Why are Christians especially challenged by opposing views?

Question

Do you actually think the early Christians believed the same things? No. The Gnostic Christians believed in a Mother/Father God...that is until the promenent Christian church in Rome destroyed them. The only way the early church was able to gain prominence of their beliefs was to destroy by the sword all those who disbelieved. Do you wish that power today? God never taught us to destroy opposition (unless it was the lessor gods of the Old Testament). God has always taught us to "Love Ye One Another." The same applies today.
Love,
Mel

Answer 1

Bravo! I could not agree more. The Gnostic beliefs are reemerging due to the Nag Hammadi discoveries. I find them fascinating.

It is very clear why the early church feared them so much. The Gnostics are not about control and fear.

Answer 2

The premise on which your whole argument is based is the idea that Christianity "destroys by the sword all those who disbelieved."

If that were true -- that all disbelievers were destroyed by the sword -- then everyone during the early church's time would have been Christian. Because all the disbelievers would have been destroyed.

But this idea would get you laughed out of any bona fide history class.

The Church has declared a lot of beliefs heretical, but it never declared that those who push those beliefs should die by the sword. I think you may have confused Christianity with another religion that talks a lot about swords.

.

Answer 3

Truth is always challenged by untruth, and truth always prevails. What the early Church believed and did is recorded in the Bible. There is no mention of a mother God or of a program of destroying opposition. There are specific directions regarding how to deal with those preaching false beliefs, and they have nothing to do with the sword. There is only one instance in all of Scripture where a follower of Christ attempted to deal with a situation using the sword, and Christ immediately stopped him. Perhaps you are confusing Christianity with Islam???

Answer 4

Because True Christian do not want the false teachings and
perversion of Gods Word to lead anymore to hell . Plus your
little history here is wrong as well Mel . But you are right on
Love . Everything else is rejected . You really should read for
yourself or maybe even take a course or two , Amen ...

Answer 5

I think all people are challenged by opposing views. People seem to like their world view of life to be put into neat little boxes. Remember...even the "love one another" policy by Christ was a new concept to the Jews. Our humanity makes these opposing views such a problem to obtain common understanding. Our sinful nature make our divide from God so great........thank you God for the Christ.

Answer 6

I don't know if I'm being challenged by opposing views. The bible is the truth for me and I will defend it. I suppose that those views would encourage me to get deeper into the Word.

Answer 7

I am not at all. I have done my homework and I am content. I am interested in learning what people believe and why. : )

I think that we are here to learn to love one another and help each other out whenever we can.

Answer 8

Too deep for me. However, sounds rather contradictory with a bunch of self-serving, twisted opinions thrown in.

Answer 9

That's what people don't understand---He's not all about LOVE,LOVE, LOVE all the time. He destroyed workers of iniquity ...homosexuals...etc. He has given us a choice...if you decide to do wrong then let his WRATH come over you!

Answer 10

And your point is...?