Is it just me or is there a big conspiracy going around that all you have to do to become a christian is "ask God into your heart" or "pray for his forgiveness"? It seems that Christianity is being watered down by this falsehood. John 3:16 say "believe' and you will be saved. What does believe mean? Also, it speaks of finishing the "race", thus does this mean that becoming a Christian is a "process" that must be carried through to completion somehow? What are your thoughts?
2007-08-23 10:24:46 · 13 answers · asked by derric i 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I believe Christianity to simply mean that one accepts christ as the lord and savior. No more and No less.
I believe too many people are misled to think its about judging FOR christ though.
btw I am agnostic leaning toward atheist.
now in my post-Christian
2007-08-23 10:29:12 · answer #1 · answered by Mercury 2010 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Great question: You are right about Christianity being watered down by today's culture. Christianity in its purest form is this:
1) First man must see that he is sinful, and is need of forgiveness of sins
2) Second, the Bible says that there is no forgiveness with the shedding of blood. That is where Jesus comes into the picture. He came to die for our sins, and John 3:16 says that if you believe that Jesus died for us you will be saved. This is called "faith" or "believing" as you put it.
3) The "race" the Bible talks about is our life here on earth. Salvation is the first step=belief. The so called "race" is a process called sanctification, where we continue to allow God to change our hearts in a manner that pleases him. This seriously takes a lifetime. We are all sinners, and we must daily confess that sin to God and pray that He will heal us from our faults.
2007-08-23 10:33:58 · answer #2 · answered by Go Blue 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are right, Christianity is a process, a journey, not a destination.
A lot of people who don't have the energy or capability or motivation to deal with Christianity on this in-process level, take the easy way out and talk about the "I'm saved because I did Jesus the favor of accepting Him" stuff or the "The bible says it, I believe it, and That settles it" thing as a substitute. A pretty flimsy substitute, but people are lazy.
IMO, fundamentalism is a pseudo-religion based on being spiritually and intellectually too lazy to do the hard work Jesus wants from us.
Somebody wiser than I am said "The journey is the destination."
2007-08-23 10:27:50 · answer #3 · answered by Acorn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To "believe" is to TRUST -- so it's more than just a superficial belief, ie: it's more than merely believing in the existence of God. Even Satan believes in the existence of God. He has conversations with him several times in the Bible, after all! Belief in God's existence alone is not enough.
To ask God into your heart is only worth something if you genuinely want it for the right reasons. Unfortunately some people seem to think Christ's death on the cross gives them a licence to sin MORE. But this is obviously wrong.
As for "finishing the race", to me it is a process of striving, becoming less and less sinful and more and more holy with God's help, aiming toward the reward we will get in Heaven (ie: the Kingdom to come on Earth, *NOT* some fairytale place up in the clouds).
Above all, for me personally, Jesus is the Messiah -- but NOT God. He was sent BY God to point the way TO God, but I do not worship Him AS God because GOD CANNOT FORSAKE HIMSELF and because Jesus himself *always* spoke of God in the third person! The fact that some so-called Christians want to put a fancy cosmic spin on quotes like "I and the Father are one" doesn't mean jack shyt. It's Christianity, not Tibetan Buddhism. There's nothing elaborate about it, but they want you to think there is. :)
2007-08-23 11:03:11 · answer #4 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a difference between being a Christian and being a devoted Christian. You can be saved but you can also be saved and loving it. You can call yourself a Christian, but you can be a totally different person.
A lot of the time when I'm being asked to describe how to be a Christian, I just can't find a way to explain it. So I just put the usual "You have to ask God into your heart, and mean it." But there is so much more.
Read your bible and spend some time with God. Obey Him and his commandments. Meditate on his laws day and night.
2007-08-23 10:35:34 · answer #5 · answered by Derrick K 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have a point.
Christianity is a journey and that journey begins with the first step which you've described, but it does not end there.
One problem in many mainline denominations is that the first step has been replaced with infant baptism.
So we end up with churches full of people who don't even know that Jesus told them that they "need to be born again."
That is the first step but its not the only step.
The first link below show you how to take that first step but the link after that is how grow occurs over the rest of your lifetime.
Pastor Art
2007-08-23 11:11:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paul said to work through your salvation. It is about obediance to God, sanctification, learning the Word, helping other's by showing God's love.Diligence in the affairs of salvation, and to be examples to the world. See Commentary:
We must be diligent in the use of all the means which lead to our salvation, persevering therein to the end. With great care, lest, with all our advantages, we should come short. Work out your salvation, for it is God who worketh in you. This encourages us to do our utmost, because our labour shall not be in vain: we must still depend on the grace of God. The working of God's grace in us, is to quicken and engage our endeavours. God's good-will to us, is the cause of his good work in
us. Do your duty without murmurings. Do it, and do not find fault with it. Mind your work, and do not quarrel with it. By peaceableness; give no just occasion of offence. The children of God should differ from the sons of men. The more perverse others are, the more careful we should be to keep ourselves blameless and harmless. The doctrine and example of consistent believers will enlighten others, and direct their way to Christ and holiness, even as the light-house warns mariners to avoid
rocks, and directs their course into the harbour. Let us try thus to shine. The gospel is the word of life, it makes known to us eternal life through Jesus Christ. Running, denotes earnestness and vigour, continual pressing forward; labouring, denotes constancy, and close application. It is the will of God that believers should be much in rejoicing; and those who are so happy as to have good ministers, have great reason to rejoice with them. (Php
2:19-30)
2007-08-23 10:36:03 · answer #7 · answered by Bruce7 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, of course Christianity is a journey, rather than a destination. And Paul said faith without works is dead, but in order to be saved, all you have to do is ask Jesus for forgiveness.
2007-08-23 10:29:54 · answer #8 · answered by Curtis B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
True Christianity is believing that Jesus Christ is your personal savior and the only way to heaven. Christianity is just a "name". People call themselves "Christians" because they were brought up as a "Christian." However, A true Christian is someone who believes that Jesus Christ is God's one and only Son and that he is your personal savior.
2007-08-23 10:31:03 · answer #9 · answered by Stranger in New York™ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
True Christianity requires that you be gullible, it also helps if you're a little insecure. It makes it easier for your parents, teachers, church etc to make you believe in such nonsense.
You only asked for Christians to answer your question for that very reason, you don't want to listen to anyone else.
2007-08-23 10:34:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋