[First posted in 2014, always a timely reminder not only for us Sinaites but for anyone in transition from one faith to another and is being shunned, ostracized, losing former colleagues, all the consequences of changing faith or changing one’s God!.—Admin1]
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If you’re becoming a frequent visitor to this website and are beginning to think differently from the way you’ve always thought [or been taught to think], then most likely, you’ve decided to do one of two things:
- either you keep MUM about your new discoveries and what you’re digesting from the readings in this website, OR
- if you’re a blabber and can’t keep things to yourself, you’re beginning to share your moment-by-moment shifting alliances with others who are now beginning to wonder ‘what the hell is wrong with you’!
Well, ‘what-the-heaven is right with you’ is that you’re not close-minded and are willing to hear another side, that’s the beginning of freedom from intolerance or bias or prejudice of any sort, and that’s good!
So, to help you out at this early stage of your search since we’ve been there and moved on, here’s a helpful book to read. Like most Jewish websites that categorize themselves as “anti-missionary” because it’s their chosen mission to alert Jewish people not to convert to Christianity, this book has the same approach.
The author Samuel Levine is listed in our RESOURCE SHARING; his book title: YOU TAKE JESUS, I’LL TAKE GOD.
Image from www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org504
We’re not copying the WHOLE book here, just an excerpt from his Introduction where he suggests 5 procedures to follow when dealing with a “prooftext” given for any Christian belief purportedly arising from the “Old Testament.” If you find this information helpful, then get a copy of his short book and learn more!
5 Procedures:
1. If they quote from the Old Testament, then—
(a) Look at the entire context of that verse–usually this alone will suffice.
(b) See if the verse has been mistranslated –you should always try to look up every quote in the original Hebrew. If you do not know Hebrew, find a friend who does.
(c) See if the verse seems to be misinterpreted — see if the interpretation is forced into the words artificially.
(d) See if the verse points exclusively to Jesus; see if the verse could apply to another person as well.
2. If [you’re warned] that you will burn in hell forever unless you accept Jesus, or if they try any other type of psychological trick, calmly ask them for logical proof for their beliefs. Insist on intellectual reasoning.
3. When [they] present one of their proofs, and meet a question in return, they often do not answer the question. Instead, they usually throw another verse at the person. When this occurs, calmly insist that they answer the question that was asked.
4. Try to speak as calmly as you can. [They] believe that only faith in Jesus will make a person calm, and so your getting excited will only reinforce them.
5. Never be on the defensive. Be aware that you are most probably dealing with brainwashed people, and not rational theologians. There is therefore no reason to feel defensive or uncomfortable if you disagree with them. If they interrupt the discussion and ask you if it would be all right for them to immediately pray for your soul, do not let it faze you. That is a psychological trick that they use, and you might want to respond to it by singing a song or praying for their soul in return.