Lost another one

[Jules]

Now that the weather has been a bit warmer, I've been going for walks around the 'hood with a neighbor. She's a staunch catholic, but I like her anyway, and she puts up with my being an escaped catholic

She'll randomly bring up religious topics while we walk, and I try my best to gently point out issues within the rcc that don't line up with Scripture. She will mostly try to either ignore or explain them away, but I know she's mulling it over in her head.
Sunday afternoon, although I don't remember how we got there, she stated that she really doesn't believe a lot of what's in the Bible anyway. Like, Noah's Arc. And asked if I believe it happened. I said yes, of course. The Bible says it and I believe the Bible. I said, "You can't pick and choose which parts of it you do or don't want, like a dinner buffet".

She kind of shut down and it was a mostly quiet rest of the walk home.

Can anyone offer what should have been a better answer for her?

[Travis]

Hi Jules,

If you can remember, you might re-upload your avatar. It didn't get lost, just misplaced. I'll try and find it this weekend if I remember.

That's cool that this Roman Catholic woman is letting you talk to her about the true and living God at all.

There is no real satisfaction given by the RCC, no joy, no peace, no hope. If she can get a glimpse of the hope that is in you, she may see something she desires, namely Christ that is.

Blessings!

Travis

[Lou Newton]

Now that the weather has been a bit warmer, I've been going for walks around the 'hood with a neighbor. She's a staunch catholic, but I like her anyway, and she puts up with my being an escaped catholic

She'll randomly bring up religious topics while we walk, and I try my best to gently point out issues within the rcc that don't line up with Scripture. She will mostly try to either ignore or explain them away, but I know she's mulling it over in her head.
Sunday afternoon, although I don't remember how we got there, she stated that she really doesn't believe a lot of what's in the Bible anyway. Like, Noah's Arc. And asked if I believe it happened. I said yes, of course. The Bible says it and I believe the Bible. I said, "You can't pick and choose which parts of it you do or don't want, like a dinner buffet".

She kind of shut down and it was a mostly quiet rest of the walk home.

Can anyone offer what should have been a better answer for her?

Hi Julie,

Well, first of all Jesus did not convince anyone who did not want to know the truth of anything.

2nd - the best way is always to ask The Lord how to handle every situation.

3rd - I may have just said yes, I do. I may have added, that i did not used to know if The Bible was true or not. But I have sought the answer for that question for years now, and I believe it is true.

She may have felt a personal affront to you saying a person (her) can not pick and choose what they want to believe and what they do not want to believe. And anyone can decide to choose what they want and what they do not want to believe. It may not be a good way, but anyone can choose that path if they want to.

It may have been good to turn the situation back on yourself instead.

You could have said, I used to pick and choose etc. But decided that it was not a good way. The Bible says I am a sinner and can not find the truth on my own. So who am I to decide. I decided to let God show me what was true, and what was not true.

I do not see how one can do better than asking God to reveal the Truth to them. Jesus promises that if we ask Him, he will reveal the Truth to those who ask.

Another possible approach may have been to testify your personal search for the Truth.

You may have said, I used to find my religious life dry and boring. I did not personally know The Lord Jesus. I only knew about Him. So I asked Him to reveal Himself to me, and He did etc.

OR you may have told her about a personal miracle or experience that you had that made Jesus real to you.

The other possibility is that The Holy Spirit led you to say exactly what you said. The answer can be found in prayer.

Lou

[Jules]

Thank you, Travis and Lou, for your thoughts on this.

Note to Travis: I'm having issues uploading my avatar this evening. Not sure if it's because I'm tired and/or don't know what I'm doing or if there may be a glitch lurking somewhere after the software changes? I'll try again another time.

I do pray we continue these walking chats. It does us both good, and I suspect she has some nagging doubts about her faith - why else would she bring the topic up? She knows I left the rcc because I no longer believe their doctrine. But yes, Lou, you are right in that I came on too strong about believing all the Scriptures or don't believe it at all. I can be pretty callous and un-gentle in my speech. Especially when I feel so strongly about something.

Of course, this is exactly where I should have started:

The other possibility is that The Holy Spirit led you to say exactly what you said. The answer can be found in prayer.

Thank you, Lou.

[Blane]

Can anyone offer what should have been a better answer for her?

Good comments, everyone. Your answer was fine, Jules. God can use anything to convict a sinner of their need to believe. The important thing is that you were available.

Sometimes when I'm questioned why I believe the Bible, I say something like this...

Since I know God created all things out of nothing, it's easy for me to believe even the most miraculous Bible stories...walking on water, multiplying loaves and fishes, turning water into wine...child's play in comparision to creating all things out of nothing!

blane

[Jules]

Good comments, everyone. Your answer was fine, Jules. God can use anything to convict a sinner of their need to believe. The important thing is that you were available.

Sometimes when I'm questioned why I believe the Bible, I say something like this...

Since I know God created all things out of nothing, it's easy for me to believe even the most miraculous Bible stories...walking on water, multiplying loaves and fishes, turning water into wine...child's play in comparision to creating all things out of nothing!

blane

That would have been a very good answer, Blane. And how true, God can use anything to get a sinner attention.
Thank you for a great suggestion.
Julie