An Old "Friend" Seeking to Line Me Up

[StillStanding]

There's nothing like old friends. A real friend loveth at all times. A real friend has your back when they feel that you might get ambushed using the facade of "caring for your soul"!

He that winneth souls is wise. Something tells me that if you ever went back to "ole-time Pentecost", it would be thru your life-long friend, not a bible school friend that you hadn't seen in 30 years.

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

My longtime friend is my best friend. He is still in the UPC. I trust him wholeheartedly. My best friend would not be making things up and leading me astray. We talk several times a week and have for the last 30 years. Originally the Bible school classmate was just going to show up without a phone call or forewarning. I'm thankful that the Lord gave me an opportunity to prepare my approach to this man. Otherwise it is very likely that I would have sinned and given him a piece of my mind.

I agree that the Bible school classmate was sincere yet ignorant. While I was working he stopped by the church to look at our building. A prayer group that meets weekly at our church happened to be there. He joined them in prayer and one of the ladies present said in his loud praying he made it very obvious that he thought I was in bad shape and that our church was in a bad place.

The Bible says he that wins souls is wise. Even if your doctrine is flawless if your methods are foolish, you won't win anyone.

For the life of me I do not get why some here are putting you down. I appreciate your maturity in Christ.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Originalist

For the life of me I do not get why some here are putting you down. I appreciate your maturity in Christ.

Honestly, it did sound a little pharisaical, when DB posted that he thanks God he wasn't like the legalistic knuckle dragging old tyme Pennycostal

Originally Posted by deacon blues

I saved his number in my phone. I'm still waiting for that phone call. I wonder if it will ever come? I will be happy to share with this man God's grace, the gospel of Jesus, the freedom that comes with a life in Christ, the fallacy of legalism, the joy of being secure in my salvation because of what Jesus has done for me, and the good place I am in now, with so many of the trials I have endured behind me.

DB is in a good place, his old bud is in a bad place, DB has joy because he is secure in his salvation, and his Bible school friend has no joy because he isn't secure in his salvation of obviously what Jesus hasn't done for him?

I guess it is all how you look at this con vs lib Kabuki Theatre

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

My longtime friend is my best friend. He is still in the UPC. I trust him wholeheartedly. My best friend would not be making things up and leading me astray. We talk several times a week and have for the last 30 years. Originally the Bible school classmate was just going to show up without a phone call or forewarning. I'm thankful that the Lord gave me an opportunity to prepare my approach to this man. Otherwise it is very likely that I would have sinned and given him a piece of my mind.

I agree that the Bible school classmate was sincere yet ignorant. While I was working he stopped by the church to look at our building. A prayer group that meets weekly at our church happened to be there. He joined them in prayer and one of the ladies present said in his loud praying he made it very obvious that he thought I was in bad shape and that our church was in a bad place.

The Bible says he that wins souls is wise. Even if your doctrine is flawless if your methods are foolish, you won't win anyone.

Can you share where the Bible says that being concerned about a brother who has "changed" and expressing that in prayer for the "changed" brother is ignorant, foolish, or unwise and is to be avoided because it will cause the "changed" brother (or others) to be lost?

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

My longtime friend is my best friend. He is still in the UPC. I trust him wholeheartedly. My best friend would not be making things up and leading me astray. We talk several times a week and have for the last 30 years. Originally the Bible school classmate was just going to show up without a phone call or forewarning. I'm thankful that the Lord gave me an opportunity to prepare my approach to this man. Otherwise it is very likely that I would have sinned and given him a piece of my mind.

I agree that the Bible school classmate was sincere yet ignorant. While I was working he stopped by the church to look at our building. A prayer group that meets weekly at our church happened to be there. He joined them in prayer and one of the ladies present said in his loud praying he made it very obvious that he thought I was in bad shape and that our church was in a bad place.

The Bible says he that wins souls is wise. Even if your doctrine is flawless if your methods are foolish, you won't win anyone.

Yep, you sure ain't painting this cowboy as anything less than a circus trainwreck.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

My longtime friend is my best friend. He is still in the UPC. I trust him wholeheartedly. My best friend would not be making things up and leading me astray. We talk several times a week and have for the last 30 years. Originally the Bible school classmate was just going to show up without a phone call or forewarning. I'm thankful that the Lord gave me an opportunity to prepare my approach to this man. Otherwise it is very likely that I would have sinned and given him a piece of my mind.

I agree that the Bible school classmate was sincere yet ignorant. While I was working he stopped by the church to look at our building. A prayer group that meets weekly at our church happened to be there. He joined them in prayer and one of the ladies present said in his loud praying he made it very obvious that he thought I was in bad shape and that our church was in a bad place.
The Bible says he that wins souls is wise. Even if your doctrine is flawless if your methods are foolish, you won't win anyone.

Bless his heart.

[kclee4jc]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

My longtime friend is my best friend. He is still in the UPC. I trust him wholeheartedly. My best friend would not be making things up and leading me astray. We talk several times a week and have for the last 30 years. Originally the Bible school classmate was just going to show up without a phone call or forewarning. I'm thankful that the Lord gave me an opportunity to prepare my approach to this man. Otherwise it is very likely that I would have sinned and given him a piece of my mind.

I agree that the Bible school classmate was sincere yet ignorant. While I was working he stopped by the church to look at our building. A prayer group that meets weekly at our church happened to be there. He joined them in prayer and one of the ladies present said in his loud praying he made it very obvious that he thought I was in bad shape and that our church was in a bad place.

The Bible says he that wins souls is wise. Even if your doctrine is flawless if your methods are foolish, you won't win anyone.

nvm!

[mfblume]

The ark of the covenant was where God's glory rested. David retrieved it from the Philistines and used the ox cart method the Philistines used to carry it back. It faltered, Uzzah reached out to steady it, and was smitten dead. It was later learned they were supposed to carry it on their shoulders with staves.

We can have the right message BUT CARRY IT THE WRONG WAY, AND IT CAUSES DEATH!

[deacon blues]

Originally Posted by Sweet Pea

Deacon Blues, thank you for sharing your heart. I think that some who are ridiculing you for how you handled this are missing the whole point!!!! In response to some of the comments:

1) I don't think that the second friend gave you bad info. I think that your "heaping coals of fire" on your friend's head caused him to re-think what he was going to say to you.

2) I don't think you were "ridiculing" him on this forum. I think this was a testimony to loving people where they are in their journey. Your kindness to him obviously touched him and made him re-think what he wanted to say to you.

3) YES! It is a "victory." It is a victory that the two could meet and have some fellowship without one or the other trying to convert the other one to his way of thinking.

4) I don't see Deacon judging anyone!!! I see him willing to meet a friend who has a different viewpoint than his own and allowing God to lead and guide him in how to act.

Again, Deacon, thank you for sharing your heart! I will sometimes pop in to see what is going on. It was a treat to see your name and read your post. May God continue to lead and guide you. May He be very real and close to you in a special way today!

Thank you SP. I was hoping at least someone would understand what I was trying to communicate.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Sweet Pea

Deacon Blues, thank you for sharing your heart. I think that some who are ridiculing you for how you handled this are missing the whole point!!!! In response to some of the comments:

1) I don't think that the second friend gave you bad info. I think that your "heaping coals of fire" on your friend's head caused him to re-think what he was going to say to you.

2) I don't think you were "ridiculing" him on this forum. I think this was a testimony to loving people where they are in their journey. Your kindness to him obviously touched him and made him re-think what he wanted to say to you.

3) YES! It is a "victory." It is a victory that the two could meet and have some fellowship without one or the other trying to convert the other one to his way of thinking.

4) I don't see Deacon judging anyone!!! I see him willing to meet a friend who has a different viewpoint than his own and allowing God to lead and guide him in how to act.

Again, Deacon, thank you for sharing your heart! I will sometimes pop in to see what is going on. It was a treat to see your name and read your post. May God continue to lead and guide you. May He be very real and close to you in a special way today!

I was trying to Retweet your comments. LOL!