Life Difference Between Christian and Non
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ElCodeMonkey
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Life Difference Between Christian and Non
Post #1Is Christianity a mere belief or is it a way of life distinct from those who do not believe? If the former, what's the point? Why would God even want that? If the latter, how should such a Christian life be noticeably different from a non-Christian life?
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JehovahsWitness
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Re: Life Difference Between Christian and Non
Post #2[Replying to post 1 by ElCodeMonkey]
Christians should stand out as different from those around them by their love and devotion to God, their love for others, their high morals and their dedication to doing God's will.
JEHOVAH'S WITNESS
Christians should stand out as different from those around them by their love and devotion to God, their love for others, their high morals and their dedication to doing God's will.
JEHOVAH'S WITNESS
INDEX: More bible based ANSWERS
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
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Tcg
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Re: Life Difference Between Christian and Non
Post #3[Replying to post 1 by ElCodeMonkey]
One major difference one would expect to see is that huge Christian sects like Catholicism and smaller ones like the Jehovah's Witnesses would be plagued by sexual abuse cases much less often than so called secular groups.
Recent, and even older news reports, reveal that fact that this is not the case.
One major difference one would expect to see is that huge Christian sects like Catholicism and smaller ones like the Jehovah's Witnesses would be plagued by sexual abuse cases much less often than so called secular groups.
Recent, and even older news reports, reveal that fact that this is not the case.
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- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
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JehovahsWitness
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Re: Life Difference Between Christian and Non
Post #4Tcg wrote: [Replying to post 1 by ElCodeMonkey]
One major difference one would expect to see is that huge Christian sects like Catholicism and smaller ones like the Jehovah's Witnesses would be plagued by sexual abuse cases much less often than so called secular groups.
Recent, and even older news reports, reveal that fact that this is not the case.
Well if you mean "plagued" to mean a higher level than usual I can certainly say there is no such "plague" amongst the Jehovah's Witnesses. Our communities do not tolerate prostitution, drug and alcohol abuse or domestic violence all of which are contributing factors to sexual abuse and exploitation.
On the positive side it's not just about what we don't tolerate its also about what we do; we (JWs) have a very good level of sex education, almost 100% literacy levels and an elevated moral code all, of which serve to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
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RELATED POSTS
Are Jehovah's Witnesses plagued with elevated levels of child sexual abuse?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 077#912077
INDEX: More bible based ANSWERS
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
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jgh7
Re: Life Difference Between Christian and Non
Post #5[Replying to post 1 by ElCodeMonkey]
Noticeably from an onlooker? They should sin less. Although you could argue there are some atheists or other non-Christians who would from an onlooker seem to sin less compared to most other people as well.
There is not always an outwardly difference imo. Faith in God is also personally inward between a person and God, and an onlooker from the outside may not notice that.
Noticeably from an onlooker? They should sin less. Although you could argue there are some atheists or other non-Christians who would from an onlooker seem to sin less compared to most other people as well.
There is not always an outwardly difference imo. Faith in God is also personally inward between a person and God, and an onlooker from the outside may not notice that.
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Post #6
ElCodeMonkey wrote:
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— (Eph. 2:1-5)
This is what is meant by a Christian being born again. And that Christian is not the same person that he was before accepting Christ as we read here:
So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come! (2 Cor. 5:17).
There are many passages that address how the Christian is to live and many of them make a comparison to non-believers such as this one:
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. (Eph. 4:17-19).
A Christian who is filled with the Holy Spirit and following his guidance in his power should live this way:
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.� To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.� Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:9-21).
It is true that non-Christians may try to live according to the above, but they will have to try to do so in their own power. The Christian has the Holy Spirit to help him which is the very power of God. That does not mean that Christians always succeed in living a perfect life. Sanctification, that is, growing Christ-like, is a life-long process and takes time and effort and we can and do fail along the way.
Basically, to answer your question, a Christian focuses on what God wants and isn't to be captive to the ways of the world as non-believers are and as they themselves used to be before accepting Christ. Paul summed it up this way:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom. 12:2).
Note this: The reasons that Christians have trouble with atheists who say that they used to be Christians focuses on the fact that a true Christian is reborn as stated above. When Christ brings a person's spirit alive in him, it's alive forever. Atheists who say they used to be Christians could not have been reborn. They may have had some intellectual belief and gone to church and Bible studies and even witnessed to others. But they were not born-again which means they were Christians in name only.
Christianity is all about an individual entering into a relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ by the infilling of the Holy Spirit. We are all born with spirits dead in sin. When we accept Christ in faith, he brings our dead spirits alive in him as explained here:Is Christianity a mere belief or is it a way of life distinct from those who do not believe?
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— (Eph. 2:1-5)
This is what is meant by a Christian being born again. And that Christian is not the same person that he was before accepting Christ as we read here:
So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come! (2 Cor. 5:17).
There are many passages that address how the Christian is to live and many of them make a comparison to non-believers such as this one:
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. (Eph. 4:17-19).
A Christian who is filled with the Holy Spirit and following his guidance in his power should live this way:
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.� To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.� Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:9-21).
It is true that non-Christians may try to live according to the above, but they will have to try to do so in their own power. The Christian has the Holy Spirit to help him which is the very power of God. That does not mean that Christians always succeed in living a perfect life. Sanctification, that is, growing Christ-like, is a life-long process and takes time and effort and we can and do fail along the way.
Basically, to answer your question, a Christian focuses on what God wants and isn't to be captive to the ways of the world as non-believers are and as they themselves used to be before accepting Christ. Paul summed it up this way:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom. 12:2).
Note this: The reasons that Christians have trouble with atheists who say that they used to be Christians focuses on the fact that a true Christian is reborn as stated above. When Christ brings a person's spirit alive in him, it's alive forever. Atheists who say they used to be Christians could not have been reborn. They may have had some intellectual belief and gone to church and Bible studies and even witnessed to others. But they were not born-again which means they were Christians in name only.
