When God became a Socialist ....

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by edjen01

I'll try to be brief...long messages lose me.

1st...i understand what the early 1st century believers did & why they did them. I personally dont see where we are suppose to be the 1st century believers...we are suppose to be believers today...and that is different. the "society" and "church society" of the 1st century could be found in 1 major city in the U.S. today. They dealt in 10's/100's/1000's...we deal in 100,000's, millions, billions. big difference.

I’m not sure of your point. The body of Christ is the body of Christ. We have a way about us in every generation. We don’t have to do things exactly like the first century church. However, we are wise if we employ the principles those closest to Jesus and the Apostles lived out.

2nd...if all the law & the prophets hang on those 2...then i'll focus on keeping & fulfilling the 2. whenever men start "defining" what Christ said...we usually get a mess(religion/cults/etc..). Yes I do believe that I can say "Love God with everything you are and love your neighbor as your own flesh"...without defining for people what to do & what not to do. Why stop at the 10 laws? Why not include the entire 613 laws?

I believe that in practice that’s part of the problem with Christianity. How to love God and how to love our neighbor isn’t defined. For example, I knew a guy in the military who did some “messing around” yet he claimed he loved his wife. Now, when I asked him about it he said, “Sure I love my wife. And what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” He intended to keep his “messing around” a secret if he had to lie to do it. He saw this as “loving”. While using women for pleasure he claimed he care about them but didn’t want a relationship. In his mind he was loving his wife and caring for this women, all the while he was committing adultery, fornicating, and lying about it. Is that loving your neighbor? Absolutely not. Adultery is defined clearly in God’s Law and loving one’s neighbor precludes the possibility of committing adultery. Lying is defined as sin in God’s Law and loving one’s neighbor precludes the possibility of lying to them. You can’t just love someone any ol’ way… you have to define the Christian way to love a person.

I know of a man who says he loves God with all his heart… but he’s Catholic. He prays to statues of saints and even bows before them. In his mind he’s loving God with all his heart. However, idolatry is defined as sin by the Law of God and one cannot claim to love God if they are worshipping idols. Nor can one blaspheme the name of the Lord and claim to love him. Again, the way we love God has to be defined. You can’t just love God any ol’ way you want.

The Ten Commandments were placed in the ark and traveled with the tabernacle. We are told that this tabernacle was an earthly replica of a Heavenly reality. The Ten Commandments are the Law of God and has been in the Heavenly Holy of Holies since before creation. These embody what God expects of mankind according to God’s own holiness. Obeying the Ten Commandments can’t SAVE you, only a relationship with Christ can Save you. But disobedience to God’s Laws and will can cause you to be lost.

The remainder of the Law is known as the Law of Moses. These are cultural, social, and ceremonial laws designed to keep Israel separate from the world. These laws are specifically for the nation of Israel… while the Ten Commandments are universal. So all one must do is attain and maintain a relationship with Jesus. This will involve falling in love with God so much that you desire nothing more than to obey him.

3rd...i do not have the insight to define for anyone what it means for them to love God with all they are...that is for them & Him. I believe if we allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit...He will make sure we have plenty of oppurtunity to demonstrate.

The Spirit should lead us into obedience knowing that it was through the power of the Spirit that God’s Law was written upon our hearts.

If I give Him ALL....then I don't have anything left to give to religious foundations/organizations (that will probably take a fee).

If you feel led not to give, follow that leading. But many efforts could use your support to help so many.