Alternative christian sects section? - Page 4

China Cat Sunflower · 10-21-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Christianity isn't a religion, It is a way of life. Many call themselves Christian, however the sad truth is they do not live as Christians.

I would say that it's both a religion and an ethnicity (way of life). What does it mean to live as a Christian?

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The Bible isn't a religious book. It is a book of faith. Mostly it tells stories about those with faith. It is a book of history. It is a book of love. It is a book of wisdom, and a book of hope.

The viewpoint of mainstream biblical scholarship is that the Bible contains very little of what we would understand to be factual historicity. Allbright has been thoroughly discredited. Otherwise I agree with the balance of what you're saying.

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The conformity of which you speak is important to any structure, physical or metaphorical. A house divided can not stand.

It's important for structural integrity, but every structure needs maintenence and occasional remodeling.

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To a true Christian, many roads lead to Rome. One road leads the way home.

What is a true Christian? Can we identify such by how they live the Christian life referred to in point one? And, by comparison, can we say who is not a true christian? What are the criteria?

Chris

BlaznFattyz · 10-21-2006, 07:07 PM

there is a foundation to christianity and that is the resurrected and glorified jesus christ, the cornerstone that the builders rejected. the culture of a church is not the question, but the changing of the foundation is, where others build on sand. some churches have a culture of being wealthy, then they tend to be more globally evangelical. some churches have great singing talent, and they tend to be gospel, others have the gift to lead people to baptism and are baptist, others lead people to christ through community service.. but the foundation does not change in christianity. the different denominations just show the talents given to the group of people, but they are all the same foundation-wise. it is when the foundation has been changed, that it is longer christianity, but a sect, or cult taking on, adopting certain attributes of christianity to their convenience.

mee · 10-21-2006, 07:23 PM

[quote=Quahom1]The Jehovah's Witness kingdom has declined by 250,000 in the last twenty five years alone. There are now less than 6,000,000 Jehovah's Witnesses world wide, and under 500,000 in the US.

quote] the remnent of spiritual israel (144,000)has declined on the earth because they are in heaven ruling as kings and priests with Jesus christ in the heavenly kingdom goverment Daniel 2;44 but the great crowd of JW who will be inheriting the earth are increasing all over the world just as the bible fortold REVELATION 7;9-10 AND ISAIAH 60;22
The little one himself will become a thousand, and the small one a mighty nation. I myself, Jehovah, shall speed it up in its own time........... Yes, Jehovah really is speeding it up in this time of the end ,the great crowd who are welcoming Jesus as their king of Gods kingdom are a great crowd indeed.

mee · 10-21-2006, 07:29 PM

[quote=Quahom1]

The Bible isn't a religious book. It is a book of faith. Mostly it tells stories about those with faith. It is a book of history. It is a book of love. It is a book of wisdom, and a book of hope.

quote] its also a book of prophecies. some already fullfilled ,some undergoing fullfillment right now, and some yet to be fullfilled. what a thrilling book it is.

Faithfulservant · 10-21-2006, 07:50 PM

religion is mans attempt to reach God through works and our own merit... Its not about religion its about having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit.

seattlegal · 10-21-2006, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faithfulservant

religion is mans attempt to reach God through works and our own merit... Its not about religion its about having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit.

**applause** {I think you very succinctly summed up James chapter 1!}

Faithfulservant · 10-21-2006, 08:22 PM

wasnt me... lol

Quahom1 · 10-21-2006, 10:00 PM

[quote=mee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahom1

The Bible isn't a religious book. It is a book of faith. Mostly it tells stories about those with faith. It is a book of history. It is a book of love. It is a book of wisdom, and a book of hope.

quote] its also a book of prophecies. some already fullfilled ,some undergoing fullfillment right now, and some yet to be fullfilled. what a thrilling book it is.

I believe I was quite clear on that. I said it was a book of Faith, Hope and Love. Faith is the belief in things as yet unseen, and the hope for things that have yet to be. Is that not prophecy in its purest sense?

pattimax · 10-21-2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faithfulservant

religion is mans attempt to reach God through works and our own merit... Its not about religion its about having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit.

We reach God by loving him. Good works please God, but without love it is pointless.

pattimax · 10-21-2006, 11:24 PM

We can sit in the corner and truly love God and the wonderful life he has given us and and we are much closer to God than the 10k charity worker that is just trying to impress her friends.

Quahom1 · 10-21-2006, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pattimax

We can sit in the corner and truly love God and the wonderful life he has given us and and we are much closer to God than the 10k charity worker that is just trying to impress her friends.

I understand the "filthy rags" part implied, but the one sitting in the corner best be doing something with their talents of faith, like say knitting socks for the poor, while contemplating the wonders of God?

cyberpi · 10-22-2006, 12:09 AM

Describing Love without action is equally pointless. I think patience is the closest you will get... which I consider the sacrifice of time or opportunity. When an opportunity knocks in the mind it is patience that it takes to overcome it. So the restraint to not act directly is a real action in the mind. Similarly, forgiveness or mercy are recognized as actions.

In my opinion, giving to charity is crucial to knowing Love. So is forgiveness, which is NOT a solo action. How easy it is to claim forgiveness in the mind but NOT in one's actions. Also, anyone who thinks they can confess a sin to a wall and receive Gods (swt) forgiveness is missing something. In every case I have seen that the relationship with God (swt) is through people. By design, the relationship with God (swt) is not a private affair. I think whoever thinks it is, is only deluding themselves for a reason. I have formerly deluded myself along similar lines. Being charitable though should not be blind.

In my opinion Faith and Truth are as important as Love, and they represent lessons that the soul must learn... lessons which are NOT learned in private or by reading. I'm very certain it requires action. Personal Love is just that... its like a person who walks up to a person with all the romantic desires in the world but has only been deluding themselves. It is a sad sight. Don't bank on it. If you want to know God (swt) it won't be in privacy.

pattimax · 10-22-2006, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahom1

I understand the "filthy rags" part implied, but the one sitting in the corner best be doing something with their talents of faith, like say knitting socks for the poor, while contemplating the wonders of God?

What if your paralyzed?

Prober · 10-22-2006, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahom1

I understand the "filthy rags" part implied, but the one sitting in the corner best be doing something with their talents of faith, like say knitting socks for the poor, while contemplating the wonders of God?

ie Martha and Mary...

juantoo3 · 10-22-2006, 01:11 AM

Kindest Regards, all!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahom1

I understand the "filthy rags" part implied, but the one sitting in the corner best be doing something with their talents of faith, like say knitting socks for the poor, while contemplating the wonders of God?

Sorry to pick on you, Q!

Works, for what value they have, are in accord with ability. I would think it would hardly be expected for a crippled person to chop and stack firewood for a senior citizen.

Sometimes that "work" may be no more than a sympathetic ear, or a shoulder to cry on, or a voice on the other end of a telephone.

My two cents.