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What would you like to talk about? Jesus's dislike of the rich? The directive to kill your children if they curse you? The directive to pray in private, not public? What constitutes Christian forgiveness and apology?
I'm fine discussing it. What did you have in mind?
I appreciate the efforts of Catholics and others who point to Romans for clarification that faith alone should not be sufficient. It's a dangerous precedent to set in telling people that their faith alone will grant them salvation.
Now, would you say most American Christians attempt to uphold the directives given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount? Answer honestly.
I appreciate the efforts of Catholics and others who point to Romans for clarification that faith alone should not be sufficient. It's a dangerous precedent to set in telling people that their faith alone will grant them salvation.
If you have read Romans and understand its central thesis - then you realize that we are incapable of obeying the entire law - and the law was given so that we may become conscious of sin. We are justified by faith - not by adherence to the law. Faith in Jesus and the sacrifice he made for our sin sets us free from that sin - and gives us power to live righteous lives according to the Spirit.
Since you seem to have an understanding of Romans - your original question concerning the Mosaic law seems rather pointless to ask. You also know from reading Romans - that our justification by faith is not a license to sin - and indeed, myself and every Christian worth his/her salt(we are the salt of the earth after all) confesses and repents of sin daily. We must be renewed by grace continually to remain abiding in Jesus.
Now-someone will lecture me about prosetylizing and refer me to the Religion forum. To that person - remember, I was asked a direct question concerning the Scriptures - and I answered it. I generally do keep religion separate from my posts in this forum - but I will give a scripturally based answer when requested.
Now, would you say most American Christians attempt to uphold the directives given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount? Answer honestly.
The Sermon on the Mount is a very common topic of sermons in many churches. It is somewhat of a blueprint of how to be like Jesus - which Christians attempt to do. I don't have any quantifiable numbers(and neither do you I would wager) so i can't give you and answers concerning what "most" Christians do. I can say that Christians as a general rule do make an effort to incorporate the principles stated in the SOTM into their lives daily - and that it is an ongoing process.
With the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God, all things are possible.
If you have read Romans and understand its central thesis - then you realize that we are incapable of obeying the entire law - and the law was given so that we may become conscious of sin. We are justified by faith - not by adherence to the law. Faith in Jesus and the sacrifice he made for our sin sets us free from that sin - and gives us power to live righteous lives according to the Spirit.
Since you seem to have an understanding of Romans - your original question concerning the Mosaic law seems rather pointless to ask. You also know from reading Romans - that our justification by faith is not a license to sin - and indeed, myself and every Christian worth his/her salt(we are the salt of the earth after all) confesses and repents of sin daily. We must be renewed by grace continually to remain abiding in Jesus.
Now-someone will lecture me about prosetylizing and refer me to the Religion forum. To that person - remember, I was asked a direct question concerning the Scriptures - and I answered it. I generally do keep religion separate from my posts in this forum - but I will give a scripturally based answer when requested.
You must understand that while I do not believe that Jesus was a supernatural being and that he may not have existed at all, I find value in some of his teachings. So, I don't buy any of the mumbo-jumbo explanations of how a man had to die for our salvation. It doesn't interest me a bit. That you can discuss with someone buying into it.
I am interested in what makes Christians shirk their responsibilities as Christians. I contend it's precisely the passage you cited that they feel gives them license to neglect their neighbors, worship the wealthy and hate the poor and hate their enemies.
I have. Went to church three times a week throughout childhood and adolescence, and can recite the books of the Old Testament by heart. Doesn't mean anything.
I think the Bible was a collection of writings used as a tool for teaching the masses hundreds of years ago and was used to influence and control people the way Joseph Smith did with the Mormon religion and their magic underwear and science fiction writer Ron L. Hubbard did with Scientology, Xenu and aliens. If you need that sort of belief system in order to function in life, that's fine as long as it doesn't affect anyone else.
Missourians already had the right to pray. This was like passing a law that says you have the right to go when the light turns green.
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