(March 22, 2013 at 1:02 pm)Texas Sailor Wrote: In order for anyone to seek something out as a lifestyle or major decision in life at all. It must be personally appealing on some level, right?
In one sentence or less, what is it you seek to obtain from being a Christian?
I only ask because the alternative seems to be thrown around so often. But if you ask some Christians, its certainly not the fear of Hell that drives them to Christianity, its..."blank".
There would be nothing admirable in an intelligent person seeking a belief out of fear. They would have only been manipulated into saying such things and in the darkest places of their minds, doubt exists.
Is it heaven everlasting that interests you? Does that sound pretty good?
Is that anymore of an admirable reason to practice a faith?
If I want my son to behave a certain way, I want him to do so because he knows its right. Not because he'll be rewarded for behaving and punished for disobeying me.
Wouldn't it be more meaningful if people had ZERO knowledge of the possible outcomes that faced them after death, and it was those pure decisions they made in life on which they were graded on. Untainted by selfish hopes of a golden kingdom, everlasting life or the fear of unrelenting torture. Wouldn't that be the only way you could see whether or not you were successful in getting your children to do what is right?
The act of dying on the cross wouldn't even be neccessary if everyone has already been endowed with a sense of morality. They certainly don't need to crucify a man to know in their heart what the difference between right and wrong is.
Once you have the intelligent thinkers capable of making sound moral decisions, all you really would need to do is sit back and watch.
The only reason to interfere would be if that actually isn't what you what you wanted out of them.
If there were something MORE important that God wanted from his children that was more valuable than altrustic acts of pure goodness performed with integrity and with no expectation of award or punishment.
...worship, fear, artificial words, hypocritical lip service and false sentiment.
These are the things that can be gained by demanding praise. Demanding love or else. They've been done for centuries by history's most notorious dictators.
If the pure of heart is what God wanted, then there was no need for all of the other terrible acts of suffering and misguided texts.
What a mess!
Your 1/2 right, For we are told only the beginning of wisdom is fear. In other words Fear maybe the initial driving force, but who's fault is it if this is the only way you see God? Peace, Attonement, Grace, Forgiveness, Understanding, These are the things God offers us to allow us to become sons in His kingdom. But again, if you can only see fear then you haven't read your own bible, and have allowed your particular expression of faith/denomination do all of your thinking for you.
