I agree there are a plethora of minor disagreements on many issues, however the basic fundamentals shouldn't be disagreed upon. And one of them is that faith and trust in Christ in itself alone (intellectually believing in Christ is not enough) is enough for salvation - nothing more, nothing less. Anything more and you would be taking away from what Christ has done. Now, I know this has been asked many times and I'm sure will pop up again but no, this does not give that person a license to sin and do heinous acts. Also, in accordance with Christianity, one can not earn their way into heaven through works as no one will ever be good enough but is granted salvation the moment one puts their faith and trust in Christ and what Christ has done (death/resurrection and atonement of sins) as an act of one's will, and naturally works would follow - not because he wants to be saved but because he is already. Then one might ask how does a simple declaring of faith lead to changes in one's life - the answer is it isn't the person but God that effects those changes himself. I'm only telling from what I've experienced throughout my life and there are countless number of Christians who have similar testimonies throughout history. It isn't a crutch for my life otherwise I'd only lean on Christ during my hardships and downfalls but that isn't the case. If you've heard before that Christianity is a lifestyle more than a religion, it is true.

Not trying to flame anyone but just trying to set the facts straight and trying to clear up many misconceptions about Christianity in the only way possible.

Oh, and people like Benny Hinn and Peter Popoff are heretical frauds - don't judge Christianity on those outrageous blaspheming fools.


[QUOTE]Originally posted by jmc1971

 

I suppose to clarify, when I mentioned disagreements on "particulars" I was thinking along the lines of predestination, soul sleep, pre- mid- or post-trib, types of baptism...those type of things. Not the basic foundations of the Faith.

[Edit]
<-------------Dude-ette!

 

Np dude-ette - we're all friends here. I was writing to everyone in general.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jmc1971

 

[Edit]
<-------------Dude-ette! [/QUOTE]

Shoot, sorry

 

 

I'm Christian too...

In some ways I feel that after we die it is just a state of not knowing, so I suppose it really doesn't matter. But that would really kind of suck if you think about it. All that you have done is in life is all of a sudden wiped out. We may return to the same state we were before we were born.. a state of not knowing and no existence. I really hope there is something like that and can trust in the teachings that have been placed upon me.

But we didn't have a life prior to this one.. no one is so sure that we have one after either. It just sucks to not know..

If everyone knew 100% sure that we had to live our lives like saints in order to have a second life, then I'm sure the world we live in today would be greatly different.

On the other hand, all the time people in this world spend in Churches and just praying could be all wasted if there absolutely isn't a continuation in our lives. So what would the point in funerals be? The person who died can't actually witness who shows up at the funeral and feel a sense of happiness knowing so and so cares enough to go. Okay I'll stop babbling on now

 

Another thing to think about: There have been documented cases where people remember past lives while under deep hypnosis. They remember details and people and everything about their surroundings (the land, the place where they lived) even though they have never been there. They also speak perfect dialect. Does anyone believe in re-incarnation?

 

No.

 

that's weird

 

Then how do you explain that?