Christianity: Eastern and Western Perspective

[chanchuinchoy]

My mind was troubled by this question " why there is a disparity on the thoughts of eastern and western countries Christian on the subject of Christianity as tough the bible that western countries Christians read is different from the bible that eastern countries Christians read.
I used to be a twice a year Christians, came to church twice a year, during Easter and Christmas only until I was found and saved by Christ when I was 15 years old. My Christian life began with participated in church youth fellowship, then church service, cell group and bible study followed by revival meetings, healing rallies and so on.

I have not been to any western countries so far and as such I am inviting those who wish to share on how do you all know Christ and your experiences. If you wish to know more about here, please ask me. Please be informed that I am not here t start an argument, just understanding.

 

[JaumeJ]

We must do our best to follow the Example of Jesus-Yeshua. It is all any hemisphere may do to please the Father...

 

[Adstar]

My mind was troubled by this question " why there is a disparity on the thoughts of eastern and western countries Christian on the subject of Christianity as tough the bible that western countries Christians read is different from the bible that eastern countries Christians read.
I used to be a twice a year Christians, came to church twice a year, during Easter and Christmas only until I was found and saved by Christ when I was 15 years old. My Christian life began with participated in church youth fellowship, then church service, cell group and bible study followed by revival meetings, healing rallies and so on.

I have not been to any western countries so far and as such I am inviting those who wish to share on how do you all know Christ and your experiences. If you wish to know more about here, please ask me. Please be informed that I am not here t start an argument, just understanding.

Too vague..

If you want to have a discussion bring up a specific topic..

Also Who you do consider to be Western Christians?

 

[chanchuinchoy]

I am no judge only Jesus is when the right time comes.This is just a general statement that the Christians in all the eastern and western countries have some disparity and Iam interested to find out why.

 

[Dino246]

You seem to have some particular disparity in mind. The problem is that we can't read your mind.

 

[massorite]

My mind was troubled by this question " why there is a disparity on the thoughts of eastern and western countries Christian on the subject of Christianity as tough the bible that western countries Christians read is different from the bible that eastern countries Christians read.
I used to be a twice a year Christians, came to church twice a year, during Easter and Christmas only until I was found and saved by Christ when I was 15 years old. My Christian life began with participated in church youth fellowship, then church service, cell group and bible study followed by revival meetings, healing rallies and so on.

I have not been to any western countries so far and as such I am inviting those who wish to share on how do you all know Christ and your experiences. If you wish to know more about here, please ask me. Please be informed that I am not here t start an argument, just understanding.

I have been a part of the Hebrew Roots movement and there is a man who teaches in that area. His name is Rico Cortez and one of his studies is about "Honor and Shame" Eastern countries were focused on Honor and Shame long before Christ came along. Then after Christ those who converted remained focused on Honor and Shame but applied that Honor and Shame belief to Christianity which was a good thing because Honor and Shame is part of what God is focused on when it comes to His Word. Honor and Shame has everything to do with a believers integrity in their walk with God. Does the believer Honor God and His laws or precepts with their walk? If not then they are a shame unto God.
Western Christianity has never focused on Honor and Shame though walking with integrity for God is important but the concept of Honor and Shame is not near as ingrained into the mind of a westerner like it is in the mind of an easterner.
However learning about Honor and Shame will help every western believer because the Bible is based on among other things, Honor and Shame. Most folks thing of Christianity as being a Western Religion but it is not. It is an Eastern religion created for the whole world to fallow.
This is one of the biggest differences between western and eastern perception of the Word of God.

 

[Mission21]

My mind was troubled by this question " why there is a disparity on the thoughts of eastern and western countries Christian on the subject of Christianity as tough the bible that western countries Christians read is different from the bible that eastern countries Christians read.
I used to be a twice a year Christians, came to church twice a year, during Easter and Christmas only until I was found and saved by Christ when I was 15 years old. My Christian life began with participated in church youth fellowship, then church service, cell group and bible study followed by revival meetings, healing rallies and so on.

I have not been to any western countries so far and as such I am inviting those who wish to share on how do you all know Christ and your experiences. If you wish to know more about here, please ask me. Please be informed that I am not here t start an argument, just understanding.

On first paragraph of your post.
You wrote,
"..as though the Bible..is different from the Bible.."
- --
Over the years, I learned that there can be different 'views / interpretations' on
Bible passages..because of certain factors.
- 'Regional' context, cultural issues..etc.

 

[chanchuinchoy]

I have been a part of the Hebrew Roots movement and there is a man who teaches in that area. His name is Rico Cortez and one of his studies is about "Honor and Shame" Eastern countries were focused on Honor and Shame long before Christ came along. Then after Christ those who converted remained focused on Honor and Shame but applied that Honor and Shame belief to Christianity which was a good thing because Honor and Shame is part of what God is focused on when it comes to His Word. Honor and Shame has everything to do with a believers integrity in their walk with God. Does the believer Honor God and His laws or precepts with their walk? If not then they are a shame unto God.
Western Christianity has never focused on Honor and Shame though walking with integrity for God is important but the concept of Honor and Shame is not near as ingrained into the mind of a westerner like it is in the mind of an easterner.
However learning about Honor and Shame will help every western believer because the Bible is based on among other things, Honor and Shame. Most folks thing of Christianity as being a Western Religion but it is not. It is an Eastern religion created for the whole world to fallow.
This is one of the biggest differences between western and eastern perception of the Word of God.

Personally, honor and shame has nothing to do with any religion even Christianity. It is a human values rather. Matter of fact, Jesus taught His followers to be humble, a powerful spiritual weapon.

 

[chanchuinchoy]

Too vague..

If you want to have a discussion bring up a specific topic..

Also Who you do consider to be Western Christians?

1) The Jesus that I know of is named Jesus Christ, He is the messiah of mankind, lamb of God, kings of kings and lord of lords. I came to learned from here in christian chat that Jesus has another name Jesus Yehweh, the same or different person?
2) Baptism and Confirmation. Here in Malaysia, if your parent are christian and you were baptize when you we born as a baby, when you became adult, you need to re-affirm your faith in Christ re-confirmation service. Is this the practice in western countries churches?
3) I was taught by my church that divorce in marriage and LBGT is strictly forbidden due to it contradict with bible teachings.

 

[chanchuinchoy]

On first paragraph of your post.
You wrote,
"..as though the Bible..is different from the Bible.."
- --
Over the years, I learned that there can be different 'views / interpretations' on
Bible passages..because of certain factors.
- 'Regional' context, cultural issues..etc.

I don't think so. Let me quote an examples, my church taught me that divorce in marriage and LBGT is strictly forbidden in the bible. It is clearly a matter of principle and I don't think it is Regional' context, cultural issues..etc and different 'views / interpretations' of the bible.

 

[Adstar]

I am no judge only Jesus is when the right time comes.This is just a general statement that the Christians in all the eastern and western countries have some disparity and Iam interested to find out why.

Give an example??

 

[Adstar]

1) The Jesus that I know of is named Jesus Christ, He is the messiah of mankind, lamb of God, kings of kings and lord of lords. I came to learned from here in christian chat that Jesus has another name Jesus Yehweh, the same or different person?
2) Baptism and Confirmation. Here in Malaysia, if your parent are christian and you were baptize when you we born as a baby, when you became adult, you need to re-affirm your faith in Christ re-confirmation service. Is this the practice in western countries churches?
3) I was taught by my church that divorce in marriage and LBGT is strictly forbidden due to it contradict with bible teachings.

Ok..

1) YAHWEH is derived from a jewish name for God the Father.. I have also seen it spelt YAVEH.. Both names are sometimes used by Christians.. But there is no need to use such terms..

2) This is a catholic tradition.. Baptizing babies in water is not necessary and is not effective in salvation.. A person must Personally believe Jesus and trust in the Atonement Jesus secured on the cross to be saved.. Some western churches follow this tradition.. same with the confirmation.. when i was a catholic before i became a Christian i attended a confirmation service at age 12.. I live in Australia if you are curious..

3) Strict laws against divorce are a catholic religion tradition.. But Jesus said that divorce was acceptable if a person has committed adultery.. And yes LBGT is sin in most western churches.. There are a few false churches that accept LGBT as being ok..

It seems from your examples that you consider the catholic religion to be Eastern.. The catholic religion sadly has many members is the western nations.. So it cannot really be called Eastern.. the catholic religion is world wide..

Actually i will add that the first time i heard the word YAWEH was in a catholic church hymn that i often heard at church..

It went ""YAHWEH is the God of my salvation. I trust in Him and have no fear""

 

[SoulWeaver]

Give an example??

Yeah I second this. I am curious what are they are speaking of exactly.
The differences between Eastern and Western branches of Christianity?
Or the doctrinal division of Christianity in general?

 

[Adstar]

I will add.. That for most Christians in the west when you say Eastern Christianity they will think of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the number of smaller churches linked to it like the Coptic Church and the Ethiopian church and the Russian Orthodox Church..

 

[massorite]

Personally, honor and shame has nothing to do with any religion even Christianity. It is a human values rather. Matter of fact, Jesus taught His followers to be humble, a powerful spiritual weapon.

I am afraid that you need a little education about Honor and Shame in the Word of God. Walking with integrity honors God and ourselves in the eyes of other men for the sake of God. We are to be seen as men of integrity and honor by unbelievers and when we do shameful things we not only bring shame to ourselves but put Christ to shame as well.
Christ did teach us to be humble and many other things but He also taught us to walk with honor and integrity so that He may be glorified through us. Your focus is pretty narrow if all you have learned from the Word of God is about Humbleness.

1Ki 9:4 And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:

1 Peter 2:12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Titus 1:8 But hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

Act 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

2 Cor 8:21 For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man.

Psalm 25:21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

 

[azamzimtoti]

My mind was troubled by this question " why there is a disparity on the thoughts of eastern and western countries Christian on the subject of Christianity as tough the bible that western countries Christians read is different from the bible that eastern countries Christians read.
I used to be a twice a year Christians, came to church twice a year, during Easter and Christmas only until I was found and saved by Christ when I was 15 years old. My Christian life began with participated in church youth fellowship, then church service, cell group and bible study followed by revival meetings, healing rallies and so on.

I have not been to any western countries so far and as such I am inviting those who wish to share on how do you all know Christ and your experiences. If you wish to know more about here, please ask me. Please be informed that I am not here t start an argument, just understanding.

Because bible understanding has been influenced by the relative cultures and affects it "expression".

 

[Dino246]

1) The Jesus that I know of is named Jesus Christ, He is the messiah of mankind, lamb of God, kings of kings and lord of lords. I came to learned from here in christian chat that Jesus has another name Jesus Yehweh, the same or different person?

Yahweh is a transliteration of the Hebrew letters yod heh vav heh which is the name by which God reveals Himself to Moses at the burning bush in the opening chapters of Exodus. The same name is used of God throughout the Bible. Careful study reveals that Jesus IS God. "Christ" (Greek) means "anointed"; "Messiah" means the same thing in Hebrew.

2) Baptism and Confirmation. Here in Malaysia, if your parent are christian and you were baptize when you we born as a baby, when you became adult, you need to re-affirm your faith in Christ re-confirmation service. Is this the practice in western countries churches?

Most western churches hold to "conscious affirmation of faith" - functionally similar to what you describe, but we don't have formal services of re-confirmation. Rather, we just encourage the person to affirm their faith in Christ when they understand it, and can occur anywhere from childhood to adulthood.

3) I was taught by my church that divorce in marriage and LBGT is strictly forbidden due to it contradict with bible teachings.

You were taught that divorce contradicts "bible teachings". Do you know what the Bible says about divorce, or do you only what you have been taught about what the Bible says about divorce? There is a significant distinction between those two situations.

 

[HWatts]

A Baptist church near my home as a child had a controversy. One man was convinced that when taking wine during communion, a communal cup from which everyone sipped must be used, and he convinced some of the group. However, some were unconvinced, and didn't feel obligated to share cups.

The controversy resulted in two Baptist churches sitting almost side by side, they split.

My point is this: Churches aren't perfect because men aren't. Yes, the Head is perfect, but the body is still under construction. Therefore be wary of the teachings and interpretations of any one man who is not Jesus, but test it against the bible. Beware those who divide a church, one group against the other.

Another point is: The two churches I mentioned above were in the same town in the same nation sharing the same culture. You asked about a "disparity" between Eastern and Western Christian churches, while a disparity between the teachings of groups in your own church may be a threat worthy of more attention than hemispherical differences.

 

[MattforJesus]

My mind was troubled by this question " why there is a disparity on the thoughts of eastern and western countries Christian on the subject of Christianity as tough the bible that western countries Christians read is different from the bible that eastern countries Christians read.
I used to be a twice a year Christians, came to church twice a year, during Easter and Christmas only until I was found and saved by Christ when I was 15 years old. My Christian life began with participated in church youth fellowship, then church service, cell group and bible study followed by revival meetings, healing rallies and so on.

I have not been to any western countries so far and as such I am inviting those who wish to share on how do you all know Christ and your experiences. If you wish to know more about here, please ask me. Please be informed that I am not here t start an argument, just understanding.

There are many different beliefs, and traditions, on this planet.

The Bible is the most popular book in the history of mankind, and many people believe it has truth, and some believe it has partial truth, and some have doubt about the Bible but do not want to go against it for it may be true.

Which an example of some that doubt but do not want to go against the Bible is when the Pharisees sent officers to take Jesus but the officers came back empty handed, and the Pharisees said why did you not arrest Him, and the officers said because no man spoke like this man before.

Which Jesus spoke so boldly to them concerning the truth that they said we better leave this man alone for if He is telling the truth we do not want to go against God.

And so it is with the Bible, and many fear the Bible, and doubt the Bible, and do not want to do away with it.

But the new age movement changed that and interpreted the Bible according to the occult, and evolution, and people are still evolving, and there is no personal God which will cause the world to eventually embrace it.

Now the fear and doubt is gone for those who would not embrace the truth, but had fear and doubt concerning the Bible, and those that believed half truth will be persuaded by the new age movement.

But many people will be against the new age movement, but the nations came together as one so they have the military might on their side, and stop the preaching of the Gospel in the future.

Until that happens right now many people have a belief, or tradition, that is not part of the Bible and it becomes their foundation for interpreting scriptures.

The Roman Catholic Church did not get rid of their pagan, occult ways, and it became their foundation so they look at the Bible that way.

Joseph Smith the same the Mormon Church.

Scientology, Christian Science, new age movement.

To name some of the very serious flawed churches.

And many others that have different beliefs, and practices, that differ in a smaller quantity, and some a little more differences.

Not everybody is led by the Spirit when they read the Bible, or start a denomination, which there are a whole lot of different denominations by name, and they incorporate their own interpretation in their denomination, so without the Spirit they are trying to understand by the flesh which will come short of the truth.

And some have a belief not part of the Bible and drag it in to the Bible, and it becomes their foundation for interpreting scriptures.

So they can interpret the Bible according to what they personally believe is truth not part of the Bible, according to their culture, according to their traditions, according to their religion for they will interpret the Bible according to their religions, which the Muslims believe the Quran is the last book of the Bible, and whatever else they hold unto as truth that is not part of the Bible.

So the Bible can be interpreted by different interpretations from one nation to another, and from one end of the world to the other end of the world, because every nations has their own beliefs apart from the Bible, and a different culture, and tradition.

Or in this case of this post from East to West.

Many people have a belief, or tradition, that is not part of the Bible and they drag it in to the Bible, and it becomes their foundation for interpreting the Bible, or some of the Bible.

 

[JaumeJ]

There is a disparaty because neither side gives creddit to the writings from "in the beginning" to the final "amen" of Revelation...……..not a one.