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I have an important question. I believe there are people walking around who believe they are saved, but really aren't. How do you convince someone that their idea of being saved is not whole?
Let me elaborate. My mother says she is saved, but I really don't think she is. It's not that I feel I have a right to question her salvation, it just that I have seen things in her that give me the impression that she hasn't really given her heart to Jesus. In addition, she says that I, and some of our friends are "too religious".
I believe the only thing I can really do is pray for her because, how do you teach something to someone that thinks they already know it?
Are there other options I haven't thought of? |
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| To add a comment to "SAVED??" |
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| June 01, 2007 |
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| I once thought I was saved, but I didn't have a clue. Fortunately, God got my attention after some of my actions had hurt others, and eventually hurt me. Then I became "saved" in every sense of the word. Was someone praying for me? I don't doubt it. Prayer is very effective, even if it isn't answered quickly. You cannot force your mom to believe the way you do. You can only pray. There will come a day when the light will turn on, and your mom will realize, like I did, what being saved is truly about. |
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| June 01, 2007 |
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Julia, Wow, what a tough situation! I think that there a lot of people who believe in God and even go to church, yet live in a way that shows they do not truly know Jesus as Savior. I John 2:1-6: 1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. 3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. As you know, being religous does not save someone. Many "religous" people never have given their life to Jesus and personally accepted Him as Savior of their souls. It's all about personal faith and commitment in Jesus Christ. Not in practice of religion. So, in answer to your question-yes, it is possible, unfortunately that unless your mother has at some point given her life to Jesus, placing faith and trust in Him and His work on the cross, that she is indeed not saved. I think what you are doing is right-1)continuing to love your life as Jesus would and therefore, showing her what salvation is really like. 2)your prayer for her 3)speaking to her specifically when the Lord provides the right time. Hang in there though. I can't imagine how hard it must be. Your're doing the right thing though! I will pray for you and her in this. God bless. Thanks for sharing this. |
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| June 01, 2007 |
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Thank you Horshack, Deb, and Chris. Your support is greatly appreciated. The word "religion" as it is used above is a direct quote. I rarely use the word myself. My Mother and I have never really had a very good relationship, and although that disappoints me, it doesn't disappoint me as much as the thought of her ignorance regarding salvation. She knows all the popular bible stories and intelectually speaking she understands salvation, but I believe the reason her heart isn't in it is due to a lack of true bible study and the failure to take the time to develope a relationship with God. That is mainly why I think she thinks she is saved and truely isn't. Secondarily, she believes in and appreciates a lot of things the Bible says we need to stay away from, like psychics, witchcraft, and she even believes she attracts ghosts.
My mother and I do not see each other very much, nor do we talk often; we just don't have anything in common. I do continue to pray for her because my Daddy is expecting her to meet him in his Heavenly home some day. I don't want to let him down, nor do I want to let God down. |
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| June 01, 2007 |
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Most people who do not understand the depth of your love for the Lord will say "You are too religious". Not saying anything bad about your mother, but it's a defense mechanism. It takes the "heat" off of them. (my mom says this too)
The more obedient you are, the more you are likely to be persecuted (verbally or otherwise...for me it is a tell-tale sign that I am on the right track).
Once heard it said
"If in your Christian walk, Satan does not try to cut you off or come against you or trip you up...you may be walking in the same direction!"
Keep praying and being Salt and Light! |
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| June 01, 2007 |
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| Julia,this is soo tough.I'm sorta in the same situation with my dad.In our case he has the head knowledge,but totally lacks the fruit.Sometimes he'll say things that implies he doesn't really believe in God at all & when you approach him about it he's like I've gottem it all taken care of.What he can't seem to get is that even the demons believe in God,but it takes more than belief in the entity of God,it takes a relationship.I will pray for the Holy Spirit to work on your mom & give you just the right thing to do & say at just teh right time. |
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| June 01, 2007 |
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7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 7:14 Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Let the Word speak for itself. In Galations 5 Paul is talking to the church not unbelivers.
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
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| June 01, 2007 |
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| Great point and note that these are works of the flesh. We, as Christians, while we no longer have the old heart or old nature STILL have the flesh, the physical body which takes after Adam or was tainted through Adam's sin. As a result, we still battle with the flesh until we have glorified bodies. Paul often emphasized his desire to have a glorified body and thus once and for all done with the flesh. Of course, we also have the external enemies: world and the devil. |
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| June 04, 2007 |
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You all are so right! My mother has read all the books of a particular famous Psychic and just adores her. She told me that the woman had to be a Christian because she quoted the Bible often through out her books. I told my mother that the devil knows the Bible better than many Christians, and he even knows us better than we know ourselves. She became very defensive.
My mother believes in so many things that I believe God says in the Bible that we should not do.
Angie & racunpoodle, Thank you for showing me that I am not alone in this type of predicament. I welcome your prayers that my mother will have a relationship with God and see her misguided beliefs for what they are.
dmmeans, nothing says it better than God's Word, and as recon77 points out, as Christians we have a lot of enemies. My prayer is that I will continue to grow in my relationship with God so that I will be able to tell the difference between that which is of God and that which isn't. I pray that for my mother too. |
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