can we all agree that christianity is all about the individual????????

Question

please, if you are interested in answering this question and have gotten this far, look back upon my previous questions about christianity..

and the only reason i single out christianity, above other religions, is because it is the most predominant, and loudest, in the country in which i live in...

is it not all about the individual?? (and i believe that this is human nature, so i do not mean for it to be interpreted in an offensive fashion).. but is not the belief centered upon the INDIVIDUAL getting to heaven, and the INDIVIDUAL doing what is right for them upon this terra firma to get to heaven?... even when one is doing good things for humanity, can't one see it as doing it simply because god told them to?? i know there is no true altruism, so no need to get into that argument

i love the responses that i get from questions like this, and i truly appreciate it.. i do not know exactly what i believe, but i have a profound respect for those that do

i hope that everyone that answered this question checks back upon it...

because i just want to say thank you for all your responses.. i truly appreciate it.. i love discussing topics such as this and i love hearing people's hearts, even citizen north's (and, by the way, im not gay.. but i do have great sense of style in both decor and apparel... the key is to not be over-dramatic, but on the verge of insanity) (and if you didn't find that funny, well... find an island or something like that) (and if you didnt find that funny, youre ******.. go **** yourself, unless you find someone else with as terrible a sense of humor).. it could go on and on...

Answer 1

no in the usa its all about money

Answer 2

To believe that all Christians do good things only to get to heaven is overly simplistic, and somewhat insulting.

People who truly believe in God, and the Christ know that we were given a free will. As all of us are sinners, sometimes that free will leads us astray. Those of us who know the Lord as a kind and forgiving God know that whatever we have done, he will forgive if we repent to him.

Helping others may lead us towards a path to Heaven, but most seek the path of Jesus as he is the way and the light. What we do on the outside is one thing, but Jesus knows our hearts and minds. He knows if its all for show, or the real deal. Whosoever believeth in me, shall never die.

By the way, sacrificing for the greater good is what Jesus Christ's father did for all humanity. As he was already in heaven, what could his motives have been other than a love for all of his children?

Answer 3

Do you want to look at this logically or emotionally?
Logically it's about the collective.
Emotionally it's about the individual.

Logical God, sets up a system for the separation of those,
with a rebellious nature,- from those who wish to follow the
principals in the bible! Separating the slag from the gold!
Gods collective, cares not about the individual,but his end result.



Emotional God, sets up a system to allow freewill, A savior,
and a pardon from Hell, and eternal torment.Because of Gods love for that individual.Not caring about the end result.

Answer 4

Sorry, but that is so far from the truth, I cannot even get a radar-fix on that idea!

While the individual person is important to the process - WHAT the individual becomes, by virtue of his/her Baptism...is to be "incorporated" (made a member of the Body of) into Christ. It is that Body (corporate) that makes the difference in the world.

And it's about what the individual does for the world that counts.

it's about DYING to ourselves - (hardly an individualist idea!) so that Christ can live in us. And ultimately, we, too, die for Him.

As St. Teresa of Avila said:

Christ has no body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
compassion on this world
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Answer 5

It is all about Jesus. It is all about serving Jesus through serving our fellow human being. When we serve the least in society, then we serve Jesus. It is about self-LESS-ness, not self-ISH-ness. Christianity is about the righteousness of God, not about the self-righteousness of men. Religion is about self-righteousness, about getting to God through the efforts of the self. Christianity is about the righteousness of God, receiving the grace and mercy that God has to offer, grace and mercy that is free because Jesus paid for it at the cross of Calvary with his own blood. this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ, that he did for our sins, that he did what only God could do, that he laid down his life of his own free will and that he took it up again from the grave on the third day, so that we could be joint inheritors in the kingdom of heaven. Believe and you shall be saved. the work is finished, it is done. Christ has done everything for you except make the final decision to believe. Christianity is so simple, yet people try to make it impossibly complicated like Islam, or Buddhism or Hinduism or like all the other isms and ologies.

Answer 6

Among the many conflicts, you have shut out 'Altruism' as non-existing...but may I please remind, that: just because I do not know something, does not mean, it does not exist at all.

If going to heaven is the ultimate goal ... then it is individualism.

If doing good to others is to go to heaven, then it is selfishness, and therefore, a sin in itself, according to precepts of Christianity.

Jesus of Nazerath, Jesus Christ, Christ the Saviour, preached 'brotherly love', for those in his period of life, lacked that sense of 'altruism'.

Almost all religions are based on preachings to change people to fit their society ... a religion that speaks much of cleanliness, originally addressed those people who needed such guidance.

Thus all religions addressed individuals in the hope of turning the whole society by turning the individual.

A method of public speaking ... in the vast throng of multitude you look at a particular person and address him or her and the speech goes down well.

Well, all religions addressed the individual ... and all of them suppressed the place of woman ... show me a religion that respects woman ... shall go that way even if satan is the chief priest! ...........................thank you.

Answer 7

Individually it is about what God has for that person, God does not have the same path for everyone and the same ministry, but they are to work with the body of Christ, no one it is not for the indidivdual, altho some Christians may be full of pride and think it is all about them.

Answer 8

i was raised to be a christian but name on the door isnt important to God but the faith and works in your heart. its true that religion as a whole these days focuses on individual . they do this for money reasons and idea that its easier to convert the one than a whole group . God isnt a waring / controling entity and he wont judge anyone by the things that go on around them but rather by thier feelings and thier actions . we all fall under same measurments and race creed or country makes no difference to him . why would God make getting to heaven a hard thing considering that he let his son be killed by us to prove he loves all people . religion is an individuals interaction with God and his fellow beings but in order to be extrordinary a person must infect his joy and freedom with everyone they meet and his light will shine and all that see will know his works and no matter the name he shines by or cliams . people will be forced to stand in his light because its infectious and uplifting . we are headed for destruction as a whole but for those who see God though thier heart and do his will theres release of hurt and pain and yes paradice but heaven / hell and rapture is beyond our comprehencion and after fleshly life most of us will be shocked by how these things really are . its not rocket science but rather simple and includes jews muslums christians and yes athyists and anything God created . no life isnt great but we made it this way and God will some day push reset button .

Answer 9

On a higher level of understanding, Christianity is not about the human individual at all, but rather, it is all about God and His idea, Christ. It is all about understanding and doing God's will, here and now and forever. God's will has nothing to do with human will or human individuality, because God's ideas, in truth, are not human or material, they are spiritual. :)

Answer 10

christianity is about a personal belief and relationship with God ... but at the same time it creates a change in the individual that affects everything and everyone in their surroundings ... we are supposed to be the peacemakers and bring Gods light into the darkness around us and that is one of the most attacked aspects of christianity ... the world wants to paint christians as the cause of violence and wars which has nothing to do with true christianity at all ...

Answer 11

Yes it is all about an individual, however, not the one you think- not me or you- but Jesus Christ. He saved us from our sin and hell, yes, but that is ALL we need for our salvation. No, when we know Christ, we want to do what is right- because without Him we cannot. What we do does not save. We desire to please the Lord.I read that you do not know what you believe- then I guess you are not sure if Christianity is wrong- I know God is calling you to Himself. "I know whom I have believed". Jesus is the Lord of all, and I pray that you will come to believe that He is the way, the Truth and the Life."