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MSchultz

MSchultz

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My name is Markus Schultz I am a German national living in the United Kingdom.
I am not a Christian but would like to learn about Christianity; I have an interest in others beliefs and attempt to understand them.
I look forward to meeting you all in due course.
 
Welcome to our Christian fellowship Markus. I hope you enjoy your time here, and give us opportunity to express the reason for the hope we have. :wave2
 
hi and welcome. Most here are Protestant. Some of us view things a bit...differently...than others. I hope you like it here and can walk away with a better understanding of Christianity.
 
Thank you kindly for your replies. Christ_empowered, I would be interested in exploring these belief systems; I have always had an engraved fascination with the World's most followed religion.
 
Hello MSchultz
I hope you already know a little something about Christianity or you'll be a little confused.
The bible is a great book but it gives a little wiggle room in the New Testament. Some little nuances here and there that we may not all agree on.
But on the big and important stuff we all agree.
God is real.
God created everything.
God wants a relationship with man.
Man saw God as being far away.
So He sent Jesus, so we could see God.

Now, you're studying other religions so you're going to have to figure out what's different about Christianity.
Do you have any idea right now what that might be?
It's important.

I'm an American living in Italy - so we have something in common.
I give you a big welcome.

Wondering
 
wondering said:
Hello MSchultz
I hope you already know a little something about Christianity or you'll be a little confused.
The bible is a great book but it gives a little wiggle room in the New Testament. Some little nuances here and there that we may not all agree on.
But on the big and important stuff we all agree.
God is real.
God created everything.
God wants a relationship with man.
Man saw God as being far away.
So He sent Jesus, so we could see God.

Now, you're studying other religions so you're going to have to figure out what's different about Christianity.
Do you have any idea right now what that might be?
It's important.

I'm an American living in Italy - so we have something in common.
I give you a big welcome.

Wondering
Click to expand...
Thank you for your welcome wondering; you are correct that I am exploring other religions. Currently my journey has taken me to the similarities between Christianity and Buddhism; not in a belief set but merely an expression as to how they both conduct themselves.
I understand that Christianity's main focus is on God (architect), Jesus (physical embodiment) and the Holy Ghost (spirit); a lifestyle defined by the earliest moments on Earth and how the universe came to be.
There is one question that I must ask...Is the Bible to be taken in a literal respect continually throughout life?
 
MSchultz said:
Thank you for your welcome wondering; you are correct that I am exploring other religions. Currently my journey has taken me to the similarities between Christianity and Buddhism; not in a belief set but merely an expression as to how they both conduct themselves.
I understand that Christianity's main focus is on God (architect), Jesus (physical embodiment) and the Holy Ghost (spirit); a lifestyle defined by the earliest moments on Earth and how the universe came to be.
There is one question that I must ask...Is the Bible to be taken in a literal respect continually throughout life?
Click to expand...
Hi MS
I'm not sure this forum can be used to speak back and forth. The moderator will let us know.
If not, you could always Private Message me. When you sign in, there 's the image of an envelope on the blue task bar up on top. You could "start a new conversation." You might be more computer savvy than I am and already know this! Or a new thread could be started, but this I don't know about since I've never started one.

You've hit on the major difference between Christianity and all other religions. "An expression as to how they both conduct themselves." " A lifestyle defined by the ealiest moments on earth."

You see, in every other religion, it is man who is searching for God. He then assumes God will be found by "performing" in a certain way. Doing all the right things, saying all the right things, conducting themselves properly.
This is not a bad thing. It is also found in Christianity. But, except for a few, Richard Gere comes to mind, it is a life of work trying to please God. But, people such as RG USE Buddhism to make their life better in understanding how it functions, getting some answers as to how to make it better.

Christianity is totally different. Here we have a God, THE God, the one known as the Creator of the universe, reaching down to man. The opposite of the above. God created man, He spoke to Him. Then he sent the early church Patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, Moses, etc. to let Himself be known to them. He "spoke" to them.
Then the Prophets, and finally, Jesus.

God gave Moses commandments but only because the Israelites had been in captivity for about 400 years and had lost any sense of civilization. The commandments taught them how to live in a civilized manner.
But the Law is a harsh master. It cannot be kept. So God sent Jesus. In Jesus we could see God and understand Him better. Then Jesus died to forgive our sins. Being that it was such a sacrifice, we tend to appreciate it and love Jesus for what He did for us. So now we have grace, the love of God, to guide us. Our love for Jesus makes us WANT to do the right things. We fail though, don't we?

But, you see, it's not about performance. It's about getting to heaven so we could spend eternity with God. If we believe in His Son, we will spend eternity with Him because the Son saves us from the wrath of God - who cannot be please with only performance. How good and perfect would you have to be to satisfy a perfect being?

No one else claimed to be God but Jesus. Not Buddha, Not confusious, Not Krishna, etc.

I say all this to answer your question regarding taking the bible literally. Christians do not read the bible to find out what they're supposed to do to get to heaven. The bible teaches us that we have a RELATIONSHIP with God through His Son Jesus. How could we possibly follow all the rules in the bible? Have you read Deuteronomy and Leviticus? The only rules we are to follow are the 10 Commandments, and it's the Holy Spirit that gives us the power to do this. And if we fail, as we often will, we have the assurance that we will be forgiven.

So, you see, if under Muhammad and you steal some money, your arm may be cut off (as in Saudi Arabia).
If you are under Jesus, you ask and are forgiven. And the chances are you probably would not have stolen the money to begin with because it saddens the Lord Jesus.

Other religions are a DOING
Christianity is a BEING

I hope this answers you. I'm sorry it was so long and told you more than you asked but I did need some background.

Good Day
Wondering
 
I am assuming that this forum is designed specifically for introductions; we do appear to have strayed from the purpose so a thread may be more suited.
I will create a thread in The Lounge where we can continue this discussion; I shall reply to your previous message there.
 
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