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What God Uses

Discussion in '2000-02 Archive' started by Helen, Sep 29, 2002.

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  1. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    There have been some interesting comments in some of the various threads lately about "because xxxx leads/lead people/a person to Christ, that xxxx must be good."

    I was led back to Christ in my 20's though picking up a book at an airport when I missed a plane. It was called "The Story of Jesus" I think and turned out to be about Edgar Cayce, "America's Sleeping Prophet" who was deeply into the occult.

    Did that make the Cayce book good? No, it did not. I simply meant that God can use anything. So if God uses a Chick tract or something Falwell says or even something Benny Hinn says to spark a person where Christ is concerned, that, by itself, does not mean the tract or the person is righteous or right with God. This is really important I think. We tend to think that if so many people attend a church, then the church must be good. What it may be good at is entertaining, not preaching the gospel!

    Don't know if this will spark any conversation, but it is something that has occurred to me while reading several of the different threads lately.
     
    #1 Helen, Sep 29, 2002
  2. Rev. G

    Rev. G New Member

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    Helen, you make a great point! It is well taken.

    Rev. G
     
    #2 Rev. G, Sep 30, 2002
  3. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    How about the Mormon Church?
    They give away free KJV Bibles.

    Amazing.

    HankD
     
    #3 HankD, Sep 30, 2002
  4. preacher

    preacher New Member

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    Sure.
    God can use "anything or anybody" to get our attention. With me He's used secular books, artcles in newspapers, even t.v. commercials! AGHAST!!! [​IMG]
    Ain't never seen him use a talking donkey yet though...unless you count... ;)
     
    #4 preacher, Sep 30, 2002
  5. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

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    I think when you see something/someone being used repeatedly by God to lead people to him, then there's no problem in saying it's a good thing! And of course, we recognize that's it's God's work, not the person or the book's, but it does tell you something about a person or author of God is repeatedly using them. [​IMG] Leading them falsely to THINK they're going to God is different.
    Another example of a bad thing bringing you closer to God? I'm reading "The Christian Agnostic". The book is blatantly promoting disbelief and falseness, but it's strengthening my faith in the truth and helping me be better able to deal with real people who come up with the same logic this guy does. But no, it isn't good, and no, I don't recommend people run out and read it to grow closer to God. It's a personal thing that is obviously being used in my situation. God knows what works for each person. Amazing how that just continually is, huh?
    Gina
     
    #5 Gina B, Sep 30, 2002
  6. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Sort of reminds you of that verse in first Corinthians...."But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty."

    It was a pig farmer who taught me the greatest lesson in homiletics. He took me home after the morning service for dinner. Beforehand, he took me down to the barn to show me his hogs. With a pail of grain in hand he gave a great shout and the hogs came running and fed.
    "See that", he said? "I used simple language and they came and were fed."
    "I attended your sermon this morning with the fancy words and I came away hungry."

    I learned to preach simply and then the most learned would understand, as would the child in the front pew.

    Yours, because His,

    Jim
     
    #6 Jim1999, Sep 30, 2002
  7. Rev. G

    Rev. G New Member

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    While the Lord may certainly use certain circumstances, "oddball" books, etc., to lead and guide us, the Holy Spirit chooses to use His Word to bring about the new birth and to also bring about growth in the Christian life.

    Rev. G
     
    #7 Rev. G, Sep 30, 2002
  8. Grammy1013

    Grammy1013 <img src =/Kate.gif>

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    Yeah, he uses "talking donkeys", lol. He used a woman who reads tarot cards to get my attention, and he used the ACLU to help me grow. [​IMG]
     
    #8 Grammy1013, Sep 30, 2002
  9. post-it

    post-it <img src=/post-it.jpg>

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    God used Judas, to carry out his plans also. In this case it is clear that the tool was evil and can't be good. But in the case of a Mormon who helped a person become a Baptist through educational material etc, we can't say the Mormon is evil, nor can we judge the Mormon on certain levels. The Mormon is good unless the person is evil. We may only judge him on the points of what we deem is wrong for us to believe. But we can't say he is wrong and know for sure as we can with Judas.

    The Mormon example is not the best example to use, I'm sure, but I just wanted to put forward the difference between knowing evil and assuming through faith or "belief" that someone is wrong or evil.
     
    #9 post-it, Sep 30, 2002
  10. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    Why not? Is not the word of God sufficient evidence to judge by? In declaring a mormon to be wrong about his beliefs, we are not doing so by faith but rather on the basis of revelation. Your statement would be more applicable if you substituted "presbyterian" for "mormon." There is no question about Mormons. There are about Presbyterians.
     
    #10 Pastor Larry, Sep 30, 2002
  11. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    Please go back and look at my post post-it.

    I said nothing about evil or wrong and assumed nothing.

    I expressed amazement that Mormons and Baptists could agree on anything.

    HankD
     
    #11 HankD, Sep 30, 2002
  12. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    I was saved after hearing an old Billy Graham sermon, recorded in the early '60s, on what happens when we die. Now looking into his latter teachings, I'm very suprised at his ecumenical leanings. I'm glad I heard the message, thru him, but he's certainly nobody I would recommend.
     
    #12 Bro. Curtis, Oct 1, 2002
  13. AVL1984

    AVL1984 <img src=../ubb/avl1984.jpg>

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    Helen, I've seen God use things as simple as a salescall to the wrong # to have a person led to Christ. The salesman tried to sell my friend something and the man led him to Christ instead!

    I've seen people come to the Lord through the use of some of the most doctrinally wrong tracts I had ever seen put out through the AOG church. Yet, the person was genuinely saved. Thank the Lord that they were finally led to a Godly soulwinning church.

    God can use anything. Even "Good News for Modern Man".

    AJL
     
    #13 AVL1984, Oct 1, 2002
  14. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    It gets interesting, doesn't it? Each heart is 'plowed ground' one way or another and God knows just what is going to be needed for each individual life to get that person's attention.

    That plowed ground -- that's pain. People don't look for answers when everything is rosy usually...
     
    #14 Helen, Oct 1, 2002
  15. blackbird

    blackbird Active Member

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    Sister Helen,
    He sure can, can't He? Sometimes I've witnessed to people and found myself stuttering and stammering through the Roman road--slaughterin' the King's language--thinking in my mind--"That guy ain't gonna receive Christ today. Not by listening to all of those grammer errors and fumbling through trying to find the right verse to use! He'll turn me down for sure--just by not likin' my presentation!"--BUT--in spite of the stuttering and stammering--some DO recieve Jesus! Amen, Sister!

    Your friend,
    Blackbird
     
    #15 blackbird, Oct 1, 2002
  16. preacher

    preacher New Member

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    We just have to remember that we may stumble & stammer....but tha Holy Ghost doesn't!! :D [​IMG]
     
    #16 preacher, Oct 2, 2002
  17. Grammy1013

    Grammy1013 <img src =/Kate.gif>

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    The word of God is the judge. If the doctrine is wrong, it's evil.
     
    #17 Grammy1013, Oct 2, 2002
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