Five Things Christians Need to Stop Doing

reply to post by ahnggk


The old testament also tells us that what is happening today, happened in the days of Noah... The ending is tragic.

Lets not pretend, we know homosexuality hurts society, its not up for debate, Sin has a result, make no mistake.

Can we prove that to the satisfaction of the non-believer? It should be fairly easy to demonstrate that the wicked have miserable lives, and that nations who were otherwise prosperous collapsed solely because of the disobedience of thier non-Christians. So please cite some examples.

I agree in principle, if homosexuals want a state authorised ceremony akin to marriage, then fine, call it something else. Marriage is man and woman. Its exclusive.

I'm not saying they should go up to the altar of a church, but to have their union recognized for financial reasons.

I would prefer to look like a backward, medieval hate-mongering bigot than a wishy washy fluff with no respect to scripture.
The day society accepts Christianity is the day Christianity dies. Remember they killed Jesus for what He taught. The Gospel is a two edged sword that incites hate from the followers of the nemesis.

I agree, with a caveat. Scripture does say "don't be surprised if the world hates you," (1 John 3:13) and "we are the smell of death to those who are perishing" (2 Corinthians 2:16.) However, I don't think we are called to be unnecessarily disagreeable to people.

Nowhere does the Bible lay out what exactly marriage is. A man leaves his father and mother, clings to his wife, and becomes one flesh. (Ephesians 5:31). That's all it says.

Don't think for a second that I'm excusing homosexuality. What I am saying is-they're already sinning, why prevent them from getting married? We call homosexuality an abomination, but so is lying. (Proverbs 12:22). We let liars get married, why not gays?

You can call it wishy-washy and fluffy if you want. Jesus said His yoke was easy and His burden was light, and people would find rest for their souls. (Matthew 11:28-30). We don't need to go around putting on sinners the extra burden of forcing them to obey the Bible, because they can't. Sin is enough of a burden. Let them marry, find out it's not fulfilling, and then be ready with Christ as the remedy.

Excellent insight and post

It's very important that Christians realize that they are sometimes their own worst enemy. All the "group think" that lets them be led astray has really gone overboard and they are becoming the very people that our ancestors opposed.

The fundamentalist evangelicals are the undoing of Christianity in my opinion. They are taking the focus away from Christ's teachings and focusing them on their own interpretation of the Bible that they haven't actually read.

I hate to say it, but the Catholics of several hundred years ago actually had a good point that scripture should only be interpreted with the help of clergy. We see what kind of choas has resulted from letting the "average man" interpret it. We keep forgetting that the "average man" isn't really very bright.

Someone here on ATS has a quote that states it well, paraphrased it's "look at the stupidity of the average person, then realize that half the people in the world are below that level" or something of that general nature.

The average IQ is 100 and we tend to consider that to be a bit lacking. Well, since it's an average, half the people are below that just as half are above it. It's the half below it that shout the loudest and are so easily misguided.
...the bell curve even shows that about 68% are within one standard deviation of that average which is quite frightening.

Originally posted by Snsoc

Lets not pretend, we know homosexuality hurts society, its not up for debate, Sin has a result, make no mistake.

Can we prove that to the satisfaction of the non-believer? It should be fairly easy to demonstrate that the wicked have miserable lives, and that nations who were otherwise prosperous collapsed solely because of the disobedience of thier non-Christians. So please cite some examples.

I agree in principle, if homosexuals want a state authorised ceremony akin to marriage, then fine, call it something else. Marriage is man and woman. Its exclusive.

I'm not saying they should go up to the altar of a church, but to have their union recognized for financial reasons.

I would prefer to look like a backward, medieval hate-mongering bigot than a wishy washy fluff with no respect to scripture.
The day society accepts Christianity is the day Christianity dies. Remember they killed Jesus for what He taught. The Gospel is a two edged sword that incites hate from the followers of the nemesis.

I agree, with a caveat. Scripture does say "don't be surprised if the world hates you," (1 John 3:13) and "we are the smell of death to those who are perishing" (2 Corinthians 2:16.) However, I don't think we are called to be unnecessarily disagreeable to people.

Nowhere does the Bible lay out what exactly marriage is. A man leaves his father and mother, clings to his wife, and becomes one flesh. (Ephesians 5:31). That's all it says.

Don't think for a second that I'm excusing homosexuality. What I am saying is-they're already sinning, why prevent them from getting married? We call homosexuality an abomination, but so is lying. (Proverbs 12:22). We let liars get married, why not gays?

You can call it wishy-washy and fluffy if you want. Jesus said His yoke was easy and His burden was light, and people would find rest for their souls. (Matthew 11:28-30). We don't need to go around putting on sinners the extra burden of forcing them to obey the Bible, because they can't. Sin is enough of a burden. Let them marry, find out it's not fulfilling, and then be ready with Christ as the remedy.

I agree in principle, please dont get me wrong its not an argument.
I just think that we as Christians have a moral duty to vote and ask for legislation that will help society.
Look at homosexuality and its consequences, its not pretty.
As for marriage, I am sure, I have read, I am confident that Genesis teaches man and woman marriage. Its that simple.

Yes lying is a sin, and its unacceptable to be a liar and a Christian without guilt and remorse, same as homosexuality. I agree.

I have no interest in burdening sinners with biblical rules, again I agree. Though iIf Christianity is a standard that brings good rules in we should be active.
Dont read more into what I am saying

reply to post by Snsoc

Christians from a century or two ago had a horror of sin. They rooted out sin in their lives and killed it the way you would kill a wild animal trying to eat your family. Nowadays, people “struggle” with “issues” that they have to “pray through.” They claim they just need to “grow.” They seem to feel they have easy, endless forgiveness and no chance of losing their salvation, despite numerous Bible verses to the contrary.

The reason for this lukewarm attitude is simple. Churches don’t confront sin. They don’t kick Christians out for adultery. They are comfortable with worldliness. A church service in America today is about making Christians feel good. Making them feel comfortable. The bigger and more expensive the church, the more non-confrontational towards sin, and the more they talk about God’s blessing, not His wrath.

Dunno what Jesus you believe in but my Jesus died to forgive all sins once and for all except one, to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Nowhere in the bible does Jesus say or even hint he will take your salvation away, in fact he goes out of his way to state he will never leave or forsake you. Not just that but he also says there are none whom can take you out of his hand, that means not even you yourself have the power to take yourself from his hand. He desires mercy not sacrifice.

The truth is we are still in these corrupted bodies and we will still sin, no matter how hard you try you will fail, everyday, sometimes several times in one day, thats the entire point for the second covenant and Jesus being crucified on the cross, to be our Passover Lamb.

The reason for the lukewarm church is you have people who are hot for Jesus and people who are cold mixed in together. This lukewarmness happens by having people calling themselves christians only having anything to do with God 1 day a week instead of living with him 7 days a week, they can be faithful 1 day a week and whore around on him the other 6 days and that is hypocrisy. For instance, some people only think about Jesus on Sunday, only worship him on Sunday and in turn they have an exoteric relationship that means absolutely nothing to him. The lukewarm church is a state of spirit. The second covenant is not a license to live in Sin City 24/7, it's there to cover you when you do screw up in your walk with Christ, it's not some indulgence where you get a free pass to be evil.

reply to post by Snsoc

"we are the smell of death to those who are perishing" (2 Corinthians 2:16.)

I'm pretty sure that Paul here was talking about himself and his associates.
He was referring to the teaching, which is disagreeable since it involves righteous living, where those who will be destroyed are the ones who love preaching that says you don't need to do all that and you will be saved in your sins, rather than saved from a life of sin.

Five Things Christians Need to Stop Doing

The #1 thing Christians need to stop doing ...

STOP tearing down other Christians who have different bible interpretations as you do. It's ABSURD. Example ... in the town we used to live in there were three Baptist churches that I knew of. One Baptist church said that deacons could not get married - ever. Another Baptist church said that deacons could get married but they couldn't get re-married upon divorce or death of spouse. The third Baptist church said that deacons could get married and remarried and there wasn't a problem. All three Baptist churches would claim that they were the only true church and the others were teaching 'damn lies'. They spent so much time tearing down the other Baptist churches, as well as all the other Christians in town, that they totally missed teaching about God and Christ. They missed the whole point. (and teaching about deacons has NOTHING TO DO WITH SALVATION).

When I see a supposed Christian pee'n on other Christians because of bible interpretations ... I just want to take a rolled up newspaper and smack them on the head and say 'bad Christian .. bad bad" (like you'd do potty training a dog).

Christians .. grow up .. stop fighting each other. There are bigger problems and threats out there than differences in tiny and unimportant bible interpretations between denominations.

reply to post by Snsoc

I also want to point out is that Republicans often don’t believe in family values or practice them; they just say they do in order to get votes and their fat paychecks.

Democrat politicians get the same salary as the Republicans, no?

Why don't you apply any of these standards to Democrats?

Jesus Christ walks into a voting booth and
reflected on each candidates position;

Whose for the poor? The discriminated?
Whose for the rich? Who wants all to have access
to health care? Equal rights for all Americans?
Regardless of race, gender (equal pay for women)
sexual orientation (gay marriage) and who is opposed?

Then he remembered his parables like;
"PULL YOURSELF UP BY YOUR SANDAL STRAPS"
And recently when workers were losing their jobs
his famous sermon "LET THE CHARIOT MAKERS FAIL"
also came to mind.

What about the sick, Jesus thought?
Maybe they should have thought of that before they took those jobs
at Papa Johns. He's a big contributor to Romney.
Its not Christian for him charge an extra 15 cents a pizza
to cover his workers ! This could mean house #22
would have to cut down on the exotic swans around pools 13 and 27.
This disturbed Jesus....pool 27 looks like crap
without black swans.....so he punched the Romney ticket.

If you're a Christian and you believe Jesus would vote for
Romney over Obama you are absolutely right.

And look who else thinks you're right;

FOX, THE KOCH BROS, LIMBAUGH, KARL ROVE THE TEA PARTY
THE BUSH'S THE CHENEY'S, CASINO OWNERS
SHELDON ADELSON & DONALD TRUMP.
you know.... Jesus's friends.
(he loves casino owners remember ?)

Originally posted by borntowatch

The day society accepts Christianity is the day Christianity dies. Remember they killed Jesus for what He taught. The Gospel is a two edged sword that incites hate from the followers of the nemesis.

Aye mate, you sound like some of my hipster friends - the day a band becomes "mainstream", they stop liking it

Seriously though. That means if everyone is going to be saved - for they are christians - christianity dies?

I'm puzzled...

Originally posted by borntowatch

Originally posted by Snsoc

Originally posted by borntowatch
I have a right to actively encourage legislation that I believe is good for community in my country.

Of course, but I'm talking about legislating against acts where we can't draw a clear line of causation from the act to the degeneration of society. For example, gay marriage. Can we prove it hurts society? Until we can, we're going to look like backwards, medieval hate-mongering bigots by opposing it.

Medieval hate mongering?
Gay and marriage dont go together, the two words are opposed to each other.
Its like saying its a car though it has four legs, a tail and eats hay.

Lets not pretend, we know homosexuality hurts society, its not up for debate, Sin has a result, make no mistake.

I agree in principle, if homosexuals want a state authorised ceremony akin to marriage, then fine, call it something else. Marriage is man and woman. Its exclusive.

I would prefer to look like a backward, medieval hate-mongering bigot than a wishy washy fluff with no respect to scripture.
The day society accepts Christianity is the day Christianity dies. Remember they killed Jesus for what He taught. The Gospel is a two edged sword that incites hate from the followers of the nemesis.

Maybe your view of society but not mine. I do not care if the religion called Christianety dies out totaly and is replaced by only Jesus teaching in nondualistic comments on the side for the people who cannot understand symbolism. Christianety serves no purpose if people do not evolve spiritually and become harmonious when practicing it. If Christianety keep preaching duality and greed then I might as well be a satanist instead off Christian since preaching of duality (devide and conqurer) comes from the same source. The antiChrists that are the manipulators that brainwashes people to think with small minds and not achive Christ conciousness.

I do not have any respect at all with scripture when it is counter to what my heart and mind tells me is right based on higher ideals. But Jesus was quite a bright and wise person and left a lot of nuggets that makes sense and is a good guide for seekers. But I do not belive you can have someone else run up the hill for you, but that is a guess and nothing I am sure off.

Jesus was a liberal.

Usury is forbidden.
Praying in public and chanting is forbidden.

These two simple things make 99% of Christians not Christian.

Christians think they have a "leg up" on everybody else...and that's just NOT THE CASE.

"For God so loved the WORLD that HE gave HIs only begotten Son that WHOSOEVER believes in HIM....(let me repeat that) WHOSOEVER believes in HIM. What more needs to be said?

reply to post by Snsoc

Where is the compassion for the sinner? Where is the Christian who weeps and agonizes for the lost? Where is the man or woman who has deep affection for his or her enemies and cries out to God daily that everyone he meets would be saved?

According to common belief, that would be redundant. That's why no one does it, because it's all black and white. Either you're a leper, or you're a servant.

reply to post by Snsoc
Not all Christians are right wingers. Not all Christians vote Republican. But since you seem to address mostly that demographic, I would add:

Random #) Stop thinking of 1st or 2nd generation European immigrants to Palestine who identify as Jews as more human or deserving of life, liberty, and property than native born Palestinians.

In centuries past, Christians sought to bring about the end by spreading the gospel to the far reaches of the Earth, so that the name of Jesus would be known to all. (see Matthew chapter 24, vs 14). Now days, since the end hasn't come, a large segment of Christians has abandoned that strategy in favor of an earthly "Jewish" state, Just how Christian is that?

The Republican Party Platform of 2012, under American Exceptionalism

Our Unequivocal Support of Israel

Israel and the United States are part of the great fellowship of democracies who speak the same language of freedom and justice, and the right of every person to live in peace. The security of Israel is in the vital national security interest of the United States; our alliance is based not only on shared interests, but also shared values. We affirm our unequivocal commitment to Israel’s security and will ensure that it maintains a qualitative edge in military technology over any potential adversaries. We support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state with secure, defensible borders; ...
American Exceptionalism - GOP

I particularly agree with the part about liking the thought of non-Christians going to hell. There's no doubt Jesus would want to have a stern word with his followers about that in particular.

You mention that you yourself are a Christian. Your list also implies that your points are characteristics among Christians in general. I have noticed that those issues are the core characteristics of what is said to only be the minority, a group that I never, ever see the opposite of. Would you personally say that there is indeed no minority, and that your points are truly epidemic across all of Christianity's followers? I'm just curious.

reply to post by pthena

We support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state with secure, defensible borders; ...

In other words, 'a right to discriminate by race and creed and build walls as an apartheid state.'
That, I hope, is not what is supposed to represent "our shared values".
That is incentive for me NOT to vote Republican.

Hers a whole list of things we all do all the time...

2 Timothy 3:1-5

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

The thing I dislike about some people regardless of religion, culture or creed is their busy, do-gooding, ambitious nature. They aren't in control of their own selves and so seek to fix the world around them, to make it better to suit their idea of whats right. Those are the most dangerous types. Churches, Governments, and Armies are full of em. Phooey...