(11-04-2014 12:46 AM)ODUChm Wrote: (11-04-2014 12:31 AM)jaaaasonl Wrote: (11-03-2014 11:52 PM)ODUChm Wrote: (11-02-2014 10:42 PM)jaaaasonl Wrote: (11-02-2014 12:11 PM)JDTulane Wrote: Muslim beheads non-Muslim: religion of war/hate/death/murder
Christian beheads: "They weren't REALLY a Christian"
LAUGHABLE. Smh at anyone that uses this ever.
Obviously, you don't know the difference between genuine Christianity and cultural christianity.
Real Christianity is about a personal faith and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It's not about religion. It's not about denomination.
Jesus said "Love God. Love people." He said "Love your enemies. Bless them that curse you. Do good to those that hate you." He never commanded His followers to get high on meth and cut off people's heads. I've read the Bible. That's not in there.
But you go on, laughing.
Im guessing all those bombs we have been dropping on our enemies are filled with hugs and kisses then?
Nope.
"We" aren't a Christian nation (no such thing, IMO). It's ridiculous to try to claim we are. I've certainly never contended that we are, or ever have been. There was a time, perhaps, when the majority of Americans may have been believers...but even that is a stretch (IMO). Again, authentic Christianity is not collective. It is about an individual's faith and individual's relationship with Jesus. There is no collective salvation for the US.
Then why do politicians continue to sell themselves to the Christian right, claiming to being good Christian men/women?
And why is the Christian right more concerned with preventing gays from marrying then they are in promoting their Lord and Saviors pacifist message?
This remind me a lot of a cop out from a time in Bible study were this obvious hardline kid when asked about the death penalty told us while he was personally opposed to the death penalty, he politically supported it since the whole separation of state and religion, thus couldnt allow his religious beliefs shape his political beliefs . But whats the point of being a Christian if your not going to apply it to all facets of your life including being a politician who has to vote yes or no on war. Its like being a vegetarian between meals.
Politicians are a different breed, but I cannot speak to the motives of the individual. Morality plays into the equation (abortion, gay marriage, etc.) in the mind of the voter and the candidate. I believe people have EVERY RIGHT to choose sin, but I don't think those things should be sanctioned by the government. If a man wants to have sex with other men, that is their business. Equating that to traditional marriage under the law...I'm not ok with that. If a woman wants to abort (murder) her child, she has that choice, based on the law...but I don't believe my tax dollars should fund it. I'm neither having sex with men, nor am I having abortions...so those things are not affecting me directly...but I believe they're having a negative affect on society.
And...as to Jesus having a pacifist message...we'll have to agree to disagree. While Jesus never advocated a "march on Rome" nor a "boycott" of Pilate, He was hardly passive. He tied cords together, made a whip, and cleared out the Temple of the money-changers. Jesus taught individual responsibility, individual freedom, individual morality, and individual salvation. Jesus also taught a singularity of Himself ("I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.") to the exclusion of ALL others. When Jesus comes back (and I absolutely believe He's coming back), it will not be as a pacifist.
IMO, if enough people are following Jesus' teachings...loving God, loving their neighbor, and sharing the Gospel/making disciples...then ultimately the culture will change and become more godly. I hold the "church" responsible for where we are now. The church stopped being the church. For example, 100 years ago, there was far less of a nanny state because the churches were taking care of the poor (as we're instructed to do). Now, the gov't does that. There are other examples.
I believe in Free Will...that everyone has a God-given right to obey Him, or to ignore Him. It's not my place to "force" my convictions on anyone else. It is my responsibility to share with others what my convictions are, the basis for those convictions, and why I hold them. In that way, I suppose I am somewhat a pacifist. I do not, however, believe I should stay silent in the face of moral decay. I have to tell what I believe to be Truth...not in an attempt to force anyone to do anything, but because it's what I'm called to do (make disciples). Christians should help to frame culture, but not to dominate it.
As to the issue of war...I believe that there are times when it is justified. We can debate the merits of recent wars...but I'm not sure one can legitimately argue that we were incorrect in joining WW1 or WW2. Stopping madmen from killing the masses seems the right thing to do, to me.
One other thing, I believe more people will be in hell than heaven, when it's all said and done. I base this on a number of things, but the simplest to point to is Matthew 7:13-14. (Paraphrased...the way to destruction is wide, and many will find destruction. the way to life is narrow, and few will find life.) This doesn't give me a fatalistic view of humanity, but rather one of compassion. I want people to have the assurance that I have, and I believe a person can "know" where they stand in light of eternity. (1 John 5:12-13 - The person who has the Son has life. The person who doesn't have the Son, does not have life. I’ve written this to those who believe in the Son of God so that they will know that they have eternal life.").
It's all about choices, and our freedom to make them...rightly or wrongly.