New Christian Tract now hits the streets !!!!

[web730]

Excellent post Vampy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I do believe in God, but I believe in my OWN God, that is the God of love and kindness. I don't believe in the Christian God, and I don't believe that you have to be Christian-holy to be SAVED. If you've known love, then you have known God, and known Jesus. If you try to be the best person you can be....then you will go to whatever good place there is after this existance.

Can you verify a source that you can be saved by not believing in Christian God and Jesus other than the Bible?

Your reply is not making sense at all except trying to be a good person.

 

[Reba]

I can see the images at the web link now, no problem. :P

Handing out tracts is a non-threatening way to share the Gospel. The recipient is free to do with it whatever he or she wants.

I was saved thru a Gospel tract. It was a simple, clear, calm Gospel presentation. As I read the tract, the Holy Spirit convicted me, and enlightened me.

I give out many tracts. I don't use the Chick tracts but even they have a place. Different people respond to different approaches. Some people, who have experienced a lifetime of harshness and judgment might need to see the love of Jesus. Some people, proud of their own accomplishments and good works, might need to see the judgment of God. Some people, confused and troubled, might need to see the peace of God. All those needs can be met by God; He knows the needs of each person.

For examples: I give out "thank you" tracts with generous monetary tips at restaurants. I give out Christmas story and carol themed tracts with Christmas cards. When I travel out of state, I leave tracts with local area churches' addresses stamped on the backs, in the Gideon Bibles in motel rooms.

When Halloween is on a Sunday or Wednesday night, I'm not home to give out "treats" because I'm at church. If Halloween is on other nights of the week, we give out candy and "kid" style tracts to the trick-or-treaters. We don't "celebrate" Halloween, nor do we decorate for it but it is my personal conviction that it doesn't further the Gospel to be mean to the little kids who ring my doorbell. Hubby and I "ooh and ahhh" over the cute kids in their costumes, and give them lots of treats. The tracts we give them are not "scary".

 

[Reba]

...I don't believe that you have to be Christian-holy to be SAVED. ..

I don't know what you mean "Christian-holy" to be saved. Jesus saves sinners, not "holy" people. If people were "holy", they wouldn't need salvation.

I Samuel 2
2 There is none holy as the LORD....

Romans 5
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

If you try to be the best person you can be....then you will go to whatever good place there is after this existance.

Galatians 2
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Ephesians 2
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

[Rose Immortal]

Handing out tracts is not always "non-threatening". On the college campus where I went, there were people who were terrible bullies while handing out religious tracts. That kind of behavior is not something that speaks very well of them, or of who they claim to represent (almost like defamation of character against God, if you ask me).

Now, if you are KIND and you hand out something that has a warm message, I don't mind. Somebody once gave me a very nice little card that had a message of forgiveness on it. The way she did it was also interesting--we'd been chatting in the coffee shop and on the way out the door she just left it on the table and went her way. I think there's nothing wrong with that kind of approach--but anything that crosses the line into meanness (and the texts of many of these do, as well as the behavior of people handing them out) I can't abide by.

As for Halloween, I almost think that if you do not believe in it, it's best to not be home at all that night, regardless of what day of the week it is. Seeing a movie would be a good thing to do with that time.

Personally I am not bothered by Halloween because I think it has turned into something so thoroughly secular and commercial that I just see kids in costumes going around and getting free candy. Good parents teach the children that none of the things they're dressing up as are real, and forbid their children from playing any of the nasty pranks that some people do during Halloween...but after that, I really am not bothered.

 

[Reba]

...As for Halloween, I almost think that if you do not believe in it, it's best to not be home at all that night, regardless of what day of the week it is. Seeing a movie would be a good thing to do with that time...

I don't see any reason to leave my own home on Halloween just to avoid trick-or-treaters. If I already have a reason to be gone (church or work, for example) that is different.

The only time we go to movies is for special features at IMAX, maybe three times a year, during the daytime, with our grandsons. I haven't been to any other movie theaters in more than 20 years! So I doubt that you will see me there on Halloween.

 

[1purple_panda]

The tract was great. .

And yea, tracts isnt for everyone. . Some would believe in God from an act of Godly love in other ways. .

With some people just being a friend first and show them Godly love would be a way to get them to open up. .

Believing in Jesus doesnt mean we are automatically perfect and 100% without fault. . We just know that we cannot do it on our own. . We cannot "earn points" to win a spot in Heaven.

That's why God made it easily. . Just by faith that we believe in Jesus as the One true way that we're sinners in need of a Savior. .

I have Christian friends that were friends with me for a while before accepting Jesus. . Most common I'd see them say is "you're not like my other friends. . "

If our walk with God is right and our lives show it, then others will surely wonder whats so unique in your life. . .

I'm not perfect either. . I've been "playing with fire" and been burnt and suffering consequences. . They're not fun!! But now from consequences I learn that God is the Almighty that I need to listen to and take orders from because He is Holy and without fault. Not even a mm size of fault. . He has absoultely none. .

At times I find myself more in peace when I'm focusing on Jesus to help me and take care of me under His guidance, His Love, & His wisdom. . He's ready and waiting for you to just say "Lord, here I am. . . Save me!" or whatever in your own words. .

Just for an example. . would you take your brain out to see for yourself a proof that you have your brain? Or to see and take out your heart to prove its beating?? You know it sounds silly, so you have faith anyway that it's fine and doing its job. .

Same as with Jesus, trust in Him and have faith that He loves you and wants to save You and show you the true happiness that the world cannot give you. .

You may find your self frustrated when your material things doesnt satisfy you anymore that you keep on searching for a "new" thing to satisfy you. . When you reach that dead end/ bottom of the barrel, look up. . Jesus' still waiting for you. .

. . . "Lord, Here I am. . save me!" . . . . .​

 

[deafdyke]

DD--Would "Christian-holy" in your mind be like the modern version of the Pharisees' behavior?

P.S.: That image does not come off as very loving...what happened to the advice of St. Paul that Christians are to teach lovingly and gently???

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You hit it right on the head!!!!

 

[web730]

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You hit it right on the head!!!!

I don't get at what you meant here.

I think you better read post #23 again but make sure that you understand it clearly.

 

[pek1]

Religious tracts DO NOT work. It's exactly like the folks who go around door to door "witnessing" .....Even devoutly religious people think that stuff like that is OVER the top. Most of the time, people either make fun of the tracts or throw them away.

deafdyke,

How do you know they don't work? Have you done a comprehensive study and written the results of such a study? If so, I'd be interested in reading about it and having a scholarly look at your work, if you don't mind, of course.

By the way, you will need to know, because I am a journalist as well, I'd have to verify all your information before I submit it to my editor for publication in the local paper.

 

[pek1]

Pek1, hope you do not mind me share with you
that I used to have a difficult time to find a decent
church for years until someone else approached me
with a suggestion that I should pray to the Lord and
ask the Lord to guide me toward the right kind
of church. After some prayers to the Lord,
good enough I bumped into an old friend at
our local grocery shopping she "invited me" to
go to that particular church I KNEW it was
really from the Lord guiding me toward this
right kind of church for me !!
When she saw me showing up at her church,
she started to cry and weep with lots of Joy.

Y,

I don't mind you answering. I mentioned to Heath that I'm attending (beginning to) two churches. I know I can't continue this, as it doesn't show consistency. One is conservative and the other is ultra-conservative. Yes, they're both "right wing" but I'm not. Yes, I still believe the Bible and everything about salvation, but politically I'm nonpartisan.

 

[Reba]

...Religious tracts DO NOT work.

Well, they worked for Hubby and me. Other people have told me their salvation experiences thru tracts also.

If even one more soul makes it into Heaven because of a tract, then they are worth it.

It's exactly like the folks who go around door to door "witnessing" .....

We know people saved that way also.

Even devoutly religious people think that stuff like that is OVER the top.

If they are "devoutly religious" how do they share their faith with others? Tracts and door-to-door visits aren't the only ways, so I'm interested to know what other ways they witness to people.

Most of the time, people either make fun of the tracts or throw them away.

Ah, that's the key! Even if you are correct, that is "most" of the time, not "all" the time. That means there are at least "some" people who take the tracts seriously. Souls are saved, and that is the goal. Hallelujah!

 

[pek1]

I would concur with you, Reba. It's the foolishness of preaching that people in the world mock, but to you and me and the other Christians on alldeaf.com it is Life. Jesus came so that we may have Life and that we may have life more abundantly. And, talk about a peace that passes and doesn't allow us to understand it, huh?

 

[Rose Immortal]

I would ask, though, how many people are put off of Christ because of either the tracts themselves or the improper handling of them? That's a very real cost that I think ought to be considered.

(And if we do not use them, I truly believe God would find another means for those few who might be positively affected by tracts. He does not abandon those who have a desire to seek Him.)

 

[Beowulf]

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You hit it right on the head!!!!

 

[Reba]

I would ask, though, how many people are put off of Christ because of either the tracts themselves or the improper handling of them? That's a very real cost that I think ought to be considered.

That's a possibility in all endeavors. There are always some who mess up. But that doesn't mean we should toss out the good with the bad.

(And if we do not use them, I truly believe God would find another means for those few who might be positively affected by tracts. He does not abandon those who have a desire to seek Him.)

Of course God doesn't abandon sincere seekers. That is why He provides more than one way for people to be reached.

God's Word does not return void.

 

[Beowulf]

I'm suddenly rather partial to a passage from the Bhagavad Gita, chapter 13, verse 13.

 

[Rose Immortal]

That's a possibility in all endeavors. There are always some who mess up. But that doesn't mean we should toss out the good with the bad.

My concern is that there may be so much bad in this particular case that it's better to let God find another way for those few cases where a tract could potentially do good.

Of course God doesn't abandon sincere seekers. That is why He provides more than one way for people to be reached.

God's Word does not return void.

I'm reminded of some of the different ways people came to Aslan in the Narnia Chronicles...the case of Emeth in particular is pretty thought-provoking. Are you a C.S. Lewis fan?

 

[Rose Immortal]

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You hit it right on the head!!!!

Well, I'd just add to what Reba did...if Christ is willing to take me (and I'm no shining example to the world), I think He'll take just about anybody who seeks Him.

 

[pek1]

Well, I'd just add to what Reba did...if Christ is willing to take me (and I'm no shining example to the world), I think He'll take just about anybody who seeks Him.

I concur, Rose! I'm far from perfect myself. Every once in awhile, though, Rose Immortal, I have to remind myself that I am not perfect...in order to do that, I climb on the roof and jump off, just to see if 1. I can fly. 2. God, with His angels, will come to my rescue, as the Scripture says, "He shall give His angels charge over you." Okay, tee hee, I'm being fascetious, but I think you people know what I mean. None of us are perfect.