Are you a Christian and do you believe the Bible is the word of God?

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Paco Dennis

Paco Dennis

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I was a born again Christian for 10 years. I studied the Bible and prayed daily. The church was where all my friends were. I believed the Bible was God's word and Jesus was the only way to be saved. That IS what the Bible says. The Bible is very straight forward about accepting Christ as your savior and following Him above all else. He teaches that money is the root of evil, and that adultery doesn't need to be physical, because lust is a sin.
I am no longer a Christian, because I no longer believe that the Bible is "god's word". If you think you are a Christian, how do you reconcile what the Bible teaches and the way you believe and behave?

This video points out the difference in saying you are a Christian and yet ignore what the Bible teaches.

 

If asked I usually do say I am a Christian, but that is by birth and upbring. I no longer believe the supernatural parts of the religion or that the Bible, or anything else, is the word of God.

That said I think Christians and members of other religions do a lot of good and have a lot of good ideas. I also enjoy the holidays, Christmas, Mardi Gras, Easter, Halloween, etc.
 
If you think you are a Christian, how do you reconcile what the Bible teaches and the way you believe and behave?

Doesn't the New Testament reconcile a person's Christianity?

My dad was Catholic, so he believed that Christ was the messiah. He was a Christian.
Mom was Jewish, so she was still waiting for the messiah. So, not a Christian.

They're both deceased. Maybe one is saying "I told you so" to the other, but since I'm Atheist, I'm pretty sure they're not having any conversation at all.
 

I grew up nominally Christian and attended Sunday School as a school child.
I became an atheist before the age of 20 because I decided that God was a construct of humanity.
Later, aged 33 I had a spiritual experience of that which we call God and laid down my disbelief.

I was pretty much a blank sheet spiritually and now I looked at the scriptures with adult eyes.
The obstacles in some of the stories that drove me away in my youth were considered anew in historical and cultural context and I was able to see deeper meanings than before.

I remind myself of something that Paul wrote about the milk and the meat. New Christians need milk to nourish their faith but they need to develop spiritually to be able to move on to the meat. Some never do.

The word "milk" in his letter means the basic, elemental teachings of true Christianity first learned by new believers. The word "meat" comes from the Greek word Broma and means the more solid, complete and deeper spiritual doctrines of the Gospel.

This is why we need to eat and drink the scriptures rather than simply memorise them. The lessons must become internalised and expressed in our actions. The most important lessons are about love, compassion, charity and forgiveness.

I do not believe that every word in the Bible is the literal word of God but I do find God in the ancient writings just as I find God in the natural world in all its beauty, complexity and terrors. I am no longer troubled by the idea that my understanding of God is imperfect, remembering those other words of St Paul about seeing "through a glass darkly".
 
Paco Dennis said:
I was a born again Christian for 10 years. I studied the Bible and prayed daily. The church was where all my friends were. I believed the Bible was God's word and Jesus was the only way to be saved. That IS what the Bible says. The Bible is very straight forward about accepting Christ as your savior and following Him above all else. He teaches that money is the root of evil, and that adultery doesn't need to be physical, because lust is a sin.
I am no longer a Christian, because I no longer believe that the Bible is "god's word". If you think you are a Christian, how do you reconcile what the Bible teaches and the way you believe and behave?

This video points out the difference in saying you are a Christian and yet ignore what the Bible teaches.

Click to expand...
I know that I am a Christrian and I spend time listening to His Word being preached every morning. I pray because it is important to pray to Him and yes, the Bible REALLY IS the Word of God. I am sorry to hear this bad news. But, I have read the Bible through from cover to cover and the Word is living and very powerful. And believing in Jesus as your personal Savior is a very important decision in your life. He is the only way, the only truth and the only Savior. Without Him, you are lost and you don't want to put your trust in anything else. He brings His Holy Spirit to live in you and guide you in life when you verbally accept Him as your Savior. Please, keep your hope and relationship with Jesus.
 
Paco Dennis said:
I was a born again Christian for 10 years. I studied the Bible and prayed daily. The church was where all my friends were. I believed the Bible was God's word and Jesus was the only way to be saved. That IS what the Bible says. The Bible is very straight forward about accepting Christ as your savior and following Him above all else. He teaches that money is the root of evil, and that adultery doesn't need to be physical, because lust is a sin.
I am no longer a Christian, because I no longer believe that the Bible is "god's word". If you think you are a Christian, how do you reconcile what the Bible teaches and the way you believe and behave?

This video points out the difference in saying you are a Christian and yet ignore what the Bible teaches.

Click to expand...
Keep your belief, do not be mislead! There are all kinds of stuff out there that can try to lead you away. Do not stop believing. Keep on believing, He died on the cross for you. Jesus is the only way. Keep your focus on The Living Truth=the Bible. You are His child. Jesus Loves You!
 
"how do you reconcile what the Bible teaches and the way you believe and behave?"

That my friend is where the rubber meets the road.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23

Sadly, many of us lie to ourselves and think we're better than we are - yet it's absurd to think this dimenishes God in any way.
 
All of these religions around the world believe their Holy Book is the Word and nothing wrong with that!

Baha'iThe Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys
BuddhismTipitaka
ChristianityChristian Bible
HinduismThe Vedas and The Upanishads
IslamThe Quran and The Hadiths
JainismThe Agamas
JudaismThe Tanakh and The Talmud
ShintoismKojiki
SikhismGuru Granth Sahib
TaoismDao De Jing
WiccaThe Book of Shadows
ZoroastrianismThe Avesta
 
Gardenlover said:
"how do you reconcile what the Bible teaches and the way you believe and behave?"

That my friend is where the rubber meets the road.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23

Sadly, many of us lie to ourselves and think we're better than we are - yet it's absurd to think this dimenishes God in any way.
Click to expand...
We are born sinners and every one sins. Jesus paid for ALL our sins on the cross at Cavalry. We all have a sin nature, but Jesus never sinned and did not, could not sin. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son, that whoso ever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
 
Paco Dennis said:
If you think you are a Christian, how do you reconcile what the Bible teaches and the way you believe and behave? This video points out the difference in saying you are a Christian and yet ignore what the Bible teaches.
Click to expand...
I wasn't going to enter this discussion because it can be a bit labor intensive...and then BAM! You got me☺️

The Bible teaches that whether we are Christian or non-Christian we are all sinners with choices between good and evil. The difference though is that Christians are not sinning the same sin over and over forever...thus not truly Christians. Instead they are asking forgiveness and repenting and growing more sinless over time...but do fall prey on occasion to temptation. But only God knows their hearts and only God can judge who is sincere and who isn't because we're all sinners. He gives us a hint though as to how to spot those who are insincere and those who are sincere Christians...

God says He will forgive our sin many times if we are sincerely growing as true followers of His Word. But when He sees no desire to please Him, no repentance, no growth toward being Christ-like (aka sinless) then He said, using a parable as an example, that some will say "Lord Lord, and I will know them not". In other words...they talk the talk but they don't walk the walk..nor care to change. And God will not view them as a true believer and follower. He says we are not to be the judge but we will know them by their fruits.
 
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Lara said:
I wasn't going to enter this discussion because it can be a bit labor intensive...and then BAM! You got me☺️

The Bible teaches that whether we are Christian or non-Christian we are all sinners with choices between good and evil. The difference though is that Christians are not sinning the same sin over and over forever...thus not truly Christians. Instead they are asking forgiveness and repenting...but do fall prey on occasion to temptation. But only God knows their hearts and only God can judge who is sincere and who isn't because we're all sinners. He gives us a hint though as to how to spot those who are insincere and those who are sincere Christians...

God says He will forgive our sin many times if we are sincerely growing more Christ-like over time as true followers of His Word. But when He sees no desire to please Him, no repentance, no growth toward being Christ-like (aka sinless) then He said, using a parable as an example, that some will say "Lord Lord, and I will know them not". In other words...they talk the talk but they don't walk the walk...over and over for too long. And God will not view them as a true believer and follower. He says we are not to be the judge but we will know them by their fruits.
Click to expand...
I've often pondered why God doesn't remove the ability to sin, once you've asked for forgiveness. It's kinda like the cartoon Jessica Rabbit when she says, "I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way."
 
Lara said:
I wasn't going to enter this discussion because it can be a bit labor intensive...and then BAM! You got me☺️

The Bible teaches that whether we are Christian or non-Christian we are all sinners with choices between good and evil. The difference though is that Christians are not sinning the same sin over and over forever...thus not truly Christians. Instead they are asking forgiveness and repenting and growing more sinless over time...but do fall prey on occasion to temptation. But only God knows their hearts and only God can judge who is sincere and who isn't because we're all sinners. He gives us a hint though as to how to spot those who are insincere and those who are sincere Christians...

God says He will forgive our sin many times if we are sincerely growing more Christ-like over time as true followers of His Word. But when He sees no desire to please Him, no repentance, no growth toward being Christ-like (aka sinless) then He said, using a parable as an example, that some will say "Lord Lord, and I will know them not". In other words...they talk the talk but they don't walk the walk...over and over for too long. And God will not view them as a true believer and follower. He says we are not to be the judge but we will know them by their fruits.
Click to expand...
That particular verse isn't based on works of the flesh-good or bad. Jesus paid for all, not just some, but all sin. Yes, we repent and ask for forgiveness. Being a believer is a condition of the heart and mind. God is our heavenly Father, and Jesus is our Savior and He is always there for us. He knew each of us before the creation of the earth. He knew all about our little lives even before He created us.
 
fancicoffee13 said:
That particular verse isn't based on works of the flesh-good or bad. Jesus paid for all, not just some, but all sin. Yes, we repent and ask for forgiveness. Being a believer is a condition of the heart and mind. God is our heavenly Father, and Jesus is our Savior and He is always there for us. He knew each of us before the creation of the earth. He knew all about our little lives even before He created us.
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Why does sin remain in us?

Jesus paid the price for all sin, so will everyone go to Heaven?
 
Gardenlover said:
I've often pondered why God doesn't remove the ability to sin, once you've asked for forgiveness.
Click to expand...
God doesn't remove the ability to sin because he wants us to make that choice between good and evil...between God or Worldly desires. Otherwise, what's the point...we would just be puppets or robots. That wasn't His plan. His plan is to have a loving relationship with us just as a child with an earthly father. God is our heavenly father and we are his children who should respect and obey His words.
 
Alligatorob said:
If asked I usually do say I am a Christian, but that is by birth and upbring. I no longer believe the supernatural parts of the religion or that the Bible, or anything else, is the word of God.

That said I think Christians and members of other religions do a lot of good and have a lot of good ideas. I also enjoy the holidays, Christmas, Mardi Gras, Easter, Halloween, etc.
Click to expand...
For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12.
 
Lara said:
God doesn't remove the ability to sin because he wants us to make that choice between good and evil...between God or Worldly desires. Otherwise we are just puppets or robots. That wasn't His plan. His plan is to have a loving relationship with us just as a child with an earthly father. God is our heavenly father and we are his children who should respect and obey His words.
Click to expand...
But my sinful nature makes it impossible to please God or follow Him completely. I understand it is not work based - but at what point doesn't God's grace cover a person.
 

Are you a Christian and do you believe the Bible is the word of God?​


No and no. I was raised Catholic, spent 8 years of childhood in Catholic school and church. Walked away after that and no longer follow any organized religion. My parents taught me to be a good person and treat others how I would like to be treated, I never needed the empty promise of 'heaven' or the threat of 'hell' to treat all living beings with love and kindness. Religion is a personal choice and if someone finds comfort in believing the bible or a certain religion, then that is what they should do.
 
Gardenlover said:
But my sinful nature makes it impossible to please God or follow Him completely. I understand it is not work based - but at what point doesn't God's grace cover a person.
Click to expand...
The first commandment says, "You hall have no other gods before Me". When you deny God, that is unforgiveable. the only time.
 
fancicoffee13 said:
The first commandment says, "You hall have no other gods before Me". When you deny God, that is unforgiveable. the only time.
Click to expand...

So as long as I don't deny that there is a God, I'm golden? Does it matter what God I believe in, can I believe in multiple gods?

and thanks for the conversation, I know these threads can be burdensome.
 

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