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They were told,Tell that to the White House.
This thread is trying to get at the essential points for Christian apologetics in interfaith dialogue. But here are 3 relevant questions that few wannabe apologists can respond to well:
(1) In what year were the 66 books that now constitute our Bible organized into the collective we now know as the Old and New Testaments? If you don't know, how do you know that the books were chosen and put together in a responsible way?
(2) The NT makes several claims about the inspiration of Scripture and Christians debate whether these statements imply inerrancy, infallibility, or a generalized spiritual authority. But how can the NT comment on its own inspiration when it didn't even exist as a collective in a book and you don't even know when the collective was finally agreed to?
(3) And if you thus lack an argument for the inspiration of the NT, why should we accept what it says about OT inspiration?
I have my own answers to these 3 questions, but I'm interested in how forum members would respond to them.
Yeah, that's what they all say: e. g.
Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:4-5: "...Ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
I'm talking about how some Christians have the mentality that were better than other people because we are Christians.
re·li·gionIt is, indeed, separate and apart. It is not a religion.
I think it would help if we lived by faith instead of following rules, (where this applies) it might give some umph to our message.
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When christianity becomes about following rules, people can't really see what is distinct about christianity .. much less what is superior about it.
They might say so, but they do not have any real solid evidence to back up their claims. Again, look at the evidences I have provided. No other holy book can produce the same level of evidence that the Bible does.
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I'd settle for demonstrating it to be true. The superiority will take care of itself after that.
I'd settle for demonstrating it to be true. The superiority will take care of itself after that.
By living the way and life of Jesus, or something else?
People who tend to make such over-generalized statements have been found to have never visited every Protestant church to prove their statements.
You haven't been to mine. This I know for absolute truth. You haven't been to many of my friends Protestant and even Orthodox churches either. This I also know for absolute truth as well.
That combined with a decent grasp of apologetics and reason. Christ-likeness, especially humility, is essential though. Trying to prove Christianity to be superior can easily tempt you away from that humility.By living the way and life of Jesus, or something else?
You sound as if you have decided to lump all Christians together in your assessment of them. Including yourself? How do we know you are not what you suggest Christians are?
Not every Christian is "complacent and stagnant in their belief". Such a statement insults those on this forum for a start. i haven't encountered a single one who is what you claim they are "supposed to be", all because you have determined that is who they should be. Even those with whom I disagree I would never consider spiritually "complacent and stagnant". The very active existence of this forum proves you wrong.
Not every Christian is unaware of the need for holiness in their lives. Take a look around the "Christian Advice" forum. Loaded with people concerned about what amounts to the level of holiness in their lives, seeking to change their status.
Take a look at your own pastor's weekly counseling schedule. He's overbooked. When one is seeking God's opinion, one is concerned about holiness.
As if Christians can contravene all of society? We try. We are historically shouted down. But we keep trying. Do you, for instance, keep trying? Imagine what this world would look like now if we hadn't kept trying?!
Some people, for some odd reason, sadly fail to consider using the word "some" when they paint everyone else with such broad and typically negative strokes. I wonder... why?
I don't think our faith is superior, nor are we.
It's all about Jesus. He is THE Truth, the giver of eternal life, the ONLY way to the Father, the only name under heaven by which we can be saved, Acts 4:12. He made those claims, and invites us to accept them, receive salvation and follow him. We believe that those who do will be with him for eternity, and those who don't, won't. But everything we have is a gift from God - he took the initiative, loved us, sent Jesus and saved us. We haven't earned salvation by our actions or by our knowledge and have nothing to feel superior about.
And certainly, approaching people with the attitude, "our religion is better/greater/superior to yours" would be asking for trouble. That is how wars and prejudice start.
Jesus says simply that no other religion, actually no religion , benefits men. God says in His Word He curses those who trust mankind/ flesh/ any religion. I think some people want to be free from being cursed. A few are willing to do what God says in order to be set free from the curse(s), from the power of sin, and from the consequences of sin.
Agree, except "strive" seems like such a struggle, and it is indeed a kind of struggle,
but as Jesus says "Keeping MY Commands is NOT Burdensome" - LIFE! Free of guilt is the result of Trusting Jesus and Relying on Jesus for HOW TO LIVE. He Personally Teaches us, and He is Perfect. The GOOD SHEPHERD does not ever, not ever, no never neglect us sheep; HE cares for us perfectly ! And we follow Him wherever He goes.
As Jesus says "Work out salvation with fear and trembling" - awe, respect, knowing the consequences, knowing the price HE PAID with HIS LIFE, knowing most men are deceived and stay deceived because their deeds are EVIL and they REFUSE to come to the LIGHT because they LOVE THE DARKNESS.
Because Jesus showed his people many infallible proofs.
"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days," (Acts 1:3).
For there are a people that Jesus says,
"But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear" (Matthew 13:16).
...
.....and they are deceived, not having received.
That combined with a decent grasp of apologetics and reason. Christ-likeness, especially humility, is essential though. Trying to prove Christianity to be superior can easily tempt you away from that humility.
Jesus never spoke of new religion, and he was highly critical of religious leaders of Judaism. Paul made religion in his own way. People like Jesus because they think He frees from sin. Is it because you continue to sin guiltless? Are we following or simply believing? It was Paul who wrote," Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Unfortunately, many don't like this, but prefer other verses that help them in their deception.
You wrong because you right about you're not preaching Jesus, and not having Truth. (couple posts of yours earlier this page).
This post below is nonconsequential as a result of your previous posts.
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