Believing in God and Christ alone?

[Nihilist]

It seems to me that the only thing we can really believe in is God (the utterly transcendent, unknown), and Christ (the only truly good human being, who somehow united humanity and divinity). It seems like everything else- this world, human achievement, family, political ideologies, etc., are really just a load of rubbish, and a bunch of deceptions. Even if it wasn’t it would still be merely passing, and therefore ultimately worthless.

Is it good for a Christian to reject belief in everything (i.e. to become a nihilist), except for God and Christ?

 

[Ben_F]

When you believe in Christ, then you believe in the things he says. God bless

 

[meltzerboy]

It seems to me that the only thing we can really believe in is God (the utterly transcendent, unknown), and Christ (the only truly good human being, who somehow united humanity and divinity). It seems like everything else- this world, human achievement, family, political ideologies, etc., are really just a load of rubbish, and a bunch of deceptions. Even if it wasn’t it would still be merely passing, and therefore ultimately worthless.

Is it good for a Christian to reject belief in everything (i.e. to become a nihilist), except for God and Christ?

I don’t think it is good for a Christian or anyone else to become a nihilist because G-d created man in His own image and gave him the gifts of reason, intellect, and compassion that he should use to make the world a better place for everyone. Not to believe in mankind’s potential and actual achievements or in the world he inhabits is to reject the gifts bestowed upon mankind by G-d as well as G-d’s creation.

 

[Ben_F]

I don’t think it is good for a Christian or anyone else to become a nihilist because G-d created man in His own image and gave him the gifts of reason, intellect, and compassion that he should use to make the world a better place for everyone. Not to believe in mankind’s potential and actual achievements or in the world he inhabits is to reject the gifts bestowed upon mankind by G-d as well as G-d’s creation.

I agree.

 

[christus_vincit]

It seems to me that the only thing we can really believe in is God (the utterly transcendent, unknown), and Christ (the only truly good human being, who somehow united humanity and divinity). It seems like everything else- this world, human achievement, family, political ideologies, etc., are really just a load of rubbish, and a bunch of deceptions. Even if it wasn’t it would still be merely passing, and therefore ultimately worthless.

Is it good for a Christian to reject belief in everything (i.e. to become a nihilist), except for God and Christ?

Christ sanctified the world and all that is in it by His Incarnation. The Word truly became Flesh. Because of this, everything in the created order is glorified. As Christians, we must recognize this. Life is sacramental. God uses the materials of the world to bestow grace upon us. He incorporates us into His family through waters of Baptism, and gives us Himself under the appearances of bread and wine in the Eucharist. He sanctified family life by His own life with Mary and Joseph in Nazareth. I believe that when we take all of this into account we can only reach the conclusion that the natural world and all the trappings of humanity are inseparable from the mission of Redemption and what it means to be a Christian. The very instrument of our redemption is a rough piece of wood.

The things of this world are indeed fleeting - but only when pursued for false ends. When we strive for lives of perfection and virtue, and thereby utilize the created order the way that is intended by God - the things of this world truly do point us towards salvation. And it always comes back to the mystery of the Incarnation.