As a Christian what are your thoughts?

Francis, I've already commented on this thread, and been told to shut up in about as warm a fashion as I suppose one might expect (how dare I mention extraterrestrials, or the environment, to make a point) ... yet we are totally on the same page here! And I'm glad you spoke your mind, and your heart, on this one!

Yes, emotionally charged, but those are all excellent points which you've made!

No one is suggesting one should conceal one's zeal here, or be embarassed about one's faith/Faith. All that's being said is, could you please keep it down to a dull roar? :)

And as great a respect for the Vaishnavas as I might have, or as deep an interest in the Eastern traditions, I would regard (and do regard) the same kind of event from a Hare Krishna to be - pretty much - no different. Yes, the roving herds of them on a college campus do sometimes draw my attention for a bit, or at least, they did in the mid 90s when I was a student at UNC Chapel Hill. But a street preacher is a street preacher, and that's all there is to it. He's a fella, like you and me (well, ok, a fella, like me - a person, like any of us) ... self-ordained, most often ... yet I do not feel a need to judge, or to be terribly suspicious ... though for practical reasons, yes, I will keep my eye on him! ;)
 
AndrewX said:
Francis, I've already commented on this thread, and been told to shut up in about as warm a fashion as I suppose one might expect (how dare I mention extraterrestrials, or the environment, to make a point) ... yet we are totally on the same page here! And I'm glad you spoke your mind, and your heart, on this one!

Yes, emotionally charged, but those are all excellent points which you've made!

No one is suggesting one should conceal one's zeal here, or be embarassed about one's faith/Faith. All that's being said is, could you please keep it down to a dull roar? :)

And as great a respect for the Vaishnavas as I might have, or as deep an interest in the Eastern traditions, I would regard (and do regard) the same kind of event from a Hare Krishna to be - pretty much - no different. Yes, the roving herds of them on a college campus do sometimes draw my attention for a bit, or at least, they did in the mid 90s when I was a student at UNC Chapel Hill. But a street preacher is a street preacher, and that's all there is to it. He's a fella, like you and me (well, ok, a fella, like me - a person, like any of us) ... self-ordained, most often ... yet I do not feel a need to judge, or to be terribly suspicious ... though for practical reasons, yes, I will keep my eye on him! ;)
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What do extraterrestrials and the environment have to do with the topic concerning Christian thoughts on a self announcing evangelist on board a bus?
 
Quahom1 said:
Sometimes, you have to get people's attention first...

...a time and a place for everything, under the sun...

v/r

Q
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following Jesus example is the way to go .

JESUS CHRIST traveled “from city to city and from village to village, teaching and continuing on his journey to Jerusalem.” (Luke 13:22) To accomplish the ministry, Jesus and his disciples preached not only “from city to city” but also “from village to village.” Though it would have been easier to concentrate on the cities, they did not bypass the many villages in the countryside.
Jesus told his disciples to “search out” the deserving ones in each city or village. (Matthew 10:11)
 
What do extraterrestrials and the environment have to do with the topic concerning Christian thoughts on a self announcing evangelist on board a bus?
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To those who don't believe in any of them, they are all the same.
 
Quahom1 said:
What do extraterrestrials and the environment have to do with the topic concerning Christian thoughts on a self announcing evangelist on board a bus?
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Please read my first post on this thread. If you already have, then I hope you'll see ... that what I was encouraging folks to do is to try to see beyond content of a message, sermon, rant, etc. - and to consider context.

This has everything to do with whether that fella just stands up, in public, on the bus (regardless of any presumed, or actual `credentials') - and rattles on ... vs. a quiet, non-presumptuous interaction between two people sitting beside each other, as Francis mentioned.

I will even go so far as to say, in the first case, be it Jesus, ET, or the environment, I'm much less likely to be inspired and interested in what Bubba Joe has to offer ... than if we were just sitting next to each other, chit-chatting. However, if a college campus sponsored a lecture, an evening talk by a local preacher, and INVITED folks to attend, rather than forcing certain opinions on others ... then of course, of my own volition and choosing, I might go - and hear EXACTLY what the fella on the bus had to say - and it might move me, or I might receive it differently.

So too, it just might be, that folks who would otherwise judge, or comment negatively, or not take interest, would actually listen, under these different circumstances.

Content ...

Context ...
 
AndrewX said:
Please read my first post on this thread. If you already have, then I hope you'll see ... that what I was encouraging folks to do is to try to see beyond content of a message, sermon, rant, etc. - and to consider context.

This has everything to do with whether that fella just stands up, in public, on the bus (regardless of any presumed, or actual `credentials') - and rattles on ... vs. a quiet, non-presumptuous interaction between two people sitting beside each other, as Francis mentioned.

I will even go so far as to say, in the first case, be it Jesus, ET, or the environment, I'm much less likely to be inspired and interested in what Bubba Joe has to offer ... than if we were just sitting next to each other, chit-chatting. However, if a college campus sponsored a lecture, an evening talk by a local preacher, and INVITED folks to attend, rather than forcing certain opinions on others ... then of course, of my own volition and choosing, I might go - and hear EXACTLY what the fella on the bus had to say - and it might move me, or I might receive it differently.

So too, it just might be, that folks who would otherwise judge, or comment negatively, or not take interest, would actually listen, under these different circumstances.

Content ...

Context ...
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Understood. However, his manner (apparently quick, to the point and over with), did get their attention...and I'll submit one step further. What if the message was meant to fall on a specific person's ears? And what if that person did take the message to heart? So many variables to consider, but we often think the world revolves around little ole' us, when in fact, it doesn't.

v/r

Q

edit: You make a good point. Jesus spoke to the multitudes (who were invited or invited themselves for what ever reasons), but spoke with individuals, quietly...and he also shocked the 'holier than thou' crowd from time to time, with pretty much the same results...
 
And what if a specific person who might, otherwise, have been inclined to listen to Christianity was repelled by the obnoxiousness of this man?
 
bob x said:
And what if a specific person who might, otherwise, have been inclined to listen to Christianity was repelled by the obnoxiousness of this man?
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Seeds sewn are seeds sewn. However there is the other part of that. Sometimes seeds sewn go dormant, because the ground isn't fertile yet.

Often enough in life (if we take time to look), when one door closes, two other doors open. Opportunity is like that, and God is patient...
 
Seeds sewn are seeds sewn.
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Did you mean "sown"? :D
Seeds crushed are also seeds crushed. I think I've heard enough from Christians to be turned off from the religion for life.
 
bob x said:
And what if a specific person who might, otherwise, have been inclined to listen to Christianity was repelled by the obnoxiousness of this man?
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I agree. After all, who would be inclined to listen to anything, especially religion, from someone so obnoxious?

People would be more inclined to listen to the faith from individuals who were acting not only respectfully, but in a sane manner.
 
bob x said:
And what if a specific person who might, otherwise, have been inclined to listen to Christianity was repelled by the obnoxiousness of this man?
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whats important is the message in the bible .
This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ. JOHN 17;3

taking in knowledge about the true God and his son Jesus christ is what it is all about , the bible is the place to go .

And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come. matthew 24;14

Good news about what?
DANIEL 2;44 is what it is all about .
And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite; Daniel 2;44
(Mark 13:10) Also, in all the nations the good news has to be preached first.

Taking in accurate knowledge is what it is all about, its all in the bible . and Jesus is giving good spiritual food at the right time

Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I say to YOU, He will appoint him over all his belongings. matthew 24;45-47 finding the right channel is what it is all about . its all in the bible
 
Quahom1 said:
What do extraterrestrials and the environment have to do with the topic concerning Christian thoughts on a self announcing evangelist on board a bus?
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Maybe it's a form of pollution. You know . . . global warming. The planet catches on fire and gets hotter (people getting angrier and angrier because of what they hear) until we all die . . . so to speak.:D
 
bob x said:
Did you mean "sown"? :D
Seeds crushed are also seeds crushed. I think I've heard enough from Christians to be turned off from the religion for life.
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Apart from the fact that you "seem to be offended" :) by a repetitive slogan/cliche being thrown in your direction, from the posts I've seen you write, you seem to have a completely different concept of "Christianity" was meant to be about. That concept might not be something you call "Christianity" but I've got the impression that you do, nonetheless admire, to some extent, Jesus' life and sayings, by whatever name it takes in your heart and mind.

It's a concept I believe you are quite excited about, one that we don't yet know or understand because you haven't shown us the whole picture -- and I won't ask you about it because this is your life story and obviously private and personal -- but I have just seen some sparks here and there and was curious.

You may be turned off by the Ideology of Christianity, but perhaps not the Spirit of Christianity, the spirit of Jesus. After all, why would you be here?:) There must be something good you see in the story.

If I'm mistaken, as I said, by whatever name it goes . . .
 
I have deep admiration for Jesus, as I understand him. "Christianity", however, in my life has meant little except deceitfulness and gratuitous cruelty.
 
bob x said:
Did you mean "sown"? :D
Seeds crushed are also seeds crushed. I think I've heard enough from Christians to be turned off from the religion for life.
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I used "sewn" as in stitched into the ground (a practice often done by farmers with netting, to keep the birds from plucking away at the seeds before they germinate). Hearing from Christians is one thing. Perhaps one day you will meet one in person, and that person might cause you to re-think, what a Christian is, and what Christianity is not...

...it is not a religion.

v/r

Q
 
bob x said:
Meeting Christians face-to-face has been much worse than talking on the Net.
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With your attitude...I'm not surprised a bit. You could find a pellet of dung in a pile of pure silver...
 
Meeting Christians face-to-face has twice resulted in attempts to kill me. Usually of course I don't get such direct harm: what I get from Christians are bizarre falsehoods (like, the whole insurance industry would collapse if two of us were allowed to take care of each other) invented for no purpose than to do me harm, or nasty slanders (I could not count how many times Christians have told me I must be a child molester), or just snide derogatory remarks. I don't exactly call that "pure silver".
 
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