Essential Goal of Christianity???

Dedicated Mind · #1 11-24-2013, 06:16 AM

The essential goal of christianity is the evolution of consciousness until it fully expresses the love nature of Christ.

righteousness/virtue/good works flow naturally from a nature of love

agree? disagree? comments? criticisms? how does mainstream or conservative christianity measure up to this standard? Is there a different standard?

Amanah · #2 11-24-2013, 06:30 AM

Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.

He came to restore fallen humanity to a relationship with himself.

that restoration included being born again of the water and spirit

being transformed by the renewing our of minds:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12)

It also means producing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives:

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
(Galatians 5)

Dedicated Mind · #3 11-24-2013, 06:50 AM

I don't disagree with your comment amanah, but I am talking about "essence". If you pursue and develop a nature of love, you will fulfill all that you have posted.

Dedicated Mind · #4 11-24-2013, 06:52 AM

historical/conservative christianity has attempted to achieve righteousness by means of human will and effort instead of pursuing the spirit of love and allowing righteousness to flow from the spirit of love.

phareztamar · #5 11-24-2013, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

historical/conservative christianity has attempted to achieve righteousness by means of human will and effort instead of pursuing the spirit of love and allowing righteousness to flow from the spirit of love.

Esaias · #6 11-25-2013, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

historical/conservative christianity has attempted to achieve righteousness by means of human will and effort instead of pursuing the spirit of love and allowing righteousness to flow from the spirit of love.

Pursuing the spirit of love and allowing righteousness to flow from the spirit of love is an act of 'human will and effort'.

God's 'goal' is to have a people who express his nature and character for eternity. Man messed up, so therefore God redeems man, transforms him by his power. The transformation is not yet complete (and will not be complete until Judgement Day. And the transformation of man is itself only the beginning of God's purposes for mankind.

God is not interested in any 'evolution of man's consciousness' or any such thing. There is no evolution about it. There is transformation. It is abrupt and sudden - conversion is an abrupt, sudden, 'crisis experience'. Regeneration is an abrupt, sudden 'crisis experience'. Resurrection will most definitely be an 'abrupt, sudden, crisis experience'. And Judgement Day will without question be an abrupt, sudden, crisis experience for all mankind.

Dedicated Mind · #7 11-25-2013, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esaias

Pursuing the spirit of love and allowing righteousness to flow from the spirit of love is an act of 'human will and effort'.

God's 'goal' is to have a people who express his nature and character for eternity. Man messed up, so therefore God redeems man, transforms him by his power. The transformation is not yet complete (and will not be complete until Judgement Day. And the transformation of man is itself only the beginning of God's purposes for mankind.

God is not interested in any 'evolution of man's consciousness' or any such thing. There is no evolution about it. There is transformation. It is abrupt and sudden - conversion is an abrupt, sudden, 'crisis experience'. Regeneration is an abrupt, sudden 'crisis experience'. Resurrection will most definitely be an 'abrupt, sudden, crisis experience'. And Judgement Day will without question be an abrupt, sudden, crisis experience for all mankind.

pursuing and allowing can also be construed as the work of god if he is the initiator and motivator. your second paragraph is utter nonsense. paul talks about being babes in christ, growing to the fulness and stature of christ, renewing the mind etc all of these imply a growth in awareness, knowledge, wisdom or evolution of consciousness.

Esaias · #8 11-25-2013, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

. your second paragraph is utter nonsense. paul talks about being babes in christ, growing to the fulness and stature of christ, renewing the mind etc all of these imply a growth in awareness, knowledge, wisdom or evolution of consciousness.

So, all humans 'evolve' from child to adult?

Talk about 'utter nonsense'. GROWTH and 'evolution' are not the same thing.

But anyway, I leave you to your 'jibberish'.

Dedicated Mind · #9 11-25-2013, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Man by his wisdom did not know God. Nor does man by his wisdom know what love actually is. Thus the need for Revelation, ie the Word, and the public display of the Word in action in the life of Jesus Christ.

i am not denying the importance of the bible, but man's wisdom did play a role in the writing of the bible. inspired word of god is not the same as dictated word of god. so we are relying in part on man's definition of love when we read the bible with the aid of god. but the essence of love which is selfless giving, is not unique to christianity. there is the yoga of love in hinduism, the path of the bodhistava in budhism. the sufi way of love in islam. a strong ethic of devotion in shinto. i have not studied all of these paths, but i would doubt that you have either, so to claim that the bible has the exclusive claim on the definition of love is a bit premature. love is a universal truth that exists with or without religious exposition.

mizpeh · #10 11-26-2013, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esaias

Pursuing the spirit of love and allowing righteousness to flow from the spirit of love is an act of 'human will and effort'.

God's 'goal' is to have a people who express his nature and character for eternity. Man messed up, so therefore God redeems man, transforms him by his power. The transformation is not yet complete (and will not be complete until Judgement Day. And the transformation of man is itself only the beginning of God's purposes for mankind.

God is not interested in any 'evolution of man's consciousness' or any such thing. There is no evolution about it. There is transformation. It is abrupt and sudden - conversion is an abrupt, sudden, 'crisis experience'. Regeneration is an abrupt, sudden 'crisis experience'. Resurrection will most definitely be an 'abrupt, sudden, crisis experience'. And Judgement Day will without question be an abrupt, sudden, crisis experience for all mankind.

Transformation seems to be a work in progress, a growing, a learning process, until we become more and more, from faith to faith, from glory to glory more like Christ.