Superiority Complex.

[Catherineanne]

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

That is true. But worshipping him would be morally questionable.

My way round it is to assume that God in Christ is the clearest image we have of the Living God, and to follow him; the God of unconditional love, mercy and compassion, freely offered but not imposed. If I find in eternity that I am wrong, and Pyschopath God is there, complete with lake of fire, I will jump into that lake.

An eternity of fire and brimstone is preferable to an eternity worshipping Psychopath God.

 

[Catherineanne]

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.

I agree, WW.

The defence of 'I had to do it or I would have been killed' is not really all that convincing to me. It does not mean that person had no choice, only that they chose to act against their own conscience, perhaps harming other people in order to save themselves.

Imo, there are worse things than death. Killing, for example.

 

[ephraimanesti]

I can't say I agree with that.

MY BROTHER,

Yes, that is a common response. However, in discussions with atheists/agnostics regarding the reality of God, the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Truth of Christianity, etc., the issues which are usually raised are regarding the aberrations perpetrated in the name of Christ--such as the Inquisition, the Crusades, witch burning, etc.--and rarely do any concrete issues come up regarding the reality of God, etc. The second layer of questions usually concern the perverted caricature of "christianity" presented on so-called "christian television"--send me some money and I'll pray for you", etc. Thus, it is usually all about evils perpetrated in His name by those claiming to be Christians, rather than the basic issues surrounding God's existence, His Son's ministry, etc.

So i still tend to believe that most people who turn away from serious consideration of Christianity do so because of the behavior of those calling themselves "christians" but are not Scripturally definable as such by God's criteria. At least i know that was my experience and the experience of many other Christians i have talked to about it, so i don't know . . . .

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[Gwenyfur]

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.

actually....it does:

Chris·tian (krĭs'chən)
adj.

1. Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. Relating to or derived from Jesus or Jesus's teachings.
3. Manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus; Christlike.
4. Relating to or characteristic of Christianity or its adherents.
5. Showing a loving concern for others; humane.

 

[Eudaimonist]

actually....it does:

Chris·tian (krĭs'chən)


adj.

1. Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. Relating to or derived from Jesus or Jesus's teachings.
3. Manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus; Christlike.
4. Relating to or characteristic of Christianity or its adherents.
5. Showing a loving concern for others; humane.

That's only one possible meaning in popular usage of the word, not "the" meaning or the best meaning in this context.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Gwenyfur]

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.

That's only one possible meaning in popular usage of the word, not "the" meaning or the best meaning in this context.


eudaimonia,

Mark

If you say so...but there are 4 other definitions listed there as well, for thoroughness.

Truly, if someone claims to be a christian then they should be acting christ-like...not like a group of harping, screaming, nagging, bigoted jerks.

Not saying all christians do that...but enough of 'em to make like a bit unpleasant.

 

[Catherineanne]

actually....it does:

Chris·tian (krĭs'chən)





adj.

1. Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. Relating to or derived from Jesus or Jesus's teachings.
3. Manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus; Christlike.
4. Relating to or characteristic of Christianity or its adherents.
5. Showing a loving concern for others; humane.

If you look again you will see that I said this:

We certainly seek to become more like Christ every day

This does not, however, equate to Christian meaning Christ-like. It means follower of Christ, however far on the road we happen to be. With any luck we end up more Christ-like than we start, but that is a continuum; Christianity itself is not.

I am a Christian. I will never be more of a Christian than I was the day I began to follow the Lord. However, I am becoming, bit by bit, one step forward three steps back, more Christ like with each passing year. I will never be able to claim to actually BE Christ-like, but I can certainly claim to BE a Christian.

Therefore, the two are not synonymous. One is an absolute; a state of being, the other a relative; a state of becoming.

 

[Dragons87]

I think we are all agreed, whether from a Christian or a non-Christian perspective, that any form of superiority complex a Christian takes up is either simply undesirable or unbiblical. A Christian, or indeed anyone, who does show such a complex (myself included) clearly has room for improvement.

 

[Gwenyfur]

Hrmm...how then do you explain the term christian in it's scriptural usage?

meh..see my previous post...

 

[Catherineanne]

Hrmm...how then do you explain the term christian in it's scriptural usage?

meh..see my previous post...

Scriptural use of 'Christian'.

1. Acts 11:26 (Whole Chapter)
   And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
2. Acts 26:28 (Whole Chapter)
   Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
3. 1 Peter 4:16 (Whole Chapter)
   Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Bible Resources, Online Bible, Read the Bible, Search the Bible, Bible Study Plan, Passage Search, Keyword Search
Substitute 'follower of Christ' and the sense remains. Substitute 'Christ-like' and it doesn't; something is lost.

 

[Gwenyfur]

yeah...thanks...I'd already looked those up myself...didn't really answer the question though did it.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Truly, if someone claims to be a christian then they should be acting christ-like...not like a group of harping, screaming, nagging, bigoted jerks.

They should strive to be acting in a good manner, anyway.

Personally, I have found that the Christians who act in the negative way you suggest are the ones who are absolutely convinced that they are completely Christ-like, unlike the ones who strive to be Christ-like, but who view themselves as a work-in-progress.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[hikersong]

Personally, I have found that the Christians who act in the negative way you suggest are the ones who are absolutely convinced that they are completely Christ-like, unlike the ones who strive to be Christ-like, but who view themselves as a work-in-progress.


eudaimonia,

Mark

I think I know what you're saying but I don't know whether anyone has actually claimed to be completely Christ-like. Not that I have seen. Some say that they are dreadful sinners and simply claim to be "saved" (to be granted a future perfection through an act of faith) which is not quite the same thing. Some, unfortunately, also claim that no progress can be made without being saved, the implication being that everyone else is wasting there time.

 

[Eudaimonist]

I think I know what you're saying but I don't know whether anyone has actually claimed to be completely Christ-like. Not that I have seen.

http://www.christianforums.com/t7482066-22/#post55274488
http://www.christianforums.com/t7482066-26/#post55278514

This looks awfully close to claiming that.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Gwenyfur]

They should strive to be acting in a good manner, anyway.

Personally, I have found that the Christians who act in the negative way you suggest are the ones who are absolutely convinced that they are completely Christ-like, unlike the ones who strive to be Christ-like, but who view themselves as a work-in-progress.


eudaimonia,

Mark

I agree with your statements

 

[JasperJackson]

Theologically, being Christ-like is about sanctification. This is an on-going process of God changing us over time to become more Christ-like. Importantly, it happens after one becomes a Christian.
So, to the non-Christians I hope over time as you talk to and observe the Christians here and in your lives that you do see this on-going sanctification.

 

[hikersong]

http://www.christianforums.com/t7482066-22/#post55274488
http://www.christianforums.com/t7482066-26/#post55278514

This looks awfully close to claiming that.


eudaimonia,

Mark

Ah. If you're saying that there are plenty of Christians who would imply that since becoming a christian there morality is superior to other "bunnies" (but of course not in a proud or arrogant way) then I agree. It was just the specific claims of perfection that I hadn't seen.

 

[hikersong]

Theologically, being Christ-like is about sanctification. This is an on-going process of God changing us over time to become more Christ-like. Importantly, it happens after one becomes a Christian.
So, to the non-Christians I hope over time as you talk to and observe the Christians here and in your lives that you do see this on-going sanctification.

I've spent lots and lots of time with many Christians. Some seem to change in good ways, some in bad ways. Some stagnate. It's pretty similar to the way things happen in the rest of the human population.

 

[Riski]

May I ask which "one" that is? or are they all the "one true religion"?

The one TRUE religion is the Way, the Truth, and the Life which has God the Father's stamp of approval as evidenced by His resurrecting from the dead the One who lovingly gave His life to teach and to demonstrate it.
"Seek and you will find." (Luke 11:9) Ask around and find the match.

Now that is very strange, I would have put money on you not writing that, I thought that even you would know better than to write that even though you might think it, it just goes to show that being a Christian does not make you any brighter than you are, in fact I have a feeling that it drags you down a couple of pegs.

It must be, in with religion and out with common sense.

 

[Catherineanne]

yeah...thanks...I'd already looked those up myself...didn't really answer the question though did it.

Do you mean this question?

Hrmm...how then do you explain the term christian in it's scriptural usage?

I was trying to indicate by my former answer that the term Christian is not contemporary with the Lord, and comes rather later. It started as a derisory term, as so many others do (Methodist, Quaker etc) and was then adopted by the folllowers of Christ.

In the Gospels Christianity is referred to as 'the Way.' Which is why the verse; 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life' says more than appears at first glance.

Other than that, I am not sure what you are asking.