Why Do So Few Christians Follow The Teachings Of Jesus?

[birdie1971]

In a rather belated response to a thread started by Goodlife, I would like to pose the question:

* Why do so few Christians follow the actual teachings of Jesus? *

You'd think they'd be falling over themselves to emulate Him and carry out His wishes. However, this would appear not to be the case. In particular, why do most Christians in western societies:

1. Not sell all their worldly goods and live in poverty (Mark 10:17-25, Luke 18:18-25, Matthew 19:16-24);
2. Not go out of their way to hate their mothers and fathers (Matthew 10:35);
3. Not abandon and leave their families (Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:29-30, Luke 18:29-30 & 14:26).

Of course there are many more examples of quite specific instructions that Jesus gave to his followers that hardly anyone today takes any notice of. In fact, the modern Church often teaches the exact opposite of what Jesus actually said and believed.

Isn't it far more true and honest to admit that secular thinking has shaped the societies of today far more than Christianity has and it is, in fact, Christianity that has adapted its teachings to conform to secular norms often at the expense of rejecting Jesus' teachings?

[pixie373]

I think with religion, you believe the parts you like and describe the rest as "euphemism".

[jim360]

I think it was Chrisgel who brilliantly explained that "the Bible should always be taken literally, except for the parts that shouldn't be taken literally." So there you are. Some of it shouldn't be taken literally. Take your pick!

[jomifl]

Birdie , I think your argument is irrefutable, religions just drag their feet as they plod along in the trail of progress. What else can they do?

[birdie1971]

It's not only the specific pronouncements of Jesus that are ignored either. The causal observer today with little historical knowledge would most like be under the impression that the Church supported modern values such as the abolition of capital punishment, penal reform, democracy and human rights when in fact it opposed all of these things. For example, the American Civil War has now become a war in which Christianity vanquished a number of un-Christian practices like slavery and established good, old fashioned traditional Christian values like liberty, equality and democracy. The truth is precisely the opposite since it was the South that was supporting the traditional Christian practice of slavery and the North pursuing the secular principles of the founders of the Constitution.

Recent history is routinely amended to put the Church on what is now regarded as the right side. No school child learns today that the Christian Church consistently supported slavery and torture, corporal and capital punishment and mass killings or that it opposed almost all social reform. One can also visit cities such as Rome, Madrid, Avignon and Toledo and enjoy lovely guided tours of religious building without ever hearing the least hint that they housed ecclesiastical torture chambers. It was in these chambers that individuals were subjected to the most horrific tortures imaginable by people who considered themselves and who were considered by others to be good, upstanding, pious members of the Church.

[FredPuli43]

We might distinguish between directions given to his disciples qua disciples, and those intended for the rest of us. His disciples may have been enjoined to give up their worldly goods, and their jobs, and not to work ("Consider the lilies in the field...") but that was not to apply to us all (How could it? Who would get the crops in?) But we were not to value wordly wealth above helping others or above more spiritual things.

[goodlife]

Did I not explain, that there is a very big difference between what true Christian believe and what is taught and practiced by the churches.


You know that there are many different groups that claim to be Christian,
That is, they say they follow Christ and the teachings of the Bible. Yet, when you examine their beliefs, what do you find that many of their teachings differ from the teachings of Christ.

Did not Jesus say concerning his true followers: They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:16)

True worshipers today must be like Jesus, keeping separate from the world. Yet many clergymen, with all the support of their church, share in political movements or in supporting political rebellions and demonstrations.

Yet with what result, what standing do they have with God? The Bible answers: Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God.” (Jas. 4:4) So is very simple

[vulcan42]

goodlife, that is not simple at all. Why would God want people (his creation) who love the world (his creation) to be his enemy?

[jomifl]

GL, The teachings of jesus say that you should not lie....

[chrisgel]

No Goodlife you have not explained. You have merely stated that you are a "true" christian and you have offered no proof or evidence to substantiate this claim.
You come across as an arrogant braggart with no humility to be honest, so if that is your definition of a true christian then I guess you are.
Meanwhile, further to Birdies post I offer the following.

Matthew 6:34
"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

I defy you Goodlife to name me one christian leader who follows this precept.
and while you're about it please explain

Romans 13:2
Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Does this mean that god appointed Saddam Hussein, Pol Pot, Hitler etc. and that we were wrong in opposing them?

[Peter Pedant]

and as for washing peoples feet and drying them with their hair.....

nailing yourself to a cross

cutting off people's ears and welding the ear back - ( resheathing one's sword as in 'put it back' seems a bit tame in comparison

yeah I agree oh and turning watere into wine - drinking it and turning it back into water again ! OK the last bit is easy ....

yeah - why dont we ?

[Peter Pedant]

.

Yeah - this is a back-to-the early church movement

I mean people try it periodically .... along with wrestling with snakes and speaking in tongues....

[Peter Pedant]

.
Isn't it far more true and honest to admit that secular thinking has shaped the societies of today far more than Christianity has and it is, in fact, Christianity that has adapted its teachings to conform to secular norms often at the expense of rejecting Jesus' teachings?

um - wasnt that the point
in that he tailored his approach to Jewish society, and took into account things like ROman occupation and the Pharisees ?

and the bit Council mentioned in Acts where the early christians decided whether or not they are bound by Mosiac Law ? ( AD 60 or thereabouts)

[mrs_overall]

I wonder how the authorities would deal with all the cases of "an eye for an eye"

[razza]

The bible.biggest selling book of fiction ever.

[Graham-W]

There seems to be some confusion here.
Is it an eye for an eye, or should I turn the other cheek?
It's a good job the Bible is so consistent sarcasm mode off .

[goodlife]

chrisgel //Meanwhile, further to Birdies post I offer the following//

Then the disciples came up and said to him: Do you know that the Pharisees stumbled at hearing what you said?” 13 In reply he said: “Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted. 14 let them be. Blind guides is what they are. If, then, a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit. Matt 12:12-14

So it the same to you poor lot.

[Kromovaracun]

The simple fact - which is overlooked by many Christians - is that the ethics of Jesus really don't make very much sense if you don't share his assumption that the world is coming to an end very soon.

"Do not resist evil", "love your enemies", "give away all your possessions" are not beliefs which are terribly prudent if you ignore the belief that God is coming very soon.


And even aside from this, I think the idea that we should all just accept the idea that somebody was brutally tortured and killed for our sake is not anything like as moral as people make it out to be. Whether I'm willing to let someone be tortured to death for my "sins" is a choice for me to make - which in Christian morals I don't have. It's taken as a fact and I'm just supposed to be happy with it.

[chrisgel]

Goodlife - //So it the same to you poor lot.//

Does your god not have anything to say on the subject of arrogance and pride.