Do you believe Jesus wants us all to get along and be friends? True or False?

[ElizaPam]

I sure think so!! I think Jesus wants us all to be friends and we will be when we go to Heaven!!!

True

False

[Daniela1982]

In most cases yes, but the Bible also says not to associate with the unrepentant person. 1 Corinthians 5:11, NASB: But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is a sexually immoral person, or a greedy person, or an idolater, or is verbally abusive, or habitually drunk, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a person.

[andreasderjuengere]

''Corinthians'' are personal comments and opinions of Paul to his buddies. Jesus had not said it himself unless a relevant report had been censored away by the catholic 'authorities' at some stage in history :)

[ElizaPam]

@andreasderjuengere Exactly, I dont take the word of Paul as the word of Jesus. I feel like Paul kind of ruined Christianity for a lot of people.

[andreasderjuengere]

" the first will be last" :D

[Daniela1982]

@andreasderjuengere Don't you think God has the power to make sure what He wants written by the writers of the books of the Bible will stay in it. There is nothing God cannot do.

[collie22]

Truly

[collie22]

You've studded the bible too. I think it's amazing..

[Swollerbear]

I don't. Being a Christian isn't all about unity, fun, and rainbows. Being a Christian means keeping your faith through adversity and persecution. Just look at how every disciple was persecuted along with Jesus himself. How are you to claim your faith is strong if it's never been tested? How is your faith supposed to be tested if we're all friends and having a great time?

[Swollerbear]

Look at how Jesus fought with the Pharisees and Sadducees. How was he supposed to teach people what he did if they all got along? It was through that adversity in which the value of his lessons came.

[ElizaPam]

My faith is strong and has been tested. I was an atheist for 10 years. I left Jesus because people were mean to me for being transgender. I had to come back to Jesus personally. I still haven't went to church since coming back to Jesus because Christians are so mean to me for being transgender.

[Swollerbear]

God doesn't make mistakes. He didn't make a mistake by making you a biological man. I don't say this to be mean, but rather to point out the sin in your life. My step-cousin was transgender and even got the surgery. He found God again, realized he was not living the life that God intended for him. This is a form of idolatry. You don't get to choose your gender and be your own god.

[Swollerbear]

If you want to repent, and need some guidance. I can give you my cousins information and you two can just chat.

[ElizaPam]

I've lived as a woman since I was 14 it's the only way I know I could never be a man I'm happy and I feel like I'm being myself. I feel like God made me this way because I've always felt like this my whole life and I feel like it's ok to be transgender because I don't see why God would make me just to suffer.

[Swollerbear]

My sins are greed and lust. I have a natural predisposition to these things. I die to my flesh everyday to fight these urges and I rely on God to so. It's brought me closer to God. Just because I feel like I want to watch porn or it feels natural, doesn't mean I embrace it. Just because I have a natural tendency to chase money, doesn't mean I should give into that. Part of being a Christian is dying to these urges. You are a man by Gods design. Going against God's plan will lead to death. You'll create tragedy in your life by running away. You can't choose your gender, only God can. You are trying to be your own god. That's idolatry. None of what you're doing is scripturally sound.

[Swollerbear]

There's been moments where I "felt" like cheating on my wife. I didn't do it. I don't run off my feelings because our flesh is weak. I brace myself in scripture and with the amour of god. If I relied on myself, I would not be where I'm at today. Following scripture is always the foundation. Feelings are secondary.

[Swollerbear]

If you're picking and choosing what parts of scripture you follow based on what you like and don't like, you're living your life no different than an atheist. There are so many parts of Christianity that I don't like at times. I still follow it because I know it's the only way. You saying that Paul ruined everything is a bad approach.

[Daniela1982]

We all suffer because we are all sinners, and sometimes we suffer as a result of our own devices and vices.

[collie22]

Jesus was teaching his tough love again

[andreasderjuengere]

Your questions are TWO statements combined -

To get along... yes.

To be friends: not necessarily; although I believe to see a call for tolerance when in doubt.

[Agape93]

Nope. He certainly didn't get along with the mainstream religious leaders of the time. Dude chased them around with a whip lol

[XHopelessRomanticX]

Jesus commands us to love one another; to love our neighbors and live in peace with one another. That doesn’t necessarily equate to friendship. Scripture also tells us to “not walk in the council of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of mockers.” I believe Jesus wants us to do good for others, but also be discerning about who we ally ourselves with.

[strateguy632]

if friends means no disagreement then we cannot be friends.

[slatyb]

If Jesus really existed, he's dead now and beyond caring.

[Swollerbear]

There's really no scholar out there that denies the existence of Jesus as a person. There's too much historical evidence to say otherwise. You can question if he is the Messiah just as many did and many do today. Him as a person though? Every historian and scholar has reached a consensus of that being true.

[slatyb]

@Swollerbear I'm not denying anything, but I remain skeptical. It doesn't much matter -- at some point someone created a religion and it had some appeal.

[Swollerbear]

Sure, I've had a fair share of skepticism even as a Christian today. Skepticism is healthy. It means you're capable of critical thought. Studying the history of the New Testament initially made me extremely skeptical, but then it eventually made my faith stronger. The story of Jesus and the New Testament is extremely durable literature. You can poke as many holes in it as you want. I've been doing it for years. Take the critical historical approach which is based in logic rather than spirituality. What do you have to lose by opening your mind to at least study the literary evidence presented by scholars? Imagine what you have to gain in the slight off chance that this is real. It's worth the risk/reward in my opinion. Even if one doesn't believe in God, the New Testament is a hell of a guide to live a good and fulfilling life. The bible is the most durable literature in human history. It's surely worth a read.

[slatyb]

@Swollerbear Durable and believeable are quite different things. There's no serious evidence for the miracles of the New Testament, and the Old Testament is clearly mythical.

[BarryLiverstone]

He wants us to not be sinful and to worship God His father.

[Dinosaursandanime65]

I don’t know if it’s that simple but there’s no reason to say no.

[kad3n4413]

I think the same thing to but I just want to say y’all have a good day

[loveslongnails]

Ideally, that would be the plan.

[WhitneySnow]

True

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

100% false.