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bob's Christian Beliefs:
by
Robert Betts
(Age: 61)
copyright 12-30-2003
Age Rating: 10 to 127
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Many are aware the my belief structure is Christian. I try to "walk-the-walk" I am a man and can only do my best and ask God and others to forgive me when I 'blow it.'
Loving Others:
Christ called it the greatest commandment, to love others as onself. I was once curious and wanted to know how many times it appears in the Bible to "love others as yourself." I checked the New Testament only and found 35 times.
I believe that if God says a thing numerous times, he is allowing for the fact that many people are dense and it requires many times to get through to them.
Loving others as yourself, what does that mean? I know few people who would intentionally slander or libel or otherwise hurt themselves... However many seem to feel it's perfectly fine to do that to others... They call it their "freedom of speech"
Freedom is fine, I love freedom. Most people do. However when you use your freedoms to viciously attack another, to attempt to destroy them, smash the sand-castle that they have build... the maxim applies: "Your freedom ends where my nose begins."
Judgement:
It is very clear also in the Bible that we are not to judge others... That's God's job; ours is simply to love others. Those who insist on judging are proving that they worship a dead God... a God who they must replace since He can no longer judge.
Forgiveness:
Christ died on a cross for you AND me AND everyone. Christ forgave the sinner on the cross next to Him at the very hour of his death and promised him eternal life. Christians believe this... they believe when a man or woman accepts Christ and His sacrifice, all of their sins are forgiven. I personally accepted Christ about 5 years ago. Thankfully and Praise be to Him, He has forgiven everything I ever did. I was "born anew."
False-Christians:
Christ spoke of these. He also hated them, or rather, their sins. He called the religious leaders of His time, the Pharasees and Saducees, "vipers, sons of satan" and a few other choice words. They enraged Him. False-Christians enrage all true Christians. They do immeasurable damage to the faith by being very poor examples. Non believers point to them and then eschew the faith.
Behind the scenes here at PnP are my beliefs. They are a hidden backbone, which I believe gives PnP much of it's character.
You don't have to be Christian to post here or to become a part of our family. In fact, I have known a number of people who exibit far better "Christian values" than many so-called Christians. I respect those people far more than I do the majority of Christians, who in fact are "wolves in sheep's clothing."
This is not to say that there are no 'Good Christians.' But as the Bible says, they are very few in number.
Love others as yourself... That is the key.
May those of you who don't know God, find Him.
bob
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11-17-2007 Robert Betts
Eric, I agree with you and I think I should clarify. My grandparents were fundamentalist Christians, phonies in my opinion. They would not so much as speak to, much less associate with anyone they considered to be impure which included Catholics, Jews, Buddhists etc, anyone who had beliefs different from their own. As you surely know, Jesus ate with and spoke with "sinners" My grandparents' religion taught them to love others, but only the "others" who were of their same religion... all others they hated... including me. I think most would agree that this is not at all Christian, it is the opposite of what Jesus did and taught. People who act as though they are greater than Jesus make me uneasy and they did for that reason. I came to despise religion because of them and avoided any religion for many years. This has affected me and when I say love others and don't judge, I mean this sort of destructive, hateful judgment. But you're right, we need to judge people and situations to help keep us out of trouble and yes, I do that as needed but not out of malice or a superiority attitude.
bob
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11-07-2007 Eric Gasparich
This was a very interesting read. I am always intrigued to see how others view these issues. Especially my elders. ;)
"Judgement:
It is very clear also in the Bible that we are not to judge others... That's God's job; ours is simply to love others. Those who insist on judging are proving that they worship a dead God... a God who they must replace since He can no longer judge. "
Well, yes and no.
Final judgement belongs to G-d.
"Vengeance is mine saith the Lord, I will repay."
Absolutely.
However, in another place (Debunking the Bible -1, I think?) you talk about reading scripture in context. I believe you said something about 'don't believe a scrap handed to you.' Read the scriptures before and after as well.
Tu quoque. "Judge not, lest ye be judged," is just such a scrap, and Jesus was very judgemental about many things, Phariseeism, for example. It is also interesting to note that at one point, to defend his own divinity (John 10:34), Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6 "I have said, Ye [are] gods;" The word "gods" there is "eloyhim" which in the plural -(but not the plural intensive-singular meaning, which refers directly to G-d Himself. Jesus is making an excellent play on words there)- translates "judges." One of the attributes of sentience is that humans are capable of judgement. It's part of the imago dei (being made in the image of G-d.) Later on, Jesus says something about 'judging correctly' (Luke 12:57, John 7:24) The OT is VERY big on fair judgement, especially where the poor and the needy are concerned.
In fact, let's look at those three NT verses:
Matt 7:1, Luke 6:37 "Judge not, lest ye be judged ..."
John 7:24 "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."
Luke 12:57 " ... why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?"
(These contradictions are easier to understand when you realize that Jesus, in addition to being God the Son, is also a Jewish ironist.)
The picture that is built up from these various iterations is:
First verses) Avoid judging where possible. Do not rush to judgement. Where judgement cannot be avoided, judge yourself first of all. Get the log out of your own eye, before you try to get the splinter out of someone else's. You won't be able to do it right anyway, until you can put yourself in the place of the one you are judging. Where it is necessary to judge, judge empathetically, with the hope that you too will be judged empathetically. IOW, judge in and through love.
Second Verse) Do your best to check the facts, to really see what is happening, to seek understanding and make a correct judgement.
Third verse) To avoid judging where it cannot be avoided is moral cowardice.
So, yes, judge where you must. Just don't get too much of a taste for it. It's not an easy thing, and it may come back to bite you.
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10-27-2006 Tasha W.
I liked this piece, although I am not at all religious in any way, I was not brought up to believe in God, though my grandma is very religious and takes the whole 'Belief' thing seriously. I thought this piece was good but not much use for me^.^ Any way good write,
Tasha
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05-18-2006 Jessica L.
I have not seen "the Passion" and from what I have been hearing I don't think I ever will.
This is very good becausesome people (Like me) are curious about other religions and beliefs .
Also, What other people believe and how it is aligned with their beliefs.
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04-12-2006 Daniel R Patton
I enjoyed this read and agree with it.
Now, if I may comment myself on the movie mentioned, I strongly feel that if a non Christian is going to view this picture that they get proper guidance before making a decision on their faith, not that I can fathom anyone basing their faith on a movie, but you never know. In my studies, and scientific studies and research has shown that the events leading up to the death of Christ were very violent, sometimes it's what the Bible doesn't say, we have to look for, in my opinion
Mr. Gibson, was not to far from the truth in his depiction of Christ death, as far as the rest of the picture is concerned, we're really not talking about that now are we gentleman?
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12-16-2004 Robert Betts
Thanks Andrew,
I saw but didn't like "The Passion" The concept was fine, but a large amount of the picture was dedicated to violence which is not described in the Bible. Yes, Jesus was beaten, but nowhere in the Bible does it describe "within an inch of his life" Mary never stopped Jesus on the way to Calvary either. There are far to many places that Mel Gibson invented the Bible rather than to follow it in his fervor to show suffering which may or may not have ever happened.
Mr Gibson has woven biblical truth with his own invention of the Bible. People are misled by this; even those who read Bible may think that some of his "truths" are in there.... somewhere.
The real problem in that is that many who never read the Bible think that he has described the truth, which in fact, he has not. Those people will take Mr. Gibson's "Gospel" to be an accurate description of Christ. Most are too lazy or uninterested to read the real Gospel.
bob
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12-16-2004 Andrew Findlay
This was very inspirational. I always liked the story where Jesus forgives the sinner next to him, even as he himself is in agony. Also,I was just wondering if you saw "Passions of the Christ". I'm sure you've heard about all the controversies surrounding the film, but I was just wondering about your thoughts on the movie if you've seen it. Personally my heart was pounding through the whole movie and a few scenes made me feel physically ill. I think maybe they overdid the violence a little, but maybe not, I don't know, I wasn't there at the time when these events actually happened. I still felt it was a very good movie, and I think that even non-Christians could appreciate its message.While I would certainly not recommend this film for kids, I felt that the message of the movie was in the right place.
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07-30-2004 Mary -BrytEyz- Ball
I try to help people see that we are to love others as we SHOULD love ourselves (some people sadly do not love themselves)... and we should do unto others as we would WANT them to do unto us (not as they did to us first, or do to them until such and such a time when we can give up on being nice...etc.). The ideals in the Bible are sometimes difficult to live up to, Satan makes sure of it. But we are better in the end for trying, and so is the world in which we live. I think I shall make time to write a few articles on the Bible as well. It makes my heart glow to both to read and to write about God and his wonderful neverending and undeserved mercies. There is sunshine in every day, we just have to find it. There is happiness in every moment, we just have to choose it. It took me a long time, but I now fully understand the phrase that happiness is a choice. (And God is a happy god!)
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01-03-2004 Lauren B.
Now,I myself am not Christian and am only a little familiar with the bible because my parents are but that was quite nice and even touching.Good Luck.
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12-31-2003 Doreen Reynolds
All these things are true. This is the only way that the world will come to know God. I agree
with all you say.
Doreen
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12-30-2003 Moses Hochstetler
I greatly respect all the points you bring out out here, Bob. Above my computer monitor I have framed one of my favorite scriptures: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honost, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8). I regret that I haven't always lived by these simple words of wisdom, but think that those of us "brothers & sisters" here at PnP need to learn to follow these guidelines.
Best wishes to all,
Moses
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