Why Do We Care So Much?

Girder of Loins · Nov 6, 2013

First off, let me tell you what I'm not asking/saying. I'm not asking why Christians should care about the world around them. What I'm asking is why we care so much that when something happens, we freak out. It surprises me and scares me. Are we so obsessed with carnal events that we have forgotten to look to our hope and joy? Have we veiled our own eyes?

I guess this post comes from a lot of the things I've seen recently. Christians not trusting their government to condemning others over slight differences in hermeneutics. Why do we care so much??? It isn't that important. If the government tries to wipe us out, cool. The blood of the saints is the seed of the Church. We should be praying for obliteration of saints if that is true, right? Pressure creates diamonds and fire refines the gold. We recognize that it is Love that brings us together, but when someone holds a different view on baptism to marriage to communion, we flip a chip.

Why? Does this come from some insecurities in Christians who aren't quite sure if what they believe is true, so much so that they would die for their theology, but not their Logos? Does it stem from confusion over verses? Does it stem from miscommunication between different viewpoints within Christianity? Is it some mix of these things?

I'm just so over the Church right now. I cannot see why anyone would want to be a part of us when we squabble like children over who gets to sit at the right hand of God. Maybe its time we take Jesus' Words and understand that the last of us will sit at His right hand. They guy who knows he doesn't understand but still loves Him anyways. The guy who doesn't have anything left to give, but still manages to bring a smile to the widow. The guy who dies, but lives forever in people's hearts.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm done. I'm done calling myself a "Christian". I'm over trying to live up to others' standards, and I'm only living for His. Good day.

Aibrean · Nov 6, 2013

Incorrect interpretation of scriptures can lead to dangerous consequences. See a sampling:

Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Galatians 1:8
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

1 Corinthians 11:27-29
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

As you can see...we debate on it because we care. we don't want people bringing judgment/condemnation upon themselves.

blankCrossfire · Nov 6, 2013

Girder of Loins said:
Christians not trusting their government to condemning others over slight differences in hermeneutics. Why do we care so much??? It isn't that important.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm done. I'm done calling myself a "Christian". I'm over trying to live up to others' standards, and I'm only living for His. Good day.

A verse like Matthew 16:18 is what the Roman Catholic Church stands on.
If they are misinterpreting this verse, what does this do to that denomination?
What does it do to the Apostolic succession, Marian Dogmas, their traditions (The Mass) and so forth?

Slight differences in hermeneutics is an understatement when something considered unimportant has caused many to depart from the faith delivered once and for all to the saints. Sure, there are differences that can be looked over where we can agree to disagree but you should be careful making a general statement like that. Do you consider JW's and Mormons brothers and sisters in Christ?

A Mormon could have written this post and in fact many do.
They are sincere, and do wonder why slight hermeneutics separate them from other Christians.

Why do we care so much?

CounselorForChrist · Nov 6, 2013

I agree Girder. I just don't care anymore (well to much) what goes on in the world. The government could declare all christians should die and I wouldn't freak out. Just means I can go to my eternal life sooner. Its why when people squabble over something like should we wear earings to church its like "Who cares!". I mean sure its ok if people want to talk about it. But to have a 30 page topic about it? Really? People can do what they want and believe what they want. I try to help people and if they don't want help then I move on. I'm not the worlds baby sitter.

They guy who knows he doesn't understand but still loves Him anyways. The guy who doesn't have anything left to give, but still manages to bring a smile to the widow. The guy who dies, but lives forever in people's hearts.

Thats a well summed up version of me. I actually have christians ask why I give away anything after claiming I don't have much to begin with. They think I put myself in the position of not having alot. As the one statement says, I do try and love those who hurt me even when I am annoyed and don't want to talk to them sometimes.

Quasicentennial · Nov 7, 2013

Accepting Jesus while we are in our present imperfect earth-born minds and bodies can create positive and negative criticisms towards different Christian church denominations - this is naturally a normal human experience to judge Christians that follow traditional "stuck in the past" behavior mentality:.
I know in my heart when Jesus returns to defeat Satan, who causes a lot of misconception and misinformation about true Christianity, that once we become transformed with new minds and bodies of Christ, we will know exactly how Jesus wants us to react with the power of peace and joy that keeps us young, vibrantly cheerful and super-intelligent as we socialize inside our future-coming most advanced free-for-all home accommodation city: the kingdom of God on a new environmentally-friendly Earth where deadly natural disasters and man-made industrial pollution will become a thing of the past.: Rev 21:2 .;'*';.
:liturgy:

David Sylvian · Nov 7, 2013

I view it as like a love relationship. For instance, I have a wide variety of triggers and symbols I hold from my relationship. Everything means something else because it is embued with meaning. Everything I hold as my core symbols. It is a different language that becomes formed. There is a private language in a relationship, shared secrets, meaningful symbols of that relationship. And then a public one.

Love has hates associated with it. So, you love certain words you get in a relationship, and hate other words. It is a statement.

So, for instance, for me, I absolutely hate it when people whine about death and go on about how content they are to die. I also hate it when people sit around and argue about how religiousness that is far from the teachings ARE the teachings and ARE God. So, the critics denounce God and the bad Christians using the bad Christians as their strawmen. I can't stand that, it is diabolical. They claim to be anti-bad religion, and then exalt that very religion as God and Christ.

It really doesn't mean anything, it is just something that gets me riled up. I think God actually pushes my buttons there.

He likes to see me get riled up about these things, and while I go for self-control, sometimes I get clocked and just really get hard core about it.

Which is absurd because I know God is God over everyone. God has everyone where they are. Doesn't matter.

Can be like if you have a date and your date loves Cherry Coke, you can then have Cherry Coke be holy for you. And you might hate, say, root beer.

Though for someone else, the standard may be backwards. And that doesn't mean anything. They just have associated root beer as holy for them, and cherry coke as evil for them.

seeingeyes · Nov 7, 2013

Girder of Loins said:
Why? Does this come from some insecurities in Christians who aren't quite sure if what they believe is true, so much so that they would die for their theology, but not their Logos? Does it stem from confusion over verses? Does it stem from miscommunication between different viewpoints within Christianity? Is it some mix of these things?

It comes from fear. Although, it's fear that one doesn't/can't admit to being afraid of and tends to present as pride, though it is called 'humility', so it's a bit tricky. I'm quite well-versed in self-righteousness having exhibited so much of it myself. (Lord have mercy.)

Sort of like a woman who gets beaten on a regular basis insisting that her husband is an upstanding man and cutting off everyone who doesn't agree with her. If she admits that he is evil, she is damned because she will be beaten. If she refuses to admit it she is damned to live with a man that beats her. So she chooses to actually believe that he is good, even though none of his actions are good.

This is the relationship that so many have with their God.

Pray for them. Our God is so great that He can even save a Christian.

thatforumguy77 · Nov 7, 2013

Obliteration of the saints? Woah. Let's not talk about that so easily. It's so easy to talk about death and blood and sacrifice when we are young. We always cling to this promise:

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
- 2 Corinthians 5:1

This letter, however, was written during Paul's time, which was an era of great unrest and persecution for Christians. In no way did he wish harm to his flock! The spirituality Paul wrote in the Corinthians then is actually an affirmation for those who are suffering. A means to strengthen their faith and hope for Christ amidst the difficulty they were having, as well as a reminder of what they are dying for.

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
...
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
- 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, 4:7-9

It is an encouragement for those suffering physical pain. We must remember not to be desensitized by death or pain in earthly bodies. Remember Heaven is God's throne, but Earth is His footstool. Earth is by no means irrelevant, because it is the current battlefield that our spiritual war is being engaged upon. Even Paul, when confronted by death, felt the need to stay alive because of the mission that is yet to be done.

I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.
-Philippians 1:23-25

Also, we cannot wish harm upon our fellow Christians, ever. Not even if it is to fuel the blood of saints, or the revival of faith. Remember the perfect prayer taught to us by Christ: Do not bring us to the test. Deliver us from evil. Even Christ when confronted with imminent death, was not so desensitized. He cried tears of blood, and asked for the cup to be removed. When Lazarus got sick, Jesus still stayed to comfort the sisters from their pain. (John 11:6) And of course, the famous moment when Lazarus died, though he knew he was only sleeping, Jesus wept for him. (John 11:35)

The Gospel is about love, kindness, comfort, mercy. In our fervor it is easy to forget that we are called to minister to others, to be kind to them as shining examples of our Christ who has gone ahead of us to the Kingdom, and that "being saved" is not enough, but also to save others in the same way that we are saved.

David Sylvian · Nov 7, 2013

seeingeyes said:
It comes from fear. Although, it's fear that one doesn't/can't admit to being afraid of and tends to present as pride, though it is called 'humility', so it's a bit tricky. I'm quite well-versed in self-righteousness having exhibited so much of it myself. (Lord have mercy.)

Sort of like a woman who gets beaten on a regular basis insisting that her husband is an upstanding man and cutting off everyone who doesn't agree with her. If she admits that he is evil, she is damned because she will be beaten. If she refuses to admit it she is damned to live with a man that beats her. So she chooses to actually believe that he is good, even though none of his actions are good.

This is the relationship that so many have with their God.

Pray for them. Our God is so great that He can even save a Christian.

That was really very good.

unlikeable1979 · Nov 11, 2013

David Sylvian said:
That was really very good.

agreed

znr · Nov 12, 2013

I can't even take this place seriously anymore. In real life I'm "Christian", but here I'm free entertainment. I feel another satire coming on.

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Why Do We Care So Much?

Girder of Loins

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Aibrean

Honest. Maybe too Honest.

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blankCrossfire

Hebrews 4:15-16

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CounselorForChrist

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Quasicentennial

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David Sylvian

From Japan With Love

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seeingeyes

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thatforumguy77

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David Sylvian

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unlikeable1979

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znr

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