Rather than being an Atheist...

[Classik]

Ever come across the arguement before: It is better to be a religious non-Christian than to be completely an atheist?


Yet I see both as antiChrists. It is perhaps easier to convert an atheist than to convert a person who shares a different belief (other than Christianity)

 

[Kathi]

Ever come across the arguement before: It is better to be a religious non-Christian than to be completely an atheist?


Yet I see both as antiChrists. It is perhaps easier to convert an atheist than to convert a person who shares a different belief (other than Christianity)

I think that is a wrong statement "It is better to be a religious non-Christian than to be completely an atheist?".Religious?What does that mean?I would rather have a relationship with God any day rather than focus on a religion.The only one who can convert an atheist into a Christian is God.Only God can change the heart.Although we can bring before them the Word of God and plant the seed.

 

[Gary]

Ever come across the arguement before: It is better to be a religious non-Christian than to be completely an atheist?


Yet I see both as antiChrists. It is perhaps easier to convert an atheist than to convert a person who shares a different belief (other than Christianity)

I view them that way also. And it is harder to witness to someone of another faith. All we can really do is plant, water and leave the rest to God.

.

 

[Eugene]

Ever come across the arguement before: It is better to be a religious non-Christian than to be completely an atheist?

Yet I see both as antiChrists. It is perhaps easier to convert an atheist than to convert a person who shares a different belief (other than Christianity)

I think you're on to something there. Paul was religious, but tells us in Gal 1:13, For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it. BUT when God . . .

 

[jasonc]

I think that is a wrong statement "It is better to be a religious non-Christian than to be completely an atheist?".Religious?What does that mean?I would rather have a relationship with God any day rather than focus on a religion.The only one who can convert an atheist into a Christian is God.Only God can change the heart.Although we can bring before them the Word of God and plant the seed.

logicall fallacy. Christianity is a religion. if it wasn't then we could under the first amendment have a state religion. we do have some rites. the ideas baptism and communion are rites. of course if one is a messianic jew one has a few more rites to it. the idea of rituals in the tanach doesn't and didn't ever negate that the men of old could talk to god. moses was close to god and spoke to him as a friend did, sadly i bet he could teach Christians today much on the nature of god. he does say when he is giving the torah to isreal that god isn't far from any of us nor is mercy unreachable.

 

[reba]

Religion is man's plan for God
Salvation is God's plan for man..

 

[jasonc]

Im not a christian. Im just a sheep doing my best to follow ONE Shepard who leads the way with one straight path. This Shepard is not a religion.

its a religion with the simplicity of a personal relationship with the creator/savior.

if not then what did james mean by this?

pure religion is this to help the poor. which btw is torah. that is the essence of torah and why god judged isreal and Judah and Sodom and gommorah.

 

[for_his_glory]

It is easier to convert an atheist than it is a religious Pharisee. Latin root word for religion is bondage, which is different then that of Gods pure religion of James 1:27, but that of following tradition and the doctrine of a mans church, not Gods true Church. The Latin root word is religare as re is a prefix that means return and ligare means to bind. Religion tells you what you can and cannot do and becomes socially acceptable by mans interpretations, traditions and doctrines. Religion is what nailed Christ to the cross.

 

[Kathi]

Religion is man's plan for God
Salvation is God's plan for man..

Yes

 

[Edward]

Ever come across the arguement before: It is better to be a religious non-Christian than to be completely an atheist?


Yet I see both as antiChrists. It is perhaps easier to convert an atheist than to convert a person who shares a different belief (other than Christianity)

Right brother! Agreed. Without a God, there would be no atheists...:wink

 

[Edward]

logicall fallacy. Christianity is a religion. if it wasn't then we could under the first amendment have a state religion. we do have some rites. the ideas baptism and communion are rites. of course if one is a messianic jew one has a few more rites to it. the idea of rituals in the tanach doesn't and didn't ever negate that the men of old could talk to god. moses was close to god and spoke to him as a friend did, sadly i bet he could teach Christians today much on the nature of god. he does say when he is giving the torah to isreal that god isn't far from any of us nor is mercy unreachable.

I'm sorry brother, did you contradict yourself in the selfsame paragraph? Perhaps i misunderstood. At first you seem to say that Government defines our beliefs, then, in your last sentence seem to say that God is right there for all (which is true), but can it really be both ways?

 

[jasonc]

I'm sorry brother, did you contradict yourself in the selfsame paragraph? Perhaps i misunderstood. At first you seem to say that Government defines our beliefs, then, in your last sentence seem to say that God is right there for all (which is true), but can it really be both ways?

I said IF Christian IS not a religion then the first amendment doesn't apply and we could have a state faith. we both know that the founders of America would disagree as each state had its sponsored sect of Christianity. viriginia was Anglican, mass was puritan.

I aslo said that given the old saints and that ancient judiasm was full of rites. the feasts and the shabat are rituals. those were done to worship god and personal worship isn't negated by them at all. Abraham did such and also others in the torah and tanach. moses spoke of god being near to us all and most reachable. jesus made it easier and more simple. the shadows are gone.

 

[Edward]

its a religion with the simplicity of a personal relationship with the creator/savior.

if not then what did james mean by this?

pure religion is this to help the poor. which btw is torah. that is the essence of torah and why god judged isreal and Judah and Sodom and gommorah.

Oh ok, here you go. I should have kept reading, lol.
I don't know though, is the term religion, an accurate enough term to describe Christianity? Or is it simply a 'loosely speaking' sort of usage? Is it not more of a identity crisis / relationship seeking pursuit?

 

[reba]

context context context

 

[Edward]

I said IF Christian IS not a religion then the first amendment doesn't apply and we could have a state faith. we both know that the founders of America would disagree as each state had its sponsored sect of Christianity. viriginia was Anglican, mass was puritan.

I aslo said that given the old saints and that ancient judiasm was full of rites. the feasts and the shabat are rituals. those were done to worship god and personal worship isn't negated by them at all. Abraham did such and also others in the torah and tanach. moses spoke of god being near to us all and most reachable. jesus made it easier and more simple. the shadows are gone.

I see now brother, and I agree with you. I wonder though...is rites even the right word? The had not the Holy Spirit then and in a way, I think it's different now. It's relationship, with the constant presence of the Holy Spirit...and the "rites" of feast notwithstanding for worship will certainly take place, it seems to me that (at least now) it is more of a friendly relationship BBQ at the very very respected friends house, loosely speaking of course and no disrespect intended, but friends, family...sons and daughters...? Yeah! Glad I could make it Father! Thank you!

See what I mean?

 

[reba]

 

[Edward]

 

[jasonc]

I see now brother, and I agree with you. I wonder though...is rites even the right word? The had not the Holy Spirit then and in a way, I think it's different now. It's relationship, with the constant presence of the Holy Spirit...and the "rites" of feast notwithstanding for worship will certainly take place, it seems to me that (at least now) it is more of a friendly relationship BBQ at the very very respected friends house, loosely speaking of course and no disrespect intended, but friends, family...sons and daughters...? Yeah! Glad I could make it Father! Thank you!

See what I mean?

you don't really understand the jewish feast then. sin offerings and worship all were done only at the temple. not at home. though the torah didn't intend it to be thatway as the cities had priests. I will ask stovebolts more about this when I talk to him

reba, jeff says hi, he has been busy working.

ie the peshac was done at home at first but in jesus day it was offered at the temple. the peshac was it changed?

 

[Edward]

you don't really understand the jewish feast then. sin offerings and worship all were done only at the temple. not at home. though the torah didn't intend it to be thatway as the cities had priests. I will ask stovebolts more about this when I talk to him

reba, jeff says hi, he has been busy working.

ie the peshac was done at home at first but in jesus day it was offered at the temple. the peshac was it changed?

this is the Passover, right? i don't know if it was changed. I know it was to celebrate the jews release from captivity from Egypt. Lots of sacrificing and celebration. perhaps a type and shadow of the great trib?

 

[jasonc]

.

this is the Passover, right? i don't know if it was changed. I know it was to celebrate the jews release from captivity from Egypt. Lots of sacrificing and celebration. perhaps a type and shadow of the great trib?

no the peshac is a shadow of the cross and the concept of being born again. its commanded to be done at home. either by oral traditions it was changed. jesus didn't say anything about that. a good question for stovebolts to answer.