Odinism to Christianity

[HappyChristian]

So the point of it is that we shouldn't do good things because we know we will get rewarded but, we should do them because it's the right thing to do and that the rewards of man is nothing compared to the rewards of God/Jesus?


Ok, I also have another question, and I'm sorry if it offends anyone. On Thrusday, I got a phonecall from a friend and she was hysterical. There is a sacred area, that I and other pagans of any belief go to for holidays and revivals and just plain fellowship. My friend had called to tell me that someone had been there and destroyed most of the monuments, which by the way have been there for hundreds of years, spraypainted horrible messages everywhere and broke the stone altar we had. Now I know that none of these are important to you but, this is just sick. The police caught the people and they were just a bunch of skin heads but, they said they did it in the name of God. Would God really advocate something like this?

No. What these people did was against the law, and the God of Heaven would not condone it. In OT times, when a godly king came to rule in Jerusalem, many times they would destroy the areas in which pagan gods were worshipped. Because the Children of Israel were to worship only the One, true God.

Today, though, we live under grace. God wants us to pull down the idols of our hearts, and turn to Him.

Skin heads do not follow the God of the Bible, Nick. So they were not heeding Him.

Truly, the rewards of man are nothing in comparison to the rewards of God. In Ephesians 2: 8-10, we are told (prior to these verses, we are assured of His love and mercy towards us) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

It is God's grace (because of His mercy, as mentioned prior to these verses) that we have, through faith in Him and His Word, salvation. Nothing that we can do of ourselves. But then - once we are saved, we are to do right...because that is what God planned for us.

[JerryNumbers]

Ro 13:1 ¶ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Ro 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Ro 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Ro 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Ro 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

We Christains are to OBey the laws of the land, as long as they do not make us sin agianst God.

So these people who destroyed this property did so outside of God's will, for we are not to go around destroying what toehrs have.

Mt 7:12 ¶ Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

I'm sure those who destroyed this stuff, would not want you to destroy their stuff, so they were not going God's will.

[Alumentum]

Ok, I'll trust you all on that. It's just that it makes me and other people confused sometimes so I wasn't sure.

So last sunday, we talked about marrige in church. I pretty much understood most of the lesson but, I wasn't real sure how it would work out in today's society. So, my question is, what is a man and woman's role in todays life and what should they do and not do?

[1Timothy115]

Ok, I'll trust you all on that. It's just that it makes me and other people confused sometimes so I wasn't sure.

So last sunday, we talked about marrige in church. I pretty much understood most of the lesson but, I wasn't real sure how it would work out in today's society. So, my question is, what is a man and woman's role in todays life and what should they do and not do?

Their role is exactly the same as when God established it. It is even more important today to conduct a marriage using the precepts God ordained for it to be successful. The "do/don't" is explained in the following scriptures:
Genesis 2:18 and 24
Ephesians 5:22-29
Colossians 3:18-19

Husband-wife relationships are to be conducted as Christ's relationship to the church and the church to Christ (Christians are the church).

[Alumentum]

OK, thank you for telling me where they are. I've been reading them but, I'm still working on it. I think I'll talk to my pastor about it this coming Sunday.

I have two subjects I wanted to talk about. One was about mysticism. Is it sinful to read about mythology and to study it? Is it sinful to do things like fortune telling or doing ritualesque things like chanting or leaving offerings on an altar?

The second thing is a youth camp trip. The youth group at my church is going on this week long trip to a river and they'll be doing all sorts of things that people do when you camp. I was wanting to know if it would be a good idea to go? I mean, I've never done anything like this so I wasn't sure X /.

[Brother Rick]

I'd say go camping! Some of the best memories I ever had from being a teen was church camp!

[CPR]

OK, thank you for telling me where they are. I've been reading them but, I'm still working on it. I think I'll talk to my pastor about it this coming Sunday.

I have two subjects I wanted to talk about. One was about mysticism. Is it sinful to read about mythology and to study it? Is it sinful to do things like fortune telling or doing ritualesque things like chanting or leaving offerings on an altar?

The second thing is a youth camp trip. The youth group at my church is going on this week long trip to a river and they'll be doing all sorts of things that people do when you camp. I was wanting to know if it would be a good idea to go? I mean, I've never done anything like this so I wasn't sure X /.

Sounds like a great way to get to know some people in your youth group!

As far as reading about mythology, some people may disagree with me here, but I don't believe it is a sin to read about it for intellectual curiosity or academic growth, but it would be wrong to practice it. I'm assuming you're talking about studying Greek and Roman mythology or reading something along the lines of the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton (which I was required to read in school). As long as you understand what is true God and what is not, I think these things can be interesting studies into other cultures.

As far as ritual, you'll have to be a little more specific. If you are chanting or leaving offerings to anyone but the one true God (by that I mean who's son is Jesus) then I would say yes that is wrong. Some churches do incorporate elements of ritual into their services and that can be a very meaningful part of worship for some people. Others prefer less ritual. It's a matter of preference, but you do need to make sure that you are doing rituals as a genuine act of worship to God, not anyone or anything else.

[HappyChristian]

Sounds like a great way to get to know some people in your youth group!

As far as reading about mythology, some people may disagree with me here, but I don't believe it is a sin to read about it for intellectual curiosity or academic growth, but it would be wrong to practice it. I'm assuming you're talking about studying Greek and Roman mythology or reading something along the lines of the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton (which I was required to read in school). As long as you understand what is true God and what is not, I think these things can be interesting studies into other cultures.

As far as ritual, you'll have to be a little more specific. If you are chanting or leaving offerings to anyone but the one true God (by that I mean who's son is Jesus) then I would say yes that is wrong. Some churches do incorporate elements of ritual into their services and that can be a very meaningful part of worship for some people. Others prefer less ritual. It's a matter of preference, but you do need to make sure that you are doing rituals as a genuine act of worship to God, not anyone or anything else.

I would expand on this and say that, once Christ died on the cross, there was no more need for sacrifices on an altar. (True)Fortune telling is a sin, and one that is specifically forbidden in the OT. I say "true" because there are carnivals where there is someone who pretends (and everyone knows it) to read fortunes. I still don't think that is right, but it isn't the same thing as actually foretelling.

I agree with CPR that there is nothing inherently wrong with knowing about mythology. But it needs to be very much tempered with truth, else people will believe it actually happened.

[Alumentum]

Alright, I suppose I'll go then. My dad laughed and told me to at least learn how to fish while I was there X /.


Anyways, the reason why I ask about the mysticism was because it is a huge part of my religion now. If I were to convert, I was wanting to know if it would be possible to keep some parts of what I do now except use it to worship your God. The biggest thing I was worried about was weither or not it was sinful all together. Most people here say chanting and other things like that are straight up satanic no matter what it's for. To me things like chanting and crafting are relaxing. I do it to worship my gods but, also to just feel good about something. As for fortune telling, in Odinism there is something called rune casting. That is where you would take a rune set(one you most likely made yourself) and used it to make connections with the past, present and future. People would cast for several reason like for fun, to answer a questions, to ask for guidence and other stuff. To us, it's just our version of prayer. When it comes to sacrifices, a person who is an Odinist would make an offering to a god or other entities when praying, begining a ceremony or just because they felt like it. I like to leave offerings because it just makes me happy : /. I was curious to know if these were sins because so many of them I do for more than just worship and if I could use it to worship God then I would feel more proud of myself in a way.


As for the mythology thing, yes that is one reason. In school we have to read about it a lot. I was also wondering about it though because our religious texts are considered mythology to Christians. We read them for answers to our questions, to learn about how we should live and for enjoyment. I personally love to read about the funny stories and I would be sad if I couldn't read them any more X (. I have to say though, I still think that Noah's Ark is my favorite story that I've read anywhere though.

[JerryNumbers]

I personally think a person would do their self more good studying the Bible than they would studying mythology. In the Bible you would be studying truths, and there is no truths in mythology.

Seems the Bible is clear, mythology is not for the child of God, and if you get into it, you may get caught up in it.

[CPR]

I would expand on this and say that, once Christ died on the cross, there was no more need for sacrifices on an altar. (True)Fortune telling is a sin, and one that is specifically forbidden in the OT. I say "true" because there are carnivals where there is someone who pretends (and everyone knows it) to read fortunes. I still don't think that is right, but it isn't the same thing as actually foretelling.

I agree with CPR that there is nothing inherently wrong with knowing about mythology. But it needs to be very much tempered with truth, else people will believe it actually happened.

You are absolutely correct that there is no need for a sacrifice on an altar because of Jesus's sacrifice for us. I was completely not thinking and my mind went straight to offering that we put in the offering plate for some reason! Apologies for any confusion I caused but I completely agree with everything you just said. Edited July 18, 2010 by CPR

[Alumentum]

Okey doke, I'm back from camping. I have to say, that was the most fun I've ever had! The kids that I went with were hilarious and the youth group pastor that went with us was really nice. Every night we would have a lesson and then we would get in groups and play a game over the lesson. I think the story I liked the most while I was there was about David and the Giant. It was really similar to another story I've heard in my religion. Anyways, I learned a lot, made tons of friends, and now we have numerous inside jokes over the random stuff we did while camping XD. I have to say the funniest thing was the boys vs. girls tent set up. The girls had their tent set up in seconds and me and the other boys just kinda stared at ours hoping it would make itself XD. After about 30 minutes, the girls finally helped us out.

[HappyChristian]

Okey doke, I'm back from camping. I have to say, that was the most fun I've ever had! The kids that I went with were hilarious and the youth group pastor that went with us was really nice. Every night we would have a lesson and then we would get in groups and play a game over the lesson. I think the story I liked the most while I was there was about David and the Giant. It was really similar to another story I've heard in my religion. Anyways, I learned a lot, made tons of friends, and now we have numerous inside jokes over the random stuff we did while camping XD. I have to say the funniest thing was the boys vs. girls tent set up. The girls had their tent set up in seconds and me and the other boys just kinda stared at ours hoping it would make itself XD. After about 30 minutes, the girls finally helped us out.

Sounds like a good time was had by all. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. And that you're back with us.

[Brother Rick]

Okey doke, I'm back from camping. I have to say, that was the most fun I've ever had! The kids that I went with were hilarious and the youth group pastor that went with us was really nice. Every night we would have a lesson and then we would get in groups and play a game over the lesson. I think the story I liked the most while I was there was about David and the Giant. It was really similar to another story I've heard in my religion. Anyways, I learned a lot, made tons of friends, and now we have numerous inside jokes over the random stuff we did while camping XD. I have to say the funniest thing was the boys vs. girls tent set up. The girls had their tent set up in seconds and me and the other boys just kinda stared at ours hoping it would make itself XD. After about 30 minutes, the girls finally helped us out.

That's wonderful, I'm really happy you had a great time Nick.

David is my favorite character in the Bible. He had the biggest highs, the lowest lows, he was warrior, a songwriter, and best of all he was known for being a man after God's own heart. He was not perfect and made some hug mistakes, but his valour and love for God was unquestionable.

[DennisD]

That's wonderful, I'm really happy you had a great time Nick.

David is my favorite character in the Bible. He had the biggest highs, the lowest lows, he was warrior, a songwriter, and best of all he was known for being a man after God's own heart. He was not perfect and made some hug mistakes, but his valour and love for God was unquestionable.

Jesus is my favorite.