Pitiful Sayings

     People ridicule those who quote scripture, and those who find church a must. There is some laziness and jealousy on the part of those who criticize the most. For the record, I am poor at quoting scripture but admire those who can. It takes effort, much effort, to memorize and remember. Going to church is not necessary for salvation, but is church attendance not a characteristic of Christians? What is the purpose of Church? To commune corporately with God. He pleasures when people gather together to worship Him (Mat 8:20). Church is to please God, not us. He doesn't even want people there who don't want to be there.
     Is it important to know scripture? Sure it is. Scripture is lessons in living so as to live eternally. If people believe in God, why would they not want to commune with Him. After all, He is God! People flock to concerts and theatres to see their latest entertainment idol. Why would they not want to flock to hear about the person who created everything? Hint: perhaps they don't really believe that! Perhaps they merely want insurance in case there is a Hell!
     A person doesn't have to be a theologian to be a Christian, albeit Christians should want to know about God. That's all theology is; learning the precepts (doctrine) of Christ. I am a self-taught theologian; maybe not even in the top one-million, but I want to know and teach others about God. Why waste my time? Because people are destined for Hell, and I must stop some of them. That's our jobs; we are royal priests (1 Pet 2:9). As such, my time is God's time. Think not? Challenge God and see how long you live. Theology is nothing more than attempting to understand who created you, why, and that you can be re-created. Are not those things important? Surely, but maybe not as important to you as the next concert or movie.
     I'm a Christian but I believe in evolution. That's not what I say but many people believe that way. You may be a Christian only because you don't want to go to Hell. That's a starting point, but God must be lifted up as you diminish yourselves. Denying God as Creator minimizes God; no it is the perception that He is not God! God's create. That's why they are gods. If truly a god, it only takes one to be God. The very idea of polytheism is oxymoronic; if God, then there need be only one.
     The Creation was the generation of the heaven, earth, and life on Earth. Born again is regeneration. Christians expect God to regenerate to save them from Hell, but do not credit Him for generating them in the first place. How could God do a re-genesis if He did not do the genesis?
     Before anyone can truly believe that God saves, they must believe that God gave life in the beginning. Salvation is creating a new incorruptible person. Creation was creating the original incorruptible person. But you say, Adam was corrupted! Yes he was, but he chose corruption, but by grace God corrected Adam's error. Sorrow and repentance restores to the original condition; not just as at birth, but back to the beginning of time. Regeneration returns those who repent back to the "very good" things in the Garden.
     Christians should never try to justify their laxity in Christian life by defending spiritual laziness. When they post silly things on social media, it makes them seem as poor examples of Christians; rationalizing their lack of performance to Christian standards.
     Christians have defended movies; There was just one F-word, as they condemn the preacher for merely expressing God's will: Why does he preach about sin and Hell so often? Salvation is from sin and Hell; that's why!
     The silliest remark that I've heard is, Before God will forgive you, you must forgive yourself. That is exactly wrong doctrine. The only part of salvation that people have is contrition and repentance. Roman Catholic priests have the perception that they can forgive sins. They cannot, and you cannot. If those who think such silly things knew scripture better, perhaps God's children would not say the silliest things! Know God? They don't even know scripture!
     So often I hear this about a theological idea: I think such and such. That's okay if there is a scriptural reason for thing that way. Most people's thoughts are based on nothing more than what pops into their heads. People have profound thoughts about the Doctrine of God without even knowing or studying that doctrine. They have their own person religion; "The Gospel According to Mable, Henry, and Butthead."
     Theology is important - it teaches how to live forever, but most would rather read about how to be entertained for the duration of life. Study scripture, and become an amateur theologian, and then you will know the truth.