Does anybody know if hisleast is still around? I wanted to ask him what exactly pushed him out of Christianity. I, too, often feel like ditching the Christian walk. The interesting thing is I couldn’t be an atheist. I just believe too strongly that there is a God. I just often wonder how much more I can take with Christianity, though, and I wanted to know what the signs are that I’m not a Christian anymore, assuming I actually was one at any point.
Serious question. Are you thinking you want to ditch the walk because you're sick of walking with Jesus Christ, or because you're sick of the way other Christians act?
Make a list of all the blessings you received from God, write them down and reread them when doubt strikes again.
It’s not really how other Christians act, though I certainly have issues with that at times. It’s more that there’s too many things I have to do or certain ways I have to be like that I just, quite honestly, don’t want to have to. I know, as RK would say, “Christianity isn’t for wimps.” I can elaborate about my beefs with Christianity, if you’d like. I’ve probably vented about it before...
No. I’m quite convinced that has happened. I believe God exists. It’s nothing as “big” as things like those. It’s more that I know I can’t “be perfect” like God requires of me. You know, the whole “be perfect, as I am perfect” thing God commands of us in Matthew 5:48. Which means things like I have to “love my enemies.” Don’t particularly care to do that. At most, I’d like to just avoid them altogether when possible. I don’t cherish the idea of being kind to people who would love nothing better than to, even if just figuratively speaking, “spit in my face.” Just stuff like that.
I don’t think Matthew 5:48 is a directive for the Christian. I think it’s targeted to the non-Christian.
Why do you say that, and why would God command that of people that DON’T worship Him, or, often, don’t even believe that He exists?
Sure, go for it. Feel free to elaborate either here or in a new thread. What I'll say ahead of time is that when I was maybe 19 I got to a point where I decided I wanted nothing more to do with it all. It was a combination of things for me, partly a sense that I didn't want to be like most of the Christians I knew and frankly didn't really want to even be associated with them any more, and partly the sense that I just couldn't live up to what was expected. So I bailed on my faith and turned to a combination of the occult and alcohol. It took me nearly 20 years to find my way back. To borrow from your other post, loving your enemies is hard. Sometimes it ends up being curiously rewarding though.
Read Proverbs 5:21-22 It can be curiously rewarding watching someone trying to figure out why you aren't hitting back, metaphorically if not physically. Especially when they know you could crush them like a bug if you chose to.
What is the purpose of the law? It has multiple purposes but let’s focus on one purpose. Paul wrote in Romans 3..... Romans 3:19–20 (TNIV): Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. So no one is declared righteous by the law. The purpose of the law is that we become conscious of our sin. Notice Paul again in 1 Timothy.... 1 Timothy 1:8–11 (TNIV): We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers. And it is for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. Who is the law for? The righteous? No! It’s for the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, etc. Jesus was applying these ideas in Matthew 5. Paul didn’t come up with this. Jesus did. Way before Matthew 5:48 that you referenced, look at v.20..... Matthew 5:20 (TNIV): For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Right there we are all done for. None of us are that righteous. Then Jesus pulls out the Law. Jesus: You’ve heard it said you shall not murder? Me: Jesus, I’ve never murdersd anyone. J: Joe, have you ever hated anyone? Then you’ve violated this. You’ve heard that you shall not commit adultery? Me: Jesus, I’ve never committed adultery. Jesus: Joe, have you ever lusted? So, Jesus uses the law to make his listeners conscious of their sin. Then if verse 20 isn’t enough, and his exposition isn’t enough, he sums up the law in two words: Be perfect. That’s what verse 48 is for. It’s for the ungodly and sinful. It’s for the unholy and irreligious. Aaron, it seems like you’re Pilgrim in Pilgrim’s Progress still carrying the burden on your back when you don’t need to. Let it go.
I'm with Tango on this one. What are the 'things' and 'ways' you have in mind? I think you'll find a lot of common ground, depending.
I have a lot of anger and it seems to keep me from his Grace. I still HAVE grace, I just have this desire for justice that is self defeating.
Well, to be honest, I really despise the idea that I need to be kind to people that take a dump on me, figuratively speaking. I know it’s what I’m SUPPOSED to do, but, I mean, does Christ expect me to ENJOY getting crapped on by others, or is He ok with me NOT enjoying it as long as I still manage to treat others with “love?” I mean, I CAN treat others “decently” despite how they treat me, but if I’m expected to RELISH their mistreatment of me, so as to “prove my sincerity,” then, nope, it ain’t happening. I don’t know, am I assuming something about God that is untrue? Do I have a misconception about Him?
That's the most nonsensical conception of Christianity that I've heard in a while. Where did you get this insane idea?