Many people go to church every Sunday; some bring their Bibles and listen to the pastor, maybe throw a few "amens" every once in awhile, but what is their life like the rest of the week? Do the spend time reading the Bible? Do they act on what they learn at church? Or do they act the same way as their non-Christian friends? These types of people see Christianity as a religion. They think that because the go to church every Sunday, that for sure they are going to Heaven. However the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." You cannot be saved through works, because God wants you to be totally surrendered to him.
Well, Christianity is a lifestyle. People around you should notice that there is a difference in how you live your life. Are you honest? Are you kind? Do you gossip? Do you cuss people out when the cut you off in traffic? We are to be imitators of Christ. And people could tell he was different. Everywhere he went, their were crowds that would follow him because he was different. We need to be like Christ.
Both, duh!
You probably don't recognize it, because you're Christian, but most people live a Christian lifestyle, even if they're pretty ambivalent abut the religion. At least, they do here in the US.
~C
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it is true that most people try to be good, the difference between being Christian and trying to live a "good" life is that with Christianity a standard is set. And with a good lifestyle, "good" can change according to our moods, pressures, and current issues.
the difference between being Christian and trying to live a "good" life is that with Christianity a standard is set.
That has certainly NOT been my experience with Christians. What they think is right or wrong has been as variable, probably even more variable, than what my atheist friends think is right or wrong.
So tell me ... what is this "set standard"? Is it the bible? If so, justify Leviticus and Deuteronomy, especially the sections that nobody believes nowaday. Justify how it is that during the Civil War, the bible was used as justification for both abolitionist and pro-slavery factions. In fact with respect to slavery, if the standard is set and not changing at a whim why is it that Christianity has changed from acceptance to condemnation of slavery?
Justify Vatican II and the Catholic practice of papal encyclicals to clarify dogma. Why is it that actions like the Crusades were once considered the will of God, but no longer?
Why is it that we have tens of thousands of different denominations proclaiming different things "right"? I don't think the moral "standard" of Christians is any more "set" than anybody else.
Cheers,
DB
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If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing. - Anatole France
I love this sentence, because it reflects the nonsense of the so called (morals) needs.
This nonsense of course, is guild of having changed (losing/lost) morals.
Guild is that path towards frustration...
Like desire of putting, wanting a finger up the ass of your own temple!
Maybe we need a + 21 section upon this platform, No?
without morals we are all animals..... but i presume you have already made that choice