Jesus, Christians, and the world
What is the world? Not the earth, but the world -- worldly people? What did Jesus think of the world? And how did He define His followers' relationship to it?
John 7:3-7:
4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
6 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do.
7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.”
John 15:18-19:
19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
John 17:9:
John 17:14:
And also, from James 4:4:
_________________
Christianity is different than Judaism only in people's minds -- not in the Bible.
Lots about hatred and enmity. Yay Christianity!
_________________
Opportunities multiply as they are seized. -Sun Tzu
Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many -Machiavelli
You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do
Sweetleaf
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That's a great philosophy, the worlds evil and your bad if you disagree. hmm sounds like BS, besides there's no proof if Jesus existed he said any of that......you do know who assembled the bible right. But don't think about that because remember god came down here and set the bible on the earth and its word or word exactly what happened.
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We won't go back.
As a diagnosed Aspie I should know better than to attempt sarcasm. Especially in this forum.
Sorry about that.
ruveyn
Sweetleaf
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Age: 34
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Location: Somewhere in Colorado
As a diagnosed Aspie I should know better than to attempt sarcasm. Especially in this forum.
Sorry about that.
ruveyn
That was directed at the OP, hence the reason I did not quote you when I posted it.
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We won't go back.
It's not your typical liberal church Sunday school lesson, that's for sure. Love is a big part of the Gospel message -- in fact, it's the very reason Jesus died -- but there is more that Christians need to understand than love, and the Bible is filled with it: truth.
And that's why I posted these unpopular sayings of Jesus. There are a lot of Christians who believe in just going with the flow of society when it comes to keeping your mouth shut about Christ, sin, life, death, Heaven, and Hell. And guess who likes the kinds of Christians who behave like good and quiet little passive people, as society pressures them to? It is the very "world" Jesus is talking about in those verses. Those Christians are the wicked world's favorite kind.
Jesus was not for keeping quiet and behaving like a good, agreeable, and passive little worldling. That's not why He came to Earth on a deliberate suicide mission -- just to try to fit in and get along. And He said His followers shouldn't try to fit in either:
From Matt 5:
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Interesting! So we are to make a difference, and, if it's the good kind of difference, Jesus says we are to expect wrongful ridicule and slander, and sometimes worse. He says to be glad for it! I understand why, and I hope some others here do, or will, too. The prophets spoke the truth; the truth was offensive; they were killed because of this. And their reward in Heaven is great.
So, we are here to stand out because of Jesus' words which we share with the world. And, He says, if we don't stand out in that capacity, we are good for nothing.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Active Christians are under constant pressure by the world to SHUT UP about it. Jesus says not to, and points out the silliness of being a light in the world if we're always trying to hide that light, so that we will go unnoticed and thus fit in.
This thread is for my fellow Christians.
_________________
Christianity is different than Judaism only in people's minds -- not in the Bible.
Last edited by Ragtime on 11 Apr 2012, 3:01 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,470
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,470
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
It's not your typical liberal church Sunday school lesson, that's for sure. Love is a big part of the Gospel message -- in fact, it's the very reason Jesus died -- but there is more that Christians need to understand than love, and the Bible is filled with it: truth.
And that's why I posted these unpopular sayings of Jesus. There are a lot of Christians who believe in just going with the flow of society when it comes to keeping your mouth shut about Christ, sin, life, death, Heaven, and Hell. And guess who likes the kinds of Christians who behave like good and quiet little passive people, as society pressures them to? It is the very "world" Jesus is talking about in those verses. Those Christians are the wicked world's favorite kind.
Jesus was not for keeping quiet and behaving like a good, agreeable, and passive little worldling. That's not why He came to Earth on a deliberate suicide mission -- just to try to fit in and get along. And He said His followers shouldn't try to fit in either:
From Matt 5:
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Interesting! So we are to make a difference, and, if it's the good kind of difference, Jesus says we are to expect wrongful ridicule and slander, and sometimes worse. He says to be glad for it! I understand why, and I hope some others here do, or will, too. The prophets spoke the truth; the truth was offensive; they were killed because of this. And their reward in Heaven is great.
So, we are hear to stand out because of Jesus' words which we share with the world. And, He says, if we don't stand out in that capacity, we are good for nothing.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Active Christians are under constant pressure by the world to SHUT UP about it. Jesus says not to, and points out the silliness of being a light in the world but always trying to hide that light, so that you will go unnoticed and thus fit in.
This thread is for my fellow Christians.
Well then why try so hard to offend people? christians aren't the only ones with thoughts and feelings you know.
_________________
We won't go back.
Who said anything about nature? This is about humanity's attitudes and actions.
_________________
Christianity is different than Judaism only in people's minds -- not in the Bible.
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,470
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
Who said anything about nature? This is about humanity's attitudes and actions.
Well all those quotes referred to how evil the world is, I thought that meant the world in general. That said though wouldn't that be a reason to try and improve humanity rather than root for the destruction of it. Or is Christianity really about hate and superiority after all.
_________________
We won't go back.
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