The teaching emphasizes that Jesus's sacrifice on the cross fulfilled God's justice for the sins of the world, eliminating the need for believers to fear judgment. Additionally, it clarifies that Christian anarchy is a concept where Christ is the sole ruler, diverging from secular anarchy by rejecting any intermediary religious figures between the believer and Christ, underscoring a personalized faith allegiance.
Examining biblical and LDS interpretations, Shawn discusses the role of Satan as a biblical character, highlighting his transition from a tester of faith to an adversary due to pride, while Christ's crucifixion ends the law and accusation status of Satan. The LDS perspective on Adam and Eve reframes the Fall as a necessary step toward freedom and choice, contrasting with traditional Christian views that emphasize reliance on God; this leads to broader insights into human nature and belief systems.
Understanding the historical foundation reveals a significant contrast between Christianity and Mormonism, emphasizing the former’s deeper historical grounding. In addition, future sessions will explore thought-provoking topics such as the nature of hell, questioning whether it is eternal and literal, promising engaging discussions in upcoming meetings.
Catch Up on More Comments [CAT-116]
Welcome to Christianarchy Today with Steve, Ethan, and Sean. Right now, we're going to do a comment show and read the comments that all you wonderful people leave under our videos.
Comment Review
Jesus Paid for Our Sins
Ethan starts with a comment from Sarah Leanne Young under the video "What Rules Do Christians Live By?". She asks, "Did Jesus pay for the sins of the world?" Yes, and there's even a bumper sticker around here that says, "Jesus paid your tithing on the cross." We love that. Forget that old Old Testament thing.
Open Conversations
On the same video, a user named Seek Find commented, "Amazing guys, love these open conversations, love at work." Very good, love at work. Thank you.
Pride vs. Confidence
Robby Carrier (not Carter, don’t worry about the dyslexia) commented related to the video "Define Evil," saying, "Any action that is rooted in human pride is evil." I think he’s probably right because pride implies you’re above everything else, making you number one. It's the word "any" that bothers me.
Discussion on Pride
What if you're on a mountainside, a child has fallen off a cliff and is on a ledge, and you say, "I can get up there and get that kid and save them. I know I can do it." Someone else says, "Well, I can do it too," and you respond, "No, you can't do it like me. I can do it because I've done it so many times before." Is that human pride?
That sounds like confidence, but pride and confidence aren't necessarily the same. Pride might be unearned, unjustified confidence. I see pride as excluding God from the picture—saying, "I don't need God to do this."
Debate Skills
Somebody in the comments, help us figure out the difference between pride and confidence. For example, I'm confident in my debate skills, but am I proud of them? Would I say God gave them to me? If yes, then why am I proud?
Defining God
MagicMan 21 commented on the "Define Evil" episode, saying, "I believe God is life, love, and goodness." We agree with that. On an unnamed show, someone named Awakened for Jesus commented, "Yes, and He is also justice." It’s interesting how people define God differently.
Old Testament God
A viewer posed an intriguing question: "Do you guys think the Old Testament God is the devil in disguise?" They referenced a verse that said David's God dwells in the thick darkness, while Jesus says the Father dwells in light and is also light. They also mentioned angels brought the law, questioning if the wrath of God is really the devil's doing.
Thank you for all your insightful comments. Keep them coming as we continue to explore these topics.
Understanding God's Justice
Every Christian who believes in God often discusses God's ability to punish while simultaneously being just. A recurring question is: when was God’s justice fulfilled for the sins of the world? The answer is clear—when Jesus died on the cross. That's when justice was met, and this idea significantly impacts our understanding of justice and punishment in light of Jesus's sacrifice. Jesus paid for all our sins, so believers need not fear standing in line at the gates, awaiting judgment.
The Concept of Christian Anarchy
In a recent discussion, a comment sparked intrigue by claiming that anarchy is anti-Christian. However, this statement is a misunderstanding of what Christian anarchySomeone who follows Christ as their only authority—rejecting institutional control over their spiritual life. truly represents. 'Anarchy' in this context derives from the Greek word 'ark?', meaning 'without any superior ruler' aside from Christ. In Christian anarchy, Christ is the primary source of allegiance, reliance, and trust—there are no intermediaries such as a pope or priests. Thus, Christian anarchy means having no rulers above oneself other than Christ, which some argue is one of the most Christian affirmations possible.
Misunderstandings and Clarifications
During a topic debate at an inquisition, a humorous incident highlighted misunderstandings about Christian anarchism. When someone interjected during a session, it led to a quip about Christian anarchy. However, it's crucial to differentiate between secular anarchism and Christian anarchy. The latter relates exclusively to the lack of intermediary religious figures between a believer and Christ.
The Deceptive Nature of the Devil
In another discussion, the notion that the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist was raised. This aligns with Charles Baudelaire's quote and expands with another thought: suggesting that the second great trick was convincing the world he is the good guy. While these ideas were discussed, this isn’t something we claimed; rather, it represents a broader philosophical debate on perception and deception by malevolent forces.
Understanding the Role of Satan: Biblical Perspectives
In this discussion, we delve into the various interpretations of Satan's role and significance according to biblical scripture. This analysis examines the transformation of Satan's character and how it aligns with or contradicts certain biblical teachings.
Misunderstanding Darkness and the Devil
Critics often conflate the concepts of darkness and the devil. It's crucial to differentiate between denying darkness and denying the literal presence of the devil as a biblical character. The devil, understood as a person, was effectively done away with through Christ's crucifixion, signaling the end of the law that necessitated his role as an accuser.
The Role of the Law and Accusation
The law, metaphorically speaking, creates a necessity for an accuser. For instance, if a law prohibits wearing hats, anyone breaking it requires an accuser to uphold the law. This role was fulfilled by Satan, acting as the accuser within the framework of the law. However, through Christ's sacrifice, both the law and this accuser role were abolished.
The Biblical Origin and Fall of Satan
Some interpretations suggest that Satan was originally God's loyal servant, tasked with testing the loyalty of God’s followers, as seen in the story of the garden of Eden and the book of Job. The question arises: where does Satan transition from divine servant to adversary?
Pride and the Fall: An Analysis of Ezekiel
The origin of Satan's downfall is often attributed to pride, as outlined in Ezekiel, where Satan's desire to elevate himself above all others marks his transformation into an adversary. However, there is debate over whether these attributes are accurately assigned to Satan.
Trusting God Versus Earthly Desires
In discussions about temptation, the essential question is whether individuals trust God over their desires. The narrative of Jesus facing temptation in the wilderness serves as a model for resisting earthly allurements and maintaining faith in God.
A Personal Anecdote: Humor and Understanding
It's important to approach these discussions with openness and understanding. For example, MH, despite being physically blind, provides a unique perspective that highlights individuality and humor. It's a reminder that perspectives on appearances and choices can vary greatly, adding richness to the dialogue.
In conclusion, these biblical discussions underscore the importance of understanding context and the nuances of scriptural interpretation. Whether considering the nature of Satan or the dynamics of temptation and law, these perspectives offer insight into the complexities of faith and belief.
Understanding LDS Views on Adam and Eve
Adam followed Eve. They didn't choose evil; Eden was a prison for the unaware. Eve said, "I'm out," aligning with the LDS perspective that the Fall was actually a step upward. Eve and Adam chose wrongly for a good reason: to free everyone from that prison, providing the world the freedom to choose by eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. What do you think about that? That's what they believe. Wouldn't God be evil in allowing that? Oh no, God overlooks it. He gave them two commandments: multiply and replenish the earth, but avoid the Tree of Knowledge. And He didn't tell them how to do it. So, what would you do?
The Nature of Humanity According to LDS
In their view, humans are fundamentally good. You are a child of God; that's the LDS view. It hugely differs from most Christians and changes everything, including how I think about human nature.
Bystrom supports the idea that Eve made the right choice. She noticed they were in a prison and decided to eat from the tree for knowledge. Yes, there would be suffering, but this is truly living.
The Christian Response
What is the Christian response to this LDS perspective? When God gave them two commandments to multiply and replenish the earth without eating from the Tree of Knowledge, what could Adam and Eve have done? They could have obeyed.
If they didn't know how to procreate, they could have asked God. That would have shown their reliance on Him, which is our response as Christians to this LDS myth. John is perfect because they looked to themselves for answers, which opposes everything God wants from us: to die to ourselves. This reliance on materialism is evident in the LDS faith, where they look to man instead of God.
Reflections on Talent and Belief
Let's talk about our talents relative to God. The message gets cut, but it's about how we can use our talents for God. Anyway, this discussion moves to a statement by Boomers22z, emphasizing how someone has a natural grasp on critical thinking and skepticism but hasn't applied it to Christianity. He claims it's just as silly as Mormonism when viewed objectively. I'm an atheist but still enjoy this channel for its debating skill alone.
I replied, "Glad you're watching the show" or something like that. He later commented that I'm entertaining, and I agreed. That's the takeaway here. We aren't concerned with his original sentiment—that Christianity is equal to Mormonism in fault—but with the difference. Christianity is historically grounded, for reasons we have previously discussed.
Exploring the Historical Foundations of Religion
Understanding the historical groundation for the facts of Christianity and Mormonism reveals a stark contrast. There's a huge difference right off the bat. Let's delve into this topic, discuss it thoroughly, and frame it for our next session together.
Wrapping Up the Discussion
Our Q&A session concludes here. Let's prepare to explore more in our upcoming meetings. Whose turn is it next? I'll take it; he'll take it; we'll all take it together! It's always a collaborative endeavor.
Justifying Hell: A Preview
Is Hell Eternal and Literal?
One of the most compelling questions we face is about the concept of hell. Is it eternal and literal? This question is a fantastic topic, and we look forward to diving deep into it in our next session of "Cat Out" next week. Stay tuned for what promises to be an engaging discussion!
