2007-09-09 12:02:04 · 7 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Martin: That's quite an interpretive stretch to say that that justifies the "personal relationship with Jesus Christ." Do you at least see that there are alternative interpretations?
2007-09-09 12:21:07 · update #1
Hmmm, good question. Jesus called people to follow him, but it wasn't about him, it was about proclaiming the Kingdom of God. The theology of salvation through Jesus, and especially through his death was formulated by Paul, and further developed by later theologians. Early Christianity was primarily still a movement within Judaism, and most Jewish Christians wouldn't have thought they were starting a whole new religion.
2007-09-09 12:22:19 · answer #1 · answered by keri gee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having a 'personal relationship with Jesus' is sort of a psychological trick for transforming your mind. All religions are (ideally) attempting to positively transform the human mind, so...
Our minds are designed to imitate and to 'become' other people or things.
If you envision a perfect person like Jesus, and then 'except' him into your heart you, to some degree, become like Jesus. It's like an actor 'becoming' a character.
Very powerful, a good very practice, but not to be taken 100% literaly.
2007-09-09 19:33:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This personal relationship with Jesus business has no biblical basis.
2007-09-09 19:08:34 · answer #3 · answered by CC 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Here's what Jesus said shortly before laying down his life on the cross.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
John 17:15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
20 "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
2007-09-09 19:07:07 · answer #4 · answered by Martin S 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Becuase God wants our heart to be with Him;and like any two or more people a relationship is needed for someone to have that level of trust and faith.
"He that winneth souls is wise."
2007-09-09 19:07:53 · answer #5 · answered by Maurice H 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Aladdin 4:2-16
"and god did say: ask me what ye wish and I shall grant it to thee, but three wishes must it be"
our personal genie will do what we want, but it may not be when we want it to
2007-09-09 19:07:46 · answer #6 · answered by voice_of_reason 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
mm .. many things i think .. but really the part about Him sending the Comforter ...
2007-09-09 19:07:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋