@ Reply #119
Quote:
people who understand what christianity actually means turn away from it like an animal turns away from the fire.
and no bloody wonder.
but that doesnt mean it isnt a recipe for transcending suffering.
Yep.
If a person 'gets it' [the message of Christianity], he/she understands that, yes, this 'life is suffering'.
The message of Christianity, calls on us to turn around, to turn our back on this world, and to ~try~ to 'do the right thing' [try to follow a moral path].
And in trying to 'do the right thing', yes, that will often entail our own suffering and personal sacrifice and/or personal pain.
[ as aquascoot said;
"people who understand what christianity actually means turn away from it like an animal turns away from the fire" ]
That, is the part that turns off, most people, to Jesus Christs message. i.e. the prospect of suffering and personal sacrifice!
"Pain and suffering ? Personal sacrifice ? Forget it ! Where is my beer, and when does the game start. [or some such distraction/pleasure/emotional gratification.]".
The message of Christianity;
God wants us to recognise and acknowledge the mistakes [i.e. all of the poor choices] we have made in this life, and to be sorry,
in our hearts.
And to accept His offer of redemption.
That offer to men, has always been 'on the table'.
Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
.
"Pain and suffering ? Personal sacrifice ? Forget it !"It a hard sell, to make, to 'the carnal mind' of men, who are distracted by the many pleasures of this world.
Philippians 3:19
Whose end is destruction,
whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Matthew 16:24
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Deuteronomy 8:2
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
Romans 8:5
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
.....
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
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