I would like my non-Christian and Christian friends to know a few things about me.
1. I've always been a SKEPTIC, but I understand that skepticism isn't a belief, and that a regress of infinite skepticism gets you absolutely nowhere. I've tried to use this attitude in a positive way, to evaluate truth.
2. I don't enter religious conversations unnaturally or uninvited. However, if you ask me a question, you make a religious comment, or we're in an acceptable forum, I may kindly ask for clarification.
1. What do you mean by that?
2. What reason you have for your position?
3. What difference does it make? Or why should I care?”
*Taken from Greg Koukl
3. I don't ask you questions about what you believe, that I haven't already asked myself about what I believe. And I never do it as a pressure tactic, to me snarky, or judgmental, but in attitude of learning.
4. I like to define words and meanings. You can't assume that you're sharing the same meaning because you're using the same words. Whether you're speaking to another denomination, religion, or practice, clarify you words first.
5. If I was actually a product of my environment and "Christians" I've encountered, then I wouldn't be a Christian. I have been greatly put off by Christians. Many were underinformed, unthinking, rude, and narrow-minded. In other words, just like people outside the church. Fortunately, I stayed in the "Church," not because of their behavior, but because I started to think and study for myself. I know that truth is truth regardless of the consequences, and that we are all God's divine image bearers, deserving respect and dignity.
6. In many cases I've encountered more problems with people within the organized church than I have outside. But it makes sense, since I've spent a lot more of my adult time with church communities. It also follows that there are more hurting people seeking answers to life's questions at churches, and bringing along all the baggage of their trauma and levels of maturity.
7. As a kid I went to churches in the neighborhood with whomever had a Sunday School bus route or Vacation Bible School. I loved making crafts and getting snacks, but didn't understand what I was hearing and thought the way some people acted in church was really weird. But what the heck...the Kool-Aid and cookies were great.
8. I was saved in a Independent Baptist Church that scared me straight to the alter. I sincerely did believe in my childlike way, but didn't grow in my knowledge or spirit or behavior. I love people in the IBC, but can't worship there anymore for traditional and theological reasons.
9. As a teenager I attended three other Fundamental Baptist Churches that harassed me at every turn for my music, clothing, and length of hair. I swallowed it, trying to figure things out. I think a lot of people leave the church at those times. The same was true for my first couple years at Liberty Baptist College in 1979. The RAs or "Religious Nazis" as I called them were after me, pressuring me, and not allowing me to turn, learn, and grow as I could absorb it and make sense of it. I got restricted to campus a lot then, and started to question my faith even more. It would have been easier to leave, but I learned later that there were more honest, spiritually minded, mature people--BUT at the time I was a FRESHMAN and trying to find out where the cafeteria was located.
10. Some of my best friends in High School were Mormons. They're good people with high moral standards. I went to their houses and spent a lot of years studying their beliefs. I came to the conclusion that their doctrine isn't close to Orthydox Christianity. They believe in many things that originated in the 1800's. They believe we are all gods, (in a New Age way I thought) when the Bible is clear there is only One. Deut 4:35,39, Isa 43:10, 44:6,8, Deut 6:4, and the first chapter in the Gospel of John. It's an open and shut case, not subjective.
11. My first experience with the richness of Christian history, theology, and philosophy came in 1981, while attending Dr. Gary Habermas' class on the "Introduction To Phil 101." I hope he doesn't remember, because I didn't do well. A lot of distractions were in my life...but, I bet I remember more than most who took that class.
12. In the early 80's, I also got to hear Dr. Francis Schaeffer speak at school multiple times. He had the biggest impact on my thinking. I have his magnum opus of books, and it has enriched my thinking beyond measure.
13. The short-list of my theological, historical, and spiritual guides today are J.P. Moreland, William Lane Craig, John Lennox, and Alvin Plantinga. I still have volumes of work from the late Norman Geisler. If you want to get inside my head, then read these guy and your Bible.
14. I studied telecommunications at Liberty University, and joined the USAF as a Broadcast Journalist in 86. I still wasn't as mature and dedicated as I should be. Life was fun, and I enjoyed traveling to 10 countries and 10 states. I did morning radio show as a DJ in with American Forces Radio.
15. As a military brat of 20 years, I speak fair German, some Italian, know Japanese customs, and can fake a pretty good British accent. As a brat, I ran the streets with my German, Italian, and English friends, getting into trouble and playing "football" soccer. So, I can pretty much talk to anyone about anything, or fake it pretty good.
16. I'm serious-minded, see humor in EVERYTHING, and love life. However, the most important thing to me has been seeking the truth wherever it leads.
17. I play guitar (I played cello in high school), sing, write songs, read A LOT, write novels, and I'm a black belt in Nishi Kaze Karate. I love football and played linebacker and tightend in HS.
18. I try to love everyone and treat everyone fairly, regardless of their beliefs, gender, race, sexual preferences, or eccentricities. I will tell you what I believe if you ask or I'm in a forum where it's accepted. I don't lean on people, but have opinions and beliefs that have evolved.
19. I read, study, and challenge my religious positions and reasoning every day, I hope you do the same, when you're comfortable.
20. We don't have to agree to be civil and love each other as neighbors, as God commands, but I know God has to exist for their to be genuine love.
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