Compromising your religion to "keep up with the times" (Jesus Christ, ritual)

[Aqualung]

This is more of a rant, but one that you are free to debate. This rant has mostly to do with christians, because those are who I see most often.

It really almost makes me sick to see how much people will compromise their beliefs to be popular or to fit in. It used to be (rightly so) considered a sin to sleep with someone if you weren't married. But now, more than ever, I see christians (actually, I hear about it; thankfully I haven't actually seen this) sleeping around almost as much as people who don't ascribe to that religious point of view. It used to be (rightly so) considered that marriages were special things, and that you should really work to keep things together (ie, you might have to change if you're in a marriage). Now, I see christians getting divorced just because they don't see exactly eye to eye on certain things (which they only realised after rushing into a marriage with very little thought), and they're too proud or too lazy to try to work things out. People are becoming especially wishy-washy about religion. Instead of realising how important religion is, it becomes just a sunday thing (that is, if you're not too tired to get up for church).

[dawny0826]

Originally Posted by Aqualung

This is more of a rant, but one that you are free to debate. This rant has mostly to do with christians, because those are who I see most often.

It really almost makes me sick to see how much people will compromise their beliefs to be popular or to fit in. It used to be (rightly so) considered a sin to sleep with someone if you weren't married. But now, more than ever, I see christians (actually, I hear about it; thankfully I haven't actually seen this) sleeping around almost as much as people who don't ascribe to that religious point of view. It used to be (rightly so) considered that marriages were special things, and that you should really work to keep things together (ie, you might have to change if you're in a marriage). Now, I see christians getting divorced just because they don't see exactly eye to eye on certain things (which they only realised after rushing into a marriage with very little thought), and they're too proud or too lazy to try to work things out. People are becoming especially wishy-washy about religion. Instead of realising how important religion is, it becomes just a sunday thing (that is, if you're not too tired to get up for church).

I don't disagree that there are Christians who sleep around and divorce and these actions aren't representative of what the Christian should be...

The Christian life requires a re-birth...literally...you give your "old" life to Christ and you allow him to take the driver's wheel. But...you live in your flesh...you're not supposed to live OF your flesh but you will sin...you will make mistakes...you will fail to give issues to Christ...

BUT...as a Christian...you humble yourself before the Lord, and repent for your sin...regardless of how horrible or trivial the sin was...He will forgive you and then you pick up your cross, learn from your mistakes and keep on going...

You're right...there are Christians who do the things that you've described...no one is perfect. We all make mistakes. And thank God Almighty, we have Jesus Christ to wash us clean from our shortcomings...and the Precious Holy Spirit to guide and direct us AWAY from sin. If I didn't have Christ...I can't imagine where I'd be.

I see where you're coming from. But for every Christian who poorly represents the Christian life...there's a Christian who is truly on fire for Jesus and is striving to walk in faith.

[Aqualung]

Originally Posted by dawny0826

IYou're right...there are Christians who do the things that you've described...no one is perfect. We all make mistakes. And thank God Almighty, we have Jesus Christ to wash us clean from our shortcomings...and the Precious Holy Spirit to guide and direct us AWAY from sin. If I didn't have Christ...I can't imagine where I'd be.

Yes, no one is perfect. But you should accept that. You shouldn't start saying, "Oh, well, this actually doesn't matter, so I'm a lot closer to perfect." You shouldn't become more perfect by changing the rules, but by changing yourself.

[dawny0826]

Originally Posted by Aqualung

Yes, no one is perfect. But you should accept that. You shouldn't start saying, "Oh, well, this actually doesn't matter, so I'm a lot closer to perfect." You shouldn't become more perfect by changing the rules, but by changing yourself.

Exactly...I don't disagree with you at all. If you don't commit yourself to change and trust in God to get you where you need to go...it's impossible to grow.

I have never claimed to be perfect. I can never be perfect...I can only do the best that I can each day to live by Christ's example. I don't have the authority to change any rules and don't try to.

[Master Vigil]

I think people are actually figuring out that religion does change, and what used to be "rightly so" may not be so anymore.

[Aqualung]

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

I think people are actually figuring out that religion does change, and what used to be "rightly so" may not be so anymore.

Ah, see, there's the rub. If you're christian, the only way you could claim that religion is changing is if you believed God had a prophet and that there was a true church. Christians, in my opinion, have no right taking things into their own hands, because then the changes become more political or social than spiritual.

[Master Vigil]

Originally Posted by Aqualung

Ah, see, there's the rub. If you're christian, the only way you could claim that religion is changing is if you believed God had a prophet and that there was a true church. Christians, in my opinion, have no right taking things into their own hands, because then the changes become more political or social than spiritual.

I think if god had a prophet and that there was a true church, that would make it harder for religion to change. Or perhaps I am misunderstanding you.

I also don't think that accepting change is taking things into our own hands. I see it as quite the opposite. For me, the only constant in the universe is change. I think people are taking religion in their own hands and are fighting that change. I think if people start accepting change, than the world would be more peaceful. And that includes letting religion change.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

I also don't think that accepting change is taking things into our own hands. I see it as quite the opposite. For me, the only constant in the universe is change. I think people are taking religion in their own hands and are fighting that change. I think if people start accepting change, than the world would be more peaceful. And that includes letting religion change.

Interesting MV. Although I can't fully wrap my mind around how constant change in morality would be "peaceful". I was hoping you paint a picture to help me understand and see it. I see what you said as quite the opposite to peace.

Peace
~Victor