Ask Me Help Desk - What is the difference!

"Despite the fact that I have morals and values, I don't commit crimes, I'm a good person, I contribute to society and my community, I have a family, etc, that's not enough for you. You insist I must believe to be "good" in your eyes. How about basing your opinion of someone based off of their actions instead of their beliefs? How about respecting the differences people have, and keep your religion to yourself when you encounter someone who is satisfied with their spiritual self?"

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This is the typical response from atheist/ agnostics/ non- beliver's.

I might also add that a lot will also state that Christians are hypocrites because they are judgemental and don't lead lives any "better" than non-believer's. The divorce rate, Ted Haggard, the fall of televangelists are prime examples. And I don't dispute these examples.

Then we are told there is no scientific "proof" of a God, which I believe comes down to interpretation of the same facts.

SO why should they believe? What is the difference?

I did not want to intrude on their "atheist" thread over on spirituality.

As a Christian, I have some thought on this, but I want to hear from you all brothers and sisters in Christ.

Grace and Peace

I agree with you. I'm christian, but not your typical. I embrace certain beliefs while I despise others and even substitute some with what I believe to be the most moral.

??

Sounds like you should be addressing this to someone in particular. Worse yet, you are making blanket statements that are not true and unfair.

... like what it sounds like you are complaining about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthebox

"Despite the fact that I have morals and values, I don't commit crimes, I'm a good person, I contribute to society and my community, I have a family, etc, that's not enough for you. You insist I must believe to be "good" in your eyes. How about basing your opinion of someone based off of their actions instead of their beliefs? How about respecting the differences people have, and keep your religion to yourself when you encounter someone who is satisfied with their spiritual self?"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the typical response from atheist/ agnostics/ non- beliver's.

I might also add that alot will also state that Christians are hypocrites because they are judgemental and don't lead lives any "better" than non-believer's. The divorce rate, Ted Haggard, the fall of televangelists are prime examples. And I don't dispute these examples.

Then we are told there is no scientific "proof" of a God, which I believe comes down to interpretation of the same facts.

SO why should they believe? What is the difference?

I did not want to intrude on their "atheist" thread over on spirituality.

As a Christian, I have some thought on this, but I want to hear from you all brothers and sisters in Christ.

Grace and Peace

Thanks INthebox, I am all to familiar with this response. I find it very difficult to relate on any sort of level with this mindset. I have been trying to "put the shoe on the other foot" so to speak and see it from the other side. What I have boiled it down to is that we (as christians) will just always find resistance from the world when we discuss the bible, Jesus, God, salvation, etc. We know Jesus did to the point of death and so did many others after him. We will always be portrayed as "shoving" it down there throats when we state our beliefs but when they do we should be more open minded.

I'm addressing to this to Christians in general.

I'm asking a question that is posed by members to other members on past Christianity threads and on

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/spirit...ow-111864.html

I'm sorry if my question is obtuse.

Perhaps I'm only making a statement and that should be on the members board and not posed as a questions specific to Christians.

Please bear with me.

I think the difference is a recognition for the need for being forgiving and being forgiven by God.

There are others I can think of.

Grace and peace

I made the post, is there something you would like to say to me directly?

One thing many people forget is that Christians didn't make the rules. We only had them revealed to us by God. Those that don't like the rules need to take it up with God, not Christians.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillianleab

I made the post, is there something you would like to say to me directly?

No, we don't need your athiestic input. I think he specifically stated he wanted to hear from other fellow christians.

For the record, I want to apologize to Jilleanleab for not referencing her statement and perhaps taking it out of context.

Grace and Peace

Quote:

Originally Posted by beatlejuice

No, we dont need your athiestic imput. i think he specifically stated he wanted to hear from other fellow christians.

This is precisely the point, Christians can be worse or better when it comes to dealing with our fellow human beings , especially those thave different beliefs or lifestyles.

What makes us different if we are going to do the same things ?

If non-believer's want to make positive or negative comments, that is fine by me.

Grace and Peace

Remember, inthebox, that Christ Himself taught that we would be persecuted.

We can only act as we believe and "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15

Romans 3:23 (New King James Version)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

God tells us that none of us are "good". Also Jesus said:
Matthew 19:17
So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

We are also told that:
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (New King James Version)
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

We cannot change the minds of those whose hearts are set against the LORD.

Inthebox, I agree with you 100%, we as Christians don't always set a good example and that is why I think a lot of people may be cynical of Christianity because a lot of us don't practice what we preach. We are all called to be ambassadors of Christ and operate in love and spread the gospel. I think Christianity is the only religion where we are mandated to tell people the good news. Jesus said "Go into all the world and preach the good news and make desciples." so there is an emphasis to go and tell the world because the word says God is not willing that even one should perish.

Jesus tells to be careful who we share the Gospel and our testimony with, as not all will accept it. Matthew 7:6
“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Quote:

Originally Posted by beatlejuice

Jesus said "Go into all the world and preach the good news and make desciples." so there is an emphasis to go and tell the world because the word says God is not willing that even one should perish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by beatlejuice

Inthebox, i agree with you 100%, we as Christians dont always set a good example and that is why i think a lot of people may be cynical of Christianity because a lot of us dont practice what we preach. We are all called to be ambassadors of Christ and operate in love and spread the gospel. I think Christianity is the only religion where we are mandated to tell people the good news. Jesus said "Go into all the world and preach the good news and make desciples." so there is an emphasis to go and tell the world because the word says God is not willing that even one should perish.

Beatle:

I know you have been hammered lately, but your heart, to me, is in the right place.

God Bless

We as Christians know why they should believe. Instead I wonder why. How could they not believe. I look at nature, the way things work and mostly at the complexity of humans. The way life is made, the process of growth of a baby in the womb and wonder how people cannot see that a being with more intelligence than we can fathom, our great and powerful God created it all. How these complexities alone could have possibly been created through happenstance. I wonder how they can be content with the ways things began without God as the creator.
But then, is it easier for us to see these things because we have God within us? Because truth is within us?
I will tell you this. I am so grateful that God put me with parents and in a family who are Christians. Can we truly blame non-believers for not wanting to associate with and be part of hypocrisy, judgementals and those who have "holier than thou" attitudes? I couldn't tell you how many times non-believers have told me that the reasons they do not believe in God is because of the ways and attitudes of His followers. That they do not want to be a part of it? Unfortunately these people stopped looking when they saw the actions and heard the words of these people, and didn't continue to speak and view those who are not that way, or they simply did not see or talk to enough of us to see truth before their mind was made up. Another unfortunate is that we are lumped together. One's actions is all of our actions. One person wrongly exemplifies God so we all do.
Think about this. If you were raised in a home with either a belief in a totally different religion or no religion at all... If you had to sift through other Gods/beliefs, science's explanation of creation, etc. would you be in the same place in your Christian life as you are now? Would you even be a Christian? Would you, like non-believers, who do not have God's truth within them, rebuke God based upon the hypocritical, judgemental and "holier than thou" Christians that you have talked to and viewed their life/actions? Would you be able to speak to and see enough other Christians to see that not all are alike, and there are some who truly represent God in their lives? Or would you have seen enough before you saw the actual truth?
It's hard to say, I know. But I do know this. I am so grateful that I didn't have to find out. I am grateful that God was around me and within my family and household since before my birth. I am grateful because I can't positively say that God would be within me had I not had Godly guidance and upbringing. I would hope so and like to think so, but can't know for sure under different circumstances. I am grateful that I didn't have to struggle to find truth because it was around me since my birth, that I didn't have to sift through other religions and beliefs to find truth, and most importantly I am grateful because God gave that to me. Because God saw fit for me to be born to His children. I know that all Christians weren't born to Christian parents, I am just saying that personally, I am grateful to God that I was. Why? Because under different circumstances I would probably be asking the same question you did inthebox, why should I believe?
But because I am blessed, I know why I believe and why everyone else should too. It's a great thing to know, eh?

Thank you! I just get frustrated sometimes when athiests steriotype christians and make it seem like our views are primitive just because we believe in a greater power i.e God

Matthew

37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

The first part is what distinguishes us.

I think the secular world co-opts the second part as a variation on the "golden rule"
So they don't even have to consider God first.

Grace and peace

I believe we should all respect eachothers faith and religion. If someone chooses to follow a life of religion, that's a very courageous thing to do. If they choose not to follow a life of religion then that too, is couragous becase both people have shown the ability to be able to decide things for themselves and now be influenced by others.

I think another big reason why some people don't believe is that they don't want to. Evolution, as ridiculous as it is, is an alternitive to those who don't want to believe in a God in whom they have to be accountable to. In Our human nature we all want to run our own lives and do what ever we want without being accountable to anyone. The fear for most non believers is that they think if I believe in God then I am accountable to him, I have to give my life to him, I have to follow his comandments and turn away from sin. Most people are not ready to give up control of their lives like that so they choose to not believe in a God who is rightious and holds them accountable. So for someone who feels that way evolution is great because it eliminates a higher power, hell, judegment day etc. So they think if I don't believe, then I will not be subject to the consequeses however they fail to realise that whether you choose to believe or not the reality still remains and as Jesus said one day every knee shall bow and ever tongue shall confess that he is lord.