RE: The benefits of being christian. Where are there???
December 24, 2017 at 12:54 pm
(This post was last modified: December 24, 2017 at 1:06 pm by John V.)
(December 24, 2017 at 9:01 am)Starhunter Wrote: What benefit is there to being a Christian, as opposed to someone who rejects the truth?
None really, as you said.
If you want to follow Christ, you may expect persecution from society, from your own friends and relatives, and a life of trials, hardship, poverty and suffering etc.
Jesus said, whoever wants to be my disciple, let him take up his cross and deny himself.
The Christian life isn't about desperately seeking the best way to pamper yourself.
But there are benefits of being a Christian which the worlding cannot experience even with the most powerful drugs. And that is an inner calm and peace, cheer, hope and integrity that will not cave in under pressure.
The genuine Christian also lives a life of the highest order, he gains wisdom, insight, perseverence, a refined character, a clear conscience and eternal life, with incredible rewards.
The life of the wicked, is one of self interest, their ambitions get them the best of this world, but there is no inner calm, just envy, anger, and restlessness. Their will becomes morally weak, and the character perverse. The end result for the wicked, is not only a wasted character, but a ridiculous struggle with no victories, except in personal gain, a vain hope, misery and death.
It is for the victims of sin/selfishness, all of humanity, that Christ makes every effort and sacrifice to save. Every sin that they have committed has been paid for, and they are entitled to the full reward of eternal life, if they turn up now to work for Christ and not against him.
Well said.
(December 24, 2017 at 1:57 am)Dnte Wrote: I want to ask christians, what are the benefits of being a christian while being alive? All I hear is what is going to happen AFTER you die. That you go to heaven and that God will not throw you into the pits of hell. BUT I want to know, what are the benefits of being a christian while being alive. And I want benefits that don't aply to muslims, buddhists, atheists, etc.
Inner peace and joy regardless of your circumstances.
Quote:I could turn christian after being an old man who has lived a worldly life. I'd repent of my sins, turn to God and put my soul into Jesus' heart before dieing and I'd be the first!
You could in the sense that God would accept you. But, after a lifetime of rejection of God, you probably won't. And if you do, you won't be thinking, Cool, I got the best of both worlds, but rather Damn, I wasted my life on sin, wish I would have seen the light decades ago.
Quote:That doesn't make sense either. If an 80 year old man who has lived a christian life of perfection, for some reason, decides to abandon God and become an atheist. Why does he have to go to hell?
He doesn't. God restores us from falls. You guys all act like salvation is a magic formula. Maybe that's why you disparagingly refer to religion as magic - your understanding of it is so shallow. Salvation is in god's hands, and if he wants that person, he'll have him no matter what he does.
Quote:Anyway. Why should I be a christian?
Because you're a sinner deserving of judgment and Christianity offers salvation for eternity. If you're just interested in this life, then don't be a Christian. As Paul says:
1 Cor 15
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
