I don't get it! I keep telling him that I am a Christian Catholic. Geez! stop already. I believe in Christ just as much as does! Shit! Stop already. He calls himself a "christian". I don't get it, what is the difference what you call yourself, we both believe in Christ.
Tell him that you appreciate his passion for his beliefs, but that you're uncomfortable discussing religion. If he keeps it up, get a new gardener.
Verily I say, the laborer may not be worthy of his hire. As Bruce sayeth, should he not desist, thou may'st need another for thy vineyard. :smile: J.
Every time a born-again tries to convert me, I answer by quoting scripture to refute them. Then they condemn me to hell. Good thing "hell" is nothing more than a small valley in Jerusalem. It might even be a fun trip.
Maniac Craniac, do you believe there is a hell in eternity, as opposed to the refuse area adjacent to Jerusalem? Common Christian teaching is that: - there is a hell in the center of the earth (a holding area for the damned) - there will be a "lake of fire" at the end of the age (after the Great White Throne Judgement)
There are some pretty big fundamental and doctrinal differences between Catholicism and non-Catholic Christianity. Catholicism subsists on a stack of non-biblical practices, and I say that without judgment, it's simply a matter of fact. Other sects of Christianity are very much aware of this, so in saying that, you can't be too surprised that he would be trying to convert you. Best thing you can do is tell him to hit the road because it's unlikely to stop. The funny part is that non-Catholic Christianity engages in a ton of non-biblical practices as well, not quite as obvious as Catholicism, but still there nonetheless. I just believe in the Creator and perform good will towards others, it's the best way I can see, because at the end of the day everyone thinks their religion is the right one yet no one living knows anything for sure regardless of how deeply they believe it.
Because when you live as a community (a church, "ecclesia", means "gathering"), you'll come up with practices and rituals. Then someone rejects these things (some going back to the time of the Apostles, others there for a good reason) as "unbiblical" and... have to replace these with variants invented by whoever last Tuesday. I mean, some of these other sects reject saying Pater Noster as "unbiblical" in favor of different way of praying... even though "Our Father" is in the Bible and comes directly from Christ. Or refusing Mary her title of "Mother of God", when the truth it expresses is that our Lord is 1) incarnate, or truly born of Mary and the Holy Spirit and 2) is the True Eternal God the Logos. I love the Protestants, I really do, but what they fail to understand is the "faults" they find in the ancient doctrine were discussed by men far smarter and holier than we, and the dogmata (well... of the first 8 Councils at least) are there for a reason. Of course, I'm Eastern Orthodox, but we actually share the vast majority of "practices" in question. In short, tell the guy that you respect his faith, but suggesting that you as a Catholic is not a follower of Christ is offensive. Maybe don't tell him that you are in (a branch of) the New Testament Church as started at Pentecost, while his claim to the same is much weaker :bandit:. That would be a bit unfair, I know, but food for thought.
Your gardener is probably a decent person who thinks he's helping you, giving you a chance, etc. I suspect that if you explained to him that you experience his repeated overtures as, essentially, a lack of respect for you and your beliefs he would most likely stop asking. If not, I would treat him as I would any other disrespectful employee.
Question for your gardner I would ask your gardener why he thinks you are not a Christian - since you have stated your belief in Christ. What is his criteria? How does he know he is one? Based on his answer you can let him know your faith is in Christ as well and go from there. Offense is sometimes better than defense.... and dialogue may be good if it is not endless argument.
One way to ascertain the faith of a person is to ask the following question: "Can you reject the Lord Jesus Christ and still enter His kingdom?" It is a kingdom. Entrance into the kingdom of heaven is through the God-man Christ alone. It is not through Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius or anyone else. And if a person has never heard of the Lord Jesus Christ -- and if he goes to heaven -- it is still through Jesus that he gained access to heaven. The kingdom of heaven belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ and to His people.
You...have a gardener? Nice. Well I guess I do to, he's 17 years old and leaves fancy stripes of long grass in much of the yard. Calls me out when the lawn mower mysteriously stops working (or as I call it "runs out of gas"). The only he tries to convert me on is letting him buy a piece of shit car he likes. He works for free too, which is less than Californians have to pay for their illegal immigrant "gardener" labor.
I must have been 7 or 8, playing in Central Park, when a woman came up to me and said, "Are you a Christian." "No," I said, "I'm Jewish." She patted me on the head and said, "Don't worry about it. You gave us the Lord."
Jesus is a Jew LOL Yes, Jesus the God-man is a JEW! The Creator of heaven and earth was born into the world through the Virgin Mary, who is also a Jew. The Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God (Romans 3:2). It's amazing, isn't it?
Yeah, I have had born again's ask me if I am a "Christian". I say yes, I am a Christian Catholic. They give me this sort of puzzled look.