So then to anyone who’s reading this post, how would you define what all of you call “Christians”? Would you call someone a Christian by the fact the he/she claims to be that, or would you call that person a Christian by the way he/she acts? Clearly, the Christians follow a set of rules and regulations, but how often can they break those rules (if at all) and still be able to call themselves Christian? Same with Judaism, Shinto, Islam, etc? Wouldn’t a person who claims to be this or that be lying to himself/herself if he/she truly believed (without a shadow of doubt) that he/she was a certain religion, yet that person did not practice the beliefs? Personally, I would prefer not to claim adherence to that religion rather than embarass those that TRULY do follow it, whether you’re Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, whatever. Case in point: Jimmy Swagart. Oh, but I forgot, we’re all human aren’t we. I think that most people claim to be this religion or that religion, and the sad part is that they believe that they are when they are really not. A lot of them are really good people, but the fact of the matter is that their religion is as real as Silicon Titties, although I wouldn’t mind if my wife got implants but I digress.
Can somebody please tell me what “glean” means. Is this a Christian thing, or a colloquial thing?
Ha! Made ya look! (yes Michelle, I’ve pulled this one before 
Mustang, the answer is simple. You can be a Christian and still sin. They are not exclusive. That is where prayer and study comes into the life of a Christian, for forgiveness (when one repents from the heart) and the shoring up of the spirit so as not to repeat those sins. Only the sick need a doctor and only sinners need Christ. And, since we are all sinners…Well, that’s a Christian view. Not sure how Jews or Muslims percieve the state of being a Jew or Muslim and sinning. And of course, our atheist friends wouldn’t have any concerns about this at all. I hope this answers your question.
Anybody want to go lift some WEIGHTS?!
I’m a christian and for one thing I have no problem reading anything on this site. Just because I’m reading something doesn’t mean I have to agree with it. If your a christian who has a problem reading certain parts of this site, then maybe you shouldn’t read certain parts of the bible either… you certainly wouldn’t want to read about how Absolom(sp?) raped all his fathers wives, or how his father King David slept with another mans wife and then had that man killed. And that leads me to another point. The measure of a christian is not how much they sin, but by their repentance. Some of you seem to have complaints about how you see christians sinning, but I’m quite sure that it comes with the territory. 
A Christian is a person who has realized that he/she has sinned and thus fallen short of the glory of God. God is perfect and thus there is a uncrossable gap between man and God that man cannot cross by his own actions/deeds. Jesus Christ was sacrificed on the cross to fill this uncrossable gap. Jesus accepted the burden of bearing all of sin while he was on the cross. When one realizes his own sin, admits his own sin and asks for forgiveness from God, he is made perfect (redeemed) in the eyes of God and would be called a Christian. Once you have asked for salvation, you have been forgiven for past and future sins.
Does this mean that a person who has just been redeemed will never sin again? No. Only God can know what we truly believe. There are consequences for our actions, but one who truly believes cannot lose his salvation.
This message of salvation (the Gospel or good news) is present throughout the Bible but is clearly displayed in the books: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. One of the best quotes I have ever heard was aimed at Christians and said the following, "There are five accounts of the Gospel message: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and yourself (speaking to Christians). Unforunately, people often never read the first four and only see the last." After I realized my own sin and asked for redemption, I began my lifelong quest to know God more. Christianity is not so much about following rules, but it is about cultivating a relationship with the creator and controller of the universe. If you have gotten this far, I want to thank you for your willingness to hear me out. I am just trying to present the truth about Christianity and I can answer more questions if curious.
To Lonnie: Sorry I’m late to add my 2 cents. There are quite a few Christians who read this site. I was introduced to it by someone at church and have turned several of my friends, both saved and unsaved, to the site. I’m with Brider on this one. This site blows away anything else I’ve seen on the net. I’m here to learn more about lifting and body building. I’ve been lifting weights for 22 years. I’ve been saved for only 3. Why should I stop? I try to improve my life every day, Physically, spiritually, and mentally. We as Christians can be in the world without being of the world. Read about the stuff you want and overlook the rest.
To all those who flamed Lonnie: I can’t speak for Lonnie, but the question he asked is a very valid one for a Christian. We are called to be set apart, to be holy. We are urged to fellowship with one another so that the temptations of the world are easier to avoid and so we can grow in maturity in Christ.
Here is a story I told my Sunday School class. (I teach the senior high class in a Southern Baptist church) When a lawyer asked Jesus which commandment was the most important, he said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
In teaching my students what “mind” means, I told them to imagine their mind was an oven. You take a bunch of seperate ingredients, add them together, stir, bake, and viola, you get some food. If they were to add just the right amounts of cocoa, flour, eggs, and milk, mix and bake them they would have brownies. If I were to put some dog poo into those ingredients what would happen-would you eat it? I could grind it into a fine powder-enough to kill the taste, bake it high enough to kill the germs-you wouldn’t get sick, would you eat it? No. No one would. Sin is dog poo. You know what sin is? I teach my kids that if they wouldn’t invite Jesus to do it with them, it must be sin.
Can Christians sin? Of course. We can do everything you can do. I’m truly sorry that we still do. We are forgiven of past sins and should be greatful enough not to do it again. Please take a minute to read John 3:16-3:20. To paraphrase, God loves you and sent his son not to condemn you but to save you. Too many religious people forget John 3:17. I get turned off by those people too.
Peace -Greg
I am one of those “stealth” Bible believing, born again belevers who loves the iron. I know Who caused true growth inwardy and outwardly. Since my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, I am improving on it by workouts. I will not stomp on others to get my fitness goals or deny my wife and children their time with me. I will not degrade, call others names (which seems to be the thing with some posted messages) to anyone else who is in the iron game. Working out is a vital part of my life, not my whole life. It takes zero brain to rip someone else up–has anyone tried to help someone else up? Some posts do this–others do not. Like that guy depressed over losing his girl. You should see the garbage responses he got via namecalling. I don’t claim perfection, but I also realize that I am the only Bible most people will read. I find that 99% of people against or nuetral about real Christianity have NEVER read the Bible in is entirety even once. So after you read it cover to cover, maybe intelligent points can be made by those. This is quest or QUEST. I call myself this since I am on the quest for better fitness and life.
Ok Christians – answer me this: Christianity revolved around faith, right? Faith is believing what you haven’t seen, right – ie. no proof. If believing in your religion with zero proof is a requirement not to burn in hell (from one extreme) but go to heaven (to another extreme) – well, why does someone who believes in another religion go to hell? They have just as much proof as you (faith!).
Really. What about the millions of people who already died without hearing your message? Bit of a tricky one, isn’t it? Because going to heaven or hell revolves entirely what you believe in right? So you’re telling me a just God sends people to hell because they where unfortunate not to hear your message?
Talk about thinking the universe revolves around you!!
Um zero, who said if someone doesn’t hear about christ they go hell? Why do people assume to know what Christians believe? Never hearing about Christ is differnet from rejecting Christ. And Christians make that distinction. At least us Catholics do. As far as proof, I consider the fact that there is matter in the void we call space proof of creation from nothing. Thus, a creator. I believe that at some point this being would have revealed itself in human history to give a purpose to us. But that’s just me. That’s the last I say on this topic.
MR Tolerant: The Bible reads that Jesus says that noone comes to the Father except through him. You figure it out – the only other alternative is hell (if you believe the Bible). Plus, about rejecting Christ – if they don’t think there is conclusive proof that Jesus was the Christ… is it really rejecting the Christ?
As for your so called proof: you see something… from nothing! Therefore it must have a creator? But you see no problem with the Creator coming from nothing? Just always being there? Reminds me of the evolution debate – we are too complex to come from unicellular organisms. But God – the most complex being – arose from – nothing? Just always there? Really.
You either believe or you don’t believe. God’s Word is true. There are alot of things about the Bible that we don’t understand yet, but is it really worth the chance? Everything that the Bible says is true and if you reject it then you are condemed to go to Hell. God sent his Son to pay the price of all of our sins and all that we have to do is believe and ask for forgiveness and we can spend eternity in paradise. There is nothing you can do on earth to EARN your way to heaven, you can’t just be good or give money. People try to make it so complicated when all you have to do is believe. As the Bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God!” If some of out there want to get saved, then just pray to God and tell him that you know that you are a sinner and you believe that he sent his Son to Earth to die for you, and if you truly believe what you are praying then you are on your way to heaven. Just ask yourself if it worht the chance. Especially you out there with children. Do you really want to take that chance and have your children go to Hell because of the choice that you made? THINK ABOUT IT!
You don’t have to be a Baptist in order to be saved. Baptist is just my religion. You can be Catholic, Luthern, Mormon… and as long as you beleive that Jesus is the Son of God then you will be saved.
Zero I’m sorry, but I said in my last post that I was not going to make any more points about faith vs. nonfaith and creation vs. evolution. So, being the type of person who keeps his word I’m going to let you have the last say. Forums are not the best media for religious arguements. I’ve never seen anyone say “Eureka! You’ve won me over!.” In fact, I usually would have ignored your post because it was irrelevant to the original post. The post wasn’t about who is right. Instead, it was aimed at likeminded individuals. Sort of like when an atheist jumps into a Christian chat room I immeiatley ignore them since I’m not looking for debate at the time, just some communication with people who are thinking the same way I do. When I want to debate these issues I go to a chat where they are debated. Again lonnie’s post was just to see how many of us read this site and what our opinions were of it. I should have ignored your origianl post so we wouldn’t hijack Lonnie’s post. If you still want to discuss these issues perhaps you would start your own post. Maybe I would reply to it, maybe not (seems like I have one of these debates everyday). Anyways, good day to you sir or mam.
Mr Tolerant: Ah cmon. You know this isn’t just about winning – its also about learning. I’ve learnt a lot from debates like this… but its up to you.
Baptist Christian: You entire post can be summarized is: why take the chance? I say thats the most pathetic argument I ever heard! Most children all around the world follow the religion their parents do because they teach them this when they are really young and they never leave it because they might be right. Sounds like intimidation to me!
You know I really wonder God (if there is one) – why he lets all this confusion be. How many people died because of religious differences? How many people will go to Hell (if there is one) just because there’s no certainty anywhere? How easy would it be for God to put everyone on the one true path? Instead all we have are humans saying how if they don’t believe their religion then everyone else will be forever punished while they will be forever happy. This is a disgusting thing, religion.
ummm i am christian…i have done steroids…nothing wrong with steroids…the reason i told you that is most people think steroids are bad…even though they dont know a freakin thing about them…the problems with most christians is this…they have like sins that are worse than others…but in gods eyes all sins are equal…a sin is a sin…its our society that determines which sins are bad and which are good…i know people who dont drink and dont smoke and dont have premarital sex but are some rude pieces of crap…and then i know people who like to have a good time but are some of the nicest people i have meet…i guess i went into this cuz the ? you asked seemed to be saying that this magazine might not be christian cuz of some of the content…and yeah some of the language and other stuff said can be a lil vulgar…but to each his own…i mean yeah i think some of its wrong but i still laugh at it cuz its funny to me and it makes me happy…so i really dunno…stuff like this i dont worry about…i worry about how i treat others…and i worry that i have a good relationship with god…and thats what i think…
One more thing…i just read what a bunch of people wrote…here is the deal…Lonnie you need to cut this wholesome i am better than you attitude cuz thats why alot of people dont like christians…and next this magazine is about the truth…if you want to be the typical ignorant american who thinks body by jake and richard simmons is gonna “tone you up” then get the heck out of here…this stuff is the elite of the group…these are the people who dont look at arnold and other top bodybuilders and go yeah hes natural…we have something called common sense…another thing when you ask a ? be specific…dang dude i mean your ? was so random…i think you just said it to stir up trouble and then see what people write…people like you make me not want to be a christian…also saying that you have a wife and kids has nothing to do with being a christian…i love it when christian tell us they are christians they are sure to throw in the fact they have a family…i have a family too but they dont have anything to do with my religeon…thats between me and god…man you annoy me i swear…whatever…later
I’m going to try to comment on a couple things from your last post, not trying to stir things up any more, maybe just lend another perspective. The thing on why God doesn’t just make us all the same religion and save us all – Have you ever heard the one that goes something like “If you love something, let it go…” Well, God loves us enough to give us freedom of choice. It saddens Him (okay, don’t jump all over me for using the masculine term) when people choose a different path, but that is the price of choice. As for having different religions, well, that’s due to HUMAN interpretation of God’s word. Different emphasis. Yes, there’s Lutheran, Baptist, Catholic, etc. I’m a Christian. Not Lutheran, not Catholic, not blah blah blah… You get the idea? There’s a HUGE difference between religion and having a relation with Christ. Being brought up in a particular religion means NOTHING in terms of that personal relationship. Yes, there can be good teaching there, and it can provide a basis for that relationship, but it is still up to the INDIVIDUAL to make that choice. Hope that helps.
If you love something let it go… to hell? Anyway, what freedom of choice is there in not knowing what to believe because there’s no solid proof for anything? It’s like pick a door, A, B or C. You pick A. Sorry, religion B was the true one! You go to hell… but you had a choice, you know, so don’t complain.
By religion I mean Christianity as one of the many on Earth. Explain the confusion – why do we have Buddists? Why did God let that happen if it was false?
Ok the relationship. Prove to me that this is more than an imaginary friend. Yeah I bet a lot of people will be pissed for me saying that, but I say stop being pissed and give me the answer you give yourself for believing what you do. Of course, there is no proof. That’s why they call it FAITH. That’s why there are so many differents FAITHs.
One other thing I can’t stand – that people think I’m flaming by posting what I do. Really, if you’re too scared to read and reply then perhaps you are just hiding from your own fears. I’m not afraid to say what I think on a subject and ask the obvious. Of course many religions warn people of doubting their faith… so you can’t get them to consider any other possibility. Thank goodness for those who can!