Just wanted to know if Drinking, Gambling, fornication is considered unlawful in Christianity. Also do you find Christianity as a way of life, with rules etc.. I know a guy who does many bad things yet Sunday roles along and he's all religious for a couple of hours. After that he goes drinking:muddlehea
can you explain whats lawful and unlawful and If Christianity teaches a way of life like Islam does
many thanks
Yes, Christianity definitely teaches a way of life. Whether it is thought of in the same way that it is in Islam I do not know.
As expressed above, we don't think in terms of legal vs. illegal, because we do not see ourselves as under law but grace.
"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law." (Galatians 5:16-18)
And the same concept is worded differently here: " 'Everything is permissible for me'—but not everything is beneficial." (1 Corinthians 6:12) Still there are many things that we would consider things to be avoided:
1 Corinthians 5:11
"But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat."
Galatians 5:19-21
"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Ephesians 5:3-4
"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving."
Colossians 3:5-10
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."
How are Christians to live? Governed by the Spirit of God who directs our lives from the inside:
Galatians 5:22-25
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:2
"live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Colossians 3:12-14
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
If one lives as directed by the Holy Spirit, one would be living what we call a sanctified (or holy) life. "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23) This does not mean that we are without sin, but that relying on God's power rather than our own, we can be kept from continuing to sin. Unfortunately, few of us ever submit to the guiding presence of God's Holy Spirit in our lives so fully that we don't from time to time, try to take back control of our lives making our own decisions rather than simply seeking what God wills. (Do Muslims struggle with this too?) This usually leads to falling prey to sin again. That's why you can find a Christian saying one thing and doing another. Because we are imperfect followers of God's will in our lives.
This is problem is discussed at length by Paul in his letter to the Romans. Here is just a small portion of it:
Romans 8
5Those 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. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.
My guess is that this war between knowing what is right and sometimes doing it, and other times doing what we know is wrong goes on in all people -- at least those who know and desire to submit to God in their lives -- what i have quoted is just how Christians describe the nature of this war taking place inside each one of us and manner of the hope we have to be on God's side in it.
