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Do you ever feel like you are too influenced by people's persuasive words, by their eloquence of speech? I do. Not that kaykay is going to completely go "off the deep end" and just believe or act in some way contrary to faith because someone says something, but... Sometimes I think I am just too easily influenced by other's (particularly within the body of Christ's opinions.)
Now understand: I have some very deeply held convictions. I imagine that maybe some of you guys could tell that by my posts here on CD. Yet... I still think I have a tendency to be too easily influenced... especially by the opinion of other Christians. I know --hard to believe about the "opinionated Miss kaykay" but yeah, it's true... Obviously, there are some things that will never be swayed or shaken in my belief system... but there are too many that can be especially by a fellow Christian.
An example of this, yesterday at church someone spoke (not our pastor and said some things that are still affecting me today...(negatively!) Don't necessarily agree with him but they still hit their mark in me. In a day or 2 I'll probably "recover" but for now, it's affecting me and badly. How can I stop that? Not that we don't need to remain "teachable." Obviously, we do, but like many things -it's a balance. Maybe I'm not making a lot of sense. Sometimes it's hard to explain in just a post, but can anyone else relate to this--being too easily influenced? My dh isn't like this...at all! Why am I?
Actually, I think it is this tendency that can allow false teachers to get an inroad with some people. So it can be even be a dangerous thing to be too easily influenced. (I don't think I 'm that bad about it but ... I'm somewhere on the continuum.) Any thoughts...?
Ah, Kaykay, if we could ever reach the point where we could willow out the wheat from the chaff, we would be OK, wouldn't we!!!
Ministers are just like everyone else. They have feet of clay. They are also influenced by what they have heard. And their teachers also made errors. This is why it is sooooo important to think for ourselves. We have to use the intellect that we were blessed with. It's a waste, if we don't.
Ministers are just like everyone else. They have feet of clay. They are also influenced by what they have heard. And their teachers also made errors. This is why it is sooooo important to think for ourselves. We have to use the intellect that we were blessed with. It's a waste, if we don't.
I know. You are absolutely right. What you said above is something I have to remind myself about. Intellectually, I know this, but I just haven't mangaged to integrate it in my heart and spirit yet! I'm not really a gullible person, because I will discern what's said and eventually come back to what I really believe to be the truth on an issue, but as I said, it still makes an inroad for awhile.
There are many things that want to influence us.. but if we have our first love on God and the truth, we won't give in, will we? I believe you do love God in this way, kaykay, and that is why you recognize something as false and don't allow it to affect your walk.. As soon as our first love is not set on God, we open ourselves to all sorts of deception. It's not something we can intellectually figure out, but we love God and follow His leading, even if the Truth hurts.
I've sat through church services of about 6 or 7 different faiths... heard the psalms, the sermons, the speeches. It all seems so empty and pointless to me. I can see how some people might be moved, but it just strikes me as overtly emotionally manipulative, and doesn't rope me in at all.
Some of them were interesting, especially the arabic recitation of the quaran, but nothing changed how I felt about anything.
Location: Somewhere along the path to where I'd like to be.
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Kaykay, I don't think I have to tell you about my own struggle with being "gullible" and susceptible to the words, ideas and "teachings" of other Christians. It's been evident in many of the posts I've made here at C-D. I suppose that's why I flat-out refuse to listen to much that any Christians say anymore. I know what God has shown me. I know what He has told me. I believe God accepts me as I am - even as a gay man. I do NOT believe it is deception. It doesn't matter to me what other people say, because God has told me to stop listening to other people. When I do that, the peace I get is greater than any peace I've experienced by trying to weed through the multitude of voices and opinions of those in various churches, with all their conflicting interpretations.
If you're sensitive to what others say, I can only tell you to stop listening to them. Their voice is but one of a multitude of voices, each being influenced by the voices of others.
Kaykay, I don't think I have to tell you about my own struggle with being "gullible" and susceptible to the words, ideas and "teachings" of other Christians. It's been evident in many of the posts I've made here at C-D. I suppose that's why I flat-out refuse to listen to much that any Christians say anymore. I know what God has shown me. I know what He has told me. I believe God accepts me as I am - even as a gay man. I do NOT believe it is deception. It doesn't matter to me what other people say, because God has told me to stop listening to other people. When I do that, the peace I get is greater than any peace I've experienced by trying to weed through the multitude of voices and opinions of those in various churches, with all their conflicting interpretations.
If you're sensitive to what others say, I can only tell you to stop listening to them. Their voice is but one of a multitude of voices, each being influenced by the voices of others.
I hear you. But yet I do want to be influenced by the Bible and I think you should too. (Kaykay holds up her hands in position of surrender. That's all I gonna say.)
Location: Somewhere along the path to where I'd like to be.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaykay
I hear you. But yet I do want to be influenced by the Bible and I think you should too. (Kaykay holds up her hands in position of surrender. That's all I gonna say.)
Location: Somewhere along the path to where I'd like to be.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaykay
Well, I'm not sure just where your thinking is at these days, Rob.
Regarding.......??
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and just believe or act in some way contrary to faith because someone says something, but... Sometimes I think I am just too easily influenced by other's (particularly within the body of Christ's opinions.) 
Yet... I still think I have a tendency to be too easily influenced... especially by the opinion of other Christians. I know --hard to believe about the "opinionated Miss kaykay" but yeah, it's true... Obviously, there are some things that will never be swayed or shaken in my belief system... but there are too many that can be especially by a fellow Christian.
)
