converting to christianity

What is your problem young man? Who by the way gave you this power on Earth to question the witness of Christians?

 

Are we never to question wether someone is a true believer?

If a person goes to church every sunday and says he is a Christian yet is in continual sin with no regrets... does that make him a Christian?

What about a person who says he is a Christian, but does not believe that Jesus is the son of God? Should we not make a judgment there?

Christians are called to make certain judgments, because all we know is a person could be controlled by the devil and mascarading as a Christian.

 

every religious book is full of good ideas, so it is easy to 'believe' in some or most of what it says. faith goes beyond just the ideas you agree with. just trust your heart. also finding a church is very difficult, i have chosen the path of not even looking for a church, because it puts one less thing inbetween me and god.

 

What is salvation? What is it about Christ that saves?

 

I used to be an agnostic until I realised just how near to belief that was and then I chose the only rational way out

 

These are the foundational beliefs of Christianity:

All human beings are descended from Adam and Eve, and all are inherently, involuntarily, and hopelessly sinful as the result of the Original Sin incurred by Adam and Eve when they disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden.

Salvation, in the Christian sense, is release of the individual from this state of inherent sinfulness through the universally-atoning death of Jesus Christ.

IMO, the story of Adam and Eve is a myth and there is no such thing as original sin.

 

All throught the Old Testament you will see where the Jewish people are sacrificing animals to God as an offering for the covering of their sins.

When the Jews were escaping Egypt, God had the Jews smear the lambs blood over their doorway so the angle of death would pass over their homes, spareing their first born.

The Old Testament tells us that God was Going to bring a New Covenant that would take away the sins of the world. And in the Old Testament it tells us this Covenant would be brought to us by Gods own Son. It would be required that His Son be put to death, but His Sacrifice would be a blood offering for all the sins of the World. And all who would receieve this offering, would receive the Gift of eternal life. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but will have everlasting life. God's gift of Salvation is offered to all who will receive it.

 

So is it true that we yearn for a higher power? A divinity, a true divinity, a true release from the sins of this earth? Surely, if this is true, would we not universally reach for it?

 

I believe universally people do reach out for God, yet many chase after ghost that have no substance. The Bible tells us that works cannot save us, and the only one that can, will be found in the person who came to earth to die, so that we could live. Jesus Christ fulfilled the three hundred prophecies of the Old Testament. And it was the person who would fulfill those prophecies that would be the Saviour of this World. False traditions, and false teachings, can never be a substitute for God.

 

JD4U WRONG we're meant to discern. Matthew 7:1 says just the opposite. We're told NOT to judge. At least according to Jesus. Maybe you follow a strand of Christianity that doesn't follow what Christ said. I'm not sure. Whatever the case is you should go to church and ask a preacher about your beliefs.

 

You are right... we are too use discernment. Thanks for siding with me.


Discernernment: The act or process of exhibiting keen insight and good judgment.



I go to a Christian University I am surrounded by theologians and Bible profs.

I probably should have used the word discernment rather judgment. I always use discernment "good judgment" when it comes to people and faith.

 

You can't just pick a religion your just usely born into one. If you had faith without a religion you would of chose one or just put your faith into something don't chose a religion just cause you thhought you needed one. Let it fall onto you like it should happen like love. Otherwise you probly don't need one.

 

OK...

And this statement, I suppose, is a product of the courses that they teach in history, world religions, critical thinking, and argumentation?

I'm not impressed.

 

Well the God of the Bible tells us that He alone created all things, and He stated He had know help. So when you are speaking of other Gods, the question that comes to mind is, what makes them a God? Do they claim to be a God because they control a religion, or are they a God because they can fly in the air, or are they a God because they say they are? The God of the Bible tells us He is the one True God and there were no other God's before Him. So who are these other Gods, what do they claim about themselves, and what are they God of?

 

Well, let me ask you this...Will God discern people or judge them? Your holier than thou attitude will bring tons of people to the faith. Good stuff. Anyway this is getting petty. God Bless

 

Portalguy you need to understand something about Matthew chapter 7. This was Jesus speaking to the Jews, and this was His Sermon on the mount. Jesus was showing the Jews in this Sermon how perfect they would have to be if they wanted to enter Heaven by the works of the law. Jesus painted a picture of such perfection that the Jews at the end of His Sermon knew that no one could be that good. Take chapter 5: verse 27,28. The law told the jews that they should not commit adultery. Jesus then told the Jews "But I say that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in His heart." You see Jesus was raising the bar here. Then He expands on this and tells them if your right eye offends thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee: that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body be cast into hell. Jesus was making these grand statements to show the Jews who were followers of the law, that none of them could depend on the law to save them, because no one could be that good. Salvation for the world would require something greater than works. We as humans use judgement everyday. Some times we judge if we are following a car to close, sometimes we judge if a person my run out in front of our car, Judgements takes place all the time, and it can be a good thing. The context that Jesus was using it in was to show the Jews that a strict following of the law to live a life of perfection, would be impossible.

 

Campbell, it would be a waste of time for me to draft a reply, because you aren't willing to consider other evidence...we've had this discussion before.

Point of my previous post...JDFU doesn't need to go to college to learn to make statements such as the one I quoted him on...both you and he need to learn what a circular argument is, and why it is defective.

 

Campbell thank you for being respectful even though we disagree. I have to say though I still disagree and here's why...When speaking of judging I mean the supreme one. Telling someone they're going to Hell. See also final judgement. I believe he also made the same point when he mentioned he who hath not sinned cast the first stone.

I think taking a brother aside and saying the sin your struggling will hurt you. Is NOT judging. It's our duty. I think choosing not to hang out in strip clubs is NOT judging. I think telling a person who had a baby out of wedlock they're going to hell IS judging. See the difference?

 

Yea, I know what you are saying. There are different ways to incourage a person to do the right thing. It really has to be on a case to case judgement.
And there are differences between people who are members of a church, and the world at large. The Bible touches on this a bit in Jude chapter 1 verses 22, 23 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23. And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

 

And the start of this whole argument is I use discernment when it comes to those who say that they are beleivers. I can never know for sure. However when people say they are Christian and then say the Bible is full of mistakes (I USE DISCERNMENT). When people say they are Christian, and then go back and say the Koran is also true (I USE DISCERNMENT).

Do you see why I asked you that question portalguy?
I do not know you. I wanted to understand more of your worldview. Because there are many other people who say that they are Christians yet believe many pseuodo philosophies. "I am a Christian, but Jesus is not the only way to Heaven?"

Do you see the problem here?

If someone came to you and tried to save you. Would you answer, "You think you are better than everyone?" Hopefully not, because they do not know that you are a Christian and you would understand where they are coming from.

LIKEWISE, I know you have stated that you are a Christian, but I do not know your exact theology and what you believe.

So next time just answer the question and save us 20 post : )