Christians, do you use the Bible as your moral guide or not?

Question

How often do you hear christians bash Atheists for not having a moral guide like they have? Now interstingly enough, christians swim around the laws in the bible like slippery eels everytime they're mentioned. They say, "Jesus already fulfilled all the laws and we now live by his grace". So by this, christians basically don't have to follow anything told in the bible because jesus already fulfilled them.

So what is there left in the bible to guide you, when you're not obliged to follow any of it?

As for the 10 commandments, most of them are basic moral rules existent in most cultures around the world anyway. But I seriously doubt that there's any christian who has never lied. If you say you have'nt, then you're lying once again and thus breaking your law.......but then again jesus already died for you...so....

Answer 1

Hi there - interesting question! Sounds like you have met some slippery Christians in your time!

A couple of things up front

The 10 commandments were written at a time when basic moral rules didn't really exist. The people who lived around Moses (the egyptians are a good case in point) were pretty immoral - child/human sacrifice, murder, constant warfare, polygamy, etc etc. God's commandments would have been pretty unique at that time and still challenge people today.

Secondly the Bible isn't the Christian's moral code - its the revealed word of God about how He tries to relate to us and how we have related to Him. Its about humanity, weakness, heroism, courage, sadness, loss, beauty, celebration and victory (to name but a few). It isn't a manual for life - its a book about the character of God and how we can connect with Him.

Thirdly, we remain under God's law but we have been spared the penalty of law and judgement (death) through Jesus' grace. Just because we have grace does NOT mean that we can just keep on sinning (see Romans 6 - Paul was really clear about this).

And in one sense you are right, we are not obliged to follow any of the Bible. Its not a club rule book or a legal document to be followed "or else". Let me explain - Martin Luther said "love God and do what you please" meaning that if you really love someone you want to please them, not yourself. So if you love God you follow His commands. Jesus was pretty keen on that too (See John 14:23)

Doesn't mean we don't all screw up sometimes (I am a member of the 'I screw up' club, believe me) but if we confess that to Jesus, He makes us whole again and helps us by His Spirit to change from within and hopefully screw up less!

There is no contradiction here - just human weakness meeting God's grace through His Son Jesus. I thank God that He is not like me and more than able to move beyond my failures to look at the heart of me.

Answer 2

First of all, you capitalize Christians. Second, you lump all Christians into one rant, which is very ignorant since there are many beliefs within the Christian denominations. Third, you obviously have never take the time to read (with help of course) the Bible to understand it. Fourth, the Ten Commandments (also to be capitalized) are not "in most cultures", in fact, they are NOT in most cultures--that's the problem!

I suggest you stop slamming Christians and spewing foolishness proving you don't know Christianity or the Bible.
Get educated and take a good Bible class to begin to understand it and if you don't want to do that, then don't bother acting like you know what you are discussing.

Answer 3

Answer: Examples of loving cunduct.
Every religion does these things to a large extent.
Reform Judaism does not abide in the old laws of Moses, though fundamentalists do.
For a believer, in my opinion of any religion, it is the intent of the heart and the actions that describes their true beliefs, regardless of whatever they say they might believe.
It isn't law that is used but example of how to treat people right, without judging or condemning, as did Jesus. Unfortunatly, this seems to be the farthest away from popular religions. If you love people, you will treat them right. The law is Love. If you cause pain, how is this loving?
When people feel condemned and can't forgive themselves, can they then love others?
If they know they are forgiven, then they can forgive others.
Why does Love need religions, words or laws? Maybe as a type of evolving consciousness from primitive man, so that we can learn to treat eachother right. If we keep evolving towards Love, then maybe the dogmas relevancy will subside through time. Universalism = tolerance of different beliefs with the same goals. Including Humanism = World Peace.

Answer 4

I generally follow Christs' summary of the law,
In all things,treat others as you would have them treat you.
Popularly, this is known as the golden rule.
CNN wasn't there to report what he said,but whether he said it or not I think it's a good idea,after all what goes around comes around doesn't it?
I TRY to follow HIS great commandment to:
Love one another.As I have loved you,you must love one another.With a few a**h***s around that one really is tough.That is,however,the basic rationale for the Episcopal Church electing and consecrating an openly gay,partnered guy as a bishop!And then electing a female as the presiding bishop of the church.All you need is LOVE,didn't the Beatles sing that?
Want a free pass to heaven:
Forgive others when they sin against you and your Father(patriarchal?)in heaven will forgive you your sins.
Well,you're on your way!Anyway who wants to go around with a mad on all the time bearing a grudge.Then again, Kill Bill Vol.1 and Kill Bill Vol.2 were great flicks!!
Finally:
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
Why should anyone else love you if you don't love yourself?I "pleasure" myself and each morning look into the mirror and say aloud I'm ok,you 're ok,I'm gonna be you're best friend; and when everyone else cr**ps on you I'm gonna be right there for you baby!!
Morality 101

Answer 5

A true student of the Bible knows that Paul was writing sacred letters to the Church concerning details of how to live holy. But also it is important to note that some of his instructions had to do with the immediate problems that were situational and not in order of sin. For instance having come from a Jewish background, Paul set up the churches with men on one side and women on the other and sometimes wives would holler across to their husbands for clarification on some things. This was obviously disruptive. Also women were encouraged to honor their husbands, is there something wrong with that? As far as Christians cherry picking, we should all be striving to live reasonable, peaceful lives. If we have a problem we at least agree that it is OUR problem but God is correct in His instruction. The first law of a recovering addict, first you have to admit you have a problem before you can be helped.

Answer 6

You have to be specific.Which Bible are you referring to? The Jewish Bible,The Catholic Bible,The Protestant Bible and The Jehovah's Witnesses Bible are significantly different from each other. Plus,there are over 50 other different versions of the Bible in English alone.If the Bible is the "word of God",written by man from memory, why is the information different ,resulting in all these Bibles.They can't all be right .So ,no i don't use the Bible as my moral guide ,how do i know which is the one true Bible? Christians all have different definitions of who God is .That is why their credibility is zero when they try to convert Atheists.

Answer 7

I'll give my approval to Timbo's answer.

I like the Luther quote,"love God and do what you please".

Love mercy, do what is just and walk humbly with your God.

Love the Lord and love your neighbor as yourself.

Morality has to be based upon something otherwise it's just an unfocused set of sentimental feelings. God is the only moral authority to Whom we have an obligation to obey.

Answer 8

No, I do not use the Bible as my moral guide, but I believe everything the Bible says is true, God leads me.

Answer 9

I look at the Bible for morals, and every time I want to remember how immoral I am.

Answer 10

From what I've seen the way people act and what they have said, I think people use the TV as their moral guide.