It doesn't imply that Christians help people only to get into heaven. It doesn't even imply that Christians help people out of any selfish intent.
I guess this quote seems pretty straightforward to me.
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Is Christianity honourable?.. The part about joining the religion (accepting Jesus Christ as your personal saviour or otherwise) in order to gain salvation... no.
why does one need to declare oneself to be "Christian", or as is more popular "accept Jesus Christ as your personal saviour" in order to receive the gift of salvation?
Because salvation comes from apart from ourselves. If we could offer ourselves salvation, we would do it. The premise of the gospels is that we have not, because we ask not.
Why must one reach out and ask for this gift in order to receive it?
Because of your freewill.
My point is that it's more honourable to receive a gift when you don't ask for it, when you don't do anything special for it, when you don't try to identify yourself.
It sounds as if you are equivocating doing nice things with achieving salvation. But the Scriptures indicate that even the lowest of the low, like the thief on the cross, can gain salvation without ever having to work for it.
Besides which, we don't work for our salvation, we work out our salvation.
why must one become a Christian? Why must one proclaim belief in God or Jesus? What's wrong with focusing on bettering your heart and motives without the extraneous identification of being "with Christ"? Why not just do those things with no assurance, or even a request of getting something back?
Some say that by doing these things, you begin to learn who God is a much more powerful and meaningful way than someone who spends all their time in the Bible, and no time out there living its dictates.
I believe that people can know God through nature and whatnot. Knowing the Word, in my opinion, just makes it fuller.
I thought the point of Christianity was that God will forgive us all and give us all salvation... all we have to do is ask for it. Am I wrong?
That's true, so long as there is sincerity.
My point is... I find it personally dishonourable to ask for such a magnificent gift. I feel that if God is giving these gifts out, He can give them to whoever he'd like. If I'm one he'd like to give it to, then great. If not, I'm sorry I wasn't good enough. Am I doomed to hell because of the way I am?
God knows who you are and all intricate details you don't even know about yourself. Since God is the very measure of righteousness, the very epitome of goodness, I dare say that your fate will all be dependent upon you, and not Him. My understanding is that if we will metaphorically crucify the self, we will begin to see God in profound ways.
Or is it that you feel like one's pride is being challenged, as if you have to debase yourself in order to be saved? Like you are begging for your life? Is that what you mean?
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That is Islam in a nutshell, not Christianity
Poor form, bringing up an arguement that doesn't exist and finishing with slamming another religion.
I only meant to illustrate that Islam desires compulsory works to get you to Paradise. I'm not slamming it, I'm describing it. But your point is well taken, nonetheless.
“There is something which unites magic and applied science while separating both from the 'wisdom' of earlier ages. For the wise men of old the cardinal problem had been how to conform the soul to objective reality, and the solution had been knowledge, self-discipline, and virtue. For magic and applied science alike the problem is how to subdue reality to the wishes of men: the solution is a technique; and both, in the practice of this technique, are ready to do things hitherto regarded as disgusting and impious" -C.S. Lewis
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