Thanks Teren
I’ll renig on my initial choice to not respond but …
@sojourner2 this forum is absolutely made up of believers. While we differ in many secondary issues, we all believe the Bible when it says we are saved by faith alone and not by works.
Everyone has a spiritual destiny. If one is saved by accepting Christ no matter where they encountered him, their destiny is heaven and if one is not saved having rejected Christ, their spiritual destiny is hell.
If you are saved no matter the circumstances, you remain saved and are secure in your future home with the Faithful Savior.
No one is saying God can not reach people in certain places or because of certain circumstances. He can turn a lost soul to him whenever and wherever because the Holy Spirit is not bound by the physical.
Jesus ate and socialized with sinners, he cast out demons but he first and foremost made sure he pointed out their sin and/ or unbelief. After one is saved, he doesn’t advocate that a person continue in the path they were on.
Discernment is not equivalent to judging nor is sharing with others what are red flags when held up to biblical truth not a lack of understanding.
To the contrary , it is understanding. It’s understanding that there are doctrines , wolves in sheets clothing and as the Bible says damnable heresies to be in the lookout for.
YES, A new Christian is at risk for being overloaded with too much information all at once. It’s the “ give them milk until they’re ready for meat “. However, it is not a misplaced zealousness of so called experts who warn even new converts of all the deception taking place.
In fact, to not mention it to them is doing a great disservice to their thirsty soul as they usually want to learn more about Christ, the Bible and their new walk in Christ.
No one is pushing that we hit babes in Christ over the head with anything but it is necessary for more mature Christians to give some guidance so they DO NOT end up entrapped in teachings such as the NAR , WOF, the New Age / Mystic garbage or even cult type mentalities.
God does work all things out for good but that doesn’t negate that we just “ live and let live”.
If I see a person headed towards a cliff and they’re about to fall over it I’m not going to
think “ oh , I guess God will work that out if they fall off”. I’m going to try to stop them .
The same is true fur a “ spiritual cliff”. If I see a new Christian ( or even one who’s been saved awhile ) headed towards a cliff of wrong doctrines, untruths or sketchy teachings, I’m going to try to explain the danger so they do not end up off a cliff that leads to spiritual damage.
No one on this forum has ever claimed to be experts but it is clear the Holy Spirit gives discernment, more to some than others , and as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it is to be used to help others. Many on this forum have been blessed with this gift. Are any always 100% right? Of course not but that’s where their input is to be filtered through scripture and researched to see if they’re being biblical.
The “ vehicle “ is not the issue, it’s the road the person is subsequently driving down after they get in the vehicle. God didn’t leave us clueless on what is a truth and what is not a truth.
Scripture is a guideline for the Christian life including warnings of what to be on alert for so we are not deceived by false Christs, false ways of salvation, religious brouhaha masquerading as Christian concepts and man made teachings or traditions so we can stay on the correct path.
Not lovingly advising our fellow brothers and sisters, new to the faith or not , opens the possibility for them ( and ourselves) to wander off that path.
Remaining silent rightfully puts some responsibility of guilt onto the person that could’ve said something to protect a fellow Christian but who chose instead to let God handle it. If the person decides to not listen then so be it, but they are then with the full responsibility of consequences.
We are the body of Christ and we are called to help each other out so that the body and all its parts can remain as healthy as possible.