Requirements to be a Christian

[Noir]

Romans 3:23

That would be the bible, saying people, all people, are 'sick', yes?

[Abbey Marie]

And what about your average, non-raping, non-alcholholic, non-murdering human. Are they sick too?

Yes, Noir. Many, and I would wager, most of us, are sick at heart. And all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Christians too. Maybe Christians especially, since we know better.

And you conveniently left off your list all of the more common human failings I listed in my post.

[Noir]

Yes, Noir. Many, and I would wager, most of us, are sick at heart. And all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Christians too. Maybe Christians especially, since we know better.

And you conveniently left off your list all of the more common human failings I listed in my post.

Greed and lust et al don't make you sick, unless you take them to excess, for example, excessive lust (which would result in rape etc). If you regard lust as a sickness then everyone who is strongly attracted to their partner is sick for doing so =/

I guess its just a fundemetal difference in perspective, you see most people has being sick at heart, i don't. And i think that religions do their bit to make us feel like we are all sick at heart.

[gabosaurus]

This is my point.
People who are religious are made to feel that humans are weak, sick etc, and only through god can be strong, healthy etc.

The above part I quoted shows this perfectly. If you see me as weak because i don't believe in a god, that is because of the impression you have of humans by the belief in god that you have.

Christians are not weak, sick or oppressed. Just forgiven in the eyes of God.

The ONLY requirement to be a Christian is to confess your sins and give your life to God.

[Abbey Marie]

Greed and lust et al don't make you sick, unless you take them to excess, for example, excessive lust (which would result in rape etc). If you regard lust as a sickness then everyone who is strongly attracted to their partner is sick for doing so =/

I guess its just a fundemetal difference in perspective, you see most people has being sick at heart, i don't. And i think that religions do their bit to make us feel like we are all sick at heart.

Greed and lust by definition are excessive failings.

Noir, you need to see with your inner being, your heart, your soul, not your intellect. And it is not to say that people are always this way. We all stumble.

[KarlMarx]

This had me wondering yesterday, as some seem to think there are very strict requirements to be a Christian and gain entry into heaven. I think this picture tells the story best.

That's a popular misconception. A pastor once taught that it's as simple as "ABC"...

Accept Christ as your Lord and Savior
Believe Christ is the Son of God and came to die for your sins
Confess your sins

there... you are saved....

Not by works, but by Grace

[tailfins]

Greed and lust et al don't make you sick, unless you take them to excess, for example, excessive lust (which would result in rape etc). If you regard lust as a sickness then everyone who is strongly attracted to their partner is sick for doing so =/

I guess its just a fundemetal difference in perspective, you see most people has being sick at heart, i don't. And i think that religions do their bit to make us feel like we are all sick at heart.

If you define sickness as being closer to death ....

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[Dilloduck]

Kinda hammers home much of what i find off putting about religions, making people think they are weak, wicked, and sick.

Only weaker, more wicked and sicker than an omnipotent God. Christians are merely acknowledging their mortality.

[tailfins]

You say our religion does a certain thing, insulting what I posted and my faith, but "I" am the condescending one?

Just answer him with pure scripture:


Isaiah 55:11

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Give him this..

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 10:9 That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

[avatar4321]

Confessing one's sins is not enough. We need to repent and turn away from our sins. Confession is just the First (and often hardest) step in that.

This thread raises an interesting question that I've been pondering lately. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

[Nell's Room]

This had me wondering yesterday, as some seem to think there are very strict requirements to be a Christian and gain entry into heaven. I think this picture tells the story best.

I like that. Whoever wrote it is probably one of those decent Christians, who doesn't judge and treats everyone as equals.

[DragonStryk72]

Requirements to be a Christian:

1. Believe in Christ and his message.
2. Keep doing number 1

[KarlMarx]

Confessing one's sins is not enough. We need to repent and turn away from our sins. Confession is just the First (and often hardest) step in that.

This thread raises an interesting question that I've been pondering lately. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

I think you bring up a good point. One has to confess not only with their mouth, but with their heart and soul, too. That's difficult, because every day you are going to fail at being the perfect non sinful person (which is actually impossible) and every day, you get a chance to try again. Christianity requires that you change your ways, no doubt about it. I think that's why it's not very popular in some circles.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

I think you bring up a good point. One has to confess not only with their mouth, but with their heart and soul, too. That's difficult, because every day you are going to fail at being the perfect non sinful person (which is actually impossible) and every day, you get a chance to try again. Christianity requires that you change your ways, no doubt about it. I think that's why it's not very popular in some circles.

It requires that you not only profess Jesus Christ as your Saviour but that you attempt to lead a Christian life with full knowledge that by your faith are you saved thru Christ not by an of your deeds no matter how good and noble they are. For Salvation is a gift from God by way of the sacrifice of God's son Jesus. In essence, Jesus's love and sacrifice saved all of mankind. There is no forcing of acceptance of the gift. It must be a voluntary act and repentance of your sins is necessary part. After that a Christian is covered by the blood of Christ! Not perfect in flesh here and now but instead perfect in Christ..-Tyr