Originally posted by Emo?
Murder, rape, and theft happens, so clearly we do need a higher power.Then telling me what you just said is unfair. But i don't think it is because it's your point of view.
I'm not forcing, i'm sticking up and converting, at the same time. And i'm allowed to stick up for my religion.
Because obviously no one who believes in a higher power has EVER commited murder, rape, or theft 🙄
And converting = forcing your beliefs on others.
I see a couple misunderstandings on both sides here...
First thing:
Being a Christian means accepting Jesus as your Lord and your saviour...and trusting that He is the way to God...(the one and only God Jesus speaks of in the bible).
Unfortunately, and believe me I know this might sound harsh, there is no room for other Gods/other explanations of “how” and “why” with Christianity...that's exactly what being a Christian entails...and before I became a believer, I used to demand to know WHY, WHY, WHY it is these "closed-minded" Christians think that way.
Well...now I know why. Because believing there is only ONE way, IS the only way (to come to God and to salvation). It didn't make sense to me until...well...until it made sense to me. It's the only way that works...and it's the only way that was meant to work. We didn't choose it to be so cut and dry. Blame Him! As Christians, we can't say there are others ways...that's not how Christianity works.
And for some reason, it seems popular these days for people to think its SOOOO horrible for anyone to say there's only one truth. It's like..."Well, sorry. But the truth I believe in just so happens to be about believing in ONE truth...I didn't make it like that. But I believe in it...it makes sense to me...so don't start making me look like the bad guy because I'm not willing to be what you call 'open-minded,' and accept there's possibly other God's/explanations/whatever...I just don't. Can't help it."
And I hope non-Christians here appreciate where I'm coming from. Because at the end of the day, I have as much choice to what makes sense to me, as you do to what makes sense to you...don't say I'm being condescending because what makes sense to me just so happens to be about Jesus being the only way.
…does that make sense???
Second thing:
Evangelizing to people isn't something Christians should think they need or have to do...or that it's a requirement of being a Christian.
If anything it should be looked at as a privilege. If you are a Christian, and you believe that Christ died on the cross for the sins of man, and that we are now in the process of the world being redeemed...it’s gonna happen with or without us. That's why God sent His Son...to redeem the world through him. We're just meant to take part by being Christians (and that happens by allowing yourself to become more like Jesus).
We're NOT gonna do it by telling people "this is what will happen to you if you don't accept God NOW!!!"
Would you be drawn to something like that?...or to something like Jesus (who came as a humble, loving, serving example of how we should treat and respect each other). By simply being a Christian, and acting out you faith, you ARE evangelizing.
Question is…is your faith being acted out (meaning, are you becoming more like Jesus?)
Originally posted by ThePittman
If you tried to live in the woods and kill a cat or a dog without the use of any tools you would starve. You have not seen what a domestic feral cat can do to a human, much less a wild one. Without the use of tools and our power to create them humans would have died off long ago.I still have no clue as to what you are trying to say, hell I can't even guess at it.
1. Then why did we need intelligence? all we would have needed is to "evolve" to be quicker so we could catch them, done. No need to be intelligent. I'm bigger than a cat so i could do alot of not very nice things to it, there's the main dish!
2. Life is pointless from evolutions eyes, let's put it that way. But ironically, even though life is pointless, life still evolves so it can live more! what's the point?
Originally posted by Lana
Because obviously no one who believes in a higher power has EVER commited murder, rape, or theft 🙄And converting = forcing your beliefs on others.
Yeah, but that depends on how deeply you believe in god, if you have doubt, you're more likely to do something like that, but if you believe as much as a good christian would, it is unlikely.
Seeing as do not kill is one of the big ten commandments 🙄 it's definatly a major that should always be taken into account.
Ok then, i'm sticking up for what i believe, but naturally in the same process it would be teling you what i believe and maybe letting you think about it (hence the converting part)
Many atheists do what's right because law says so, when you're born you ain't a little angel, you can't tell right from wrong.
Originally posted by Emo?
1. Then why did we need intelligence? all we would have needed is to "evolve" to be quicker so we could catch them, done. No need to be intelligent. I'm bigger than a cat so i could do alot of not very nice things to it, there's the main dish!2. Life is pointless from evolutions eyes, let's put it that way. But ironically, even though life is pointless, life still evolves so it can live more! what's the point?
You don't understand things well, do you?
Originally posted by Emo?
1. Then why did we need intelligence? all we would have needed is to "evolve" to be quicker so we could catch them, done. No need to be intelligent. I'm bigger than a cat so i could do alot of not very nice things to it, there's the main dish!
Originally posted by Emo?I don’t know where you get this idea at all, why do we need some mystical reason for life. Do animals need a reason to live? We live to reproduce, learn and evolve to become better then we were before through our offspring.
2. Life is pointless from evolutions eyes, let's put it that way. But ironically, even though life is pointless, life still evolves so it can live more! what's the point?
People also assume that since atheist do not believe in God that we don’t have anything to follow or that we can do anything without consequences, that is farther from the truth. I don’t believe in God yet I don’t kill, not because God tells me to but because it is wrong. This causes pain and suffering to others and I don’t want that to happen to me. I don’t steal because I don’t want that to happen to me, it cause pain and suffering to others. If God didn’t tell you killing is wrong would you kill? If you wouldn’t is it because you know that it would cause pain and suffering to another and taking away the loved one of another.
God has set forth many rules and do you live by them all, if not then why do you obey some and not others? Could it be because that some feel more right then others, you do what make you feel better, if you don’t go to church every Sunday because you have work to do or something else you feel that is more important then worshiping God that day. Can you say that even if the Ten Commandments were not written you would live your life breaking them all?
Originally posted by ThePittman
God has set forth many rules and do you live by them all, if not then why do you obey some and not others? Could it be because that some feel more right then others, you do what make you feel better, if you don’t go to church every Sunday because you have work to do or something else you feel that is more important then worshiping God that day. Can you say that even if the Ten Commandments were not written you would live your life breaking them all?
Originally posted by BananaKing
Seeing as do not kill is one of the big ten commandments 🙄 it's definatly a major that should always be taken into account.
The great thing about God's gift of Jesus to us is that he is the way we can get to God. It's not about you trying get to God (praying an x number of times a day, eating this, not eating that), it's about allowing Christ to get you to God. And that's when Chrisitanity starts to become less a religion of the mind, and more a reality.
That's why it's called the "Good News"...because it is exactly that....It couldn't be better!
Originally posted by EPIIIBITESWhen has Christianity not been about rules? You must believe in Jesus and that is a rule, so the bible is just suggestions? You must live your life a certain way and do certain things in order to become closer to Jesus and through him become closer to God and by this you must obey God’s laws.
Christianity isn't about rules....That's EXACTLY what makes it different from any other religion.
You're close. The 10 Commandments, for example, were rules before God sent Jesus. Jesus was our justification...and now the 10 Commandents are just used for sanctification. Christians don't HAVE to live up to the commandemnts any more, or ANY rules in the bible...but by considering teachings like the commandment into their lives, they allow the Holy Spirit to better work in them.
Christians are now allowed to live by grace (through the guidance of Jesus). It's not up to us follow rules anymore to serve God.
The ONLY thing anyone might have to do (whether this is considered a rule or not, I don't know) is to accept Jesus into their lives.
Originally posted by EPIIIBITESSo with that logic I could kill, steal, rape and break all other commandments and as long as I believe in Jesus I will get into heaven?
You're close. The 10 Commandments, for example, were rules before God sent Jesus. Jesus was our justification...and now the 10 Commandents are just used for sanctification. Christians don't HAVE to live up to the commandemnts any more, or ANY rules in the bible...but by considering teachings like the commandment into their lives, they allow the Holy Spirit to better work in them.Christians are now allowed to live by grace (through the guidance of Jesus). It's not up to us follow rules anymore to serve God.
The ONLY thing anyone might have to do (whether this is considered a rule or not, I don't know) is to accept Jesus into their lives.
Well, the whole idea of being "saved" is exactly that. You've been "saved" from going to hell...even if you do bad things. If when you die your focus is still on Jesus and you haven't turned against God, then you will go to heaven...NO MATTER WHAT you've done. Forgiveness in Jesus is never-ending.
As I said before, Christianity is NOT about doing this or that to get to heaven...that's what makes it different from other religions. You're already going to heaven simply by having asked Jesus to be the bridge between you and God. That's the "Good News"! You've been justified. Everything after that is sanctification, (and not doing things like stealing or killing will allow the Spirit to better work in you in that process) That's when the stuff in the bible becomes a bonus...like guideposts on how you can make the best out of being a Christian...NOT rules.
The Holy Spirit is sent to and dwells in those who have chosen to believe in Jesus as their personal saviour. If you're someone who isn't just saying they believe in the existence of Jesus or God, but have actually crossed that bridge and made the decision to have faith in Jesus as your saviour, then the Holy Spirit resides in you and now guides your desires and actions. And doing things like stealing, killing, or raping will just not be something that you'll be really into doing. Your old self has died. Your new self is Jesus (And a real test to see if you are in fact letting Jesus be the guide of your life is if you are experiencing that spiritual growth and Christ-like transformation of being a more loving, gentle human being).
There have been many so called "Christians" who have done the things you've said (look at the crusades), and who unfortunately give the Christian legacy a REALLY bad wrap. But these people were not followers of Jesus. They were not guided by his teachings, but most importantly, not by His spirit. (And my point being, if any one of them in fact was being guided by His spirit, it's very doubtful that they'd be able to bring themselves to do something like going on the crusades).
Sorry for the long answers, but it's the only way I can fully explain things.
Genocide Huh?
Funny. A lot of people have asked me..."Is George Bush a Christian? Look at what he's doing in the Middle East" etc...
I used to say "NO WAY". That he's as much a muderer as any murderer because of what he's doing. I wouldn't go as far as to call it genocide, but I'm thinking that the reasons he's in Iraq (and the reason many innocent civilian lives have been taken), aren't good.
But who knows? You can never say. It's very possible that George Bush is at a very early stage in his walk with the Lord. He says he's a Christian, meaning that for one, he probably believes Jesus is the Son of God yadayadayada. But it's also possible he's has crossed that bridge and made Jesus His saviour...meaning he's a true believer...a true Christian. We don't know. But as I mentioned above, doing stuff like murdering, not loving your neighbour, etc...will make it difficult for the Holy Spirit to work in you and make you more Christ-like.
You can't look at someone and say..."they're doing everything the bible tells them not to do...so they're definitely not Christian." Christianity isn't DOING "Christian things". You could be a perfect "do-er" of Christian things and follow the Bible to a "T", but not have Jesus as the guide in your life...and you will certainly go to hell, despite your legalistic efforts.
Whether someone is Christian depends strictly on whether or not they have Jesus in their lives...and there's now way I could know if George W. Bush has Jesus in his life.
So, I would go as far as to say that he's not "Christ-like" and that if he has accepted Jesus into His life, he's certainly not following the teachings of Jesus and the Bibie as much as he could be.
Originally posted by EPIIIBITES
I don't think so...he's just confused.
It was a joke. Don't take that literally. BUT, I will say, hes not all that great. He's sending millions of innocent men and women who have families and children. 23 or more, in the past two months, have either been killed or are missing out there.