This is meant to be a blog to discuss and investigate issues and topics within Christianity, primarily as they relate to teenagers trying to understand more about their faith as growing Christians. Feel free to tell your friends, even if they don't know us. Although we may disagree and be different denominations, let us come together through Christ.
First, to clarify: His basic argument is just that every single thing that happens, whether a sunny beautiful day or a tornado tragedy, is God's signs to repent, in sweet tones or more forceful tones?
Yeah, that's basically the message. God is constantly reminding us to repent- and just because we receive sunshine instead of a tornado or some disaster doesn't mean that we're better or less sinful than the people who got the disaster. We all deserve the disaster
God is specifcially speaking to us about not juding others. That doesn't involve Him because he is the ultimate Judge- we'll all have to stand before Him one day and here what He has to say about our lives. We've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Since Christ came we don't need to face the condemnation that comes with sin- there is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1). However, there are still people who refuse to repent and be forgiven for everything they've done wrong. Without God's grace and forgiveness, there would be nothing BUT disaster. So yes, we all deserve disaster but God rescues us from it because He loves us. My God is not sadistic.
As far as punishment goes, is there seriously only one punishment for absolutely everything?
Worked on a Sunday? Hurricane Murdered 50 people? Hurricane
Liked someone else's video game? Earthquake Raped and strangled 50 women? Earthquake
End apartheid? Flood End Jew's lives? Flood
Obviously there's a ton of hyperbole in this post, but what I'm trying to ask is this -- in your view, is death and torture the only possible punishment for anyone who is not a Christian, whether they are Gandhi or Stalin, Julia Gillard or Moammar Qaddafi?
Likewise, are there any standards for heaven besides believing in Jesus?
No. I think that we are punished by our own actions- whether Christian or not. Sin comes with consequences naturally, and although God saves us from death (if we accept Christ as our savior) He doesn't say that He's going to make our lives pain free and take away all the consequences of our actions. Everyone has to face consequences in this life, but we can be forgiven if we choose. Why do you feel the need to attack all of the posts on this blog?
I think that everyone should look at the big picture, and try to help others as much as possible through actions and service. Even though I don't have a religion, I feel that this is one of the few things that religion is extremely good at. Many churches provide food shelves and services for those in need, as do loads of other religious groups. I wish that the primary focus of churches would be helping others in need, but that isn't the case. IMO, far too many churches preach injustice and inequality (I'm thinking anti-gay marriage people here). As a Christian I was, in beliefs, essentially a Universalist.
This is why I'm offended by the view that "Hitler is in heaven if he believed in Jesus", because I believe in consequences for actions and rewards for positive actions. I don't condone the one-prism standard of judgement shown on this blog.
Through the succession of your comments on my blog, you have come very close to turning my blog into something that I did not wish it to become - that is, a forum for argument on Christianity. As I have stated several times already, with little effect, I created this blog for Christians to discuss their shared faith. Atheists, although not the primary audience, were welcome to read and comment as long as they were both well mannered and respectful.
Upon review, I find that you have been neither of these. I have decided that your input is A) detracting from the value of this discussion, B) sending me off topic, and C) offensive and misinformed concerning my religion.
Therefore, I have decided to stop publishing comments by "Tim I". Obviously, you can still comment anonymously, under a world of warcraft-esque pseudonym, and will probably be able to fool me. Congratulations. However, I will not be publishing any more comments that A) do not pertain to the post on which they are posted, B) offend me, or C) merely attack Chrisitanity in general, as you have made it your purpose. If you find it truly unbearable to go without attacking opposing viewpoints, there are plenty of online forums that you can feel free to interact in. Have a nice night.
just so you know, you're generalizing christianity. I belong to an Evangelical Lutheran church, and in this context "evangelical" means spreading God's love through service to others - that is the main purpose of my church. We do not question others' faith, but merely help God's children who need it, regardless of religious background.
First, to clarify:
ReplyDeleteHis basic argument is just that every single thing that happens, whether a sunny beautiful day or a tornado tragedy, is God's signs to repent, in sweet tones or more forceful tones?
Yeah, that's basically the message. God is constantly reminding us to repent- and just because we receive sunshine instead of a tornado or some disaster doesn't mean that we're better or less sinful than the people who got the disaster. We all deserve the disaster
ReplyDeleteWe all deserve to have thousands killed and displaced by hurricanes? Seriously? What kind of sadism is this?
ReplyDeleteKind of violates the "judge not, lest ye be judged" principle, no?
God is specifcially speaking to us about not juding others. That doesn't involve Him because he is the ultimate Judge- we'll all have to stand before Him one day and here what He has to say about our lives.
ReplyDeleteWe've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Since Christ came we don't need to face the condemnation that comes with sin- there is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1). However, there are still people who refuse to repent and be forgiven for everything they've done wrong. Without God's grace and forgiveness, there would be nothing BUT disaster. So yes, we all deserve disaster but God rescues us from it because He loves us. My God is not sadistic.
Sorry SandStrider, I just have an issue with people saying that 7 billion people deserve to be wiped out without knowing more than .00001% of them.
ReplyDeleteAs far as punishment goes, is there seriously only one punishment for absolutely everything?
ReplyDeleteWorked on a Sunday? Hurricane
Murdered 50 people? Hurricane
Liked someone else's video game? Earthquake
Raped and strangled 50 women? Earthquake
End apartheid? Flood
End Jew's lives? Flood
Obviously there's a ton of hyperbole in this post, but what I'm trying to ask is this -- in your view, is death and torture the only possible punishment for anyone who is not a Christian, whether they are Gandhi or Stalin, Julia Gillard or Moammar Qaddafi?
Likewise, are there any standards for heaven besides believing in Jesus?
No. I think that we are punished by our own actions- whether Christian or not. Sin comes with consequences naturally, and although God saves us from death (if we accept Christ as our savior) He doesn't say that He's going to make our lives pain free and take away all the consequences of our actions. Everyone has to face consequences in this life, but we can be forgiven if we choose. Why do you feel the need to attack all of the posts on this blog?
ReplyDeleteOriginally? The homosexuality post.
ReplyDeleteI think that everyone should look at the big picture, and try to help others as much as possible through actions and service. Even though I don't have a religion, I feel that this is one of the few things that religion is extremely good at. Many churches provide food shelves and services for those in need, as do loads of other religious groups. I wish that the primary focus of churches would be helping others in need, but that isn't the case. IMO, far too many churches preach injustice and inequality (I'm thinking anti-gay marriage people here). As a Christian I was, in beliefs, essentially a Universalist.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I'm offended by the view that "Hitler is in heaven if he believed in Jesus", because I believe in consequences for actions and rewards for positive actions. I don't condone the one-prism standard of judgement shown on this blog.
Cheers ^_^
Tim,
ReplyDeleteThrough the succession of your comments on my blog, you have come very close to turning my blog into something that I did not wish it to become - that is, a forum for argument on Christianity. As I have stated several times already, with little effect, I created this blog for Christians to discuss their shared faith. Atheists, although not the primary audience, were welcome to read and comment as long as they were both well mannered and respectful.
Upon review, I find that you have been neither of these. I have decided that your input is A) detracting from the value of this discussion, B) sending me off topic, and C) offensive and misinformed concerning my religion.
Therefore, I have decided to stop publishing comments by "Tim I". Obviously, you can still comment anonymously, under a world of warcraft-esque pseudonym, and will probably be able to fool me. Congratulations. However, I will not be publishing any more comments that A) do not pertain to the post on which they are posted, B) offend me, or C) merely attack Chrisitanity in general, as you have made it your purpose. If you find it truly unbearable to go without attacking opposing viewpoints, there are plenty of online forums that you can feel free to interact in. Have a nice night.
Tim I -
ReplyDeletejust so you know, you're generalizing christianity. I belong to an Evangelical Lutheran church, and in this context "evangelical" means spreading God's love through service to others - that is the main purpose of my church. We do not question others' faith, but merely help God's children who need it, regardless of religious background.