There are many who profess to know Christ who are mistaken. What evidences do you have that you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
Posts
When Quoting Scripture Inflicts Harm
6 years ago
Monday, June 15, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
I know that I am a Christian, because:
1) I can remember a time when I prayed and asked God to take away my sins.
2) I John 1:9
3) There have been instances in my life that would not have happened if I had NOT been a Christian.(ie I would not feel the need to have Christian fellowship or the need to read my Bible if I were not; there have been instances where I could see that God has led me in certain decisions.)
I don't go to church, I don't read the Bible, I don't pray, I no longer have "Christian fellowship"......
Does this mean I'm not a Christian?
Some would say "yes". I say "no".
A Christian is a follower of Christ. Someone who when in a circumstance, chooses to do that thing that Christ would have done, had He been physically present.
There's a lot more to being a Christian than just going through the rituals and trappings associated with the Christian lifestyle. It's easy to wrap oneself in the songs, the culture and the jargon to the point that one looks the part, and it's equally easy to write someone else off because they choose to not get sucked into the same songs, the same culture and the same hype.
Am I a Christian? Why should it matter to anyone except Christ? The decision lies between Him and me alone.
Anonymous 4 pm, as long as you and the Lord know, great! But we are not islands are we? Aren't we to present Christ and not just in our witness of doing the "right things"?
I agree that some who do the "church" thing aren't followers of Christ but just religious. But I also know that it is hard to live for Christ in isolation. I need other Christians and I also witness better in a crowd so to speak.
Why have you turned from the church? If one church hurt you, why not seek out another? Aren't we called in the Bible to fellowship together and all the more as the time of Christ's return nears?
And why not read the Bible and pray? These aren't tainted things, are they? The Bible is God's word and prayer is talking to God. You have me confused.
JTG-
I semi-support those views of comments made by 4p, though I do attend near 47 + wks a yr on Sundays and am a member of a church. But I respect the views of this poster, I fail to understand way, being Christian though has to be made as if it is competition event of those you attend vs those who do not. Who are any of us to judge? I know I can't, that's why Jesus was sent as a savior for all of us as sinners. From my readings and MY understanding, Christ did not commends any of us, he just showed/projected Loveon all He drew himself to, by expressing love and meeting them where they were at did preach to them. For me, being a Christian is not a competive event, it's coming alongside another or having another come along side me where each of us may be at each of our paces. I feel the "church" or some any way, tend to make things too comptetive and/or as the 4pm poster notes "culture, jargon, and hype", which in turn becomes ritualistic and actually makes those testing the church "waters", reject the church itself or plants a negative seed. The Bible is a necessity, as is any training manual is needed for proper operation. But again, I can relate to the 4pm poster's comments, don't simply quote scrpture to use as a "ego-trip" to make one-self feel good, to do so because they are better at reciting, when they are not actually fulfilling the true meaning of the written word. Talk is cheap, honest heartful meaningingul, expression of human compassion relational connectedness IS what most folks are relate to. Again, many times this tends to stand in the way between the "church" and those it tries to reach. Being around Christians all the time, is just a an opportunity to make "one-self" feel better. If the "church" was just for Saints and fellow Saints just like themselves,there wouldn't really need to have many churhces would it?
Just things to share and express. Never judging, just sharing open discussions. I guess I am just a different "Christian", but still a Christian, Christ never rejected me. Thanks!
To expand on my earlier answer:
I don't go to church, because after trying several churches, I found them all to be closed circles of existing friends, with little or no room to embrace new faces;
I don't read the Bible, because I grew up reading the Bible, and much of it has stayed with me;
I don't pray in that I don't engage in "Lord bless this, bless that, etc", but rather I rely on the moral compass that God has instilled in me to try to see each circumstance I find myself in through eyes of compassion;
I don't have "Christian Fellowship" because my experience is that Christian Fellowship only exists between Christians who share the same ideologies, and excludes those who don't.
Philippians 2:12-13 tells us to "....continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." I'm trying to do that.
I agree wholeheartedly that that it is hard to live for Christ in isolation, but when you are put in circumstances where you have no other option, then that's what you do. Has it been easy? No it has not been, no it is not, and no, it will not be, but that is how it is in my experience.
Anon, 4:00 pm.
Anonymous 4 & 6:41 - Have you stopped trying to be in community? Are you still trying to be in community with others or have you isolated yourself, built up a wall because of others and now no one can get in? Are you blaming others only and not seeing within you some issues? Can the past not be put in the past? Are you holding the church today hostage because of the church of your great time of hurt? Just asking because I don't think we can be the Christian we should be in isolation.
Post a Comment