Someone's tryng to proselytize me.How do I respond.

Let me preface this by saying I am the one who witnessed to this girl. She was saved AFTER we were friends. PLEASE read this and give me SCRIPTURE to give her. The first one that comes to my mind is about not arguing that those who are weak may be turned away. Don't know that reference. Anyway, this is my response to her invitation to go to a women's retreat at her church and her response to what I had to say.
About coming to visit, I would love to see you, but I don't have the gas money for the drive. Also, please don't take this the wrong way, but I disagree with some of the things that your church does. I am not saying they are bad. There are many, many people who believe the way your church does. That's why the Bible says to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. I have done a lot of prayer and scripture reading from the time I was a teenager about the different doctrines that all call themselves Christian(Baptist, Nazarene, Methodist, Amish, Mennonite, and Pentecostal, to be specific.). I don't think that they are bad, but I think God tells each of us different things through His word. Your church is what I would classify as Pentecostal. I disagree with many of the practices of that denomination.

That is all to say that I do not want to go to services there. I also don't want to hold you back from going. Like I said, I don't say they are necessarily wrong, we just believe differently. I would compare my feelings about church denominations to favorite colors. I may say that blue is the best color in the whole wide world, no other color even comes close. It must be God's favorite color as well because so much of His creation is blue. Someone else may come along and say, "No, you're wrong, brown is the best, and it must be God's favorite color because when you dig up the grass and trees and look under the water it's all a variation of brown. The whole earth is really brown underneath it all." Now, who is to say which one of us is right? There is not way for either of us to know without asking God face to face, is there? I think we just have to read His word, study it, and pray a lot, then decide for ourselves what we believe. I hope that helps you understand where I am coming from. I REALLY don't want to hurt you, but I have to be honest.
Love, Your sister in Christ!

Wow,that was deep! Well let me defend my church. We are not Pentecostal by NO MEANS. We all there believe and the pastor preaches right out of the living word,the Bible....So but I totally understand how you feel I honestly disagree, BUT we all have our own oppinions I believe the one that comes from God and that is from God`s word is right though.Brother Leon is a very Godly man. We`re not religious there we just praise God and give Him the glory and we love the Holy Spirit which he has put in us.(He is The Father The Son and The Holy Spirit)Just like we`re made up of the mind, body(flesh), and soul.God is great. Well just because we can`t see each other at my church we can always see each other somewhere else.Just you know the old saying you can`t jugde a book by it`s cover the Bible said jugde things by the fruits they produce. I believe that our church is a very giving and caring and Godly one. We all act in God`s faith not our own.You just have to believe. People over the years have been taught so many "religious" things that the Bible was really not be taught right,But when you’re a Christian that believes in the faith of God ,and doing things like going discipling people like God commanded then your doing the right thing. You can add or take away from the Bible but those who do are less in the kindom of heaven.God`s word stands forever and ever.Amen!!!Be blessed.Love ya girl!!

I think you can see she is definitely a babe in Christ. I just don't know what to say without this getting into a huge argument.

She sent this to a relative of hers who goes to her church. I am assuming she accidentally sent it to me as well: Can you think of a scripture off the top of your head??Just read and tell me what you think?I mean I did write back to her and I love her as a friend but she just dosen`t believe in what God has for her, I guess?

 

Bump: anyone know what to say?

 

Yes, I know that, but how can I convey that to her without insulting her. The only way I can think is with scripture.

Some of the things her church practices are speaking in tongues, being "drunk in the spirit," blowing ram's horns at random times during the service, "prophesy," etc.

 

I have said that to her before. The thing that gets my goat is her telling her relative that she guesses I just don't want to experience the fullness of what God has for me. I want to tell her, "Honey, I was singing in a band in Pentecostal churches before you were born-the first time! And yes, you are Pentecostal, whether you wear the name or not, that's what you practice. And I know more about it than you do, have researched and prayed FERVENTLY about it, so don't go trying to shove your pseudo-filled-with-the-Spirit-garbage down my throat!"
I am sure you are thinking:...come on now, tell us how you really feel...about now! Sorry but kindof not.

 

Okay. I will keep restating that I love her as a sister in Christ and I disagree with her church's practices. (I feel that she questions my salvation. It makes me angry that she is making a judgement on my relationship with Christ.)

Just saying I don't want to miss services at my church is not a good excuse. She has invited me to a special service that is tonight. (Friday) My church does not have a service tonight.

robycop: Thanks for the scripture references and examples I can share with her. I will be reading them as soon as I finish this post.

PlainOldBill: No! I don't wanna share! Just kidding. Actually I told her about the site as soon as I discovered it, and how neat it was and about the devitions that are available, etc. She was not receptive. She told me I needed to use Kenneth Copeland's site.

Christianbsw: You misunderstood. She is my friend. I care a lot about her and I want to see her. She moved two and a half hours away last summer and I have only been able to see her two times since then. I do witness and disciple others every chance I get, but I also respect others' right to read and discern the scriptures for themselves. I don't argue with people about issues that can be divisive among believers, however. Thank you for the scriptures as well. I will be off to study them as soon as I finish this post.

Ben W: I don't remember the name of her church. It's an independent place in a small town in Oklahoma. They are not affiliated with any denomination. That is why I said I would classify her church as Pentecostal rather that saying "your church is Pentecostal."

 

I am working on compiling scriptures to send to her. I am really struggling with finding the one that says for us (Christians) not to argue about God's work, lest unbelievers be turned away. Do you know that reference? I have been searching all morning.

I am going to open with Dear ..., I am not going to argue. Here is what God's word says. I have highlighted what I think is important. Judge for yourself.

I want to say something along the lines of "Please don't try to push your beliefs on me. I don't try to talk you out of yours." I don't think that sounds very nice, though. Can ya'll help me with how to say that, or if I should even say it?

 

Diane, At first I thought that was it, but now I don't think so. If it is, I don't remember the context correctly.

Anyone know of any other similar verse?