This is obviously another new buzzphrase from the religion industry (coined I think because there is a growing stigma to being religious), but what do the people who say it actually mean? Do they really think that Jesus speaks to them? Do they have conversations with him in their minds?
2006-09-23 14:15:23 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's one of those "indefinable somethings" that sounds nice but doesn't make much sense when you think about it. I have yet to hear a genuine definition of exactly what this phrase means. A "relationship" is a two-way street. How can you have a relationship with someone at least two milleniums dead?
I prefer atheism. It's not a religion. It's a personal relationship with reality.
2006-09-23 14:20:10 · answer #1 · answered by Scott M 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
There are things about The True Christian Faith that just can not be explained to the satisfaction of the non-believer... and the relationship between God and His people is THE Thing most difficult to explain...actualy impossable...and no that is not a cop-out..it is fact... I know you think you asked about Jesus... not God...but you see, Jesus is God. So that is what you asked.
Many do say The have "a relationship" with God or Jesus and are just paroting a phrase they hear in church... But those of The True Christian Faith Know The Truth... I will offer you the address for my testimony of my first day of The Faith... this is the best I have been able to explain some of what you ask. It is not long ... here is the direct link so you do not have to wade through my website to find it:
http://pages.zdnet.com/mikevanauken/outreach/id109.html
All honest seekers welcome
2006-09-23 21:25:20 · answer #2 · answered by IdahoMike 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
For the majority of Christians, having a relationship with Jesus means accepting that he is the son of God, believing that he died on the cross for our sins as human beings, rose from the dead after three days, and will return someday in the future. For many it means being able to feel the presence of Jesus when we live our lives in a faithfull manner, and believing that he answers our prayers.
It's interesting that you asked this question today, because I only happened to be looking over the tape I made last year of an episode of Trading Spouses. The switch involved Margaret, a Christian conservative, trading places with Jeannie, a pagan.
I don't know if Jeannie's family really were pagans, but they didn't belong to any organized religion, and I don't know how else to classify them. I do know that Margaret had tremendous problems with the fact that her host family didn't believe in God the same way she did, didn't go to a church, and had gargoyles and statues of the Buddha in their yard. From Jeannie's husband's point of view, Margaret wanted his family to be enlightened by her, but wouldn't even consider learning the way they do things because she believed everything her host family practiced was "dark-sided" and "not of God." Rather than a happy family reunion, the switch ended with Margaret arriving home and venting all of her pent-up frustrations to her family and looking as if something inside of her had snapped, refusing the money that Jeannie's family had allocated to hers. (She eventually accepted.)
The point I'm making is that in the course of this switch Margaret mentioned on several occasions that her Holy Spirit (Jesus) talks to her and is testing her spiritual resolve by putting her with a non-spiritual family. But after watching the episode again, I wonder how much of it was Jesus and how much of it was her pre-conceived notions about non-Christian people.
You have to be careful when people tell you that the Lord speaks to them, because some of it may in fact be their religious faith, but it could also be a sign that they're a little bit off their rocker.
2006-09-23 22:16:32 · answer #3 · answered by smoke16507 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I say I have a relationship with Jesus I mean I speak to God and pray for guidance on my daily path. I read the bible and it makes me feel closer to Him. I also read other literature about Jesus and religions in general. I cannot say I actually hear God speaking to me like say Moses did at the burning bush but my heart seems to feel what he wants me to do. I let it lead me and try to do what He would have me do. I try to study other religions and be tolerant because I think God will know The inner truth of each heart that He judges and it will be for Him to decide who has followed His teachings, regardless of what they call it.
2006-09-23 21:23:14 · answer #4 · answered by mortgagegirl101 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus is real and I serve him, I worship him, and I walk daily with him. I have a relationship with Jesus, He is the Great I am! I pray to him I listen for his answers. sometimes he answers me in my dreams, my thoughts, or sometimes out loud! WOW!
You see there is more to life than the physical body, OUR GREAT and wonderful God, gave us a mind and a soul to boot. Before accepting Jeus as my personal Lord and Saviour, I was empty, not complete, but when I discovered a Higher plain of life WOW!
2006-09-23 21:31:45 · answer #5 · answered by fsh3i1 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think you are right that it's a new buzzphrase. But it is true for many, including me. What I mean (I cannot speak for others) is that indeed Jesus speaks to me, through God's Word. When I pray or converse with Him, it is His Word that speaks back to me.
It also means that I do relate to Him, and He to me.
2006-09-23 21:21:45 · answer #6 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It sometimes means they have an open relationship with Jesus which means they can see other Gods at the same time. The voices in my head say they do get other voices who want to get into my head but they just turn up the music and ignore them
2006-09-23 21:21:46 · answer #7 · answered by donronsen 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
From the very begining God has established a way of communication. To hear from HIM you must set time for HIM. By seperataing your self or some might call "quit time" of prayer. Prayer isn' just taiking to God but expecting HIM to answer. The devil has got people "too busy" to actually sit down and spend time with GOD. GOD is always talking to us, we're just to busy to listen.
2006-09-23 21:33:00 · answer #8 · answered by TYRONE S 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is only one way to ease your doubts and fears, have a relationship with Jesus. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
2006-09-23 21:21:03 · answer #9 · answered by charmaine f 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
They are taught to say it, as this is a goal for some christian cults, to have a 'personal relationship' with Jesus. Odd tho a relationship with a dead person they've never met sounds.
Those I know who say this are more limited mentally than other people, not as introspective, and pray about all kinds of decisions they should be making for themselves. As, of course, they ultimately are.
I have never known one to think Jesus actually speaks to them in words. It's more like when they get a feeling that they should do something, this is God/Jesus talking to them.
2006-09-23 21:19:56 · answer #10 · answered by cassandra 6 · 1⤊ 4⤋