in order to get into the Heaven Club? I'm only human and that entitles me to make honest mistakes. They are not sins. I will not admit that I'm a sinner to anyone unless I truly commit a sin.
Is this idea that we all fall short of God's expectations a mechanism to crush one's self esteem and make us weak and easy to manipulate?
2007-02-04 14:42:38 · 23 answers · asked by God Fears Me 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Gary, nowhere in my question did I say that God doesn't exist.... so maybe you should read more carefully before answering...
2007-02-04 14:49:54 · update #1
You would be correct... they do the same thing in basic training. It's a standard psychological manipulation.
2007-02-04 14:46:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
Toucan, I find it hard to believe that you think you have only committed honest mistakes. Look to the Mosaic law and then to the teachings of Jesus. Since you say you do believe in God then it is easy to see how we are a flawed creation.
Do I understand you to say that God's expectations are a mechanism to crush your self esteem and make you weak and easy to manipulate? He created you. If He desired manipulation your self esteem at its pinnacle could not stand up to Him.
God wishes us to come back to Him and He has provided a method for doing so. And offended or not the first step is to admit your sins and accept the free gift of salvation through Jesus (the real sinless man)
BTW your being human is your first sin. Romans 3:23 But, you would have to also believe in God and His Holy word.
2007-02-04 15:07:27 · answer #2 · answered by crimthann69 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anyone who breaks the ten commandments is a sinner. Jesus is the only one who lived on earth and never broke one sin. Telling a lie is a sin. The purpose of the ten commandments was to show that no one could meet God's expectations and to show us that we need a savior to save us from our sins. When Jesus dying on the cross and conquering death, his blood covers our sin.
Example: You get pulled over for speeding. You broke the law so you deserve the punishment. The punishment for speeding is a fine. Then someone comes up to the judge and pays the fine for you. That is like what Jesus did. He died in our place so we are free from eternal death. The punishment for sin is death. Jesus covers our sin with his blood if we Admit we are sinners, Believe that he died on the cross and rose again, and Confess our sins. That doesnt mean that we will never sin again.
James 2:10 says, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all."
2007-02-04 15:05:31 · answer #3 · answered by Jon G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm sorry you're offended...but really i think you need to recognize the definition of sin. biblically, that is. a sin is anything done outside of love to another person (loosely put). it's even a sin to know something is the right thing to do, and not do it--even if you're not technically doing anything wrong. you don't have to be a mass-murderer.
and you hit the nail on the head--you are a human, and therefore you are bound to make these "mistakes", if that's what you perfer to call them. "we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of god." (Rom. 3:23)
so, tell me. have you ever known the right thing to do, and not done it?
have you ever hated anyone?
have you ever lied?
probably yes. if not, i'm sure i could keep going until i've found one.
the point here is not to offend you. i have done (or not done) at least these three things and made so many other "mistakes". these are high standards indeed. and we can't make them.
so, knowing this, god provided another way out of the mess we find ourselves in by sending his son to pay the price. i think you know the story from here.
2007-02-04 15:02:45 · answer #4 · answered by JP 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What do you mean by honest mistakes? Is telling a lie an honest mistake? What about stealing? Or cheating? Or having lustful thoughts? Sins or honest mistakes?
Admitting that you are a sinner means being honest with your true spiritual condition before God. Admitting that you are a sinner does not get you into heaven. Like a person drowning, admitting that you are a non-swimmer does not get you on dry ground, you need to grab the life buoy and entrust your life on that life-saving device. So admitting you are a sinner is not good enough, you need to trust your life to Jesus Christ.
2007-02-04 14:51:24 · answer #5 · answered by Seraph 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
We are all sinners; we inherited our sinful nature through Adam and Eve. It's not an idea to crush our self esteem; it has nothing to do with one's self-esteem.
We are human and humans are not perfect and that's something you're right about but mistakes are still sins. Getting angry at your parents, cursing your parents, white lies, etc.
You must humble yourself to God and ask forgiveness. I felt the same way you did before I became a Christian. I thought that if I led a good life, I'd be saved which is not true.
You must accept Christ as well as repent of your wrongdoings to be saved.
2007-02-04 14:58:09 · answer #6 · answered by chrstnwrtr 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps you need to define sin?
And unless one understands God's nature as compared to human nature one cannot appreciate the huge difference between the two. That difference is is the "falling short" of pure righteousness. All of us share this in common whether we admit it or not.
Ones self esteem is not crushed by this unless one allows it. God wants to have a relationship with us that uplifts not puts down or manipulates.
2007-02-04 15:04:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the biography they call the new testament is just that, at least the first four books. In the old testament, I never bought into original sin, i always thought that the fable about god keeping the tree of knowledge from his creations to be rather....like a warning. that once you are aware of making a mistake, you can never go back to being ignorant about commiting the same mistake again.
christianity has evolved into a warped version of the original ideas. it has become a bedtime story (much like hansel and gretel) to scare people into a submissive state, there by bringing some sense of order to a community. I honestly believe that those who have come along in history and used christianity as a manipulation did it for just that reason. they even call us sheep and jesus of nazareth the shephard.
i believe that if jesus of nazareth was alive today, he would be horrified at what has become of his efforts and martyrdom. i'm a pagan, but i still like the guy and like what he tried to do. just as much as i like what ghandi tried to accomplish.
i too am offended when others call me a sinner, or claim i will burn forever in a lake of fire. i think it is petty, conceited and childish.
2007-02-04 15:03:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why are you offended? Examine yourself closely, if you are honest you will see that you are imperfect and lacking. God is offering you eternal life. People everyday admit they are sinners for various reasons, but admitting you are a sinner is only the beginning of you realizing that you are in need. Faith in what God has provided is what is lacking. Your sin is not the issue.
2007-02-04 15:16:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever told a lie? you are a liar. Have you ever stole? you are a thief. You are a sinner, like it or not, Not because Christians say so, because GOD says so! And Heaven is not a club, It is very easy to get their, all you have to do is repent of your sins, and ask JESUS to come into your heart and accept him as your Savior. Anyone can go to heaven.
2007-02-04 14:51:23 · answer #10 · answered by tanat 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. This is Gods word. KJV bible
2007-02-04 15:07:02 · answer #11 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋