If you dont beleive in God, why cant you just read the gospels and live the way that everyone benfits in?

Question

Read it for all the good, virtues and morals, or is that the reason you dont want to become Christian, its too much work, you want to do life the self serving way

Answer 1

Some nonChristians have thoroughly read the Gospels .. and I have noticed many of them very ethically practicing just what you are speaking about by "choice" rather than the orthodox carrot and stick approach .. This is honestly the best question you have asked,by the front part of the question alone .. a few slightly modified nuances of speech and it could be a truly "great" question .. But the added details from here: "or is that the reason you dont want to become Christian, its too much work, you want to do life the self serving way" .. just sully the result to a complete and utter stupidity ...

To give you an encouragement .. distinguishing the morals and ethics taught in the Gospels .. verses the "fearbased" carrot and stick, taught from the 'Acts' on ... could lead to extolling some oft overlooked (and oft unpracticed) Christian virtues IMO ...

Answer 2

The "self serving way" as you put it, has worked fine for me this far...why change now?

My way of life is the harder of the 2. I can't just throw my hands up and "thank god" or blame the devil for my woes...I have to take personal responsibility for my own actions. I have to deal with my actions on a daily basis. I can enjoy my life here and now, not wait for some imaginary promised afterlife. Your morals, which by the way...you're ignoring with self-righteousness here...are not my morals. At least you have the good sense to limit it to the gospels...they're less contradictory then the rest of the book.

I'll make you a deal (since I've already read the gospels when I was a child in catholic school)...why don't you read the Four Noble Truths as put forth by Buddha (don't worry its philosophy not religion). Try living by those rules, and see which requires more work.

Answer 3

One does not need to read the bible to be a moral person with virtues..

Reason why I do not want to become a christian is because I do not want to be imposed with so many rules, in others words allow someone else to DICTATE what, when, and how I can do things. If you want someone to tell you when and how you can eat, go to the bathroom, ect.. that's fine for you; but not for me

Answer 4

Why would you get dressed for a wedding if you didn't think the groom would show up?
Could it be you don't want to become christian because of bad examples of those that claim to be christian. Is it right to assume that when someone says 'believe me' we can translate that to 'know what I tell you is truth'.. I think that like with knowing, believing isn't something we can choose, we either do or we don't, whatever we claim is left to judge. We can want to or not want to but it still comes down to whether we do or don't (no kinda). Reading and living right might bring self fullfillment but who could ever live perfectly. How does it feel to be perfect? Do you know anyone that's perfect? Suppose that a perfect person would be 'believable'? What if you read his words as if there was no lie in it (even though you may have reservations) and test his answers, I would think perfection could be tested. But instead of looking for lies, look to see if you can see the truth of it, whether you really want to know it or not. I guess it can be confusing when it is said 'you are made perfect' if you take it in the now tense when you can clearly see you're not, but when taken in context of a promise from Him (who cannot lie) that tells you 'I will make you perfect' and it is indeed true that he cannot lie, than you can bank on the statement 'you are made perfect'. No different than taking a threat 'I'm going to kill you' as well as 'You're good as dead'.
The point of living right is trying to get as close to perfection as possible, what guide do we have in that, it's wisdom and knowledge we can't have imagined on our own. None of the writers of the gospel got the words they wrote on their own, left to theirselves they wouldve stayed on the fishing boat, collecting taxes, building pyramids, why would Moses give up a throne? for personal fullfillment?... How could you not want to know God when He says 'You can know me as I know you.' it could only be because you don't 'believe him'. I used to be able to relate to that, I don't see how now though. Not since that moment it 'dawned' on me, 'HE IS'. It didn't dawn on me until after I first looked wholehearted instead of cynically, and I might add without any priests or preachers or clergy aid, it was just me and HIM.

Answer 5

Why would someone who doesn't believe in God read fiction that isn't even interesting to them? you don't have to be a christian to live a moral and lawful life. In fact, there are more amoral christians per capita than atheists

Answer 6

Being a Christian is not just about reading the bible, being good doesnt matter so much either, its all about loving thy nieghbor. Jesus came to serve and we must serve also. its a way of life, not just some rules to live by.

Answer 7

If they are not going to put their trust in the savior then it will do them no good to have "good morals". In God's sight they are just dirty rags. I would rather that they live in open sin. That way they are not fooling themselves regarding their eternal destiny.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it."

Answer 8

Sounds like you need to learn a little humility. Seems to me that was one Jesus's teachings. You must of missed that class

Answer 9

simplest way is go to church, read the bible. the combination helps u to understand more about God and His infinite powers.

Answer 10

if you read them you will see Jesus is God's son he is either who he claims to be or a mad man do you follow a mad man ??