Christians and Jesus Christ...Are you a follower?

ALOT OF PEOPLE! Always say that they are a Christian but can't even spell it out. None the less tell me what it takes to be one.
So you tell me?
Im curious to hear all your opinions!
!!
And if you don't beleive Im curious to know why?

It depends on what you call Christianity and being a Christian. I mean, David Koresh and Jim Jones were hardcore Christians. But not what you might call classic examples of Faith in practice as laid out by Christ's teachings. Then you've got your whole persecution thing; fundamental to the creation of the USA. And then there's the Inquisition: torture and murder in the name of Christ?

If I was a "Christian" banking on The Second Coming, right now I'd be shitting myself as to what I'm supposed to believe, so many are the denominations, and so varied are the interpretations of The Bible. As long as you don't approve of any kind of killing and are kind to animals and the poor, there's a safe bet you're off to Heaven.

I once asked a staunch Catholic friend of my mother-in-law who the most important figure in the Catholic church was, and he said "The pope, of course."

"Not Jesus? Not God?" I replied. Nyer nyer nyer...

Anyone here heard of the Reverend Fred Phelps? Funny guy. He's my favourite offbeat comedian. Everything he says has me in tears of laughter.

I can't find one single good reason to ever believe in jesus christ,
i can slightly understand peoples believe in a god,
but any believe in jesus ,that's crazy, i did was interested in the subject for some time, but just give me one serious evidence of the guy actual existence, al lot of writing like "eyewitnesses' decades later isn't really convincing
the only good thing christianity has done,is for the church.....in making it very very rich.....
and that's how christianity works isn't it, ......let's help the poor and hungry..........after we get the pope a new pare of golden shoes,and ppl reallllly like it, 'cause jesus will save 'em :d...............yes ,probably after bennie the 16 th has his golden shoes polished (or whatever)

To me, "God" is just a figure of speach designed to explain what people can't figure out on their own, much like certain stories that aboriginal people told in their golden days.

I am a believer in myself and my abilities to create my own pathways in life.

Yes, I do believe that Jesus Christ was a real person, there is no reason to believe that he did not exist. I just don't believe that he was anything more than a mere human who displayed many saint-like acts, just as Mother Theresa did in her lifetime.

Officially, I'm Church of England.

This allows me to go (or not go) to church as and when I want and generally do as I like as long as I'm a nice chap.

Church of England rocks socks... especially as I'm in the bible belt and I'm asked my religion often.

"Religion, easily... EASILY has the best bullshit story of all time. Think about it: religion has convinced us that there's an invisible man, living in the sky, who watches everything YOU do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a list of ten specific things that he doesn't want you to do. And if you do ANY of these things, he will send you to a special place... of burning and fire, and smoke, and torture and anguish. For you to live for ever, and suffer, and burn, and scream until the end of time.

But he loves you. He loves you. He loves you, and he needs MONEY. He ALWAYS needs money. He's all present and all powerful, and all knowing and all wise. Just can't handle money." - George Carlin

How I love George

"I was Catholic until I reached the age of reason."

I abscond supreme truth. I'm pretty spiritual I guess you'd say, but I'm not religious. I haven't learned enough about them to choose which best suits me personally; but I think experience is more important than belief -- the reason I say this is I've gone through some weird stuff that makes me question my existence. Anything could be true -- anything -- so that which is most personal to me, the things I experience personally and seek to understand -- those are my truths. "Unitarian Universalist" seems to be the closest thing that I'd label myself as.

We created god in our own interest and likeness - G. C.

It seems to me god is a convenient invention of the human mind - Isaac Asimov

I Consider Myself Christian, Although It Comes With Many Definitons, I Feel Like Anybody Can Call Themselves Christian...But a True Christian In My Definition Is Belief & Lifestyle, I Can't Explain Why I Love God So Much But As a Witness To His Goodness, Hes The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me...Believing In God To Me Is Like Falling In Love, Everyone Cant See It But You Know You Feel It...I Follow His Word Because I Live It
*Have a Blessed July*
xoxo-Nikki-xoxo

^^ I completely agree with that statement.

Anybody can go around and call themselves a Christian, but you can tell by the way they live their lives that they are not.

Some people believe, that as long as you go to church on Sunday, you are a Christian. That is wrong. Just because you go to church it doesn't mean you are a Christian. When you become a Born-again Christian (accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour) then you should turn from your old ways and follow Christ whole-heartedly. This, as Niki said above, basically becomes a lifestyle.

I, even though I am a Christian, find it hard sometimes to really define a "Christian" in the Christ-like sense with words, but I know that it's much more than religion.

Religion is basically a way of doing things, like something that is planned, organized and practised. The bad thing about this is that when you do this, it kind of keeps the Holy Spirit from moving in the way He would like to minister to our hearts. God wants us to have that deeper relationship with Him, not just pray or do certain things because the person holding the Chuch service tells you to. Anone.. anyone AT ALL can talk to God. You don't have to go to a church to pray and you don't have to go confess your sins to a preist to be forgiven. All you need to do is go to Jesus Christ, with "faith the size of a mustard seed."

Maybe I just went a little off topic, but I hope that may answer some of your questions??

^I like that analogy. A lot.

Just out of interest - and this is one for you "Christians" mainly - how many of you are looking forward to The Book of Judas being published? Do you think it will revolutionise your Faith or do you think it will drive a further wedge between the denominations and the (for want of another word) skeptics?

Personally I feel that it's vital it's properly represented. From what I've read about it, it would make Jesus simply the smartest person that ever lived.

Does that mean he could use 100% of his brain?

^^ That was said in all seriousness.

Lol

If he could perform miracles like he was said to have, then chances are he COULD use 100% of his brain.

Lmao.

Lol

There are so many definitions for a Christian, depending on what side you see it from.

a lot of people in my town would just say, "Hey I'm a Christian" Cause they go to some Church. But out of church, I know they do things that a wrong.

Like many things, there are levels to religion. Whether you take it lightly...just for hope or the sake of someone.

Limiting yourself to honesty and "greatness" and being closeminded sometimes.

Or hating, hurting anyone who isn't a Christian.

WOW THanks to everyone who has been posting this is been great!! reading all of this!!

and a side note

Being A CHRISTIAN IS WAY WAY more than just HAving Faith!!!!

0

^^

Possibly....Don't read it all as one thought. She is describing a few different ways that "christians" express their christian sides.

Okay, MY personal opinion as to what a Christian is:

A person who walks in the path of God, trying to make this world a better place, sharing the gospel with other people. One who asks for forgiveness for one's sins, and truly tries not to commit them. I dunno.. I consider myself a Christian, because I believe in God and pray and try to make myself a better person, but in my point of view, there are different levels of Christianity....

I think I'm at the lower end of it all.. But oh well... =/ I still ask God to help me and stuff..

~BJ~

"Being Christian means: have faith and for god's sake, don't ask questions."

I presume you wrote that as tongue-in-cheek. Because asking questions is clearly what makes the world work. Not answering them is the staple of Christianity, right?

^^

You got it! :D

If God had not meant us to question Him, He would not have given us the ability to do so. Why'd you think he went and put dinosaurs for people to dig up? Why d'you think there are glaring inconstencies in the text of the Bible, and chunks missing out of it that turn up in caves some 1700 years later? Why'd you think a mass murderer can live in peace 'til he's 90 while a tortured child dies in agony age 1? Why am I not being struck down with lightning for even writing this?

Because He loves me. He loves that I am using the powers he vested in me to question His actions and maintain my humanity and He allows me to continue to evolve because He is a damn sight smarter than ME! Any of us...

"God created man in His own image."

Well I guess that explains why we have so many comedians...

Me, I love 'em. I especially like the hard-right Christians that abide by the ten commandments but think other religions should be destroyed. And I'm a big fan of Muslims that tell me all about how peaceful Islam is and can't quite grasp the concept of not killing someone that renounces their faith. And don't get me started on "honour" killings in religion... :-)

Christians is a loose term today and I think it should not be used by someone who is actually a Christ follower. I am technically a Christian but I call myself a Christ follower because that is what God has asked us to do, follow Jesus. And I think Ed has some valid points. There are a lot of fanaticals in the Christian faith that make a lot of mistakes but you can not blame that on God. that is their human mistakes that they are making for the wrong reasons. and never believe that if you sin that you autimatically go to Hell. Romans 3: 23 clearly states "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." so if all sins then all go to hell when it also clearly states in Matthew 8: 11 "I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." so it states that all have sinned but then states that many will go to heaven. another question u might ask is that if u sin how do u go to heaven? Romans 3:22 "We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done." The was to heaven is clearly written in The Bible. all you have to do is read it. For once you accept Jesus and believe that he died on the cross for our sins to be washed clean and rose again to tell us of the good news then u too could go to heaven. Go to biblegateway.com. enter in any keyword that sounds interesting and learn. thank you and God Bless.

^ I agree. I believe it takes more then saying you're christian. You need accept Jesus in your heart. You need to know he dies on the cross for our sins. You need to trust in God. We all have sin, and because of that we should turn to God and ask for forgiveness. Being devoted to God and his teachings are both part of being a christian. It takes more then going to church once, or reading the bible. You need to live a life lead by God.

Amen!

A Christoffer: I take from your interpretation of the passage of Romans that you do not follow the Catholic faith? Because my understanding is that the passage you referenced is actually our acceptance that we are sinful and therefore must confess those sins to be true followers of Christ.

yes we must confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord. just by doing that, our sins are forgiving. the act of actually asking for forgiveness is one that builds faith. but to be fully forgivin we must repent, which means be sorry for our sins and really mean that we will never do it again. but just asking for Jesus to forgive our sins means nothing.

I agree with Christoffer and I believe the Catholic teachings do also

"Jesus' call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before Him, does not aim first at outward works, "sackcloth and ashes," fasting and mortification, but at the CONVERSION OF THE HEART, INTERIOR CONVERSION. Without this, such penances remain sterile and false; however, interior conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures and works of penance. Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. At the same time it entails the desire and resolution to change one's life, with hope in God's mercy and trust in the help of His grace."
- from the Catechism of the Catholic Church; 1430-31.

In the sacrament of penance this ACT OF CONTRITION prayer is said

O my God,I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee,and I detest all my sins,because I dread the loss of heaven,and the pains of hell;but most of all because they offend Thee, my God,Who are all good and deserving of all my love.I firmly resolve,with the help of Thy grace,to confess my sins,to do penance,and to amend my life. Amen.

Back to the original topic; It is easier to 'talk the talk', than 'to walk the walk'. Christians have been, and most likely will be persecuted on this earth

Changes in latitude may lead to changes in atitude
"-- the paramount idea of the Beatitudes -- is consistently put forward, in sharp contrast with Jewish prejudices. The very peculiar form in which Our Lord proposed His blessings make them, perhaps, the only example of His sayings that may be styled poetical -- the parallelism of thought and expression, which is the most striking feature of Biblical poetry, being unmistakably clear.

text of St. Matthew runs as follows:
· Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
· Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land. (Verse 4)
· Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
· Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
· Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
· Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8)
· Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)

I have never met an intelligent adult who actually chose to become a Christian who wasn't a recovering alcoholic, divorcee or recently bereaved individual.

If you weren't raised into a faith system, and didn't turn to one because of some harsh event in your life, then i really can't see, how and why anyone would believe in the God of the Bible, and everything that goes with that.

I'm a person of strong faith, but it's not in anything other than my fellow human beings capacity for good and the bonds that connect us all. Any God i can concieve of would be more than happy about that, because he/she doesn't need my attention and love, whether he/she exists or not, but humanity need both of these things in great abundance. I'd like to close this up with a rather spiffy quote from Superman 1.

"They can be a great people Kal El, they want to be, they need only the guidance. That is why I have sent them you, my only son"

Jor El.

PS, the landing really hurt, but I'm ok now.

; )

Im not a Christian I am a Muslim and yes we believe Jesus was a prophet but he is not the focal prophet of our religious beliefs.

No, and God forbid anyone should question focus in the Islamic faith eh?

Hey, Christians! I'd love some opinions on The Gospel of Judas, please!

^^^I have never met an intelligent adult who actually chose to become a Christian who wasn't a recovering alcoholic, divorcee or recently bereaved individual.

My old neighbours bcame Christians in their thirties (now in their late sixties) because of the friendly spirit and the socialist aspects of a tight knit Christian community.

Thoroughly nice folks.

Bret, i bet they are nice folks, and it's cool with me to join any group for the social aspect, that is slightly different to what i was saying though.

If they joined becuase the want to hang out with nice people, rock on...but that is not the same as someone joining as a fully aware and intelligent adult, because they have looked at several options and decided christianity is the right path, based on logic and reason.

Objectively I have never known anyone that reached beyond a finite existence with logic and reason, but subjectively I believe in the immortality of the progression of creation through faith, hope, and love

Are you saying Mickey, that my point about most adult christian converts having come from troubled recent histories is not true? Becuase I think you will find it is in most cases, your own as i recall.

Never make an important life choice when you are depressed, drunk or recently bereaved or dumped.

But you do make a fine point. Logic will only get you so far, you must feel things to be true for any real faith. And I tell you, i feel with every fibre of my being that the bible is a collection of lies socially damaging moral tales.

I think Nikki said something like this a while back...

But it's just like she said. Being a Christian is not about doing good deeds and going to church... There's not an explanation to why God touches you, but He does. And once you answer His call, your life is completely destroyed, but in a good way... and you can't help but fall in love. Faith is a marvelous, marvelous thing.

There are actual historical documents that indicate the existence of Jesus Christ. The more relevant debate is whether he was human or Son of God... I choose to believe the latter.

I have corresponded with many people that have chosen a path that lead them to prison or an early grave. It is only possible in the rare cases to wind up in prison by following a good orderly direction. When I was about your age Kevin I was dealing with the bereavement of a very close relative that was very close to my own age. Bob Dylan was singing the praises of Lenny Bruce in his third Born again series of Born again albums. And by the age of twenty-seven I was actively trying desperately to convert two extreme paths to my point of view. One was a young female, whom had chosen the path of Lenny Bruce and Elvis Presley. I could write another book on those days. The above female’s choices lead her to prison and an early grave.

The other woman was my aunt who gave over sixty years of her life to her faith over logic and reason. She had chosen a path that led her to the convent.

Which chose the more logical and reasonable path?