The purpose of life in Christianity

[Todd]

How much of the bible do you read literally and how much is myth and how do you know the difference?

I think you just go by what you can get away with.

Hypocrisy and lies are a Christian forte.

Regards
DL

Much of the Bible is clearly written in language that is not intended to be taken literally. Other parts of the Bible can be seen as man's incomplete understanding of the covenant of God. The bible itself contains the clues that help one determine what was literally and directly from God and what was/is tainted by man's incomplete understanding of God and his covenant.

The Torah, including all the original temple laws, ritutals and rules for scarifices were never what God wanted. God wanted to dwell in the midst of his people and lead them directly but the Israelites rejected that our of fear. Time and time God gave Israel the choice to follow him and live or choose their own way and suffer the consequences. Most of the time Israel chose their own way and God obliged them.. Just as he continues to oblige us and let us wallow in the consequences of our own choices. But God will not allow that forever. Jesus came to show us the better way of dying to our own self and our own "free-will" and choosing God's ways. But it's not a way of ritual or religion. It's a way based on choosing to love God and those around us as ourselves. Something that can not be learned by religious rituals or sacrifices. Something most of mainstream Christianity has failed at.

 

[Faker He-Man]

Romans 6, 7 and 8 discuss what happens to the Ego (or “I”) in the heart of a Christian. I can’t speak for anyone else but I am not who I once was.

This is another separate concept though. There is nothing inherently "bad" or negative implied in my previous post:

The idea is that the ego can never be satisfied with the main dish, because the ego is expecting something else entirely. That is its nature. The main dish will forever seem bland and uninteresting to the ego, and we will continually send it back to the kitchen.

The ego is the personality, and as I mentioned that is simply its nature. This is not something that can be "changed", but it can be realized and understood. To be clear, I have not even referred to the concept of correcting the negative ego, which is the same as gaining control of the thoughts within your own mind instead of letting the ego "run the show" untamed.

 

[Red Sky at Morning]

This is another separate concept though. There is nothing inherently "bad" or negative implied in my previous post:


The ego is the personality, and as I mentioned that is simply its nature. This is not something that can be "changed", but it can be realized and understood. To be clear, I have not even referred to the concept of correcting the negative ego, which is the same as gaining control of the thoughts within your own mind instead of letting the ego "run the show" untamed.

I remember studying “Id” “ego” and “superego” and I must say I found Freud’s ideas inferior to the understanding Paul presents of the body, soul and spirit.

The distinction between soul and spirit and the wholeness to which Christians will ultimately come in to goes right to the subject of the OP and may help anyone trying to understand what really happens to people at the “new birth”:-

 

[Faker He-Man]

I remember studying “Id” “ego” and “superego” and I must say I found Freud’s ideas inferior to the understanding Paul presents of the body, soul and spirit.

I also find his ideas inferior. The entirety of Freud's model of the psyche can be summed up as "angel on one shoulder, devil on the other" dressed up in fancy language. What I'm discussing has nothing to do with the Freudian model. No worries, it's understandable, since it is a concept so simple that we tend to overlook it in favor of something more complex.

 

[TokiEl]

The purpose of Christians is to tell the truth that Jesus Christ is God... who is the only one who can help heal and forgive sins.

 

[Lisa]

The purpose of Christians is to tell the truth that Jesus Christ is God... who is the only one who can help heal and forgive sins.

Isn’t that secondary to God at work in the Christians life?

 

[TokiEl]

Isn’t that secondary to God at work in the Christians life?

Christians are supposed to be the lights of the world and the salts of the earth.

Christlike beings.

 

[Lisa]

Christians are supposed to be the lights of the world and the salts of the earth.

Christlike beings.

How do they get that way?

 

[TokiEl]

How do they get that way?

By being in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

[Lisa]

By being in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

So He works on us first.

 

[TokiEl]

So He works on us first.

If we live our lives according to His words... He will walk watch work and sup with us.

 

[Infinityloop]

You question implies that we do it because we are expecting reward. That's not how it works. John 13:13-17 Sorry I'm unable to quote passage atm. Even though in the end those who follow are called blessed, it's a consequence, not the reason.

Incorrect, I'm merely asking you to elaborate on what you are saying.

 

[Faker He-Man]

Question for anyone: If God told you "you believed, so you are saved, and you're free to take your place in heaven, but I am giving you the choice for someone else to take your place in heaven instead"

In this purely hypothetical scenario, what is your answer?

Anyone care to answer this? Your answer is not for my sake, it's an Answer for yourself- internally.

Your desire for more will result in less.

 

[Todd]

Anyone care to answer this? Your answer is not for my sake, it's an Answer for yourself- internally.

Your desire for more will result in less.

I'm not planning on spending eternity in heaven anyways, so I would say "sure no problem". Then I would enjoy life on the new earth in the city of Zion.

 

[Faker He-Man]

I'm not planning on spending eternity in heaven anyways, so I would say "sure no problem". Then I would enjoy life on the new earth in the city of Zion.

In other words you would much rather dodge the question altogether. Like I said, not for my sake.

 

[Todd]

In other words you would much rather dodge the question altogether. Like I said, not for my sake.

LOL! no I totally get the point you are trying to make and agree with it. I don't believe in eternal torment for unbelievers so there isn't really a question for me to dodge.
But no I would likely not choose to take an unbelievers place in the corrective punishment they will experience before being reconciled to God.

 

[Faker He-Man]

But no I would likely not choose to take an unbelievers place in the corrective punishment they will experience before being reconciled to God.

Why not? Is that not the greatest gift you could ever give? Why do you not see it as opportunity?

 

[Lisa]

Anyone care to answer this? Your answer is not for my sake, it's an Answer for yourself- internally.

Your desire for more will result in less.

We are not called to give up our place so someone can have their place but instead to tell people about the Good News so that someone may believe and have their own place. And the place isn’t in heaven as much as it’s reconciliation with God and salvation from the lake of fire where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

[Faker He-Man]

We are not called to give up our place so someone can have their place

so you wouldn't do it if you were given the chance? Why not?

 

[Lisa]

so you wouldn't do it if you were given the chance? Why not?

It’s not something we are called to do. Jesus gave His life for all, which is not the same as me giving my life for one. I can’t save anyone and they must first believe to be saved. When they do that I don’t need to give my life for theirs they are saved themselves. But first they must hear it, that’s where I come in..sharing the Good News.