Christian: Can Christians Be Unified? (Jesus Christ, Kingdom, beliefs, doctrine)

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by johnnys4life

No, I don't believe it's what Christ intended at all. But we have free will, free to mess things up as much as we can.

Free to mess things up.... free to sin..... ... so it's ok?

[Linus]

Originally Posted by SOGFPP

Do you honestly believe this glob of various faiths is what Jesus intended?

Not at all. Such is the point of this thread. Once we are all unified, there probably won't be a need for such kinds of leadership. If we are all in such an agreeance as to have every christian unified across the entire world, chances are that we would al have enough knowledge in that case to guide ourselves. I hope I'm being clear.

[johnnys4life]

Originally Posted by SOGFPP

Free to mess things up.... free to sin..... ... so it's ok?

Wow you couldn't have got me more wrong if you tried. No, it's not okay. But we do have free will, and the fact is we don't WANT to be unified. It seems better to us to have our own little group, our own little church full of people who think just like us, and everyone else except us is wrong. Like, just for example, I went to the SDA church for a while and they actually believe that everyone who worships on Sunday has taken the mark of the beast and can't be saved.

I'm not saying that's right, not at all, the Bible is pretty clear that that's a sinful way of thinking. The endless disputes over doctrine, the splits...In fact it's pretty specific about that, but I'm not sure where the verse is I'm thinking of. But then on the other hand, would you like to be a Unitarian instead and say that everyone is unified even if then the pastor is afraid to talk about anything that might divide us, and church has become just a social club?

In my opinion, we will never be unified until we truly seek God with all our hearts, and he teaches us the truth in everything, and we have the courage to stick with it. In other words, maybe in the next life.

[johnnys4life]

Originally Posted by andddd

If jesus is the son of God...than y did he ask GOd for help. I know he wanted to bless humanity or whatever...but y would he ask for help?? y would he even come down from a God status to a human status. We're their creations..much lower then God...y would jesus come down to our level? y would he have human characteristics if hes the son of God??? It just doesnt make sence to me..

ohh and y did he pick the cross to be so holy?? the cross was invented thousands of years before he was born. i just dont get it.

There are so many different answers to that, I can't tell you what all Christians think. I can only tell you what I believe based upon what I've learned.

Why did Jesus ask God for help? Help in what? If what you're referring to is the verse where he said, "Father, if it's possible may this cup be taken from me, nevertheless not my will but yours be done" that's pretty simple. Jesus was God, and God made human - mortal, you follow? He never died before, and he was afraid of the unknown. Because he was fully God AND fully human, he could be afraid. He could feel everything that we feel, which I think is just excellent.

Second, why did he come down from God status to human status, because we were screwing things up down here. God had given us the law, but we couldn't seem to follow it. Nobody was sinless, not one. Legally, we all deserved to die and go to hell. Because we didn't do what was right. And just like a husband who's wife cheats on him, God had the right to divorce us. But instead of destroying us, the Father, in his mercy, gave his son in our place. In the old testament it was called a scapegoat, people offered animals for thier sins. But Jesus was the FINAL sacrifice so that animals needn't be sacrificed anymore. That's my opinion anyway. And you know, he did it because he made us, he loved us, and he gave everything.

Why did he have human characteristics, while IMHO that is the best part. He came down and suffered for us. He didn't want to be just some God up there far removed from humanity who sits on his nice fluffy cloud and has no idea what we're really going through. And he HAD to suffer, because he was taking our punishment, so what good would that have done, if he couldn't feel it the way we would?

As for the cross, I can't tell you except that it was a way of dying publicly, a very painful way.

[CaptainXeroid]

Originally Posted by andddd

...and y did he pick the cross to be so holy?? the cross was invented thousands of years before he was born. i just dont get it.

I don't believe Christ 'picked the cross to be holy' I think Christians made the cross holy in memory of Christ's sacrifice.

I think that Christian unity with the New Testament as a guide is the ideal. Like others have said, there are so many 'man-made' differences between and among Catholics and Protestants and the various denominations of each therein that such unity would be difficult.

I guess the first and best step would be for those of us who call ourselves Christians, or followers of Christ, no matter our connection to organized religion, to read the New Testament and seek to live as Christ taught that we should.

[johnnys4life]

Exactly.

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by Linus

Not at all. Such is the point of this thread. Once we are all unified, there probably won't be a need for such kinds of leadership. If we are all in such an agreeance as to have every christian unified across the entire world, chances are that we would al have enough knowledge in that case to guide ourselves. I hope I'm being clear.

How can we begin to even begin the discussion for an attempt at agreement without leadership to direct the discussion?

How can a group become unified without leadership?

Please, don't answer these questions with the RCC in mind.... answer me generally... how could it be done?

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by johnnys4life

Wow you couldn't have got me more wrong if you tried. No, it's not okay. But we do have free will, and the fact is we don't WANT to be unified.

The problem is, being sinners is not justification for disunity. The fact that you don't WANT unity does not mean that Christ did not want unity.... it's hard to miss the clear examples in the Bible that show the early Christian community in Acts to be a singular group... a group that did not tolerate dissention or heresy.... a group that appointed leaders who taught ONE Gospel, one that THEY approved.
My point is, Karen, you continue to use a personal approach towards Christianity... which is fine if we are talking about your personal prayers and devotions, but history has shown clearly that the Christian faith is about discipleship, which implies obedience.... not to our own PERSONAL agenda, but to the faith.... a faith which calls us to evangelize the world.... a task that is quite impossible unless we are unified.

Scott