Are you a true Christian Believer?

Mark 16: 17-18

17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

A lot of Christians, when asked if they would drink poison to prove themselves have argued that it is not right to test God. But the Bible has many passages instructing Christians to beware of false prophets and diviners and mark them as such. Thessalonians 5:21 instructs Christians to "test all things". So, my question is, for you true believers, would you drink the poison?

 

No. God gives us not only free will to do whatever we want. He also has bestowed upon a little something called commonsense.

 

So, what you're saying is that you have enough common sense to know that you shouldn't drink poison but you don't have enough common sense to question the validity of a perfect being who watches your every movement?

 

Well, you asked if true believers would drink poison. My answer was no. And yes, I don't think people should go around jumping off cliffs without a parachute or bungee cord to try and prove to themselves or anyone else that God is real. To me those are extremes and those are people who haven't settled in themselves what they really believe and that what they believe in is real. Because if those kinds of internal conflicts were worked out, why would someone go that far to test God? I think it's better to walk away from having faith and stop believing then to potentially snuff out your own life just to prove a point. For the matter of testing all things, I believe it is to be taken in a spiritual sense. Like if you go to a church that has some different doctortine or denomination then one's own, it may be a matter of finding if you're comfortable with it and if it lines up with what you believe. Not in the literal sense of testing everything of the physical world.

 

Not my assertion, that's what the Bible says dude.

According to Christian philosophy, isn't this life just a shell anyway? Isn't eternal life in Heaven what's really important? I just find it ironic that logic only surfaces when lives are put in jeopardy. For example, a lot of religious people will argue that you have to learn to trust things that you can't see or touch, but at the same time, if I told them that there was an invisible ladder leading down from the statue of liberty I highly doubt they'd test that.

As QualiaSoup emphasizes: that's not what's stated in the text. That is your own modification. When atheists tell Christians that the Bible itself is taken too literally, they get angry. But then when an atheist tries to put the Bible's claims to the test, we're suddenly the ones who take it too literally. Charming.

 

No. I think for myself and I follow the teachings of the Lord on a personal level. I do not need "flawed people" interpreting the good books for me. Religions of all faiths are my guides, not one.

 

:smt109

 

Lord another thread asking about Christianity.

Yes I am christian, but very much flawed. I dont know what a true Christian is or means? A christian is a christian.

Christianity is a way of life, it's trying to live your life as Christ my savior did.
Do I live my life like that everyday, NO. Have I sinned and done wrong, lots of times.

But I praise THE ALPHA AND OMEGA-when I get up in the morning, when I get in my car, before I touch any patient, & before I eat any meal. Even if I dont pray a formal prayer, I always talk to my creator. I've called his name on many occassions and he has answered. Yes I am a Christain a very flawed one, but I thrive to do better. I am a work in progress in all aspects of my life, but hell will freeze before I deny him and his existance. For some of you intellectuals out there, my way of life might sound crazy and stupid, oh well, I do me! I dont shove the bible or my belief in anybody's throat. I respect others beleif, to each its own.

 

:smt038:smt038:smt038

I absolutely concur with you GZ. I was intentionally avoiding this thread as I have no desire to enter into yet another pointless debate on atheism vs Christianity. But I couldn't resist seeing what you had to say.

 

So I'm the flawed one?

 

Pointless if your contribution is emotional instead of scholarly.

Yep, so awesome, just like William Campbell's response at the end of this video

[youtube]tnu5EMBEUXs[/youtube]

 

In a clear sense, if you want to factor in what's written in the Bible, then surely you can say that Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka are the "true Christians". But nowadays, to identify yourself as a Christian, you basically believe that Jesus Christ is the One, the Way, and the Path to salvation as what a Christian would say. And also, ignore the Old Testament completely and just read what's in the New Testament, from my understandings.

 

That's the point though, discussions of religion generally end up with so much emotion that they can't be logically discussed. It just never ends well, and nothing productive comes of it. Just look at the countless threads here that deal with the topic.

It's a nice thought to calmly discuss and learn from each other, but probably 90% of the people participating can't do that once someone starts it off down an ugly path.

 

Yes. truly a believer in Jesus Christ as Lord and God , savior and redeemer. That He is the one true son of the Living God, Jehovah! God of Israel

 

I don't really discuss beliefs, I discuss the religious text and anyone who enters into the discussions with emotional intent does so because they don't know any other way to enter.

Well, this is the Religion, Spirituality, and Philosophy section so I'm free to post whatever I like here as long as I remain within the guidelines.

I've already proven my point: no Christian here will drink poison - most wouldn't even handle a poisonous snake, and I can't say I blame them.

 

I hope you're truer than Sjoberg. He was shaking, which in my opinion is reflective of his shaky faith.

[YOUTUBE]aBFXajsIaSk[/YOUTUBE]

 

I wasn't trying to tell you that you shouldn't post this topic DJ, just commenting on why myself and some others avoid participating in topics such as this.

For the record, if God told me to drink poison, I'd do it. I wouldn't do it for any other reason, nor would I accept that suggestion second hand, it'd have to come from God Himself. And before someone starts bringing up people hearing voices and thinking they're God talking to them, I'd know if it was Him or not. I cannot convey to you how I would know, but I would, and there is nothing I wouldn't do if instructed to by God regardless of whether it impacted my personal safety or not. God created me, I belong to Him, He may do with me as He sees fit, and that is not for me to question.

I rarely go that deeply into my beliefs or faith because it always brings out the people who don't understand, or cannot comprehend faith, and they immediately start throwing around suggestions of mental incompetence. So anyone with that opinion is free to keep it to themselves, I'm not crazy and I know that, I really don't care what anyone thinks on the subject.

 

Well, isn't the Bible the Word of God? Isn't the whole purpose of reading the Bible to learn how to live according to God's will?

No comment.

Like many Christians, I think you're intelligent but limited by the shackles of religiosity. That's my opinion.