Are these verses of the Bible implemented by Christians?

[Compassionist]

Christians have been around for about 2000 years and there are currently around 2.3 billion Christians on Earth.

Are these verses of the Bible implemented by Christians at present? Have they been implemented throughout the last 2000 years Christians have been around? If they are not implemented, why are they not implemented by Christians? After all, Christians claim to hold the Bible as the Word of God. Perhaps YOU can help me understand?

Galatians 5:14
The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbour as yourself."

Matthew 5:40-42
If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

Matthew 5:44
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 6:19
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 14:33
Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Money.

Matthew 19:21-24
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Matthew 19:28-29
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

Luke 9:23-25
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

Matthew 13:22
The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Phillippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Acts 2:44-45
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

[McCulloch]

Christians have been around for about 2000 years and there are currently around 2.3 billion Christians on Earth.

Wrong. There are 2.3 billion people who claim to be Christian. There are far fewer disciples of Jesus Christ.

But I have it from a competent authority that they're number is growing exponentially.

[Compassionist]

Thanks for your reply. Why would people claim to be Christian if they are not practising Christians? I don't get it.

I noticed that you are a former Christian and a humanist. Why did you leave Christianity?

I am an Agnostic Compassionist Humanist.

[McCulloch]

Why would people claim to be Christian if they are not practising Christians? I don't get it.

I'm the wrong person to ask. But the evidence is that most of the people who profess that they are Christians do not make a serious attempt to follow Jesus teachings. I don't know why either.

I noticed that you are a former Christian and a humanist. Why did you leave Christianity?

My signature. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good. 1 Thess 5:21
I examined carefully the question of why to believe and discovered that the reasons were not valid or sufficient to warrant belief.

[alexiarose]

Christians have been around for about 2000 years and there are currently around 2.3 billion Christians on Earth.

Wrong. There are 2.3 billion people who claim to be Christian. There are far fewer disciples of Jesus Christ.

But I have it from a competent authority that they're number is growing exponentially.

Can you prove they aren't Christian?

[McCulloch]

Christians have been around for about 2000 years and there are currently around 2.3 billion Christians on Earth.

Wrong. There are 2.3 billion people who claim to be Christian. There are far fewer disciples of Jesus Christ.

But I have it from a competent authority that they're number is growing exponentially.

Can you prove they aren't Christian?

I can prove that a significant proportion of the 2.3 billion nominal Christians ignore certain teachings of Jesus.

[alexiarose]

Christians have been around for about 2000 years and there are currently around 2.3 billion Christians on Earth.

Are these verses of the Bible implemented by Christians at present? Have they been implemented throughout the last 2000 years Christians have been around? If they are not implemented, why are they not implemented by Christians? After all, Christians claim to hold the Bible as the Word of God. Perhaps YOU can help me understand?

Galatians 5:14
The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbour as yourself."

Love in the way that I love my mother, yes.

Matthew 5:40-42
If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

If they want my jacket, have at it (though I really like my leather one). If I have the money to let someone borrow it, sure.

Matthew 5:44
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Love them, not die for them. Pray for those who persecute me, yes.

Matthew 6:19
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Hmm, not to covet material possessions, no problem.

Luke 14:33
Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

I would lay my life down for God. So yes, I would give up everything, granted, I am 19 so I don't exactly have much.

Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Money.

How can you love money?

Matthew 19:21-24
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Tell me, what possession do we have that are truly ours? We pay off our car, but if we don't pay the fee to get the title renewed, it can be repossessed. Home, same thing, etc.... In reality, we don't exactly have many possessions do we?

Matthew 19:28-29
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

The problem is? Well, actually 100X mothers? That might be worse. Just kidding. Having 100 of my moms wouldn't be bad because she is the best.

Luke 9:23-25
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

My life is Gods life. So what is the problem here?

Matthew 13:22
The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

Worrying does nothing but cause wrinkles. Let today matter and let tomorrow take care of itself.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

No problems here.

Phillippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

This I may have an issue with. I don't see myself as better or worse.

Acts 2:44-45
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

I don't really have anything yet, so I guess I can't really apply this one.

[Compassionist]

Thanks McCulloch and Alexiarose for your posts.

Now let's compare the verses I posted at the start of this thread with the following verses:

However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the
foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of
such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your
land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your
children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like
this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated
this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)

If you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for only six years. Set him
free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom.
If he was single when he became your slave and then married afterward,
only he will go free in the seventh year. But if he was married before
he became a slave, then his wife will be freed with him. If his master
gave him a wife while he was a slave, and they had sons or daughters,
then the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and
children will still belong to his master. But the slave may plainly
declare, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I would rather
not go free.' If he does this, his master must present him before God.
Then his master must take him to the door and publicly pierce his ear
with an awl. After that, the slave will belong to his master forever.
(Exodus 21:2-6 NLT)

When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the
end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who
bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not
allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the
contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to
marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must
treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes
another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep
with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may
leave as a free woman without making any payment. (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)

When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the
slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the
slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the
slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB)

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve
them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)

Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so
that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. If your
master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You
should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by
your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to
obey them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2 NLT)

What do you think? Do they seem fair and loving and consistent?

This website highlights various aspects of the Bible if you are interested: http://skepticsannotatedbible.com

[Goat]

Thanks McCulloch and Alexiarose for your posts.

Now let's compare the verses I posted at the start of this thread with the following verses:

However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the
foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of
such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your
land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your
children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like
this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated
this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)

If you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for only six years. Set him
free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom.
If he was single when he became your slave and then married afterward,
only he will go free in the seventh year. But if he was married before
he became a slave, then his wife will be freed with him. If his master
gave him a wife while he was a slave, and they had sons or daughters,
then the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and
children will still belong to his master. But the slave may plainly
declare, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I would rather
not go free.' If he does this, his master must present him before God.
Then his master must take him to the door and publicly pierce his ear
with an awl. After that, the slave will belong to his master forever.
(Exodus 21:2-6 NLT)

When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the
end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who
bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not
allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the
contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to
marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must
treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes
another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep
with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may
leave as a free woman without making any payment. (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)

When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the
slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the
slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the
slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB)

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve
them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)

Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so
that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. If your
master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You
should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by
your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to
obey them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2 NLT)

What do you think? Do they seem fair and loving and consistent?

This website highlights various aspects of the Bible if you are interested: http://skepticsannotatedbible.com

For the old testament, you are looking at it from the wrong cultural background. Giving the slave rights was innovative at the time. While 2500 years later, going into slavery at all is a step back towards human rights and compassion, at that time frame, giving slaves rights was a step forward.

The problem arises when you use those phrases to be static,rather than understand the concept was to go towards compassion and understanding (compared to the surrounding cultures)

[samuelbb7]

Thank you Goat your last point was very good.

The Bible was bringing in a more compassionate view and teaching people to care for others.

Paul was also dealing with the society of his time. When many of the early Christians were slaves. It is wrong to remove the Bible quotes from the cultural period in which they were written.