Just my two cents...

[Diane Amberg]

I answered my answer and there is nothing more to say. Why did you move it to politics? I'm not voting for anybody.

[redcliffsw]

Billy, you're right on.  There's no reason for Christians to compromise.  

[Patriot]

Billy, you're right on.  There's no reason for Christians to compromise.  

And one good reason to never compromise...  it was commanded!

[redcliffsw]

Amen!

[Diane Amberg]

"Those who call themselves Christians?" And just what category might that be?

[Patriot]

Ok, so I am new to this category and don't want to offend anyone and don't want to get political.  But I have a question, why is it that today it seems like so many Christians have put up a wall around themselves?  I mena that when they are around other Christians they talk freely about the glory, grace, and power of God, yet when the oppurtunity presents itself for them to talk with nonbelievers they clam up? 

Again, I'm not trying to accuse anyone or "pick a fight" so please don't take it that way.  I just don't understand it.

In my experience there are two likely theologically exegetical possibilities. 

1.  Doubt on the part of the "Believer in their own beliefs" based on not having study to show thyself approved.

2.  Shame in their beliefs from not having fully accepted the finished work of Christ in their life.

I am sure there are more. 

[Patriot]

"Those who call themselves Christians?" And just what category might that be?

Space prevents a thorough and theological answer on this forum.  The best suggestion would be much like the one I am sure you have given many students who wanted to know who to spell a word.... Go look it up, read & study the Bible carefully.  There will even be those who call themselves the Christ!  I'm sure they aren't who they claim to be.  How easy is it for someone to feign the title of Christian when, in reality they are not justified by the one they claim to follow!  Why, one asks?  Perhaps to 'fit in' somewhere, or to feel good about themselves somehow.  I do know the attributes of a true Christian are clearly detailed in the New Testament.  As are the attributes of the non-believer, no matter what they call themselves, are as well.

Being a Christian, according to God, is not so much a 'title'.   It is a condition of the spirit and soul.  That condition is being saved by grace (salvation/justification) through acceptance of Christ as Lord & Savior and repentance from sin.  Then being in the process of being conformed to the image of Christ in their life by the Holy Spirit (sanctification).  A process that can be observed in the life of the Christian, but which can never be made complete in this life.

[twirldoggy]

Would you say more about  "theological exegetical"  Thanks.

[Varmit]

Patriot, those are definite possibilities.  I know that I have in the past, and to some extent still do, suffer from a bit of both of those.  I know that sometimes its hard to witness, at least for me, because the conversation leds to an area that I'm not sure of and I don't want to get it wrong.  And then again, sometimes you don't want to come across the wrong way.  Thats probably the hardest part for me, I don't have very many "sugar coating" skills.

[Patriot]

Would you say more about  "theological exegetical"  Thanks.

True, my sentence structure was weak, but here is what I meant:  A study of the subject from God's Word trying to explain without reading 'into' the Word, but rather taking meaning 'from' the Word as it was originally intended.

From Merriam Webster:

Main Entry: theo·log·i·cal
Pronunciation: \ˌthē-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\
Variant(s): also theo·log·ic \-jik\
Function: adjective
Date: 15th century

1 : of or relating to theology
2 : preparing for a religious vocation <a theological student>

— theo·log·i·cal·ly \-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb


Main Entry: the·ol·o·gy
Pronunciation: \thē-ˈä-lə-jē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural the·ol·o·gies
Etymology: Middle English theologie, from Anglo-French, from Latin theologia, from Greek, from the- + -logia -logy
Date: 14th century

1 : the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially : the study of God and of God's relation to the world


Main Entry: ex·e·get·i·cal
Pronunciation: \ˌek-sə-ˈje-ti-kəl\
Variant(s): also ex·e·get·ic \-tik\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek exēgētikos, from exēgeisthai
Date: circa 1623

: of or relating to exegesis : explanatory <an exegetical text>


Main Entry: ex·e·ge·sis
Pronunciation: \ˌek-sə-ˈjē-səs, ˈek-sə-ˌ\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural ex·e·ge·ses \-ˈjē-(ˌ)sēz\
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek exēgēsis, from exēgeisthai to explain, interpret, from