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Goodbye Jesus

The Simplicity Of The Christian Message


ironhorse

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I love the Christian message for its simplicity.

I don’t need a priest, a guru or obey long list of man-made requirements.

I simply believe in Christ and go from there.

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I love being free from Christianity. I love no longer having to filter all my thoughts and opinions through scripture (is this the Lord's will? What does the Bible say about this?). I love being able to do yoga and to meditate without worrying that it's evil. When I let go of Christianity, it was like coming out of a stuffy room into fresh air and sunshine.

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I love being an atheist because I don't have to care what some ancient people thought about morality.

I don't have to listen to a priest, guru, or pastor about what long list of man made arbitrary rules I have to follow to be some god's bitch for eternity after I die.

I just believe that, in the grand scheme of things, we really don't matter at all. At least not to anything outside of this planet.

 

And most of all, I love being able to enjoy porn, profanity, and all sorts of things without feeling like I'm doing something wrong.

Being unbound by ancient superstition is pretty great.

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This thread is an act of intellectual dishonesty and cowardice, Ironhorse.

 

Christianity makes claims that are not simple and that shouldn't be accepted as such.

 

Each and every claim should be rigorously and skeptically examined .

 

Which means abandoning simplicity and digging relentlessly into the details.

 

Therefore, championing simplicity and being satisfied with keeping things simple is an act of intellectual dishonesty and cowardice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • Super Moderator

Hmm... How does this "simplicity" square with Ironhorse's claim that he performed a skeptical appraisal of his beliefs?

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You really need to learn how express yourself more elaborately IH. As it stands now, many of your posts are about as exhaustive and informative as an empty fortune cookie. 

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I love the Christian message for its simplicity.

I don’t need a priest, a guru or obey long list of man-made requirements.

I simply believe in Christ and go from there.

 

So do you go to church then? Or no? Do you follow biblical precepts?

 

For me Christianity was fine until the church people expected me to think and act the way they did. Their source of guilt/shame/fear was the bible and the contemporary church culture.

 

Can someone be a Christian but ignore the bible, and not go to church? That would be a better arrangement, imo.

 

Do you simply believe in Christ? Really? Or is there bible lore, church culture, rules of thought, etc that are an integral part of that 'simple' belief?

 

I think simple belief in Christ gets poisoned by church people.

 

...

 

 

I'm going with the assumption that you highly value what's in the bible. The KJV bible has approximately 805,000 words in it so I don't think the message is simple as you say. Unless you decide to ignore most of it. Ignoring most of it would make Christianity a lot simpler. But I've gone and ignored 100% of it ... so maybe my philosophy is simpler (and easier) than Christianity. smile.png

 

https://www.reference.com/world-view/many-words-bible-54a19fb1fbad9e5f

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Seriously?

 

Even the writers of the New Testament couldn't agree on the one true Christian message.

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I love being an atheist because I don't have to feel obligated to be an unpaid sales person for a shitty religion with an asshole god.

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I love the Christian message for its simplicity.

I don’t need a priest, a guru or obey long list of man-made requirements.

I simply believe in Christ and go from there.

 

So do you go to church then? Or no? Do you follow biblical precepts?

 

For me Christianity was fine until the church people expected me to think and act the way they did. Their source of guilt/shame/fear was the bible and the contemporary church culture.

 

Can someone be a Christian but ignore the bible, and not go to church? That would be a better arrangement, imo.

 

Do you simply believe in Christ? Really? Or is there bible lore, church culture, rules of thought, etc that are an integral part of that 'simple' belief?

 

I think simple belief in Christ gets poisoned by church people.

 

...

 

 

I'm going with the assumption that you highly value what's in the bible. The KJV bible has approximately 805,000 words in it so I don't think the message is simple as you say. Unless you decide to ignore most of it. Ignoring most of it would make Christianity a lot simpler. But I've gone and ignored 100% of it ... so maybe my philosophy is simpler (and easier) than Christianity. smile.png

 

https://www.reference.com/world-view/many-words-bible-54a19fb1fbad9e5f

 

 

 

midniterider, I will try to answer your questions and statements one at a time so if there are any further questions or comments we can discuss them as they are brought up.      

 

 

So do you go to church then? Or no? Do you follow biblical precepts?

 

Yes, I am a member of a small Baptist church.

 

 

Yes, I do try to follow basic biblical precepts.  The Greatest Commandment is the most important one.

 

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 

~ Matthew 22:37-40

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The Prof and Disillusioned also asked you questions, Ironhorse.

 

Assuming that you are only responding to those members who are questioning you in this thread?

 

So you won't be responding to Shinzon's post about Christianity not standing up to detailed examination, then?

 

Nor mine, where I challenge your usage of simplicity to gloss over the many complex claims Christianity makes?

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  • Super Moderator

I have found that loving my neighbor as myself, indeed even loving myself, is often far from simple.

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I love the Christian message for its simplicity.

I don’t need a priest, a guru or obey long list of man-made requirements.

I simply believe in Christ and go from there.

 

So do you go to church then? Or no? Do you follow biblical precepts?

 

For me Christianity was fine until the church people expected me to think and act the way they did. Their source of guilt/shame/fear was the bible and the contemporary church culture.

 

Can someone be a Christian but ignore the bible, and not go to church? That would be a better arrangement, imo.

 

Do you simply believe in Christ? Really? Or is there bible lore, church culture, rules of thought, etc that are an integral part of that 'simple' belief?

 

I think simple belief in Christ gets poisoned by church people.

 

...

 

 

I'm going with the assumption that you highly value what's in the bible. The KJV bible has approximately 805,000 words in it so I don't think the message is simple as you say. Unless you decide to ignore most of it. Ignoring most of it would make Christianity a lot simpler. But I've gone and ignored 100% of it ... so maybe my philosophy is simpler (and easier) than Christianity. smile.png

 

https://www.reference.com/world-view/many-words-bible-54a19fb1fbad9e5f

 

 

 

midniterider, I will try to answer your questions and statements one at a time so if there are any further questions or comments we can discuss them as they are brought up.      

 

 

So do you go to church then? Or no? Do you follow biblical precepts?

 

Yes, I am a member of a small Baptist church.

 

 

Yes, I do try to follow basic biblical precepts.  The Greatest Commandment is the most important one.

 

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 

~ Matthew 22:37-40

 

 

Ah, ok. Matthew 22:37-40 probably works as good as John 3:16. I often used John 3:16 to wipe out pedantic scriptural arguments from fellow congregation members who were grumpy about those  ___________ people. Whether they were complaining about the gays or the mormons, or those liberals....I bombed them with John 3:16.

 

I think if someone is to have a personal relationship with Jesus, then the need for church and the bible could be eliminated. If you're in communication with the Source (and/or that source lives in you - Luke 17:21) what else do you really need? Just my way of lookin' at it. Thank for responding, IH. :)

 

Feel free to answer my other questions whenever ya like, or ignore them. 

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I love the Christian message for its simplicity.

 

I don’t need a priest, a guru or obey long list of man-made requirements.

 

I simply believe in Christ and go from there.

Ephesians 2: 8-9 sums up Christian theology nicely. And if that is all that is required to be a Christian I might still be a Christian too, but unfortunately it isn't. Then there is also the problem that Marcion is likely the author writing in the name of Paul. Marcion, a Gnostic,is the most likely creator of Christianity & wrote the Epistles under the Name of Paul, who was a mythical character created by Marcion.

 

It would seem that Christianity was created by humans not an imaginary Deity.

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Guest Furball

You really need to learn how express yourself more elaborately IH. As it stands now, many of your posts are about as exhaustive and informative as an empty fortune cookie. 

tumblr_lk7wc1WZ3T1qazxot.png

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You really need to learn how express yourself more elaborately IH. As it stands now, many of your posts are about as exhaustive and informative as an empty fortune cookie. 

tumblr_lk7wc1WZ3T1qazxot.png

 

 

I actually like IH. I genuinely think he's a decent guy, but his refusal to take a clear stand on any issue beyond proclaiming "I believe in Jesus Christ and therefor Christianity is good and true" is getting quite tiresome. There ARE Christians who can debate philosophy, ethics, theology and whatnot without resorting to Bible-verses and empty platitudes at every turn. I am sure IH is capable of this, but I get the feeling it is almost like he's afraid of committing heresy if he ever strays - if ever so slightly - from traditional "Christian" tenets.

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No, I’m not afraid of committing heresy. I might interpret a scripture passage wrong or misunderstand or have limited understanding, but these faults do not condemn me.

This is the wonder of simplicity of the Christian message….the good news of the Gospel. It’s free! I can’t do a thing to earn it.

 

The following from this site:
http://basictraining.org/index.php?proc=sp&pid=2

 

The Simplicity of Salvation

The greatest stumbling block to men entering eternal (everlasting) life is the simplicity of salvation. Men want to “do” something to earn salvation, but God says it is a gift because Jesus Christ paid the price on the cross. He bought eternal life for every man. However, the gift must be received by faith. The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” To which they answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (ACT 16:30-31). This is the Gospel message!
The Simplicity of Salvation is …

 

As simple as coming when called. Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (MAT 11:28).

As simple as drinking water.

Jesus said: “But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (JOH 4:14). “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, ‘out of his heart will flow rivers of living water …’” (JOH 7:37-38).

 

As simple as eating bread. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst … I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (JOH 6:35, JOH 6:51).

 

As simple as entering a door. Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved” (JOH 10:9a).

As simple as receiving a gift. “For the wages of sin is death, but the [free] gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (ROM 6:23).

 

As simple as calling for help. “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (JOE 2:32; ROM 10:13).

As simple as the trust of a child.“Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven’” (MAT 18:2-3).

 

As simple as believing in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life” (JOH 6:47). “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (JOH 11:25-26).

Each of these examples and illustrations is designed to show the simplicity of faith. The Scripture says. “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (ROM 10:17). Faith is trusting what the Word of God says. In the final analysis, it all comes down to the question in the above passage, “Do you believe this?” Your response will determine your eternal destiny—either Heaven or Hell.

 

Do not stumble over the simplicity of the Gospel message of salvation!

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This is the wonder of simplicity of the Christian message….the good news of the Gospel. It’s free! I can’t do a thing to earn it.

 

Demanding blind faith does not make it "free".

 

"Hey, want a new car?"

"I don't think I can afford one"

"Oh, but it's free and already paid for!"

"Oh, cool! So no catch?"

"Well... you need to get down on your knees and do as I say, but besides that, it's totally free!"

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If I misinterpret scripture as false, am I still condemned?

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No, I’m not afraid of committing heresy. I might interpret a scripture passage wrong or misunderstand or have limited understa

 

................................................

 

Gospel message of salvation!

 

But the gospels don't stand in isolation, do they Ironhorse?

 

They rest on the foundation of Genesis, don't they?

 

If there was no original sin, then the gospels are meaningless.

 

If there was no Adam and Eve, then ditto.  

 

If God was not the creator and the universe had a natural origin, then ditto.

 

Establish the foundation that the gospels rest on (Genesis) first, before trying to sell us the simplicity of the Christian message, ok?

 

Demonstrate the truth of these complex and difficult things to us first and then we might consider the gospels.

 

Genesis first, then and only then, the gospels.

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Guest Furball

I simply believe in Christ and go from there.

In india, people simply believe in krishna and go from there.

In tibet, people simply believe in buddha and go from there.

In utah, people simply believe in joseph smith and go from there there. 

In l.a., people simply believe in l. ron hubbard and go from there.

In china, people simply believe in lao tzu and go from there. 

 

What's your point, other than believing in the popular religious cult of your current location in the world?

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Guest Furball

 

 

 

No, I’m not afraid of committing heresy. I might interpret a scripture passage wrong or misunderstand or have limited understanding, but these

 

........

 

 

message of salvation!

You're simply quoting the passages of scripture that refer to free will. What do you do with all the passages relating to election?? You have obviously never studied the book of galatians, which is about god writing down the elect's name in his eternal will to be saved, then having jesus die to activate that will (testament). You do realize it is called the testament for a reason...yes??

 

tes·ta·ment
 
NOUN
  1. a person's will, especially the part relating to personal property.
  2. something that serves as a sign or evidence of a specified fact, event, or quality:
     
     
  3. (in biblical use) a covenant or dispensation.
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Guest Furball

This is the wonder of simplicity of the Christian message….the good news of the Gospel. It’s free! I can’t do a thing to earn it.

 

Since you fail to understand the gospel message of believing let me make it clear to you. The word believe, in biblical language means to obey. 

 

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.

 

 

Salvation is not a free gift. This is a heresy of the baptist sect of christianity. Believing is not just some type of mental acceptance that jesus died for you; believing in jesus for salvation means to obey jesus.

 

You do err in your reading and understanding of the scriptures. 

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Please... this ignoramus is arguing for a 500-year old ENGLISH translation of SOME of the manuscripts of a book that was

 

1) Compiled by people he has almost no theological common ground with other than, perhaps, a Trinitarian belief

 

2) Compiled by men who constructed and themselves composed a church hierarchy that he does not recognize as authoritative

 

3) Compiled by men with a rabid anti-Semitic agenda which is laughably ironic since they accepted the so-called Old Testament which is Jewish

 

4) Compiled by men who chose certain writings and rejected others because of very, very specific geopolitical and theological agendas which they sought to advance, the one always feeding the other

 

5) Compiled by men whose methods of determining what is true or false theologically rested (and largely still does rest) upon the previous points being not only necessary, but absolutely true.

 

There are also NO churches left in the world except for the Roman Catholic Church that would accept all of the above as true and necessary for the bible to be "canon", IOW the rule of faith.

 

He has never read the "rejected" manuscripts and probably has not a shred of a clue why and how they differ from the "real" bible.

 

He likely doesn't understand a shred of Hebrew, Aramaic, Koine Greek or ecclesiastical Latin, and yet he trusts the laughably-skewed and horribly-bad translation in a relatively infant language made by people who themselves had a totally opposite agenda from the group who compiled the book in the first place.

 

His "simple message" isn't even agreed upon by people who DISAGREE with the hierarchy that compiled the bible in the first place.

 

His "simple message" can't outrun or outlast the notion that just about every so-called Christian in the world believes you NEED a church, a hierarchy of some kind, a leadership.

 

His "simple message" is retarded-ass reductionist bullshit in its most basic and idiotic form.

 

People don't reject Christianity because they don't understand its "simplicity", IronHorse'sAss. They reject it because they understand the baffling, stifling, useless complexity of a machine that has grown up around badly-written myths that don't even hold water as good stories.

 

The only reason your "simple message" shit doesn't fly is because there never WAS a simple message. The institution GAVE you all the magic book; not the other way around, moron. You owe your ass to those people if you believe word number one of what they say.

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