| Author | Message | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 286 Registered: 4-2006  |
I had a prayer request not long ago, and I would like to follow up on that one, I think it is relevant here in this forum as well, so I post it here. Thanks for your prayers BTW. My SDA friend went visited the Church I'm going to and today there was a great sermon on the subject "fear of God", based on Matthew 10:28-39. It was really good I learned a thing or two. My SDA friend didn't agree to all of it, (the SDA issue of elevating the Devil and minimizing God). The meeting was spirit filled and I think she was moved all in all. In the evening we had a Christian meeting at my place. It was interesting, we talked about our testimonies, how we was saved by Jesus and my friend also got to tell her testimony. It basically was more about how she discovered the Sabbath "truth" than a testimony of an encounter with Jesus. Anyways we worshiped, prayed and read the Word together. We are now reading Romans and she noted that this letter is really hard to understand and the Paul is philosophying a lot in it. I agree that it is some of the scripture which is real hard to understand for many SDA's and other non Christians. We talked about the fact that the law was added and it was added to increase sin. Although she does not believe in this fact now, I do think that it is running around in her head, something for the Holy Spirit to work with. BTW, I noted that SDA's are great philosophers and story tellers  Just wanted to share. In Christ | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3014 Registered: 3-2004  |
Mwh, Thanks for the update in your friend. I did pray for you and her when I read your request. Diana | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 305 Registered: 6-2006  |
Mwh, thanks for sharing! Please keep us updated. It's interesting, and a little sad, that your friend shared her testimony of the Sabbath "truth" instead of Jesus. It says an awful lot. She's blessed to have you for a friend! Leigh Anne | ||
| Tricia Registered user Username: Tricia Post Number: 36 Registered: 3-2006 |
Mwh, I tried to post in the prayer section that I was praying for you and your friend today, but my computer was whacked up (or probably me--I'm a computer idiot), and I couldn't get it to post. Anyway, I'm glad to hear that it went well today. She probably has some new perspectives to think about. The meeting at your place sounded really nice, too. I agree with Leigh Anne that she is super lucky to have you for a friend. Blessings to you, Tricia | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 288 Registered: 4-2006 |
Something which may be interesting as well, is that she is from Romania, and thus have heard the Orthodox Church preaching that Sunday is the Sabbath for Christians. That is of course wrong and an open door which leads directly into Sabbatharianism when discovering that Saturday is the seventh day and not Sunday. Also she is really really defensive, which I think is caused by the cognitive dissonance in her mind. So she attacks me a lot with her words  So I'm getting very careful about what I say and how I say it, to not offend her. I think I laid the ground for this myself though, because in the beginning I made so many errors in my dealing with her, I simply didn't know the mindset of an SDA. It has been really helpful for me in this respect listening to some audio files on how to deal with Jehovahs Witnesses, there are many similarities. God is good, I have really learned so much by encountering my SDA friend, I feel that I have grown several feet spiritually, truly God is forming us every day, body, soul and spirit. In Christ | ||
| Aliza Registered user Username: Aliza Post Number: 71 Registered: 8-2006 |
Just the fact that your friend is still willing to meet with other Christians is an awesome breakthrough. You are certainly right that she's got to be facing a huge amount of cognitive dissonance which is stirring her up. She may not yet be allowing herself to admit consciously in her mind that her foundation is starting to crumble. Only once have I known anyone recently from Romania. I was still SDA and even then found this person rigid, blunt and extremely conservative even for SDA. At the time I just assumed it was her individual caustic personality. But perhaps there are some cultural considerations as well??? Are Romanians perhaps more likely to be ones who verbally challenge? Could be just coincidence of course. It will be exciting to see how continued prayer and love from your group continues to impact her for a real relation with Jesus Christ. Aliza | ||
| Jeremiah Registered user Username: Jeremiah Post Number: 171 Registered: 1-2004  |
The Orthodox in Romania should not be preaching that Sunday is the Sabbath for Christians. I heard an Orthodox priest preach about the Sabbath and he said that Saturday is the Sabbath. Sunday is the "Lord's Day". And that it would be good if Saturday were more of a quiet day spent in anticipation of the resurrection of Christ. Not that you have to refrain from working, on either day, but it's very important to attend services and remember the events which gained our salvation. Basically it's the same attitude you find in Christianity around 100 A.D. or so. Jeremiah | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 292 Registered: 4-2006 |
Jeremiah, interesting, is this the official stance of the Church? It would be nice to know, so I can tell my friend about it. | ||
| Jeremiah Registered user Username: Jeremiah Post Number: 172 Registered: 1-2004 |
Well, it's actually kind of hard to find an "official stance" of the Orthodox church... There isn't a central headquarters or a Pope to say things "officially". But if it can be found in the Church Fathers or Ecumenical Councils and since I heard this firsthand from an Orthodox priest, I think it is Orthodox belief. I do happen to know a Romanian Orthodox priest I can check with. The one I heard this from was Antiochian Orthodox. Different part of the world, same church... Jeremiah |
