I have struggled with matters of faith my whole life. From varying viewpoints of christians, to better known philsophies to completely off the wall ideas. I am finally happy where I am in my faith as a Christian...yet I am called a large sort of names by more traditional Christians. Perhaps it is lack of faith and knowledge of history that prevents me from seeing eye to eye with fellow Christians on a particular matter. If Jesus was risen from the dead or not is not a factor in the way I honor him. I follow Jesus the man. I follow what he taught. I honor him for giving his own life to help guide me down a more positive path.
I don't know if he was "God's Son" in the since it is excepted. I except it as a metaphore meaning he was someone to be highly honored, a man of great wisdom. I do not think that when he "died for my sins" that all my sins were washed away. I know he was killed for his teachings and his teachings were passed down to my ears and from that I can live a happier life.
2007-05-22 18:11:26 · 20 answers · asked by Don B 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I ran out of room and then my computer crashed as i was typing the rest...
While I will welcome answers based on people's own faith and I will pay them due respect, answers found within the "Holy Bible" ae not all that I have based my own faith on.
If the story of a large African American man who worked to dig train tunnels could turn into a story about a 90lb baby who was born asking for a stack of pancakes and black coffee and then became known as the greatest tunnel digger who ever lived, then couldn't a simple Jewish boy who had some different ideas and preached them and was latter killed become the Son of God?
Remeber, the "words of Jesus" were not writen down until years after his death. And then after several Gosiples were writen down only four (with slightly different stories but same general idea) were chosen.
I have done my research and I do not feel that telling me to find a good bible school will help.
Finally, who are you to judge those who support me? Think about it
2007-05-22 18:48:14 · update #1
And why must I accept ALL of what is said AFTER it was passed down. If Jesus himself had writen down his own words then I would agree. But always remeber those with the power write our history, and those in fear hide the truth.
Four books chosen, the ones that most depicted Judus as a traitor, while several other books claim Jesus himself told Judus to betray him. Perhaps handing Judus the bread was his way of saying "It must be you, I can only count on you to do it".
Also you may want to reread my word, they do not say that i dont beleive it, but that i lack the faith to fully accept it.
I am not your cookie cutter Christian and people forget that a rift is what has always moved things forward. If you are a proud american you are proud of rebelion and high treason.
2007-05-22 18:54:46 · update #2
one thing about Jesus is that He spoke truth.... saying that he wasnt God's Son is taking His own words and saying that he lied, and if he lied about that, then how do you even know what is really true?
He was killed for more than his teachings... he was killed because he performed miracles on the sabbath.... he was killed because his very life was causing people to not follow the laws carefully laid down by the pharisees and saduccees... and he died because it fullfilled the scriptures.
if Jesus did not die.... and did not rise again... then his ministry would have been false....
he wasnt just some 'nice guy' who said 'nice things'
He was the Son of God....
I pray that you continue seeking Jesus and the Truth.
Believing in Jesus is not enough.... for even the demons called Jesus the son of God, and we know that they will not be welcomed in heaven... for they did not turn to Jesus, but away from Him
2007-05-22 18:20:51 · answer #1 · answered by livinintheword † 6 · 11⤊ 0⤋
I know I can't just "sway" your beliefs by what I say...but I challenge you to check out the Bible and what Jesus Christ really says needs to happen for you to be His follower and be saved. You need to either accept all Christ's words or none. There are three options really: you believe everything Jesus says, he was a liar, or he was going crazy with all his great claims. If you believe that Jesus was a great, moral man, than he could not have been a liar. A great moral man would not live His whole life around a lie. I also do not think that Jesus was crazy because multiple times in the Bible, people say he had more wisdom than anyone they had ever seen. He was not irrational and the only "crazy" thing he did was die for so many people that would only reject him in the end. This said, I believe Jesus was telling the truth and is who he says he is. John 14:6 says "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me." Another passage says that whoever confesses with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in his heart that God raised him from the dead, will be saved." I don't think it's right for other Christians to beat you down and call you names, but I do think you need to do some soul searching and Bible reading to find out just who Jesus came to this Earth to be in your life, and what it means to be a Christian in God's eyes. God Bless!
2007-05-23 01:38:50 · answer #2 · answered by Leah 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Colette is 100% correct , you must believe that Jesus is the son of God. I said is because Jesus is still alive. He was raised from the dead the 3rd day. You must also believe this. Also believing and calling Christ your savior in all respects is much more than only an intelectual belief. Remember devils believe also, You must also call Jesus your Lord and surrender your life to him. If you have not totaly surrendered to Christ you are only fooling yourself about being a Christian. I am not condemning you, but by your own words you condemn yourself since you only believe what is convenient for your lifestyle. I will pray for you. Please, I beg you , come to Christ now while you have time. Don't wait , you never know when you might be called to account .
2007-05-24 20:45:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You sound very distressed. Your struggle is quite simple. It is Jesus who challenges you, not man.
You say that you follow the teachings of Jesus, yet you also claim to not believe the very things He taught.
---He proclaimed Himself to be the Messiah, that He had the power to forgive us our sins.
---He said he is the Son of God. (Matthew 12:50)
---He said He is God (John 10:30)
---He said that our sins are washed away by His blood.(Mark 2:10)
---He said he would rise again on the third day and He did. (1 Corinthians 15: 5-8)
---Thomas doubted Him, but let him touch his nail scarred hands and wounded side. (John 20:24-29)
Without the resurrection then Jesus was not who He said He was and there would be no reason to follow anything that He ever taught. Without the resurrection, Jesus is a liar and or a lunatic. Why would you follow a liar or a lunatic? You would not.
To call one's self a Christian is to believe that Jesus is the Messiah or the One who saves. To call ones self a Christian is to profess to follow the teachings of Jesus, no more and no less.
To believe anything other than what Jesus taught is to believe in something other than Jesus. That would mean you are not actually a Christian, but a "something-ian" instead.
The only thing I can suggest is that you continue to SEEK JESUS in all of this, because you do seem very confused and I really don't want you to struggle so much. Jesus has so much more for you than this.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS: After reading your additional thoughts, it is clear that you are not seeking the Jesus of the Holy Bible, but a false Jesus that will suit your own ideals. Friend, it is not man who calls you names, but Jesus Himself who calls you a "wolf in sheep's clothing."
If you choose to believe your own thoughts, then at the very least, have the courage to stand tall in your beliefs, but may I suggest that you dare not hijack the name of Jesus in an attempt to lend credence to your ideals so far as religion is concerned.
Jesus is the Christ, hence the title, "CHRIST-ian." Unless you can boldly proclaim Jesus as He proclaimed himself, then you would do yourself well to wear a different title. God does not take lightly hypocrisy. In fact, Jesus called the hypocrites in His day, "Whitewashed tombs," meaning the tombstone may be whitewashed and clean and pretty on the outside, but inside there is death and decay and filth.
No. It is not man who calls you by the names you are to be called, but Jesus Himself! If you proclaim Christ on the outside, yet believe all together differently on the inside then you are a false believer, a wolf in sheep's clothing, a whitewashed tomb according to Jesus.
Your "rift" as you call it, is with the Lord, not man, and this is a "rift" that has long ago been won. My prayer is that you would surrender while you are still able, that you would seek your Savior (In full) while He may be found, for tomorrow is not promised to us.
2007-05-23 01:27:42 · answer #4 · answered by SelfnoSelf 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When you believe in Jesus, He will be your way. Actually the disciples also felt difficult to believe Jesus rose from the death. But Jesus was very loving and comapssionate to reveal to them that He lives.
If you follow Him, ask Him for the wonderful gift of Holy Spirit always. See the verse said by John the baptist,
Mr 1:8 - Show Context
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
I have received His wonderful gift of Holy Spirit, So I am very sure whatever Jesus had said 2000 years back is true. So ask Him and you will receive the Holy Spirit.
Please see our website..
www.protectinghands.com
It is better to ask the Lord and know the truth, than argue with men. When you know the truth, you will understand who talks the right and the wrong.
2007-05-23 01:39:05 · answer #5 · answered by Brinda 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In the "true" sense of the word, a Christian is one who follows Christ. I'd say you fit the bill. However, many Christians believe that in order to 'truly' believe, you must accept Jesus' birth as the son of man (no metaphor - literally), death, and resurrection. Some also believe you have to be baptized, though the thief on the cross was not baptized, nor was he around for the death or resurrection....Yet, Christ told him "Today you will be with me in Paradise." Guess we'll all find out when we die, huh?
2007-05-23 01:18:59 · answer #6 · answered by davidinark 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The word Christian means that you would have to believe in the two basic concepts of Christianity. One, Christ is the son of God. Two, Christ arose from the dead so that we may arise from our death (that which was brought on because of sin).
It is honorable to follow the teachings of Christ. He was indeed a good example of how we are to live...but without the other two things I mentioned above...you can not be considered a "Christian".
2007-05-23 01:17:18 · answer #7 · answered by Poohcat1 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It is very good to hear that you are settled in your faith and are happy.
We all struggle at times and our faith is weak but keep your faith best as you can and try not to worry about what others might say.
As far as it depends on you pursue peace with all people.
I try to apply what Christ would do to my sometimes confusion, and the results are always peace.
I believe a true christian is one who has a relationship with God and Christ and not one who is going down a path of critiquing ones self and trying to get the approval of man.
Iam not saying you are doing that.
I do hope you stay happy and keep your faith in Christ you will know truth and know you are a child of God no matter what they call you.
Peace and Love
2007-05-23 02:01:06 · answer #8 · answered by flowerpower 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Poohcat1 had it right on the money
Jesus words= "I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again he will not enter the kingdom of God"
How is a person 'born again" Believing Jesus to be the son of God, ding on the cross, rising from the dead and inviting him into your heart as the one and only true God as Lord and Savior.
2007-05-23 01:17:33 · answer #9 · answered by † H20andspirit 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You are not a Christian if you don't believe Jesus is the son of God. All other religions have taken the word of God and rewritten it to create their own religion such as you are doing with your beliefs. If it's not in the HOLY Bible, it's not the truth...
2007-05-23 01:22:24 · answer #10 · answered by Call me-C-4-Curious- 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋