New religion

[Savage]

A pastor made this comment during his message once: Jesus didn't come to start a new religion but came to start new relationships. How do you guys respond? Please reply deep into context if you can, preferably take on a comment that refutes or supports the validity of Jesus being God.

[Drake_XIV]

This is actually something I have been thinking about myself.

Even throughout the New Testament, the Jews are still referred to as God's people but, as I saw it, focused more on converting the Gentiles and turned away from interactions with the Jewish people besides any cross-empire heckling.  Converting people to a new sect of Judaism at the time as opposed to as what we see as a separate religion today.

[Savage]

Let me ask this:

What does it mean then to be a Christian? Can it simply be just believing or is it the new relationships (loving one another type of ideology). Other note: getting into to heaven. Hopefully you see what I mean.

[hainkarga]

We are building a religion
We are building it bigger
We are widening the corridors
And adding more lanes

We are building a religion
A limited edition
We are now accepting callers
for these pendant key chains

To resist it is useless
It is useless to resist it
His cigarette is burning
But he never seems to ash

[Keolino]

What does it mean then to be a Christian? Can it simply be just believing or is it the new relationships (loving one another type of ideology). Other note: getting into to heaven. Hopefully you see what I mean.

What it means to be a Christian depends on whom you are listening to. See...? It's not complicated at all. It's as easy as that.

[Savage]

I am going based on what the bible says. To love God is to love your neighbor, but Paul says to be saved you have to also confess God as your lord and savior. If 2 people love people as themselves, but one of them knows God, is that the difference between someone who gets heaven and someone who doesn't? If so, wouldn't this also change motives for heaven as well (seeing heaven as a paradise right now, but I'll get to that later).

[Keolino]

I am going based on what the bible says.

Well, you can't. Since the bible is written by different people with different thoughts. You would need to decide for one person which you are listening to. Otherwise, you won't be able to arrive at an answer.

[Savage]

Let me ask this: Pauls big statements (without excuse from romans 1:20 and the saving of the guard)...directed at single people. Do you think we can apply those statements to all people or just those Paul was talking to?

Example: The confess jesus part...he was talking to a Roman guard and then some preachers apply this to all people...do you feel those preachers did wrong in doing so?

[Keolino]

Let me ask this: Pauls big statements (without excuse from romans 1:20 and the saving of the guard)...directed at single people. Do you think we can apply those statements to all people or just those Paul was talking to?

Example: The confess jesus part...he was talking to a Roman guard and then some preachers apply this to all people...do you feel those preachers did wrong in doing so?

right or wrong... It's for yourself to decide if something is right or not.

Personally, I think that Paul wasn't exactly right, and that is why I think that it's wrong to apply those statements to all people.



But since you know a lot, let me ask you something in return (that my english teacher feared.)
Christian religion is decreasing. A part of this religion is "love the one next to you" --> basically meaning helping the people around you whom need help. --> My teacher feared, that with the removal of religion, this part about helping other people will vanish as well, leaving "hell at earth", where everybody only thinks about himself. What do you think about that...?

[antiaverage]

My teacher feared, that with the removal of religion, this part about helping other people will vanish

I'm not going to get involved in a religious debate, but I do want to point out that there are many many people out there helping others who are not religious. Humans have long since done both harm and good to each other, but it is through doing good that we have survived and as an indomitable species we will continue to survive. Cooperation is a hallmark of our species. To what you attribute this is your own decision.

[Savage]

Exactly.

[Elbirn]

We are building a religion
We are building it bigger
We are widening the corridors
And adding more lanes

We are building a religion
A limited edition
We are now accepting callers
for these pendant key chains

To resist it is useless
It is useless to resist it
His cigarette is burning
But he never seems to ash

He is grooming his poodle
He is living comfort eagle
You can meet at his location
But you'd better come with cash