May 17, 2008 11:50PM GMT
Question
•
Religion - Christianity
Christians: What kind of Christianity should we be preaching?
I have seen a multitude of Christians on SodaHead of different denominations and walks of life. Many are eager to get God's message out to others, yet I have seen multiple versions of "Christianity" preached. I'm curious to find out what kind of Christianity my fellow Christians think should be taught on SH.One form of "Christianity" seen on SodaHead could best be described as "Pie-in-the-sky, by-and-by." In this form, God is all-loving, never judges anyone for anything under any circumstances, and everyone gets into Heaven no matter what they do or in what they believe. There is no judgment, no sin, no Hell, and, ultimately, no real need for redemption.
In another form of "Christianity," God is purely vengeful and full of wrath. Here, God is seen as constantly angry and condemning pretty much everyone to everlasting torment in Hell. There is little (if any) discussion of hope for eternal life in Heaven with God, just fire and brimstone.
Another form of "Christianity" emphasizes God is both loving, yet just. In this form, God indeed loves all of us dearly, but His holy nature cannot tolerate sin, and sinners will never see Heaven... Unless they accept His gift of eternal life through Christ's sacrifice. There is a strong emphasis on the danger of sin and Hell, but an equal emphasis on the redemptive nature of a relationship with Jesus.
What kind of Christianity should we Christians be preaching here on SodaHead? Which of these three is most in line with Scripture and thus closest to truth? Which is best to help those who do not yet believe, to save those who are currently in spiritual darkness?
If you believe a fourth (or fifth, or sixth, or seventh, or...) type of Christianity is closer to the truth, please pick "Other" and share with us!
I have tried to make this a balanced poll, so I apologize if I offend anyone. I've tried to give a nutshell description of the three different brands of Christianity I've seen on SodaHead.
Thanks, all.
Loading...-
raves 5 days agoThat's the God I know as well, NZ! The danger of the first brand is that it lulls people into a deadly sense of false security and completely rejects the need for Christ, and the danger of the second is that the Gospel being preached like that ignores God's greatest trait-- His love-- and alienates people from Him by portraying Him as a vindictive monster.
-
raves posted Nov 04, 2008 12:25PM GMT
Answered Other (please share!)
God is a God of love and he does not wish for any man to perish . He gives man free will to determine his own fate . Christians were first called christians at antioch which is in the book of Acts chapter 11 verse 26 . The first century christians method of worship was orderly as instructed by the apostle Paul and on the first day of the week we are to worship together as paul stated in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 25 , 26 . We are to worship God in spirit and in truth by using the bible for instruction in how shall conduct ourselves each day living a life worthy of being called a christian and never be ashamed of the truth , the gospel that sets all men free of the bondage of sin through Jesus Christ who died upon the cross to wipe away our sins . Christians are immersed in water to cleanse them from sin and are expected to remain faithful till the end of our race on earth has been run as we all are fighting a spiritual war and satan is a raging lion devouring whomever he can so beware , believe in God and accept His son Jesus Christ for salvation and choose who and where you want to spend eternity with . -
raves +3 posted Oct 16, 2008 02:52AM GMT
Answered God is loving, but just. We are all sinners in danger of Hell, but all who accept Christ will be in Heaven.
This is the God that I love and worship. He loves everyone and would like everyone to be saved and live eternally with Him. But unfortunately.....
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” -
raves +1 posted Oct 13, 2008 02:28PM GMT
Answered Other (please share!)
I wonder if anyone in these days and times ran moneylenders out of a temple, how would their deed be judged, as a sin, or a blessing. Perhaps I should ask this as a new question here, what do you think? I think God loves everyone and it is up to the individual to decide whether he loves or not in order to do what is expected of him/her. I can't agree with the first choice, but neither can I totally agree with the other two, either.
We will be judged individually and will wind up where it will be decided that we will wind up, don't you think? -
raves +1 Nov 06, 2008 02:35AM GMTI have a blog called Crash Course in Calvinism posted on my profile if you want to take a look. Basically, though, in a small nutshell here, Calvinism teaches that
1) Everyone is a sinner and destined for Hell because of sinfulness.
2) From all eternity, God chose some to save from this destination.
3) Those whom God chose, He calls, and those He calls believe and are saved.
So the people who end up in Hell get what they deserve (the wages of sin is death and eternal separation from God) and those who end up in Heaven get completely undeserved grace. It's like the Biblical parable of the man who hired workers early in the morning and said (I'm paraphrasing obviously), "I'll give you a hundred bucks if you work for me until 5PM." They said, "OK!" and started work. The man then hired more workers at noon and said, "I'll give you a hundred bucks if you work for me until 5PM." They said, "OK!" and started work. The man then hired more workers at 4PM and said, "I'll give you a hundred bucks if you work for me until 5PM." They said, "OK!" and worked. At 5, the man paid everyone $100 as promised. The people who were there from early morning whined at the man, saying, "We worked so much longer than the other people, we should get paid more!" and the man just said, "Look, gu...I have a blog called Crash Course in Calvinism posted on my profile if you want to take a look. Basically, though, in a small nutshell here, Calvinism teaches that
1) Everyone is a sinner and destined for Hell because of sinfulness.
2) From all eternity, God chose some to save from this destination.
3) Those whom God chose, He calls, and those He calls believe and are saved.
So the people who end up in Hell get what they deserve (the wages of sin is death and eternal separation from God) and those who end up in Heaven get completely undeserved grace. It's like the Biblical parable of the man who hired workers early in the morning and said (I'm paraphrasing obviously), "I'll give you a hundred bucks if you work for me until 5PM." They said, "OK!" and started work. The man then hired more workers at noon and said, "I'll give you a hundred bucks if you work for me until 5PM." They said, "OK!" and started work. The man then hired more workers at 4PM and said, "I'll give you a hundred bucks if you work for me until 5PM." They said, "OK!" and worked. At 5, the man paid everyone $100 as promised. The people who were there from early morning whined at the man, saying, "We worked so much longer than the other people, we should get paid more!" and the man just said, "Look, guys, the $100 is exactly what I promised and exactly what you deserve. What business is it of yours what I paid the other workers?" In other words, everyone deserves Hell, but God decided looooooooooong ago to give some people "a bonus" I guess you would say in terms of "salary" and accept them into Heaven.
It's a tough doctrine to swallow, but there is plenty of support in Scripture that seems to indicate we are predestined for either Heaven or Hell.(less) -
raves Nov 04, 2008 05:30PM GMTour preachers that preach the love god wants us all to have DO NOT PREACH HATE
WHITE AMERICANS AND GOD DAMN AMERICA
these people are taught this from birth in schools at home at church
at least we have church to go to for guidance in life of love
rev wright teaches hate when these people need love and support
its no wonder they go out and shoot each other, they go to church for guidance and rev wright tells them to hate more -
raves +1 posted Oct 07, 2008 03:53PM GMT
Answered Other (please share!)
Shirkie, I think your question is a very good one. However, I am sorry to have to say this, but none of the choices fully fit the truth of Bible teaching. Perhaps just an oversight on your part. The one that comes closest; "God is loving, but just. We are all sinners in danger of Hell, but all who accept Christ will be in Heaven." I could have chosen that one IF it had read more like the following;
"God is loving, but just. We are all sinners in danger of Hell, but all who accept Christ, and live for Him as His word commands, and who persevere until the end, will be in Heaven."
Folks, despite what so many believe today, merely believing or receiving Christ as Savior does not save a person. It does however give us the POWER to be saved. Power to resist this world, power to resist this flesh, and power to stand on the truth and walk in all that Christ commands. Many receive the power and discard it, unused, as they go back to their old life just having a new title, calling them self "Christian." Loving Christ is obeying Him and following His words, not the words of men.
Please read the following verses carefully before proceeding. (You should also look them up later to verify the context. Always a good idea when you see Scripture.)
"But as many as received him, to...Shirkie, I think your question is a very good one. However, I am sorry to have to say this, but none of the choices fully fit the truth of Bible teaching. Perhaps just an oversight on your part. The one that comes closest; "God is loving, but just. We are all sinners in danger of Hell, but all who accept Christ will be in Heaven." I could have chosen that one IF it had read more like the following;
"God is loving, but just. We are all sinners in danger of Hell, but all who accept Christ, and live for Him as His word commands, and who persevere until the end, will be in Heaven."
Folks, despite what so many believe today, merely believing or receiving Christ as Savior does not save a person. It does however give us the POWER to be saved. Power to resist this world, power to resist this flesh, and power to stand on the truth and walk in all that Christ commands. Many receive the power and discard it, unused, as they go back to their old life just having a new title, calling them self "Christian." Loving Christ is obeying Him and following His words, not the words of men.
Please read the following verses carefully before proceeding. (You should also look them up later to verify the context. Always a good idea when you see Scripture.)
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" John 1:12
"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;" Hebrews 3:14
"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." James 2:19
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13-14
"...even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were." Romans 4:17
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
So hopefully we can see that those who receive Christ, even those who believe on His name, are given the POWER to become a Christian, to be saved. We must daily walk in that power until the end, if we will be redeemed fully at the appearing of Christ and the Judgment, because what we have in this life is the "earnest," the down payment if you will of the salvation God has promised to those who love Him.
Fortunately for us, and because God is a loving God, He is willing to treat us as though we were already fully redeemed, calling things that are not as though they were (Ephesians 1:13-14)
We are given the, "Holy Spirit of promise...until the redemption of the purchased possession." Many have been careless supposing they are fully redeemed already. When one understands this clear Bible teaching they come to realize there remains the possibility of falling away, and that there is no longer any cloak for careless living. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
Many, even those who say they are born again Christians, will reject this message and that is unfortunate for them. The Bible is to be understood as the Holy Spirit of God guides us into the truth. It is not dependent on denominations, the teachings of Wesley, Calvin, or any other man. Many have had their understanding hijacked by such teachings and been led astray from what the bible has to say. Seek the understanding given only by God and he will bless you with the mind of Christ. ~ Jim(less) -
raves +2 Oct 09, 2008 12:36AM GMTVery good comments, Jim. I maintain that salvation is through grace alone, through accepting Christ as Lord and Savior and repenting, and that the obeying of God's commandments and doing good works are the "Thank you," your demonstration of gratitude for Him for your salvation. But I think I'm pretty much on the same page as you because I agree this is a daily walk for Christians. I just don't see us losing the salvation we gained through Christ if we fail as Christians, being sinful and all, and do not faithfully keep all of God's commandments. His strength is greater than our weakness and inability to fully obey as we should. After all, look how many times God forgave and redeemed Israel after they COMPLETELY abandoned God and His teachings and even ran after idols!
-
raves +1 Oct 09, 2008 12:55AM GMTI appreciate your comments Shirkie, and I appreciate your attitude, but do not agree that the Bible teaches "grace alone". Men teach grace alone and Jesus never did. There are many verses and passages I could quote that clearly teach we can backslide and fall away in this world. Your "arguments" about not losing salvation are old ones, ones that were preached to me until I came to know the truth through diligent Bible study and prayer. My friend God delights to show His children His truths, but first He wants us to come to Him emptied of self, the world and the teachings of men. Come to Him as an empty vessel and let HIM fill you up! What a blessing it is and I hope you come to know it as I have.
God did forgive and redeem Israel many times didn't He? But how many of them did He strike down? Often times tens of thousands at a time. How many who wandered in the desert made it into the promised land?
Please consider: "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"
Hebrews 10:29 -
raves +2 Oct 12, 2008 09:36PM GMTWell, I still maintain it is grace alone, for Paul wrote, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast" (Eph. 2:8-9). And if Paul, who had an encounter with the risen Christ Himself wrote that, I have to believe it.
-
raves Oct 12, 2008 09:50PM GMTYou just quoted one of the verses that prove it is not grace alone. Are you going to ignore faith?
"Grace....through faith" Study what the Bible has to say about FAITH. You have to go THROUGH faith to receive the grace.
I hope you will study and pray about this instead of dismissing it so easily. God tells us to study and it is then that He reveals His Word to us. In the Gospels you will remember He often spoke in parables and round about ways. Why? Please consider:
"And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."
Mark 4:9-12 -
raves +1 Oct 12, 2008 09:59PM GMTJim, I think you and I are going to have to respectfully disagree here. I don't think either one of us can legitimately argue the other is not saved, so must we argue over this? I think you and I both know what it takes to be a Christian. It is a combination of walking (works) and talking (faith) to live an authentic Christian life; I think we are just arguing over the formula, whether it is
FAITH = WORKS + SALVATION
or
FAITH + WORKS = SALVATION -
raves Oct 12, 2008 10:11PM GMTWe can agree to disagree Shirkie, but I can't agree to your formulas.
Just to be clear let me say:
Works and saving faith are one. They are inseparable. Works cannot save us. Faith like the devil has cannot save us. (James 2:19).
Our works ARE our faith.
If I pray every day, read the Bible every day, avoid sin, defend the faith, walk in the light of Christ, on and on and on. it is these things that make my faith a saving faith and not just a mental assent or knowledge.
This is a VERY brief nutshell, but hopefully enough to clarify for the record.
Take care, by your words I believe you know the Lord. I do wish you would consider at some point what I have tried to get across. -
raves +2 Nov 12, 2008 02:48AM GMTExplain to me how you will work for a gift. If you have to do something for the gift then it no longer is a gift. It would be a debt paid. Grace has saved us and through our returning love for our Lord we will work for Him and his kingdom. Do you have any other verses that I may read to make me understand your point of view.
-
raves Nov 12, 2008 07:18PM GMTBill do you follow the teachings of Calvin, meaning are you and /or your church Calvinistic in your understanding/teaching of the Bible?
Bill, you wrote: "Explain to me how you will work for a gift. If you have to do something for the gift then it no longer is a gift."
What you are asking is the result of what is very commonly taught today, but it is not the Spiritual understanding of Gods Word, but is the carnal understanding. You misunderstand the gift God has given. You misunderstand Grace and it's purpose and what it does for us.
Bill, you wrote: "Grace has saved us..."
Grace has saved no one. The Bible teaches that we are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace is the agent that ENABLES us to come to Christ. Grace stays the hand of judgment for a period of time that we may repent and obey.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"
Answered God is loving, but just. We are all sinners in danger of Hell, but all who accept Christ will be in Heaven.
moderated...