Lily Philips - can she be a 'true' Christian?

[mids2019]

https://www.premierchristianity.com/opinion/lily-phillips-has-been-baptised-i-pray-its-accompanied-by-change/20772.article

This article made me think about what it means to be Christian especially about the concepts of sin, judgment and redemption.

In my view Lily of course is a Christian being baptised but to not give up a lucrative adult film career possibly does cause angst amongst more traditional Christians.

We are taught not to judge 'Let those without sin cast the first stone' and to accept the universal unconditionally of forgiveness. (We pray every day about the forgiveness of sin) so it is difficult thologically to condemn others.

However does any fellow Christian need to remind Lily she makes money from a profession where many women with less choice are coerced and manipulated for thr gratification of men? Wr have moved away from a less judgmental Christianity but how do you view participation in Christian life with such a job?

I think you raise interesting points. Maybe religions have to stamp back against questioning. I guess tou would be pretty brave to argue against the non existence of Allah in the middle of Kabul!

It's another interesting topic isn't it whether blshemy laws can ve used against atheists aiming to prove their position.

You do seem to mention Islam a lot. Do you see their religion as wrong because of your own ?

Have you added anything to the conversation ? Or is it just your intention to be disruptive? Do you not like long threads or something ?

Death comes to us all. Hopefully later rather than sooner. It’s the same for everyone regardless of how you have lived your life. Resurrection isn’t possible.

I thibk a general point is that Islam (maybe like Christianity) would like people questioning faith. We do not have 'Chriatian' countries as we have 'Islamic' countries where questions of faith can be shut down if leading i. The wrong directions. I would say Islam maybe has a 'steength' behind it certain Christians envy.

If an individual can’t argue their position then their views have little relevance. Same with politics, science, literature, law etc.

For sure there is just one Christian Theocratic state, the Vatican. And there are very Christian countries, but I see your point on that.

And oh yes, there are plenty of Christians who would love to see Christian theocracies.

Revelations has a lot of symbolism in it. Jezebel in Revelations is not a literal woman and their followers in the end if they do not change their ways the Bible is telling us they will not see the Kingdom of God. This is not about biological children.

You would have thought that if god wanted more believers he would have ensured the bible was written with greater clarity and accuracy?

Yes, I’m aware of that!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/03/cherry-vann-archbishop-of-wales-interview

I think it really is the case that the modern church has changed in terms of sexual sin especially homosexuality. Is it the case now infidelity should be regarded as the only sexual sin of note as it harms others. Other sexual sin and sexual morality in general is quite subjective.

Only infidelity? I think you're missing out rape & sexual assault, incest and child abuse?

@mids2019 I think it really is the case that the modern church has changed in terms of sexual sin especially homosexuality. Is it the case now infidelity should be regarded as the only sexual sin of note as it harms others. Other sexual sin and sexual morality in general is quite subjective.

Not quite.
Some parts of the Anglican Communion have changed the "rules" which hasn't gone down well with the Global South.

www.newsday.com/news/nation/anglican-communion-divisions-africa-lgbtq-gender-l56176

More info here - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62ddy7qwqzo

Back to symbolism.

How do you manage to keep up with what is literal and what is symbolic ?

I have a Bible that is very informative-it is an old edition from 1976 called Home Education Service by Bible House. It has notes on the End Times and it was written by a minister who has written books. I have a few other books as well. I asked on this forum about the character Jezebel on a thread on the rapture and GentleSheep was very helpful with their responses. Some Christians were not taught the Revelations so it can self learning later. Then there is other websites like workingpreacher if I want their views.
Then there is google lastly to see what is being said by others.
This is a response that I got when looking at some of the symbolism myself and then discovered my Bible end notes.
Some people still say that Jezebel was once a real woman and just see her as symbolism. Either way though the children are their followers and not biological children.
There were two Jezebel's in the Bible, one in King's who was literal and one more symbolic in Revelations.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christian-mumsnetters/5396515-the-rapture?page=2&reply=146732179&utm_campaign=reply&utm_medium=share&utm_source=copylink

I studied some years ago and went looked at it again and thought it was all mostly literal and then remembered it is a vision to John from Jesus and it has prophecy and symbolism in it.

God has some parables to that some may not know.

So you google the passage, and you find an article by a preacher who says " This bit is symbolic: you can ignore it"

I suppose you think said preacher is divinely inspired ?

That is not what I wrote. I wrote I read and see what I think and then look at my Bible notes of a credible minister which is a book/Bible if it is on Revelations. (I have some good books passed down to me on Christianity) and see how they compare to my thoughts and then may be look on Working preacher. If I want views of others I may ask a question on the Christian forum. Then I will go and just look at some other views perhaps not always on Google and see how they compare and reject some and think over what I think again. I look at the sources they have linked to rarely. Usually there is room for what I think and it not change as some scripture can be both literal or symbolic. These days giving some people a reply you have to state whether something can have more than one meaning and state what you think.

There you go again. You have absolutely no capacity for evaluating your sources. Do you even know, for instance, who produced the HEHS Bible, and why its study notes on ‘End Times’ may be highly specific to that particular stripe of Christianity? (Clue: this church only exists because Jesus didn’t show up on earth in 1844).

And after doing all that, you label something as fact or symbolic depending on how you want to evaluate it.

God kills anyone - symbolic.

God is nice - fact.

In other words, anything that fits your model is good. Anything outside your model - symbolic.

Tell me, where do I go at end times ? Based on your version of end times, the version you have extensively studied and know so much about. What happens to me when the rapture comes, however you, your church, your pastor defines it,

And of course, taking into direct account what your Bible says.

I have looked at the ministers name and I have done my research on them. I look at the content of what someone writes on a subject to. My research is fine. I have two degrees under my belt and I know when reading sources usually if I what I am reading is inaccurate.

I have not conversed with you before under your name. You was referring to another post earlier. The Jesus Christ Son of God post. In that post it was about scripture and the thread was taken off topic somewhat many times and I tried to cater for it. Some people was asking me questions which led to quite a bit of refresh which wasn't about the thread topic. I was the only person in a 1,000 post thread who believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God who posted. I had to look after myself. The topic of the thread got answered.

I gave more attention to things on the topic of the thread and looked into briefly other questions and used my experience and knowledge to reject information and look at the sources and determine an answer. It came out in another thread that Google at times be helpful, you have to be repaired to search the sources linked and may be reject some of what you see. This is about this thread and not about myself.

But ‘done my research’ for you equals ‘a quick Google’. Surely your two degrees taught you better? And that ‘a man who has written books’ isn’t an authority?

Some people just read the Bible and go no further. I am doing what is necessary. No, I didn't write at all that doing research is a quick Google at all. There is nothing wrong in the steps I gave about research for self study. This is not an essay here. I might enjoy an occasional group to discuss about the Bible and that could be added down the line. I guess I do that here at times as well by asking questions.

It's just a concidence that anything in the Bible that makes you even slightly uncomfortable is deemed "symbolic" by your research ?