What do you think makes christianity.Stand out from every other religion out there?:)

Here's a few examples why:











Any questions?

Truthfully, it is the only religion that is base on the Grace of God for salvation, not on works that are done to earn it or make themselves worthy of it.

But I constantly wonder about something else, what makes Christians stand out from members of other religions or the secular world around them in the way they live?

I wonder this because, for the largest part, I see little to no difference between how they -those calling themselves Christians- live and behave than how non Christians live and behave.

Shouldn't there be a difference?

One person asked me: How many books in the Bible? Aren't there 66? No there's 67,. I only count 66 from front to back. Well you forgot about one: It's you, You're a Living Epistle!! The way you live a Christian Life, preaching the Word by the way you live. (Back to the OP)

When you have the Love of Christ you must share that gift with everyone around you!! It's so fulfilling, so addictive, all consuming!! It's everything!!

Lamb said:

The Law says there should be a difference because we are to be little Christ's, but the reality is that we fail to be exactly like Christ all the time. We may see glimpses of it, sure. It's good that the Gospel says that despite our failures that God loved us enough to die for us and our sins are forgiven.

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Well, there is certainly a visible difference in religions such as Islam, to the extent that you virtually never have to wonder what the difference between a Muslim lifestyle and a secular one is.

Maybe that's one of the reasons they are the fastest growing religion in the world with a significant number of Christians converting to it. They actually walk the way they talk and do it very openly so the public knows who they are and what the difference between them and others are.

jesus lover said:

What do you think makes christianity.Stand out from every other religion out there? Can you please move this to the debate forum?

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Christianity is THE ONLY fully rational worldview.

jswauto said:

One person asked me: How many books in the Bible? Aren't there 66? No there's 67,. I only count 66 from front to back. Well you forgot about one: It's you, You're a Living Epistle!! The way you live a Christian Life, preaching the Word by the way you live. (Back to the OP)

When you have the Love of Christ you must share that gift with everyone around you!! It's so fulfilling, so addictive, all consuming!! It's everything!!

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Well, that sounds nice but it doesn't work, does it?

Scripture is the standard by which all proper doctrine and religious practice is measured. Your life is to be governed by scripture, submitted to and conformed by it. God is far more interested in and you should be far more consumed by what He is doing IN your, not through you. Fruit is the goal, not the source. Good grapes are terrific but they only come as a result of our connection Him who is the vine. Your statement conflates the two.

Frankj said:

Truthfully, it is the only religion that is base on the Grace of God for salvation, not on works that are done to earn it or make themselves worthy of it.

But I constantly wonder about something else, what makes Christians stand out from members of other religions or the secular world around them in the way they live?

I wonder this because, for the largest part, I see little to no difference between how they -those calling themselves Christians- live and behave than how non Christians live and behave.

Shouldn't there be a difference?

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Should? Sure!

Is such a difference required? No.

Christianity isn't primarily about what you do, it's about what you believe. I say, "primarily" because what you believe very definitely has an effect on what you do, although not always in proper measure.

The following is excerpted from Principles of Spiritual Growth by Miles J. Stanford....

• "To believe, and to consent to be loved while unworthy, is the great secret.​
• "To refuse to make ‘resolutions’ and ‘vows’; for that is to trust in the flesh.​
• "To expect to be blessed, though realizing more and more lack of worth…​
• "To rely on God’s chastening [child training] hand as a mark of His kindness…​

• "To ‘hope to be better’ [hence acceptable] is to fail to see yourself in Christ only.​
• "To be disappointed with yourself, is to have believed in yourself.​
• "To be discouraged is unbelief,—as to God’s purpose and plan of blessing for you.​
• "To be proud, is to be blind! For we have no standing before God, in ourselves.​
• "The lack of Divine blessing, therefore, comes from unbelief, and not from failure of devotion…​

VeritatisVerba said:

Should? Sure!

Is such a difference required? No.

Christianity isn't primarily about what you do, it's about what you believe. I say, "primarily" because what you believe very definitely has an effect on what you do, although not always in proper measure.

The following is excerpted from Principles of Spiritual Growth by Miles J. Stanford....

"The Proper Attitude of Man Under Grace:​

• "To believe, and to consent to be loved while unworthy, is the great secret.​
• "To refuse to make ‘resolutions’ and ‘vows’; for that is to trust in the flesh.​
• "To expect to be blessed, though realizing more and more lack of worth…​
• "To rely on God’s chastening [child training] hand as a mark of His kindness…​

"Things Which Gracious Souls Discover:​

• "To ‘hope to be better’ [hence acceptable] is to fail to see yourself in Christ only.​
• "To be disappointed with yourself, is to have believed in yourself.​
• "To be discouraged is unbelief,—as to God’s purpose and plan of blessing for you.​
• "To be proud, is to be blind! For we have no standing before God, in ourselves.​
• "The lack of Divine blessing, therefore, comes from unbelief, and not from failure of devotion…​

​

"To preach devotion first, and blessing second, is to reverse God’s order, and preach law, not grace. The Law made man’s blessing depend on devotion; Grace confers undeserved, unconditional blessing: our devotion may follow, but does not always do so,—in proper measure."​

​

Have we been afraid to really believe God? Have some even been afraid to allow others to really believe Him? We must never forget that "God’s ways are not always man’s ways. To some men constant peril is the only spur to action, and many religions and psychologies are dependent on fear to keep their disciples in line. Fear, too, has a place in Christianity, but God has higher and more effective motivations than fear, and one of these is love. Often fear after a while produces only numbness, but love thrives on love. To promise a man the certainty of his destiny may seem, on the human level, like playing with fire; but this leaves God out of the picture. Those who have the deepest appreciation of grace do not continue in sin. Moreover, fear produces the obedience of slaves; love engenders the obedience of sons" - (J. W. Sanderson, Jr.). (From Principles of Spiritual Growth by Miles J. Stanford)​

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I think you're very, very wrong about this when you say" Is such a difference required? No."

Can you justify this scripturally, showing that what you do and how you live isn't important.

I would point out such things as "Wherefore: Go out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing" indicates the opposite is what is expected of us and needs to be considered. It certainly doesn't seem to lend itself to being involved and blending in, a go along to get along sort of thing.

I would also point out that in the the First Commandment God tells us to put nothing ahead of him (which puts him in second place).

jesus lover said:

What do you think makes christianity.Stand out from every other religion out there? Can you please move this to the debate forum?

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@jesus lover, Christianity is the only religion that believes in the Bible's description of a fully-human man dying to free us from God the Father's guilty verdict that we deserve and rising permanently as fully-God to give people new life that will last forever.

Frankj said:

I think you're very, very wrong about this when you say" Is such a difference required? No."

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If you can refute a word I've said, I'd read it gladly.

Frankj said:

Can you justify this scripturally, showing that what you do and how you live isn't important.

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Well, I'm not a big fan of proof-texting but since I've already laid out the principles and that was insufficient, proof-texting will have to do....

Romans 4:5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

Frankj said:

I would point out such things as "Wherefore: Go out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing" indicates the opposite is what is expected of us and needs to be considered.

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Taking anything Paul said and turning into legalism is a feat of intellectual knot tying that can hardly be paralleled!

First of all Paul was telling people not to be married to unbelievers. Note that he isn't quoting any specific Old Testament passage but is weaving together several passages thematically in order to convey a PRINCIPLE. Paul was not writing a New Testament addition to the Ten Commandments. He was simply saying, as I have said to you multiple times already, that life and death don't mix and in any compromise between life and death, it is only evil that can profit.

Frankj said:

It certainly doesn't seem to lend itself to being involved and blending in, a go along to get along sort of thing.

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No one suggested otherwise. Evil is still evil, Frank! I am no softy when it comes to sin. Murderers, adulterers, rapists, homosexuals and other sexual perverts (and a few others) are all guilty of what is not only a sin that God calls an abomination (Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:13; Proverbs 6:16–19) but what should be a capital crime (Leviticus 20:10–13; Romans 1:32). It is a sin to get drunk or high (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:19–21; Proverbs 23:29–35). It is a sin to lust (Matthew 5:28). It is a sin to hate your neighbor without cause (I John 3:15; Matthew 5:22). There are hundreds of things that are sinful and they all hurt both the sinner and those around the sinner (Galatians 6:7–8; Proverbs 13:15; Romans 6:23). If that person happens to be a believer then it damages their relationship with the Father, at least in regards to their ability to listen and to hear and to implement the things God wants for their lives (Isaiah 59:2; Psalm 66:18; I Thessalonians 5:19; Hebrews 12:6–11) and it hobbles their Christian walk in ways that can't even be known during this life (I Corinthians 3:11–15; II Peter 1:8–9). It's all incredibly damaging, hurtful and tragic. We simply have no idea just how despicably evil we really are (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10–18; Isaiah 64:6).


BUT!!!


Thanks be to God and to His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for OUR sins (I Corinthians 15:3; Romans 5:8) and who raised from the dead for OUR righteousness (Romans 4:25); Who has hidden us in Christ (Colossians 3:3) and clothed us with His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10; II Corinthians 5:21), removing from us our sin as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12). Our standing before God has NOTHING to do with what we do! (Titus 3:5; Romans 11:6) It has everything and ONLY to do with what Christ has done for us (Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9). We have NO STANDING before Him whatsoever except that which He has gifted us which is Himself and His own righteousness (Romans 5:17; I Corinthians 1:30).

Frankj said:

I would also point out that in the the First Commandment God tells us to put nothing ahead of him (which puts him in second place).

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You seem like you want to be a Jew and live under Moses (Galatians 4:21). You've had several posts in succession that portray a very decisively legalistic mentality. You understand that you do need the Ten Commandments, right? That the law kills (II Corinthians 3:6–7) and that Jesus nailed those commandments, which were against you, to the cross (Colossians 2:14). Why are you so intent on bringing [them] back down off the cross, Frank? Your only hope lies in the fact that where there is no law, there is no condemnation (Romans 5:13; Romans 8:1).


Having a desire to do rightly is commendable, but you need to figure out that it cannot be done (Romans 7:18). Someone might appear to be doing well, but their righteousness is as filthy rags compared to the standard that must be met (Isaiah 64:6). You have no hope to even approach it (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:21). Just forget it! Fling yourself prostrate before the cross and lean fully, totally, and absolutely on Christ's righteousness (Philippians 3:9; Romans 3:22–24). The alternative is that on judgment day, when your works are tested, you yourself will be saved, but though as through fire (I Corinthians 3:13–15).

VeritatisVerba said:

If you can refute a word I've said, I'd read it gladly.


Well, I'm not a big fan of proof-texting but since I've already laid out the principles and that was insufficient, proof-texting will have to do....

Romans 4:5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,



Taking anything Paul said and turning into legalism is a feat of intellectual knot tying that can hardly be paralleled!

First of all Paul was telling people not to be married to unbelievers. Note that he isn't quoting any specific Old Testament passage but is weaving together several passages thematically in order to convey a PRINCIPLE. Paul was not writing a New Testament addition to the Ten Commandments. He was simply saying, as I have said to you multiple times already, that life and death don't mix and in any compromise between life and death, it is only evil that can profit.


No one suggested otherwise. Evil is still evil, Frank! I am no softy when it comes to sin. Murderers, adulterers, rapists, homosexuals and other sexual perverts (and a few others) are all guilty of what is not only a sin that God calls an abomination but what should be a capital crime. It is a sin to get drunk or high. It is a sin to lust. It is a sin to hate your neighbor without cause. There are hundreds of things that are sinful and they all hurt both the sinner and those around the sinner. If that person happens to be a believer then it damages their relationship with the Father, at least in regards to their ability to listen and to hear and to implement the things God wants for their lives and it hobbles their Christian walk in ways that can't even be known during this life. It's all incredibly damaging, hurtful and tragic. We simply have no idea just how despicably evil we really are.

BUT!!!

Thanks be to God and to His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for OUR sins and who raised from the dead for OUR righteousness; Who has hidden us in Christ and clothed us with His righteousness, removing from us our sin as far as the East is from the West. Our standing before God has NOTHING to do with what we do! It has everything and ONLY to do with what Christ has done for us. We have NO STANDING before Him whatsoever except that which He has gifted us which is Himself and His own righteousness.

Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!​

​

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.​

You seem like you want to be a Jew and live under Moses. You've had several posts in succession that portray an very decisively legalistic mentality. You understand that you do need the Ten Commandments, right? That the law kills and that Jesus nailed those commandments, which were against you, to the cross. Why are you so intent on bringing back down off the cross, Frank? Your only hope lies in the fact that where there is no law, there is no condemnation!

Having a desire to do rightly is commendable, but you need to figure out that it cannot be done. Someone might appear to be doing well but their righteousness is as filthy rags compared to the standard that must be met. You have no hope to even approach it. Just forget it! Fling yourself prostrate before the cross and lean fully, totally and absolutely to Christ's righteousness. The alternative is that on judgement day, when your works are tested, you yourself will be saved but though as through fire.

Galatians 2:19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”​

​

Galatians 5:2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.​

I Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.​

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We all stand before the Lord someday when he will judge every action we have taken and every word we have spoken or even thought.

Jesus has stated that there will be those among us that will brag about their casting out devils, healing the sick, and performing miracles in his name, but he will cast them away saying he never knew them.

These are the ones who walked the wide road while thinking they were on the narrow one. Each of us should constantly ask ourselves if we have became the same without realizing it.

When you say "You seem like you want to be a Jew and live under Moses. You've had several posts in succession that portray an very decisively legalistic mentality." I am at a loss since that was never and never has been on my mind.

Perhaps I stated something poorly, could you point out the statements I made that led you to think this so I can correct myself and state my thinking more clearly?

BTW, where did you find Netflix in scripture?

jesus lover said:

What do you think makes christianity.Stand out from every other religion out there? Can you please move this to the debate forum?

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Jesus Christ is the only way, all religions outside of the finished work on Calvary for salvation are "False"

John 14:6KJV
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Double post! Sorry!

Frankj said:

We all stand before the Lord someday when he will judge every action we have taken and every word we have spoken or even thought.

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I'd recommend disciplined thinking then!

Incidentally, I intend to plead Christ and His shed blood against any and all wrongful actions taken by me whether in thought, word or deed.

Frankj said:

Jesus has stated that there will be those among us that will brag about their casting out devils, healing the sick, and performing miracles in his name, but he will cast them away saying he never knew them.

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He said that to Jews who were under the law, not you. Context is everything!

Frankj said:

These are the ones who walked the wide road while thinking they were on the narrow one.

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TRUE!

Frankj said:

Each of us should constantly ask ourselves if we have became the same without realizing it.

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We should all be introspective to be sure but not for fear of losing our salvation but because we love God, we love ourselves and we love our neighbor. Faith works by love - not law! Law and grace are not synonyms, Frank! They're opposites!

Frankj said:

When you say "You seem like you want to be a Jew and live under Moses. You've had several posts in succession that portray an very decisively legalistic mentality." I am at a loss since that was never and never has been on my mind.

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That's a bad sign because it is very clearly there.

Look up the term "paradigm blindness". (That's not intended as any sort of insult to slight. It's a real suggestion offered with the very best of intentions).

Frankj said:

Perhaps I stated something poorly, could you point out the statements I made that led you to think this so I can correct myself and state my thinking more clearly?

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That has already been done. Each time I mention legalism or legalistic thinking on your part, it comes immediately after my having quoted the statement that prompted my reaction. I certainly hope that I've gotten the wrong impression. I look forward to any clarification you care to offer.

Frankj said:

BTW, where did you find Netflix in scripture?

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I didn't? What this intended for someone else?

VeritatisVerba said:

That's a bad sign because it is very clearly there.

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Well, you might explain where and how.

VeritatisVerba said:

I didn't? What this intended for someone else?

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No, it was intended for you. If you don't understand why or how you should consider the question more deeply in relation to the subject of the conversation.

A question: Do you see the Church and its membership as increasingly following unsound doctrine in the western world today?