Brainwashing? Christianity seems to be taking weird steps, here at least.

[Rhyfelwyr]

If you follow God for the purposes of salvation then that is vanity.

Nothing makes me happier than knowing that if I do something I do it for God's glory. I won't lie though, I am God-fearing. I know if I abandon Him then He'll force me back on track. It's just a case of going through the stages. At first you have the 'fire', then it seems a struggle as you try to do the hard part and live as God wants you to. However, God gradually builds us up in a way that is more pleasing to Him, so we rejoice in serving Him.

Say not the Catholics. In any case, some of the most moral and sensetive people I have known have been atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, and Jews. How can you do a single good deed with a heavy heart? Grudging charity is not charity at all. Life should be fun, I don't believe for a second that God wants us to be miserable, that path only leads to hating life.

Who could say that changing your life to avoid sin is easy? It's not easy, and it's not supposed to be easy. I know it's a matter of doctrine, but I believe that God will make us persevere to the end. Step by step God will work to change us so that we hate sin, and so we can gladly serve Him. Although our righteousness can never be more than rags, I'm delighted to know I serve God if I think I do something 'good', however sometimes it's difficult. Indeed, it often seems impossible to be selfless. For example, I let my litttle brother on my PC today to play RTW for a few hours. He wanted to play it more, but I didn't let him, even though I'd played it for longer than him. I know this wasn't showing a good example of the righteous life, but I did it anyway because I wanted to get on with my Seleucid campaign. Gah, there's really no excuse I know.

The Bible teaches that life is the greatest of all God's gifts.

I did two things yesterday, I went to Church on my own and I had dinner with my family. I enjoyed both, I smiled I laughed, I had FUN. I think you over intellectualise your faith and you reject the emotional aspect of it. I'm not the sort of christian who sings happy clappy songs, sways side to side, and then collapses in an ecstatic fit on the floor but even I think your faith should be something you enjoy.

I'm not saying it's not hard for me sometimes, more often than I would like in fact, but at no time have I ever felt that God has wanted me to be miserable.

The emotional aspect is what it's all about. The emotional aspect comes through reading the Bible, praying, and building a relationship with God, not by taking joy is wordly things. Eternal life is the greatest of God's gifts, this life is just a test.

[Lord Winter]

Nothing makes me happier than knowing that if I do something I do it for God's glory. I won't lie though, I am God-fearing. I know if I abandon Him then He'll force me back on track. It's just a case of going through the stages. At first you have the 'fire', then it seems a struggle as you try to do the hard part and live as God wants you to. However, God gradually builds us up in a way that is more pleasing to Him, so we rejoice in serving Him.



Who could say that changing your life to avoid sin is easy? It's not easy, and it's not supposed to be easy. I know it's a matter of doctrine, but I believe that God will make us persevere to the end. Step by step God will work to change us so that we hate sin, and so we can gladly serve Him. Although our righteousness can never be more than rags, I'm delighted to know I serve God if I think I do something 'good', however sometimes it's difficult. Indeed, it often seems impossible to be selfless. For example, I let my litttle brother on my PC today to play RTW for a few hours. He wanted to play it more, but I didn't let him, even though I'd played it for longer than him. I know this wasn't showing a good example of the righteous life, but I did it anyway because I wanted to get on with my Seleucid campaign. Gah, there's really no excuse I know.



The emotional aspect is what it's all about. The emotional aspect comes through reading the Bible, praying, and building a relationship with God, not by taking joy is wordly things. Eternal life is the greatest of God's gifts, this life is just a test.

But why does God need the test to know? Thats a pretty bleak view of life.

[Rhyfelwyr]

But why does God need the test to know? Thats a pretty bleak view of life.

It's not bleak on the whole. Yes, it reduces the importance of this life, but compared to an atheist who thinks you become worm food when you die, it's really a pretty good message to spread.

Well I suppose your body will still become worm food, but you know what I mean.

Perhaps calling life a test was a bad choice of words, because God already knows the results, and we would all fail if it wasn't for His intervention. It's only because of the original sin we need to go through this, and its purely out of mercy that God gives eternal life. There's nothing bleak about that.

[Furunculus]

Matthew Parris certainly seems to believe that christianity is the only salvation africa has, and he is athiest:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...S&attr=2270657

[CountArach]

In a related matter to the OP - someone came into the store work at yesterday and tried to preach to me. Who goes into a Department Store and tries to convert the staff? The only reason that I didn't go off at him was because he seemed like a genuinely nice guy.

[Strike For The South]

In a related matter to the OP - someone came into the store work at yesterday and tried to preach to me. Who goes into a Department Store and tries to convert the staff? The only reason that I didn't go off at him was because he seemed like a genuinely nice guy.

Someone who is worried for you. Just say thanks but no thanks.

[Lorenzo_H]

I am trying to be a Christian. In the sense that I have a relationship with God, and I believe in Jesus.

But I struggle pretty badly with a lot of the stuff Pevergreen mentioned. Its such a dilemna - to know whether to have sex or not. I have concluded that if I want to get married to my current gf, I should not until then. I always struggle with it though - I have passed so many opportunities. I wonder if I should have taken them, or start taking them.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Matthew Parris certainly seems to believe that christianity is the only salvation africa has, and he is athiest:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...S&attr=2270657

I read that, interesting piece. The most interesting part though is that he doesn't even try to suggest an alternative.

Someone who is worried for you. Just say thanks but no thanks.

Bingo, someone who also lacks subtley

Rhyfelwyr, you seem absolutely agonised and miserable about every part of your life and your relationship with God. I don't know what to suggest to you, but if your life is so dissatisfying maybe you should consider a monastary.