I knew a woman who never read her bible or prayed. She only listen to christian radio and said this was enough. What do you think?
2006-11-08 17:00:14 · 30 answers · asked by ? 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Reading the bible is for learning the "lessons" contained therein.
Praying is to show humility, asking for forgiveness, and giving thanks.
If someone is capable of living a life of forgiveness, compassion, understanding and love without ever reading a book or ever praying, I think God would be happy with that.
If you cannot have a relationship with god because one never prays or reads the bible, then that is saying a disadvantaged person living in a third world country (without access to printed word, and who has no idea what it means to pray) cannot in no way whatsoever, no matter how compassionately they live, ever be admitted to heaven.
This is one of the many problems I have with fudamental religions.
I believe as long as you don't lie, cheat, or steal, and are capable of love, sacrifice, and forgiveness, you will have a relationship with your fellow human beings, and when all human beings have that sort of relationship with one another, we will arrive at happiness. No matter the religion or denomination.
That's the symbolism the bible is trying to get across.
2006-11-08 17:01:08 · answer #1 · answered by the_dude 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Absolutely not. John 1 says Jesus is the Word and the Word is God. If you don't know the Word, then you don't know God.
Do you think you will have a close relationship with anyone if you don't talk to them or get to know them through interacting with them?
You might know OF a person, but you don't KNOW that person if you don't do those things.
That woman you mentioned knows OF God, but she doesn't know who God is beyond the basics. So, she can't possibly have a relationship with Him by only listening to the radio.
She has a relationship with what she thinks is God, but it's not the God of the Bible. That God clearly said many times in HIs Word that you must dilligently seek Him, pray, study and do as much as possible to get to know Him. The Bible is the #1 source for knowing God. If she read it, she would know that.
That woman is fooling herself and will be in for a rude awakening when her judgment day comes.
As far as people who are illiterate or never have access to a bible or know who Jesus is, that's a totally different subject. God deals with them differently than people who have no excuse.
2006-11-09 02:04:56 · answer #2 · answered by IL Padrino 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think allot of people have their own opinions to a close relationship with god, but the research that I have done explains to me that the guidelines for a close personal relationship with God includes reading his word, praying, worship, fellowship, and obedience to his word and his commandments.although I am not a perfect person and won't be until I'm called home I still try to do the best I can and live a good life that entails happiness,prosperity and faith fullness no matter how tough it gets.
2006-11-09 01:09:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, you can have a close relationship with GOD if all you do is listen to christian radio.
Since, GOD is LOVE then all you really need to have a close relationship with him is to LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY with everyone around you. IF you have true love in your heart for yourself and those around you, you will not delve into the self-destructive "bad things" or sins, if you will, as much or at all. This is all no big mystery, just fact.
If it weren't for christian radio, I don't know where I would be. At any moment and almost anytime of day, I could turn on christian radio and get the good feelings I needed. I am extremely thankful for it.
2006-11-09 01:06:19 · answer #4 · answered by Jeff W 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
My definition of Christian is a follower of Christ. Jesus Christ, who is God, became the one and only sacrifice for the salvation of mankind. - Jesus is God and there is one, not many paths that lead to God - Jn.3; Jn.14:5-6; Acts 2:21; Acts 4:12; Rom.10:10; Cols.1:20-22; Cols.2:13-15 After we die we go to our eternal reward of heaven or hell. - Salvation is not thru reincarnation or in living a pretty good life. - Whether we put our faith in Jesus while we lived on earth determines our eternal destiny. - No second chance after we die. No purgatory. When we die our destiny is sealed for ever. - Matt.3:12; Matt.25:41; Heb.9:27; Rev.20; Rev.21:27
According to Matthew 7, there will be those who stand before God and call themselves Christian but God will say "depart from me I never knew you". They were not building their lives on a Christian foundation or worldview. They were only Christian in name.
I can not pick and choose which parts of the Bible I will obey if I want to be a follower of Jesus!
A new generation of Christians are buying into the lie that you can be a Christian and pick and choose your values based on your own preferences instead of the absolutes of scripture.
Biblical absolutes, logic and reason are out of style and tolerance, choice and preferences are in.
This shift of worldviews has a great impact on our lives and church.
At one time the word "intolerance" was used for things such as racism but today it is being used against anyone who questions another person's values or belief system.
In the new worldview everything is relative. There is no right and wrong beliefs. There is no objective set of absolutes other then what the individual of community chooses.
The new measure of morality is "If it doesn't hurt anyone it is ok"
Of course this is all based on a lie. All sin hurts not only the individual but those around them and the very fabric of a society.
Anyone who claims to have absolutes is viewed as the new radical fundamentalists of society.
The scriptures, not the preferences of man are the basis for truth and so we have both authority and responsibility to speak and share our faith.
Ezek 3:18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.
The universal truth for all cultures and peoples is written in the Bible:
John 14:5-6 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
What have you decided about Jesus?
Have you embraced not only Jesus but his teachings? Are you living a biblical worldview?
Are you walking in obedience to the absolutes of His word as the authority in your life for the decisions you make?
If not, according to the Bible, you really don't love Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:15: "If you love me you will obey what I command". In other words if you love Jesus you will live by a Biblical worldview.
2006-11-09 06:24:27 · answer #5 · answered by kramerfam2000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i wonder why you think you need a book to feel close to God. is not the beauty written in the world around you enough? and prayer need not be the formalized kneeling with hands together while reciting poetry written by someone else. prayer can be the simple act of loving and being kind, of kissing your child or having your breath taken away by the glory of the starry night sky.
how strange that you think that only the literate can love God. so folks who can't read must be separated from God? does Fundy Christian prideful elitism know no boundaries? the arrogance shown by Fundy Christians is truly astounding.
2006-11-09 01:09:25 · answer #6 · answered by nebtet 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
As in relationship you have to work at it and communicating, without that you have nothing. Building a personal relationship with GOD is spending time with him, meditating on his word, praying (communicating ) to him telling him how you feel, your desires etc. Its about getting to know who GOD really is.
2006-11-09 01:04:34 · answer #7 · answered by Ms. Blessed 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
no that isn't enough. you have to repent for your sins and take God and Jesus into your heart. If she were truly a believer she'd be thirsty for the Word of God and be reading it every chance she got or witnessing. Living the life like a believer is one thing. But molding parts of a belief to make it convenient to her breaks one of the commandments saying you can't put anything before God you can't worship anything other than God.
Her forming her own version of Christianity is called "idoling" she is worshiping herself in the means that she made herself believe her way was right and ignoring all the actual actions and beliefs that go along with the title she wishes to hold.
2006-11-09 01:08:21 · answer #8 · answered by deansgurl81702 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Oh mi God! this is the best question ever. Absolutely, you can have a very strong relationship with God even if you don't pray. I have a very good example. There is this old couple. The lady all her life said prayers, did every kind rituals and stuff but was never good to people and especially her children and now none of her kids and neighbors really like her and on the other hand his husband never goes to church or attends any religious things or even say a prayer but he is so nice at heart that everybody loves him alot and his kids wants him to stay with them.
What I mean is even if you dont pray god but respects his creations like mankind, animals , etc you are way better than any other religious person who is not morally equal to you.
2006-11-09 01:00:51 · answer #9 · answered by miss_magic047 3 · 1⤊ 5⤋
The reason people come together for worship is to support each other in their prayer needs,and to praise the Lord for all he has done for us.
God requires 2 or more to come together in his name to be present.
Gods letter to us,the Bible, allows us to see him in words .The power of the word is in the speaking.Remember every thing was spoken into existence.
I don't think a radio qualifies. I wouldn't follow her example.
2006-11-09 01:13:02 · answer #10 · answered by timex846 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋