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

Church smells funny, there are too many old people there.

The Apostles' Creed
The basic creed of Reformed churches, as most familiarly known, is called the Apostles' Creed. It has received this title because of its great antiquity; it dates from very early times in the Church, a half century or so from the last writings of the New Testament.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
It seems that faith is as traditional as any other form of belief systems
It is dependant on whose word we take as the truth. A creed is passed down from generations

Caesar: Caesar was a title which came from the family name of Julius Caesar, who ruled Rome as a monarch without a crown from 49 to 44 B.C. Octavian, Caesar's.
If I follow the teachings of the Christ I must render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God

Has anyone in this discussion given their soul to Caesar?

I'm a big fan of his salad, so I may have in times of stressful dieting.

Lol… you know what they say when in Rome do as the Romans do

Speaking of salads

The best vantage point on Jerusalem is on the Mt. of Olives. We drive through a-Tur, an Arab village, at 2650 feet above sea level. The Mosque of the Ascension appears on the left. Christians built a chapel here in the late 4th century to commemorate the ascent of Jesus into heaven. A piece of bedrock in the middle contains a mark like a footprint, which pilgrims through the ages attributed to Jesus.

This is a stimulating thought provoking discussion
It is also believed by many that the Mt. of Olives is the site were Muhammad ascended into heaven

Heaven may be a place where Jews, Moslems, and Christians may find peace

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." Our feet are standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that is built As a city that is compact together; To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the LORD— An ordinance for Israel— To give thanks to the name of the LORD. For there thrones were set for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. "May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces." For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, "May peace be within you." For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good

THIS IS GREAT!! LETS KEEP THIS DISCUSSION GOING!!

Ed - how is that different to any of the other semetic religions?

PS: Like any of the other blessed prophets Jesus is too a hero of mine he plays a huge part in Islam, aside from what the common belief may be.

Well said Chelsey :o) Thats my girl :o)

Just recently i began to believe in God, and anything really. So ima researching differnt religions. I just began to research Christianity so I dont know much about it yet.

~Terra

"Ed - how is that different to any of the other semetic religions?"

Glad you asked. Answer: Salman Rushdie.

"Any Christian who has not studied the possibility that Jesus ordered Judas to betray him is (and I mean no offence by this, it is my BELIEF) not a Christian as Christ intended."

^ Ed, I'm kind of confused about what you just said, but here's my response according to what I got from it: It was God's will that Jesus die on the cross for our sins. If He never died, we would would still have to sacrifice lambs to be forgiven, but we don't. That's why Jesus is often refered to as "The Lamb of God". I don't think Jesus would tell somebody to betray Him, for the He says in the Bible that whoever is ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of them on Judgement Day (unless you ask for forgiveness of course). If Judas didn't betray Jesus, who knows what would've happened. It had to happen somehow. And, if Jesus did tell Judas to betray Him, then Judas wouldn't of committed suicide because of the guilt he felt after Christ was crucified.

"Any Christian who has not studied the possibility that Jesus ordered Judas to betray him is (and I mean no offence by this, it is my BELIEF) not a Christian as Christ intended."

Is not a Chrisitan and CHrist intended? GIve me a break! Please, CHrist intended us follow him, follow his word, praise his father God, not to study the POSSIBILITY

Ed - I know who Salman Rushdie (born Ahmed Salman Rushdie) is and I don't see his relevance to this discussion. He is a British Indian author who writes a blend of fantasy and real life, he comes from a Muslim family...He wrote the Satanic Verses which is again based partly on the life of Mohummed (pbuh) but is also a crock of absolute crap, its also a fictional story...I mean in saying that Ed your also saying authors like Dan Brown and his STORY The Da Vinci Code represent all the Christian beliefs as well. Kind of a vicious and one sided view of another religion to promote dont you think Ed...?

That is funny Dwelt, but seriously I believe that Jesus was innocent, as Pontius Pilate obviously believed He was not a threat to Rome because he offered to set him free, but the accusers chose Barabbas

No true Christian considers the risen Christ to be an ordinary man
It was a Roman citizen who went by the name of Saul before his conversion that did the most to spread Christ’s teachings

Paul's letters were written before the Roman emperor Constantine made it legal to be a Christian

In the Garden
When they came for Him in the garden, did they know?
When they came for Him in the garden, did they know?
Did they know He was the Son of God, did they know that He was Lord?
Did they hear when He told Peter, "Peter, put up your sword"?
When they came for Him in the garden, did they know?
When they came for Him in the garden, did they know?

When He spoke to them in the city, did they hear?
When He spoke to them in the city, did they hear?
Nicodemus came at night so he wouldn't be seen by men
Saying, "Master, tell me why a man must be born again."
When He spoke to them in the city, did they hear?
When He spoke to them in the city, did they hear?

When He healed the blind and crippled, did they see?
When He healed the blind and crippled, did they see?
When He said, "Pick up your bed and walk, why must you criticize?
Same thing My Father do, I can do likewise."
When He healed the blind and crippled, did they see?
When He healed the blind and crippled, did they see?

Did they speak out against Him, did they dare?
Did they speak out against Him, did they dare?
The multitude wanted to make Him king, put a crown upon His head
Why did He slip away to a quiet place instead?
Did they speak out against Him, did they dare?
Did they speak out against Him, did they dare?

When He rose from the dead, did they believe?
When He rose from the dead, did they believe?
He said, "All power is given to Me in heaven and on earth."
Did they know right then and there what that power was worth?
When He rose from the dead, did they believe?
When He rose from the dead, did they believe?

When He rose from the dead, did they believe?
When He rose from the dead, did they believe?
He said, "All power is given to Me in heaven and on earth."
Did they know right then and there what that power was worth?
When He rose from the dead, did they believe?
When He rose from the dead, did they believe?
Bob Dylan

"I mean in saying that Ed your also saying authors like Dan Brown and his STORY The Da Vinci Code represent all the Christian beliefs as well. Kind of a vicious and one sided view of another religion to promote dont you think Ed...?"

How many Fatwah's has Dan Brown got on him eh?

Having said that, I am not tarring all Muslims with the same brush. I spend my Christmas, every other year, with in-laws in a tolerant Muslim country. One year we were there for Ramadan, and on the last night (Eid? Karatay, locally) the youngest son of the guy who ran the compound we were staying in got hit by a car while shopping for cloth for whatever celebration it was they have in their tribe to mark the end. When the locals found out what happened they all rallied around and gave the lad's family a real feast and made sure he was treated like a proper star after his ordeal. And we are talking poor people. Humble people.

It certainly left me feeling humbled. But in the big scheme of things (and there are other, less savoury storied I can relate) it painted me a picture of Islam that reminded me of the kind of attitude Christianity had in the world about 400-500 years ago, and placating the variations on the philosophy does not bode well for humanity's future.

I have to say, THis topic is one that can be discussed by many but only mastered by a few. Not saying everyone is to nimble and weak to get the concept of christianity. not at all! I'm saying there are few now a days that can really sit here and tell you what it means to be a Christian. because there are two different types. There are ones that say what it means to be one. (and though it might be right) they dont stand behind it. People that give there opinion and stand behing it with the Bible as its foundation are well I think awesome...!! So more power to you!! and PLease Keep on writing I love where this is going!!

Illuminati - thankyou - that compliment just made my morning.

Ed...regardless of the form or method taken its blasphemy and based on fiction in the cases of both authors...neither of which are relevant to the initial discussion of being a believer in Jesus Christ or Christianity.

Cheers though mate :o)

May the Heavens forbid that anything should evolve: least of all discussions. Mate. :-)

I've been going to church pretty much all my life w/ my grandma , but faithfully never had expectations on living the life of christ. I don't really how to explain it 4 sure though. I will admite Sometimes in the past I played a role pretenting to be all good, and christian like, but I'm not sure if that was 4 me. Yes, I love God and every thing don't get me wrong. I thank him every day for what I have, but in todays society its harder to be a good christain when you feel all alone. Well, thats my thoughts anyways.

Or perhaps your perspective Ed ;o)
I mean mate xoxo

"these religious people will suffer greatly when inevitably letting go of their cherished beliefs"

I'd find this less banal if you'd expressed a measured grasp of the history of religion, religious values, or even just religious intolerance. How is letting go of "cherished beliefs" in any way inevitable?

I know there are more of you who have an opinion...drop one by and discuss

the term christian is used too loosely. ppl who have asked jesus to be there savior and have accepted him are christians. but, now here's the kicker. what we are talking about here is after you've already done that. being a christian involves so much more than just accepting. being a christian is being christ like. as a christian myself, i read the bible and i've found out through constant study that we are to walk behind Jesus, not to the side and not in front. there are a lot of ppl who have never picked up a bible and there are ppl who have never heard of this Jesus that i love so much. i feel, and the bible says, that we are supposed to show them throught the way we walk our lives who Jesus is. by our actions. also it says in the bible to go and make disciples. so that is to go and get ppl to follow God and Jesus as well. so after u ask Jesus into ur heart and u accept Him then it is ur job as commanded by God to get other ppl to Him any way you can. thats what it is to be a christ follower. not just a christian cause thats easy, but to be a true christ follower.

^ That is very true. Christianity is somethign serious and it's not just a label, it's a lifestyle. It's a belief that you should live out by your actions, not just by your words. Words mean nothing. Well that's not really the meaning of Christianity but you know what I'm saying :)

words do mean something, Romans 10:9 "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." words matter a lot.

“words do mean something, Romans 10:9 "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." words matter a lot”

Those letters were written by a man named Paul to the Romans, Paul, before seeing the light persecuted Christians.
I believe those words came through Paul rather than from him.
The Truth always matters. Words only matter when they reflect the truth
The Truth can only heal when accepted

I just finished reading a book written by Annie Kirkwood. She claims to be a non-Catholic visited by the mother of Jesus. I found that much of this book was beautifully poetic. Although the book warns of catastrophic changes foreseen the author makes it clear it is not God's will that man should harm the earth

Many Christians view Mary as the clear mother of God, but it is not as clear to them what her role in the church entails.

The pureness of a Christian should make a true Christian transparent enough that the light of love and truth can pass through us so that we may live the life God wills for us

As lonely bones stated Christianity is a lifestyle
that should be lived by the grace of God

i wasnt saying that actions arent important and are the rock that we live on but saying that words are not important is not true. thats all. i agree with you that basically our actions speak louder than words. but the words are the beginning. so they are just as important. and who cares about who wrote them. God spoke to each person who wrote the bible and told them what to write, in a sense. they are still the words of God written by the hand of man.

What I meant was that words are not all that matter. Like, if you say it with your mouth, but don't live it with your life, then what are people going to think? That's what I meant lol.

^ alot of people I know are like that, they say one thing and do another. And its not just about religion either. It annoys me and makes it hard for me to trust them.

Do we have any converts as a result of this topic yet, or is it still just blind faith and theological posturing? :-)

i believe in God but its hard to worship someone that isnt there/cant see/cant feel/ i really am ashamed that i dont live like a christian but i dunno.....i really dont think that im gonna go to hell but whatever. if i could see him than yea maybe then i could become a christian

You're ashamed? Well that's a step on the path to being a good Christian! Shame and fear are what religion is all about, believe it or not. Blind faith is the real target to aim for, but a healthy dose of shame and fear keep most on the path.

"You're ashamed? Well that's a step on the path to being a good Christian! Shame and fear are what religion is all about, believe it or not. Blind faith is the real target to aim for, but a healthy dose of shame and fear keep most on the path."

Sometimes I wish my little dog were more into spiritual remedies. My dog seems religious when I discover he has pooped on the carpet. He bows his head in shame, and runs and hides in fear much like the proverbial Adam and Eve did when they sensed their master would not be pleased. My dog never tries to bring the accident to my attention in the same way he helps me remember to fill his food and water dish.

It is a shame that many of the cultures that are not restrained by religious values seem to follow dictators that do not value human life

If we as individuals transgress the boundary of the laws of our society we are usually alienated from that society in some way.

An astronomer may feel an indignity if you told him he needed blind faith to assume the universe is infinite

Ed is a great satirist who reflects what he has observed
The fear of alienation from society is very real even from the point of view of a highly randomly evolved ape that refuses to believe in anything it has not observed

Don't get me started on Pluto and the astrological irony that is Pluto. Belief systems are ever fleeting and as such I am happier with the cold hard certainty of a debatable new dawn and the uncertainty of our premise within it. :-)

Speaking of astrological irony I have been fascinated by the astrologers or magi that are said to have traveled from afar bearing gifts for the infant Jesus.

I have tried to imagine how the bible was written from an objective point of view just for the fun of it

I have heard the theory that the bible was written by a religious man to control the masses
But they are not sure who master minded it

Objectively it is difficult to imagine someone having a brain fart
“Oh. I have an idea I will write a book to control the masses’
Then imagine him writing it with a feather quill on a scroll
With blind faith he imagines his writing would be read by thousands of people in his lifetime?

How long do you think it would take to be educated enough to write a story like that today with information at our finger tips

It is also much easier the reach the masses

BTW Ed thanks for not getting started on Pluto as am sure there are readers still trying to figure what dog poop has to do with the original topic

"How long do you think it would take to be educated enough to write a story like that today with information at our finger tips"

About 800 years. Easy.

I think this is done more often than we give the human race credit for. So many Gods. So many religions. I was talking to a kid who worships the Ori the other day, for crying out loud. I asked him if he went to organized worships or if just sitting in a darkened bedroom was enough. He didn't know what I meant.

i am religiously not religous, i dont believe in god or a higher plain, every thing you do shapes the outcome of your life and you can attack me because i dont believe in god or religion so :P

The Peoples Temple organization did not survive the mass suicide/murder in Guyana. Their former headquarters building in San Francisco was demolished by the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989. David Koresh followers did not survive

There are not inquisitions as were known in the dark ages
The crusades are debatable

Many people still have a poor understanding of the separation of church and state
Many that believe they are following the truth are seemingly following lies

Not everyone that follows the path of logic is pathological

“I am religiously not religious, I don’t believe in god or a higher plain, every thing you do shapes the outcome of your life and you can attack me because I don’t believe in god or religion so”
-Ghoulishly Dead-

Although Christians are supposed to surrender their will to the Father it is sad that many expect to be attacked by us.

Jesus did not come to attack, or condemn the world, but to save us from ourselves

And look at what a spectacular job he did/is doing.

Anyway...

"i dont believe in god or a higher plain, every thing you do shapes the outcome of your life"

That's actually a belief system too, y'know? Because people who say things like that don't really believe that everything they do shapes their lives at all. What they mean is that the things they do that go remembered or have a significant impact on their memory shape the outcome of their life. And it's these people that get the most pissed at the world when things DON'T go their own way because of something "someone else" did.

You know what I mean, grown-ups? "My boss fired me, he is such an asshole!" "The guy short-changed me by 10 bucks and I didn't know 'til I got home, man he sucks!"

Everything you do shapes your life? Who the Hell do you think THAT is going to fool? LMAO!

“And look at what a spectacular job he did/is doing.”

The Holy Trinity is perfect Love

Religion is only a path that is often confused with the destination
I agree that drinking and distributing poison kool aid does not reflect any teaching of Jesus
Burning heretics is not the way to unity
Life is always more sacred than boundaries
Love should have no boundaries

Love may be rejected by people of any religious persuasion, or even religious authority, but Love is always spectacular

Creation is the constant product of the unchanging laws of nature, the essence of the Creator

Many forces shape our lives
free will shapes the outcome