BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Bible Basics What is your opinion on how to witness to others?

Ok about hell being talked about more then heaven
blue letter bible search in the KJV heaven is mentioned
heaven occurs 583 times in 551 verses in the KJV
Paradise occurs 3 times in 3 verses in the KJV
and Hell is mentioned in

Hell occurs 54 times in 54 verses in the KJV
Lake of fire occurs in 4 verses in the KJV

I could not find Sheol in the KJV or NIV but in the Easton's Bible Dictionary Sheol:

(Heb., "the all-demanding world" = Gr. Hades, "the unknown region"), the invisible world of departed souls. (See HELL.)

nor could i find Hades but...
Easton's Bible Dictionary Hades:

that which is out of sight, a Greek word used to denote the state or place of the dead. All the dead alike go into this place. To be buried, to go down to the grave, to descend into hades, are equivalent expressions. In the LXX. this word is the usual rendering of the Hebrew sheol, the common receptacle of the departed (Gen 42:38; Psa 139:8; Hsa 13:14; Isa 14:9). This term is of comparatively rare occurrence in the Greek New Testament. Our Lord speaks of Capernaum as being "brought down to hell" (hades), i.e., simply to the lowest debasement, (Mat 11:23). It is contemplated as a kind of kingdom which could never overturn the foundation of Christ's kingdom (16:18), i.e., Christ's church can never die.

In Luk 16:23 it is most distinctly associated with the doom and misery of the lost.

In Act 2:27-31 Peter quotes the LXX. version of Psa 16:8-11, plainly for the purpose of proving our Lord's resurrection from the dead. David was left in the place of the dead, and his body saw corruption. Not so with Christ. According to ancient prophecy (Psa 30:3) he was recalled to life.

I will let you do the math and I can provide the veruses to just incase you do not believe me!!!

I am sorry. I wasn't trying to threaten or judge. I just wanted Freebubbles opinions on the things I posted.

I didn't mean to start angering people. See? It's hard to see how someone writes something on here. Its hard to see the mood or the smiles when someone is typing something unless you type lol or put a smiley face after everything.

I was just looking for an opinion is all. I am sorry if I came off wrong.

LOL I get that alot from everyone!! lol I have run in to so many people like texas dave that I just put up my gaurde and most of the time i have a good reason for it and sometimes i just missread the post!! you are forgiven I was not really offended though I am very laid back and I do try to understand where a person is coming from before i blast them!!! lol and I was not trying to blast you either!! I under stand where you are coming from and why it is hard for you to see things my way! you do not know me. we have never met that i know of anyways you could live next door to me and i would not know it!!! anyways I worked on a "mission" school in AZ and saw the worst christianity had to offer and then I got blasted by my own church when i came home! I am not comfortable or welcome in most churches because they try to change me I am a massage therapist and that means to them sex kitty! so I pray and worship God with my husband and my mom. Church is not God to me but I do have friends that go to church and love it and they are Blessed by it! for my family and I church is not a building that you go to to find God! God is everywhere and anywhere we are and that is our Church! I am glad you have a strong faith but dont make the mistake of thinking that all church goes are christians or that non church goers are not real christians. It is nice to meet you even if it was a little rocky!LOL and I am sorry if you felt blasted by my post! I am dyslexic so some times my wording (and spelling) are off!! and I do have a dry sence or humor and tend to be a bet blunt and sarcastic! in real life I would have you rolling with laughter or at lest most people do anyways!! God Bless

I have heard it said that it matters less how much time you spend in the house of God and it matters more how much time God spends in your house. While I agree with that it is important to find a good Bible teaching church. After all, " Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." It is crucial to have Christian fellowship and churches help with that. " Bad company corrupts good morals." It is also important to tithe to a church to help witness to the lost. Most Christians ( over 90%) never speak to non-christians about Jesus Christ. Tithing at least, funds those who do. So, churches are important.

Amadues, you ask about the ones who refuse to hear the good news?

I think the way we go about telling the good news has more to do with why they refuse to believe then the news its self. If we make our self the ememy they shut us and anyother christian that come into there path out.

I think it is important to remember that most people in america have heard about Chirst in there life and most were raised in a church but have turned away for whatever reason.

Most of the non christians that I have been friends with had a horrible childhood experience in church or at home. some have been told they are going to hell because they are worthless or they are not good enough. Some have been abused by parents who used the bible to justify what they did. Some are like me the church was there family and there friends and there life but something happened and thier church felled them in a very painful way. and to preach hell, fire and damnation to these people is just reinforceing what they believe!! most people turn away from God not because they dont believe in God but because they dont believe or trust christians!!

yes they should not look to other humans or judge God by the people in the church but if time after time we let them down and it becomes a pattern then....can you blame them? how much could you take?

All I am saying is we should not push them away farther by trying to force our believes on them! I believe God is bigg enough to call people to Him and he does not want me in the way!!! He just wants me to be there for the people who he puts in my path!! Some times all I can do is live my life so it plants a seed of faith in someones heart and mind!

You are right, Free. I, for one, never meant to try and bully anyone and I never meant to force my beliefs on anyone and my biggest problem is giving off the wrong ideas about things.

I mean I know when something is funny in my head, (because the voices tell me it is.), or when I am being sarcastic in a humorous way, but it is hard to transcribe that in type.

Like I have said, I have never meant to offend anyone on any of these forums and I have apologized for it whenever I did it.

I will try to start choosing my wording differently from now on so I don't offend or make enemies of anyone.

HI Amadeus! I do enjoy debating and talking with you!! can We stop saying we're sorry now?! lol

I was just reading to see if I had answered all of your questions and I missed this one!! I thought it was a good question to. i wonder why i missed it Before? lol

feel free to ask away Amadues!!! you are a pleasure and I think we can learn alot from each other!!!

Ok Free, We can stop apologizing. I am sorry for apologizing so much.

So, what question of mine did you miss? I didn't see it in your above post, nor did I see you answer it.

I am sorry that your church is condemning and judging you for your line of work. That isn't fair nor is it right. If you are comfortable with worshipping and praising God with your husband and your mother, then more power to you. "Where two or more are gathered..."

I am lucky to be in a church that loves me for who I am and welcomes all into the house.

I love going to my church to get fed the Word and watch God move in there because He certainly does that there.

It's too bad that your church doesn't realize that your massage skills are your gift from God.

So, did you answer my question? Did I miss it? Enlighten me, please.

Amadues, you ask about the ones who refuse to hear the good news?

and I posted my answer in the post above yours and here it is again!! lol

I think the way we go about telling the good news has more to do with why they refuse to believe then the news its self. If we make our self the ememy they shut us and anyother christian that come into there path out.

I think it is important to remember that most people in america have heard about Chirst in there life and most were raised in a church but have turned away for whatever reason.

Most of the non christians that I have been friends with had a horrible childhood experience in church or at home. some have been told they are going to hell because they are worthless or they are not good enough. Some have been abused by parents who used the bible to justify what they did. Some are like me the church was there family and there friends and there life but something happened and thier church felled them in a very painful way. and to preach hell, fire and damnation to these people is just reinforceing what they believe!! most people turn away from God not because they dont believe in God but because they dont believe or trust christians!!

yes they should not look to other humans or judge God by the people in the church but if time after time we let them down and it becomes a pattern then....can you blame them? how much could you take?

All I am saying is we should not push them away farther by trying to force our believes on them! I believe God is bigg enough to call people to Him and he does not want me in the way!!! He just wants me to be there for the people who he puts in my path!! Some times all I can do is live my life so it plants a seed of faith in someones heart and mind!

It may have been more of a sarcastic remark in one of your post but I took it as a Great Question to answer!! anyways....:)

Amadeus and Freebubbles,

I am going to speak openly and tell you some things that I experienced, and that I feel, and what I have come to believe in these latter years of my life. (I am now 68 years of age)

First of all, let me tell you both that you are precious, beautiful people. People differ, and that is OK. I am not a Christian, but I try to live a life of love and genuine respect for all life, all belief systems, and I respect our differences. The differences are what make us interesting. We can all learn from each other, and if we keep our hearts and minds open, we can be a strength and support to each other on our respective journeys.

Now, a little about my journey.

You once mentioned, Freebubbles, that you were not sure of my religion. I really don't have one. But that does not mean that I have no spiritual beliefs. I am probably what some would call an agnostic. Others would say I think like a Buddhist, while others would call me a Panthiest - one who sees divinity in everything. I am a mystic - I guess some would say, and I am an empath.

When asked, I usually smile and say: "The only thing I know for certain, is that I know very little" - and that would be true. I know what I have experienced, and I know my heart and soul, and I know that for me, to love is the greatest thing I can do. I also know that I frequently fail, but I keep trying.

I was born into a Christian family and attended church regularly.
I was very devout and wanted to dedicate my whole life to Jesus (who I still believe was the greatest model for humanity.)

I was deeply hurt by Christians - but not all. I was deeply hurt by Christian teachings - but not all. Unfortunately, the damage was done at a very early age, and when this kind of thing continued, I eventually left to seek a more loving and less dogmatic path.

Before I finally made the break, I had been a nun, and a theological student, studying for the Christian Ministry, and a lay preacher. I think the final blow was being told that I had no right to my sexuality and that if I continued to 'be myself' I would go to hell. I was told that I was 'an abomination in the sight of God'. (a popular quote fundamentalist Christians have for people who are homosexual)

From here, I studied other religions and leaned heavily towards Buddhism.

I was a counsellor and spiritual healer for many years, and I reached out to people THROUGH that which they believed. So I healed in the name of Jesus, if that was what would help them, or talked to them in the language of what they believed. I prayed with them as they prayed. I met them where they were - on their own ground. I do not believe that any religion is either right or wrong. Everyone deserves to have what they hold sacred treated with respect.

I have seen how religion can divide people, and I find that tragic.

So when I hear others telling people that they must believe this, or that, or they will be damned, I get very upset. I have been in that position and I know how it hurts. I know the damage it can do. I have seen at least one case of suicide, due to the fact that this person was convinced that his soul was lost. He was a devout Christian who carried his Bible everywhere with him. But that Bible told him he was an abomination to God because he loved another man. When he tried unsuccessfully to change, he killed himself. He was only 22 years old.

I also know of some survivors of sexual abuse who were Christians who killed themselves because they could not forgive their abusers, and were told that they had to forgive, or be damned to eternal punishment.

I was fortunate in knowing some Christians who were loving and who did not make value judgements, or I might have ended up the same way. Also, I left the church before those teachings destroyed my own self esteem completely.

This is why I say that leading by example, and with love and respect, is the only way to witness to people. You don't know what has happened in their lives, and you don't know what devastating effect your words might have on them.

I'm not sure there is a personal God, but if there is, I am sure that this Being knows the hearts and souls of those you feel the need to witness to and save, and this Divine Love will judge us all, not on how we have witnessed, but how we have loved, supported, cared and accepted others as they are.

Paul said that there is faith, hope and love, - but the greatest of these is love.

With love and respect,

Patience.