What does being a Christian mean to you?
- Thread starter vraiblonde
- Start date
MMDad
Lem Putt
Did you ever see me claim that I was some sort of good Christian? Have you ever seen me say that I proscribe to what the fundies spew? Or the organized religions?
To answer your question, I do not have an opinion of that. Belief is between a person and God, and I am the last person to make judgements about how well they live up to the standard.
Pete
Repete
Whoa Nelly, you spent years as the forum militant athiest. The one hijacking threads and starting fights. You didn't expect to proclaim your salvation and not have a few twitchy eyeballs? Really?
mAlice
professional daydreamer
No. I wouldn't go so far as to say I was a militant atheist. You may want to go back and read some of my threads. May I have done something that offend someone in the past? Without a doubt. Militant? Um, no.
Have a nice day
Pete
Repete
No. I wouldn't go so far as to say I was a militant atheist. You may want to go back and read some of my threads. May I have done something that offend someone in the past? Without a doubt. Militant? Um, no.
Have a nice day
You have a nice day
mAlice
professional daydreamer
You have a nice day
Thank you. I will.
b23hqb
Well-Known Member
If a particular stumble continues to arise, then that person has to question themselves, and re-examine their profession to be a believer. If they continue to fall, especially in view of others, like yourself or me, we have to question their profession in Christ as well. It is a bad testimony of Christianity to non-believers, especially, but to believers as well.
If their falling is a physical or mental failing, then treatment is required, as with anyone else. If it is a moral failing, like adultery, pedophilia, pornography, etc., that is in their soul, and God will separate the good seed from the tares.
There is a difference between backsliding into a particular lifestyle, then recovering, and continually staying in a lifestyle.
We are to judge our brothers and sisters based on their testimony. If they continue to fall, I would have to conclude they have not repented, and therefore not saved. My conclusion could very well be not what God will conclude, that is a given.
We love our brothers and sisters in Christ, but if they show no remorse or repentance from their "pet" sin(s), we have no choice but to show them the door and to not allow them to practice it within our local body of believers.
Pete
Repete
Excellent
Larry Gude
Strung Out
That seems to be the common theme; some pet sins are more equal than others.
I kind of get what he's saying, even though I do it on my own and don't have God telling me what to do.
It's like how I avoid people who are ####ty to others and go out of their way to make someone feel bad and be hostile, when there was no reason on earth for them to do so other than that they're an ahole. I don't consider gays among my personal "sins"; aholes, however, are intolerable. We all pick and choose.
b23hqb
Well-Known Member
Good point. Everybody, and I mean everybody, has their personal little (or large) personal vice(s). The question each has to deal with is when it does pop up, what does one do with it? If you act on it, not good for the soul. If you struggle with it, but manage to put it away, I believe God understands those struggles of human frailty and will deal personally with the individual in His way. Our job is to understand what we do, and that God is always there and acutely aware of where we are.
Pete
Repete
There is a broad line between someone who has a weakness and someone who is mean spirited for pure sport.
Larry Gude
Strung Out
But, the god I was taught, if someone is putting out the effort to try and be part of your community of faith and y'all kick them out because you've judge them insincere enough, by your standards, that, to me is awful, passing that sort of judgment as to what is in their heart. So what if they don't meet your personal standard? That they are coming, reaching out, seeking a place, regardless of your, or my, judgment, Jesus would, without question, welcome them time and time and time again, teaching the lessons by example so that, maybe, they do come to what you would then judge proper. BUT, again, that is expressly not your place. God alone knows what is in their hearts and He, alone can see how they are doing, the struggles they face, their demons. The LAST thing he'd want his children to do is cast them out. That's the faith I was taught.
I think that, more than anything else, is harmful to the teachings and to the public perception and support of the faith.
Larry Gude
Strung Out
Ah, but there it is, again, the judgment. That may well BE their weakness. One of that persons struggles could easily be with being mean spirited at times, especially towards those they judge to be insincere or not sincere enough.
b23hqb
Well-Known Member
I have to generally disagree with you there. God will be the final judge, jury, and executioner. We are taught church discipline in the NT. Many references about those that continue to live in sin must be expelled in order to maintain church harmony and biblical principles. You cannot allow it to fester, or else there will not be a biblical church, just the world. The world takes care of those that transgress, doesn't it? The church must do the same.
http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Church-Discipline
http://www.xenos.org/classes/leadership/discip.html
This site really goes into depth, and I think is the best, both OT and NT:
www.xenos.org/classes/leadership/discip.html
Church discipline is based on the Bible, done in caring and love for the individual , with the intent the goal of constructive, remedial discipline.
The church is no different than any other corporate effort - you need rules to be adhered to, or you fail to function.
In the church, we are instructed to discipline based on the Word of God. If you want to call that being judgmental, so be it.
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That's your God. Other people have different Gods.
Larry Gude
Strung Out
That can't be.
Larry Gude
Strung Out
I was using your words from your post. And my only interest here is in observing what I consider to be self inflicted harm to the faith by those who tend to claim to be the most devout.
Christy
b*tch rocket
My idea of being a Christian is getting up everyday and trying to be a better person. For me, it's not about memorizing a bunch of scripture or going to church every Sunday. I can't remember the last time I was in a church. It's all in your deeds and your actions. I know it is cliche', but the whole "What Would Jesus Do" is good to think upon in any given situation. When there is someone who is having a hard time in their life, do you ignore them? Pile on to their miseries? Or do you help? I always try to help in some form or another. I'm not always successful, but I try. The same goes for people who have done horrible things to me. I try really hard to forgive that (which does not mean you forget it or dismiss the horrible deed) and I will even help them if they are in need. I try and make the world a little bit better by small acts of kindness and decency.
This does not mean that I am perfect and it is a daily struggle to be compassionate and try and find some good in everyone, because most humans are just horrible, myself included some days.