this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2024
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So which is it? Is there "nothing you can do to earn God's blessing. It's a gift" or is it "I'd rather do something quick to earn God's favor than commit daily to living a penitent Christian life"
Because if it's really a gift, what's all this effort you're putting in to "earn God's favor"?
The life of a Christian is two-fold...
Living in accordance with the teachings of Christ is a requirement for salvation but not a guarantee. There's nothing we can do to earn God's blessing on Earth or in Heaven. The only thing we can guarantee for ourselves is damnation by rejecting Christ and the biblical revelation.
If I earnestly strive to live like Christ and believe him to be God. I will live a life that involves prayer, fasting and almsgiving. A generous life that helps others to the Glory of God. It is only after that life that I will be judged. God has perfect judgement and judges each person according to their means, understanding etc My hope is that God will examine my heart and grant me entrance to the Kingdom of God even though I am most unworthy.
Sounds like a lot of "requirements" and work to do for something that is supposed to be a gift according to you. He can keep his gift and all the strings he's attached to it. I'll just live a good life because I'm not a shit person. If that guarantees me eternal damnation because I don't kiss the ring then I don't think I would've had much fun by his side for eternity anyway. He sounds like a dick.
You realize you're up against the tried and true no true Scotsman defense, right? You can point out the fallacy. You can present facts and logical arguments. Nothing penetrates the "you're talking about a few bad apples" argument.
The part I always enjoy is to put any two Christians in a room together and watch them argue until the end of time which of them is the true Christian with the correct interpretation of the infallible word of God from their book. Even as a child I thought an omnipotent God should've provided a much clearer instruction manual. But of course, that gets the "he works in mysterious ways" defense.
Yeah, that will be my last reply to that person. Sometimes I can't help but try to reintroduce some critical thinking back into these peoples' brains. Unfortunately religious indoctrination since birth is a pretty thick brick wall to break through. It's sad
To the since birth part, I was raised in a particularly fundamentalist cult/sect/denomination (hint: two high school classmates died in Waco) and attended their schools from first grade through high school.
I graduated some thirty four years ago.
Looking at classmates today in our fifties, the delineation is interesting. All of us either completely abandoned religion to the point of hostility toward it or became zealous adherents to it. Very little middle ground.
Being told you'll never measure up to God's expectations all your life but he loves you if you try really hard is basically the same as being in an emotionally abusive relationship.
Thank you Sigmund Freud.
The only issue is that obeying God is literally the best thing you can do for yourself emotionally or otherwise. It will give meaning, purpose and structure to your life, provide an instant community and, while we rarely shirk sin entirely, a Christian life can break how beholden we are to the sin and idols in our life. Drugs/alcohol, promiscuity, pornography etc All these things are abused in our culture and you can see how it affects us by looking at the state of things outside your window. Moral and cultural decay caused by pursuit of self instead of God.
Returning to church and committing daily to Christ is by far the best thing that's ever happened to me. God loves us.
The meaning of life is what you make it. I don't need God to give me purpose.
I was raised catholic and this is a valid point. The issue is it's a community gathered around harmful ideas.
As for the rest, the placebo effect is scientifically proven to work. I have absolutely no doubt that believing in a higher power helps you beat addiction, etc. I don't think that justifies the harm organized religion has caused, particularly recently. Does God want to force 10 year olds to give birth? Because that's what's happening in his name.
I don't think you're supposed to fail on purpose.
I don't have to try. I fail without even thinking about it lol.