Christianity Made Easy

[SharonL]

This is a wonderful paper - explained so that anyone could understand what it is all about.

I have a web page which I have made into an e-book and am revising it - do I have your permission to put this in the web page and the e-book. You will find the web page here:
http://diamondsfromheaven.com/welcome.htm

Would you like an e-mail address included so if anyone has a question they can write you.

You are a wonderful example for our young people and God will use you mightly.

 

[SharonL]

!!!

 

[calidog]

excellent. you've got it. stay with it.

 

[calidog]

Defining stealing, killing, lying as absolutes and declaring them as 'bad' already stopped me from reading through this.

if nothing were absolute, we'd be absolutely in trouble.

 

[calidog]

I really do not know why this essay angers since I am not a christian, but it does.

Let's start with the topic title: "Christianity Made Easy"

If that isn't the most belittling topic name, I dont know what is.This whole essay is about how easy christianity is... it also makes this essay seem sarcastic.

At the end of the first paragraph you say "but read further, and you’ll find out everything you need to know in order to get to heaven." Now i wouldn't be bothered by this but just before that you were talking about how people have had these questions for melliniums which makes you look arrogant.

"You’ve got yourself into death row, by simply stealing that quarter from little Jimmy. How fair is that? COME ON!"

More of that sarcastic feel, putting jokes on a somewhat serious topic(at least to me anyways) doesn't really please me, I don't know about everyone else. And before this you were starting off the paragraph by asking "Have you ever sinned?" Then you list common sins which then later saying that you are forgiven for all of this in the eyes of God as long as you have faith in christ, like it doesn't matter. In the eyes of God, it may not, but since you are already saved, why dont you just tell us one of those 'Little White Lies' so that instead of releasing guilt off of murderers, the guilt still remains and we are safer... "Well Michael, just because you killed your wife and your unborn son, that doesn't mean that you are going to hell, just surrender to god and have faith in christ and you will be fine, IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE." Which brings me to my next arguement...

Saying something is "just that simple" is not exactly a good thing. In my eyes, calling any religion simple, (which im sort of repeating myself because it's the same thing as my topic arguement) is belittling, you are degrading your own religion. Because of this, if there is not already a "Dummies Guide To Christianity," you can bet there will be.

"So, now (after completing above steps) you are a Christian, congratulations. But what exactly does being a Christian involve? Well, Jesus said it best in Matthew 28: 18-20: “all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the father, of the son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” So that’s what you should do, Jesus saved you from the island, and took you back, and taught you how to swim, now why not go back and save others from the island?"

Children, dont do this at home, this is daredevil work:

So that's what you should do. Push your religion onto others. Since Jews, Muslims, Mormans, and every other religion out there that people believe in are not saved, you should go try to convert them into christians because otherwise, they will not be accepted into heaven.

I don't mean to be rude, but this essay is annoying me quite a bit, makes me feel like an important issue is turned into something stupid. Plus even if your essay is correct, it's like encouraging laziness... Let them read it on their own. Everything is made simple now. "Programming for dummies," "Investing For Dummies," "Learning For Dummies," "Thinking For Dummies," Where does it end? I fear it doesn't. That's just my two cents. Have a good day everyone.

sounds pretty effective to me, keep up the good work.

 

[calidog]

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You may want to check this out. As I understand it the Jewish tradition has always held tremendous value in literacy and memorization of scripture. People knew the laws and the Prophets. Now, as to interpretation of the law, I suppose some leaders did exploit it, but I don't know of any specific examples of transgressions in the Bible.




This is incorrect. Luke 22: 66-71 says Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin who asked him, "If you are the Christ, tell us." and "Are you then the Son of God?" to which He replied, "You are right in saying 'I am." Now, as I understand this, Jesus uses the same name that God used with Moses when God says, "Tell them 'I am'" sent you, which amounted to the most severe blasphemy in Jewish law. When he's brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, he's accused of treason for he'd been called "King of the Jews." You might make a case that he was accused of something he'd not done as he'd never asserted himself as a political king, but then he made no case to deny it and Pilate was even willing to let him go because he felt it was a false accusation. Pilate went with the will of the people, however, and had him executed for treason.




Aside from the miraculous catch of fish in John ch. 21, there is no account in the Gospels of other miracles after the resurrection. There is this, however,


OK. I'll give you that.



Good deal.







When does the Mark 16:15-18 stuff happen? V.17 says these things will accompany believers, not "might" or "could."

Howzat work?

don't know.

 

[prophecystudent]

I really do not know why this essay angers since I am not a christian, but it does.

Large portion deleted to save space.
________________________
I don't mean to be rude, but this essay is annoying me quite a bit, makes me feel like an important issue is turned into something stupid. Plus even if your essay is correct, it's like encouraging laziness... Let them read it on their own. Everything is made simple now. "Programming for dummies," "Investing For Dummies," "Learning For Dummies," "Thinking For Dummies," Where does it end? I fear it doesn't. That's just my two cents. Have a good day everyone.

Fortunately, becoming a Christian is just as simple as the writer of the paper you criticize states it. While the writer might have chosen better format, or better words, the content is precisely correct.

To become a Christian really is easy. In fact, it may be so easy that far too many people miss the whole thing.

The Bible is quite specific about salvataion. Christ said that only thru him can anyone get to heaven. Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Christ also said we must accept the Gospel with the faith of little children.

Christ died for all our sins. He paid the price of those sins. We continue to sin every day and when we confess those sins to Christ and ask His forgiveness, He is faithful and forgives us.

That does not give us license to sin, however. We are to try our best to live the life Christ would have us live. Being human we fail to do that. When we fail it is called sin and we need to acknowledge that sin and ask forgiveness.

Nothing complicated about it at all.

Regarding Christians trying to convert/convince non-Christians to Christianity, that is the Great Commission given us by Christ Himself. We are to take the GOOD NEWS to the whole world.

Christians are the only group on the planet that has a God (Christ) that died to pay the price for our sins, was resurrected from the dead and now sits at the right hand of the Father. We are the only group that worships a living God.

I grant that Muslims worship a God, ostensibly the same one that we worship, but they do not believe that Christ is the Son of God, nor do they believe in the Salvation He provides.

Billions of people will spend eternity in the lake of eternal fire because they refuse to accept Christ. That, my friend, is also simple fact. The Bible is quite clear about who goes into the fire, and who spends eternity with Christ. No mystery.

Fred

 

[eph3Nine]

While it was a good essay in part, I would point out to the writer that he mixed the two plans and purposes of God together and thus muddied the waters. There was no clear plan of salvation given. In fact, it made DOING something part of the equation and that is clearly forbidden under "by grace are you saved thru FAITH, and that NOT of yourselves..."

Gods goal for all today is that "all men SEE what IS the fellowship of the mystery which in ages past was HID in God" Eph 3 NINE

We arent saved by repenting and confessing. That was instructions given to the nation Israel.

We are saved by BELIEVING in the finished work of Christ on the Cross as sufficient.

You ARE forgiven...why? Because while we were yet sinners , Christ died for us.

He didnt die for the GODLY< but for the UNGODLY.

 

[calidog]

[/color][/font][/size]

You may want to check this out. As I understand it the Jewish tradition has always held tremendous value in literacy and memorization of scripture. People knew the laws and the Prophets. Now, as to interpretation of the law, I suppose some leaders did exploit it, but I don't know of any specific examples of transgressions in the Bible.




This is incorrect. Luke 22: 66-71 says Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin who asked him, "If you are the Christ, tell us." and "Are you then the Son of God?" to which He replied, "You are right in saying 'I am." Now, as I understand this, Jesus uses the same name that God used with Moses when God says, "Tell them 'I am'" sent you, which amounted to the most severe blasphemy in Jewish law. When he's brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, he's accused of treason for he'd been called "King of the Jews." You might make a case that he was accused of something he'd not done as he'd never asserted himself as a political king, but then he made no case to deny it and Pilate was even willing to let him go because he felt it was a false accusation. Pilate went with the will of the people, however, and had him executed for treason.




Aside from the miraculous catch of fish in John ch. 21, there is no account in the Gospels of other miracles after the resurrection. There is this, however,


OK. I'll give you that.



Good deal.







When does the Mark 16:15-18 stuff happen? V.17 says these things will accompany believers, not "might" or "could."

Howzat work?

From G3844 and G190; to follow near, that is, (figuratively) attend (as a result), trace out, conform to: - attain, follow, fully know, have understanding.------My bible translates to "shall follow" not "will"--although "will" may be a good translation...keep all of the context in, such as "in My Name" Remember what He said about those seeking signs and wonders. A good bible study would be to understand what "in My name" means.

 

[michaelmonfre]

The Gospel Is Simplistic Enough For A Five Year Old Child To Respond To.
How To Become A Christian Is Clear In The Bible. The Holy Spirit Opens The Blind Hearts To Respond To The Gospel.

Romans 10:9,10 Is The Verse That Led Me To Christ

 

[Emz198914]

Very well written and easy to understand !!!!

 

[IiYiIiIzage]

If killing is bad then the "biblical god" is a bad person... in fact god has killed more than Stalin/Hitler combined

 

[calidog]

???

 

[Kamtre]

If killing is bad then the "biblical god" is a bad person... in fact god has killed more than Stalin/Hitler combined

The terms murder and killing are different in definition.

murder:the unlawful killing of a human being by another with malice or aforethought.

killing; the act of one that kills

clearly killing and murder are different, in the ten commandments, it says thou shalt not MURDEr. KILL is not in there.

God Killed People, not murdered. School's out, so I bid you goodbye for now

 

[Godslilgurlalways]

Becomiing a christian is so easy long as you love God, accept him, say the prayer or a prayer like it and mean it and you still living it's very easy. Some may ask which I have before how come there are so many that aren't saved why can't others have the same thing I have. First, it's very easy and they can I know I have read this but some people are destined to go to Hell b/c go knowes the choices they will make before they do they can change it themselves of course free will comes in. I feel it's foolish for a person to dye and not accept the Lord. Some people say that it's too hard and really it isn't you can accept the Lord even as a child. I will use myself as an example when I got saved I was six just about to turn seven. I knew what it meant to love the Lord, I knew what ws required of me and the only thing is that you have to make sure that it's for you and not for anyone else. The word can be broken down that a child can understand.There is no reason for a person not to be saved in my eyes unless they are under 10-13 I read somewhere in the bible bout children dying going to heaven b/c of there age and all of that. God bless

 

[undecided]

the first three paragraphs and up to this sentence:
There are three corners, but there’s still only one triangle, the concept is impossible for humans to comprehend, but here’s the point. Jesus was part of God, and decided it was time to save mankind from its sin.
were really helpful for me, thankyou
(non believer, undecided)

 

[Protodromos]

It is not merely enough to believe in Jesus or the Trinity. Even the demons believe-and tremble, wrote James. In order to understand salvation properly we must look at the entire Bible and the teachings of Christianity from the beginning and what was passed down. What you wrote is good (for the most part) but incomplete I'm afraid. Christians have always understood Salvation as a process rather than a one-time event of declaring faith in Christ as Savior. That declaration is the beginning of the process (traditionally accompanied with Baptism and chrismation).

 

[Kamtre]

It is not merely enough to believe in Jesus or the Trinity. Even the demons believe-and tremble, wrote James. In order to understand salvation properly we must look at the entire Bible and the teachings of Christianity from the beginning and what was passed down. What you wrote is good (for the most part) but incomplete I'm afraid. Christians have always understood Salvation as a process rather than a one-time event of declaring faith in Christ as Savior. That declaration is the beginning of the process (traditionally accompanied with Baptism and chrismation).

Yes, But i'd like to inform anybody reading this that, yes the declaration is the beginning, but Salvation is acheived at that point in time. You don't need to do anything to get salvation, except accept (HEHE) it.
I hope that may stop some confusion seeded after tha last post.

 

[Protodromos]

Kamtre, what you say comes from the modern Western Christian perspective (by which I mean the last couple hundred years). This is not what the Christians have always believed. This is precisely why the idea of basing your faith entirely on your own personal understanding of the Bible is dangerous. Martin Luther did not intend for that when he tried to 'reform' the Roman Catholic Church. It is important for Christians to look at and take into account the history of their faith-of which the Bible is a part.
The Christian faith has always been conciliar in nature when it comes to understanding doctrines dealing with or associated with salvation. That is one of the reasons for calling the 1st ecumenical council in 325 at Nicea. The Bible is important and is true. But it must be understood correctly. In order to understand it as the early Christians did, we must acquire their mind. We simply are at a disadvantage by trying to do that on our own today living in a different culture and time.
Salvation is important. We should look as closely as possible at what the Christians have always taught to see what was taught at the time closest to Christ.

 

[ccastellow]

.
Third, Because of that love, he sent Jesus to live a perfect life and die in place of sinners.

This is misleading. God beget his Son. Which means to create. Jesus was not there before He was born. He was a plan in the mind of God to come down in flesh. God sent himself to earth in the flesh.