Why I'm Not a Christian

[4runner]

I first said the sinner's prayer in a kid's summer camp.
My parents were divorcing.
I was the stinky kid in school.
I was alone on so many levels, and I just wanted to be loved.
Christ's overwhelming compassion was exactly what I needed.

I grew up to later study Christian apologetics.
In search for arguments to defend my faith, I studied.
I studied what Christians and non-Christians were saying.
It was then that I first read Bertrand Russell's philosophies on Christianity.

Bertrand Russell wrote, "Why I Am Not a Christian."
The first time I read it, and many years afterward, I adamantly disagreed with him.
He was not a Christian because of his objection to how Christians behaved.
I argued that Christianity is so much more than that.

I started college studying religion.
But I realized I couldn't make it in the Christian world as a career preacher.
I couldn't emotionally cope with the constant criticism.
I couldn't endure the objectionable way I knew Christians behaved.
So, I transferred into the business department.

In business school, I learned to use my God-given talents to help the world economically.
I feel profoundly successful, and profoundly comfortable in the business world.
I feel at home doing things I love and am good at.
I feel a way Christianity never made me feel.

I believe in the substitutive atonement for my sins that only Jesus provides.
I believe in following Christ's discipleship toward being a better person.
I believe so many Christian things.

However, my experiences have shown me how right Bertrand Russell was, after all.
Detestable Christian behavior has made it painful for me to remain active in a Christian community.
Most days, I would rather not be a Christian anymore, not because I believe any less in Jesus, but because it pains me to associate with many of the Christians I've encountered.

I love Christ, but I don't love the Christianity I've experienced.

The Christiantiy you describe is a religion, a false religion like all the the rest. True Christians do not continue in their sin, but have been delivered from them by their faith in Christ

 

[4runner]

Im a Christian. Christ came for sinners not perfect copies of Himself. But i see your point about how we as Christians can fail to separate ourselves from the desires of this world and be transformed into doers of the Word.

Christ came to transform sinner into perfect copies of Himself

 

[ghendricks63]

Christ came to transform sinner into perfect copies of Himself

Are you a perfect copy of Christ?

 

[simonthezealot]

Are you a perfect copy of Christ?

18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

 

[ghendricks63]

If you're a Christ follower then doesn't it follow that His words should be your standard for living? do you think God failed at leaving us oracles to follow but did just fine with the OT so that jesus could quote them as scripture?
How would you know absolute truths save the "word of God"? science? lol
It most certainly does declare itself to be the word of God.

No this has been discussed many times here. The bible declares that Jesus is the Word of God. It never declares scripture as such. In all places withing scripture when the term thy word is used it is referring to the purpose or will of God. When it is used in the sense of "W"ord it is referring to the person of Jesus.

Why could Jesus quote the old testament? (And strangely enough passages from books NOT in the OT ) The law and the prophets represented the covenant which they were under at the time but in no way does this imply that it was perfect. In fact Jesus corrected it on several occaisions. The bible does indeed contain revealed truth, but rather than be the "absolute truths" you refer to...it points us to the Absolute Truth.

 

[ghendricks63]

18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

1. - This does not answer my question.
2. - My question was not directed at you.

 

[4runner]

Are you a perfect copy of Christ?

Im getting there

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

 

[jpcedotal]

18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Where have I seen that before?

 

[sunlover1]

No this has been discussed many times here. The bible declares that Jesus is the Word of God. It never declares scripture as such.

Actually.. it does.

Why could Jesus quote the old testament? (And strangely enough passages from books NOT in the OT ) The law and the prophets represented the covenant which they were under at the time but in no way does this imply that it was perfect. In fact Jesus corrected it on several occaisions. The bible does indeed contain revealed truth, but rather than be the "absolute truths" you refer to...it points us to the Absolute Truth.

Certainly you're not suggesting that His Words are not absolutely true.

 

[11822]

Actually.. it does.


Certainly you're not suggesting that His Words are not absolutely true.

Some on CF seem do that very thing.

 

[ghendricks63]

Actually.. it does.


Certainly you're not suggesting that His Words are not absolutely true.

Actually...no it does not.

Whose words are you asking if I believe they are absolutely true...Jesus'? Of course I believe they are absolutely true. Which is one of the chief reasons (only one mind you...there are many more) why I know scripture is not perfect, because Christ corrected it on more than one occaision.

 

[11822]

Actually...no it does not.

Whose words are you asking if I believe they are absolutely true...Jesus'? Of course I believe they are absolutely true. Which is one of the chief reasons (only one mind you...there are many more) why I know scripture is not perfect, because Christ corrected it on more than one occaision.

If Pauls words are the Commandments of God, how much more are those of Christ?

1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

 

[simonthezealot]

No this has been discussed many times here. The bible declares that Jesus is the Word of God. It never declares scripture as such. In all places withing scripture when the term thy word is used it is referring to the purpose or will of God. When it is used in the sense of "W"ord it is referring to the person of Jesus.

Why could Jesus quote the old testament? (And strangely enough passages from books NOT in the OT ) The law and the prophets represented the covenant which they were under at the time but in no way does this imply that it was perfect. In fact Jesus corrected it on several occaisions. The bible does indeed contain revealed truth, but rather than be the "absolute truths" you refer to...it points us to the Absolute Truth.

Sure it does, sometimes it calls them the gospel or the words of the kingdom or scriptures or just word

The bible is the words of the Living God breathed out for us for reproof rebuke and training in righteousness...It perplexes me how folks read it and say it's not.

 

[simonthezealot]

If Pauls words are the Commandments of God, how much more are those of Christ?

1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Amen Brother...That's what i'm talking about.

 

[11822]

Amen Brother...That's what i'm talking about.

Someone posted that scripture earlier. I can't remember who or where. But it sure is handy.

 

[ghendricks63]

Sure it does, sometimes it calls them the gospel or the words of the kingdom or scriptures or just word

The bible is the words of the Living God breathed out for us for reproof rebuke and training in righteousness...It perplexes me how folds read it and say it's not.

Rather than go int long repeated posts explaining why this is incorrect I will simply point you a thread where this has been discussed at length by me and many others.

http://www.christianforums.com/t7539632/

But the short answer is NO - The bible clearly reserves the title of "Word of God" for Jesus and Jesus alone. Declaring the bible as the perfect Word of God is both idolatry and blasphemy against Jesus.

 

[11822]

But the short answer is NO - The bible clearly reserves the title of "Word of God" for Jesus and Jesus alone. Declaring the bible as the perfect Word of God is both idolatry and blasphemy against Jesus.

What part is in error? None. Unless it a translation error. Its Holy Spirit inspired therefor without error. Only our understanding of the word is flawed.

 

[11822]

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Mt 4:4

We must assume even the HS inspired doctrine is the word of God spoken through men inspired by His Holy Spirit.

As Paul says: If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.1Co 14:37

 

[simonthezealot]

Someone posted that scripture earlier. I can't remember who or where. But it sure is handy.

I know who it was

 

[ghendricks63]

Someone posted that scripture earlier. I can't remember who or where. But it sure is handy.

Sure it is handy as a proof text if that is all you are interested in. Of course I could provide a proof text where Paul said some of what he wrote was merely his opnion.

Clobber passages and proof texts taken out of context do nothing to enhance our overall understanding of scripture.