Maybe I don't want to be a Christian any more

[Quagmire]

I think professing Christians like Dallas and Christine fit very well on Forum sites like these.

Which makes me wonder; if you really believe that you're preaching the gospel, i.e., that you're a "real" Christian (as opposed to just a "professing" Christian), why are you still here?

Matthew 10:14
If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.

I'm not sure they understand the gospel of God very well (IMO).

In order to make that judgement you would have to understand it yourself.

 

[Christian Pilgrim]

I already do seek wisdom from my elder.His name is Jesus Christ.Thats why Im a Christian..If I can be 1/100th like Him?Then the world for the people around me will in fact be a better place.All I can do is aim for that..strive for that.I will fall down I will fail..just like any other human being.

And if you are not "sure" "we"(Christine and I) understand the gospel very well..based on how well we "fit in " with many on a forum..(like these)..I could say that maybe YOU need to talk to an "elder" because you dont understand the gospel and you need to seek some wisdom because you arent getting along very well here.

So we are even.

Love

Dallas

Do you mind sharing a link to a church that you attend? I believe Christine is between churches.

 

[DallasApple]

Isn't it funny how a thread about how some Christians make a sport of telling other Christians that they aren't "Christian enough" or aren't "true Christians (tm)".... has turned into a thread where some Christians are telling other Christians that they aren't "true Christians (tm)" or aren't "Christian enough"?

I think my Irony meter is just about topped off.

wa:do

Im telling ya!!

Maybe my head should be chopped off..or I should be "burned"..or maybe my intestines should be ripped out while Im alive..

Or maybe??? I should go to a "church" and talk to an "elder" who can dispense the wisdom of Christ.

Love

Dallas

 

[challupa]

First of all, are you a Christian?

Used to be many many years ago. I was part of a rigid Christian faith. I have read your bible from cover to cover several times and had plenty of elders interpret it for me over and over. So now are you going to answer my question?

 

[challupa]

Wrath, jealousy, hate, vengeance, etc. are negative HUMAN emotions created by our sinful nature. God does NOT have these emotions, period. God wants us to avoid all negative consequences of our behaviors . . . like any good parent would. The fact that there may be a negative consequence to our failure to develop spiritually does NOT mean it is a punishment from God.

I'm not sure what you are saying, but here is what I think you're saying. God is not wrathful, jealous, hateful or vengeful. He does not punish us. Those charactoristics I just named are human characteristics and because they create negative scenerios when we display any of these characteristics, we get the circumstances because of our actions and these circumstances are not God's. I am not sure though whether you believe in eternal damnation for unbelievers when we die though. Do you?

 

[ChristineES]

Im telling ya!!

Maybe my head should be chopped off..or I should be "burned"..or maybe my intestines should be ripped out while Im alive..

Or maybe??? I should go to a "church" and talk to an "elder" who can dispense the wisdom of Christ.

Love

Dallas

These "elders" read the same Bible you and I do.
I am not angry really, I have been told that I am only a professing Christian before by a couple of people, a few others told me I was misguided. I think it is because I read the Gospels myself and don't always follow the "traditional" interpretations of it. Most other Christians say I am a true Christian. (I can only hope that I am, )

 

[DallasApple]

Do you mind sharing a link to a church that you attend? I believe Christine is between churches.

Yes I mind..Because the last church I attended regulary did not allow women to be in authority ..they could not even be youth pastors..(STRICTLY BIBLICAL).

And besides that..Im sure Christine knows how to read the Bible..and if she wants to attend a brick and morter church she will find one she likes..they are all unique.And we dont live close together..If she wants my "help" I will do what I can if she asks for my opiniion.

Love

Dallas

 

[painted wolf]

Do you mind sharing a link to a church that you attend? I believe Christine is between churches.

Do you feel the need to approve of her church? Pass judgment on her piety?

wa:do

 

[challupa]

He said the sick need a doctor, not the healthy.

That reminds me of something I read once. The article was talking about that very thing, how we don't need a doctor if we are healthy. They used that analogy to churches/ministers and said that spiritual health is not what churches aim for with their followers because if they had a personal healthy relationship with God and no need for the middle man (priest) then they would be out of work. I thought that to be pretty insightful.

 

[DallasApple]

These "elders" read the same Bible you and I do.
I am not angry really, I have been told that I am only a professing Christian before by a couple of people, a few others told me I was misguided. I think it is because I read the Gospels myself and don't always follow the "traditional" interpretations of it. Most other Christians say I am a true Christian. (I can only hope that I am, )

NO Christine..You need an "elder".Dont "trust your self"..You need a "man" or a "woman" who can "teach you"

You dont understand..You need someone else to teach you the wisdom.If you need some advice just let me know.

Love

Dallas

 

[Christian Pilgrim]

Yes I mind..Because the last church I attended regulary did not allow women to be in authority ..they could not even be youth pastors..(STRICTLY BIBLICAL).

And besides that..Im sure Christine knows how to read the Bible..and if she wants to attend a brick and morter church she will find one she likes..they are all unique.And we dont live close together..If she wants my "help" I will do what I can if she asks for my opiniion.

Love

Dallas

Thanks for sharing. Do you guys just throw out the entire chapter of Ephesians 4? Now I understand where each one of you are coming from.

Ephesians 4
Unity in the Body of Christ

4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? [1] 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds [2] and teachers, [3] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, [4] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. - Paul

 

[challupa]

These "elders" read the same Bible you and I do.
I am not angry really, I have been told that I am only a professing Christian before by a couple of people, a few others told me I was misguided. I think it is because I read the Gospels myself and don't always follow the "traditional" interpretations of it. Most other Christians say I am a true Christian. (I can only hope that I am, )

Well the way I see it, is if God gave us free will and brains, I think he expected us to think with them don't you? To have a personal connection with the divine, I believe you have to have a unique relationship with God and that means it won't be exactly like anyone else's connection. Besides, it doesn't matter what the bible says, there is a different interpretation of it by everyone. I would think no one really agrees 100% what it means.

 

[Christian Pilgrim]

Well the way I see it, is if God gave us free will and brains, I think he expected us to think with them don't you? To have a personal connection with the divine, I believe you have to have a unique relationship with God and that means it won't be exactly like anyone else's connection. Besides, it doesn't matter what the bible says, there is a different interpretation of it by everyone. I would think no one really agrees 100% what it means.

That goes contray to what God reveals about human wisdom. I guess you are not a Christian, right?

 

[painted wolf]

Thanks for sharing. Do you guys just throw out the entire chapter of Ephesians 4? Now I understand where each one of you are coming from.

Guess I was right...
You know, I used to wonder why there were over 300 flavors of Christian out there...

wa:do

 

[McBell]

*desperately scrounges around to fix hole in rubber raft*

 

[McBell]

Guess I was right...
You know, I used to wonder why there were over 300 flavors of Christian out there...

wa:do

They are trying to keep up with Baskin Robbins

 

[challupa]

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

So... what part of this don't you understand?

 

[ChristineES]

Here are some verses for you about brothers (Christian brothers and sisters). Both from the Old and New Testaments.

Lev 19:17 "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.

Mat 5:22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.

Mat 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Mat 7:4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? Mat 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

God bless.

 

[McBell]

So... what part of this don't you understand?

My guess, based upon his posts, everything from post one forward...

 

[challupa]

That goes contray to what God reveals about human wisdom. I guess you are not a Christian, right?

No, I am definitely not a Christian. Three quesses why, the first 2 don't count!