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Author Topic:   Salvation vs. Helping Others
Stile
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Posts: 4295
From: Ontario, Canada
Joined: 12-02-2004


Message 1 of 2 (545550)
02-04-2010 8:06 AM


This is a discussion that stems from a Coffee House discussion Message 26.
I am interested in learning what people's priorities are.
Perhaps even what you think the Bible's priorities are.
I originally stated the dilemma as "Recruitment vs. Being Good and Nice". The previous discussion with iano has helped formulate the following clarifications:
"Recruitment" - What I'm thinking of is making sure others specifically believe that they are reliant on Jesus Christ as the single necessary tool for personal salvation. Identification of "Jesus Christ" is mandatory.
"Being Good and Nice" - What I'm thinking of is helping other people. Just gernarally trying and wanting to be a good and nice person.
My preceeding discussion with iano has led to the following possibility that these two seemingly-different aspects are actually one-and-the-same, or maybe "one priority consisting of two parts" as iano puts it.
If, somehow, they are the same thing, then why isn't "being good and nice" treated in the same way as being reliant on Jesus Christ for salvation? That is, why would there exist any need to recruit anyone to Jesus Christ who is already good and nice? Unless, of course... the two are not the same priority...
The only reason recruitment is necessary for people who are already good and nice would be if being good and nice is not an equivalent priority as believing you are reliant on Jesus Christ for personal salvation.
This lead me to create a simple scenario in order to actually visualize which of the two parts is actually a bit more important:
You are in the centre of a street. You learn of two people, one in a building on the North side, the other in a building on the South side.
Person in North building - Is very adept at helping others yet does not know of any person named Jesus Christ, or anything about salvation (doesn't even know it's something he may be interested in or even exists).
-Think of the nice neighbour who just doesn't go to church or deal with religion in any way.
Person in South building - Has in-depth knowledge of Jesus Christ. Fully believes that Jesus Christ is his personal saviour and the only method for his salvation. However, he doesn't help other people.
-Think of the devout religious guy who still cuts people off in traffic and such.
Who do you go and talk to first?
I am also interested in who you may think the Biblical Jesus Christ may go and talk to first.
I only have a superficial knowledge of the Bible, I certainly haven't studied it for years or anything like that.
Questions about the bible that I think may be of help for this discussion:
1. How many different parables did Jesus tell to other people when he was attempting to teach them lessons?
2. In those parables, how many parable-characters made sure that other people were recruited into specifically believing that they are reliant on Jesus Christ as the single necessary tool for salvation.
3. How many different times did Jesus identify himself to other people as the single necessary tool for salvation?
4. When attempting to teach others, would Jesus generally do both of these things? (Provide a parable and also identify himself as the single necessary tool for salvation?) If so, which did he do first?
Personally, I think that being good and nice is far and above any belief in Jesus Christ (or any other person or charcater) as personal saviour for any necessary salvation-purposes. I also think that Jesus Christ himself thinks this (but I admit my biblical knowledge is weak).
I am only looking for information, and for discussion.
I am not looking to be personally convinced about my personal salvation... my personal convictions do not rest on any of the answers to these questions. Even if believing in Jesus Christ really is the only way for personal salvation, I still put being good and nice as a higher priority than my own salvation. Such a thing can be judged as stupid or honourable, but again, my convictions do not rest on how others judge such things.
[size=0]For "Bible Study", I think. Maybe "Faith and Belief".[/size=0]
Edited by Stile, : Hopefully adding clarity

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Message 2 of 2 (545755)
02-05-2010 7:38 AM


Thread Copied to Faith and Belief Forum
Thread copied to the Salvation vs. Helping Others thread in the Faith and Belief forum, this copy of the thread has been closed.

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