tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post114233921737944822..comments2024-03-25T17:35:02.238-04:00Comments on Debunking Christianity: A Response to Dr. James WhiteUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-1142523180597460362006-03-16T10:33:00.000-05:002006-03-16T10:33:00.000-05:00tired,You wrote: "How does your so-called dilemma ...tired,<BR/><BR/>You wrote: "How does your so-called dilemma violate the boundaries around the corporate work of the Spirit you already acknowledged?"<BR/><BR/>In my original post, I stated, "The point of my post was to point out a 'problem' for Christians. I would hardly present this as an argument, but rather just as a cause for reflection."<BR/><BR/>This isn't meant as an irrefutable argument. What I hope it does is give Christians cause to think and pause before quickly brushing off my claim that I was once a true Christian.<BR/><BR/>It is more than just saying that I was deluded. It is also saying that those churches that prayerfully considered "my calling" were also deluded into thinking that they actually got guidance from a god. It also opens up the possibility that god sometimes deceives his people when they ask for guidance.<BR/><BR/>So, there are explanations that avoid a true dilemma. I think a more likely explanation, though, is that Christian churches aren't making decisions based on their god's guidance, but rather, their own subjective feelings.<BR/><BR/>Hope that's clearer. Thanks for commenting (my post was feeling left out).exbelieverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04821290397922309515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-1142486615956232352006-03-16T00:23:00.000-05:002006-03-16T00:23:00.000-05:00exbeliever,While I am not James White, I became Re...exbeliever,<BR/><BR/>While I am not James White, I became Reformed through his ministry about a year before when you speak. (I remember the eye incident pretty well, just through a different setting) For what it's worth, I didn't grow up in a Christian home except in an acutely nominal sense.<BR/><BR/>I have no issue with anything in your post from "As much as the Reformed Christians ..." to "... that I should be very hesitant to doubt that decision." However, I don't understand your reasoning from then on. You say it's a dilemma that: <BR/><BR/>1) we are expected to receive guidance from the Holy Spirit<BR/>2) God's people prayed for guidance over your spiritual state<BR/>3) They concluded you were a Christian<BR/>4) Given the Calvinist idea of faith, you never were.<BR/><BR/>I have no desire to snort and brush this off, as if I can't get my mail without confronting three or four ecclesiastically approved apostates along the way. On the other hand, in the middle of your account of how the Holy Spirit works in congregations, you said, "While I didn't believe those decisions were infallible ..." and went on from there. But that means you recognize that sometimes God's people will earnestly pray for guidance, and nevertheless conclude wrongly- otherwise, why the disclaimer? How does your so-called dilemma violate the boundaries around the corporate work of the Spirit you already acknowledged?tiredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15186576769877538508noreply@blogger.com