culture by seeking to control its institutions and claim each for Christ for we have been removed from the world's power at conversion and all the while we must keep from the influence of the world (James 1:27)
ReplyDeletein a basketball game every team need to have a defense in order to succeed their goal, so just like our Christian faith we need a strong defense and that is by defending our faith against false teachings and witnesses. apostle Paul said be strong in the faith and put the whole armor of God and stand strongly for what is the truth.
ReplyDeletein Christian world today even in a news when we saw it it become a norms of many Christians that they being attack by a nonbelievers its because they know all Christians who follow Christ are foolish and yes! indeed you and I are foolish, foolish in Christ because among all religious we are the one who hold and proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ, and the truth is because of Christianity many converts become foolishness in Christ too just like us.
we were being isolated already by the pagan worlds and practices even our parents before are pagans but we are the light of the truth to these pagan community the Bible says we are the light of the world and this light we have is the hope of these people, but the question is are we ready to take a risk even if our life will take form others are we ready to die just by proclaiming the truth of the Gospel and about Jesus Christ? it is very easy to type or say yes but the truth is it is hard without commitment to the Lord.
in a basketball game every team need to have a defense in order to succeed their goal, so just like our Christian faith we need a strong defense and that is by defending our faith against false teachings and witnesses. apostle Paul said be strong in the faith and put the whole armor of God and stand strongly for what is the truth.
ReplyDeletein Christian world today even in a news when we saw it it become a norms of many Christians that they being attack by a nonbelievers its because they know all Christians who follow Christ are foolish and yes! indeed you and I are foolish, foolish in Christ because among all religious we are the one who hold and proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ, and the truth is because of Christianity many converts become foolishness in Christ too just like us.
we were being isolated already by the pagan worlds and practices even our parents before are pagans but we are the light of the truth to these pagan community the Bible says we are the light of the world and this light we have is the hope of these people, but the question is are we ready to take a risk even if our life will take form others are we ready to die just by proclaiming the truth of the Gospel and about Jesus Christ? it is very easy to type or say yes but the truth is it is hard without commitment to the Lord.