Unbiblical "Christian" platitudes that Christians need to stop saying

yeshuaslavejeff

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Go to the site Escape to Reality. The author there backs up his words with a lot of Scripture too, way better than I have time for.
Scripture is always truth. Understanding Scripture is granted by Yahweh , not by that author. Some of what is at that site may be true; not necessarily, no matter how it looks or feels to you.

I don't care what assemblies have to say.
so ?

And I know no translation is perfect,
If God grants you , yourself, perfect understanding of Scripture, what would you do ?

but it does need to fully reflect God's loving character.
God won't change Scripture to conform to your ideas, nor to anyone's ideas.
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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Again, I don't care what all these people say. I care about what the Bible says.
Good, if truth.
Read Scripture (The Bible), and seek and keep seeking from the Father Truth - His Understanding as HE Grants to those He desires to grant His Salvation to.

If He does not grant understanding to you, what then will you do ?
 
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HisPrincess710

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Scripture is always truth. Understanding Scripture is granted by Yahweh , not by that author. Some of what is at that site may be true; not necessarily, no matter how it looks or feels to you.


so ?


If God grants you , yourself, perfect understanding of Scripture, what would you do ?


God won't change Scripture to conform to your ideas, nor to anyone's ideas.

Then that has to go for your ideas as well.

Clearly I'm not gonna be able to convince you, as you're not gonna be able to convince me.
 
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HisPrincess710

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Good, if truth.
Read Scripture (The Bible), and seek and keep seeking from the Father Truth - His Understanding as HE Grants to those He desires to grant His Salvation to.

If He does not grant understanding to you, what then will you do ?

He has granted understanding to me, because I asked him to be my Lord and Savior and repented of my sins.
 
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ViaCrucis

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Say what you will. You may agree with me, you may not. But these are things that Christians need to stop saying.

It doesn't matter whether it's your heart or not, to put people down with these words. It doesn't matter how genuine you are. It doesn't matter how you are wanting it to come across. What matters is how the other person receives it.

I'll be using 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter specifically, as a reference, 'cause the Bible says God is love. When love is described in 1 Cor. 13, replace the word love with God.

1. God will use you.

Oh, so we're nothing more than pawns on a chessboard. Slaves are used. Prostitutes are used. Children are not. We're not slaves or prostitutes, we're children of God. Love does not use others.

No, we aren't merely pawns in a game, but Scripture does indeed say, "Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness." (Romans 6:13), and to regard ourselves as slaves of Christ (Ephesians 6:6, 1 Peter 2:16).

2. Love your spouse more than God

The only way to love God more than your spouse is to love God through your spouse. Jesus says as much as we do unto others, we do unto him, and vice versa. If you think you need to have private prayer time when your spouse needs help with the kids or something else, that’s not prayer. That’s sin.

Our duty to Christ supersedes our duties to other people (Luke 14:26), but it is indeed by our love of others that we show our love toward God, for no one can say they love God and hate their brother (1 John 4:20) and it is a deep wrong that from the same mouth comes blessing and cursing (James 3:9-10) for Christ's Commandment to love God and love our neighbor are indeed truly one great commandment, for by loving others we love God and it is with the love of God that we come before our neighbor--even our own enemies--in loving sacrifice and surrender.

3. God can't bless you until you get that sin out of your life.

Do you ever drive 5 miles over the speed limit? Is that a sin? Yes it is, you're breaking the law. You sin so many times in one day you don't even realize it.

This one is true, as we have received already the riches and blessings of God in Christ by His grace. There is no greater blessing than what we have already received in Jesus, which is nothing short of forgiveness of sins, communion with God as beloved children, and the hope of the resurrection and everlasting life in the world to come.

4. I'm committed to Christ

That's like saying you're committed to never cheat on your spouse. But what that really means is, "Though I want to cheat on you, I won't do it 'cause I'm committed." Commitment isn't even an issue if you love God or your spouse or anyone.

That's not what commitment means. Commitment means devoting oneself to a person, thing, or obligation. When a person pledges themselves to their spouse they are indeed making a commitment to them--it does not mean that they want to cheat or be with another; it means they don't want to cheat or be with another, but rather devote themselves to the one they have pledged themselves to. To commit ourselves to Christ is to make the resolve to pledge ourselves to Him and to His way.

5. Lord, I want to do whatever pleases you. I want to decrease; you must increase.

Imagine if you married someone who spoke like that. "I want to do whatever you want to do dear. It's not about me, it's all about you." That would be fun for about a week. "I just want to be used by you. I just want others to know how much I am committed to you." Then your heart would break.

Our devotion to the Lord is not some perfect analogy to marriage or any other human relationship. Christ is our Lord, our Master, and we are His bondservants. Our lives are to be lived conformed to Him and His way and to abide ourselves in His will. That's not how marriages work because a marriage isn't about having one person on top and another on the bottom, it's about a partnership with mutual sacrifice and submission to one another in love (Ephesians 5:21-33). But Christ is not our husband or our wife, He is our Lord.

6. God has unfinished business in my life.

What were some of Jesus's last words? "It is finished." As far as he's concerned, there's no past, present, or future. For him, it's already done.

The finished work of Christ in the Atonement by which we are reconciled to and justified before God which comes to us as grace isn't the same thing as the reality that as the people of God we are to live our lives in faith through our vocations. God may very well have things He wants to work through us or to use us for, whether that's true or not of any of us individually we may not know--but it has nothing to do with what we have received as the once and done pure gift of God.

7. We will be careful to give you all the glory God.

God actually wants to share his glory. Moses' face was shining with glory when he came down from Sinai. Paul says that if we share in Jesus's sufferings, we will share in his glory.

The Apostle is explicit that we are to boast in nothing except for the cross of Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14) and that there is nothing of ourselves of which to boast (Ephesians 2:9). Therefore to God alone be the glory--that He will share His glory with us in Christ by His grace, both now in part and in full in the resurrection doesn't change that.

I could go on and on, but these are the biggest. Religion has sold us a bunch of lies about the love of God. We have been told that God is envious, distrustful, needy, angry, distant, and that He keeps a record of wrongs. Fall for these lies and it will dehumanize you. You'll waste your life trying to force-fit your dreams and desires into a religious mold and you'll be utterly miserable.

Frankly most of these platitudes I have not actually heard, some I have. But some of these don't come nearly close to saying what I think you think they do. This isn't about god being envious, distrustful, angry, distant, etc; it's often simply about the fact that we are sinners reconciled to God and called to a life of faith and good works in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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Then that has to go for your ideas as well.
Scripture is truth for everyone - Apostles to husbands to wives to children to slaves to waiters on tables to slave owners to slaves.

ALL ideas are to be brought willingly and joyously and fully SUBJECT TO JESUS .
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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He has granted understanding to me, because I asked him to be my Lord and Savior and repented of my sins.
No. Not according to and related to your posts, and more importantly not according to His Word about the things you posted.

Yes, we believe, according to His Grace and Mercy concerning repentance and Salvation in Jesus.
 
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Andrew Jeremiah

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Say what you will. You may agree with me, you may not. But these are things that Christians need to stop saying.

It doesn't matter whether it's your heart or not, to put people down with these words. It doesn't matter how genuine you are. It doesn't matter how you are wanting it to come across. What matters is how the other person receives it.

I'll be using 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter specifically, as a reference, 'cause the Bible says God is love. When love is described in 1 Cor. 13, replace the word love with God.

1. God will use you.

Oh, so we're nothing more than pawns on a chessboard. Slaves are used. Prostitutes are used. Children are not. We're not slaves or prostitutes, we're children of God. Love does not use others.

2. Love your spouse more than God

The only way to love God more than your spouse is to love God through your spouse. Jesus says as much as we do unto others, we do unto him, and vice versa. If you think you need to have private prayer time when your spouse needs help with the kids or something else, that’s not prayer. That’s sin.

3. God can't bless you until you get that sin out of your life.

Do you ever drive 5 miles over the speed limit? Is that a sin? Yes it is, you're breaking the law. You sin so many times in one day you don't even realize it.

4. I'm committed to Christ

That's like saying you're committed to never cheat on your spouse. But what that really means is, "Though I want to cheat on you, I won't do it 'cause I'm committed." Commitment isn't even an issue if you love God or your spouse or anyone.

5. Lord, I want to do whatever pleases you. I want to decrease; you must increase.

Imagine if you married someone who spoke like that. "I want to do whatever you want to do dear. It's not about me, it's all about you." That would be fun for about a week. "I just want to be used by you. I just want others to know how much I am committed to you." Then your heart would break.

6. God has unfinished business in my life.

What were some of Jesus's last words? "It is finished." As far as he's concerned, there's no past, present, or future. For him, it's already done.

7. We will be careful to give you all the glory God.

God actually wants to share his glory. Moses' face was shining with glory when he came down from Sinai. Paul says that if we share in Jesus's sufferings, we will share in his glory.

I could go on and on, but these are the biggest. Religion has sold us a bunch of lies about the love of God. We have been told that God is envious, distrustful, needy, angry, distant, and that He keeps a record of wrongs. Fall for these lies and it will dehumanize you. You'll waste your life trying to force-fit your dreams and desires into a religious mold and you'll be utterly miserable.
The one that is error-laden is saying to unbelievers/unsaved people "GOD LOVES YOU!"

We're not supposed to lie and that statement is a lie.
 
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com7fy8

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Using people is always wrong, period. It sounds like God would rather have a prostitute rather than a wife when people say this.
By your definition, yes it is wrong. But people do not always mean it the way you represent it.
 
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HisPrincess710

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No, we aren't merely pawns in a game, but Scripture does indeed say, "Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness." (Romans 6:13), and to regard ourselves as slaves of Christ (Ephesians 6:6, 1 Peter 2:16).

We are to be servant-hearted. But we are not slaves. That's what religion says. God says we're children. We weren't solely made to be served. We were made to love and be loved.

Our duty to Christ supersedes our duties to other people (Luke 14:26), but it is indeed by our love of others that we show our love toward God, for no one can say they love God and hate their brother (1 John 4:20) and it is a deep wrong that from the same mouth comes blessing and cursing (James 3:9-10) for Christ's Commandment to love God and love our neighbor are indeed truly one great commandment, for by loving others we love God and it is with the love of God that we come before our neighbor--even our own enemies--in loving sacrifice and surrender.

Love for people and love for God should not be competition, nor does he ask it to be. Otherwise, it sounds like a child saying, "Who do you love more? My sister or me?"

This one is true, as we have received already the riches and blessings of God in Christ by His grace. There is no greater blessing than what we have already received in Jesus, which is nothing short of forgiveness of sins, communion with God as beloved children, and the hope of the resurrection and everlasting life in the world to come.

That's not what commitment means. Commitment means devoting oneself to a person, thing, or obligation. When a person pledges themselves to their spouse they are indeed making a commitment to them--it does not mean that they want to cheat or be with another; it means they don't want to cheat or be with another, but rather devote themselves to the one they have pledged themselves to. To commit ourselves to Christ is to make the resolve to pledge ourselves to Him and to His way.

Like I said, anyone can say some marriage vows. But vows alone are not an indication of love, otherwise there wouldn't be so much divorce.

Our devotion to the Lord is not some perfect analogy to marriage or any other human relationship. Christ is our Lord, our Master, and we are His bondservants. Our lives are to be lived conformed to Him and His way and to abide ourselves in His will. That's not how marriages work because a marriage isn't about having one person on top and another on the bottom, it's about a partnership with mutual sacrifice and submission to one another in love (Ephesians 5:21-33). But Christ is not our husband or our wife, He is our Lord.

He is our Lord, but he condescended to leave his throne and crown to be crucified and identify with our pain.

The finished work of Christ in the Atonement by which we are reconciled to and justified before God which comes to us as grace isn't the same thing as the reality that as the people of God we are to live our lives in faith through our vocations. God may very well have things He wants to work through us or to use us for, whether that's true or not of any of us individually we may not know--but it has nothing to do with what we have received as the once and done pure gift of God.

Yes, but while this life is spent taking out the rough edges, God also knows the future, and he's beyond time. He called Abraham "Father of many Nations" before Isaac was born. He called Gideon a mighty warrior when he was still a coward and a wimp.

The Apostle is explicit that we are to boast in nothing except for the cross of Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14) and that there is nothing of ourselves of which to boast (Ephesians 2:9). Therefore to God alone be the glory--that He will share His glory with us in Christ by His grace, both now in part and in full in the resurrection doesn't change that.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. - Romans 8:17

Frankly most of these platitudes I have not actually heard, some I have. But some of these don't come nearly close to saying what I think you think they do. This isn't about god being envious, distrustful, angry, distant, etc; it's often simply about the fact that we are sinners reconciled to God and called to a life of faith and good works in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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HisPrincess710

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By your definition, yes it is wrong. But people do not always mean it the way you represent it.

It doesn't matter how you think it comes across. What matters is how other people receive it. This is why the word "Christian" has now come to mean being bigoted, judgmental, close-minded, etc. Whether or not you think that's true of you, that's what it means to the outside world.
 
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com7fy8

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Using people is always wrong, period. It sounds like God would rather have a prostitute rather than a wife when people say this.
By your definition, yes. But it is also wrong to make myself the dictator of what someone else has to mean by what the person is saying. And I just remembered what is in the Bible >

"Therefore if anyone cleanses oneself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:21)

So, there is the good way to be "useful" and therefore used . . . the way God uses us. And this is good, not like prostitution, because we do not require payment >

"Freely you have received, freely give." (in Matthew 10:8)

So, the way Rahab was used by God was good using.

The way God uses me is how He blesses me to become so I can be used in a good way . . . so better than how I have used my own self to get what I want.
 
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HisPrincess710

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By your definition, yes. But it is also wrong to make myself the dictator of what someone else has to mean by what the person is saying. And I just remembered what is in the Bible >

"Therefore if anyone cleanses oneself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:21)

So, there is the good way to be "useful" and therefore used . . . the way God uses us. And this is good, not like prostitution, because we do not require payment >

"Freely you have received, freely give." (in Matthew 10:8)

So, the way Rahab was used by God was good using.

The way God uses me is how He blesses me to become so I can be used in a good way . . . so better than how I have used my own self to get what I want.

I'm sorry but you're never going to convince me that being used is a good term. That's like saying there's such a thing as righteous murder.

By the way, not all prostitutes were paid. Some were there solely for rituals and things like that.

When are trafficked people and children ever paid?
 
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HisPrincess710

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As all through the Old Testament and in the Apocalypse / Book of Revelation/ End Times ?
God Says it; it is True.

Righteous murder is an oxymoron. God doesn't commit murder. Murder and killing are two different things.
 
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com7fy8

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It doesn't matter how you think it comes across. What matters is how other people receive it. This is why the word "Christian" has now come to mean being bigoted, judgmental, close-minded, etc. Whether or not you think that's true of you, that's what it means to the outside world.
That's right . . . how you think it comes across is not necessarily how everyone takes it. So, it is wise to get to know each person and discover how to communicate with each one. Because neither you nor I are God to know what is really going on in each person.

Also > people had a problem with Jesus; they nailed Jesus to a cross. So, yes people can misunderstand even what is for their own good!

So, the fact that people fail to understand us right does not mean automatically that we are wrong.
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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Righteous murder is an oxymoron. God doesn't commit murder. Murder and killing are two different things.
God does whatever He Pleases. Nothing changes Him. He never changes, ever.
Thus,
HE IS FAITHFUL and TRUE. HE IS DEPENDABLE and RIGHT, even when everyone else and everyone around us is wrong and is a liar.
 
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