What Christianity Is, And What It Is Not.

[iloveyouguam]

This is my first post on Concen, though I've been around for quite sometime, and often posted on the now non-existent comment section.

It's getting frustrating for me to see so many people on these forums trashing something that they actually know extremely little about. The fundamentals of Christianity are very elemental, but sadly many people, especially those who grew up in the church scene, actually never understand them, or willingly and premeditatedly deny them to carry on in their own sin.

A simple question to ask yourself with regards to your understanding of what the Bible teaches, even if you think it's a complete work of fiction:


What is the purpose of the Law?

Moreover, why did God give Moses the 10 commandments, and ultimatly all the levitical law?


I want to open this topic up for discussion, and hopefully have some constructive conversation.

[DHammer]

hey there,

well tell us, what "Christianity is, and what it is not".

[iloveyouguam]

I was actually hoping to get some feedback from my first question before elaborating on the topic, but I will share this verse;

Romans 5:19-21 (NASB)

For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Here Paul states that God introduced the Law so sin would increase, not decrease. The vast majority of people, even Christians are completly unaware of this. Paul is coming to an understanding of exactly what the purpose of the Law is, because God is perfect (2 Samuel 22:31), why would he introduce the Law if it failed to perfect Israel? Because God's purpose for the Law was not to make us perfect, but to reveal our sinful nature, and our hopelessness without a saviour.

This fundamental truth seperates every other religion in the world from Christianity.

[tsoldrin]

I think with a little research, you'll find that the 10 commandments are more or less a distillation of the 280-some laws of Hammurabis code (1780BCE) which itself probably borrows heavily from some earliar laws from the city of Ur.

[Echo]

interesting, you learn something new everyday.

[iloveyouguam]

Well, I would have to strongly disagree with the assertion that the codex Hammurabi (though it predates them) some how formed the origin of the 10 commandments.

I will whole heartily agree with you that commandments 4-10 (dealing with moral issues and property) have similar counterparts in the Hammurabi code. What does this prove though?

That order and proper governmental structure in any society can't exist without certain basic and fundamental laws?

Lets take it one step further and realize that the absence of the first three commandments will inevitably lead to the erostion and decay of a legal and governmental system which denies the existence of a higher authority.

It pains me to read so many people on this forum seeing the evidence of a satanic conspiracy within the hierarchy of this world system, and the formation of the NWO, but don't see the whole picture. It's spiritual warfare, plain and simple.

[Cycle of Eternity]

it's an excuse for a faith in their god.
what it isn't is the right teaching of positive and negative human emotions
and it doesn't help build the right morals for you...

[DHammer]

Quote:Here Paul states that God introduced the Law so sin would increase, not decrease. The vast majority of people, even Christians are completly unaware of this. Paul is coming to an understanding of exactly what the purpose of the Law is, because God is perfect (2 Samuel 22:31), why would he introduce the Law if it failed to perfect Israel? Because God's purpose for the Law was not to make us perfect, but to reveal our sinful nature, and our hopelessness without a saviour.

yes, the law was introduced to show people their sinful nature, and their imposibility to keep the 10 commandments. The law was not given to be kept , for no man can do that. It was nothing more than a foreshadow of Jesus Christ.

I also believe that by giving the law God clearly outlined that there is a problem with the human race, it cannot stand up to God's standards, to Holiness. Then Jesus was sent in the world to show man what he lacks.

So 1-st he was shown that he's in a fallen state. He cannot keep the Holy Law. 2-nd Christ was introduced, to show man what He lacks. What/Who was Christ ? God Himself. What is God ? Unconditional Love. That is what man lacks. It's pure simple logic.

Now the problem in our church today is that, we are told, salvation (i.e. this love which we need, or Spirit of God) comes by a prayer and repentance. Once this is done Christ comes in us. Now I ask, why do we have backsliders then ? Why did Jesus stated that no man shall be able to pluck out His sheep from His hand ?(John 10:28
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.) Is this not a contradiction ? If people trully had the Spirit of God within them, they would not backslide.

There is obviously a problem with our modern salvation doctrine. It is the most important aspect of Christianity, yet people like to ignore it and some mock at it.

So again to sumarise:
God gave the Law so that man could see He is fallen, to know that He is not holy and cannot keep up to God's standards. Then the solution came in, Jesus Christ which we need to be saved. How does one obtain this "Jesus" ? Check my sig.

[ov3rkomer]

Quote:It pains me to read so many people on this forum seeing the evidence of a satanic conspiracy within the hierarchy of this world system, and the formation of the NWO, but don't see the whole picture. It's spiritual warfare, plain and simple.

I agree, glad you are here:D! The natural mind cannot understand the things of God. Many see part of the deception in this world system, like the NWO or 9/11, but are unable/unwilling to see how this relates to God's overall plan and to his Word. When we see those things happen in the world, it should alert us to the warnings of Jesus, who said many will be deceived. It should challenge people to "search the scriptures", to research the Biblical prohecies in Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Mathew 24, Revelation etc., which will give an understanding about what is happening and why.

Taking the words of Jesus seriously is the only way to avoid being sucked up into the emerging world-religion and world-order. Deception is like an onion, just when you think you have peeled off one layer and gotten to the truth there is another layer to get you hooked into another kind of deception, all the while thinking you are on the right way. Jesus gave the warnings, gave the Way of salvation - He is the Truth - He is the Way; the only antidote to deception. To those who are willing to let Him open their eyes and let Him be in charge of their life, He will pull them out of deception and they will start to see the whole picture.

[tsoldrin]

I don't suppose it occurs to anyone that without the fundamental indoctrination of obedience instilled first by religion, we wouldn't be in this situation at all? Freedom would be second nature to us and any encroachment upon it would have been quashed long ago.

[iloveyouguam]

In the same breath I could say that without the fundamental indoctrination of disobedience instilled by Adam we wouldn't be in this situation at all. Freedom would be first nature to us, the freedom to chose good over evil, but since the fall man has been enslaved to his sinful nature, the law reveals this.

Are you suggesting that a Nietzschean moral psychology model is actually based on reality?

Isn't it strange that the opposite moral structure that you are supposing is the exact one presented by the satanic/luciferian movement?

"freedom" from moral enslavement, through selfish choices and fufilling lusts of the flesh. Try raising a healthy family with this moral philosophy. and everyone scratches their head when they read about child pornography becoming an epidemic and wonder "how?"....

[deathstickboy]

You have to believe that life started with Adam, and that whole story is literally true for that to be the case though.
The question of Original Sin is pivotal to the entire argument.
My "sinful nature" is the result of nothing more than bodily instincts, which are nescassary for life, and perhaps corrupt learned behavior, instilled by other imperfect and undiciplined people, and all the mass indoctrination of our public schools, mass media, and so on.
Bodily instincts only become "sinful" when you misuse them. They are wholly nescassary and generally speaking, very good.

However it is not the body that animates us, rather, "we" animate our bodies.
To use your terminology, we were nothing but dust until god breathed "the breathe of life" into us, that is what animates us, so how is it corruptible? The mind and body are just the vessel, they are not the animating force.

[iloveyouguam]

From the sounds of things you're putting a lot of faith in the bible being wrong. What makes you so confident?

Quote:Bodily instincts only become "sinful" when you misuse them. They are wholly necessary and generally speaking, very good.

So is this your personal philosophy?

What authority do you have to define what "misusing" your bodily instincts even means? Where do you draw the line?

This postmodern Sartrean existentialism gets old quick people. This is the first rule of the elite, blur any lines of truth and consequence then enslave the masses in their own lusts. Food for the machine.

[deathstickboy]

Quote:From the sounds of things you're putting a lot of faith in the bible being wrong. What makes so confident?

Quote:Bodily instincts only become "sinful" when you misuse them. They are wholly necessary and generally speaking, very good.

So is this your personal philosophy?

What authority do you have to define what "misusing" your bodily instincts even means? Where do you draw the line?

Its not about the bible being wrong, its about your interpretation of mythological language being wrong, (IMO) for starters.

I don't see it as a "personal philosophy" I see it as self evident. Mans more bestial aspects can be used to defend the weak or abuse them, its a rather simple principal. Sex is not bad in and of its self, but perverted acts like child molestation and rape are clearly abberations. Why is that hard to understand?

Quote:This postmodern Sartrean existentialism gets old quick people

I don't know where you draw that from anything I have said, although its been reccomended to me, I have not really read any Sartre except a few excerpts here and there, and its certainly not a philosophy that I adhere to.

Quote:This is the first rule of the elite, blur any lines of truth and consequence then enslave the masses in their own lusts. Food for the machine.

Where is that written as the "first rule of the elite" do you have their instruction manual or something?
:LOL:

They have many ways of manipulating and controlling society, lust is just one of many.

[bubbazan68]

Quote:Its not about the bible being wrong, its about your interpretation of mythological language being wrong, (IMO) for starters.

I don't see it as a "personal philosophy" I see it as self evident. Mans more bestial aspects can be used to defend the weak or abuse them, its a rather simple principal. Sex is not bad in and of its self, but perverted acts like child molestation and rape are clearly abberations. Why is that hard to understand?

ok i must ask now:)
do you belive in absolute right and wrong?
as in there has to be a defined right and wrong for us as a people to guage or self's?