THE Christian Philosophy

[makesends]

I would just say Christ is the ethics and the moral and the philosophy.

Good point. In fact there are paralleling hints to that in Scripture, such as, "...from him and through him and to him are all things."

We have no other. Things like faithfulness to God, faithfulness to the Covenant are all one in the philosophy is Christ.

We can't do anything outside of Christ, ethically morally or philosophically speaking.

Rings true with "...apart from me you can do nothing."

So... I guess I don't understand the question, or I'm too simple for it. Christ is my King, My God as the second person of the Trinity, My Lord, My Savior, my heart, my Life's blood, my High Priest, my Prophet, my Teacher (Rabbi), my elder Brother, my friend, my government.

He is all and there's nothing outside of His rule. We live within that rule and no other.

Amen! Apart from him we are nothing, seems to me.

But we keep trying and pretending.

 

[Josheb]

Following God's laws (moral and covenantal) in faith in His finished work. (Not for salvation but because He saved us).

The doing of God's will.

Okay, now look at those two sentences. Are following in faith and doing identical?

Was it Abraham's faith that got him deemed righteous, or was it his faithfulness?

 

[Josheb]

The Christian Philosophy is that God is; that he is holy, loving, the truth, just, righteous, patient, etc.; that he is the creator of all things and Lord over all; that he is deserving of our love, worship and obedience.

It is also that man fell, and is, as a result, corrupt in every aspect of his being, unable to think or do anything that is good in God's sight.

God's remedy for this is the cross, so that everyone to whom he gives a new heart repents and believes in Jesus Christ, unto salvation. This new heart wants to please God, but still has to battle our unresurrected flesh. God works in us to will and to do of his good pleasure.

The lost will die and go to hell; the saved will go to heaven, to be with the Lord forever and will receive resurrected bodies like those of the angels.

There's much more, but this will do to go on with.

Ethical Principles (all Godward and manward):

1) Holiness

2) Love

3) Truthfulness

4) Righteousness

5) Justice

6) Faith/faithfulness

There are more...

Thank you.

Consider how that reads. "The Christian philosophy is [a list of facts about the ontology of God]." I'm not naysaying it or affirming it. I am, however, going to ask if that is what you meant?

As to the ethics, I again appreciate the list but it's abstract, vague and not very practical or practicable. Would a person with that list know what to do based on that list?

 

[Josheb]

THE Christian philosophy ... I'd say the philosophy that is at the head is ....

God’s purpose and man’s purpose are one and the same: to glorify God and enjoy him forever; as he is the cause of all, so he is the end of all.

Thank you.

The Christian philosophy is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. And the short list of ethics (principles and practices) ensuing from that definition?

 

[Hazelelponi]

Okay, now look at those two sentences. Are following in faith and doing identical?

Was it Abraham's faith that got him deemed righteous, or was it his faithfulness?

The level of your faith is shown in one's actions.

The faith saves, but the faith shows in one's actions.

We believe atheists when they say they don't believe in any God or in any judgement because of the way they live right?

But if the same person started going to church every Sunday and such and went to Bible study group and was super involved in the ministry for Christ so on and so forth, would not the new actions say this person is being drawn by God to the faith and is no longer atheist?

Actions belie the words.

If someone tells you they are a believer do you believe them if their actions betray the words?

Am I Calvinistic or thoroughly Reformed? What actions belie what words? (It's just rhetorical, no reply warranted or necessary).

Does this answer?

If you believe God saved you from eternal damnation, plucked you out of all the muck and the mire you are, gave His very life for your life, wouldn't that change your behavior in very major ways?

The very first, or at least the first deeply ingrained memory I have of my dad I was really really sick and they thought I was going to die.

I was waking up periodically and every time I woke up my dad was beside my bed, sometimes sleeping sometimes praying but he never left my bedside that I knew of.

One of the times I opened my eyes my dad was openly crying and praying to God to save my life - and he offered his life in return for my own.

I never forget that. It literally shaped my entire relationship with my dad.

When we believe something is absolutely true - like my knowledge as a child of my fathers love for me - our behavior reflects that belief .

 

[makesends]

Thank you

The definition is certainly Christian (given the Bible basis). Aside from the use of the Bible, how would you distinguish the ethics from any other theistic philosophy?

This question brings to mind several almost unrelated thoughts. (One is something I poke at atheists with, that it is hard for them to intellectually admit that First Cause With Intention is the overwhelmingly best reason for existence —they cry, "begs the question!"— because to fully admit to it is to admit that we do not belong to ourselves, and owe God our very being.)

As far as I know, all other theistic systems of thinking leave out the personal, immanent nature of God having created, or leave out omnipotence, in one way or another.

So the ethics of all other systems, in one way or another, are built on the ability of man to do well enough, with only conscience or expedience as the standard, and the unquestioned ability of man to do that 'good enough'. (Maybe not good enough for survival or acceptance to the gods, but good enough for conscience —and nevermind the lack of evidence of that ability.)



A note: I've speculated, and observed that it seems true, that maybe all religious denominations, religions and cults, and maybe even supposedly non-religious worldviews and philosophies and pursuits, each focus doctrinally/in practice/mindset on something true that Christianity/Christendom/Christians should have not neglected, but instead of merely bringing them up or pointing them out, tends to distort or hyper-focus on them, to the loss of truth. (And I don't mean that therefore some aren't WAY better than others). But there is only one that sees the standard of loving almighty God with one's whole being, and loving one's neighbor as one's self, as both necessary and unattainable in this life, and something that happens, nonetheless, in Christ. The only way to Paradise then, is not to work your way there, but to live this life in Christ.

 

[David1701]

Thank you.

Consider how that reads. "The Christian philosophy is [a list of facts about the ontology of God]." I'm not naysaying it or affirming it. I am, however, going to ask if that is what you meant?

As to the ethics, I again appreciate the list but it's abstract, vague and not very practical or practicable. Would a person with that list know what to do based on that list?

Philosophy is a list of beliefs regarded as authoritative in one's life. The most important beliefs, to a Christian, are those about, and in, God. They are the basis for all our ethics. I know that it's not what most people would consider "philosophy", but I decided to list some of the most fundamental, authoritative beliefs that we have, as Christians.

The list of ethics did not contain any practical examples, but I didn't want to write a tome, and I wasn't sure what you were looking for. I suppose I could list the ten commandments (with an explanation about the relevance of the fourth, in the New Covenant), which would be a practical starting point; but, they are commandments based on ethics, rather than the ethics themselves.

 

[Hazelelponi]

suppose I could list the ten commandments (with an explanation about the relevance of the fourth, in the New Covenant

That would be a great thread idea for you to teach/speak on, the 4th commandment.

 

[fastfredy0]

And the short list of ethics (principles and practices) ensuing from that definition?

1) Obedience to God .... Obedience is a measurement of love and faith. To the extent one obeys he also believes/loves.
Note: Obedience is actuated by the Spirit. We do not have 'free will' (self-determined desire) to obey.
2) We give God NOTHING as He is the source of all things.
3) God's way are not our ways, His thoughts not our thoughts. Thus, His instructions are often analogous. Rules for men don't apply to God.
4) Like God's reaction to Job's thoughts about God, God would be 'ticked' at Fastfredy0's thoughts about God.

Hey, I imagine you can articulate an excellent answer to your question.

 

[David1701]

That would be a great thread idea for you to teach/speak on, the 4th commandment.

I think it can be summarised in one post, and it has some relevance to this thread, so I'll do it here.

The first Sabbath day was the final day of the creation week (the seventh day), when God rested from his creation labours.

Later, in the Mosaic Law, Israel was commanded to remember the Sabbath day (the seventh day of the week), to keep it holy. That day was a day of rest from work and focus on God.

In the New Covenant, we are not under law, so there is no legal obligation to keep the seventh day as a Sabbath day; however, the New Covenant Sabbath rest, is rest in Christ, resting from our own works and being led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus himself is our Sabbath rest.

(Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, one day of rest per week is needed for our well-being, as evidenced by what has happened in cultures that have tried to do without it (people becoming ill, depressed, and even dying); and it should include focus on the Lord, not just rest from physical labour.)

Our Christian philosophy should include the belief that Christ is our rest, and that, therefore, we ought to rest from our works (our own plans and concomitant deeds) and, instead, be led by the Holy Spirit (that is the resulting ethic).

 

[Hazelelponi]

The level of your faith is shown in one's actions.

The faith saves, but the faith shows in one's actions.

We believe atheists when they say they don't believe in any God or in any judgement because of the way they live right?

But if the same person started going to church every Sunday and such and went to Bible study group and was super involved in the ministry for Christ so on and so forth, would not the new actions say this person is being drawn by God to the faith and is no longer atheist?

Actions belie the words.

If someone tells you they are a believer do you believe them if their actions betray the words?

Am I Calvinistic or thoroughly Reformed? What actions belie what words? (It's just rhetorical, no reply warranted or necessary).

Does this answer?

If you believe God saved you from eternal damnation, plucked you out of all the muck and the mire you are, gave His very life for your life, wouldn't that change your behavior in very major ways?

The very first, or at least the first deeply ingrained memory I have of my dad I was really really sick and they thought I was going to die.

I was waking up periodically and every time I woke up my dad was beside my bed, sometimes sleeping sometimes praying but he never left my bedside that I knew of.

One of the times I opened my eyes my dad was openly crying and praying to God to save my life - and he offered his life in return for my own.

I never forget that. It literally shaped my entire relationship with my dad.

When we believe something is absolutely true - like my knowledge as a child of my fathers love for me - our behavior reflects that belief .

For other reasons unrelated to this thread I was looking for some sermons from Spurgeon and came across this one.

At any rate I think this sermon might relate in ways to some of what I was trying to say, though in an unrelated sermon.

The Spurgeon Library | Predestination and Calling

www.spurgeon.org

Regardless it's Spurgeon, is there a poor sermon by him? I think they were all Spirit filled. Might be enjoyable to read. He went through a self evaluation for believers in the sermon and what an effectual calling looks like.

 

[ReverendRV]

If you were asked to define "The Christian Philosophy" and cite its ethics according to that philosophy, what would you say. For the sake of the thread, "ethics" will be defined as the principles and practices that guide a person in applying the Christian philosophy. Since that list could be quite lengthy let's arbitrarily set the list as six to ten principles or practices.

Definition:

Ethics:

1. .
2. .
3. .
4. .
5. .
6. .

Love, Hope, Faith, Grace, Peace, and Charity...

If Fidelity is an Ethic, all of these are an Ethic...

 

[ReverendRV]

Let me restate the op with a clarifying amendment:

If you were asked to define "The Christian Philosophy" and cite its ethics according to that philosophy, what would you say. For the sake of the thread, "ethics" will be defined as the principles and practices that guide a person in applying the Christian philosophy. Since that list could be quite lengthy let's arbitrarily set the list as six to ten principles or practices.

Definition: The Christian Philosophy is ________________________________________.

Ethics: Guiding principles and practical applications of that philosophy would be,

1. .
2. .
3. .
4. .
5. .
6. .

Faith, Hope and Love, are the Philosophy used to govern the Church...

 

[Eleanor]

THE Christian philosophy ... I'd say the philosophy that is at the head is ....

God’s purpose and man’s purpose are one and the same: to glorify God and enjoy him forever; as he is the cause of all, so he is the end of all.

God's purpose is to glorify God forever through both his justice and his mercy.

 

[David1701]

Okay, now look at those two sentences. Are following in faith and doing identical?

Was it Abraham's faith that got him deemed righteous, or was it his faithfulness?

Faith is the root and faithfulness is the fruit; however, it's not an "either, or" situation, since you cannot have one without the other.

 

[Eleanor]

I think it can be summarised in one post, and it has some relevance to this thread, so I'll do it here.
The first Sabbath day was the final day of the creation week (the seventh day), when God rested from his creation labours.
Later, in the Mosaic Law, Israel was commanded to remember the Sabbath day (the seventh day of the week), to keep it holy. That day was a day of rest from work and focus on God.
In the New Covenant, we are not under law, so there is no legal obligation to keep the seventh day as a Sabbath day; however, the New Covenant Sabbath rest, is rest in Christ, resting from our own works and being led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus himself is our Sabbath rest.

(Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, one day of rest per week is needed for our well-being, as evidenced by what has happened in cultures that have tried to do without it (people becoming ill, depressed, and even dying); and it should include focus on the Lord, not just rest from physical labour.)

Our Christian philosophy should include the belief that Christ is our rest, and that, therefore, we ought to rest from our works (our own plans and concomitant deeds) and, instead, be led by the Holy Spirit (that is the resulting ethic).

Christ is our full-time (Heb 4:4) Sabbath rest (Heb 4:8-10) from our own works to save and in Christ's work which saves to the uttermost.

 

[Josheb]

The level of your faith is shown in one's actions.

Amen!

That statement is crucial whenever attempting o define the "Christian philosophy" because Christianity, and Christianity alone, is not a works-based religion. Faith is belief, trust. Faithfulness is the application of that faith. Faithfulness is works. That is why the philosophy is cannot be works but the ethics must include works.

 

[Hazelelponi]

God's purpose is to glorify God forever through both his justice and his mercy.

Through love.

 

[Eleanor]

Through love.

Indeed. . .his mercy is love. . .and his justice is righteousness.

 

[Josheb]

The most important beliefs, to a Christian, are those about, and in, God.

Close. Lots of religions are theistic. Lots of religions teach very similar views about God. What is it that separates a Christian philosophy, the Christian philosophy, from all other theisms?

They are the basis for all our ethics.

Yep.

Which is why I asked for a definition or thesis statement and then a list of principles and applications.

I know that it's not what most people would consider "philosophy", but I decided to list some of the most fundamental, authoritative beliefs that we have, as Christians.

The list of ethics did not contain any practical examples, but I didn't want to write a tome, and I wasn't sure what you were looking for. I suppose I could list the ten commandments (with an explanation about the relevance of the fourth, in the New Covenant), which would be a practical starting point; but, they are commandments based on ethics, rather than the ethics themselves.

One of the chief purposes of this op is to obtain, if possible, THE Christian philosophy.... to avoid relativism and subjectivity. Another is to explore any difficulty doing so. "What most people think" is the problem to be solved if what most people think is incorrect. Appeals to the consensus or majority are to be avoided if what the majority thinks is incorrect.