When you talk about "accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior," what do you mean by that and why do you insist on using language that people are so familiar with and confused by that it has lost its power? For example, I think you really mean "accept our religion on the basis of what we believe about substitutionary atonement" when you talk about "accepting Christ as one's personal Lord and Savior." I don't think you're talking about simply looking to Jesus and his message of the Kingdom of God; I think you have a bunch of baggage you hang on it and then try to push it on people. Am I right?
2006-10-15 14:19:18 · 26 answers · asked by ? 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
ok...let me try to explain this...when you accept christ as your personal savior...thats exactly what it is..personal...
you see....i have my personal relationship with christ and it's up to you to have one if you want it....not up to me so in reality i really don't care if you do or not...i do feel sad for you if you don't but...it's not my call to try to persuade you.
i don't understand tho why you can't accept me as a christian and a human being...will you not sit and have a couple of beers with me because i am a christian? and if you do would we talk about other things or would you keep on telling me i'm wrong because i'm a christian.....
i don't ask for you to accept my religion...just that you accept me regardless of what i believe.....
everyone has baggage and when christ comes into a persons life this baggage is relieved to an extent...i guess this is why christians tend to try to tell others about it....they just want others to experience the feelings of wieghts being lifted from you.
unfortunately i do have to agree with you on one point...alot of christians have forgotten how simple it really is "Simply looking to Jesus and his message of the kingdom of God"
sorry if i'm rambling...i'm just tired of people trying my faith when i personally respect others religion or lack of religion..i wouldn't sit down to dinner with any one and try to force my beliefs on them nor would i even bring up the topic of religion...i would just enjoy my dinner and my company...............
2006-10-15 14:48:11 · answer #1 · answered by chefzilla65 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Alright, I'm not a Christian, and something tells me you'll take me a little more seriously than if I were. I can't stand people pushing religion on me. Being a Witch, I get it a LOT, and I'm tired of it. But when they say "Accept Christ", they mean just that. Some of us accept Christ and become born again. Others, like me, do NOT accept Christ as our savior. I will not buy the theory that a long-dead man will save me from an imaginary place called hell. So you can accept it, or you can deny it, and I deny it.
I hope that explains it. It's pretty cut-and-dry. While I agree there are some over-zealous people out there that twist the English language for their own purposes (for example, that whole 'hate the sin, not the sinner' crap), "accept Christ" means just that.
Blessed be. :)
2006-10-15 21:38:07 · answer #2 · answered by Maria Isabel 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Many people put a lot of rules and regulations on Christianity, but the Bible says 'Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.' (2nd Corinthinas 3:17). Accepting Christ is simply accepting that he is the son of God, that he died on the cross and was raised again, and that his blood will take care of your sins for you. Basically that means that you don't have to cleanse yourself to pray to God and stuff-Christ has already done that for you. I guess this sounds like a bunch of baggage, but you don't have to do things in a certain order-you just have to believe! You can do it in whatever language you want. Just accept him-as the son of God, and he will become your friend.
2006-10-15 21:29:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are right about the language. It is confusing at times, and somewhat out dated. However, what that statement means is for you to allow Jesus to guide you each minute of your life. That still, small voice you hear at times that tells you something is wrong, or that feeling you have to turn left instead of right, are just a couple of examples. As far as the baggage, I have found that Being a Christian is very liberating. I have someone to turn to who will never let me down or disappoint me. Sure there are things that happen that I wish never would, but I can meet them head on with Jesus helping me. Like someone once said, I'd rather live my life believing in God and finding out that He doesn't exist, than to live as if I do not believe and finding out that He does. The decision to become a Christian is very personal. I hope that for you, you will discover the truth. If you don't, then may God bless you anyway.
2006-10-15 21:31:01 · answer #4 · answered by pupcake 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Wrong. Here's my perspective: (taken from a Bible study excerpt)
When I join His family through faith, what change does Jesus make in my life?
Jesus' power changes a repulsive sinner into a loving saint.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Answer: As Christ is received into my heart, He destroys the old sinful self and actually changes me into a new spiritual creation. The old life of sin now becomes repulsive and undesirable. Joyfully I begin to experience, for the first time, glorious freedom from guilt and condemnation. I begin to see how empty my life has been without Christ. Rather than feeding on husks under the table, I now feast at the banquet of the King. One minute with God provides more happiness than does a lifetime of serving the devil. What an exchange! Why did I wait so long to accept it?
2006-10-15 21:29:51 · answer #5 · answered by adrift feline 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well, if someone is pushing anything on you, simply ignore them, or walk away, or talk about something else. I'm a Christian. I don't push Jesus Christ on anyone. Even Christ told us not to waste pearls on swine. However, IF I'm approached by someone, and personally asked about my faith or what I believe in, it's only then do I profess Christ to them, and what God has personally accomplished in my life. If I were to stand on a street corner shouting hellfire & brimstone in people's faces, like some religious nuts do, then I'd lose all credibility as a mature Christian, no one would take my seriously, and I'd be pushing people even further away from God.
2006-10-15 21:33:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Valid questions. When you accept Jesus, you are acknowledging that God is almighty, he created us, we are inherently sinful, and Jesus came to earth to live a perfect life and die to pay the debt for our sins. It means you accept the Bible as the word of God and that it is correct and accurate. It means you give control of your life over to Him and try to live as He did. Don't accept Jesus based on what any Christian believes, rather on what is in your heart. Read the Bible for yourself. Search your own feelings. I am 42 years old and was baptized at 8 years of age but didnt understand what I was doing. Only recently (6 years ago) I found a church that was interested in following the Bible, the teachings of Jesus, and accepted Him as Lord. I had run my own life until then and knew there had to be a better way. I stayed away from church for years because I saw professed "Christians" behaving in ways I knew were contradictory to the Bible. I have since learned that Christians are not perfect, just forgiven. Even if there is no God, the way I have chosed to live my life (according to Jesus's teashings) has given me peace, direction, and harmony. I urge you to seek for yourself, as I did. I still make mistakes daily, but continue to strive for excellence as i continue to learn and grow in Christ. As for the baggage, we all have some. I just have help dealing with mine...
2006-10-15 21:43:37 · answer #7 · answered by tnccemtp 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To me it means just what it says. Everyone, Christians included goes through life with questions, doubts, even at times disbelief in their own religion.
Eventually they arrive at one of two conclusions. One of which is to "Accept Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior. "
It is that simple. Believe in Him or don't. Don't look for ulterior motives.
2006-10-15 21:32:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dear crt, i think there is alot of confusion about the Gospel. let me explain it so that you may understand the "whole council". I have a question for you.
Doy uo consider yourself to be a good person? good enough to merit Gods forgiveness and eternal life? lets examine Gods law (10 Commandments).
Have you ever lied (even once--fibs, white lies, etc.)? Ever stolen (anything--the value is irrelevant)? Jesus said, "Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery already with her in his heart." Have you ever looked with lust? If you have said "Yes" to these three questions, by your own admission, you are a lying, thieving, adulterer at heart; and we’ve only looked at three of the Ten Commandments. Have you ever hated someone? the BIble calls this murder of the heart. If God Judged you by this standard would you be innocent or guilty? The Bible says you would be guilty, and your conscience affirms the truth of your guilt, you knew it was wrong to do those things, and because God has given you a conscience you will be without excuse in Judgement day. The BIble says the penalty for your sin is death and hell. But the god news is that God has made a way for us to escape his wrath. He sent His Son to take our punishment: "God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." He was bruised for our iniquities. Jesus then rose from the dead and defeated death.
Your own so-called “goodness” can’t get you into heaven any more than mine could. Jesus is the only way to Heaven. He is the "Door," the only "mediator." There is salvation in no other name, so Repent (Forsake your sins) and put your full faith and trust in Jesus to save you. ask Him to foirgive you and grant you eternal life. If you will do this God will foprgive you and grant you foirgiveness and lif everlasting. you see, we dont "Accept" Jesus, He Accepts us, we Must repent and put our trust in Him as savior. Repentance and faith.
God Bless
WDJD
2006-10-15 21:40:41 · answer #9 · answered by WDJD 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No you are not right. we are not however talking about simply looking to Jesus and his message about the kingdom of GOD, we're talking about "OBEYING" His message. see lot of people just want a feel good religion without any responsibility to change, Christianity is not for you if this is what you want. Luke 9:23 "and He (Jesus) said to them all 'If any man will come after me let him deny himself and let him take up his cross daily and follow me" what does that mean? it isn't always going to be what you want. its going be hard to do God's will and not yours. it's not the church that is putting this "baggage" on you, it is just what comes with the territory. The thing is that those that love GOD and want to do what pleases Him do not go around complaining about having to give up this or do that, they do it with joy. the apostle Paul summed it up real well in Philippians 3:8 " I am ready to give up all things for the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, which is more than all: for whom I have undergone the loss of all things, and to me they are less than nothing, so that I may have Christ as my reward," Besides what would we, the Church, have to gain by putting baggage on people? could we better ourselves by being 'Holier than thou'? wouldn't that then make our Commission (Matt 28:19) unnecessarily difficult?? IF Jesus is YOUR Lord and Savior He would be exactly that, Lord over all and the one that saves you from hell. Us who have accepted Him as this do not have any need for baggage, we are going to be raptured in a twinkling of any eye, made perfect and to be with the KING of Kings FOREVER!!!! Alleluia
2006-10-15 22:14:40 · answer #10 · answered by Carlos B 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋