Why are the Christians so vague?

[RichardP]

I was listening on the radio to the end of a "Christian" talk show and hosts said an extremely vague prayer -- something about avoiding "evil" and choosing what is "right", even though it is impossible sometimes and you find yourself caught in the "middle", and that we shouldn't "formalize" evil...

Boy they sure keep it vague! I think that they are terrified out of their minds when it comes to making a moral statement.

Maybe because morality is subjective to time, culture, and popular intepertation. Maybe the preacher knows that 'morality' is just a form a self righteousness, and as Christ as turned his back on the 'Moral' so too the radio preacher does not see a need to speak or pray to the 'moral' among us.

They sure don't want to alienate anybody or lose any support.

-or- you simply do not grasp basic christianity.

What the hell is the crap about times when it is impossible to do the "right" thing?

This echos what Pauls says in Romans 8. In that we are slaves to sin. forever bound to it and will never NEVER be able to be good or 'moral' enough to merit Heaven by our deeds or 'morality.' Which subsequently is why we are told to seek attonement for our sins, and not to 'moralize them.'

What the hell? I would think that they would at least argue that we should always try to do the right thing -- and not make up a fucking excuse like "It was impossible to do the right thing".

Again if you understood basic Christianity you would see the very first thing biblical Christianity is based on is the fact that our deeds will never be 'good enough.' So we should give up that effort and seek redemption through attonement rather than trying to earn it through our efforts.

Of course it is so damn vague that they could be referring to almost anything. And when it's so damn vague it's meaningless to me.

Then perhaps you should consider the obvious.

The prayer was so vague that it didn't mean anything to me. What is the point? I don't know if other people got anything out of it. I sure didn't. My point was that if you are going to talk about avoiding "evil" and doing "good" then you should cite at least a few examples of "good" and "evil" so that people know what you have in mind. I mean you could pray: "Jesus help us to always do "good" and avoid "evil".", or you could pray "Jesus help us to be helpful, considerate, and generous to others in need -- the poor, the sick, the elderly, the homeless.."

And I see a definite difference between what Paul taught and what Jesus taught. Back when I was a believer I did not think much of Paul. But the New Testament would be pretty short without all of his "Letters". It seems that Paul was awfully self-centered while Jesus focused on others.