I may be mistaken but.....from what i've learned Christians are constantly trying not to commit sin and asking for forgiveness. Why can't we just do what we want and if we think it is wrong then forgive ourselves and not do it again? Getting drunk, being promiscuous, being lazy...if you're happy why would God not be? Who is to say that Jesus is constantly judging our actions....i don't think being judgmental makes a good God, why can't we choose for ourselves what is right and wrong, and if there really has to be any wrong in the world if we don't want there to be? For example most people consider war wrong....what if death, suffering, pain was not wrong or right but just simply existed. After all everyones perception of right and wrong is different, right?
2007-08-05 05:49:09 · 22 answers · asked by le_miserable 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am not aethist by the way. What do other Christians think about the fact that BrotherMichael thinks God doesn't give a 'rip' about our happiness
2007-08-05 06:31:11 · update #1
Some Christians do, because they don't realize who they are in Christ.
When they were born of God, born of His Spirit, cleansed by His blood, joint heirs with King Jesus & part of the family of God; they don't realize that they are made the righteousness of Christ when becoming a child of God, born of His Spirit.
The new born again Christ is made the righteousness of Christ & is just as righteous as the Christian who was born of God 20 years ago. When God sees us, He sees the righteousness of Christ.
Guilt isn't conviction. Guilt is "I did this & that & that is nothing I can do about it but be guilty." Conviction is when Gods Spirit convicts our spiritman. We need to confess this sin & He is faithful & just to forgive us our sin & cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
As a Christian, if I sin by doubting, God lets me know pretty quickly & I have to confess my sin & thank God that He Has promised to never leave or forsake me. Christians who try to abide in sin when God convicts us, will be miserable until they repent & if they refuse to repent may even die early. Or go to heaven early. It is written that those who don't discern the body of Christ (We who are redeemed are the body) when taking communion, sleep (die early).
2007-08-05 05:57:44 · answer #1 · answered by t a m i l 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Where did you hear that Christians live their lives according to guilt??? Everyone sins, and as Christians we ask God to forgive our sins, he does, and that's the end of it. Where do you find guilt?
God is the highest power that we answer to, and He is right to be judging our lives and our hearts because He created us. But what about the laws of the land. We have judges in every city and county of the US. Are they wrong to be in those positions? Instead of having the laws we live by in this country, should we just let everyone choose for themselves what is right and wrong? If you can't figure that one out, then you have bigger problems than worrying about Christians' guilt.
2007-08-05 06:58:39 · answer #2 · answered by kaz716 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"I may be mistaken"
You are, quite so. We, as believers, avoid sin because of love for God, not wanting to do something that offends Him or is against His laws. For the believer, the forgiveness of sins is done, taken care of at the cross. We seek forgiveness when we fall in order to re-establish fellowship with God.
When we sin, we offend a holy, righteous and just God. It is God, and God alone who can forgive sin, since He was the one the sin was against.
Frankly, God doesn't give a rip about whether we are "happy". Making sure we are happy is not on His agenda. God is "happy" with us when we are faithful to Him and seek to do His will. The Bible says that God judges sin. Jesus is God, very God, and will sit in judgment of the sin of unbelievers.
"Choose for ourselves right and wrong" moral relativism. This idea fails, man naturally chooses the evil. So, under your system, if I believe it is right for me to break into your house and steal your stuff, who are to say it was wrong if it is right for me?
There are many who think war is right, that is obvious because there are wars going on all the time, in various areas. Suffering and pain is morally neutral, neither evil or good. Pain can be a good thing, would you want to live without the pain sensation? That warning mechanism that stops you from doing greater bodily harm to yourself? God uses all these things for His glory and for the ultimate good of His people. God is the one who determines right and wrong, if you choose the wrong, there are consequences.
2007-08-05 06:07:26 · answer #3 · answered by BrotherMichael 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why do the faithless always question Christians and are so bothered by our beliefs? Why we could actually care less if you have no faith or what you believe in. WE DO NOT CARE it's up to GOD to decide your fate not ours. So continue to do what you do and see where that gets you. We prefer only the right way good etiquette and good deeds to others. All the Christians I know believe in helping those in need. We are not perfect we are human we make mistakes but we choose to believe in Jesus Christ the Savior of mankind. It is fact it is written. We do not need to prove our faith to the non believers we are happy and we continue to love as God teaches us to Love one another. I do not know of the God you speak of. There is only ONE Father in heaven and he is only about love and forgiveness.
Peace
I will pray for your soul
2007-08-05 06:00:15 · answer #4 · answered by moondego 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Men are corrupt. Even the (good works) are but filthy rags before a perfect God. Realizing your sins is the first step to forgiveness and eternal life in paradise. Don't forget, God is the final judge, not man.
2007-08-05 05:56:54 · answer #5 · answered by morris 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Absolutely. As Hamlet says, "There's nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."
There is obviously no such thing as abstract "good" or abstract "evil." Good and evil are descriptions of the relations between things, not things-in-themselves. Hence heat is "good" for hot dogs and "evil" for ice cream. In human terms, imagine, "religious" people, how the invading army of Israel must have appeared to the innocent children of Jericho.
Besides, even hardcore Christians are obviously "moral relativists," since they're compelled to admit that God changed the rules at least once in history.
Christianity as an institution derives its power from its criminalization of human biology. None of us can help being "miserable sinners," because we've all (most of us anyway) been born with sex organs and sex drives. The Church instills a sense of sexual guilt and then exploits it by offering Jesus as the remedy.
2007-08-05 05:52:00 · answer #6 · answered by jonjon418 6 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Well, while Christianity, as a whole, does seem to be controlled through fear/guilt, I think that religion really is, ultimately, a way of life. And that means that it has to set some guidelines on HOW TO live your life if it is to be a guiding presence in your life. Does that make sense?
And while Christianity, ultimately, does seem to be centered around fear, the whole "guilt" thing is more catholic than anything.........
2007-08-05 05:56:01 · answer #7 · answered by justin_perie 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
God is not judgmental he gave his only son for all the sinners, if he had not loved us and cared then why did he forgive us? The thing that God does not forgive us for is, When people trash talk him, don't give him the respect he diserves, ignor him. Our God gave us so many gifts and should not be thanked by us abusing his gifts like sex (being unpure , life (taking your own life) and many many more
2007-08-05 05:57:15 · answer #8 · answered by Tea Crazed Person. 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think you mean "Why do CATHOLICS live their lives according to guilt?" I'm Christian and don't live as you have stated. We do try not to commit sins. But when we do, we ask for forgiveness. Big deal. That's not "living according to guilt". That's just wanting to be better. Catholics on the other hand love guilt. They think they should suffer for everything.
2007-08-05 05:53:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Hey, that's not all Christians! That's Catholics!!!
just kidding - I am a Christian who does not live my life according to guilt. (I am also a former Catholic). Most of the Christians I know personally do not live a life according to or based on guilt.
2007-08-05 05:54:12 · answer #10 · answered by Marvelissa VT 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋