If you were creator

[bhsmte]

I think many do define there own purpose in life. The trouble is what do we compare each definition of purpose to? A serial killer has defined his purpose in life to be a serial killer. Many view this purpose as wrong, but why? According to your view, a serial killer should be able to freely define his own purpose. According to my view, a serial killer should not define his own purpose, but should instead adhere to rightiouse morality, which is not defined by any single man, yet is made clear to all men. My question to you is, how is this possible?

How is what possible?

 

[Chriliman]

How is what possible?

How is the belief that there is a righteous morality that we should all adhere to made clear to all men, while not being defined by any single man?

 

[bhsmte]

How is the belief that there is a righteous morality that we should all adhere to made clear to all men, while not being defined by any single man?

First explain to me, what this "righteous morality" you mention is specifically?

Next, tell me why everyman should or would be expected to follow it?

 

[Chriliman]

First explain to me, what this "righteous morality" you mention is specifically?

Next, tell me why everyman should or would be expected to follow it?

Thats the problem, when you ask me to explain it, I can only explain so much. For instance I can explain that it is wrong to murder someone, but I can't explain why this is wrong or how it came to be wrong. I would not want to be murdered, but why? If there is no meaning to life in the end, why put value on life at all? Sure it would hurt to get murdered, but why do things even hurt or cause pain? It begins to be made clear that there is much more to this life than just kill or be killed. If kill or be killed was all life was about then killing would be all we would think about. I think life is about life, even eternal life, not about death, or at least was not designed to be about death.

Everyman should follow righteous morality because in the end if we all follow this, peace will come. Now if you don't believe in God, peace derived from man is likely to be false peace or at least will not last forever, but if you believe in God and His promise of everlasting peace, then that is something you can look forward to and count on, especially when God affirms your beliefs through prophecy and everyday revelations of truth and love.

 

[bhsmte]

Thats the problem, when you ask me to explain it, I can only explain so much. For instance I can explain that it is wrong to murder someone, but I can't explain why this is wrong or how it came to be wrong. I would not want to be murdered, but why? If there is no meaning to life in the end, why put value on life at all? Sure it would hurt to get murdered, but why do things even hurt or cause pain? It begins to be made clear that there is much more to this life than just kill or be killed. If kill or be killed was all life was about then killing would be all we would think about. I think life is about life, even eternal life, not about death, or at least was not designed to be about death.

Everyman should follow righteous morality because in the end if we all follow this, peace will come. Now if you don't believe in God, peace derived from man is likely to be false peace or at least will not last forever, but if you believe in God and His promise of everlasting peace, then that is something you can look forward to and count on, especially when God affirms your beliefs through prophecy and everyday revelations of truth and love.

Do Christians commit murder?

The answer is; yes and if you look at crime rates of countries with the highest percentages of Christians, they tend to be very high, compared to countries with fewer Christians.

It is not up to you to determine whether life has meaning for someone and how they should go about applying meaning to their life. The 2/3 of the worlds population who are not Christians, are quite capable of applying meaning and purpose to their life and live good moral lives.

 

[Chriliman]

Do Christians commit murder?

The answer is; yes and if you look at crime rates of countries with the highest percentages of Christians, they tend to be very high, compared to countries with fewer Christians.

It is not up to you to determine whether life has meaning for someone and how they should go about applying meaning to their life. The 2/3 of the worlds population who are not Christians, are quite capable of applying meaning and purpose to their life and live good moral lives.

I'm not talking about generalities, I'm talking about a person at the individual level. I don't really care what statistics say, because those statistics can't possibly tell me who of those Christians are true Christians and who are just claiming to be Christian because they haven't gotten to the meat of what it truly means to be Christian yet. I claimed to be Christian for most of my life and just in the past 5 or 6 months have realized what it truly means to be Christian. Unfortunately, you can't understand this until you have the experience or spiritual awakening for yourself.

The fact is none of us are perfect people, but a lot of us have an idea of perfection that we'd like to obtain. This idea of perfection did not come from our imperfections, it came from perfection, which is achievable, it just not easy and it will cost you your physical life. As a Christian we are required daily to die to ourselves and give our all to God, this is what Jesus did at the Cross and His followers are expected to do the same and in the end the reward is perfection.

If you need further explanation there's always others to ask, this is all I've got for you for now, until I learn more.

 

[bhsmte]

I'm not talking about generalities, I'm talking about a person at the individual level. I don't really care what statistics say, because those statistics can't possibly tell me who of those Christians are true Christians and who are just claiming to be Christian because they haven't gotten to the meat of what it truly means to be Christian yet. I claimed to be Christian for most of my life and just in the past 5 or 6 months have realized what it truly means to be Christian. Unfortunately, you can't understand this until you have the experience or spiritual awakening for yourself.

The fact is none of us are perfect people, but a lot of us have an idea of perfection that we'd like to obtain. This idea of perfection did not come from our imperfections, it came from perfection, which is achievable, it just not easy and it will cost you your physical life. As a Christian we are required daily to die to ourselves and give our all to God, this is what Jesus did at the Cross and His followers are expected to do the same and in the end the reward is perfection.

If you need further explanation there's always others to ask, this is all I've got for you for now, until I learn more.

Doesn't change my original point; people are quite capable of applying meaning and purpose to their own life and living moral lives.

 

[Chriliman]

Doesn't change my original point; people are quite capable of applying meaning and purpose to their own life and living moral lives.

I understand, but this doesn't answer the glaring question of where morality truly originated from. To live a moral life is one thing, but to figure out why we even have morality is a completely separate thing and to ignore the question of why we have morality is...well ignorant, which is why I'm glad you and others like you are not ignoring the question.

 

[Ken-1122]

When you finally get to that purpose and look back, isn't it logical to say you took one winding path to get to where you ended up? Rather than looking back and seeing multiple paths as if you somehow separated your journey into multiple journeys rather than one journey?

When I finally get to that purpose and look around, I will see others who ended up the same place as I but took different paths.

Ken

 

[Chriliman]

When I finally get to that purpose and look around, I will see others who ended up the same place as I but took different paths.

Ken

Okay, so we must of misunderstood each other somewhere because I've been referring to your personal path, not other people's paths.

 

[Ken-1122]

Okay, so we must of misunderstood each other somewhere because I've been referring to your personal path, not other people's paths.

What do you mean when you say "my personal path"? And how come nobody else's personal path can end in the same place as mine?

Ken

 

[Chriliman]

What do you mean when you say "my personal path"? And how come nobody else's personal path can end in the same place as mine?

Ken

By "your personal path" I just mean your life. I mean all the struggles that you've gone through that have strengthened you and taught you something and all the joys of life you've experienced that remind you life is worth living. This is what I'm referring to when I say "your personal path". Ultimately, all of our earthly physical paths end at death, so in that sense all paths of all humans end in the same way, but obviously the big question is, is there anything beyond death? My beliefs allow me to answer the deepest questions of life, but it requires belief in an absolute truth about life itself. The absolute truth I believe in continues to reveal more and more truth that makes perfect sense, thus my inability to deny this truth.

 

[Ken-1122]

By "your personal path" I just mean your life. I mean all the struggles that you've gone through that have strengthened you and taught you something and all the joys of life you've experienced that remind you life is worth living. This is what I'm referring to when I say "your personal path". Ultimately, all of our earthly physical paths end at death, so in that sense all paths of all humans end in the same way,

Okay I think I understand where you're getting at. When I look at that path I've already taken to get where I am right now; even though I am far from the end of my path, I see many paths I could have taken to get where I am now; I will even go as far as to say there are many other paths I WISH I would have taken to get where I am right now.
The idea that there is only one path sounds like something for a robot. For a human being with free will, I would say the paths are limitless.

Ken

 

[Llewelyn Stevenson]

I read a few replies and the Op's proposal and decided, why would you change anything in a world that's perfect? I know, I know, I'm going to get asked, how can you call this perfect? Simply because it is. It is the perfect preparation for the world that is to come.

It is an interesting concept though because God created this world with an end in view and yet is creating another world without end. The two are vastly different.

God and a certain branch of science have the same aim... to populate a new planet. The difference is science is looking for a planet that will support life as we know it, God is changing life to meet the challenges of the new planet.

Its all very interesting and I'm very happy to leave it in God's capable hands. After all, look at the number of worlds out there, he's got expertise I haven't even practiced.

 

[Chriliman]

Okay I think I understand where you're getting at. When I look at that path I've already taken to get where I am right now; even though I am far from the end of my path, I see many paths I could have taken to get where I am now; I will even go as far as to say there are many other paths I WISH I would have taken to get where I am right now.
The idea that there is only one path sounds like something for a robot. For a human being with free will, I would say the paths are limitless.

Ken

When you say you see many paths you could have taken to get where you are now, are you saying you did take many different unconnected paths to get where you are, or are you saying you've taken diverging paths, but ultimately they are all connected as one path that is called your life thus far?

 

[Chriliman]

I read a few replies and the Op's proposal and decided, why would you change anything in a world that's perfect? I know, I know, I'm going to get asked, how can you call this perfect? Simply because it is. It is the perfect preparation for the world that is to come.

It is an interesting concept though because God created this world with an end in view and yet is creating another world without end. The two are vastly different.

God and a certain branch of science have the same aim... to populate a new planet. The difference is science is looking for a planet that will support life as we know it, God is changing life to meet the challenges of the new planet.

Its all very interesting and I'm very happy to leave it in God's capable hands. After all, look at the number of worlds out there, he's got expertise I haven't even practiced.

You have to view the current earth as you do your current self. A Christian knows they are still a sinner, but they strive to do what God wants and please Him. Only when they die and become one with God do they actually become perfect. In the same way the current earth/world is not perfect, there is still much evil and sin in this world, but God is working towards making a perfect earth and heaven, but only by destroying the current one and making new, just like He destroyed my old self and made me a new creation in Jesus Christ.

 

[Llewelyn Stevenson]

No I don't. I want being who obey my every command without question. In my opinion, being a god means that nobody can question your absolute authority. That's what I want. That's not what God has if he does exist. I question him all the time.

No. That's who I wouldn't give my creation the ability to object. It simply wouldn't occur to then that there is any other way. They would be faithful and loyal without question.

I wonder why it occurs to us that we think there is another way? Can you really question God's absolute authority? Does questioning make any difference, except to yourself? All the questions of men, have they stopped or altered the plan and purpose of God? Everything, as far as I can see is going according to plan. Nothing's changed.

Don't you see that's how God reveals who he is? All our objections do nothing to change him or his purpose. In the end it is as he intended it to be. I am free to obey every command without objection and I like it.

 

[Llewelyn Stevenson]

You have to view the current earth as you do your current self. A Christian knows they are still a sinner, but they strive to do what God wants and please Him. Only when they die and become one with God do they actually become perfect. In the same way the current earth/world is not perfect, there is still much evil and sin in this world, but God is working towards making a perfect earth and heaven, but only by destroying the current one and making new, just like He destroyed my old self and made me a new creation in Jesus Christ.

I understand your comment but don't you see that this is all perfect to the plan and purpose of God? Yes, I have sinned, and by temptation still have the propensity to do so, though I do not plan to do so. Everything that happens to me is by the purpose of God and works towards my glorification - my transformation to that life which can exist in the new heaven and new earth. In the same way everything that happens to this earth serves the same purpose... it leads us to the new earth through faith in Jesus Christ. I am excited by the potential though sometimes distraught by the events. Knowing that the events better prepare me for the transformation I view everything as perfect because I intend to reach the destination. If that calls for unquestionable obedience I'm all for it.

 

[Chriliman]

I understand your comment but don't you see that this is all perfect to the plan and purpose of God? Yes, I have sinned, and by temptation still have the propensity to do so, though I do not plan to do so. Everything that happens to me is by the purpose of God and works towards my glorification - my transformation to that life which can exist in the new heaven and new earth. In the same way everything that happens to this earth serves the same purpose... it leads us to the new earth through faith in Jesus Christ. I am excited by the potential though sometimes distraught by the events. Knowing that the events better prepare me for the transformation I view everything as perfect because I intend to reach the destination. If that calls for unquestionable obedience I'm all for it.

Yup, I agree. For me the question becomes, how does God want to use me to make disciples and spread the good news? I ask this question of God a lot and I can feel Him leading me to a greater purpose, which is awesome!

A book I'm currently reading which reveals some incredible things about end time prophecy is called "Mideast Beast" by Joel Richardson. I highly recommend it if you're interested in being prepared for the anti Christ and the end times.

Share the truth in love
God bless!

 

[Ken-1122]

When you say you see many paths you could have taken to get where you are now, are you saying you did take many different unconnected paths to get where you are, or are you saying you've taken diverging paths, but ultimately they are all connected as one path that is called your life thus far?

My life is my path, and my goals in life direct the path I take. Through out my life’s journey I’ve reached many cross roads in life that I had to choose which road to take. Sometimes I’ve taken the right road, other times I’ve taken the wrong road, but I am constantly making decisions on which road to take. I think because of my goals, even when I take the wrong road, I eventually get back on the right path which is where I consider myself on right now.

Ken