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Some of the christians that post here are like "stuck records".  They repeat certain phrases, never get off those phrases, and when asked what they mean, once more, they repeat the phrase instead of answering. One example, when I first started reading the religion forum and first saw the claim that atheists didn't want to give up worldly things, or stop "following the world", I was curious about what that meant. Since I have never known christians that didn't do basically the same things I do in life, had always done, even when I was a believer, and some that do things I'd never be caught dead doing, I wondered just what were those worldly things we "followed" or "hankered for". So I asked. Apparently it's a deep dark secret because they can't give me an example of anything that they themselves don't do, and once more, some do things I'd never do.

I asked other atheists what they'd have to give up or stop doing, how they'd have to change their life, if they suddenly "got religion", and they were like me, they couldn't think of anything. 

 

So seriously, I'd love to know what those worldly things are. Crusty, Invictus, Skippy, even Contendah, I'd like your opinion on it. And even the atheists, once more, what do you think you'd have to give up, or how would you have to change your life, if suddenly you got religion?

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I'm with you Best.  I don't understand those people either.  They are the ones that like to pound others with the Bible in self-righteous indignation, then go home to beat their children into being "Good Christians".   I'm always expecting to find them standing on the street corner calling people sinners and fornicators.

Originally Posted by dilligaff:

When you say Worldly things, I assume mean material things. Since I am a retired Machinist living on S.S. and a small Union pension I don't have that many material things thyat I can afford to do give up,(with out going on wellfare) . So I guess I will have to just pass and take my chances.

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I don't know what they mean by "worldly things" or "following the world." That's my point, they can never define them, they just repeat that atheists don't want to believe in a god because they want the "worldly life." They say that is why we don't "choose" to believe. It's not a choice, they know it isn't, but if they admit that it isn't they lose ammunition from their ar se nal of irrational arguments against atheists.

Originally Posted by Bestworking:
Originally Posted by dilligaff:

When you say Worldly things, I assume mean material things. Since I am a retired Machinist living on S.S. and a small Union pension I don't have that many material things thyat I can afford to do give up,(with out going on wellfare) . So I guess I will have to just pass and take my chances.

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I don't know what they mean by "worldly things" or "following the world." That's my point, they can never define them, they just repeat that atheists don't want to believe in a god because they want the "worldly life." They say that is why we don't "choose" to believe. It's not a choice, they know it isn't, but if they admit that it isn't they lose ammunition from their ar se nal of irrational arguments against atheists.

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 "worldly things" or "following the world." IMO would be to freely do whatever

new fads and ideas that spring up at any time from any where. And it's OK

because it's not the 19th or 20th century any longer. Go with whatever.

They believe an atheist doesn't want to answer for what is consider 

indiscretions by society to a god.

The truth is, believers aren't giving up worldly things at any faster rate

than anyone else. Everybody and everybody knows following the world

can get you in a heap of trouble if you don't use common sense

about it. Both sides can get nasty about it, if they can't just drop it.

So drop it. You can always talk about condom prescriptions.   

 

They believe an atheist doesn't want to answer for what is consider 

indiscretions by society to a god.

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We're not responsible for society's indiscretions and have nothing to "answer for". Christians are still the majority, as they love to point out, they're the ones that have been large and in charge for all these years.  Thank goodness I don't follow trends or fads or I might be wearing those ugly lowcut jeans that make a girl's/woman's hips and rear end look as wide as a barge.

Originally Posted by Bestworking:

They believe an atheist doesn't want to answer for what is consider 

indiscretions by society to a god.

----------------------------------------------

We're not responsible for society's indiscretions and have nothing to "answer for". Christians are still the majority, as they love to point out, they're the ones that have been large and in charge for all these years.  Thank goodness I don't follow trends or fads or I might be wearing those ugly lowcut jeans that make a girl's/woman's hips and rear end look as wide as a barge.

*************

But many Believers and Atheists do follow the world, so I'm saying

how can anyone slam another.

I'll try.

 

We all live in the world, so of course we all deal with worldly things every day. Things like food, and shelter and our basic needs. Jesus told us not to worry about those things, that God would provide for us as long as we follow Him. Unfortunately, most Christians, including myself, fall short, FAR short of that. Perhaps some monks and nuns have actually sold all they own, given it to the poor, and taken up their cross to follow Jesus.

 

Then there are the "extras". Things like the new house or fancy car, the lastest electronic gadgets, the guitar collections, the posh vacations, all of the things that could be considered luxuries.

 

Just about every Christian I know, including myself, has at least one "guilty pleasure" having to do with not just worldly things, but unneccesary luxuries.

 

The only difference I can see is that Christians, if they truly love God, do feel guilty about it.

 

When I spent thousands of dollars on a custom made, one of a kind guitar, I realized that I could have spent that money helping the poor. I ALMOST backed out, but I went ahead and did it. As the time went on (it took a year to get it built), I felt more and more excited about getting it, but also more and more guilty about spending that kind of money on myself. I vowed that I would use that guitar to play at every benefit for every sick kid, abused person or animal, and every other good cause that comes along. But I know that doesn't really make up for it.

 

So I would say that the only difference between atheists and Christians when it comes to worldly things is that atheists believe they have earned and deserve any luxuries they indulge in, while a true Christian will believe that he doesn't deserve any of it.

 

I think I will be offending some of my Christian friends by this. I think I have just opened myself up to derision from the atheists too, who will say that this proves that Christianity is based on guilt and unhappiness. What I will say in my defense is this: I am not unhappy. I DO feel guilty about not deserving the things I have, but when I pray to be used as a tool in God's hands, I realize that THAT, being used by Him, while it doesn't justify my worldly posessions, it at least shows my willingness to PAY for them, in a Godly way.

 

Therenis another category of worldly things that I would like to discuss, but this is getting too long so I will stop here for now.

 

 

Best

For me I think worldly is a term thrown around too much. All my life I've heard that you can't bring the world into the church. Well what does that mean? To some (because I've asked) it means no entertainment in church, to some it means hyper emotionalism, and to some  if a church has a fellowship hall where meals are served its too "worldly" and not a real church.

 

But to attempt to answer your question I think wordly in the context of your post means the me first, materialistic get ahead system. To be a Christian (to me anyway) is to order my life in such a way that I am pleasing to God. That means God first, others second, me last. I do those things that God says do and I avoid the things God says avoid. Now do I get it right all the time? No and I will answer for that one day. I hope that helps.

 

So I would say that the only difference between atheists and Christians when it comes to worldly things is that atheists believe they have earned and deserve any luxuries they indulge in, while a true Christian will believe that he doesn't deserve any of it.


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Atheists think they have "earned" it and christians feel guilty? Good gosh. A christian will brag and show off their "stuff" at the drop of a hat. Preachers and their wives walk around with diamonds and jewels dropping off of them, churches try to outdo each other to see which one can have the biggest, showiest church. The women in the church get their hair done, their nails done, dress to the nines, strut around and look sideways to make sure old ethyl isn't looking as good or better than they are, with no guilt, but it's the atheists that think they deserve it?


I've spent money before that I felt guilty about spending, but not because I felt like I should give it away.  It was more like, should I really replace that washer before it totally dies, or wait until the last wash and take a chance on it dying in the middle of a wash cycle full of water?  Or, should I buy a new car even though the mechanic said the one I have now can't be trusted to go very far before it just dies? Do I pump money into it, patch it, or just bite the bullet and get a new one so I don't have to worry about being stranded somewhere with my kids?  Right now I'd love a new one but it's not in the cards at this time . 


Yes, we have things we do for fun and relaxation that costs money, and maybe we do feel a little bit like we deserve it because we work hard for every dime we get.  We gave almost a $1000.00 dollars to a family about five years ago because they were telling everybody their son had cancer. Turned out to be a LIE, and we, and others, and even some businesses were scammed. Now I did feel  guilty, and very stupid, about that. We took money away from our family and gave it to scam artists almost on their word alone.  But that hasn't stopped us giving money to charities or trying to help others, we're just a lot more careful now. I'm sorry, but I disagree about the guilty feeling. Feeling guilty or not feeling guilty about the things you have is not about whether or not a person is an atheist or claims to be a christian, it's about individuals.

I think some Christians see non-believers & Atheist as having no conscience.  They think we have no sense of what’s right or wrong in our conduct and/or motives.

 

Most Christians see those “worldly things” as being anything that would feel good or make them happy. Some would refer to those things as going to night clubs, dancing, sex (if you’re single) sex outside of marriage, finding a man or woman sexually attractive, drinking/gambling, (some Christians see those 2 things as a sin). The list could go on & on. Some Christians do those things anyway but keep it hid.

 

We non-believers & Atheist are seen as loving life/having fun with no conscience while most Christains are unhappy & miserable because they have to "walk the line".

Notice I said some or most Christians, not all.

Originally Posted by INVICTUS:
Originally Posted by Bestworking:

They believe an atheist doesn't want to answer for what is consider 

indiscretions by society to a god.

----------------------------------------------

We're not responsible for society's indiscretions and have nothing to "answer for". Christians are still the majority, as they love to point out, they're the ones that have been large and in charge for all these years.  Thank goodness I don't follow trends or fads or I might be wearing those ugly lowcut jeans that make a girl's/woman's hips and rear end look as wide as a barge.

*************

But many Believers and Atheists do follow the world, so I'm saying

how can anyone slam another.

--------------------------------

Well, that is what I was wondering.

I guess I'm only speaking for myself, Jen. *I* really do feel guilty about spending all that money on the new guitar. And I feel guilty about NOT sellinge everything I own, giving it to the poor, and then relying on God to provide for me. Jesus said that's what we should do, and I haven't done it. I love the Lord with all my heart, but there are times I feel that I should put my money where my mouth is.

 

And so far, I have been too weak to do so.

Originally Posted by semiannualchick:

I think some Christians see non-believers & Atheist as having no conscience.  They think we have no sense of what’s right or wrong in our conduct and/or motives.

 

Most Christians see those “worldly things” as being anything that would feel good or make them happy. Some would refer to those things as going to night clubs, dancing, sex (if you’re single) sex outside of marriage, finding a man or woman sexually attractive, drinking/gambling, (some Christians see those 2 things as a sin). The list could go on & on. Some Christians do those things anyway but keep it hid.

 

We non-believers & Atheist are seen as loving life/having fun with no conscience while most Christains are unhappy & miserable because they have to "walk the line".

Notice I said some or most Christians, not all.

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I guess as invictus said and I was trying to say, that is the rub so to speak. Not all atheists go to clubs or drink, or gamble or any of the things you mentioned. I sure don't. Those things have never appealed to me. And for every atheist that does those things, there are thousands of christians that do it too. There was one church that had so many married people "messing around" with each other that the joke was the congregation only went to church to pick up dates. I could name it but I'm sure some of you know it by it's repu tation. 

Originally Posted by O No!:

I guess I'm only speaking for myself, Jen. *I* really do feel guilty about spending all that money on the new guitar. And I feel guilty about NOT sellinge everything I own, giving it to the poor, and then relying on God to provide for me. Jesus said that's what we should do, and I haven't done it. I love the Lord with all my heart, but there are times I feel that I should put my money where my mouth is.

 

And so far, I have been too weak to do so.

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 I don't understand why anyone would think a god, a loving god that is, would want a person to neglect their family's well being, or even theirs. I'm not religious of course, but I know giving is good. I love to help people that truly need help. I feel useful and like I'm making a tiny little bit of difference in their life and giving them some hope, and a bit of happiness, AND doing what people that want to live in a civil society should do. But I would never ever do it to the point that my family had to suffer.  

Originally Posted by Bestworking:
Originally Posted by O No!:

I guess I'm only speaking for myself, Jen. *I* really do feel guilty about spending all that money on the new guitar. And I feel guilty about NOT sellinge everything I own, giving it to the poor, and then relying on God to provide for me. Jesus said that's what we should do, and I haven't done it. I love the Lord with all my heart, but there are times I feel that I should put my money where my mouth is.

 

And so far, I have been too weak to do so.

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 I don't understand why anyone would think a god, a loving god that is, would want a person to neglect their family's well being, or even theirs. I'm not religious of course, but I know giving is good. I love to help people that truly need help. I feel useful and like I'm making a tiny little bit of difference in their life and giving them some hope, and a bit of happiness, AND doing what people that want to live in a civil society should do. But I would never ever do it to the point that my family had to suffer. 

________________________________________________

I don't have any family. I am the last. But even if I DID have a family, Jesus said that we shouldn't love our families more than we love Him. That's hard for even a devout Christian to swallow, but He said it, so it's true.

 

Now, if I did have a family, I would hope that we all agreed on things like this, so if one of us decided to really give it all up for God, we would do it together. And He promises that anyone who does that will be happier than they've ever been, so I wouldn't consider it as hurting my family.

 

However, if someone I loved, like my late husband for example, did NOT want to give it all up, and I DID, I would hope I had the strength to give HIM (my husband) up rather than turn my back on my Lord.

 

I will never know because it didn't happen that way, and none of us knows how we will react to a situation like that until it comes about. All I know is, I feel that, for MYSELF, I haven't yet given the Lord His due.

 

Ah yes, the OTHER type of worldly thing. The drinking and partying and cheating. Those are not material things, but they are worldly.

 

But not all of the non-material worldly things are such clear cut sins. There are things like skipping church so one can watch the football game. Things like spending the day out fishing instead of devoting that time to God. Lots of things we do every day are "of the world", and they need not be things that are harmful to others.

 

God does not want us to live in a bubble. I'm sure He doesn't mind if we spend the day hiking in the woods and enjoying nature, or going to visist friends, or visiting museums, or anything else that doesn't harm others. But we can still do those things with God in our minds. Fishing or hiking? I simply thank Him for the beauty of nature as I'm enjoying it. Friends and museums and other interesting things? I thank Him for them as I am enjoying them.

 

I guess that anything of the world that we enjoy is OK, but we need to thank Him, and ask that He use us to do His work.

Originally Posted by O No!:
Originally Posted by Bestworking:
Originally Posted by O No!:

I guess I'm only speaking for myself, Jen. *I* really do feel guilty about spending all that money on the new guitar. And I feel guilty about NOT sellinge everything I own, giving it to the poor, and then relying on God to provide for me. Jesus said that's what we should do, and I haven't done it. I love the Lord with all my heart, but there are times I feel that I should put my money where my mouth is.

 

And so far, I have been too weak to do so.

--------------------------------------------

 I don't understand why anyone would think a god, a loving god that is, would want a person to neglect their family's well being, or even theirs. I'm not religious of course, but I know giving is good. I love to help people that truly need help. I feel useful and like I'm making a tiny little bit of difference in their life and giving them some hope, and a bit of happiness, AND doing what people that want to live in a civil society should do. But I would never ever do it to the point that my family had to suffer. 

________________________________________________

I don't have any family. I am the last. But even if I DID have a family, Jesus said that we shouldn't love our families more than we love Him. That's hard for even a devout Christian to swallow, but He said it, so it's true.

 

Now, if I did have a family, I would hope that we all agreed on things like this, so if one of us decided to really give it all up for God, we would do it together. And He promises that anyone who does that will be happier than they've ever been, so I wouldn't consider it as hurting my family.

 

However, if someone I loved, like my late husband for example, did NOT want to give it all up, and I DID, I would hope I had the strength to give HIM (my husband) up rather than turn my back on my Lord.

 

I will never know because it didn't happen that way, and none of us knows how we will react to a situation like that until it comes about. All I know is, I feel that, for MYSELF, I haven't yet given the Lord His due.

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ONo, I may be reading you wrong, but Jesus doesn't expect you to

give it all up. He expects you to lead a sensable life. He told the

Apostles and some other follows you will need to give up the world as

you know and live in today. Meaning it's going to be a hard roll to hoe.

Or it's going to be a hard way of life. You must stay focused.

 You can't give up all you have and still live. Jesus doesn't expect

you to kill yourself.

I'm not talking about killing myself by giving everything up, and I'm certainly not guilt-ridden to the point of needing a shrink. What I'm saying is, it is there in the Bible for all to see that we need to follow Him, and if we are to follow Him, we need to give up the things of this world. Of course I'm not going to starve myself (well, I'm already starving myself because of the food allergies, but that's another story). I'm just saying that when I look inside and am hinest with myself, I know I am not doing everything I could or should be doing in order to truly follow Him.

 

Do I lose sleep over it? Well, sometimes, but not in a bad way. Sometimes I try to think of ways I could improve my life and my relationship with the Lord.

 

You see, I feel that for some reason, He has singled me out for more blessings than I deserve. I was born into the world's best family. I was given all the tools a person needs to be "successful" in life. I have been given the greatest gifts - music and nature and such good good friends. Until the food allergies reared their ugly heads, I have never gone to bed hungry in my life.I have always had a roof over my head.

 

In short, my life has been wonderful and downright fun. It just doesn't seem fair that I should get all these great things when there are better people than I will EVER be who have suffered and done without even the basics.

 

I just want to give back.

O No are you referring to where Jesus said, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me"?

 

Being a good person is about how people live their every day lives & how they treat other people. I don't understand how anyone could think that having money & materialistic things have to corrupt a person's lifestyle.

 

If my husband came to me & said God had told him to sell everything he owned, give it all to the poor, leave me & his family to "take up the cross", I would seriously probably tell him to have at it, but my home & food would stay with me. It's hard for me to believe that God would ask him to walk away from his family, leave us w/o food & a roof over our head & give it all to the poor, but then there's alot of things that God asked of people that I don't agree with or understand. 

 

If you really feel guilty about not sellinge everything you own, giving it to the poor, & then relying on God to provide for you, why have you not done that? I don't understand why anyone would but you did say you feel guilty for not doing that. Do you really feel that He's asking you to do that & you feel the guilt because you haven't?

 

Yes, Semi, I do feel guilty for not doing all of this. I'm certainly not saying anyone else, Christian or otherwise, should feel guilty, but I feel I am being called to do this. I need to answer that call. I know better than to make a decision about such a weighty matter on my own, but when I ask God to make me a tool in His hands every day, I also ask Him to run my life. If this is the direction He wants me to go in, I am going to have to go.

 

I don't know what it will entail. Maybe He will send me to Haiti or some other poor country. Maybe He will send me to the inner city. I don't know, but I do know that I am not doing enough for Him, and something has got to change.

Originally Posted by semiannualchick:
Originally Posted by O No!:

Ah yes, the OTHER type of worldly thing. The drinking and partying and cheating. Those are not material things, but they are worldly.

 

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My bad...........I didn't realize Jenn was talking about material things. Everyone just ignore my post. 

==============================

I wasn't talking about material things per se, I was just wondering what all those "worldly things" and "following the world" meant, when, like i said, I don't live any differently than a lot of so called christians, and I certainly live a better life than some. 

Originally Posted by O No!:

 

I don't know what it will entail. Maybe He will send me to Haiti or some other poor country. Maybe He will send me to the inner city. I don't know, but I do know that I am not doing enough for Him, and something has got to change.

_________________________________

But if you sell everything you own, & give it to the poor, that would also include clothes (except what you have on your back) shoes, & even your money. When you give your money to the poor, how will you get to Haiti or wherever it is you go? Where will you stay/sleep until you know where to go?

I'm completely confused.

I don't KNOW where He will send me or how I will get there. All I know for sure is that if I really put my life in His hands instead of just paying Him lip service, He will provide for me and get me to wherever it is He wants me to be.

 

Why not in this country? It may be that I DO stay in this country, but not necessarily. God does not recognize national borders. He loves His children all over the world.

There are many uses for the term "World" in Scriptures.  One, of course, is relating to this planet that we all dwell upon.  The only real way to achieve getting a precise definition of what the person means by the term "worldly" is to ask the person who uses the word, with relation to you, as to what they mean.  Often a Christian will use the words Worldly and "of the Flesh" interchangeably.  

 

One simple connotation of the use of the term worldly is to say it is the opposite of being Spiritual.  Having our mind on earthly things therefore would be the opposite of having our mind on Spiritual things.  Another comparison of this same usage would be to contrast thinking on things of this world, this physical life, that will pass away verses things of the Spirit, Spiritual things, things that are future to a person's after death, after physical life existence.  It's contrasting things of the here and now verses the future post death, spiritual life things.

 

One scripture that specifically addresses the term world and worldly in a fleshly or sinful sense is the following:

1 John 2:15-17 (NLT)
{15} Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.
{16} For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
{17} And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Worldly things often are just mentioned as opposite of Godly or Spiritual things and go without definition.  Again you should directly ask the individual what they are meaning when they refer to worldly things.

 

 

 

 

 

Originally Posted by gbrk:

1 John 2:15-17 (NLT)
{15} Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.
{16} For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
{17} And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

____________________________         

Hi gbrk!!

 

According to those scriptures, there will be very few, if any, people that make it to Heaven. How can you live in the world & not love the things it offers? That could cover a bunch of things, there are good & beautiful things in this world, & not all bad.

 

Same for physical pleasures. What about the craving to see someone you haven't seen for awhile? Or a hug from your child/grandchild that you haven’t seen in awhile & the pleasure received from that hug? What about the physical pleasure a wife/husband receive from each other? Does a man/woman not crave that pleasure? I do & I’m sure others do too. Craving physical pleasure covers a lot of things & not all bad.

 

What is so bad about pride in our achievements and possessions? A person is not to take pride in an award, a diploma, a raise for a job well done? What about a man/woman that takes pride in the home he/she provided for their family? What about being proud of a new car? The list of both is endless.

 

You or anyone can say it’s only certain things those scriptures are referring to. It doesn’t say certain things, sounds to me like it’s referring to anything. Everything I named is in this world that we live in.

Originally Posted by gbrk:

 

1 John 2:15-17 (NLT) {15} Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. {16} For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. {17} And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

 

*************************************************************

We know that John was talking the extremes concerning physical and

material pleasures of the world. It takes to envy, pride and other sins

if a person isn't careful.

To take 1 John 2: 15-17 a little further, 2: 18-20



 

 [18] Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that Antichrist cometh, even now there are become many Antichrists: whereby we know that it is the last hour. [19] They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us; but that they may be manifest, that they are not all of us. [20] But you have the unction from the Holy One, and know all things.

 

          -----------------------

 

[18] It is the last hour: That is, it is the last age of the world. Many Antichrists, that is, many heretics, enemies of Christ and his church, and forerunners of the great Antichrist.

 

[19] They were not of us: That is, they were not solid, steadfast, genuine Christians: otherwise they would have remained in the church.

 

[20] The unction from the Holy One: That is, grace and wisdom from the Holy Ghost.

 

[20] Know all things: The true children of God's church, remaining in unity, under the guidance of their lawful pastors, partake of the grace of the Holy Ghost, promised to the church and her pastors; and have in the church all necessary knowledge and instruction; so as to have no need to seek it elsewhere, since it can be only found in that society of which they are members.

 

 

 

 

 

I notice one of the ones with the biggest "mouth" when it comes to telling atheists they "follow the world and worldly things" is oddly quiet. Nothing new there. As I said in the beginning, the ones accusing atheists of that can never say exactly what atheists are chasing that they don't chase, but they still drag out that little ditty to argue with us.  I want to ask again-Is exaggeration a sin? Is lying/making up stories a sin? Why do some christians think it's OK to lie to non-believers? Anyone?

Originally Posted by Bestworking:

I notice one of the ones with the biggest "mouth" when it comes to telling atheists they "follow the world and worldly things" is oddly quiet. Nothing new there. As I said in the beginning, the ones accusing atheists of that can never say exactly what atheists are chasing that they don't chase, but they still drag out that little ditty to argue with us.  I want to ask again-Is exaggeration a sin? Is lying/making up stories a sin? Why do some christians think it's OK to lie to non-believers? Anyone?

************************

Because some faux christians believe it's OK to lie if makes their story

more believable, I personally have been told that by a faux christian.

Originally Posted by semiannualchick:

As I said, there will be very few, if any, people that make it to Heaven. That's just how I see those scriptures.  

I truly feel that the scriptures, regarding worldly things, that I posted simply presents two end goals or primary focus points of life.  First is things that are Physical/Earthly/Fleshly whereas the other are Spiritual with the importance placed upon our Spiritual relationship with God.  It's simply saying that we should consider what things are more important in life.  I do not see this as a requirement to either life a very victorian type life where all physical pleasures are avoided or where we do not enjoy life or worry about the amount of sins in our life verses good determining our soul's outcome.  It's not saying to avoid the world.  What I believe it's saying is an encouragement to keep your/our focus on God rather than our focus on the world's benefits.  

 

It is saying that eventually in the end our destination will be a Spiritual one rather than a Worldly one so to keep our minds and our focus on God's Will and desire for our life.  It's not a ruler or standard as to who will enter heaven or who will miss out.  The Scriptures do, in other places, indicate that numerically speaking there will be a minority of people who will find salvation and will accept God's gift but this verse and passage is, I don't believe, indicating that.

 

My purpose for citing the passage was to attempt to answer Best question as to what a Christian might consider worldly things to be and not trying to set a benchmark for who will and who will not make it.  That is known only to God.  My attempt, again was only to attempt to define what a Christian might be thinking about when mentioning the term "worldly".

 

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