The true meaning of Christianity?

Question

First of all, this is not an attack on Christianity so no defensive and close-minded answers please. I am willing to give God a chance if people are willing to answer me with intelligence and a true Christian attitude.

I'm discouraged by the Christians that I meet who have such strong opinions on issues such as gay marriage and other hot button topics. They like to quote the Old Testament with obscure verses about men not laying with men, etc. First of all, if we were to take the Old Testament literally there would be people killing each other left and right in the name of sacrifice, etc. There are 2 verses in the Bible that could loosely be interpreted as anti-gay and 2000 that talk about love and helping out your fellow man. Why are people not concentrating on the obviously clear messages and using loose interpretations to support their own agenda? Also, If one is not willing to confront these issues and question their faith, do they know that what they believe is real?

Answer 1

Well, being one who has been on the front lines from other "Christians" vile hatred, I can see where you are coming from. I am against the DP (Death penalty) and I guess it is just a given that Christians should be for it because it was given in the OT. I think that since the USA is not a theocracy we have no right taking the lives of others and claiming we are doing what God wants us to do. Secondly, I am against gay marriage. I don't throw OT law in my argument, but that marriage is a "religious" term, if "gay marriage" were to become "legal" we will be enforcing religion into state or state into religion. Next thing you know, ministers are forced to marry homosexuals or face the consequences. Civil Unions, I am a fence sitter on. I don't oppose it nor do I support it. We Christians are called to tackle (expose) the sin to (A) who will listen (B) individually and even though we should have a say so in voting on laws, our "business" is reaching the world for Christ. Not control. I get called "Weak" "Lukewarm" and "Evil embrace" when I focus more on what God wants and wants from me rather than trying to control others. After all, a sin is a sin is a sin is a sin, and we all, gays, straights, druggies, abusers, lusters, etc, etc, etc face the same problems, sin, and my sin is no greater or less than yours.

Answer 2

I'm not out to disprove a dang thing! What you choose to embrace or reject... is on you. No matter what, YOU can't go back to the first anything and say how it came about factually, which is what you say we can't do.... so.... when you place expectations of Christians, use the same measuring standard on yourself... because technically YOU and US are in the exact same boat, except for that, YOU just choose to adhere to science as your God, more or less. Adaptation can be measured and proven. Many life forms have adapted to environment; there's NO question about that. BUT as far as man goes.. the chromosomes of primates and "early man" don't match up to us.. why? Because they are a different species than us. Until they find a conclusive transitional fossil.. PROVING we evolved from a primate... ( which will never happen) I'm not buying it. I think your claim that that's how humanity came about is stupid with NO support, and even as a non Christian didn't believe it. Have an outstanding day.

Answer 3

At the risk of getting penalized in some manner, which is common for me with females, I will say one thing: I truly believe that religious legalism is a wad of horse sh*t since I've lived my enitire life stumbling in the same sinful behaviors for which I've always judged everyone else since I was a but a young person who learned the ins and outs of criticizing anyone - Christian, Muslim, or atheist - for the way that they talked, walked, or did anything else. If I saw another kid lusting after a female, then he*l, I would do it with twice the gusto since i learned it witha vengeance inside the confines of the legalistic "Christian" church! If I heard someone swearing, I would do it twice as long under my breath. I was a sick son of a beaver! The course that this little essay is taking, and go ahead and give me the thumbs down, for I'm used to it, is just that you need to accept people even for the lowsy things that they do, even when it sometimes offends because they were as blinded by religion and their own human nature and not the ways and teachings and lifestyle of the Lord Jesus Christ, do you understand how it is that I am relating to you? Be real, but don't allow your behavior, words, or thoughts to negatively influence or affect others, especially when these aforementioned elements relate to the examples presented in the guidelines of the Word of God. Certainly there will be those who will use much latitude to substantiate their own interpretations of Scriptures that will correspond with the trends of the secular world or their own feelings on a particular morning, but try to overlook them and stay fixed on what you believe as a Christian, ma'am!

Answer 4

It is about "the truth and the life"many want the life but not the truth.You seem to be defending homosexuals here.Jesus wants to defend them to by offering forgiveness to them.To Christians the Old and New Testament are used.The old is what brought us to the new for without the law we would have never known that we were living in sin.When the law revealed our sins we wanted to repent and be born again.I had many sins in my life that God forgave me of.Some were not so bad and some were worse than being a homosexual,but I had to repent of all of them to come to the grace that we find in the New Testament.When we repent we turn from these sins and have no desire to live in them any longer.We might be tempted with them but we won't submit to them as before.Romans 1:26-28 will provide you with scripture from the New Testament on this matter.Forgive those who deal unkindly with anyone,and try to set an example of love for saints and sinners.

Answer 5

If you mean for the definition of Christianity to be "One who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ". I think this would be a good thing to try before you decide what you think. Find a bible written in English that you find easy to understand. You will find the teachings of Jesus written in the Gospels in the New Testament. Find an edition that has the words of Jesus printed in RED.. Now just read the parts and the context around them where the red lettering is. You will find out what Jesus taught. I find that there are few who disagree with the teachings of Jesus and unfortunately only a few who follow those teachings. Don't judge the teacher by the failure of many who claim to be His followers to do what he taught.

Answer 6

I think people get caught up on one particular sin and forget that we are all sinners. If someone commits adultry it is a sin just as much as homosexuals engaging in sexual acts.
It's difficult to discuss homosexuals and their relationships as"sin" because of the emotions involved in their relationships.
SO the true meaning if christianity is that as humans we are by nature prone to sin.
In the old testament, the animal sacrifice "covered" the sins of the isrealites. Now jesus was the most pure sacrifice, so no more animals need to be slain for sin. We have to ask him to "cover" our sin with his blood.
Then we develop a sense of being "not guilty". We have more peace etc. and god teaches us the truth about the universe.
So some christians focus more on trying to make people aware of homosexuality, some pornography etc.
There's a lot to be said...

Answer 7

I believe that as a Christian I should not be judging anybody. That being said though, I don't have to like the things that people do either. I want people to come to know Jesus and the only way most people will do that is if they are shown love. Love and charity are what Christians should be about.

Answer 8

Okay, I'm gonna give you my best "true Christian attitude" Here goes.
The true meaning of Christianity is to love one another with the love of Jesus Christ, which is the true definition of love. Sometimes people want to be loved in other ways, ways thay don't reflect the teachings of Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus is God and that he has existed forever. This makes the commandments and laws of the Old Testament the product of Jesus, as well as the things said in the New.
If someone wanted a follower of Christ to hit them in the head with a frying pan to show them love, they wouldn't do it. That's not the way Jesus would show love. In the same way, if someone wants to have premarital sex with a follower of Jesus to show their love, they wouldn't do it, because that would not be expressing Christ's love, but the kind of "love" the world would want us to show.
The verses 1st Tim. 1:10
(and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching... )
and 1st Cor. 6:9
(Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals...)
clearly show the kind of moral company homosexuality keeps. It isn't a loose interpretation. It's black and white. Homosexuality is considered an impure sexual act. There are tons of verses in Scripture that warn us from sexual immorality. The act of homosexuality is included in those warnings, along with adultery and promesquity, rape, bestiality, incest. Its all in there.
You make a lot of assumptions in your last bit of the last paragraph in your question. Christians are always questioning their beliefs and looking for answers. We constantly talk about the troubles we have with our faith. You say not to get defensive, but its kind of hard not to when you are being so insulting, accusing Christians of using "loose interpretations to support their own agenda". The only agenda Christians have is to learn more about Jesus and to try and be like him as much as possible. We are more familiar with the passages of love than we are with the few passages of scripture focusing on homosexuality. I can honestly say that I've never heard a pastor, minister, preacher or priest bring up homosexuality from the pulpit. We are concerned with loving people, not condemning them. The only people that I see bringing up homosexuality and the bible are non-believers like yourself.

Answer 9

Good news, there are far more than 2000 verses that speak of love. Bad news, there are more than 2 verses that call homosexual behavior (behavior okay)sin, even an abomination to the Lord.
You see, the bible is packed with Good news and Bad news. The good far outweighs the bad. But you can't have the good and ignore the bad. Keep in mind that the bad news is only bad for those who chose to live that way.

Its all about choice, you can love God and His Word and take Him serious, or you can love your own ways and do it all your way,even if it leads to your own destruction. You see, good news, bad news. The question is which do you chose??????

Answer 10

My Dear Grandmother. Texanna Victoria Page Ballew.Was at the nurseing home. My mother was there. Ma Ma had cancer, mother was reading to her from the bible. suddenly Ma Ma raised her hands,Eyes all lit up. smiled, cryed JESUS!! as she looked up. and passed on from this world..All my wonderfull Christian grandparents lived well into there 90s, they were great people. God I belive came , or Jesus came, our an angel came. I dont know of course, but by her faith she was actualy taken to heaven, and I praise God for that, I was in to another religion and after I heard this and then my mother died, I decided to go back to Christianity, THAT right there is the true meaning of Christianity,as for as I am concerned, and I would like to add, that of all my people , I have never heard one word with the puting down of people.in anyway at all. they all simply have love, and I belive love is the key to geting to heaven