Religion Christians of the forum - what do you think is the true essence of being a Christian?

Discussion in 'Blazers OT Forum' started by Rastapopoulos, Jul 15, 2017.

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  1. UncleCliffy'sDaddy

    UncleCliffy'sDaddy We're all Bozos on this bus.

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    Can't we leave Trump and the Republicans out of this for a change......???
     
    UncleCliffy'sDaddy, Jul 16, 2017
    #21
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  2. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    you missed the Spanish Inquisition in your studies Marz!
     
    riverman, Jul 16, 2017
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  3. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    Do you think the words of Jesus (as reported in the Gospels) are the best guide to what it is to be a Christian or do you think the writings of Paul are the best guide? Because I've got to say that the stuff about being fallen doesn't sound like something Jesus would say. And the only Gospel you cite is John, which (from what I understand) is the most atypical of the Gospels, and thus deemed problematic by many Bible scholars.
     
    Rastapopoulos, Jul 16, 2017
    #23
  4. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    Rastapopoulos, Jul 16, 2017
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  5. HomerLovesKoolAid

    HomerLovesKoolAid I have a well-known member.

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    Love of fairy tales.
     
    HomerLovesKoolAid, Jul 16, 2017
    #25
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  6. bodyman5000 and 1

    bodyman5000 and 1 Lions, Tigers, Me, Bears

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    Ahhhhhhhh, that explains this thread. Most of the crazy right wing Christians would be on ignore anyway
     
    bodyman5000 and 1, Jul 16, 2017
    #26
  7. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    @Rastapopoulos

    And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

    The essence of being Christian is a relationship with Jesus, so you can live that command out.
     
    HailBlazers, Jul 16, 2017
    #27
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  8. MarAzul

    MarAzul LongShip

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    No, after careful study, I concluded they missed the salient points in the teaching of Jesus. I gather you did not discover the perversion that put them on the wrong trail.
     
    MarAzul, Jul 16, 2017
    #28
  9. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    Presumably this includes Mexicans.
     
    Rastapopoulos, Jul 16, 2017
    #29
  10. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    Mexicans take the lord's name in vain by naming their children Jesus. That's the real reason why we need that wall.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Jul 16, 2017
    #30
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  11. MarAzul

    MarAzul LongShip

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    Paul wasn't a big hit in Ephesus. His jail is a big attraction there.
     
    MarAzul, Jul 16, 2017
    #31
  12. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    So we need the wall to keep Jesus out. Got it.
     
    Rastapopoulos, Jul 16, 2017
    #32
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  13. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    I'm married to one, why do you ask?
     
    HailBlazers, Jul 16, 2017
    #33
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  14. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    That's taking "love your neighbor" too literally.
     
    Rastapopoulos, Jul 16, 2017
    #34
  15. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    Careful.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Jul 16, 2017
    #35
  16. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    Perhaps you're right. Thought @Rastapopoulos was genuinely serious.
     
    HailBlazers, Jul 16, 2017
    #36
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  17. H.C.

    H.C. Well-Known Member

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    If I learned anything about the essence of Christianity growing up it's accepting you're a failure.
    While in turn not accepting others for their own failures.
     
    H.C., Jul 16, 2017
    #37
  18. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    The nuns taught me it was bad to be left handed. I was cured of that during the first grade.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Jul 16, 2017
    #38
  19. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    The "anti-gay" stuff is really "anti-sin" stuff, in that there is a general resistance amongst the Christian community to that which the Bible identifies as sinful being glorified as righteous. However, it is obvious that most take it too far by elevating that particular issue above others that are no better.

    The other stuff has nothing to do with Christianity; it's just symptomatic of the natural overlap between religiosity and conservatism.

    As for a response that is completely unrelated to politics, in addition to that stated by @BrianFromWA and @HailBlazers, I see the essence of Christianity as glorifying God in all aspects of your life, however that may be accomplished. If you can bring glory to God by giving away all your possessions and serving the poor, then do so. If you can bring glory to God through a biblical marriage and family and actively proclaiming His work in your life, do so. If you can bring glory to God by serving on the mission field, do so. The point is that as Christians, we are called by His name, and it is our responsibility to bring honor to His name through our actions.

    James 1:27 says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." This dovetails nicely with Matthew 22:37-38 which HailBlazers quoted, and many other verses that support this concept. We are to keep ourselves holy (1 Peter 1:16) by following God's moral dictates (Ecclesiastes 12:14) rather than the world's (Romans 12:2), and we are to place the needs of others ahead of our own (Philippians 2:3), doing good works (Ephesians 2:10), all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31) in the name of Christ (Colossians 3:17) and not for ones own aggrandizement (Matthew 6:1).

    I do not claim to be a good example of this, so I request you please refrain from the obvious opportunity to point out my shortcomings in this regard. But I believe this is what God wants from Christians, and I hope someday to be able to say that my choices approximate this goal more often than not.
     
    PtldPlatypus, Jul 16, 2017
    #39
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  20. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    Aren't you like 6'2"?
     
    SlyPokerDog, Jul 16, 2017
    #40
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