Christians: Do you think you have a superior moral code to that which an atheist may achieve without god? [Spirituality & Religion]

@hippyjoe1955

Does it not? Wouldn't you categorize say, the ten commandments as a moral code?
Can you give an example of how failing to follow the "owner's manual" would cause people around me to suffer?

@Pikachu Not really. As a Christian I am not under the Law and the 10 commandments are at the heart of the law.

@hippyjoe1955

Didn't jesus make it very clear that you were not to ignore the old law until heaven and earth pass away?

@Pikachu Actually no He did not. In fact He changed the 10 commandments all the other laws into Love the Lord your God with all heart and all your mind and all your soul and love your neighbour as yourself.

@hippyjoe1955

But he does say those words. He says that not even the smallest part of the old law will be invalidated.
So perhaps he added to the law but how can we say (given jesus' own words) that christians don't need to pay attention to the old law?

@Pikachu Did I say otherwise? Jesus was absolutely correct the Law will not fade away. However that does not mean a Christian is under the Law. We have received a new nature against which no Law is applied.

@hippyjoe1955

If you're not meant to ignore the old law then why shouldn't the 10 commandments be considered a moral code?

@Pikachu The point is that we Christians are not called to keep the 10 commandments.

@hippyjoe1955

Well but why not? If jesus has instructed you not to ignore even a little bit of the old law, why shouldn't you be keeping the 10 commandments which are inspired by god.

And wouldn't you say that love thy neighbour is a moral code?
If you love your neighbour as yourself then you're going to treat them morally, right?

@Pikachu The law is meant for you not for me. Non Christians will be held to account according to the law since the have ignored the Grace of Jesus Christ.

@hippyjoe1955

Sorry, i don't understand the connection.
Can you explain why a christian shouldn't be keeping the 10 commandments when jesus explicitly instructs his followers not to ignore the old law which was written by god in his own hand?

@Pikachu No one said anything about not keeping the law. However it must be noted that no one can ever keep the law.

@hippyjoe1955

Well if no one said anything about not keeping the law then wouldn't you be keeping the 10 commandments and wouldn't that be a moral code?

And again, wouldn't love thy neighbour as thyself end up being a christian moral code?

Not really. The fact is that Christians are given a new nature and our job is to live according to our new nature not a written code. Let me put it this way. I have children. I also have a dog. I like to have family meals and my children all sit at the table and eat their food. My dog likes to sit at the table too. It will sit up very nicely and keeps its elbows off the table. My dog is following my 'code' but it is a dog not a child therefore I will feed my children first and if there is something left over give it to the dog. Christian 'new nature' makes them Children. The others are not children and thus sent away rather than welcomed in. That can be fixed but that is entirely up the God. If He enlightens your soul and you come to Jesus you will be given a new nature and you too won't worry about moral codes of any kind.

@hippyjoe1955

I don't understand. Are you saying that christians who have come to god don't worry about moral codes and don't commit moral crimes?
Or are you saying that christians who commit moral crimes are not truly christians?

@Pikachu What I am saying moral codes have been taken away. The Law was completely fulfilled and nailed to the Cross. Anyone who has decided to follow a code has lost the purpose of both the code and the code giver.

@hippyjoe1955

So there are no moral guidelines for how a christian should treat other people?

@Pikachu Did I say that?

@hippyjoe1955 And do you also mean that we don't choose to become Christians, but God chooses us?

@hippyjoe1955

No i'm asking you.
Is there a moral guideline for how a christian should treat other people?

@Pikachu So "Doing unto others as you would have them do unto you" is?????? It is not a code it is a guiding principle. We Christians live the Spirit not the Law. IOW my response may not be what you expect it to be because I am not bound by a code. I can't be pinned down. Some do. Some don't. I might. Depends on all kinds of things.

@hippyjoe1955 So any behaviour is acceptable since you don't have to follow a moral code?

@Bushranger You seemed to have missed the points I have made. Maybe you should go back an re read them.

@hippyjoe1955

If there is no moral code for christians does that mean you can treat anyone in whatever way you feel as long as you accept jesus and all that?

Can you make explicit for me the difference between a moral code and a guiding (presumably moral, correct me if i'm wrong) principle?

@Pikachu A moral code says "Thou shall not kill". The followers of such a code had their families slaughtered because although they had the ability to defend their family they chose not to because defending their family meant that they would be killing someone. A guiding principle would say that killing people is wrong unless it is the lesser of two evils. Lesser evil killing the bad guy out to kill your family or greater evil letting the bad guy kill your entire family.