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Topic:
What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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darthOB1
Registered:
Mar '00
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Date Posted:
5/27 10:28pm
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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Its not a matter of judging a person or condeming such ones. It's in an effort to prevent "bad association" from spreading within a congregation is it not?
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king_alvarez
Registered:
May '07
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Date Posted:
5/28 7:02am
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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darthOB1 posted:
Its not a matter of judging a person or condeming such ones. It's in an effort to prevent "bad association" from spreading within a congregation is it not?
To deem someone as "bad association" is an act of judgment. In any case, even Jesus would dine with sinners.
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Because there are no story-book romances, no fairy-tale endings. So before you run out and change the world, ask yourself, "What do you really want?"
Because life... is not a movie. Everyone lies. Good guys lose. And love... does not conquer all.
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nancyallen
Registered:
Nov '07
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Date Posted:
5/28 3:18pm
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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Probably not casting ultimate judgment on them, but certainly to choose not to allow bad associations into your life, I don't see that as a problem. Acting as judge jury and executioner on the other hand that certainly would be. That's just my take on it though, you like I can dig up a more biblical explanation (ie: Quest's answer on if all judging is bad).
If the point Paul was making that we shouldn't allow bad associations into our lives because of how they may influence us, then that goes without saying. Correct me if I'm wrong about this but Jesus certainly could dine with sinners because he was the son of God. I'm not sure whether or not we should, or even if Jesus was trying to set an example by doing this.
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Even as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for God is with me.
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ObiWan506
Title: JC Head Admin
Registered:
Aug '03
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Date Posted:
5/28 8:31pm
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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Weed them out of the church in the sense that once they have lost that sense of attachment with the community, they will become repentant and see what they have lost and come back for that forgiveness.
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If you have any questions about Christianity and/or Jesus, I'd love to talk to you. Please PM me.
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved!" Acts 16:31
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Yes, I am a sinner. So are you. We all have a Savior.
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darthOB1
Registered:
Mar '00
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Date Posted:
5/28 9:32pm
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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king_alvarez posted:
To deem someone as "bad association" is an act of judgment. In any case, even Jesus would dine with sinners.
Thats not the point and you know it!
If your daughter was dating a known and current heroin addict would you encourage her to associate with that person?
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king_alvarez
Registered:
May '07
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Date Posted:
5/29 6:33am
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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I guess it all depends on what extent a person or congregation/church acts towards someone deemed as bad association. To what extent will the church go to to "prevent" bad association from spreading?
I mean, I can understand the church pointing out that certain acts or attitudes are contrary to the life of a Christian, as is anyone knowingly and willfully committing those acts with full knowledge of the consequences. At that point, each individual person can choose whether they wish to associate with such a person. But I would expect the stance of the church to always be one of "hate the sin but accept the sinner."
My perception of the example that Jesus was trying to set is that humans are unable to discern the intentions of the heart, and thus, cannot know the circumstances behind a perceived sin, and as such, should never presume to know what a person's standing is before God. So, while a person's actions can be condemned, the person himself should not be completely shunned.
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Because there are no story-book romances, no fairy-tale endings. So before you run out and change the world, ask yourself, "What do you really want?"
Because life... is not a movie. Everyone lies. Good guys lose. And love... does not conquer all.
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ObiWan506
Title: JC Head Admin
Registered:
Aug '03
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Date Posted:
5/29 7:55am
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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Yeah, and I think the whole purpose of that is not to condemn people, but to help each other be accountable. So it's teaching repentance.
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If you have any questions about Christianity and/or Jesus, I'd love to talk to you. Please PM me.
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved!" Acts 16:31
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Yes, I am a sinner. So are you. We all have a Savior.
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king_alvarez
Registered:
May '07
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Date Posted:
5/29 8:51am
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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ObiWan506 posted:
Yeah, and I think the whole purpose of that is not to condemn people, but to help each other be accountable. So it's teaching repentance.
I agree with you there. It's just that different organizations and people take that to different extremes, and that is the part that's more difficult to interpret.
-----signature-----
Because there are no story-book romances, no fairy-tale endings. So before you run out and change the world, ask yourself, "What do you really want?"
Because life... is not a movie. Everyone lies. Good guys lose. And love... does not conquer all.
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ObiWan506
Title: JC Head Admin
Registered:
Aug '03
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Date Posted:
5/29 11:09am
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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Then they need to read 1 Corinthians 13. It's about faith, hope and love, but the greatest of those is love.
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If you have any questions about Christianity and/or Jesus, I'd love to talk to you. Please PM me.
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved!" Acts 16:31
------
Yes, I am a sinner. So are you. We all have a Savior.
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nancyallen
Registered:
Nov '07
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Date Posted:
5/30 6:10pm
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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I was looking up sites on religion and came across this one that had a video where it states Richard Dawkins believes parents who teach their children religion should be arrested.
http://tinyfrog.wordpress.com/2007/07/24/anti-atheist-christian-tv-commerical/
What?
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ObiWan506
Title: JC Head Admin
Registered:
Aug '03
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Date Posted:
5/30 9:24pm
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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At some point you just have to shield yourself from that sort of thing. Actually, the best you can probably do is avoid it, but you can't get away from that sort of thing all the time. Obviously there are some that are against Christian beliefs. None of us should ever let that faith down though.
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If you have any questions about Christianity and/or Jesus, I'd love to talk to you. Please PM me.
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved!" Acts 16:31
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Yes, I am a sinner. So are you. We all have a Savior.
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nancyallen
Registered:
Nov '07
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Date Posted:
5/30 9:46pm
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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Not failing Jesus' teachings and descending into 'an eye for an eye' and all that huh?
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ObiWan506
Title: JC Head Admin
Registered:
Aug '03
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Date Posted:
5/30 9:48pm
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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Keep it about love. Love in having a relationship with Him and love with everyone else. We're all on even ground at the foot of the cross and we are no better then anyone else. We're still wicked sinners. Now, the only difference is we have a Savior and we make a conscious effort to turn away from sin and produce good fruit. Everyone should be allowed the opportunity we have.
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If you have any questions about Christianity and/or Jesus, I'd love to talk to you. Please PM me.
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved!" Acts 16:31
------
Yes, I am a sinner. So are you. We all have a Savior.
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nancyallen
Registered:
Nov '07
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Date Posted:
5/30 10:02pm
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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Yup, or to put it another way, it is not for us to judge others, the question is how will God judge them? Or for the atheists, how will history judge the fruit of their labors?
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Even as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for God is with me.
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ObiWan506
Title: JC Head Admin
Registered:
Aug '03
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Date Posted:
5/30 10:43pm
Subject:
RE: What is Christianity? How can we understand it better? What don't we understand?
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Well it's also nothing Christians do either. We're saved by grace. However most people stop there and go on with their lives. They miss the part where we're saved not by good works, but we are saved for good works. It's the ultimate assurance of salvation and faith. If you have strong faith, you should see fruit in your life. If you have dead faith, then I doubt you're living in a strong relationship and striving to seek His will everyday. We all sin, we all screw up, we all say "no" to the Lord sometimes. We all do it. It's about that slow journey and striving to do better and letting that Spirit work in you by surrendering self.
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If you have any questions about Christianity and/or Jesus, I'd love to talk to you. Please PM me.
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved!" Acts 16:31
------
Yes, I am a sinner. So are you. We all have a Savior.
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