Teach Me

[Listener]

But what if all the "Gods" in all realign is the same "God" what then?

 

[archangel_300]

Not to take away from Listener's questions, but I'd say John 14:6 might support your statement as a theistic deduction; Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

To me he is referring more to his sacrifice for all of man, but are there any other biblical verses or text that you might point to that would say that if you trusted any other religion but Christianity you would be condemned to hell? Anything specifically that would lead us away from merely a theistic deduction, or rejecting Christ completely? I'm asking because I don't know of anything specifically off hand. Do you?

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

Acts 4:10-12
let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’[a] 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.â€

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 12:44-48 Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe,[a] I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

 

[archangel_300]

But what if all the "Gods" in all realign is the same "God" what then?

I'll be honest I haven't done such an indepth study of other religions than Christianity.
But I think that this would not be so because different religions may contradict each other. Christianity being a primary example as it states it is the only way. But then you may have another religion that states it is the only way. So there can't be two different ways that lead to the same God. Also you may have certain laws/rituals in one religion that may contradict a certain law/ritual in another. If God is perfect He wouldn't contradict Himself in such a confusing fashion.

The reason why I believe in Christianity and the Bible is because I'm completely convinced the scriptures itself are not man made and that's why I put my trust in it. Yes it was penned down by human authors but ultimitely I'm completely convinced that there was an exterior source at work.

 

[Hawkins]

The definition of pride I found at Dictionary.com "a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct"

To me, pride is the misjudgment of reality due to self-overestimation. You over-estimate yourself and to judge wrongly, that's what pride is.

 

[Hawkins]

But what if all the "Gods" in all realign is the same "God" what then?

If you are willing to do a detailed study, you might find the difference between religions.

Here's my study,

1. Religion is about faith. Yet not all religions have the self-awareness to realise that they themselves are of faith. From my speculation, only Abrahamic religions have such a self-awareness. The main theme is "you are saved by faith" or "you need faith to be saved".

2. Ultimately, a 'true' religion is about how one's after life is, which is the only part where 'FAITH' is demanded the most. Because we don't know what life will be after death, we need faith either to believe life continues, or we need the same amount of faith to believe that life ceases to continue after death.

As a result, religion can hardly be eradicated from humanity as long as humans cannot deliever a satisfactory answer about "will life continue after death, does soul exist?" Religons will continue to exist because you need faith to answer this question. And to a certain extent, you have to answer this question within your life time, subconscously if not conscously. It is thus a faith question demanding a faith answer for everyone to go through.

3. Now how practical religion is to address the question like "will life continue, or does soul exist?". To put it another way, how practical religions are in offering the saving of souls, that is, how practical the salvation theology is.

Amongst all religions, only Christianity offers the solution of Sin Atonement. All others are almost exclusively about the supressing of sin using strict rules which at least humans today can hardly abide by. They can't be practical enough to save human souls.

It seems that only sin atonement is practical enough to save a certain portion of human souls. As an illustration, how many humans before 30s of last century can get their hands on nudity? Very few. How about today? With the widespreading of the Internet, few can get away from nudity and exotics. Abrahamic God hates adultery so much that women in the middle east will have to wrap them up like mummies to avoid sin. So in today's world, how many can survive God's judgment if few of us can be fully away from nudity and exotics.

It only says that the only practical religion which fits the past and fits today and fits the future is Christianity.

4. Everyone can claim that he's inspired from God. What is needed at least theologically to distinguish the truth from the fake? It is witnessing! By the religion of the Jews, and it is emphasized in both OT and NT that false witnessing is a dead sin. Chritianity is developed by witnessing, at least so theologically speaking. Jesus Christ's deed is declared to be witnessed. Christianity spreaded so quickly because it is said that (theologicall at least) Jesus Christ's disciples are willing to die as a witnessing for His death, resurrection and ascension.

5. If it is said that the prophets can deliver messages from God, how will they know that those messages are truly from God the high power, instead of delusion and such? Again, theologically at least, prophecies and miracles are brain independent. And God may use them to confirm that the messages are from a higher power.

Acts 14:3
So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.

So God inspires men by putting messages into their brains, then performing message-related miracles of allowing prophecies to come true to confirm that the messages are from HIm.

To put it another way, God uses miracles and prophecies as testimony/witness for His own messages. Christianity is thus theologically sound, as it seems that the Bible contains tons of prophecies from the prophets and tons of miracles from those Jews who abide by the dogma that false witness is not allowed.

Proverbs 19:9 (OT)
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish.

Revelation 21:8 (NT)
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

6. Humans are imperfect. Jesus makes a difference because His deity is known to His followers. God will choose a group of imperfect minds to craft the Bible such that His will will be done through the Holy Bible, by the hands of the imperfect humans. This is also a factor of witnessing. A group of prophets acting consistently saying the same thing as part of the witnessing of His truth is theologically sound instead of through a single person.

7. God knows the past and He knows the future. Has any God presented his case about a prophecy for his own religion and the book his inspired? Other than Christian God, it seems none. And God sent out His challenge for the false gods long time ago through His prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 41:21-24
"Present your case," says the LORD. "Set forth your arguments," says Jacob's King.
"Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come,
tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.
But you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless; he who chooses you is detestable.


Luke 21:33
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

So now the Holy Bible is the all time best selling book.

Acts 13:47
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."

So now Christianity is the most widespreaded religion of the world with 1/3 humans as its followers.

No another book nor another religion can ever foresaw its own future like this.

 

[archangel_300]

But what if all the "Gods" in all realign is the same "God" what then?

I'll be honest I haven't done such an indepth study of other religions than Christianity.
But I think that this would not be so because different religions may contradict each other. Christianity being a primary example as it states it is the only way. But then you may have another religion that states it is the only way. So there can't be two different ways that lead to the same God. Also you may have certain laws/rituals in one religion that may contradict a certain law/ritual in another. If God is perfect He wouldn't contradict Himself in such a confusing fashion.

The reason why I believe in Christianity and the Bible is because I'm completely convinced the scriptures itself are not man made and that's why I put my trust in it. Yes it was penned down by human authors but ultimitely I'm completely convinced that there was an exterior source at work.

To clarify what I meant above...
You can't have two different ways stating they are the only way to truth and there is no other way. If they all lead to the same God then God would be a liar.

 

[Listener]

What God wants is a loving relationship with us. Is that pride? He allows us to choose to have that relationship or not. Is that pride?

Because we live in a "Fallen world", which you can learn more about studying the scriptures in Genesis, God had to make a path for us to be able to be with him. To do this he came here to live with us as (Jesus Christ) and to teach us, and to be a living example of perfection which he knew we could not accomplish on our own. That living example of Godly perfection was willingly sacrificed on the cross to pay a price for us to be righteous before God. Is that being prideful? or is that more ultimate humility and love?

Your questions are fair, but your perspective to understanding God is tangled, twisted a bit; Too black and white with little room for more than one or two concepts.

I think if you want to understand God, you might try to pick another perspective, or thought. Is there a God? how about that? Do you believe there is a God? From there we can work on understanding the nature of God.

No i do not believe there is a god. I was raised in a very religious family. I was raised in the Bahai Faith. They believe not in just one manifestation of god. but all; Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Mahmud ect ect but the believe that Bahá'u'lláh is just the most recent one. So I grew up with all the stories of Jesus and the teaching. So i fell my self as a quit learned person when it comes to that.

I also do not think my few of god is black and white at all.. What it is, is a look at god in the eyes of a person that thinks logical, and askes question, a person that want to learn, and a person that wants to teach. If there is a god i believe he wants us to question him, think for our selves, and not fallow any thing blindly which i believe most not all, just most christens and all religious people to do.

If you don't believe in God then why are you asking a question to Christians about a single God you don't even believe exist?

You are right on a few points in your response. God does not just want people to blindly follow him. He invites questions and he does in fact want to teach us more about him. To do that you must be willing and open to truly learning.

When you say; "not fallow any thing blindly which i believe most not all, just most christens and all religious people to do." What exactly is "Most" Christians? 2/3 perhaps? You said you are a logical thinker so I have to assume you have some facts on the amount of Christians as a whole who blindly follow? What would that number be and can you delineate that figure from those you define as "not all". You also say other religions. Personalty I can't answer your questions from the view of other religions.

I should also point out my quote "Your questions are fair, but your perspective to understanding God is tangled, twisted a bit; Too black and white with little room for more than one or two concepts."

I don't want you thinking I stated your view of God was black and white per-say, I did say that your perspective and understanding of God is "too" black and white in your question of God. In other words you are assuming the nature of God that is in no way a Christian understanding of the nature of God, In fact it's not even biblical, so it really deserves no answer at all, however you did say that you where hear to learn, so I am assuming you want to learn about Christianity and the nature of God based on what is taught in in Christianity. However, it seems rather obvious from your response that you are not here to learn, rather you are here to teach what you think and what you are capable of looking up in the dictionary rather than the bible., but which is it? Are you asking a question to Christians to learn a Christian perspective or are you just asking questions to debate what you think?

If you are hear to learn something then ask away. If you are hear to state what you believe then you have done that.

Yes I want to learn more on how the Christens think. Not to learn how your "God" teaches, because i have a pretty well understanding of it. I grew up as a Baha'i which teaches they was of Jewish, and Christianity, and Zoroastrianism"

When i send most, I was meaning most of the ones i know of, and have seen an TV. Yes i do know that not every single one act the same way, i have two very good friends that are christen and they do nto fall under my "most".

And with asking my question, and responding I write my thoughts on what one says.

 

[stovebolts]

If there is a god i believe he wants us to question him, think for our selves, and not fallow any thing blindly which i believe most not all, just most christens and all religious people to do.

To address the "just most Christians and all religious people do" first, I'm not sure that'st he case.

What I would like to talk about though, is you comment about God wanting us to question him and to that, I think you're right on the mark. However, I'd like to point out that when questioning God, it's to be done in a respectful manner not to try and "Trap" God, but to find the answers to the questions that lay deep inside many of us.

For instance, from the top of my head, I recall Abram questioning God about having a son at his old age and I recall Abram questioning God about destroying Sodom. Then there is Jacob who wrestles with God and overcomes. Moses who isn't an eloquant speaker challenges God and then also stands up for Israel when God wanted to destroy them and start new with Moses. Of course, then there is Job who asks many questions as God not only stretches his understanding of who YHVH is, but his friends view is stretched as well.

My point being this. God wants us to mature and often, that means asking questions. Ask me what it's like to be a Christian, and I'd start off by telling you that it's about Asking questions, Seeking resolution and being bold enough to Knock on your neighbors door for help.

 

[mondar]

If "God" wants us the human race to praise him, fear him, love him, look to him for knowledge and truth. Isnt that the definition of "Pride" and isnt pride not only one of the "Seven Deadly Sins" but THE deadly sin of them all?

Your question has presuppositions. You assume that God wants the praise of man. If they were so, as creator he could create a universe full of creatures constantly praising him, but he did just the opposite. He created a universe in which most people are rebels against God and suppress knowledge of God. (see Romans 1:18-20). On this basis, I would challenge the presupposition of your question that God wants the praise of men. In fact, if I had a bible near by I would quote several passages in which God rejects and hates the worship and praise of men. He told Saul, the king, that he desires obedience, not worship.

My guess is that you do not think a God such as the Christian God is worthy of obedience. So this is a moot point.

On the other hand, I would agree that the ultimate purpose of the universe is the glory of God. But what I mean by this is far different from what I think you are expressing. God will judge men, and condemn them. There will be times when his wrath will burn against men, and he will judge men and their rebellion and sin. But this too is for his glory. His standard is perfection in every way. So then, when he judges, he shows his own attribute of justice. God is not so sinful as man, and does not wink at sin, but punishes it. This displays his justice, and his attribute of justice glorifies himself.

Yet I disagree with the assumption of your question in another way. The arrogance of man is unlimited. We make war on each other, we climb over each other to get to the top. We try to rule those around us... why? We think we are little gods. We go about and create our own ethics and say Gods ethic is wrong. The pride and arrogance of man seems limitless to me. There is no proper humility in any man, we all are in rebellion against God. How then can we complain that the most perfect, just, and righteous being in the universe is proud to do anything for his own glory? Listen to football players on how great they are. How many people on TV display their arrogance? How many of your friends at work think they are not the greatest at their job and deserve far more pay for their job? Pride? Man is so full of himself it is astonishing.
God save us from ourselves, God save us from his wrath.

 

[Mysteryman]

Take three seperate needs in your life. For each one, pray to God of a certain belief system.

Christianity being one and you choose the other two. Christians end their prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.

See which need is filled/satisfied

 

[Danus]

Yes I want to learn more on how the Christens think. Not to learn how your "God" teaches, because i have a pretty well understanding of it. I grew up as a Baha'i which teaches they was of Jewish, and Christianity, and Zoroastrianism"

When i send most, I was meaning most of the ones i know of, and have seen an TV. Yes i do know that not every single one act the same way, i have two very good friends that are christen and they do nto fall under my "most".

And with asking my question, and responding I write my thoughts on what one says.

So what have you learned so far on how Christians think in relation to your question? You got quite a few great answers and to me they all seem to suggest your question is a little weak in relation to the whole of Christianity.

As mentioned why don't you study Christianity? Make an effort to do an deep study of it starting from the Bible? In that process you could ask more questions about what the bible is saying and ponder your own thoughts about it.

 

[elijah23]

Hello,

I am not a christian, or a religious person. I am also not here to start an type of fights, what I am here for is to ask questions. What I hope to get back is answers.

Heres my first question, more most likely will come up threw out this one..

If "God" wants us the human race to praise him, fear him, love him, look to him for knowledge and truth. Isnt that the definition of "Pride" and isnt pride not only one of the "Seven Deadly Sins" but THE deadly sin of them all?

The definition of pride I found at Dictionary.com "a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct"

Where did you hear all this about the Lord? You know what they say: believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see.

The Lord commanded us to do two things:

[36] "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
[37] And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
[38] This is the great and first commandment.
[39] And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
[40] On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." Matt 22:36-40 RSV