(Seriously) What would you need to see in a person to believe?

Question

For those of you who are not Christians, what would you need to see in Christians to know that having a relationship with Jesus and having him as your Lord and Savior, would make a difference. We all know that no religion has perfect followers and yes there are a lot of hypocrites, but no matter how much we try, we cannot get everyone to exemplify Christ every day.

So, if you could only meet one Christian, what would you need to see or hear from that person to convince you that Jesus is real and that following Christ will be the best decision you could make?

Answer 1

Dear Sincere Questioner, I have met many wonderful Christians and they are great exemplars of the faith. Honestly and truly, I love them and would give them a kidney if they needed one. I would take 200 rem to save their lives, perhaps even lay down my life to save theirs. Got that level of love?

Now then, I will answer your question because you ask it so sincerely. I have had two direct experiences with the Ineffable Light. I feel no need for other people's religion. As far as a historic Jeshua ben Joseph, I think if he did exist he was a good rabbi, an Essene, a leader of a revolution that failed, who took over the priestly pillar when his cousin John was killed (as well as the kingly pillar,) whose cause was taken up by his brother James, who was subverted by Paul, whose message was mangled into a Greek mystery cult to fit in with the Romans. I think Jesus would not have hung out with any of us Gentiles. And the thought that he was worshipped as a God would have upset him greatly because Jesus was a Jew. Jews have only one God and that God's name is approximately Yod Hey Vav Hey (fill in the vowels).

So, while I love some Christians, I also know some really wonderful Sikhs, some Zororastrans that are very wonderful, a couple Buddhists that I would indeed die for, and a whole bunch of Wiccans that are a touch New Agey but I must say they are caring and giving and more accepting than most of the folks I see on this board.

That is my belief. I am Pope of my own church, in essence. I do not seek nor welcome converts. I accept that you have your own beliefs out there. Incidentally, my two experiences have led me to believe that YOU are going to be OK, you (the person reading this) are going to be engulfed in warmth and love at the moment of your passing from this life. So lighten up!

Answer 2

As a True Christian I already look for one thing - fruit - Christ taught that if we are following Him, then there will be fruit in that person's life - actions often times speak louder than words - so it would not always be in what one says - anyone can speak well - but more so in how one acts - I know they will have bad days and sinful human nature will appear, but I also know the True Christian will come back and atone for that. That is why in my description it says I hope to be found Consistent for Christ.

Answer 3

There is nothing that can "convince" per say.

Christians are no more than sinners saved by Grace. We are by no means perfect, and as far as judgemental? We didn't say it God did...

Even Paul, who wrote most of the NT, could not "convince" people to follow Christ. It HAS to be the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. It is not by our words, or actions, or debates...we can only speak the Truth and let God do the rest.

They will be reminded of all their "chances" when they stand before the Judgement Seat.

Answer 4

Has it occured to ANY christian that thousands of years ago people believed in the Greek Gods and now we regard it as a good story and a myth? What are people going to think of Christianity in another couple thousand years. I'll tell you what, they're going to look back on it and wonder how in the world ANYONE ever thought it was real. Silly people you christians are. You want me to believe in God... show me 1... just 1 Christian who can acknowledge and accept the fact that I DO NOT! Then, and only then, will I believe that there MIGHT be a God.

Answer 5

My being a non-christian has very little to do with Christians. I was raised a Christian. But many years ago I was doing a research project on Neo-Pagan religions. I went to a pagan ritual and was sitting and observing when I was stuck with a profound sense on love. Something I had never experienced in over 20 years of being a Christian. It literally overwhelmed me. That was the night I met the Goddess. Over the next few weeks I tried to dismiss it but I couldn't. I embraced Her and have not looked back. And, She still overwhelms to this day.

Pax

Pablito

Answer 6

Nothing I could see or hear from an individual would make me believe that Jesus Christ is lord and savior and all that. It's not merely a matter of collecting evidence (but as far as that goes, I don't see any), it's also a matter of feeling, of what I feel to be real.

For instance, most Christians believe humans are born in sin, disconnected from the natural world, and must come to God to be forgiven for the ancestral sin of Adam. I don't believe this, and that's simply a matter of feeling, not science. I have worked with kids for years, and I just cannot imagine that these children are born into sin. They are the picture of innocence, and those who say otherwise are using religion as a tool.

That said, I do believe many Christians are making the best decisions for themselves, and that because of their unwavering faith, they are better people. I don't think it's for everyone and I don't believe it myself, but it's one path to enlightenment among many, and there's much good to be taken gleaned from the Christian faith.

There's also mutual exclusivity... the "us" and "them" found in most every organized religion. And that's not so good. There are also very strange tenets and practices that date back to the edge of recorded history, are of dubious veracity, and include the rites and customs of fairly primitive people. Many religions of that age have long since been relegated to the realm of myth... a few have not, as people still cling to them, needing something to believe in.

In short, I could see things in a person that let me know he or she truly believed, and I could see things that let me know Christianity was working for that person, that it was a positive influence on his or her life and on the lives of others. I could not see anything that would allow me to believe in Christ as "Redeemer" and so forth, as the whole idea seem antiquated and unverifiable to me, in addition to just giving me an unsettled feeling about organized religion and its role, for good and bad, over the centuries.

If you exemplify the Christ you believe in, I am sure you will be the better for it, as will the world. But there are other paths that are just as valid and just as wonderful. And, if organized religion is left out of the equation, there are other options that are more peaceful. I realize one can separate the idea of Christ from the idea of religion, and I feel that if you do that you are that much closer to the universal truths that organized religion keeps us from.

Christ, either as a partly fictitious persona or a historical figure, certainly exemplifies a way of living that is loving, kind, open, non-judgmental, and welcoming. There are others, such as the Buddha or more modern examples like Gandhi or the Dalai Lama, who show people such an example just as successfully in my opinion, minus some of the dogma.

In John 14:6 we see the infamous "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me." That's an interesting passage. It has inspired dogma that tells the Christian that Jesus is an intercessor, that there is no way to reach Heaven without accepting Christ as Savior. To me, that is an example of the coersive nature of organized religion and the danger of hard-and-fast interpretations.

For starters, the authenticity of such a quote is dubious at best, having not been taken down until many years after Christ's demise. Beyond that, it seems a rather blatent attempt to lull worshippers into submission. This is the way... take it or leave it, but if you don't take it, you're going to hell.

The idea of hell as a lake of fire is equally ridiculous to me. Hell is disconnection. Hell is solitude. Hell is the inability to recognize that we are connected to everything. In some respects, a "personal relationship with Christ" reconciles this situation, and for the better. There is a sense of connection inherent in the relationship, even if it requires an imagined intercessor. There is some peace, serenity, and understanding that comes of realizing the beauty and interconnected nature of life and of all things. Christians do, to some extent, see that. And in that respect, they are blessed.

Many other religion can and do offer the same sort of connection, however. And many atheistic or non-theistic worldviews offer it as well. There are many paths one may use to walk up the mountain. I respect your right to walk you path, and I hope you respect my right to walk mine. We can worry about our respective afterlives, if we have to, when we get there. ;)

Thanks for the question.

Answer 7

Master Jesus said that you would know a tree by it's fruit. so for me, the measure would be how they live as opposed to what comes out of their mouth. Christ-consciousness is about a demonstration - not an explaination.

if we were really a Christian nation - we would not be in Iraq right now - or any war for that matter...& that's just a start.

my motto is, "don't tell me what you know - show me how you grow."

Answer 8

I'm a christian and I think to make someone see that I believe in Christ is to not go to a party or a big event because of youth group.

Answer 9

Nothing a living, breathing mortal soul could say or do would convince me that jesus is real. Now if jesus himself showed up on my doorstep with valid proof of identity, performed a couple of miracles, and talked to me in tongues, maybe then I'd believe.

Answer 10

All it would take is for one Christian to actually do all the things the bible claims Christians can do (heal the sick, raise the dead, walk on water, drink poison with no affect).

If one Christian would just repeatedly do one of those things on a regular, scheduled basis where he can be observed by independent witnesses, it would go a long way towards changing my beliefs.

But, I won't hold my breath waiting for that to happen.