ONE thing could ruin your testimony.

[beensetfree]

Jenn said

Quote:And, of course, if you live with a non-Christian person, keeping this act up is even more impossible.

This has proved to be painful but a useful pruning tool of the LORD in my life. And thanks for the terrifying "doctrine" supporting Jack Chick tract . The sweat and teeth gnashing leap off the illustration.

[I should be working]

It never ceases to amaze me that people actually live this way. In my experience, it inevitably leads to hidden sin eating away from the inside. And according to the writers of TrueFaced, my experience isn't so far off. We're always told the Christian life is a struggle, but never allowed to experience said struggle - because only those with the most victory over visible sin win in the end.

The greatest Christians with the most solid testimony that the world actually might pay attention to: the ones who don't even know they're in the running. The ones that know they're not God's greatest gift to the world since Jesus Christ. The ones who seem to know only Christ and him crucified...

[GraceThruFaith]

(09-15-2011 02:31 PM)I should be working Wrote:  The greatest Christians with the most solid testimony that the world actually might pay attention to: the ones who don't even know they're in the running. The ones that know they're not God's greatest gift to the world since Jesus Christ. The ones who seem to know only Christ and him crucified...

This reminds me of the book A Scandalous Freedom.

The author mentioned how the ones who "get better" (his term for more sanctified, more holy, etc.) are the ones who don't obsess about "getting better."

"If you don't give up on getting better, the impossible demands of perfectionism will rob you of the joy and freedom required to approach perfection."

Read alot of quotes from the book here.

[I should be working]

Hah, I thought about referencing Steve Brown, but thought he might be a little too obscure of a reference. Glad to see I was wrong. Thumbs up on Scandalous Freedom and the associated podcasts.

[senda wales]

(09-15-2011 11:57 AM)Jenn Wrote:  For some reason Fundies believe that the outside world needs to see evidence of our salvation, and that evidence is: not swearing, drinking, smoking, listening to rock and roll, or stealing paper clips. They are ALWAYS WATCHING to see if our testimony is real. One slip up and you've proved it to them that you're a hypocrite.

It can make your life very fake and ultra restrained around people.

And, of course, if you live with a non-Christian person, keeping this act up is even more impossible.

Quote:BSF, sounds like your head is on straight.

I second that!

In some of the last few weeks that I was a Sunday School TA when I was on my way out, I observed one lesson where the SS teacher asked a question along the lines of - what do people think of when they think of a Christian? What does being a Christian mean/look like?

In a room full of 4th-6th graders, the first few answers were things like: not drinking, not swearing, not smoking, going to church. It was only later that they brought up things like being kind or honest to others.

I really thought that was sad. What really matters in life - loving others - gets so lost in the legalism.

[exOBCstudent]

[/quote]

What does being a Christian mean/look like?
In a room full of 4th-6th graders, the first few answers were things like: not drinking, not swearing, not smoking, going to church. It was only later that they brought up things like being kind or honest to others.

I really thought that was sad. What really matters in life - loving others - gets so lost in the legalism.
[/quote]

It's interesting to me that if you asked that same question to the adult age range you'd prob get totally different answers. I've often heard things like "hypocrites, holy-rollers, bible-thumpers" and such in the military and often find it a controversial subject to discuss.

[bean]

Chick booklet FTW!!! Awesome!!!
I actually had that book. Studied it. Read it. Re-read it. Had it memorized.
It has a chapter called "WARN THEM" and a lot of other crap in it. Plus some stuff against catholics too. It was crap. I threw it away I think.

(09-15-2011 11:45 AM)Jenn Wrote:  "Smith blew his testimony... he became a castaway."

[Jenn]

Quote:Chick booklet FTW!!! Awesome!!!
I actually had that book. Studied it. Read it. Re-read it. Had it memorized.

Yeah, me too. This one, The Next Step, is actually available on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Next-Step-Jack-Chi...0937958042
Wow, they have all his comic books on Amazon.
The other book I've enjoyed scanning cartoons from is The Revival Handbook. I used this book daily in my devotions when I was a vulnerable teen.
http://www.bonanza.com/listings/The-Last...k/38509126

[J.T. Hurley]

Even one act of evil in front of a non-believer *can* ruin your testimony with them forever. Catch is, it's based on *their* definition of evil, not yours.

Not smoking? No that impressive. Not repaying evil for evil? They notice.

[bean]

Jenn, I saw the cover. It said lies and hate on the heart. Is that what is in the book?

PS your church drawings are the best!!!

I can't believe I used to suck up such crap.

(09-15-2011 04:41 PM)Jenn Wrote:  

Quote:Chick booklet FTW!!! Awesome!!!
I actually had that book. Studied it. Read it. Re-read it. Had it memorized.

Yeah, me too. This one, The Next Step, is actually available on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Next-Step-Jack-Chi...0937958042
Wow, they have all his comic books on Amazon.
The other book I've enjoyed scanning cartoons from is The Revival Handbook. I used this book daily in my devotions when I was a vulnerable teen.
http://www.bonanza.com/listings/The-Last...k/38509126