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Old 05-28-2007, 06:22 PM   #10
epistemaniac
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but also emphasize the fact that while she practices this sin, it makes her no worse than you or I before we came to Christ, for we were all sinners when Christ reached out to us and we came to the Cross for salvation.... we can't say that someone coming out of a sinful lifestyle... we can't "stand above them" as it were as if we are better than them...... and when we confront people with the fact that their's is a sinful lifestyle, that we have to be clear that we are not trying to be a "holier than thou" kind of person.... we... every last one of us... are sinners saved by grace... (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

........ and if she continues to refuse Christ, your relationship will change, perhaps sadly, perhaps gladly.... because the word of God always.... ALWAYS... accomplishes its purpose... in some cases it brings sinners to their knees in repentance, but in others it further and further hardens their hearts... we need not give up on such people, I am just saying that on a relational basis, things will change with her because of the inherent confrontational nature of the truth.... and if Christ Jesus is the only way to the Father, than the law of non-contradiction states that any other way that claims to be another way to God must be false.... there can't both be only one way to God and also a multitude of ways to God, this is logically impossible... getting this fact through to the hearts and minds of those involved in Pluralistic religions like Wiccans and Liberals and all sorts of other "religions" may be one of your hardest tasks. (if you get the chance, read the free full online text of J Gresham Machen's book called "Christianity and Liberalism" for more help in this area, this book is found in numerous places online, http://www.reformed.org/books/chr_and_lib/ is just one of those places) Getting through to her in a way that says it impossible that both you and her are right in religious matter, that the platitude "as long as you are sincere, thats all that matters" is a load of bunk, that maybe she is right, maybe you are right, or maybe you both are wrong are possibilities, but it is simply impossible that you are both right, there are contradictory truth propositions within both of your religious belief systems, your "worldviews", and it behooves both of you to work hard towards being certain that you are believing the truth. Your very soul depends on it. Maybe previously you were one of those "all paths lead to God" kinda people before you came to Christ, and so you had this worldview in common with this friend and maybe that was at least one reason she was always there for you, I don't know.....
But Jesus and the exclusivity He taught tends to do at least 2 things, it is blasphemy to the Jews, and foolishness to the Gentiles, but in either case usually the ones who present this exclusivity are either thought to be right and you may have the extreme honor of being used of God to lead someone to Christ, or the persons you have been friends with will suddenly have other things to do when you call or come around.

In any case its a fine line you have to walk.... you have to watch your heart.... guard it carefully... for persons just coming out of that "scene" can very very easily find themselves back slidden and sucked right back into that sinful lifestyle... so don't follow her into places where you have any uncertainty whatsoever that you can trust yourself to be there and not fall, because if you do fail in your witness to Christ in front of all the people you come into contact during the time you have stopped following God with both your actions and words ... your witness, character, and reputation.... will lose a great deal of its power and will defame the name of Christ. So its serious business. I loved the idea that Violet had about meeting in a different sort of place to talk. If she is your friend she wants to talk to you, find out how you are doing, and not looking for an excuse to have someone to go out and get drunk with. Something I heart a girl say that she had to say over and over to herself in order to leave behind that lifestyle is that "you must avoid people, places, and things" until you are strong enough to briefly, if at all, associate with people still chained to the bar scene (oh but how they will tell you that they are the ones who are "free"... riiiggghhhtttt). Remember too that (James 4:4) You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

So pray, study, pray, and study over and over again because you have to remember that confrontations like the one you are contemplating are not mere "getting together with an old friend" though it may may seem so... it all may be all very subtle... but make no mistake about it my friend, you are involved in a war:

(2 Timothy 2:4) No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

(Ephesians 6:10-18) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance....."

so prepare your self for battle.... know the enemy (not that your friend is the enemy per se, but find out what she believes exactly and then find Christian authors who have dealt with the Wiccans before, so you can find out how best to witness to them, or read books on how to reach those persons involved in some New Age groups because they are very similar in some ways.... but if you are not prepared for battle... you will fall..... you need to have God, be praying, and be using the mind God gave you (reading good books on apologetics etc) in order to successfully encounter powers and principalities who's only reason for existence is to seduce people away from the truth and to prevent others who are in the truth from opening the eyes of those who have believed the lies of Satan.

blessings,
Ken
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