Why do I believe in Christianity (Christ is God)?

[Captain Morgan]

I am a Christian. Why? What does that mean? What does it not mean. I'll do my best to explain.

I think our beliefs about our life: created by God, accidental, existential, philosophical, psychological, etc...guide our direction in this life.

Ex. As a Christian believing the Bible is God's message to us, I don't aim to make a lot of money. Why?

1 Timothy 6
9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

What does the Bible tell me about the vanity of this life, vain rules, and its associated religion?

1 Timothy 4

1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
7But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
8For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?...er=4&version=9

Why do I not smoke marijuana? Why do I not say "bad words" around certain people, etc...Is it because in and of themself they're wrong?

Romans 14
14I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Romans 13
1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.


Romans 15
1We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
4For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
5Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Romans 14
4Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
9For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
16Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
20For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

So why Christianity? Why not Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, science, mysticism. Darwinism, atheism, agnosticism, or some other "major religion"? Am I biased? Do I believe what I was taught as a child, and do I simply accept the God that was presented to me? I accept the name of the God presented to me, but not the character. The God I understand is not the God I was taught. God has personally revealed Himself to me in terms I can relate to and understand. It has left me no desire to convert to another belief system, perspective, or understanding, including the one I was taught. It has promised me a new world, as opposed to the one I live in, one I hate, one full of injustice, with a new world ideal beyond my own imagination. It has left me with no doubt that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the same God that identifed himself as Christ, the Messiah, the incarnate God. My God walked among us on this earth, and experienced pain on every level, and understands what we're all going through. He loves us this much. Why would I want to convert to another perspective, or as we call it, religion?

[Dinky]

Captain Morgan.
Thank you for your post. Is it a coincidence that my AH bible is opened to Roman's? It is our God that constantly holds me up when I can't find the strenght to walk on and holds my hand when I am lonely. Peace be with you. Dinky

[larrynboys]

Amen

[duain1967]

very well put captain morgan. the proof is in the pudding ha ha . duain

[liveweyerd]

thank you for that, I learned from it.

In fact I have read it twice and am sure I will later read it again.

This is has brought about one topic for question although it addressed others I am sure I will come back to and are far more important. As to wealth, cannot wealth be an incredible blessing? The more resources as godly man has, the more good he can do with them. I am not very godly that way. I am abundant in my giving but I may well ought to be back in the states earning money with which to gain more power for the good. But I chose to take a Sabbatical for study. I still give but I could give much more earning much more. I just bring this up for your take on it.

As I said, there are far far more important issues addressed in this.
But until I have read it a few more times, I do not feel I am ready to discuss them intelligently.

I really appreciate your discernment and taking your time to share this.
Thank you.

[liveweyerd]

I think I am going to wear this post out! Starting with what be may be the least of points first. I went out for a stroll today, took a nap, and woke up with the thought of the relevant meaning of wealth. The country I am living in has 50% unemployment. Even so, I can speak from only a limited perspective. But I can tell you that from their perspective probably everyone here is very wealthy.
Can you afford to buy a dozen eggs at a time? Do you have a bathroom? Can you buy a small coca-cola? Do you eat rice or pasta every night of the week? Do you have more than a dime in your pocket? Many of my friends don´t. And they are the ones that have a bed and a roof over their head. I see small children running arond desperately begging for a penny. Often along the streets, I see young women, a small child at their side a baby in their arms for 12 hours a day for alms to feed their children. At night there are many elderly sleeping in the streets. Do you put your leftovers out in the street for those who go through the garbage looking for food? My friend, Belen who has gone to university to be a dentist and her husband who needs one more year to be a doctor, does not have 20 cents to get into the museum. She has not slept for 4 nights because they cannot afford a fan. Futball (soccer) is a passionate interest here. A television is not in every home, in fact none of my closest friends have one. When there is a big game, people line the streets outside the bars and restaurants to look through the windows at the tv mounted on the wall. And I am in a good part of town. Have you lived through a midwest winter with only a sleeping blanket, electricity your only utility. No running water? And still known that by the standards of the world you are wealthy? And I know that my examples are nothing, there are peoples and places far more imperiled. I just wanted to throw out a little food for thought. I define myself as wealthy. Both when my income is less than $8000 or more than $100,000.
And, of course, there are many, many more kinds of wealth than financial.

[Free to love]

right on Capt.!!!!!

[liveweyerd]

Can I get some dialog here? I was quite interested and wished to explore much of much material here?

[Captain Morgan]

I can hardly begin to scratch the surface of the subject you brought up live'; though it is something I have given a considerable amount of thought.

I do agree wealth is, as you say, a relative term, as is the phrase " a lot of money." In terms of the world, I am wealthy; I have a lot of money. However, "the world", is not "my world." In "my world" I am both rich and poor.

I wasn't born in South America, Africa, India, or North Korea. I was born In the United States. I recently moved out to the state of California, and the one person I know outside of my work, my brother, is a registered dietician (besides some of his "hospital friends" I've met). He is not rich in terms of the United States or in terms of the hospital where he works, but he does "ok." When he is around me, though, he probably feels like he has a lot of money. When he's around the doctors at the hospital he probably doesn't. I work as a temp in production. No one where I work would be considered rich in terms of the United States, but some of them actually make "ok" money on those same terms. I, as a temp, am in the lowest paid position at the company. In fact, I don't even work for the company, I work for a temp agency. I go to work 5, sometimes 6 days a week, and on my days off I am usually either alone, spending time with my brother, (and sometimes people he knows), or talking on the phone to my parents, both who make much more money than I, although my dad is retired. That is "my world", and so the word "world" has taken on relative meaning as well. When I made this statement:

Ex. As a Christian believing the Bible is God's message to us, I don't aim to make a lot of money.

I was speaking in terms of "my world" and not "the world." "My world" is what I experience in everyday life, what I've become accustomed to, and what I experience and perceive in my own mind. In terms of the United States I am lower class, in terms of "my world" I am both poor and rich. but in terms of "the world" I have been blessed abundantly, and in my mind I am content to be both rich and poor in "my world", and wealthy in "the world." Whatever God gives me I receive with thanksgiving because it's all a gift (including what I earn at my job). My job is simply to supply my needs and pay the bills. My relatively new career is following Christ, and in my heart, and in my mind, and in "my world" it's the highest paid position out there.





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[liveweyerd]

Thank you very much! Sorry, only sort of for being so prodding.

I have re-read the original post again, and I thank you because in it, I find some of what I was seeking to discover and will ask to explore further, my original questions regarding the discipline, art and perceptiveness of compassion.

I do travel quite a bit. Both literally and in the things I study so it is very hard for me to separate my world from the world of humanity. I tend to think all are brothers and sisters, all are of the same flesh and blood. This is often overwhelming. Not to mention potentially confusing and troubling.

To keep my sanity I often have to be reminded and remind myself of the Greek philosophy of moderation. Which I believe is also one of the 7 virtues listed Biblicly albeit in different terminology.

I really have nothing more intelligent to contribute right now, other than thank you.

[Captain Morgan]

Originally Posted by liveweyerd

This is has brought about one topic for question although it addressed others I am sure I will come back to and are far more important. As to wealth, cannot wealth be an incredible blessing? The more resources as godly man has, the more good he can do with them. I am not very godly that way. I am abundant in my giving but I may well ought to be back in the states earning money with which to gain more power for the good. But I chose to take a Sabbatical for study. I still give but I could give much more earning much more. I just bring this up for your take on it..

Wealth can be an incredible blessing, as it was to Abraham and Job, for example; it can also be a huge temptation to waste it in wantonness. What would we do if we had (Bill Gates', or I'll be a little less extreme and say $500,000 US dollars in the bank) money? Would we be willing to "communicate" it, or would we "consume it upon our own lusts?"

James 4
3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Maybe we wouldn't know until it became a reality:

1 Kings 3
5In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
14And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
15And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

The more resources as godly man has, the more good he can do with them. I am not very godly that way.

This is also addressed in 1 Timothy 6:

17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

The Bible also addresses giving here:

Mark 12
41And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.


Finally, when I get overwhelmed with the problems of poverty all over "the world", I keep this in mind:

John 12

1Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

[liveweyerd]

Thank you again, I think the points here are stewarship and sacrificial giving. Am I reading you right.
I think I will not wear this point out much further.
Thank you for your time and efforts with me on this.

I will address the other issues brought to mind in seperate posts, okay?

Thanks,
live

[best]

St Francis, While praying one day was said to have heard a voice say to him... Build My Church.
Francis was a wealthy man. He took what was spoken litteraly. He used all his money to build a building called a church. His own family was living in hand me down cloths and a day to day life style after he had spent all the money. Though the building of a building called a church did increase the numbers of believers... it is said that Francis got the message wrong.
Build My Church... God's church is found in the hearts of believers. It isn't a building on the street corner but it can be love shared on a street corner.
Francis, it is said... was not a great steward of the riches he was blessed with. Built a beautiful building. Had many convert and worship in that building. Grew the fellowship of believers (God's church) but neglected what was right in front of his own eyes... the needs of people around him.
Earthly wealth, when used to do the maximum good for your neighbors is the best stewardship I think we can attain. Showing a person hope, joy, peace, love that comes from God and how to get all the blessings God holds for all who ask... I can stand in the rain knowing that a warm place of comfort will soon be had. Standing in the rain with no hope... All I get is wet and tired.
His peace in any storm will get us through.
So a shared message of hope. A $200 shelter from the rain... or a 2 million dollar building.... What would be the actions of the better steward?

[Captain Morgan]

I do find a lesson in stewardship and sacrificial giving within those passages.
The Bible has a special way of helping us grasp a complete understanding of what it conveys. It doesn't just tell us to "be a good steward," whether or not wealth is good or bad; "drinking one glass of wine is ok, but not two," or "don't do drugs"; it leaves us a lot of room for our own judgement and discernment, and it provides us with the wisdom and knowledge to execute it. It introduces an ecclectic group of individuals, using a diverse assortment of allegories, parables, and examples, and ties it all together into books within a book.

With that being said, the Bible truely is God's personal message to us, because it combines our own judgement. discernment, and perspective, with God's absolute truth. In this way, God speaks to each one of us in a way that is different, however negligible, from the way he speaks to any other. This varies on a number of factors, including a person's attitude toward what he or she is reading, maturity as a believer, current perspective on life, the person's previous experiences, etc.

People do not argue about absolute truth; people argue about their own understanding of absolute truth. If it is absolute, then there can be no argument. When I think of life, the Bible, and God, one word comes to mind: "paradox." That is my opine for the day; that's probably why I'm feeling aprehensive about clicking the "submit reply" button, haha.

[Captain Morgan]

That'a a great analogy to convey the lesson of stewardship, Best. But wouldn't it be better to use the 2 million dollar building to shelter more people than a 200 dollar shelter could, or sell the 2 million dollar building and build a bunch of 200 dollar shelters, or we could sell the 2 million dollar building ...just kidding, haha. Thanks for sharing that.

[liveweyerd]

Best, I love your story. And it is something I needed to hear.
I would be a better steward if I did´t have such a careless attitude, tomorrow will take care of itself and they print money everyday. I need to remember to think of my family so that I do not become a burden to them, should I through my own what´s mine is yours attitude. It is hard when for me when I see my friend sick with nerves for rent money, or someone needing this or that. I do not listen to practical people trying to tell me this, but when you make it spiritual and talk about ST Francis, I understand.
So, I thank you, and even though my family does not know you, they will thank you more and worry for me less. grin
ps I know I turned your analogy around a bit, but I learned something that fit from doing so. I feel sure you will understand.

Captain Morgan, again I am so grateful for the time you take to help me understand and find the things I am trying to understand.

As far as I am concerned, this forum is a church.

[Captain Morgan]

Thank you liveweyerd for reminding me of how "wealthy" I am. Eggs never tasted so good, haha.

What you say brings up a lot of economical issues I can't begin to delve into; I will make many enemies and say capitalism is not founded on Christianity .

How do you put a value on someone's life, or talent?

Isn't that what captalism does?

I know demand = supply = demand. (My made-up theory)

[Captain Morgan]

Matthew 18
19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Yeah, I think we have a church here.

captain morgan's definition (understanding) of church (connoatation rather than denotation)

1, church (modern) - the building where believers gather to worship.

2. all believers across the world.

3, as Best said in his post, the heart (the spirit) of the believer:

Revelation 3
20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

2 Corinthians 5
1For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:
8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Thank you again live' for helping me in my spiritual recovery (apprehension).

[liveweyerd]

Well, to me, Captain our beliefs pertain to everything. Our economics, our sociological views, everything.

I appreciate the pun. I think in the States I never used the word apprehend. It is a result of my confusion between spanish and english that it has become common in my vocabulary.

I refer to Scripture from memory but do not quote as my Bible here is in Spanish.

I do sometimes find it interesting that the nuances of meaning are different between the languages.
And though I say that lightly, I mean it as a significant statement.

I think it would be rude of me to quote passages in Spanish. Although I did do that once for game with Best, and he picked the verses right out. It gave me a big grin.

Thank you deeply, Captain,
live

[Captain Morgan]

Proverbs 30
1 The words of Agur the son of