backsliding struggle

[*Zion*]

Hi, I'm in an extremely frustration situation at the moment. I'm praying for someone who has been a good friend in the past, but who is now backsliding bad, and it's getting really difficult. He's constantly picking an argument with me, and when I evade the argument by showing him scripture in answer to his questions he tells me that I'm not listening to him and that I just want to be right.

I told him that scripture was the only answer I could give him, seeing as neither of us know it all anyway, and that if he can't accept scripture, (he still calls himselfa christian at this point, just at 'crossroads') then there is nothing more I can say. His big stress is on logic, and that people's testimonies are pointless, unless they're on 'parting of the Red Sea' level.

He doesn't want to pray, he doesn't want to read the bible, and he wants to condemn everything that's not from his point of view, and I am now finding him extremely arrogant, frustrating and provocative. I don't want to argue with him anymore, but it's getting to the point that I can't even speak to him anymore because all the time he's just waiting for yet another opportunity to pick another debate to prove his 'superior' reasoning skills.

So, I've walked away, prayed, left it in God's hands. I don't think i should completely ignore him, because this is a serious salvation issue, and I don't think i should just nod my head and smile just to appease him either so he can continue walking deceived. And i feel really sad about him and for him.

Still praying. Any feed back would be great.

 

[::PreciousinChrist::]

Dear Zion,
all I can say is this from Luke 10:16
" He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

As you said that you feel really sad about him and for him.
May I warn you to be careful concerning feelings. We must not give into them but do the right thing according to the Word of God even when we do indeed feel sad for so many people deep inside, we got to do what the Lord tells us to keep ourselves safe.
As the Word admonishes us many times to "take heed to ourselves and to the doctrine" ( Timothy) or to "take heed to yourselves first"( Acts)

This is not being selfish for if we do not take heed to ourselves, we will lose track of ourselves in our personal walk with God.
So don't give into your feelings concerning this but just as you are doing, keep praying and commit him to the Lord.

God bless you sister,
PRE

 

[::PreciousinChrist::]

Dear Zion,

All I can say is this from Luke 10:16
" He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

As you said that "you feel really sad about him and for him".
May I warn you to be careful concerning feelings. We must not give into them but do the right thing according to the Word of God even when we do indeed feel sad for so many people deep inside, we got to do what the Lord tells us to keep ourselves safe.
As the Word admonishes us many times to "take heed to ourselves and to the doctrine" ( Timothy) or to "take heed to yourselves first"( Acts)

This is not being selfish for if we do not take heed to ourselves, we will lose track of ourselves in our personal walk with God.
So don't give into your feelings concerning this but just as you are doing, keep praying and commit him to the Lord.


God bless you sister,
PRE

 

[Boanerges]

My sister, sometimes as painful as it seems we have to let others walk their own way. We are to pray and encourage them as opportunity arises but we cannot make them change their minds. Sadly many only begin to look up when they have hit bottom, that is when your friend will more than likely be open to talking and may even seek out your counsel.
We will pray for this person that God draw them and bring them home to Himself. And though waiting is not what we want we are to wait with full confidence that God has head our prayer and is even now arranging circumstances to bring your friend to their knees in prayer.
Many blessings in His Name,
your brother Larry.

 

[GilforChrist]

God Bless you sister Zion, it is hard to deal with backsliding, I am speaking from being there for the last year and it took hearing Gods voice while I was in prayer in very odd place a Mosque.

See no matter what people told me I was wrong and tried to share scripture with me, I was mad with people calling them selves leaders, and that people were being unreal in church and always trying to give me a word that 78% of the time the message was not for me and made my heart sad,.

All you can do is pray and let him know you are there and so is God.


We like to correct people and some times we have to just step back because God never lets us go, and the Holy Spirit needs to work in them and open their eyes, if he knows the word it will burn in his heart and he will start to see the error and you see it is when we show the heart of Christ and not judge but always show love. Lift him up in prayer but dont tell him, keep reminding him God loves you.

it is hard to see people walk away but you see as one who has done so and come back our heart ackes without fellowship and we begin to miss Jesus and know deep in our hearts there is only one truth then the hard part is coming back because people have walked away and no longer feel trusted and the enemy attacks the mind, so please remember Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

I will also keep you in prayer and ask the Lord to give you strength and place the words you need on your tongue .

Gil

 

[*Zion*]

Hi, thanks for all the replies, scripture and the offers of prayer, which I truly appreciate, and I agree with everything that has been said. My only point of frustration now is the constant argument that he himself wants to have with me. The more I distance myself, the more he tries to provoke. It's really tiring, as he always wants to 'talk'. Just listening on its own isn't enough, he wants me to fight back so he can prove his point. Ignoring him seems to fan the flames all the more. Has anybody out there ever been in my specific position? Not that I don't understand the things that have been said, and concern and help that went along with them...

 

[amadeus2]

The following verses are both for you and for your friend if you have opportunity and/or desire to speak with him again.

"O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Jerem 10:23

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Prov 3:5

The apostle Paul was a very intelligent, educated man with his emphasis of study on the scriptures, yet for all of his knowledge he missed the Lord completely until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.

When God gives us a lot of brain power or anything He expects even more from us... not less.

Remember these words of Jesus:

"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Matt 19:24

A person who is smart and educated and lives in a rich western country like the United States, and has easy access to a Bible in his own language is so rich it can be very difficult for him to enter into the kingdom of God.

Each us must be able to humble ourselves and admit how really helpless we are in spite of our riches.

 

[::PreciousinChrist::]

Dear Zion,

I want to put two very important verses for you:

2 Tim 2:23-26 : "But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."


This guy wants you to fight back which means he is provoking you into an argument which eventually leads to strife. And we are not called to strifes.
If this situation is frustrating you, its better that you accept "defeat" on your part ( which is a wise thing to do) rather than having a dispute!
If he mocks, suffer the mocking(s) just as Jesus, our Lord endure such hostility.
Here is another one:

Mark 10:15 : "15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

As you can see, you friend is not receving the kingdom of God like a little child but is rather puffed by his own fleshly mind. (Colossians)


Keep God's ways. Don't get consumed by him. Keep your heart fixed and guarded on the Word of God.
"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." ( Matt 5)


God bless you!
PRE

 

[::PreciousinChrist::]

Dear Zion,

I would like to put two very important verses before you:

2 Tim 2:23 : "But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.

This guy wants you to fight back which means he is provoking you into an argument which eventually leads to strife. And we are not called to strifes.
If this situation is frustrating you, its better that you accept "defeat" on your part ( which is a wise thing to do) rather than having a dispute!
If he mocks, suffer the mocking(s) just as Jesus, our Lord endure such hostility.


Here is another one:

Mark 10:15 : "15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

As you can see, you friend is not receving the kingdom of God like a little child but is rather puffed by his own fleshly mind. (Colossians)


Keep God's ways. Don't get consumed by him. Keep your heart fixed and guarded on the Word of God.
"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." ( Matt 5)


God bless you!
PRE

 

[*Zion*]

Thanks, PreciousinChrist, I totally agree, as is actually evident in both of my posts. And thanks to everybody who has prayed for this issue; it's been a complete turn around since yesterday. We haven't talked about God, but we haven't argued either, and he's trying to be pleasant. God is good, He hears our prayers and I praise and thank Him, and I love Him. At least I haven't lost this guy as my friend, and I believe we will see what God will do in his life.

Still praying.

PS GilforChrist, I really like your avatar picture, been coming back time and again to that verse recently!

Blessings, everyone.:dirol:

 

[childof]

PreciousinChrist,

I tried to send you a PM but i couldn't.Sorry.How can i communicate with you ?