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 Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:49 pm
Hi, guys-- I'm writing to all of you with a very serious matter at heart, an issue that I don't yet know how to solve. Amaris Morven is my best friend IRL, and her sister has just declared herself an Athiest.
Please... I know this is going to be fairly long, but if you're going to comment, see where I'm coming from and read the entire post.
I'm lost. I feel like I've counseled a hundred people on this same topic, probably a few in this guild, and yet when it happens to me I don't know what to say. She was baptized a year after I was, and she understands the concepts put forth in the Bible, she just doesn't believe them anymore. She is convinced that there is no Heaven, no Hell, no God, nothing in the physical/temporal/metaphysical universe that is greater than humanity. There is no past, and there is no future-- there is only today, and she believes that one should live life to the fullest because tomorrow may never come.
I would go mad without the knowledge that God is real and that He loves me. Sometimes it seems like He is the only one who understands what's going on in my life, the only one who will listen without passing judgement. I can't even put myself in her shoes; the very thought of there not being a God and a Heaven... a home and a family that I can never lose... terrifies me. I have no frame of reference, and very little common foundation.
Some part of me is glad that she is exploring her spirituality for herself, not taking it at face value just because someone else told her it was what was right. Yet I fear for her, that something may happen to her before she really comes to understand the truth. And some part of me is also angry with her... after knowing the love of God at her baptism, proclaiming her faith in Christ, she deliberately... knowingly... turns away? My own feelings are too muddied and mixed up for me to see what's going on clearly, much less take action.
I ask for your prayers, both for her and for myself, and for your advice if you have it. I would also ask you to pray for Amaris; this came as a shock and a fairly painful blow to her, as well, as I'm sure you can imagine.
Thank you for your time and your patience.
heart in Christ,
Lyn
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Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:09 am
I've had the same problem. I'm not sure what I could have done in my situation though. I was not very versed in the stripture or a lot of the advanced concepts of the bible and the beliefs of the church at the time. All I know is that my friends were very impressionable by friends older than me, and they fell into the same sins of them. I was powerless to do anything about it. I couldn't just go up to them and say "hey this is wrong, you're gonna ruin your life". I didn't want to lose them as a friend. Unfortunately I lost them anyway. They became so engrossed in their lives of sin, I didn't see an easy way to get to them.
One thing you can try is to ask them why they turned. If you can somehow convince them that they came to that conclusion by false information you might be able to point them in the right direction. Keep talking to them and tell them exactly why you believe what you do. If that doesn't change anything, just do your best to keep the relationship you had, and be there just in case anything changes later. Just keep in mind some people don't want to believe no matter how convincing your argument is and there is nothing you can do about them untill they need your help. This is a tough situation, I'll be praying for you.
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Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 1:22 pm
Thanks, Lith-- it means a lot to me. *hug*
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Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 6:14 pm
you've been a good teacher to me.
i can't imagine a life without God. it would SUCK
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Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:17 am
all you can do is be her friend, no matter what. ask God how to love her and how to tell her the truth. chances are, HE hasn't stopped believing in her. so you shouldn't loose heart; continue to pray for her having faith that she will come back to God again. it's okay if you WANT to give up, or if you FEEL hopeless sometimes; don't though. pray without ceasing.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 1:15 pm
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