questions to Christian ATSers

do you follow you faith properly?
and to its guidelines,

Respect thigh neigbours
go to church every sunday
and so forth

edit: this isnt faith on faith my
faith is better then yours topic
so please dont post that crap

[edit on 17-9-2008 by bodrul]

reply to post by bodrul


Well, I try!
If I mess up, I ask for forgiveness and guidance.
I used to be a LOT more close to perfection, when I could fast and pray more than I can now.
Why do you ask?

BTW, I used to date a non-practicing muslim, Palestinian.
Is that the sort of context you mean?



[edit on 17-9-2008 by Clearskies]

No, I don't do everything I should. I should give more to the church than I do. I should probably go to Wed. night services. I used to have an issue with pornography although that seems to be less of an issue the older I get. (Probably half hormones) I should think of others before myself more often than I do. I shouldn't get angry at the crazy drivers on the road.

I think there is always room for improvement. Everyone has their catches and gotchas in their life. Don't let imperfection prevent you from being a Christian. That's not even an acceptable excuse. Who is perfect but Christ? Not me. That's for sure. The important thing is to not give up. Our pastor talked about this last week. The Devils isn't excited when you sin. Everyone does that. He's excited when you give up and say "I'm just a bad person. There's no hope for me."

Proverbs 24:16 (NIV) …though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again

Hope that helps. Was I too honest?

reply to post by Clearskies


why do i ask?
i see alot of ATS posters sporting the Cross but spout alot of hate
and wanted to know the views of others and if they follow or try and follow their faith.


reply to post by dbates


thanks for your honesty and respect for that
also cool proverb

You know, I was actually thinking about this recently? I might be getting into it more technically that bodrul meant, but what happened to the the actual system Jesus Christ set up, or commanded his followers to accept? I know there is a lot of stuff that people say 'that was for the Jews, Christ nullified that', and that may be a discussion for another thread, but there are many points aside from that too:

Why do Christians take interest?
Why don't Christians fast?
Why don't Christians heal?
I know that some disagree with the method that the Roman Catholics do it, but why don't Christians have Communion (meeting up, sharing food and drink in remembrance)?


And all this being separate from the obvious stuff that nobody seems to do (loving their neighbour, turning the other cheek, giving up all your money in the path of God, etc).

My favourite Christians would be of the old Franciscan Order. They seemed to exemplify all that is great with Christianity, as well as taking an actual EFFORT in the path of God, instead of just casually acknowledging "Yeah, I'm a Christian, I believe in God and Jesus Christ, I will be saved".

Quick and honest answer, no.
I'd like to say i try my best, but that'd be a lie, but I do try. I'm trying to make it a habit to go out of my way to help folks, treat others as I'd like to be treated, ect.
I suppose maybe I'm better than some, but I've still got plenty of room for improvement.
As for going to church... never got into the habit, never caught the part where we were supposed to, only supposed to keep the Sabbath Holy.

its a tricky question "do you follow your faith properly?" who decides how someone is to worship their god, the relationship between a person and god is very personal, i think if there is someone telling you how you should worship your god then you are not really worshipping god.

people mouth prayer after prayer but god knows whats in their hearts he cant be tricked you pray with your heart and soul not with your mouth.

i no longer goto mass because i dont believe the institution is doing things in the best interests of their parishoners, but thats not gods fault and its no reason to turn my back on god.

i try to treat all people with respect, i dont always succeed but i try.

i try to follow the 10 commandments, i try not to be too proud, gluttonous, envious, wrathful, lustful, slothful or greedy.

i believe in god, i believe in jesus, i can accept that christianity/cathacolism, judaism, hinduism, buddism, taoism, sikh could be nothing more than small peices of an overall bigger puzzle.

overall i think too many people niggle over details of who said what and they over look 1 important factor religeon is supposed to be about peace, forgivness and tolerance and by engaging in those activities you will always be furthuring gods plan regardless of your religeon or lack there of.

Originally posted by bodrul
do you follow you faith properly?

From a religion standpoint, absolutely not. There's only one who can love every single one of his neighbors has himself.

If I said I loved my neighbors as my self or teach it. It would instantly make me a hypocrite and it should.


Let me tell you something about fig leaves. They would be very grievous to wear. If you have a fig bush around or know where there is one. Pick a leave off it and rub it on your naked skin, simulating what would happen if you were to wear them as clothing attempting to cover up your sin and nakedness.

That reminds me of religion. Not only is there still nakedness underneath, but it's more agitated, rendering it worse off than it would have been without it.

reply to post by bodrul


neighbours, i try but im human and get wound up
church, nothing to say i have to go

everything is the best of my ability. where and when i fail ask for forgivness, strength to do gods will and a strengthening of faith to trust

david

Bodrul, what is a "thigh" neighbor? How is it different from, say, a head neighbor?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Being a Christian (at least to me) means having a relationship with your savior. Just like when a couple gets married; they don't automatically "fit" on every aspect of their togetherness. It takes time to adjust to one another, get to know each other, when to compromise, etc. We will be imperfect until the resurrection when imperfection puts on perfection (biblical reference, btw).

As far as "going to church"....we ARE the church; being built up with one another into the body of Christ. That doesn't mean we forsake the assembling of ourselves together but it does mean that we don't GO TO church.

I don't let other people define what is "proper" for my Christian walk. If they had all the answers, they'd be God. They're not so when someone tells me I'm a "bad Christian" because I do this or that or because I don't do something they think I should, I just shrug and tell them they're probably right and ask them to "pray with me right now". That usually shuts them up because most people don't want to light a candle, they just want to curse your darkness. If they do take me up on my offer and pray for my "wretched soul", I thank them profusely and go on.

A lot of people calling themselves Christians use their religion to beat others over the head (spiritually speaking). Since they have so little control over their own lives, it gives them a tool to gain some imagined control over the lives of others. I have little patience for those people.

I see the same tack used by other religions and it's just as annoying as when I see it used by Christians. Ignorance, intolerance, bigotry and abuse is not well disguised by a religious cloak and just makes unbelievers think that it was The Almighty who clothed us with such.

Asking if someone follows their faith properly is a little like asking, "are you a good wife?" Some days, yes, some days, not so good but either way-we're still "the wife".

Originally posted by bodrul
do you follow you faith properly?

who gets to decide what's proper and improper?

Originally posted by bodrul
go to church every sunday

I abhor church. They read advertisements during service. Seriously. I think church has as much to do with Christianity, as Bush has to do with the Declaration of independence.

[edit on 18-9-2008 by scientist]