Superiority Complex.

[ephraimanesti]

PEACE.

 

[Gwenyfur]

This is just an excuse for imposing our moral values and opinions on other people, who neither ask for them nor want them. And this in turn is the exact opposite of love. It is quite simply NOT what we are called to do.



I am sure you would not pass off your own opinion under the guise of Scripture, would you? If this is 'Gospel Truth', that must equate to your using the EXACT words of Scripture.

So, kindly provide the Chapter and verse that you are quoting in saying this, or admit that it is not in fact the Gospel, but your own opinion of it.

Yes, St. Paul wasn't one to mince words and probably didn't own a part of velvet gloves--but, you know, he brought a multitude of souls into the Kingdom.

NO.

no??????

 

[Catherineanne]

Good point Riski, polls aren't so very reliable on a subject like this. In another thread someone mentioned the news media's pronouncement of who is going to hell, and I wondered if they have a helicopter at it's gates that they're reporting from?

There is no such place as hell. Only hell on earth, that's all. (And indeed, more than enough.)

However, that is another subject.

 

[ephraimanesti]

PEACE.

 

[Catherineanne]

You know Ephraimanesti, if I believed what you believed, I probably wouldn't act any differently. Bravo for having the courage of your convictions. I mean, if I believed that people's immortal souls were at stake, I would be trying to convert as many people as I could. Hehehe, is that hypocritical?

That seems reasonable. However, it might be worth bearing in mind what kind of God you would be serving in the process.

I call him Psychopath God.

Needless to say, my God is not Psychopath God, so I can be a bit more chilled about the damnation motif.

Isaac of Syria explains it better than I can:

This is why God loves equally the righteous and sinners, making no distinction between them. God knew man’s future sinful life before the latter’s creation, yet He created him.[16] God knew all people before their becoming righteous or sinners, and in His love He did not change because of the fact that they underwent change.[17] Even many blameworthy deeds are accepted by God with mercy, ‘and are forgiven their authors, without any blame, by the omniscient God to whom all things are revealed before they happen, and who was aware of the constraints of our nature before He created us. For God, who is good and compassionate, is not in the habit of judging the infirmities of human nature or actions brought about by necessity, even though they may be reprehensible’.[18]

God as love - St Isaac of Nineveh and Syrian Mysticism / - Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev

 

[Catherineanne]

i would ask forgiveness from both the victims and the audience to my unwarranted argument yesterday which brought shame on my brothers and sisters, my beliefs, and my Lord.

i've been there before, done that before, been remonstrated with by the Spirit because of it before, repented before, promised to cease and desist in the future before, and failed to do so before. Not at all a good track record!

i ask God's forgiveness--AGAIN--for my sin of seeking to be right rather than seeking to be Loving, and the terrible witness that proclivity bears before non-believers.

LORD HAVE MERCY!

ephraim

Don't be so hard on yourself, E.

Zealotry is not a sin.

 

[ephraimanesti]

PEACE.

 

[Catherineanne]

Christians have always felt superior. It begins with their superior decision to accept Jesus Christ as Savior.

Interesting comment.

You may not be familiar with the concept of the Dark Night of the Soul. I can assure you that those who have experienced this, are not likely to feel superior to anyone at all.

Here is the blessed Isaac again.

...Let us not be troubled when we are found in darkness, especially if the cause of this is not in us. But reckon this as the work of God’s providence for a reason which He alone knows. At times our soul is suffocated and is, as it were, amid the waves; and whether a man reads the Scriptures, or performs his liturgy, or approaches anything whatever, he receives darkness upon darkness. He leaves off prayer and cannot even draw nigh to it. He is wholly unable to believe that a change will occur and that he will be at peace. This hour is full of despair and fear; hope in God and the consolation of faith are utterly effaced from his soul, and she is wholly and entirely filled with doubt and fear.[9]

Experience of abandonment - St Isaac of Nineveh and Syrian Mysticism / - Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev

 

[JohnCR]

I believe that the majority of atheists are so because of their interactions with those purporting to be "christians."

I can't say I agree with that.

 

[Catherineanne]

Answering John's question, the Christian has no excuse for anything other than humility.

This bit I agree with.

To be accepted we have to recognize we deserve nothing other than the utter destruction Jesus received to become the Christ.

This bit I don't.

Firstly because Christ did not suffer utter destruction, but death. In eternal terms this is not the same thing.

We were made by God on purpose, and he loves each and every one of us, equally and fully. To say we do not deserve that love is to dishonour God. Therefore, although by our actions we might deserve death (the natural end of life), by our relationship with God, even before our salvation, we deserve Christ's love, mercy and compassion. And through that love, we can enter into eternity.

Which is why we are offered it.

Otherwise, to me, the Incarnation makes no sense.

 

[JohnCR]

That seems reasonable. However, it might be worth bearing in mind what kind of God you would be serving in the process.

I call him Psychopath God.

Needless to say, my God is not Psychopath God, so I can be a bit more chilled about the damnation motif.

Isaac of Syria explains it better than I can:



God as love - St Isaac of Nineveh and Syrian Mysticism / - Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev

Even if I believed in a psychopath God, there's not much use standing against him if he is omnipotent.

 

[JohnCR]

What's a "fake atheist?"--someone who prays when no one is looking? (Just kidding.)

No, it's any atheist who disagrees with me or is used in an example by Christians to prove a point

 

[Catherineanne]

Perhaps if what you say is the "true" Christian philosophy, then churches should start actually teaching more humility. I can't speak for all churches, but the few churches I attended when I was Christian failed to do that. The churches I went to basically taught that we were God's A-team.

Well, this presents a problem. And here is why:

"We would all like to be humble....but what if nobody noticed?"

The problem is, the vocal majority is not presenting a particularly good image of our faith, and the humble minority is seeking not to be noticed, and succeeding.

Which is, of course, what they are supposed to do.

We are told that if people see our devotion, then it is done for human reward. If only God sees it, then it is done for his glory and to his honour.

That presents something of a dilemma, when anyone looks in from the outside. It would be like trying to judge humanity from watching the X Factor. You might well end up concluding that all humans are irredeemably exhibitionist, and have no awareness whatever of their own shortcomings. As we all know, many people are quite the opposite, but because they are not visible, it looks as if they do not exist.

 

[Catherineanne]

All religions give believers a superiority complex because they have chosen or been given the one true religion, (that's you)
sadly for the believers of all the other religions they are all wrong. (that's you)

As spoken from the top of Mount Olympus.

 

[Catherineanne]

In my experience Christians do often have an attitude of superiority brought about by their belief that they are saved and others are lost. Perhaps I'm just surrounded by jerks...or Christians don't realize how they come across to others. It's as if they feel their "enlightened" state makes them just a wee bit better than those who refuse to accept Jesus.

There are a lot of Christians who behave like that, yes. Some even behave like that towards other believers.

Most entertaining when they try.

Christianity does not have to be like this. Try the apostolics; any of them. They may be rather more rational (not always, of course.)

 

[Wicked Willow]

Even if I believed in a psychopath God, there's not much use standing against him if he is omnipotent.

Hmmmm... so if you were faced with a virtually invincible totalitarian regime, you'd join the Party and nod agreement to the Extermination Camps, rather than siding with the doomed resistance?
What good is a continued existence if it flies directly in the face of everything you hold to be true and worthwhile?
IMO, it's better to go down fighting for the right thing than to destroy yourself and turn into the very thing you despise.

 

[JohnCR]

Hmmmm... so if you were faced with a virtually invincible totalitarian regime, you'd join the Party and nod agreement to the Extermination Camps, rather than siding with the doomed resistance?
What good is a continued existence if it flies directly in the face of everything you hold to be true and worthwhile?
IMO, it's better to go down fighting for the right thing than to destroy yourself and turn into the very thing you despise.

It depends on how doomed the resistance was and how invincible the regime was. I wouldn't nod in agreement with the camps, but instead I'd try to keep as many people out of the camps as I could.

 

[Catherineanne]

If there are so many "fake" Christians out there, then why don't the "true" Christians stand up and confront them? It makes me wonder if "true" Christians believe a "fake" Christian is better than no Christian.

True Christians are not allowed to judge their brothers and sisters in faith. They are supposed to consider themselves the very worst of sinners, and all other believers as better than they are.

Catch 22. The best Christian thinks he is the worst, and therefore will not feel authorised to spot any 'fakes', in case he is one himself.

 

[Catherineanne]

MY SISTER--and the rest of you,

Those who gloat and judge and condemn and willfully cause pain to others

ARE NOT CHRISTIANS.​

Why is this fact not understood? If i came up to you and stated, "i am a Doctor, please lie down and let me perform brain surgery" would you accept his claim at face value?

"Christian" means Christ-like. If a person is not Christ-like and struggling to become more so day by day, HE/SHE IS, BY DEFINITION, NOT A "CHRISTIAN.​

"

Why is this a hard concept to grasp? In no other area would someone's self-appellation be accepted IN SPITE OF ALL THE EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY which you are all describing.

PLEASE THINK THIS THROUGH AND LOOK AT THE ILLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS BEING MADE!

Jesus deserves better than this superficial negative assessment of those purporting to be His "followers!"

ephraim

Christian does not mean Christ like. Sad but true.

Christian means follower of Christ, however imperfect. We certainly seek to become more like Christ every day, but some of us start from a very, very long distance, and cannot by any stretch of the imagination be called Christ like. Not yet.

Therefore, red and bold notwithstanding, this post is not correct. Christians are indeed capable of hurting one another, and of hurting unbelievers. We are not at all immune to the sins of gloating, judging, condemning and willfully causing pain to others.

I am sorry that this is the case, but indeed it is.

 

[JohnCR]

Christian does not mean Christ like. Sad but true.

Christian means follower of Christ, however imperfect. We certainly seek to become more like Christ every day, but some of us start from a very, very long distance, and cannot by any stretch of the imagination be called Christ like.

Therefore, red and bold notwithstanding, this post is not correct. Christians are indeed capable of hurting one another, and of hurting unbelievers. We are not at all immune to the sins of gloating, judging, condemning and willfully causing pain to others.

I am sorry that this is the case, but indeed it is.

Or maybe you aren't a "true" Christian?