Not intending to troll..

[NotSoIntoIt22]

Don't mean to troll, but how can you believe in something just because someone told you to? How do you pick and choose what parts of your bible to follow? And why are many of you so intent on talking to me about your religion like its so important but then get insulted when I try to explain mine-or lack there of?
(when I say "you" I mean my personal experience with Christians in general-not trying to clump everyone together, sorry)

 

[CalledOutOne]

I understand your willingness to see other people's opinions on things.

Allow me to answer your questions. I might have different answers then some of the other Christians since my theology is rare.

Don't mean to troll, but how can you believe in something just because someone told you to?

I don't believe it because someone told me. It is true that many Christians are raised that way, but there are some who make a switch from just outward participation to true believing. I believe I have made that switch.

I don't believe it because someone told me, I believe it because I have experienced God's work in my life. I am not the same person. You could ask anyone from my school. They will tell you that I went from this lying, cursing, heathen to a Bible-thumper. People don't just change like that. I have experienced God's grace and seen the wonderful works of God first hand.

How do you pick and choose what parts of your bible to follow?

I do not pick and choose what parts of the Bible to follow. I believe that, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).

And why are many of you so intent on talking to me about your religion like its so important but then get insulted when I try to explain mine-or lack there of?

The reason we believe it is important is because we love you as a fellow human being and we do not want you to go to hell. As Paul said, "For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (Romans 9:3).
We see it as important to tell the world that God commands all people everywhere to repent and believe the gospel.
Personally, as long as you don't use personal attacks and you are not intending to blaspheme, I have no problem talking to you even if you are a Secularist.
Some Christians get offended on sensitive topics such as this. Some Christians aren't mature enough to handle these types of things. The Bible plainly says that we should be gentle and respectful (1 Peter 3:15).


I hope this answers your questions.

 

[Kyleiferous]

Well for me I believe in it for a few reasons:

1. The bible is a book that was made from a collection of smaller books and has managed to survive for thousands of years. If the stuff in the bible didn't happen, people would have dissmissed it at the time. It also contains details of real places. For example the pool of Bethesda was found in 1888 with it's 5 arches and an inscription of the healing that happened there.

2. I personally believe in the big bang and evolution and that God made it happen and guided it. But, what caused the big bang, if there was nothing there before, a massive explosion couldn't have just come from no where could it?

3. God loves us no matter what we do, he sent his son down to be killed for us so that our sins could be forgiven and we can go to heaven. That's just a great though isn't it? (Not the thought of Jesus dying, but the thought of heaven and God's love)

4. I don't know about anyone else but I feel God's presence when I pray, I feel his love and mercy when I have done something wrong too.

5. Many people have had near death experiences where they see heaven/hell, and some saw Jesus.

I believe that God works in mysterious ways and even if things that happen to us don't always seem to be good, he is doing them for a reason and his reasons for doing things are higher than ours. I also believe he does everything for us, I think there's a passage about that somewhere.

There are more but I can't think about them right now, also, I'm not trying to force anything on anyone, I don't think any of us are, we would just like to see more people become Christian.

 

[Barricade24]

I understand your willingness to see other people's opinions on things.

Allow me to answer your questions. I might have different answers then some of the other Christians since my theology is rare.


I don't believe it because someone told me. It is true that many Christians are raised that way, but there are some who make a switch from just outward participation to true believing. I believe I have made that switch.

I don't believe it because someone told me, I believe it because I have experienced God's work in my life. I am not the same person. You could ask anyone from my school. They will tell you that I went from this lying, cursing, heathen to a Bible-thumper. People don't just change like that. I have experienced God's grace and seen the wonderful works of God first hand.


I do not pick and choose what parts of the Bible to follow. I believe that, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).


The reason we believe it is important is because we love you as a fellow human being and we do not want you to go to hell. As Paul said, "For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (Romans 9:3).
We see it as important to tell the world that God commands all people everywhere to repent and believe the gospel.
Personally, as long as you don't use personal attacks and you are not intending to blaspheme, I have no problem talking to you even if you are a Secularist.
Some Christians get offended on sensitive topics such as this. Some Christians aren't mature enough to handle these types of things. The Bible plainly says that we should be gentle and respectful (1 Peter 3:15).


I hope this answers your questions.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

 

[EndlessSerenade]

how can you believe in something just because someone told you to?

Nobody told me to believe in anything. I chose to believe what I believe in myself after I did my homework and realized that God is the truth and that He does exist. Because I gave God a chance God revealed Himself to me and it says so in the Bible. If you diligently seek God, you will find Him. It says so in the Bible that "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."John 14:21. That's why I believe. Not because someone told me. Because God revealed Himself to me after I seek Him and now I have a personal relationship with God.

How do you pick and choose what parts of your bible to follow?

Old Testament laws are not required to be followed about crimes and punishments, warfare, slavery, diet, circumcision, sacrifice, feast days, etc. There are scriptures in the New Testament clearly backing this up (John 1:16-17, Acts 13:39, Romans 2:25-29, 8:1-4, 1 Corinthians 9:19-21, Galatians 2:15-16, Ephesians 2:15). This often creates confusion in non-Christians as they think we nitpick what to follow and that's why we don't follow old testament laws but the reason we don't is because in the New Testament it's said to be ignored. Christians still look to the Old Testament scripture for moral and spiritual guidance (2 Timothy 3:16-17). But when there seems to be a conflict between Old Testament laws and New Testament principles, we must follow the New Testament because it represents the most recent and most perfect revelation from God (Hebrews 8:13, 2 Corinthians 3:1-18, Galatians 2:15-20)..

And why are many of you so intent on talking to me about your religion like its so important but then get insulted when I try to explain mine-or lack there of?

This is definitely not the case with me. I respect people of all different religions and I have many non-Christians friends as well. If both sides can hold a mutual amount of respect and be kind to each other then it's a win win situation. Unfortunately this seldom happens and that's why I always end the debate as soon as I pick up that the other party is being rude or disrespectful and I advise you to do the same. As soon as you realize that the person you are debating with is being arrogant or rude then you need to stop the conversation there and then as it's not worth it to argue with a arrogant Christian or a arrogant non-believer.