So does that mean that you disregard Paul’s teachings as being to ‘none effect’?
Why so selective as to only show preference to those writings attributed to Jesus but not Paul?
Regards,
MG
Are you really asking why I place more weight on the savior's words than Paul’s?
I think this kind of highlights a big difference on how you and I think about Christ and his role in everything. Jesus is the truth, the light, and the word. Apostles are just men.
So does that mean that you disregard Paul’s teachings as being to ‘none effect’?
Why so selective as to only show preference to those writings attributed to Jesus but not Paul?
Regards,
MG
Are you really asking why I place more weight on the savior's words than Paul’s?
I think this kind of highlights a big difference on how you and I think about Christ and his role in everything. Jesus is the truth, the light, and the word. Apostles are just men.
OK. So Paul’s words are important. We are responsible for working out our own salvation. Earlier you seemed to be excusing your own actions based upon the perceived actions of others.
Paul’s words didn’t seem to hold any importance for you.
Presumably Jesus wanted us to use our brains to discern when false prophets show up and call them out. In spite of what Paul says.
So drumdude, if it’s not too personal, may I ask if you are a practicing Christian? That is, you read Bible, pray, attend a church, etc.? Or are you a follower of Jesus’ teachings minus the organizational aspects of Christianity? The ‘great teacher’ route.
And if you are willing to go a step further, if you believe in Christ as Savior what are your thoughts on God as our Father?
I’m super interested in what others believe. More so than in what they don’t believe.
Presumably Jesus wanted us to use our brains to discern when false prophets show up and call them out. In spite of what Paul says.
So drumdude, if it’s not too personal, may I ask if you are a practicing Christian? That is, you read Bible, pray, attend a church, etc.? Or are you a follower of Jesus’ teachings minus the organizational aspects of Christianity? The ‘great teacher’ route.
And if you are willing to go a step further, if you believe in Christ as Savior what are your thoughts on God as our Father?
I’m super interested in what others believe. More so than in what they don’t believe.
Regards,
MG
I believe that Jesus taught a way of life which is impossible to attain, but in the attempt to attain it we can create a society we all want to live in. He taught not to do things for some ultimate end, but to do things because they are ends in and of themselves.
If you are only a good person so that you can obtain a reward, you can get that reward. But you will be completely missing out on the reward of being a good person for its own sake. Likewise with every virtue.
Organized religion perverts these teachings and emphasizes trivialities like tithing and sexual purity. If you read Jesus’ words as a whole, and don’t get lost in legalism and technicalities and just focus on his main ideas, you can get all of the goodness and none of the bad.
It doesn’t matter to me if Jesus existed, or heaven exists. Anyone can read Jesus’ message and transform their life for the better. If we all follow his basic ideals, we can create a heaven on earth.
So drumdude, if it’s not too personal, may I ask if you are a practicing Christian? That is, you read Bible, pray, attend a church, etc.? Or are you a follower of Jesus’ teachings minus the organizational aspects of Christianity? The ‘great teacher’ route.
And if you are willing to go a step further, if you believe in Christ as Savior what are your thoughts on God as our Father?
I’m super interested in what others believe. More so than in what they don’t believe.
Regards,
MG
I believe that Jesus taught a way of life which is impossible to attain, but in the attempt to attain it we can create a society we all want to live in. He taught not to do things for some ultimate end, but to do things because they are ends in and of themselves.
If you are only a good person so that you can obtain a reward, you can get that reward. But you will be completely missing out on the reward of being a good person for its own sake. Likewise with every virtue.
Organized religion perverts these teachings and emphasizes trivialities like tithing and sexual purity. If you read Jesus’ words as a whole, and don’t get lost in legalism and technicalities and just focus on his main ideas, you can get all of the goodness and none of the bad.
It doesn’t matter to me if Jesus existed, or heaven exists. Anyone can read Jesus’ message and transform their life for the better. If we all follow his basic ideals, we can create a heaven on earth.
Awesome. Really. Thanks for sharing.
Jesus’s teachings can be as wide and deep as a person wants to make them. How do you determine what legalisms and technicalities are superfluous vs. part of something deeper that ought to be considered important and even critical in the sense that those things are part and parcel of being a Christian?
We probably all agree on ‘basic ideals’ but how does one, how do you, know for a fact where the rubber meets the road, so to speak?
It seems as though tithing and sexual purity might very well be an important part of being a good Christian in order to maintain the viability of a community of believers (for example, a worldwide church), and the integrity of the traditional family with a mother and a father.
Are you open to the possibility that drawing the line simply at ‘basic ideals’ may very well be leaving out some important characteristics/doctrines that are integral to practicing Christianity in a fuller and more complete way?
I believe that Jesus taught a way of life which is impossible to attain, but in the attempt to attain it we can create a society we all want to live in. He taught not to do things for some ultimate end, but to do things because they are ends in and of themselves.
If you are only a good person so that you can obtain a reward, you can get that reward. But you will be completely missing out on the reward of being a good person for its own sake. Likewise with every virtue.
Organized religion perverts these teachings and emphasizes trivialities like tithing and sexual purity. If you read Jesus’ words as a whole, and don’t get lost in legalism and technicalities and just focus on his main ideas, you can get all of the goodness and none of the bad.
It doesn’t matter to me if Jesus existed, or heaven exists. Anyone can read Jesus’ message and transform their life for the better. If we all follow his basic ideals, we can create a heaven on earth.
Awesome. Really. Thanks for sharing.
Jesus’s teachings can be as wide and deep as a person wants to make them. How do you determine what legalisms and technicalities are superfluous vs. part of something deeper that ought to be considered important and even critical in the sense that those things are part and parcel of being a Christian?
We probably all agree on ‘basic ideals’ but how does one, how do you, know for a fact where the rubber meets the road, so to speak?
It seems as though tithing and sexual purity might very well be an important part of being a good Christian in order to maintain the viability of a community of believers (for example, a worldwide church), and the integrity of the traditional family with a mother and a father.
Are you open to the possibility that drawing the line simply at ‘basic ideals’ may very well be leaving out some important characteristics/doctrines that are integral to practicing Christianity in a fuller and more complete way?
Regards,
MG
I think everyone picks and chooses based on their own personality and upbringing. I don’t claim to have an objectively correct interpretation. Mormonism does, through its claim of authority. That authority is so problematic. It corrupted the Catholic Church and with the financial revelations we are seeing how it has corrupted the LDS church.
I really respect the community of Christ’s approach. But it doesn’t make for a great community. There are just too many interpretations within the congregation to have any sort of lasting cohesion. At least for me.
I think everyone picks and chooses based on their own personality and upbringing. I don’t claim to have an objectively correct interpretation. Mormonism does, through its claim of authority. That authority is so problematic. It corrupted the Catholic Church and with the financial revelations we are seeing how it has corrupted the LDS church.
I suppose it is in the eye of the beholder. I’ve kept up with the stories of the church’s slush funds/shell accounts, etc. I don’t have a problem with a rainy day fund. That the church changed its ways from what was technically legal to cleaning things up so that appearances are not questionable was a good move.
I don’t see these financial wheelings and dealings as having any real qualitative influence over the core mission of the church.
Others, of course, will. Mainly, I would guess, to have another excuse/rationale to support their life choices in regards to their relationship with the church and ultimately God/Christ.
Using these sorts of things to disassociate from the church, however, has real consequences/ramifications. Each individual has to determine whether or not those consequences/ramifications are worth the separation.