When I was a Christian, the OT was very important to me. Jesus quoted and read from it, and so, I figured, good enough for Jesus, good enough for me. I don't think I would have like the comparison to Lot's wife, and find it is not a valid comparison. Think of it this
way. S & G had been judged, and were going to be wiped from the face of the earth. Nothing there of value. It was all going up in smoke. That is not true of the law. So it is a bad comparison. Jesus even said he did not come to take away the law but to fulfill it.
The bible was never important to me to believe in God. Other things were: love, the sense of Him, prayers being heard, etc.
I never even read the bible until I studied with jws, about four? years ago now.
Even then, the OT was not very important to me. I liked some things in it, a lot, like the psalms and Isaiah. But nothing was/is more important than Christ - his teachings/his words... because He is the truth.
When you fulfill something... is it not done?
The work is done; it has been completed. Even Christ said... 'it is done'.
I see. So you beieve that it is your job (and right) to define Christian, and other definitions are not valid, and that means, in a sense, it is you who decides fits your definition of Christian, and the other are not really Christians? I find that problematic. I don't think it's up to you to say such a thing. Think about it. When I was a JW, I was a Christian. Now, you likely will not agree, because you have decided the definition, but your definition is no more valid than mine. Right?
And what makes you think that you can define christian and have it be valid? Where does your definition come from?
Even Christ said that there would be those who thought they belonged to Him, but whom He never knew.
When you were a jw, did you pass Christ by every year at the memorial? If so, is it not the organization that you belonged to, and not Christ?
Regardless, Christ said that there would be those who thought they belonged to Him, doing miracles and driving out demons in His name... but to whom He would say, "Away from me, you evil doers... I never knew you."
But I would, indeed, need to trust you. You say the bible is not the best place to go for answers, but I should trust you that going direct is the best place. The bible says otherwise. Therefore, I would have to trust what you say in order to find the right approach.
When you speak, NC, do you expect people to trust you? Or do you hope that they might see another perspective, perhaps consider and then investigate that for themselves?
That is what you have been preaching, whether you see it or not. You have decided that some who consider themselves Christians, really are not. And where does one go to find that information? You. And then you direct them to Christ? Because they are not really
Christians? You don't see it. That's okay. They are saying the same thing about you
There is nothing in anything that I have stated that says people come to me to find out who are christians or not. I cannot make that judgment... I do not know. That is for Christ, not me. Certainly i am not saying that someone who uses a different approach to come to Christ, than what i do, cannot be a christian.
I can see sometimes if someone is following Christ or not though. "By their fruits you will recognize them"
But yes, of course many are saying about me that I am not a christian. They say it directly to me, and much worse than just that. I don't say that about them - I merely state that not all who claim to be ARE, as Christ also said. But why should it matter to me what another says or thinks about me? It matters only what Christ says about me. I can only do my best to follow and witness to Him. All the rest is up to Him.
Peace,
tammy
