Christians vs. Non-Christians

My blog “The Christian Bible”, was never meant to be used as a way to have open debates on God’s existence or scriptures. I write from a perspective that God does in fact exist, real in every way.

Since I seem to be getting a few who feel the need to let me know God does not exist and Christians are following a myth, I thought it might be a good time to write this article on some of the issues we as Christians may face. The never ending debate of Christians versus Non-Christians. This article may bring some heated discussions, but it just makes life more interesting doesn’t it.

I know from a Non-Christian viewpoint, Christians often appear closed-minded, perhaps homophobic, hypocritical, and not politically or scientifically correct. Some would like to see it disappear altogether. When I say Non-Christian, I use that term in the sense of someone who is not a follower of Christ, regardless of their religion or lack of.

So a few clarifications about Christians I would like to address from my understanding. Some Christians may or may not agree, and some Non-Christians may or may not agree, there is so much to both sides of the debate, there is no way to possibly discuss them all on a blog.

NC #1 – “All Christians believe their religion is the only correct religion and think anyone with a different religion or non-religion are lost”

Just as there are many different religions, in Christianity so are each individuals personal beliefs. If a person strives to follow God and his Word, then from some outside view it may appear as being close-minded, since God demands certain things from us.

From scripture Christians are told they are to believe there is only one way to God, through Jesus.

( 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus) There is no other way, or other Gods. (Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.)

You only have two choices, you are either for God, or you are against him. (Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.)

If you are against him, then you are lost to die in your sins according to scripture. (John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.)

The Bible teaches Christians you must not except any other Gospel. (Galatians 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.)

If we are to be Christians, or followers of Christ than we have to believe that He is truth. If we go against that, then we go against God. So in that sense we have to be closed minded and focus only on God and what he asks of us.

NC #2 – “Christians believe that the Bible was written by God who is supposed to be perfect, even though it contradicts itself on many verses”

Reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation like a book is not really the best way to approach it. There were many authors in the Bible. Some scribes, assistants to Disciples, etc.. and many with their own writing styles. What each author heard or witnessed to be true at that time is what they wrote. These were Holy men of God he commanded to write something down, or Holy men dictated for assistants to write what they witnessed or heard to be fact. Jesus himself quoted scriptures, reading them in the temples and believed it to be truth. During the early churches Disciples chosen by Jesus wrote letters for instructions on how churches were to conduct themselves as Christians, and passed these letters around to the many different churches.

Say you have a group of 5 guys going to a gathering, listening to a speaker and hearing peoples conversations. Now, ask them to write down what they remember as accurately as possible from the gathering. You will get some things in common and some things one or two of them might have heard, that the other 3 or four didn’t. Does it mean they never went to the gathering or heard the speaker or what he says is false, just because these 5 guys wrote what they believed to be true?

The Old Testament originally written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek, some words have various meanings depending on how they were used in verses. If someone disputes the accuracy, going back to these other languages can help the researcher better conclude the meanings.

(2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:)

Some have chosen to add other books, some take parts away. Some believe the whole Bible is to be taken literally from start to finish. The Bible is full of parables and stories, poetry, wise sayings, instructions, letters, prophecies, etc… but the moral of the whole as a Bible is Gods relationship to mankind. There are often disputes over certain verses because many denominations define their church beliefs by them.

NC #3 – “Christians hate homosexuality”

Very hot topic and forever debatable, but each Christian varies in their beliefs on this issue. For some the debate comes as to if a person is born that way or not. For some they perceive it as a conscience choice where the individual can stop practicing homosexuality anytime. And others who look to see what scriptures say. Yes, there are some who are radical or fanatical about this issue, bashing and hurting anyone opposed to their views and claiming God backs their actions. And some of those radicals must remember that sin is sin.

The majority of Christians don’t hate anyone, they are simply trying to understand what God says about it in scripture and try to follow that. In scripture there is little talk about it, but it is usually spoken of lumped together with pagan practices.

Scriptures speak of anything pagan as opposed to God and his desire for the way he wishes his children to live. It is often referred to as an abomination. In the Hebrew language, ‘abomination’ means great disgust. Leviticus 18:22 “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

Paul speaks in Romans;

Romans 1:26-27 “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.”

Paul describes the ‘natural’ ways in which Gods intended purpose was between a man and a woman. There is not one verse throughout scriptures that describes marriage between the same sexes, it’s just not there. Calling these acts unseemly, vile, abomination, an unnatural, we can pretty much distinguish that this is something that God did not intend or approve of for his children.
Many may disagree, but there is no way according to what is written in scripture to justify any sin if God deems it sinful, no matter if it’s paganism, adultery, drunkenness, etc… Christians learn what is and is not acceptable to him through his Word, and to follow him we must be in agreement with him.

That does not mean then that Christians should be mean or judgmental towards anyone. Every person should have a right to be who or how they wish to be, we each have our own personal choices to make in this life. We will all be judged according to Gods standards.

Some may not agree with God, but as a Christian if we disagree, then we are the ones who are wrong, not God. Non-Christians must understand, Christians are not gay bashing just because they don’t agree with the lifestyle. But as a follower and a believer in God and scripture Christians must believe what they understand God to say to be the truth and his judgment is fair regardless as to if it is considered politically correct or not in our society.

NC #4 – “Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites and condemn others yet sin just the same”

Very true. There are many who profess to follow Christ and his teachings and judge others for their sins, even though they are committing the same sins. Christians are not perfect and struggle everyday with the same desires and wants like everyone else. But not all Christians are the same in their walk with God, or their beliefs, so putting all Christians into the same lump doesn’t help.

James 1:13-15 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

With the many different denominations come the varied beliefs in scripture. Some pick and choose to what suits them in their life. Many Christians believe they should judge others but they also will be judged by the same standards. (Matthew 7:2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with whatever measure you measure out, it shall be measured to you again.)

To God a sin is a sin. In our society we look at committing adultery worse than say lying. But to God, it’s all just sin. Jesus is perfect and we as people can never achieve his greatness of that perfection while we are here on earth. We are to strive for that perfection daily, but some people cannot get past their personal desires. Some are content with the level of commitment they give to God and choose not to grow in the fullness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to that which he has done, whether good or bad.”
It can be dependent on that individual character of that person. Fears, desires, upbringing, or how they view the modern world in general. For those who strive to please God daily, they know that through Jesus we can be reconciled to God and forgiven for our sins. God has no sin, so the more we sin on purpose, the more we separate ourselves from God and keep ourselves from growing spiritually closer to him.

NC #5 – Free will- “Freedom to choose is given to man by God. Man has two main choices: 1) accept the Love of God and, upon death, go to paradise for eternity, 2) Refuse God and, upon death, just die, be utterly damned. How is that freedom of choice when it is the same thing as a gun to your head?”

God’s original plan when he created man was to have this great relationship. God allowed man to have the choice to love him, because forcing someone to love you is not true love. In scriptures it paints us a picture that there are only two options that exist. Not that God is condemning if you don’t love him, but more like this is all there is, there is no third option out there. There are only two doorways in existence after death. If you walk through one doorway it’s paradise, the other doorway leads to darkness. Our life here on earth is the middle ground for us to make our decision which door we wish to enter. Who wouldn’t choose the door to paradise? Some would rather choose darkness than to spend eternity worshiping God. That’s each individuals personal choice. God is sinless and nothing sinful can enter heaven where he is. Because of the choice that Adam and Eve made, they became carnal, and sinful, which is the opposite of God. God sent his son Jesus to be the last sacrifice for the cleansing of our sins in order for us to enter heaven. Some people wonder where the third doorway is… according to God there is none. So, as Jesus stated, you are either for God, or you are against him. God knows what’s on the other side of this life, we don’t. Jesus also knows, and thinks the doorway leading to darkness is so bad, he warns people over and over.

Matthew 5:30 “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” Jesus may have sounded extreme here with telling someone to cut off their limb, but Jesus wasn’t joking in the sense of seriousness. If your right hand keeps causing you to sin and oppose God, “Cut It Off”. Better than being sent to hell. Jesus describes hell as that bad, you do not want to go there.

Scriptures warn Christians that hell is what it is; darkness, torment and eternal separation from God. Once your there, you are there for eternity.

Matthew 18:14 “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.