You:
- A. Become Cher in Moonstruck and slap them upside the head yelling, SNAP OUT OF IT!?
- B. Put your hand on his shoulder and say, I know exactly how you feel, while thinking he’s lost his mind.
- C. Bust out your bible and drop some serious spiritual knowledge.
- D. ______________________________________ [fill in the blank]
Answer wisely. This will go down on your permanent record. 😉
D) Get him a coffee, LISTEN, and (possibly silently) pray for the Holy Spirit to lead and guide said friend in ALL TRUTH. Tell him you're praying and offer to continue to be available to listen.
To be honest, I don't have the answers, I don't know the 'right things' to say, and so, I can only shut up and let my El Shaddai do His thang.
I have test anxiety. This is NOT cool.
"B." Final answer, Regis.
hopefully this doesn't mean I am cheating, but I second Steph's answer….:)
First reaction? Choose "A." Yeah, definitely "A."
Realistic action? Choose "D." I'd listen, ask questions, listen some more. If the conversation allows, tell him about what caused me to walk away from the faith and ultimately what brought me back. I'd ask if it's ok to pray (short & sweet) with him, and if not, lift him up anyway when I'm in my quiet place.
Pray and listen. All you can really do is pray for them and listen to what's in their heart.
D: Why do you think that? (The really listen and ask God for wisdom and just listen..no advice till it is asked, unless I heard something very specific from God.) Let the person know that I will always love them and if they decide to believe again, I'm won't judge them, but I will accept them. I'd probably end up pleading and crying for the person to believe again, like I did with one of my closest friends because I couldn't stand the thought of her not knowing God or ending up in Hell.
I listened quietly and asked his reasoning. After he calmy spoke his peace I asked him if I could pray for him. He said "whatever", I prayed. Then I reminded him of God's love, and how HE would never leave him. I kneel by his door as he sleeps at night and will continue to do so as long as I live. He is my son…
The Mexican in me would be "A". (in my mind) . But the person who God has called me out to be would be "D" I would pray and search God's wisdom and ask for special insight into the heart of my dear friend. Speak in love and Gods understanding and not my own.
Pray for them..God gave us the gift of free will and not much we can do can break through that…but the Mystery of Prayer can sometimes be miraculous even through the gifts of Free Will He gave us….
I'd pray for him … then slap him upside the head! 😉 Let the record show that I prayed first!!! 😉
Agree.
Because I too have been there. And sometimes I still have a little bit of that nagging feeling of it being a sham.
And I totally agree with you on the whole American church thing. There is so much I could go on about the church I used to go to but I won't but after 26 years going to a church and then realizing what all was going on made me question organized religion.
(which don't get me wrong I know it's about a relationship with Christ but still the organized religion give the relationship a bad name.)
Just wondering how many people have actually questioned their salvation or maybe question the whole Christianity thing?
I'd be thinking I'd like to slap them upside their head ala Gibbs on NCIS. (boy, I like that show :-)) In reality, though, I'd sit with them and listen. I can't really be judgmental about it though because I've definitely been there. All you can do for someone in that situation is still love them. If you walk away from them, you're doing what the world expects Christians to do. I myself have only been on this walk for 5 1/2 years and I know I've questioned a lot and I am so blessed that those who walk beside me answer my questions as best they can and continue to walk beside me.
1. Love them and remember I too can fall in my faith at times. 2. Pray for them in their situation. 3. Be graceful but firm in what the Word of God says and ask Holy Spirit to. Guide me in scriptures I should use.
I think sometimes the greatest way we can be Christ to another is just living as an example. I think it's completely normal to struggle with those types of questions. The more we chose to love like Christ and be patient with those people in our lives that are struggling, the more they just might realize that God loves them and is eternally patient with them. If they have any questions, answer them honestly. Always speak the truth, don't water it down, but do it with love. Prayer is also powerful. And just trusting that God has a plan for them and that everyone comes to Him at a different time in life.
Happy Belated Birthday, Bianca 🙂
D. PRAY- so often we look to prayer dejectedly as a last resort. "Oh man, I guess all we can do is pray."
ALL we can do? Prayer is our strongest weapon against the Enemy. Our first act when he attacks should be to employ the power of the Almighty to intervene.
My biggest weakness is thinking I'm strong. I expect to have the right words and actions at the right times for the right people and situations. I don't.
He does. So I would pray for my friend and for God to use me in his life to bring him back to the Lord.
Pray and ask God for wisdom as to what I should do. Perhaps all God wants me to do is pray.
Pray. But as I do that, I wonder what exactly am I praying for? I know prayer is the strongest weapon against the enemy as Millie said, but I start to fear that I'm wielding it wrong. As if I'm waving my sword around but not actually achieving anything with it.
So I guess then that my answer is Pray and trust that God is working.
I think that listening is a huge part of being a friend, and in this case, it could be life changing. We may not know the reasons for why he/she has come to terms with this, but just by being there for them is huge. And obviously prayer is totally needed.
Hear him out. Pray. Know that there is work that only the Holy Spirit can do in changing our hearts.
As Spirit filled Christians, the Holy Spirit, God Himself dwells inside of us. He knows what is causing your friend's heart to wander and we have access to that knowledge.
Spiritual warfare is real & so is the reality of eternal separation from Christ. I say don't just pray but PRAY. Pester God with the persistence of your prayers. Go to war on behalf of your friend's heart and mind. Fast if you have to. Study the Word so hard that every non-truth that your friend may speak can be lovingly counteracted with the only truth that is real- what God says.
I know that I sometimes take people's non-belief in Christ so much more cavalierly than I should. That decision is literally the difference between life and death. If I had a friend who was running head first into oncoming traffic, I would do everything I could to stop them. This is no different. While we cannot convince someone to believe, we serve a God who can. I think we need to seek Him in these situations with the same level of urgency that we would have to prevent a friend's physical death.
(sorry for the sermonette…I feel pretty passionately about this 🙂 )
Me too! I think my relationship with Jesus Messiah didn't begin until I started having doubts, asking questions, and getting (His) answers. God is so good.
hey! jesus let people walk away!
first he heard their heart and what they were really struggling with (i.e. young rich ruler). without judgement. he made them not feel crazy or weird for struggling with something.
and then he spoke truth to them.
and then he let them walk away.
(now we get the holy spirit to interceed – so lots of praying while they are stuggling with this! 🙂 )
and follow up!
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