Do Not Understand My Baptist Friend At All Nowadays

[korn6499]

Me and this guy just 'clicked' many years ago, and its been a good friendship ever since. I didn't even know he was a religious type until he started talking about it and trying to 'evangelize' me. After all, that is your jOB right, to grow your numbers to bring legitimacy to your cause? I was fine with that, I used to go to church a long time ago and if he wanted to talk about jesus every now and then that was fine with me. I've always told him that I don't believe in anything at the moment, but respected him as a friend to listen and go to church once in a blue moon just to meet him half way. And after many years, I've even given jesus a chance just to see if hes on to something.The prOBlem is that he doesn't meet you half way on anything. I can understand not believing in tolerating drunks, sure some of them are out of hand, but really if I have (1) and only 1 alcoholic beverage and he has one with me are we really going to burn in hell? Jesus drank alcoholic beverages!!! He sure seems to think so as I've never had a drink with my best friend. We used to play pool every now and then, and I would have a few, but it stopped after about a year because maybe he thought he was hanging out with the devil or something...I have no clue. All I know is that he doesn't want to play pool now at that place that we always went to. Im inviting him to an event at a casino, that has absolutely no dealings with the table games and drinking and is unrelated. "Nope I don't live the casino life", apparently he thinks hes going to burn in hell if he enters casino property. It would really mean the world if he would come with me, but nope wont even meet me half way and I don't even consider that half way but hey 5% is a start!  I'd go without a drink for a whole year if he only had but one with me, but I guess im dreaming if a fully indoctrinated from birth to current day adult Baptist is going to look outside of their extremely small box. I still love the man as a friend, but just wow I do not understand this guy at all!

[Genevanpreacher]

You are a 'lucky' fella to have such a friend that would try to live right, not in condemnation to you, but in respect of his Lord.

Don't give up on a friendship, that you OBviously feel is real, when God may be watching over your soul through the influence of this friend.

 

The Lord has his children to live the way they do for your blessings, not to shove it in your face.

 

So don't worry about it, and try listening, really listening to this fella.

 

God wants you to, or he wouldn't be in your life's path.

 

Think about it, you are valuable to the Lord.

[swathdiver]

You're asking your friend to push aside God for the sins of this world.  Christians are to live separated lives, free from all appearances of sin.  Going into a bar or casino hurts our testimony.  The greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart and mind and we disOBey Him when we sin and when we sin we are chastened by God like a father would chasten his own son.

 

Jesus Christ did not make or drink wine. It was grape juice.  Please realize that until only about sixty years ago wine was still referred to as grape juice not booze.  Context is key when reading the bible with regards to the word wine.  New Wine, especially means grape juice.

 

My friend, we are not in a box, we're free from sin and the prison that is of this world.  If you were to die today do you know what will happen to you?

[paid4]

Sounds like your friend was born again. He is now different. He has convictions about things that he didn't use to. As far as him "evangelizing" you it was not for anything but to keep you out of hell. You will not go to hell because you "took a drink", went to a casino, or played pool. God does not send "good" people to hell, but let me ask you what is the standard of good. In other words, if there was a "good" test what would give you a perfect score? Also, in that test, who determined that the score was perfect? (The one that made the test) The fact is that being a sinner is what makes you end up in Hell. Hell is like the default, it's automatic. There has to be someone to rescue you from hell. Jesus is the only God in any religion that came to where you are. He doesn't meet you half way, he came all the way. He died on the cross to pay for your sins. He is the only answer to the question "Why should God let you into heaven?" God says there is none righteous ("good") no not one. He also says that our righteousness (goodness)is like filthy rags.

You said you didn't believe in anything but you mentioned Hell in your text. What is your belief about heaven and hell?

Which one are you going to when you die?

Why do you think you are going there?

I beg you to not over think this. Jesus was born of a virgin, crucified for our sins, rose from the dead on the third day to defeat death, hell, and the grave. Talk to Him (God)

Admit that you're a sinner
Repent of your sins
Believe on Jesus Christ
Ask him to come into your heart and save you from hell.

[prophet1]

Me and this guy just 'clicked' many years ago, and its been a good friendship ever since. I didn't even know he was a religious type until he started talking about it and trying to 'evangelize' me. After all, that is your jOB right, to grow your numbers to bring legitimacy to your cause? I was fine with that, I used to go to church a long time ago and if he wanted to talk about jesus every now and then that was fine with me. I've always told him that I don't believe in anything at the moment, but respected him as a friend to listen and go to church once in a blue moon just to meet him half way. And after many years, I've even given jesus a chance just to see if hes on to something.The prOBlem is that he doesn't meet you half way on anything. I can understand not believing in tolerating drunks, sure some of them are out of hand, but really if I have (1) and only 1 alcoholic beverage and he has one with me are we really going to burn in hell? Jesus drank alcoholic beverages!!! He sure seems to think so as I've never had a drink with my best friend. We used to play pool every now and then, and I would have a few, but it stopped after about a year because maybe he thought he was hanging out with the devil or something...I have no clue. All I know is that he doesn't want to play pool now at that place that we always went to. Im inviting him to an event at a casino, that has absolutely no dealings with the table games and drinking and is unrelated. "Nope I don't live the casino life", apparently he thinks hes going to burn in hell if he enters casino property. It would really mean the world if he would come with me, but nope wont even meet me half way and I don't even consider that half way but hey 5% is a start! I'd go without a drink for a whole year if he only had but one with me, but I guess im dreaming if a fully indoctrinated from birth to current day adult Baptist is going to look outside of their extremely small box. I still love the man as a friend, but just wow I do not understand this guy at all!

If your friend really believes that you are going to go to Hell, and that he has been rescued from that possibility, then he should never give up hope that you will accept your Creator, and be rescued as well.
If he didn't talk to you about it, he'd be no friend of yours.
He isn't trying to "grow the numbers to prove legitimacy", though it may appear that way. He is trying to make sure that the 2 of you can remain friends forever.
He doesn't believe he can go to Hell, period.
This concept is a MUST for you to grasp, as his friend.
He believes that you can, and presently ( because you do not believe) are condemned to eventual Hell.
He believes that you 2 will be separated forever, by death, and doesn't want that to happen.

You have a good friend.

You should read his God's Bible, and see for yourself what it says.
Then you would have a lot to discuss with him, and could relate better.

If you want to try God, read the words, all of them, from the beginning to the end, that His followers say He gave them.
They will tell you if you can believe them or not.
You owe it to yourself, and your friendship, to at least see for yourself the whole thing.

God Bless you.
I hope your perusal of this site is beneficial.

Anishinaabe