Christians distort Jesus' message (disciples, hell, America, bible)

[Hasdrubal]

how can staunch Christian conservatives aprove war, discrimination (against gays, against blacks in the past), the death penalty, etc?

It's quite the contrary of what Jesus taught.

[hutch5]

Originally Posted by Hasdrubal

how can staunch Christian conservatives aprove war, discrimination (against gays, against blacks in the past), the death penalty, etc?

It's quite the contrary of what Jesus taught.

I agree with you and I am so sorry that as Christians through the centuries we have so often betrayed Jesus's message and turned so many people away. And we still do it today.

[Nikk]

Originally Posted by Hasdrubal

how can staunch Christian conservatives aprove war, discrimination (against gays, against blacks in the past), the death penalty, etc?

It's quite the contrary of what Jesus taught.

God allows war, don't you remember how the Israelites went into Cannan? Look to some of the posts for Gays and read it. But the bible is clear that homosexuality is a sin, and called an abomination. Christians do not hate blacks. Black people are decendants of Noah just like whites and Asians, etc... There is no hatred there.

The death penalty is a state institution like war. Christians don't approve of killing because of the law. But there is also laws in the Bible that warant the state to destroy that life because of crimes that the individual has commited. American law wanes on the issue.

Jesus Christ was not some libral pacifist. Read the Book, did he not make a whip and beat out the money changers in the temple? Jesus is God and God sends many people to hell.

[GCSTroop]

Originally Posted by Nikk

God allows war, don't you remember how the Israelites went into Cannan? Look to some of the posts for Gays and read it. But the bible is clear that homosexuality is a sin, and called an abomination. Christians do not hate blacks. Black people are decendants of Noah just like whites and Asians, etc... There is no hatred there.

The death penalty is a state institution like war. Christians don't approve of killing because of the law. But there is also laws in the Bible that warant the state to destroy that life because of crimes that the individual has commited. American law wanes on the issue.

Jesus Christ was not some libral pacifist. Read the Book, did he not make a whip and beat out the money changers in the temple? Jesus is God and God sends many people to hell.

Ahhh yes.... the love and compassion that the Christian god has just oozes from this post.

[MaggieZ]

You ask ten christians and you'll get ten interpretations ...
Seems like even though the god is the same, everyone does what he likes or needs.
All that violence in the bible, was that needed? If god judges you when you die, why do you need to help him by killing for him? Why can't god strike the enemy dead? He knows who the enemy is better than humans do if he's allknowing. And if your enemy redeems himself and takes god as their savior(after capture, of course), do they become your friend then?

[mari4him]

I don't believe that true Christians, followers of God's word necessarily discriminate against people i.e. gays. However, they may call sin, sin and the bible is clear on Homosexuality being a sin. Again, I don't believe true Christians hate anyone, and while yes blacks as well as others have felt such "in the name of God", it has also been done with self-serving reasons, not necessarily Godly or Christian reasons fueling it.

As for war, while I personally wish there would just be peace all around, God did in fact call for wars at times. Why would he send some out to war and to kill rather than just strike the enemy dead.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:5-7 (in Context) Deuteronomy 31 (Whole Chapter)

My personal interpretation in reading the stories is that often these people he was sending out did not believe they could defeat the enemy, rather than just strike the enemy down, God promised to be with his people and so often was simply building their trust and faith in him as God. Why choose this way? I don't know. Perhaps for the same reason that when Moses did not believe he could confront Pharoah, God gave him a staff and promised to be with him. God chooses how he will reveal himself to his people. With Moses he did so with the Staff and the parting of the sea.

Exodus 3:11
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
Exodus 3:10-12 (in Context) Exodus 3 (Whole Chapter)

As for an enemy later becoming a friend. Saul persecuted Christians until his becoming blinded by a light and God speaking to him about why he is persecuting him. Saul changed his ways and became a Christian himself and became Paul the Apostle. One of the Disciples of Christ.

[Nikk]

Originally Posted by GCSTroop

Ahhh yes.... the love and compassion that the Christian god has just oozes from this post.

God is Love.

I am stating the facts. What does it matter to you what the Christian God is like. You don't believe in him anyway!

[freedom]

Originally Posted by GCSTroop

Ahhh yes.... the love and compassion that the Christian god has just oozes from this post.

If you have children and you correct them, is that loving or cruel?

godspeed,

freedom

[freedom]

Originally Posted by MaggieZ

You ask ten christians and you'll get ten interpretations ...
Seems like even though the god is the same, everyone does what he likes or needs.
All that violence in the bible, was that needed? If god judges you when you die, why do you need to help him by killing for him? Why can't god strike the enemy dead? He knows who the enemy is better than humans do if he's allknowing. And if your enemy redeems himself and takes god as their savior(after capture, of course), do they become your friend then?

God could do everything for us, but then He wouldn't be a loving God.

Do we do everything for our children, do we overprotect to the point that they don't learn fire is hot, water is wet, if you run you might fall down?

This planet is a school, and there are many lessons to learn, and our loving God (Father) allows us to stub our toes and make bad choices.

godspeed,

freedom

[Campbell34]

Originally Posted by GCSTroop

Ahhh yes.... the love and compassion that the Christian god has just oozes from this post.

I guess you believe God should allow evil men to run the earth and slaughter the innocent. Is that your idea of a God of compassion?