Can I be a good Christian without trying frantically to proselytize?
86646
People who spend time helping people who are sick, homeless, in prison, widows, orphans and hungry don't have to say another word.\n\nIn the workplace, we can best serve God attending to our  duties, quietly doing the best for our employers.  \n\nI have never encountered one employer who desired me to stop and chat every time the spirit moved me!\n\nGood Luck!
315566
If you ask Christ to come in your heart, He does and then gives you a desire to do these other things. You don't have to do anything else to make it to heaven, but you will be held accountable to God for all you neglect to do. The Bible also says 'to him who knowth to do good and doeth it not to him it is sin' Our desire should be to do whatever it takes to be just like Him and to please Him. If you are a Christian and you don't have this desire then you need to talk to God about your walk with Him.
956146
Absolutely.\n\nBut in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.  -1 Peter 3:15
667138
This is the type of question that is better answered over coffee and not on a message board.\n\nThat said, you will always fall short of the ideal, but it's the same old answers: You pray. You read the Bible. You ask got for forgiveness. Ultimately, though you realize that grace is not just there for forgiveness but for transformation. You learn that it's not so much what you do, but what Christ does in you ("Apart from Him you can do nothing"). \n\nAbiding in Christ is actually tougher than it sounds because we've raised a generation of sincere Christians that believe it is their responsibility to maintain what Christ accomplished for them on the Cross. Change takes time, over time the Holy Spirit will cause growth, and you won't be the best judge of it because you are living in your skin--and can't see progress as easily as anyone around you. Now, any progress you make won't add anything to what Christ has done but it will feel good.\n\nSo, have fun. Enjoy your life. Christianity is inward transformation not outward observance of rules. Go with your conscience of course, but don't get too wrapped up in it. God will complete the work he started.
941180
My interpretation of my chosen faith (Christian) and "being a good person" complement each other. But if you're asking if a non-Christian or non-Muslim can be capable of being a good person, the answer is yes, of course. Being a good person isn't necessarily based on faith but with humanistic principles base on social contract. Whether a person's motive on these principles vary from person to person (IE: spiritual benefits, karma, just to be the best they can be, etc) and  is their personal choice. I have friends that are "non-believers" that subscribe to these principles and act with accountability. And of course there are some religious people in the world that aren't necessarily benin.
860164
First, Ask God, let him verify what I say\n\nI believe that working on your thought life helps you to become a better Christian. Phil 4:8, Jesus said in the chapters between Matt 5-7 about how if a man thinks about sleeping with a woman he has already committed adultery. Ps 13:2; Ps 94; Mark 2:8; Romans 1:21\n\nI believe in modesty, but I don't believe that God wants us to look bad. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit so look after it and keep it nice. Just don't be a stumbling block.\n\nI know what you mean about the T.v shows. I watch  Rove he is an Australian T.v  presenter and his show is quite funny but it is regularly littered with sexualisation of people and inappropriate comments and gags. I have been feeling convicted to stop watching I probably should. \n\nBanana's is good clean comedy and very funny and clever. \n\nJames 3 talks about taming the tongue it is very difficult, but acheivable. \nPs 37 - Ask God for the desires of your heart to match his.\n\nChristianity is a progressive thing, don't beat yourself up, if it takes you less time to do something God has told you to do than last time - thats a step forward. \nYou don't swear where you usually would. Things like that\n\nHEB 12:1-2 Keep you eyes fixed on Jesus the Author and perfector of our faith.\n\nDo remember all sin is the same in God's eyes - in saying that don't throw yourself into new ones cause each of them have different natrual consequences. God knows how to get the best out of your life, allow him to guide you.\n\nP.s Congrats on being a virgin and staying away from alcohol.\n\nGod Bless you Richly sister as you continue to Grow in the Grace Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. \n\nYou are beautiful, you are dearly and deeply loved.\n\nPraise God that you have seen you errors and want to change them. Praise God, focus on God. \n\nHallelujah.\n\nYour an inspiration.
1085841
I've survived without one.  I am probably a stronger person for it, because I know I don't have that crutch to lean on.  I've seen many people who call themselves Christians behave in a very un-Christian manner because they think they can pray a bit and be forgiven for being horrible.  I don't believe I can be forgiven for mistreating people, being dishonest, self-serving, or bigoted, so I don't behave that way.  If you don't have one, and you don't feel you're missing anything, there is not anything wrong with you because of it.
858968
I don't understand how as a "Christian" you cannot find fulfillment in learning , growing and applying the teachings of Christ. For starters since you seem to  have enough time to get bored I'm sure you can find the time to spread and maintain His Kingdom. Serving others may yield the blessings you may be expecting. Sorry for the preachiness.
369822
Phil,\n\nJesus lived without sin, and so theoretically, it is possible, but no one else has ever done it. I don’t think you can do it either, but go for it! Let me know how it turns out. (Just kidding – we’re both out of the running because if you have to ask you weren’t able to do it either.)\n\nYou are in the “religion and spirituality” section and your question relates to Jesus, so I guess it’s fair to bring the Bible into the discussion. Paul is highly respected among Christians. As a young man, he persecuted Christians and even killed some. That puts him out of the running for the lifetime achievement award, but he certainly tried to make up for his indiscretion over the remainder of his life. Is it possible not to sin from this point onward? This is Paul’s conclusion:\n\nI do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. \n\nSo I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! \n\nSo then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. \n\nTherefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. \n\nThose who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. \n\nYou, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. \n\nTherefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 7:15-8:14\n\nI’ll try to be brief, and if you have more questions, I will be happy to answer them. Paul’s conclusion is that he was not able to do the good things that he wanted to do nor was he able to stop doing the bad things that he hated. Twice he says, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
991887
Ask the different way round.\n\nBelieving (in any religion) is easy, you don't have to think.\n\nActually thinking prevents believing. And I prefer to think for myself. :-)
1083872
Just act as yourself.  No need to preach to them unless they ask.  Live by the word of God, and by the example of Jesus and they might ask why you live the way you do.
717326
Let me guess--you still think you're a good Christian, too? You know the answer to this question. You quit having affairs, get your act together, apologize to them (and to God) and get your life straightened out. Don't tell me it can't be done--you know it can. Sex is meant for marriage alone and then with one woman (not a dozen or even two). You are hurting them, hurting yourself, and you may end up a daddy long b4 you intended to. Quit the CRAP!!\n\nPS: God doesn't listen to sinners in sin--only when they ask for and WANT forgiveness and a change of life.
305054
I'm not so sure Christianity is all about converting others, we are supposed to tell people about Jesus and stuff but not try to MAKE them become christian it just doesn't work that way. they have to accept it for themselves, not because somebody tells them to. i think the most you can do is be a good example of what a Christan should be, and they should that you are different from others and want what you have. the worst thing that you can do is push your beliefs on someone else, nobody would want that and if i wasn't a christian i would be completely turned off by Christianity. just be an example and love them , ask god to help you cuz he's always there, i hope this answers your question and isn't too confusing lol\ni think its so awesome that you want to tell other people we need more of that kind of christian in the world\n\n\n            -swede
830959
I think you can. First century Christianity is nothing like the overbloated monster that has become "Churchianity" as we know it today. To have a relationship with the Christ without the extra baggage would be very personal and probably a heck of a lot more fulfilling than joining the fan club.
961644
As a Christian, I would advise you to not find a faith that workds for you, but find the faith that contains the fullness of truth, and strive toward that truth.\n\nGod bless,\nShane
171432
Awesome! I respect you, alot, because of this statement. I agree that God should not be brought into alot of things. Alot of these people make such statements blindly as they've yet to receive any ACTUAL experience in the type of situation of which the person you're talking to has gone through, but they feel it necessary to enforce (selfishly, I might add.) that they are a Christian and that by saying this they gain points with God. It doesnt. Why would god want to enstill so much trauma on a person? Common sense doesnt react well with fear, and in this case it is the fear that God is abit shakey about their loyalty to him (Which if they were a true Christian then they would probably come to the conclusion that as long as you build good karma selflessly, then their diety would be happy.).\n\nNow the subject about people preaching their beliefs and then sinning out their asses, I believe you're right. In the Bible, it says that God'll cleanse your sins (NOTE: I am an Athiest and do not believe this, but this is for the sake of argument) but that doesnt mean you should rack up as much negative points while you can. A quote from an AWESOME Scream Christian Band (Hardcore True Christians, mind you.)-\n\n"...Christ is not a Fashion..." - Memphis Will Be Layed To Waste by Norma Jean.
919455
I'm a christian too and I'll say the following : trust me you are not the only christian the other ones are too coward to show they are ,because you see, when you are christian it means you have a commitment with God , and if you say you are ,people will start expecting you to act like a christian , all eyes will be on you . maybe you don't notice but they are .and that commitment of having to do things right because of your faith is what the others are trying to avoid ,that why they stay secret . i reccomend you show them how to do things , preach in your school and live the adventure that is serving Jesuschrist and God will bless you in a very special way ans maybe you'll be of inspiration for other people to live their faith .you could start doing meetings at lunch to pray  and read the bible . \n                                                                              :) jen