I am a Christian

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fireandicefuel

Senior member
Dec 2, 2004
205
0
0
Originally posted by: HotChic
My purpose in writing this: to dispel or confirm some of the stereotypes about Christians, especially for those who don't really know many Christians personally or well.

Disclaimer: Christians, just like other people, hold a multitude of views, and mine might not be the views of another. If you're a Christian, feel free to post your own views.


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I believe in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I honestly believe the only way to heaven is repentance and a true belief in Jesus Christ. I attend church every Sunday and sit on the board of administrators at my current church. I've attended and visited many different denominations in my life so far and I know that there is no single church with perfect theology, doctrine and attitude. I know that different worship styles have nothing to do with the intrinsic rightness or righteousness of a church.

I cuss. Much more frequently than I wish I did, in fact. I say stuff I wouldn't say in front of my mother and I would prefer not to say at all. I'm working on it, but it doesn't bother me when other people swear unless it's in front of kids.

I don't think my beliefs obligate me to a particular political party or figure. My beliefs do drive many of my opinions about social issues. I think abortion is wrong because I, in my heart of hearts, think that a fetus is a baby. I think the war in Iraq is wrong and unjustified. I think that the government should get out of the marriage business (hetero and homosexual alike) and just issue cohabitation licenses to whoever wants them. I support sex education in schools on the basis that hiding knowledge has never helped anyone make a good decision.

Yes, Christians are a seriously screwed up bunch of people. I know that Christians are not perfect; in fact, we may be farther from perfect than almost any other group. Christians became Christian because they knew there was something screwed up in their lives that they couldn't fix, and just becoming Christian doesn't make that go away, it just covers in the mercy of God and maybe gives them some support in helping them work on it.

I can't judge anybody else, no matter what they believe, say or how they live. I'm no better than anybody else and, in my own ways, I'm probably quite a bit worse.

I do believe in hell. And yes, I believe that most people who haven't asked and received God's pardon are probably going there, but that's between them and God and there's lots about God I don't understand. I don't preach hellfire and brimstone. I don't yell at people that they're going to hell; in fact, I've never told anybody that unless specifically asked by them if I believe they are. I think God doesn't just automatically send everyone to heaven because you are given the choice about whether you want to worship and serve God while you're here, and he's not just going to override your choice so you spend eternity doing something you didn't want to do on earth.

I have spoken in tongues, even though I thought I never would and thought the whole idea was kind of weird.

I think other people are perfectly justified in living their lives in whatever way they see fit, whether I think it's right or wrong. I don't think you can legislate morality and I believe it's wrong to try, beyond basic little things like murder, stealing, etc. Everybody should have the choice to sin or not sin however they want, regardless of my opinion. I think God gave us that when he gave us free will and it's not up to humans to take that away.

I don't believe in evolution and I don't think that makes me a moron. I see that science has gone through many many iterations of fact and I doubt that evolution is the last theory that's going to come around. The most prominent scientists in the world used to believe some pretty goofy stuff, and I don't know why that trend should end with our enlightened age. I wonder if the next major iteration of scientific fact about origins will happen in my lifetime.

I'm ashamed by things that have been done by Christians and/or under the guise of Christianity, both historically and in the present. Minor things like the way kids were taught in "Jesus Camp" and major things like the Inquisition or the child molestations and coverup are shameful, wrong and hideous distortions of the message of Christ. I know that there are subgroups of extremist Christians now that hate groups of people, and I know that hate is completely against everything Christ stood for. I think there's a difference between fundamentalists that want to get back to the basics of what Jesus taught and extremists who invent completely unfounded hatreds in the name of religion.

I am distressed that Christianity is publicly represented by such figures as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. I applaud Billy Graham.

I dated in high school. I didn't have sex til I was married. I don't judge my friends who did. I don't believe sex is just for procreation; it's just too much fun for that! I don't believe preventative forms of birth control are a sin.

I think that Christianity was originally not an organized religion and that, while it was inevitable it became one, much harm has been done because organized religions are an earthly construct and in general tend towards corruption. I don't divorce myself from it because of that but instead work to do what I can to improve it.

I know some Christians isolate themselves and their families and wrongly shield their children from the world instead of teaching them how to conduct themselves well in spite of it. I also know it's possible to have parents raise their children without outside interference and still do it well. I was homeschooled, learned about other religions from the foundational writers of those religions, learned history by reading the great historical authors, learned science and math by taking classes outside my home. I was exposed to the fact that there are terrible things in the world and then taught that I have a personal responsibility to live my life according to a different set of principles and I am accountable for my own choices. I graduated from college at 19.

I rarely speak up about my religion at work because most people there ridicule it and I am not always strong enough in character to risk them thinking me a fool.

I don't think America is a Christian Nation, even though most people might check the "Christian" box on a census. I think most people that consider themselves Christian in the US do it out of a vague memory of being taken to church when they were kids and a general feeling that they believe there's some kind of God out there.

I wish I could apologize to everyone who has ever been hounded by an evangelist, and I also wish I could explain to most of the people who have that the majority of those evangelists are doing that because they really do want the best for the people they talk to and they earnestly believe in what they say. They wouldn't be doing it otherwise.

I don't think that most churches or pastors exist for the purpose of fund raising. I know some televangelists do, and that there are individuals who abuse trust and embezzle money, but that the majority of people are good stewards, the majority of money goes to help people.

I don't believe I do enough to help others and I want to improve in how I give, especially of my time, to people who need it.

Cliffs: a few of my views as a Christian - see the first sentence of the post.

Pic to up the readership



I want to let you know that I'm in a relationship with Jesus just as you are. I think that you and I are alike in so many ways. My views are pretty much the same as yours. I was born into a catholic church and a non denominational bible church.

I really felt the love of God in the nondenominational church. When I go back sometimes to the catholic church I do feel God's presence, but it doesn't burn inside of me like it does at my mom's church. I really believe its all about relationship and not religion. Its between you and God.

I also believe that you can sum up the bible and make it simple with these few words. Love your God your father. And love your neighbor as your self. The bible is all about love. Showing someone Christ is not pushing crap down their throat. Its being yourself and getting to know them. Praying for them, loving on them; being their friend. I think the Holy Spirit does all the work not us. We are just tools. We aren't supposed to convert people or anything of that nature. We are just called to show people what God is like to us. Be their friend and open up to them. God is amazing and moving when that happens.



I love the fact that we don't have to do much to be part of God's plan

Thank you for this thread by the way. I sin just like you. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.
 

Nocturnal

Lifer
Jan 8, 2002
18,927
0
76
Originally posted by: 40sTheme
That article presents a very interesting point of view, Luthien. One of the reasons I used to put down Christianity was because there are no prophecies of what man would proceed to create. Then I realized that God never intended for man to understand everything that exists or would ever be created because what happens is God's will for man, and no man can understand God. It saddens me to see that Mr. Harris has been put down for not believing, because I think he is totally entitled to believe that. That's one thing I do not prefer about many other Christians. Christians that are put down other people's beliefs do not love one another and are blatant hypocrites.

Have you ever read the book of Job? He questions God just like everyone else who are skeptical of him. My interpretation of it is that God is just too complex for anyone to understand, even Mr. Stephen Hawking.

As far as his essay it hasn't persuaded me any or even changed my view point.

I believe in God. I don't attend church. I think huge churches that have those big screen TVs and all have this little cliques within the church are bogus and don't truly serve to God's will. I believe that I don't have to go to attend one of those churches in order to be accepted to Heaven. I prey, ask for forgiveness and do my best to live my life the way God wants me to do it.

I guess there are two things in life that are certain, one is you eventually die and the second is that there's no way to prove or disprove that God does not exist.
 
S

SlitheryDee

Originally posted by: 40sTheme
That article presents a very interesting point of view, Luthien. One of the reasons I used to put down Christianity was because there are no prophecies of what man would proceed to create. Then I realized that God never intended for man to understand everything that exists or would ever be created because what happens is God's will for man, and no man can understand God. It saddens me to see that Mr. Harris has been put down for not believing, because I think he is totally entitled to believe that. That's one thing I do not prefer about many other Christians. Christians that are put down other people's beliefs do not love one another and are blatant hypocrites.

The main problem with that passage is that he thinks that a book written by an omniscient being should contain hundreds of pages of scrupulously correct mathematical formulas, the cure for cancer, etc.

I think it would be just as likely to contain thousands of pages of unintelligible gibberish as it would the secrets of the universe. And that gibberish would somehow be more important than what we think it is; maybe in a way that only has meaning to the being that wrote it. Even presuming to decide what a book written by an omniscient being should contain seems like a logical fallacy in itself.

All the same your argument is rather circular. You're making excuses for the limitations of the bible based on some theological epiphany you reached when trying to reconcile present day society with what's in the bible? It probably isn't that simple, but you DID say "Then I realised..." which leads me to believe that you came upon this knowledge on your own somehow.
 

nutxo

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
6,809
485
126
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
Originally posted by: AbAbber2k
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
It's ironic, not hypocritical. Christian's have a hard time with the concept of irony, they're more into slapstick, right?

You have condemned people for doing the very thing you yourself are doing. That is the very definition of hypocrisy.

I'm not condemning anyone, I'm stating my own view points. Isn't that the nature of debate? Of course, people rush in and try to hush me by calling me a hypocrite, how is that productive?

This thread is obviously tainted - if almost anyone else posted this we'd have peopel saying "want a cookie?" or .. "and.. so?" But instead we applaud the OP. It's silly to me..

I am brown.. I don't need sunscreen..

I am fat. I shouldn't were spandex..

I am a bad dancer...

We should all post about things that we are, because it's just so very important..

ATOT is about important things?

 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,281
4
81
I'm impressed by your post HotChic.

I gathered that you were some form of Christian long ago from your posts, & it's refreshing to see someone bold enough to discuss their beliefs in what has actually become a very non-tolerant society.

While i wouldn't consider myself an actively practising Christian, i do believe in God, & the majority of what the Bible says.

Even though the intolerant people out there today like to bash religion, the reality is that Christianity shaped the countries we live in a huge way, & a lot of good has come from that.



 

SoundTheSurrender

Diamond Member
Mar 13, 2005
3,126
0
0
Originally posted by: n7
I'm impressed by your post HotChic.

I gathered that you were some form of Christian long ago from your posts, & it's refreshing to see someone bold enough to discuss their beliefs in what has actually become a very non-tolerant society.

While i wouldn't consider myself an actively practising Christian, i do believe in God, & the majority of what the Bible says.

Even though the intolerant people out there today like to bash religion, the reality is that Christianity shaped the countries we live in a huge way, & a lot of good has come from that.

Ya like how God is on Bushes side for the invasion of Iraq..
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
Nice post HotChick.

I do belive in God but im hesitant to take the bible as 100% fact and the 100% word of God. Ever since i was little i felt the bible was missing something sorta incomplete. I also have a hard time believing Paul was an apostle. in my opinion he took the teaching of Jesus and totally turned it around. Most Christians follow the teaching of Paul instead of Jesus.
 

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,679
0
81
Marked for later. I have a bunch of assignments, but will definitely post my thoughts and beliefs as soon as I am able.

-Kevin
 

Connoisseur

Platinum Member
Sep 14, 2002
2,470
1
81
Originally posted by: HotChic
I do believe in hell. And yes, I believe that most people who haven't asked and received God's pardon are probably going there, but that's between them and God and there's lots about God I don't understand. I don't preach hellfire and brimstone. I don't yell at people that they're going to hell; in fact, I've never told anybody that unless specifically asked by them if I believe they are. I think God doesn't just automatically send everyone to heaven because you are given the choice about whether you want to worship and serve God while you're here, and he's not just going to override your choice so you spend eternity doing something you didn't want to do on earth.

Sorry didn't bother reading through the fetid swamp of evolution posts but this is the part that really gets my goat (and no, i'm not angry at you specifically, just this particular belief. Feel free to rebut any comment I make).

Last I remember, Christians make up about 30% of the world's population. That means there's approximately 4.2 BILLION people on the planet who are automatically going to hell just because they didn't ask forgiveness from the CHRISTIAN god. These people could range anywhere from the average joe in America to some poor kid living in a town in the middle of Africa who hasn't even HEARD the term Christ. I refuse to believe that this so called "loving and fair" God of Christianity is so vain that he expects every human being to magically believe in him/her/it even if that person couldn't POSSIBLY know about that particular personification of God (or Jesus or the holy llama). If he is that vain, screw him; hey I can say it if I'm going to Hell anyway.

Furthermore, the belief that all non-christians are going to hell implies that Christianity is somehow the one "good" religion. Let's keep in mind here that: a) age-wise Christianity is one of the YOUNGEST religions around and b) many religions before taught the same values that Christianity claims to have the monopoly on. Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism... all these religions taught a lot of the same crap that Christianity does. Not to mention that MANY of the stories and morals from the Bible are DIRECT copies of much older religions.

Look, i'm Hindu, and that definitely skews my opinion for sure. But one thing I honestly DON'T believe is that a person is going to be punished after death just because he/she chooses to worship one intangible deity over another. If there is a God, you've got a couple of options on his/her personality:
1) The God(s) is an actual caring, loving god in all his omniscient glory in which case, i'm sure that not killing/stealing/cheating/being a douchebag and generally being a decent person should guarantee passageway into the great beyond
2) God is a hateful vengeful bastard (which seems to be the case in MANY of the older stories... the ones I like anyway) in which case he created most of the world's population just to suffer for his sadistic pleasure
3) God is just someone who created us and then let us run around with no further interaction and is quietly laughing as we assume there's some sort of mystical afterlife
For my sake, I hope it's 1 or 3.

Whew long post. Had to get that off of my meaty heathenistic chest. Once again, i'm not angry at you HotChic. It's respectable that you gave your honest opinion. Now you've got mine.
 

Luthien

Golden Member
Feb 1, 2004
1,721
0
0
Originally posted by: nutxo
Originally posted by: Luthien
Proof Christians are Delusional!

LINK


I'd rather believe in God than listen to some sanctimonious dickhead ramble on for 10 minutes.

Yeah, because you already do? If yes then not big sacrifice, lol. If no then lol.

 

Luthien

Golden Member
Feb 1, 2004
1,721
0
0
Originally posted by: Connoisseur
Originally posted by: HotChic
I do believe in hell. And yes, I believe that most people who haven't asked and received God's pardon are probably going there, but that's between them and God and there's lots about God I don't understand. I don't preach hellfire and brimstone. I don't yell at people that they're going to hell; in fact, I've never told anybody that unless specifically asked by them if I believe they are. I think God doesn't just automatically send everyone to heaven because you are given the choice about whether you want to worship and serve God while you're here, and he's not just going to override your choice so you spend eternity doing something you didn't want to do on earth.

Sorry didn't bother reading through the fetid swamp of evolution posts but this is the part that really gets my goat (and no, i'm not angry at you specifically, just this particular belief. Feel free to rebut any comment I make).

Last I remember, Christians make up about 30% of the world's population. That means there's approximately 4.2 BILLION people on the planet who are automatically going to hell just because they didn't ask forgiveness from the CHRISTIAN god. These people could range anywhere from the average joe in America to some poor kid living in a town in the middle of Africa who hasn't even HEARD the term Christ. I refuse to believe that this so called "loving and fair" God of Christianity is so vain that he expects every human being to magically believe in him/her/it even if that person couldn't POSSIBLY know about that particular personification of God (or Jesus or the holy llama). If he is that vain, screw him; hey I can say it if I'm going to Hell anyway.

Furthermore, the belief that all non-christians are going to hell implies that Christianity is somehow the one "good" religion. Let's keep in mind here that: a) age-wise Christianity is one of the YOUNGEST religions around and b) many religions before taught the same values that Christianity claims to have the monopoly on. Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism... all these religions taught a lot of the same crap that Christianity does. Not to mention that MANY of the stories and morals from the Bible are DIRECT copies of much older religions.

Look, i'm Hindu, and that definitely skews my opinion for sure. But one thing I honestly DON'T believe is that a person is going to be punished after death just because he/she chooses to worship one intangible deity over another. If there is a God, you've got a couple of options on his/her personality:
1) The God(s) is an actual caring, loving god in all his omniscient glory in which case, i'm sure that not killing/stealing/cheating/being a douchebag and generally being a decent person should guarantee passageway into the great beyond
2) God is a hateful vengeful bastard (which seems to be the case in MANY of the older stories... the ones I like anyway) in which case he created most of the world's population just to suffer for his sadistic pleasure
3) God is just someone who created us and then let us run around with no further interaction and is quietly laughing as we assume there's some sort of mystical afterlife
For my sake, I hope it's 1 or 3.

Whew long post. Had to get that off of my meaty heathenistic chest. Once again, i'm not angry at you HotChic. It's respectable that you gave your honest opinion. Now you've got mine.

I covered the exact same topic earlier.
 

thecoolnessrune

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2005
9,673
583
126
Christians should seriously mark this thread for the next time an Atheist comes in ranting about a Christian trying to convert him. We have one girl stating her beliefs and atheists come in telling her how delusioned she is XD These guys are serious hypocrites here its almost laughable.
 

Luthien

Golden Member
Feb 1, 2004
1,721
0
0
Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
Christians should seriously mark this thread for the next time an Atheist comes in ranting about a Christian trying to convert him. We have one girl stating her beliefs and atheists come in telling her how delusioned she is XD These guys are serious hypocrites here its almost laughable.


Good idea it might save some of them...
 
Mar 15, 2003
12,668
103
106
Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
Christians should seriously mark this thread for the next time an Atheist comes in ranting about a Christian trying to convert him. We have one girl stating her beliefs and atheists come in telling her how delusioned she is XD These guys are serious hypocrites here its almost laughable.

Do Christians not only doubt the theory of evolution but also remain skeptical about the use of periods in sentences?
 

hellokeith

Golden Member
Nov 12, 2004
1,664
0
0
Good post HC.

You are my sister in Christ, and I will pray for your continued ministry, wherever that be.

Matthew 10
22"You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved."

John 3
19"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20"For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21"But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."

Matthew 5
14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.


May the words of the one and only Son of God, Jesus Christ, the only path to salvation, continue to bless you. :sun:
 

thecoolnessrune

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2005
9,673
583
126
Originally posted by: Luthien
Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
Christians should seriously mark this thread for the next time an Atheist comes in ranting about a Christian trying to convert him. We have one girl stating her beliefs and atheists come in telling her how delusioned she is XD These guys are serious hypocrites here its almost laughable.


Good idea it might save some of them...

Indeed

oh, and freedude... Are you so taken back by what I said that you can only come up with a grammar post? Surely you have just a tiny bit more intelligence then that. Then again... maybe not.
 

thecoolnessrune

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2005
9,673
583
126
Originally posted by: hellokeith
Good post HC.

You are my sister in Christ, and I will pray for your continued ministry, wherever that be.

Matthew 10
22"You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved."

John 3
19"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20"For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21"But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."

Matthew 5
14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.


May the words of the one and only Son of God, Jesus Christ, the only path to salvation, continue to bless you. :sun:

Amen, and Amen ^_^
 

AbAbber2k

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2005
6,474
1
0
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
Christians should seriously mark this thread for the next time an Atheist comes in ranting about a Christian trying to convert him. We have one girl stating her beliefs and atheists come in telling her how delusioned she is XD These guys are serious hypocrites here its almost laughable.

Do Christians not only doubt the theory of evolution but also remain skeptical about the use of periods in sentences?

I believe this thread is "I am a Christian" not "I am an English teacher".
 
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