What is it to be Christian ?

[mrnoodle]

Originally Posted by Stormieweather

I think many so-called Christians pick and choose what they will take literally from the Bible. The parts that are contradictory or impossible are argued to be an allegory or parable. The differences in interpretation are the root of the various religious sects. And each sect insists that they are the ones with the 'truth'. Some say to just live as Christ-like as possible, others say every word in the Bible is accurate. Therefore, I refuse to buy into any one person or group of peoples proclamation that their way is the right way, and that they (and only they) have the correct path to salvation. I submit that I have as much right to my own interpretation as anyone else.

This is how we're supposed to look at it, IMO. Religion is not the answer, God is. You can go directly to God, and don't need priests, bishops, preachers, or any other go-between. That doesn't mean that church is a bad thing -- far from it. By associating with other believers, you get lots of benefits. You can hold each other accountable, discuss faith, pray for each other. Flying solo all the time doesn't do much for most people; most often, it occurs because churches or church leaders have failed people. This guy in Colorado Springs is a perfect example. He has 14,000 or something people in his church. I would be willing to bet that half of them never enter a church building again because their faith has been so trampled on. If 500 people show up for services next week, they'll be lucky.

The reason is that people are looking for good examples. Especially when it comes to God stuff, which is so difficult to figure out on your own, people want someone to stand up and say "I have it all figured out, listen to me". Unfortunately, there are all too many people who are willing to step into that position. That makes the churchgoer tend to stop at the preacher. Why study for yourself, or make direct appeals to God, when so-and-so is so obviously better qualified? Catholicism is the most egregious example of this mindset, but it extends to every sect.

But the pastor is only human, too. He or she has the same temptations, weaknesses, and proclivities as anyone sitting in the pews or walking by on the street outside. That's why it's so important for a pastor to be a servant, and not some kind of Moses-like figurehead. When you get too much power, and aren't accountable to anyone, and start telling people you are the final expert on all things moral and ethical, you are already doomed to fail, and spectacularly. And all the people who mistakenly put their faith in a person instead of in God will have that faith shattered, and many never recover spiritually. That makes the CO Springs guy's hypocrisy so damaging.

Maybe God is just another name for the 'highest power' (along with Jehovah, Jesus, Yahwen, Elohim, Allah, Brahman, Ekam, Deus, etc.). Maybe the existence of this supreme being is too expansive for our minds to comprehend so we create rules, rituals and symbols to help us feel more in control of our insignificant little lives. Just as with civilization itself, we need for religion to have form and substance. Maybe our narrow-minded views of God and religion stems from the same ignorance and lack of comprehension that spurred the theories of a flat earth, a solitary planet or solar system.

Mostly agree. God is just another name for someone who we lack the ability to comprehend, and our need to have things neatly tucked into cubbyholes is where most religion comes from.

Then again, maybe God did send Christ, his only-begotten son, to die for our sins so that we can gain salvation and go to heaven.

That's what Jesus said, and unless he was perpetuating a giant fraud or was clinically insane, I have no reason to doubt him.

Speaking of heaven, what and where is that exactly? Is it a black hole? Another planet? A different plane of existance? Utopia somewhere in space? Or is it a reborn 'earth' (if so, how will we fit generations of the saved on our little earth?)

Who knows? Doesn't matter, really, once you have accepted how limited our comprehension of God is.

I find it fascinating that people will put forth impassioned arguements regarding the legalistic interpretation of the Bible and yet expect so much to be taken on 'faith'. How convenient that portions of the Bible such as the Creation or the Flood described in Genesis can be disregarded when it contradicts science or common sense.

The legalism is no longer necessary because of Christ. He fulfilled the law and released us from it by his sacrifice. It's just hard for people to let go of. Does that mean that I can do whatever sin I want without fear of consequences? No, it means that if you've accepted Christ as your lord and king, your spirit changes so that you want to do what is right and acceptable to God.

Did creation occur exactly as we perceive, based on the words in the KJV version of Genesis? 7 calendar days, as measured by the earth's rotation? Not likely. It's a convenient way to discount all things of God for people who like to nitpick. It's a convenient way to discount the natural process of evolution for people who are afraid that to think scientifically is an affront to God. But regardless of the validity or lack thereof of the Genesis account, nature itself points to the hand of a creator. Different thread.

There's quite a bit of evidence for the flood, it's not as popular a whipping boy for atheists as it once was.

I dunno. People are weak, God is strong. Put your faith in the latter, not the former. Serve both. The formula has never failed.