1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Defending God

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Gina B, Oct 16, 2006.

  1. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2000
    Messages:
    16,944
    Likes Received:
    1
    Does God need us to defend Him?
    No, that's silly.

    But...does He WANT us to defend Him?

    In what form?

    My question arises mostly from one class I am taking at the college, partially two but that's not important.

    In the past I have always been able to gently introduce my opinions on the topic of Christianity when I felt it wasn't getting "fair play".

    However, two classes this term - one in particular - are posing problems in this are.

    The main one is happening because the instructor's attitude is that Christianity is just another religion that rose up with other monotheistic religions, an old idea that some people still cling too. That in itself doesn't even become a problem UNTIL he presents it in a mocking manner. For example, stating that someone said "God bless you" and going on to snicker that it's obvious there's a causal effect for the blessing and you know exactly how it happened and it wasn't God.

    I'm always thrown when we start a new quarter but then I get my ground and work around stuff, but this class is really causing some spiritual discontent. I can't figure out a way to say anything, yet I'm very uncomfortable with saying nothing. This is all lecture, there's really not too much interaction. You CAN, but what is happening is that these comments are most often side comments and don't come at a time when it would make sense to interrupt.

    I left today, and don't know whether it was him or my body or my spirit making me feel physically ill. So yes, it's really really that serious to me.

    I hate sitting there and hearing God mocked. Then again, it's happening all around us and I don't react quite like this. Although I guess this is different because it's meant directly for us to hear, and because it appears most of the class agrees with him. So...taking it personally to him and saying "I find the presentation of some of this material bothersome" doesn't seem like it would do much. It wouldn't change how he feels, only how he expresses it while I'm in the class.
    And the rest of the class wouldn't hear it, so I'm thinking a private approach would be hopeless.

    Anyone with a suggestion on how to approach this, feel free to jump in here! I'm not shy so it's not a matter of not having the nerve or anything...it's a matter of how. And of course, that delicate little matter of not making the person hate you who is giving you your grade. :1_grouphug: (can't we all just get along?) So far I've been able to manage that one with other unbelievers as instructors, but this one just is beyond me right now!
     
  2. Joshua Rhodes

    Joshua Rhodes <img src=/jrhodes.jpg>

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2003
    Messages:
    3,944
    Likes Received:
    0
    Gina, I'll be in thought and prayer about this. I'll let you know if I come up with something.
     
  3. 2BHizown

    2BHizown New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2005
    Messages:
    763
    Likes Received:
    0
    Personally, if I was in such a class I guess I'd feel I must say something to him, after class. Guess I'd say something like, 'each of us might be of a different faith and have different opinions but when someone shows total disrespect and dishonor to God I get goose bumps, feel sick, cant concentrate and get the best benefit from this class. I would so appreciate it if you could consider this as a request'.
    Of course back when I was in class no one would have ever even considered saying anything negative against a holy God, creator of our universe! Such sad and frightening changes young people must deal with today!
    Prayers, :praying:
     
  4. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2000
    Messages:
    16,944
    Likes Received:
    1
    Josh, thanks!

    2B, I'm technically not THAT young. (the age on my profile is messed up and I don't know how to fix it) I attended a public high school and even there (maybe because it was more south!) God was not discussed negatively, there was still respect there even among self-proclaimed atheists.
     
  5. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2000
    Messages:
    16,944
    Likes Received:
    1
    PS: main question still remains:

    Does God want us to defend Him?
     
  6. 2BHizown

    2BHizown New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2005
    Messages:
    763
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yes, of course we are to defend Him!

    Mark 8:38
    Luke 9:26

    Today so many christians are backing down, shrinking away from any conflict, told to be 'tolerant' while the world abuses our Lord, our beliefs and are totally irreverent, blasphemous, and heretical in their flaming criticisms! Should we not be able to speak out for truth? Did not Martin Luther speak out, take noble risks for which we've had such great benefit?
     
    #6 2BHizown, Oct 16, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 16, 2006
  7. TC

    TC Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 7, 2003
    Messages:
    2,244
    Likes Received:
    10
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I don't think that God needs us to defend him, but I do think he wants us to speak up for him. I know of a guy that was disturbed at work every time someone said Jesus name as a swear word. After a while, he would yell out praise his holy name when someone yelled Jesus Christ or Jesus H. Christ - it did not take to long for the people to cease from doing it.

    I would probably confront the teacher in private first and if needed I would go to the department head (the teachers boss). The most important thing before taking any action is to pray and see what God wants you to do.
     
  8. Pipedude

    Pipedude Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2005
    Messages:
    1,070
    Likes Received:
    0
    A high priority in a college department is "keep the customers happy and don't make trouble." If he won't do right and his chairman hears about it, there'll be trouble. His behavior transgresses the Law of Sensitivity, a higher than which no atheist college can conceive of.

    2B's sample wording would probably work well and the teacher would probably not try to monkey with your grade in retaliation. In fact, I wouldn't expect him to harbor ill feelings toward you at all.

    I know of a case where an atheist chairman of a religion department told a new religion professor to go slow with the undergrads, since some of them come from fundamentalist churches. The department didn't want to provoke a reaction by enlightening them too quickly. (The new prof, unbeknownst to the new chairman, was an evangelical.) Here was an atheist who was bent on converting the students away from Christianity, who would not have tolerated a prof being unkind or insensitive in a class. That's to be expected in most schools.

    Go ahead and ask him to back off.
     
  9. Allan

    Allan Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2006
    Messages:
    6,902
    Likes Received:
    5
    Yes, scripture also states we are to "contend for the faith".

    Contend = fight or struggle.
    Then are some others as well.

    However in a classroom setting, I would partially agree that maybe an after class side bar might help. - but most likely it wont since he has already decided he will put down specifically the christian faith in front of his student. He does this on purpose to show his distain (I had some college professors this way as well) at any who hold to it.

    I would personally let it slide, and speak up as you feel led.

    The whole sneeze-God bless you thing, is quite silly coming from him since he of all people should know that was a superstition from the middle ages at a time when bible understanding was held back (thus the term dark ages), and not anything done for a thousand plus years back to the early church nor found in scripture. Now, it is considered just a phrase of common curtiousy, when someone sneezes.
     
  10. FERRON BRIMSTONE

    FERRON BRIMSTONE New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2006
    Messages:
    136
    Likes Received:
    0
    God has put you in this situation, not us. Ask God to lead you to the right answer. When you are sure of what God wants you to do, do it. But remember that when we take our stand we also have to pay whatever price there is to pay. But how we handle the aftermath says more to the others than what we say. Remember Daniel, Shadrack, meshack, and abednego; Stephen, Paul, and Peter all defened there faith as well as millions since.
     
  11. Mary Diana Lynn Harper

    Joined:
    May 17, 2006
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Of Course, One question for you, Would you defend your earthly father if someone were to call him a liar or worse? How much more is your Heavenly Father to you? He is worth much more to defend than any one on this earth and needs to know how much you love Him in any situation. A good example of this is Daniel and His friends. They did not care who knew their love for God and that they would follow God no matter the consequences. That is true yesterday, today and will be true tommorrow. God is worth defending. We have to defend God in this world gone amuck. He has already been taking out of most of our lifes, schools, governmnet and it is because we don't defend Him that this has happened. The people who have not believed, believe enough to take God out of our lives, and they have succeeded. It is time and has been for a long time that we defend God. :godisgood:
     
  12. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2005
    Messages:
    10,407
    Likes Received:
    0
    How has God been taken out of our lives? No one else can do that; no court, no government, no teacher, no clergy . . . no one. As for the government and public schools, that is the Constitution, not lack of defending God. The government and the public schools belong to everyone, not just believers. Besides, you cannot take God out of anything, we do not have that power. However, it is fitting that the government maintain a neutral stance toward religion.
     
  13. Mary Diana Lynn Harper

    Joined:
    May 17, 2006
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Dear Magi

    When a child {is taken out of school because that child believes and talks about God} or adult [Fired because the adult talks about God] or the Word of God [because atheist or some other religion wants the Bible taken out of public display]. Although we still believe in God that does not change but this great country was founded on the Word of God, where do you have a problem with the Word being displayed or a child believing and wanting to share that belief or an adult seeing someone hurting and wanting to comfort them. Where have you been? That does not change their beliefs cause their belief is strong enough to withstand, but when our forfathers have been persucuted because of their religion and have built this great country on God where do you have a problem with that. Do you believe in God? Who are you?:saint:
     
  14. menageriekeeper

    menageriekeeper Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2004
    Messages:
    7,152
    Likes Received:
    0
    Okay, I'm going against the flow but my first thought was this:

    Christ didn't defend Himself, what makes you think He wants us to put up a defense?

    Our command is to go tell, not go defend.

    So go tell (perhaps he doesn't really understand) and then leave it be.

    Sometimes there is nothing to be gained from these kinds of discussions except our own comfort. And who said our lives were supposed to be spiritually comfortable? We need to be bringing light and hope for the glory of the Father, will confronting your professor in front of the class really do that?
     
  15. Mary Diana Lynn Harper

    Joined:
    May 17, 2006
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yes

    You may be right but when it comes to My Lord God, I stand on His Word and His Promises. I try my best to stand on the Word and when it is taken from my grandchildren or children or greatgrandchildren because they believe and the schools and government says they can not believe or even talk about God, than I see red. My Lord is my God and He is greater than all. No one will take Him from my home because they have a fight on their hands. Sorry but yes I will defend my God, wheather He defends himself or not, as long as I live, God is my strength and my comfort and the head of this household. He is my provider. Even if I fall or am sifted, His word is continually my strength. :tear: I am sorry if that offends anyone. But I am not sorry for the Word, it is my strength.
     
  16. menageriekeeper

    menageriekeeper Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2004
    Messages:
    7,152
    Likes Received:
    0
    I told you I was going against the flow and when I go against the flow I REALLY go against it.

    Where in the Bible does it say anger is a fruit of the Spirit?
     
  17. Mary Diana Lynn Harper

    Joined:
    May 17, 2006
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    it is not anger

    it is zealous for God, Remember when Jesus overturned the tables of the moneychangers, He was not angry, His zeal for God the Father hath consumed Him. I feel the same way, John 2:13 thru17:love2:
     
  18. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2005
    Messages:
    10,407
    Likes Received:
    0
    Can you cite an instance in the US where a child has been expelled over belief in God? That is not legal.

    Should adult teachers be able to proselytize children in their classroom? No.

    If you want scriptures displayed or teachers leading prayer, put the child in a Christian school. It is wrong to push one's religion on other people's children in their public school (for which their parents also pay taxes). You wouldn't want it done to you, so you shouldn't do it to others.

    The US is founded on the Constitution (which does not mention God), not on the word of God.

    As for who I am, see my profile.
     
  19. Mary Diana Lynn Harper

    Joined:
    May 17, 2006
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    You are wrong

    This great country was founded on religious freedom, God, the persucution of our forefathers, our belief in God. the constitution was just a byproduct of our freedom. If you want proof about a child being outest out of school because of their religious belief, I can not give you that but I do know that I heard about it on the news, several months, maybe a year ago. When children started school back years ago, they began each day with the pledge of allegience. Under God. Have you forgotten? Just cause I can not afford to send my children to a christian school:applause: does not mean that they should be punished by non believers just because. I am old enough to realize the values of God in my home, in my childrens lifes and in my government. God should be in every aspect of our lifes, especially here in the United States of this Great America. Even on coins it says IN GOD WE TRUST, not in man we trust.
     
  20. menageriekeeper

    menageriekeeper Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2004
    Messages:
    7,152
    Likes Received:
    0
    Seeing red describes anger. Be zealous, but be without anger. :)
     
Loading...