musicmaniac4ever Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 How do you really know your a good person without breaking the Ten commandments? Don't get me wrong, you can't get saved by good works, only by believing in Jesus. I am a true Christian, not Catholic or whatever. I would like to know your opinions! Link to post Share on other sites
Outcast Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Don't get me wrong, you can't get saved by good works, only by believing in Jesus. Some churches believe that. Not all do. I am a true Christian, not Catholic or whatever You are under a serious misconception if you don't think anyone but people in your religion are 'true Christians'. EVERYONE who believes in Christ is a Christian and that includes Catholics, Episcopalians, Baptists, Presbyterians, and the vast majority of the 50 some other thousand Christian faiths. :mad: How DARE you or anybody say you are the only sort of 'true' Christian? :mad: :mad: :mad: So here's a clue about knowing you're a good person; Number One is not thinking everybody else but you is wrong and bad. :mad: Link to post Share on other sites
loony Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 I am a true Christian, not Catholic or whatever. You should inform the pope about this, maybe he doesn't know yet that he's not a true Christian. I'm not Christian and I don't consider myself a bad person. I have serious trouble to grasp the concept of salvation where belief is more important than actual deeds and I'd rather be a happy good-doing heathen than a bigot hypocritical true Christian. Link to post Share on other sites
Outcast Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 bigot hypocritical true Christian. = oxymoron Link to post Share on other sites
ReluctantRomeo Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Ooooh, exciting, 2 of my favourite posters discussing religion I don't consider myself to be a good person - in the words of Jesus, "no one is good but God alone". The context of the quote is quite appropriate - the rich young ruler was enthused about having kept the ten commandments, but Jesus raised the bar to a point where the young man was unwillling to go ("go sell all you have and give it to the poor"). The bottom line is that all of us have our limitations and none of us are in any position to award ourselves the seal of holy approval. Jesus' relative few harsh words were reserved for religious people who whitewashed themselves in this way. To take another story Jesus told, "God have mercy on me, a sinner" is an appropriate prayer. "I thank you that I am good, not like that tax collector over there" is not. On the "true christian" point, I guess it's obvious from the previous comments that I am trying to be a follower of Jesus, but not in an "institutional" way. Link to post Share on other sites
d'Arthez Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 How do you really know your a good person without breaking the Ten Commandments? Even the Ten Commandments are no absolutes. If you study the history of Christian religion you will see that many teachers have stressed that. That does not mean that the Commandments have little value. Especially those Commandments that are hard to follow because of the many changes that have taken place in society, should not be overstressed, IMO. I am a true Christian, not Catholic or whatever. I would like to know your opinions! I am no Christian, let alone a true believer. A true believer would not make any distinction between Catholics, baptists, Calvinists, Anglicans or whatever - as long as the essential teachings of all the different sects and groups are the same. And what is essential? But a few things, and that is not so much religious but moral, i.e. how to treat other human beings. I even have doubts if the "historical Jesus" actually existed. I have doubts that Jesus was not influenced by Buddhism. I have no reason to assume God exists, but I also recognize that being humans, we cannot know either way whether or not God exists. But the basic requirement for a person to be good, is to live good, and to treat others well. Therein Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Taoism do not differ much, to name but a few of the many religions that do exist. Link to post Share on other sites
slubberdegullion Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Even Hitler, Stalin and Mao thought of themselves as good people. But thinking so does not make it so. I suffer from no such delusions. I'm an a**h***. Link to post Share on other sites
lilmoma1973 Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 I guess by being the best you can be. I think we all have good in us... Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 A true believer would not make any distinction between Catholics, baptists, Calvinists, Anglicans or whatever Amen! I also think a true believer would act on what Jesus gave as a rehashed version of the Ten Commandments: Love God, and love one another. Even though people may doubt God's existence, and therefore not seek to love him, they still are very much able to love one another. When your actions are for the good of others, and you're not looking for personal satisfaction from these actions, that shows me that you are a good person whether you're a believer or not. Tearing down someone for their belief doesn't exactly inspire me to see the good in them, no matter HOW good they profess to be! Link to post Share on other sites
slubberdegullion Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 quank... LOVE the avatar! Reminds me of my now-deceased pup! Thanks for the smile! Link to post Share on other sites
LucreziaBorgia Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Mr. B showed me a quote which pretty much sums up how I see it: The good life, as I conceive it, is a happy life. I do not mean that if you are good you will be happy; I mean that if you are happy you will be good. -- Bertrand Russell Link to post Share on other sites
westernxer Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Musicmania, you have an extremely narrow perspective. Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 quank... LOVE the avatar! Reminds me of my now-deceased pup! Thanks for the smile! thank you ... makes me want a baby now, though my husband would have a cow if I brought home a puppy!!! Link to post Share on other sites
slubberdegullion Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 my husband would have a cow if I brought home a puppy Well, sometimes it's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission. Link to post Share on other sites
morrigan Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 A person does good acts when it's motivated by a desire to help someone else, and not as a tool to benefit themselves. Some people worry about salvation, I personally don't. I think how you treat others in the here and now is more important than expecting to receive a reward for belief or good deeds. Link to post Share on other sites
ThumbingMyWay Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 How do you really know your a good person without breaking the Ten commandments? Don't get me wrong, you can't get saved by good works, only by believing in Jesus. We as humans can think what we want to think...I can say I am a good person....but am I? if you believe in Christ...then the only one who really knows you is the Father...and he will decide if you are a good person. He knows your heart better than you do... Now...the only way to be saved is by believeing in Christ Jesus....and that is the truth.... But the thing is.....and I believe God knew this when he created us....we as humans can NEVER be without sin.....but we can strive for it.... Moses gave us Gods law.....but His grace and truth came thru Jesus Christ....so if you believe in him...you will be saved.... Now...am I saying that belief in Jesus is a "get out Hell Free Card"?....NO. But its Gods way of showing mercy....he knows we are sinful beings....but he gave us His Son so that we may be saved....and all Jesus wanted us to do...WAS BELIEVE IN HIM and LOVE ONE ANOTHER. He also gave us the Holy Spirit....or what I like to call your conscience....the great counslor from with in. Listen to him....follow his lead....and you will progress to a life of love. We all know what is right and what is wrong...but our selfishness directs alot of our actions.... Being a good person is quite easy....but does it mean I am without sin?...NO f'ing way....I sin every day....I tell little lies....I take paper clips from work...I say Oh My God, and I have lust in my mind all the time. But it doesnt mean I am a bad person...it means I am human.....but the difference is....I admit my faults to God and recieve His Son in truth.....his grace is new every day...and i am thankful... Link to post Share on other sites
slubberdegullion Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Believing in Christ as a guarantee of salvation is not taught by any church, established or otherwise. Hey, even Satan believes in Christ. That hardly makes Beelzebub a candidate for an eternity of clouds and harps and Kraft Cream Cheese and all the rest. Do you still think it's enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless? (New Living Translation)" Most - not all - Christian denominations teach that belief is only a small portion of it. What is needed, apparently, is to ask Jesus to take control of your life, and put aside your personality and desires so He can work through you. Easier said than done, of course. There are some Biblical passages that do point to salvation through works. The book of James is like that.Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us (emphasis added, New Living Translation) There's also a passage in Romans which seems to indicate that the Ten Commandments, just as the other laws (such as the sets of laws drawn up in Exodus) were made null and void by Christ's execution and rising. The law no longer holds you in its power, because you doed to its power when you died with Christ on the cross... (emphasis added, New Living Translation) Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 How do you really know your a good person without breaking the Ten commandments? Don't get me wrong, you can't get saved by good works, only by believing in Jesus. I am a true Christian, not Catholic or whatever. I would like to know your opinions! I'm a good person and I thank my parents, who allowed us to be, learn and grow. The extended family, friends, neighbours I had in my life and still have in my life have gotten me to where I am now. I have my own belief system and (no offense to anybody) me not being religious and not going to church hasn't made me less of a good person. I am who I am because of my experiences in life, family and friends. Link to post Share on other sites
Moose Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Nope. Noone is. Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Nope. Noone is. Moose.. I have to disagree with you on this point.. Noone is without flaws.. But as flawed as we are those flaws don't keep us from being a good person.. Link to post Share on other sites
musicmaniac4ever Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 What I ment when I say 'I am a true Christian' means the other kinds of denominations are just going about it the wrong way. Meaning they don't follow the WHOLE Bible, no other books to go along with it, they missinterpet the Scriptues, etc. I could go on forever. And no I am not a good person by far. I'm just telling the TRUTH weather you like it or not. Doesn't matter if you think 'it's just my opinion or religion' IT'S THE TRUTH. Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Yes, we're not perfect, and I know I have my shining moments but I not a mean or cruel person. Link to post Share on other sites
Moose Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Moose.. I have to disagree with you on this point.. Noone is without flaws.. But as flawed as we are those flaws don't keep us from being a good person.. Yes, we're not perfect, and I know I have my shining moments but I not a mean or cruel person. It really depends on who is looking at you. "Are you really a good person?", isn't enough information to base a decision on. If it's God looking at you, noone is, "good" enough to enter His kingdom. Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 What I ment when I say 'I am a true Christian' means the other kinds of denominations are just going about it the wrong way. Meaning they don't follow the WHOLE Bible, no other books to go along with it, they missinterpet the Scriptues, etc. you're Catholic? the Catholic Church is the only Christian entity that teaches the fullness of the truth, according to what every little Catholic boy and girl is taught in catechism. Other Christians (née, Protestants) are our brothers and sisters in Christ, but they lack the fullness of the truth because their religious beliefs are based on picking and choosing the portion of the truth they want. The Catholic Church offers the full meal deal, if you will, the others simply don't. however, that is discussing Religion in a nit-picky way, and the "right" answer is going to vary from person to person. Only God knows your heart and the validity of your claim. Best to be acting on your belief by encouraging others to the dialogue with God, rather than make remarks that come across as snarky ... it just frustrates the hell out of everyone and totally detracts from your message. Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 If it's God looking at you, noone is, "good" enough to enter His kingdom. however, because we believe that he is a loving God, he gives us every chance possible for improvement, ¿sí? And there's the big forgiveness clause that came about when Jesus took up the cross and died for our sins .... maybe it's not so much about being "good enough" to enter into the kingdom, but seizing the opportunity to do just that. There must be as many former sinners as saints gracing the halls of heaven! Link to post Share on other sites
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