Am I being called to Preach?
342119
My precious Brother In Christ...You really won't need to ask anyone else if you are called to Preach, you will have the inner witness within your heart that ONLY GOD CAN TOUCH!\nMyself, as well as other true christians sense your sincere\nheart about this matter and will be praying for you to SEEK GOD AND GOD ALONE ON THIS MATTER just like the other Anointed Preachers do...They go straight to God..Remember, when GOD calls you into the ministry to work for Him, HE WILL GIVE THE ANOINTING TO CARRY IT OUT & NOT MAN!!!
229526
Evangelizing, proselytism....I have NO respect for such actions.  I have little or no tolerance for it due to bad past experiences.  :-(((  I gave up listening to people who proselytize.\n\nI DO see a link between current conflicts and evangelizing. I see proselytism as an disrespectful 'attack' on another person or group's right to believe or live their lives differently.  Proselytism, in essence to me, is saying:\n\n""I hate you. I hate how you are living your life.  You HAVE to believe and live as *I* do, cuz I Know better than you.""\n\n*sigh*  That is what proselytism, evangelizing means to me.
118146
I'm not terribly sure about this but I think that someone who is ordained is someone that has felt the calling to do something...in almost all cases this has to do with reverends.  It's never really used any other way.\n\nSomeone who is licensed to preach is someone that is accepted by a major baptist organization such as the Southern Baptist Convention.  Usually they feel the calling too, they just have the paperwork and the classes given in Seminary as well.
703143
I am not trying to be a party pooper or sound preachy or anything, but I just think that there's no point in complaining about these things because, no matter how much you complain, people will continue to say them...\n& chances are, the more you complain, the more people will say them and the more they will annoy you...\n\nI do agree, however, that it gets pretty annoying when people say that they will pray for you and stuff like that...but then again, we are (or at least should be) free to express our feelings and/or beliefs...\n\nYou're probably better off if you just ignore them :)
737636
If Jesus and his apostles were here today, what do you think they would be doing? They would be preaching from house to house, telling others about God and his righteous Kingdom. How would you treat them? Would you listen to their life-saving message with an open mind or would you slam the door in their faces and tell them--"sorry, I have my own religion."  Think about that the next time those who are following Jesus' command and example try to tell you about God"s heavenly government and what wonderful blessings it will bring to the earth and all meek ones who inherit it.
1025590
we shouldnt be preaching to anyone here,, its for questions whats yours,, see ,,some one that wanted to discuss Jesus,, or Buddha ,,,shouldnt have to wade in a morass of non -spiritual questions ,,and argument by non-seekers,,, its like pregnacy questions all the time in singles,, and chats in the garden section,,, whats it gonna take for you to believe,,, your spiritual life is your business ,,and not any one elses ,,i believe in Jesus but he wants you to get there on your own,, not be cause i did anything to convince you ,,,and so id rather talk to someone with a question of any faith ,,isnt there someone that might want to discuss a spiritual topic,,, as this is supposed to be a forum for that,,, cant logic convince the folks that are dimayed by belief systems,,, to go away ,,,and let folks find there own path in life,, if your  certain that your alone in the universe why convince me im wrong,,, just relax when i die i'll obviously find nothing like you,, why work so hard to fight some one having peaceful ideas,,, like  the true teaching of the great leaders of religion ,,or philosophy ,,is it hurting you ,,no,,, so logically,,,, your maybe in a real search pattern your self
891868
...I don't know why that is (that few TV preachers are backed by or held accountable to any denomination or overseeing authority); some to be sure are money-grabbers. If one is accountable to no one, it can easily lead to abuses of many kinds.   I watch for doctrinal errors especially, lavish lifestyles, and endless pleas (and gimmicks) to get your money.  There are crooked evangelists and ministers, who have been caught in lies and criminal activity, but not all are crooked.  There are bad apples in every profession.\n...A biblical congregation should be led by male elders who are subject to God and each other.  I will not be part of a church which has no such elder board.\n...That is a warning sign to me.  Those who subject themselves to no one, are in danger of leading many astray, as in a cult following.  \n...Our pastor, re: any of his messages - he  encourages us to "check him out", to prove what he teaches.  The Berean Christians were commended in Acts 17:11 - "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the Scriptures with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so."\n...Don't be afraid to check them out - in fact, do check them out - examine the Scriptures daily, to see whether the things they teach are so.\n...God does know how to "clean house" too, that is, He is fully capable of removing people who dishonor His name. And in the end, Romans 14:12 says, "Each of us shall give account of himself to God."  They will not escape.
770685
You ask a question here, it's open to all. Typical that you seek to control what you don't like to confront. Thing is, I DO care if some busybody gets me out of my armchair or stops me in the street out of a sense that I am wrong about everything and they are right about everything. So I don't care if you don't want to read what I have to say, that's not the sort of forum this is.\n\nAnd don't evangelize. Distrtibute food parcels, do something for the homeless, drug addicts, refugees, battered women, children with cancer, elderly day care or something that is of actual value to other people, and not just your ego. We'll choose your way of seeing things if we want to. Otherwise just go away.
422200
Preaching to unbelievers rarely, if every works.  But lliving a gracious and joyful life is something that people see and are truly moved by.  I think we should always be clear we are Christians and live as ambassadors of Christ; not beating others over the head with our fancy leather-bound Bibles, but shining Jesus' love and grace through our daily lives.  Then God will move others to see him through us.  We care bear witness to broken-hearted and troubled people in this way and in his time, he will open them to also hear the clear gospel through us.  Actions speak louder than words.  The unbelievers don't care what we say (if they did, they'd already be in church!), but they are very interested in seeing what we do.  Jesus' primary command to his disciples?  "Love one another as I have loved you."  Jesus never criticised, condemned, pointed out others sins; he loved them, and when his love opened their hearts, he taught them the way of God.  We should do likewise.
83233
People mean well (though they do harm) when they approach potential converts to Christianity by, abrasively, reminding them of their sinful standard of living.\n\nIn the beginning of witnessing such 'ministering,' my reaction was vexation of spirit because Jesus was never harsh with hurting people. The woman caught in adultery was not condemned by Jesus.\n\nWhen people surrounded her to carry out the brutal punishment of death by stoning, I can only imagine the fear of having a crowd of people on a mission to kill me for bad judgment...for a bad call...for a bad (correctable) choice. \n\nI can also imagine her relief to hear the noise of the crowd diminish as they listened to a lone, quiet voice of hope (gently calling attention to their times of bad judgment) and how they escaped punishment.\n\nTrue believers have to be that lone voice of hope, (that balance) to potential new converts subjected to the noise of those who do not minister in meekness. \n\nPaul stated in I Timothy 2:24 "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, \n\n:25 In meekness instructing those who oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;\n\n:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."\n\nTherefore, as a Christian, when my thoughts lean toward harsh rebuke of those who mean well (but do harm in their zealous ministry), I understand they need more instruction on how to minister in meekness.  \n\nLifting them in prayer and supplication to God (that they become more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit) grants me peace from the torment of a vexed spirit.
491293
Yep - me too. The difference between the preacher at your local church and these guys is money and power. As Dante said, power corrupts & absolute power corrupts absolutely. So unfortunately, if a preacher has good intentions when he starts it is almost guaranteed that he will become corrupted by the money, power & fame of televangelism (with one exception - Billy Graham). But I don't worry too much about the people you named - people will believe what they want to believe. It's frustrating at times, but Jesus is the message. And the people who seek Him will find Him. That's why God uses the local church to save the lost & minister to the community. May God bless you & your friends.
246202
not really into chick tracks.....I have observed my share of baptist preachers using them to preach from instead of the WORD.  \n\ndemonations, demonations...sigh
585265
Sure!\n\nI sing, participate in Bible study classes and ladies' classes.  I send out a daily e-mail to our congregation.\n\nI think it's sad when people think that just because they aren't leading, that they aren't contributing.  Anyone can (and I believe, should) participate.\n\nI listen attentively.  I've heard preachers say that it's so discouraging when people don't make eye-contact with them while they're preaching.  Apparently someone in a congregation I once attended was doing homework during the sermon.  :o(\n\nMany of us meet outside of services as well.  We need to be active and participate in each others' lives and encourage each other.
628031
I'll settle for anyone who is genuine and real up in the pulpit and isn't like these professionals who always preach the wrong sermon. There they are talking on some topic while the church is burning down. The sermon should be, "Fire, fire everybody out," if you understand this metaphor. Instead they argue doctrine or joke or repeat sermon number 105. A woman with some sense just might be a welcome change. She just might tell the congregation that the church has lost its saltiness. My, wouldn't that be a revelation!
979275
no, you need to remind him that his job is supposed to be spreading the word of god, and to help those in need.\n\n-- from an aethiest
950952
"Granny, I love you and I respect you.  But I have made a choice for my faith and life, and I need you to respect that.  Show me that you love me by respecting this choice."\n\nNow, if there is something WRONG with the non-denominational church you have selected, then that is an entirely different question.  However, if your church is teaching the Bible as God's word, and if you cannot see anything in their statement of faith that is wrong, then stand your ground, affirming your Granny of your love for her.
767117
I agree with you! If the questions are listed correctly under religion & spirituality, then they have no room to complain. What else do they expect to find here?? If someone posts outside of the correct topic area then it is considered abuse, and it should be reported, just as we would report someone for posting advertising of immoral subjects somewhere. I just believe that some folks have never taken a stand spiritually and are not knowlegable about it and it scares them. So the recourse they use is, "Don't shove it down my throat".  Also as far as the other person that said you weren't being christianly by your post is wrong, being upset is not a sin.........Jesus overthrew the tables of the money changers in the synagoge...done properly it is okay.