What is the core of Christianity

[Analog]

G'day,

I'm trying to look at christianity, without seeing the evil of the Christian Church (no offense intended, but you guys have a real bad history). I figure the best way to do that is to know the core, fundermental, beliefs of Christianity. After all if God accepts all dominations as valid, then He mustn't care overly much for the details, or realises we humans will never get it completly right anyway

 

[ForumGuy]

The church, like anything else that can give power over people, has been tainted by mans desire to control and dominate, and unchristan people who try to use it for their own ends (Do you actually think that people like Blair or Bush actually worship God sincerly? I doubt they see it as anything other than a polictical tool).
The core beliefs are in the first 2 10 commandments (from which all the others come from).
Love God, and love your nieghbour above yourself.
If you want to find God, pray to him expressing you thoughts, feelings, even your doubts, don't worry God isn't offended and wants you to be honest and open with him. And pray to the Holy Spirit for guidence.
As for all the demonations, theirs a number of differant theorys, but regardless, I'm fairly sure God isn't going to send anyone who belives and follows Jesus Christ to hell

 

[chris414]

G'day,

I'm trying to look at christianity, without seeing the evil of the Christian Church (no offense intended, but you guys have a real bad history). I figure the best way to do that is to know the core, fundermental, beliefs of Christianity. After all if God accepts all dominations as valid, then He mustn't care overly much for the details, or realises we humans will never get it completly right anyway

If you're looking around at the histories of religions, you must have also noticed that Christianity is not the only religion with a sketchy past in some areas. Dont judge God on what men have done. God is so much better than we are.

2 of the fundamental beliefs to Christianity are (like the previous poster said), the first 2 comandments. But that's leaving off the most important thing - that you believe Jesus died on the cross to save us from death. That is what distinguishes us from the Jews.

With regard to denominations, as long as you believe Jesus died on the cross for you, you are saved from hell and you will spend eternity with God. I believe that once you are in heaven, there are various levels of reward. Someone who has been wise and interpretted the Bible correctly and who has led people to Christ, etc, will receive more reward in heaven. God definately does care about detail!

 

[CrazyforYeshua]

To put it in a nutshell: realize we have all fallen short of the glory of God, sinners in need of a Savior, Jesus is that Savior, took our punishment upon Himself. Receive the salvation thru His atonement, live the way He tells us in His word.

 

[SolomonVII]

G'day,

I'm trying to look at Christianity, without seeing the evil of the Christian Church (no offense intended, but you guys have a real bad history).

You cannot look at Christianity without also looking into the heart of evil.
For as long as our religion remains true to the human experience, evil is very much a part of the story.

The Gospel good news though is that we have already been forgiven our evil, if we so desire, and that we may prevail against it, throught the unity of hte Holy Spirit.

I figure the best way to do that is to know the core, fundermental, beliefs of Christianity.

The core, fundamental belief of Christianity is that God loved us so much, that he desired to take on our very nature, to become of the same nature as his beloved humans.
Even more, he loved us so much that he desired to lower himself to the status of his beloved's servant.

This is God revealed through Jesus. In Jesus, God taks on the role of a Jewish peasant woman even in the 1st centrury society, and serves the meal. Just like a slave would serve the masters at their table, Jesus serves us.

And in Jesus, God presents himself as our friend too, not just serving us our food, but sharing in the meal with us, both men and women, Gentile and Jew, slave and master alike.

In Jesus, all the social pretentions that keep us divided are erased and we becomes friends gathered together at the same table. This indeed is the miracle of love, for when the prince fall in love with the chambermaid, their love consumates their relationship into that of King and Queen.

 

[tpony298]

G'day,

I'm trying to look at christianity, without seeing the evil of the Christian Church (no offense intended, but you guys have a real bad history). I figure the best way to do that is to know the core, fundermental, beliefs of Christianity. After all if God accepts all dominations as valid, then He mustn't care overly much for the details, or realises we humans will never get it completly right anyway

When I read this I smiled, because I think you are so right. I am a long term Christian,, a fundamentalist.. (a bad word in some denomanation..lol) Christians have a long history of battling over how to inturpert the Bible. But, don't let that discourage you... We are a family.. WE all belive the most important verse in the Bible is John 3:16 "For God so loved the world,(that's you and me) He gave His only begotten son that whosever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life." So how do you believe? well it's a little like being in a burning building and a fireman sticks the ladder up to you..."Get On " He says , It will take you to safety" You can believe every word He says is true and get aboard or you can believe it is true but worry over the color of the fire truck.."Let's see should a rescue truck be red or Yellow or green" and burn to death" After you are "saved" would be a better time to debate the color of the truck....
WE disagree over..."How He made the Earth..and How He will end it."
We disagree over...Baptism, before or after Salvation, wether to baptise babies."
WE argue over things like speaking in tongues, power of healing, once saved always saved..or do we renew everyday, Do we have free-will? Just lots and lots of stuff. But it is all in the family....Love and prayers, Pony

 

[Merlin]

Hello,

>I figure the best way to do that is to know the core, fundermental, beliefs of Christianity.

If I were to name the top four, they would be
1-love God
2-love others
3-forgive others
4-forgive self

 

[wiggsfly]

G'day,

I'm trying to look at christianity, without seeing the evil of the Christian Church (no offense intended, but you guys have a real bad history). I figure the best way to do that is to know the core, fundermental, beliefs of Christianity. After all if God accepts all dominations as valid, then He mustn't care overly much for the details, or realises we humans will never get it completly right anyway

Although nearly all religions have killed in the name of God there are a few things that set Christianity appart. First off, Christianity is the belief that one God created the Universe and gave free will to those in it. He even went as far as coming to Earth as man and sacraficing himself so that we may not have to personally pay for our sins and might in fact join him in the next life. As a philosophy it is a peaceful religion which preaches love and forgiveness above all else. It is also a religion that is open to personal choice. According to Christ we may choose to be with him in the next life or choose to be without him. When we die we will realize that choice.

As for the itrocities of Christianity many can be traced back to the biblical quote of "Go and make diciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit." This phrase has been missinterpreted as much as as the idea of jihad in the islamic faith. It has wrongly been the justification for wars, massacres, theft, and the spread of the US through manifest destiny. True Christianity however says we are to accept the choices of those around us and forgive them when they are wrong. We are also to strive to live like Jesus who was the only perfect man free of jealousy, lust, greed, and all the other sins that plague us all.

 

[prophecystudent]

The core beliefs of Christianity are simple and easy to understand.

1. We believe that God sent His only Begotten Son to die to pay the price for ours sins.

2. We acknowledge His sacrifice.

3. We confess our sins to Him.

4. We ask Him to forgive those sins.

5. We ask Him to come into our hearts and lead us to better live the way He wants us to live.

6. We follow the command Christ gave us, that being to go forth and spread the good news of salvation through Christ.

That about covers it.

Regarding deaths caused by Christians, keep it in perspective and study the historical basis. For example, the Crusades (to which I suspect you are referring) we less about "religion" and more about a few noblemen enriching themselves by plundering and claiming lands in the middle east. Religion was only the covering excuse for the crusades.

Christ would never condone such actions by anyone. Too many people seem to read the old testament and somehow attribute much of the incidents that took place then to Christianity. Christianity did not exist until Christ was crucified, resurrected and ascended to resume His rightful place at the right hand of God.

The new testament is the fulfillment of more than 300 prophecies regarding Messiah. You will note that nowhere in the new testament does anyone receive an order from God to hurt anyone, kill anyone. That did happen in the old testament.

Revelation describes the end times during which billions of people will perish. Many of them will be murdered for their belief in Christ. More millions will be killed when Christ returns at the end of the tribulation. Those who survive the destruction and horror of those 7 years, and still refuse to accept Christ, will be consigned to eternity in the lake of fire, also called the lake of burning sulphur.

The real core belief of Christianity, if I had to limit it to one item, would be belief in the Bible and in what it tells us, especially those 307 prophecies regarding Christ and what He did for us.

Fred

 

[Adstar]

G'day,

I'm trying to look at christianity, without seeing the evil of the Christian Church (no offense intended, but you guys have a real bad history). I figure the best way to do that is to know the core, fundermental, beliefs of Christianity. After all if God accepts all dominations as valid, then He mustn't care overly much for the details, or realises we humans will never get it completly right anyway

Well i do not feel that God accepts denominations that teach doctrines against the teachings of Jesus. But be that as it may the core beliefs are.

The God of Abraham is the Creator of all existance. All except Himself that is.

That God has always been and will allways be.

That God's Will shall be done

That no man by His own actions can earn eternity with God by merit.

That God has provided forgivness of all sins via the Messiah Jesus. His atoning act of death has won eternity for those who believe Him and believe His Word.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[thepianist]

G'day,

I'm trying to look at christianity, without seeing the evil of the Christian Church (no offense intended, but you guys have a real bad history). I figure the best way to do that is to know the core, fundermental, beliefs of Christianity. After all if God accepts all dominations as valid, then He mustn't care overly much for the details, or realises we humans will never get it completly right anyway

There really is only ONE core and that would be Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. It has absolutely nothing to do with a religion/denomination or which translation of the Bible you read. Jesus said it himself..."I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

 

[winsome]

A priest asked what one word would sum up Christ's message; what Jesus taught while on earth. Various duggestions were put forward - love, kindness, obedience (to God's will presumably), sacrifice and so on.

The priest said no. The core message of Jesus was CHANGE.

Everyone needed to change their heart, their ways - metanoia.

 

[Analog]

Thanks for your replies guys. Just one question

The new testament is the fulfillment of more than 300 prophecies regarding Messiah. You will note that nowhere in the new testament does anyone receive an order from God to hurt anyone, kill anyone. That did happen in the old testament.

But God and Jesus (and the holy spirt) are the same entity right ?

 

[calidog]

G'day,

I'm trying to look at christianity, without seeing the evil of the Christian Church (no offense intended, but you guys have a real bad history). I figure the best way to do that is to know the core, fundermental, beliefs of Christianity. After all if God accepts all dominations as valid, then He mustn't care overly much for the details, or realises we humans will never get it completly right anyway

the core or real church is best described in the Gospels, Acts, and Pauls letters.

 

[calidog]

Thanks for your replies guys. Just one question



But God and Jesus (and the holy spirt) are the same entity right ?

Hard to answer. The bible describes God as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. They are one.

 

[Adstar]

Thanks for your replies guys. Just one question



But God and Jesus (and the holy spirt) are the same entity right ?

In the OT it was the Will of God to use His people to carry out punishment of the law and aslo it was His will to use His people to sometimes to carry out His wrath upon nations. God also used nations to carry out His wrath upon His people.

God's wrath has not ceased to exist and what is evil then is evil now and still carries the same death sentance. The difference is that He has taken the burden of judgement from His people to use us as ambasadors of His forgivness. Through the Messiah all men may be saved, all that is needed is for them to believe. But who those who disbelieve and take pleaseure in unrightiousness and die in that state the wrath and penalty of the law is still on them. God is longsuffering to us sinners even unto death that maybe we will turn and believe in Jesus and be saved.

So God is the same, But for now his wrath is delayed He waits in longsuffering waiting for as many as possable to accept the Messiah Jesus and be forgiven.

The penalty is still death, the second death, the law still stands, what was evil then is evil now the only difference is that Jesus has taken away the penalty of the law for those who Believe in and rely on His atoning blood for their forgivness.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[Analog]

In the OT it was the Will of God to use His people to carry out punishment of the law and aslo it was His will to use His people to sometimes to carry out His wrath upon nations. God also used nations to carry out His wrath upon His people.

God's wrath has not ceased to exist and what is evil then is evil now and still carries the same death sentance. The difference is that He has taken the burden of judgement from His people to use us as ambasadors of His forgivness. Through the Messiah all men may be saved, all that is needed is for them to believe. But who those who disbelieve and take pleaseure in unrightiousness and die in that state the wrath and penalty of the law is still on them. God is longsuffering to us sinners even unto death that maybe we will turn and believe in Jesus and be saved.

So God is the same, But for now his wrath is delayed He waits in longsuffering waiting for as many as possable to accept the Messiah Jesus and be forgiven.

The penalty is still death, the second death, the law still stands, what was evil then is evil now the only difference is that Jesus has taken away the penalty of the law for those who Believe in and rely on His atoning blood for their forgivness.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

What about the poor jews who were judged before we all got the easy way out ? Doesn't really seem fair nor just ?

 

[prophecystudent]

What about the poor jews who were judged before we all got the easy way out ? Doesn't really seem fair nor just ?

God is entirely fair and just. If you study scripture, and it takes years and years, or take the shortcut and read what a lot of scholars have found and written, you will find that God provided a way for people before Christ to be made righteous.

Fred

 

[calidog]

What about the poor jews who were judged before we all got the easy way out ? Doesn't really seem fair nor just ?

God is entirely fair and just. If you study scripture, and it takes years and years, or take the shortcut and read what a lot of scholars have found and written, you will find that God provided a way for people before Christ to be made righteous.

Fred

you can read the whole bible in a few months and get something out of it.

 

[revmalone]

G'day,

I'm trying to look at christianity, without seeing the evil of the Christian Church (no offense intended, but you guys have a real bad history). I figure the best way to do that is to know the core, fundermental, beliefs of Christianity. After all if God accepts all dominations as valid, then He mustn't care overly much for the details, or realises we humans will never get it completly right anyway

Greetings

Dear friend God doesnt accept denominations, only those who Call on Jesus Christ to save them from there sins, these are the only ones God accepts.

After a person accepts Christ he gets a New nature, the rest of our life will be devoted to the developement of this Spiritual Natures Character into the Character Jesus had in him, "Til Christ be formed in you".

The other main is to walk in truth always in everything.
This will also produce the Fruit of the Spirit.

Keep reading on this site and you'll find your answers some where.

Quick question? When you find out the truth what will you do with Him.

Everyday you need to ask God to show you the truth, so you want get off track .

Good luck seeking.
Bro Malone