What God Uses

Helen, you make a great point! It is well taken.

Rev. G

 

How about the Mormon Church?
They give away free KJV Bibles.

Amazing.

HankD

 

Sure.
God can use "anything or anybody" to get our attention. With me He's used secular books, artcles in newspapers, even t.v. commercials! AGHAST!!!
Ain't never seen him use a talking donkey yet though...unless you count...

 

I think when you see something/someone being used repeatedly by God to lead people to him, then there's no problem in saying it's a good thing! And of course, we recognize that's it's God's work, not the person or the book's, but it does tell you something about a person or author of God is repeatedly using them. Leading them falsely to THINK they're going to God is different.
Another example of a bad thing bringing you closer to God? I'm reading "The Christian Agnostic". The book is blatantly promoting disbelief and falseness, but it's strengthening my faith in the truth and helping me be better able to deal with real people who come up with the same logic this guy does. But no, it isn't good, and no, I don't recommend people run out and read it to grow closer to God. It's a personal thing that is obviously being used in my situation. God knows what works for each person. Amazing how that just continually is, huh?
Gina

 

Sort of reminds you of that verse in first Corinthians...."But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty."

It was a pig farmer who taught me the greatest lesson in homiletics. He took me home after the morning service for dinner. Beforehand, he took me down to the barn to show me his hogs. With a pail of grain in hand he gave a great shout and the hogs came running and fed.
"See that", he said? "I used simple language and they came and were fed."
"I attended your sermon this morning with the fancy words and I came away hungry."

I learned to preach simply and then the most learned would understand, as would the child in the front pew.

Yours, because His,

Jim

 

While the Lord may certainly use certain circumstances, "oddball" books, etc., to lead and guide us, the Holy Spirit chooses to use His Word to bring about the new birth and to also bring about growth in the Christian life.

Rev. G

 

Yeah, he uses "talking donkeys", lol. He used a woman who reads tarot cards to get my attention, and he used the ACLU to help me grow.

 

God used Judas, to carry out his plans also. In this case it is clear that the tool was evil and can't be good. But in the case of a Mormon who helped a person become a Baptist through educational material etc, we can't say the Mormon is evil, nor can we judge the Mormon on certain levels. The Mormon is good unless the person is evil. We may only judge him on the points of what we deem is wrong for us to believe. But we can't say he is wrong and know for sure as we can with Judas.

The Mormon example is not the best example to use, I'm sure, but I just wanted to put forward the difference between knowing evil and assuming through faith or "belief" that someone is wrong or evil.

 

Why not? Is not the word of God sufficient evidence to judge by? In declaring a mormon to be wrong about his beliefs, we are not doing so by faith but rather on the basis of revelation. Your statement would be more applicable if you substituted "presbyterian" for "mormon." There is no question about Mormons. There are about Presbyterians.

 

Please go back and look at my post post-it.

I said nothing about evil or wrong and assumed nothing.

I expressed amazement that Mormons and Baptists could agree on anything.

HankD

 

I was saved after hearing an old Billy Graham sermon, recorded in the early '60s, on what happens when we die. Now looking into his latter teachings, I'm very suprised at his ecumenical leanings. I'm glad I heard the message, thru him, but he's certainly nobody I would recommend.

 

Helen, I've seen God use things as simple as a salescall to the wrong # to have a person led to Christ. The salesman tried to sell my friend something and the man led him to Christ instead!

I've seen people come to the Lord through the use of some of the most doctrinally wrong tracts I had ever seen put out through the AOG church. Yet, the person was genuinely saved. Thank the Lord that they were finally led to a Godly soulwinning church.

God can use anything. Even "Good News for Modern Man".

AJL

 

Sister Helen,
He sure can, can't He? Sometimes I've witnessed to people and found myself stuttering and stammering through the Roman road--slaughterin' the King's language--thinking in my mind--"That guy ain't gonna receive Christ today. Not by listening to all of those grammer errors and fumbling through trying to find the right verse to use! He'll turn me down for sure--just by not likin' my presentation!"--BUT--in spite of the stuttering and stammering--some DO recieve Jesus! Amen, Sister!

Your friend,
Blackbird

 

We just have to remember that we may stumble & stammer....but tha Holy Ghost doesn't!!

 

The word of God is the judge. If the doctrine is wrong, it's evil.