For people of ALL beliefs. Don't be modest - how "Christ-like" are you in your lives?

Question

Can you rank out of 10 the relative Christ-like-ness of your life? This doesn't just apply to people who call themselves Christian. I'm asking everyone to guage their own lives against their impression of the man we know as Jesus. 10 is completely Christ-like, 0 is not at all.

For instance, I would give a 10 to Ghandi (a Hindu) and zero to Rupert Murdoch and George Bush (born again Christians).

Criteria might include:

* your relative wealth or poverty (Christ was poor)
* your indifference to materiality
* your love for the poor and downtrodden
* your willingness to mix with people others despise
* your hatred for oppression
* your dedication to peace
* the example you set others
* your ability to encourage others to live selfless (not necessarily Christian) lives

By all means dispute or add to these criteria, but please explain why. Don't make up things Jesus didn't say or do.

I'm going to go for 6.5 for myself.
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Would it be fair to add a short list of things that are non-Christ-like (imo)?

* Desire for wealth
* Pride
* Desire to accumulate goods
* Indifference to welfare of others, however far away they are
* Arrogance - certainty of one's rightness
* Quickness to anger and/or violence
* Desire to control others and bend them to your will
* Intolerance for those who disagree with you

Again, dispute or amend as you consider fit.
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Answer 1

Honestly,
I’m not as Christ-like as I should be. A few years ago I learned that holding onto anger towards someone in my past was keeping me from coming into many of gods blessings that he had in store for me. One day, I had a life changing revelation when it occurred to me that maybe the way I think not only about myself, but about others was the reason why I was not able to achieve some of the goals that I had set for myself in life. I was bummed out all the time, I would ruin a good night out with friends by being negative and discruntal. And I saw how I affected my environment and those around me. So, I made the decision to live life happy, to the fullest, and be thankful for the things that I do have in life, and not dwell on the things that I don’t have at the moment. Realizing that I have more then most, and I will have more to come as long as I with stand my test, and keep my faith.

With this being said, I still have a ways to go before I can say that I am “walking in the light” or highly in his favor. Well, I’m in his favor, but there are some things about me that must be changed to be fully in his favor. I can say I full-heartily believe in Christ, but I have a ways to go before I am Christ like.

I would have to give myself a 5.5.

•I have a well-paying steady job that helps me provide for myself.
•I don’t have a lot of material wealth, but I have a lot of spiritual wealth from people I call family and friends. Whom call me on a regular basis to see how I’m doing and talk with me.
•I have a car, a little money in my pocket and bank account, and I can eat on a day to day basis (some people can’t say that)
•I have my health and strength, I can see, walk, hear, smell, and breath on my own.
•I have the ability to show compassion to those who need it most (that’s Christ-like)
•And I have a blessed foundation in my past that will help me live a blessed life in my future.

So I’m on my way there, I feel I just have to let go of some extra bags that I tend to carry with me on my journey to heaven.

Answer 2

* your relative wealth or poverty (Christ was poor)

I live a modest but comfortable life. No points one way or the other there.

* your indifference to materiality

I value experience, not possession. I'm giving myself a point for this one.

* your love for the poor and downtrodden

I'll take a point here as well. I've always stood up for the underdog, and I certainly don't blame the poor for their plight.

* your willingness to mix with people others despise

Point here as well, for the same reason.

* your hatred for oppression

Another point. But I'm an atheist - it's hard not to be actively against oppression when you're the oppressed.

* your dedication to peace

Another point.

* the example you set others

I'll take away a point from myself for this one. I set an example in some situations, but I get nasty and sarcastic in other situations, while those who I admire manage to retain their graceful demeanor.

* your ability to encourage others to live selfless (not necessarily Christian) lives

Nothing either way on that one for me.

That adds up to a "4" out of 8 for me, so I'll give myself a 5 out of 10.

Answer 3

* your relative wealth or poverty (Christ was poor)....My family is very low income.

* your indifference to materiality....I own nothing of value. What I treasure are things my kids have made for me in school.

* your love for the poor and downtrodden. I've been homeless. I identify with their plight, and I give to charitable organizations when I am able.

* your willingness to mix with people others despise....I've always taken up the cause of the underdog.

* your hatred for oppression....I have no tolerance for oppression, censorship, and the like.

* your dedication to peace...On a personal note, I avoid confrontations at all costs.

* the example you set others...I try to be polite, respectful, courteous, compassionate, and kind. I don't know that I succeed, but I do make it a priority to try.

* your ability to encourage others to live selfless (not necessarily Christian) lives....Not sure what is meant here, or what I may have done. I do try to instill into my children that doing for others is the greatest gift we can give.

I can't rate myself, I can only answer the the questions posed by your examples.

Answer 4

I would probably give myself a 7. I am not really poor more middle class, and I can lose my temper now and again when I am treated disrespectfully. but I am indifferent to material things (I mean I like them but if I don't have them its not the end of the world), I feel the poor need help because more often than not they had some bad circumstances that put them there, I will mix and mingle with anyone (until I find my own reasons for disliking them which is usually based upon how they treat me and others), I hate oppression passionately, I would love to see peace but doubt I will (also would be un-Christ-like is the fact that I would more follow an eye for an eye sort of mentality of if you punch me I will punch you back), I try to set a good example for those around me by being respectful of everyone, and though I try to encourage people to do selfless acts in their life I feel that a certain degree of selfishness is needed as well.


also to wordman he was not judging anyone. he was asking people to judge themselves.

Answer 5

I am very poor.
Notice Jesus was INDIFFERENT to materiality, not AGAINST it.
Why should I love someone because they are poor? Does that make them a good person?
I AM the person others despise.
I hate oppression.
Most people want peace. Sometimes the opposite of war is not peace, but OPPRESSION (which Jesus hated) or annihilation.
I always set a good example. That is why others despise me.
Jesus did not promote selflessness.

Answer 6

* your relative wealth or poverty (Christ was poor)
- solidly middle class, salary-wise

* your indifference to materiality
- i own far less "stuff" than most americans. this comes from my experience living in buddhist countries for a decade. i learned that possessions aren't important.

* your love for the poor and downtrodden
- I would consider myself better than average, being able to sympathize having grown up in a poor family

* your willingness to mix with people others despise
- it's part of my job, but can't say i always enjoy it.

* your hatred for oppression
- average
* your dedication to peace
- average. i think there are times when it's necessary to fight.

* the example you set others
- so so
* your ability to encourage others to live selfless (not necessarily Christian) lives
- i don't know

Answer 7

Zero here, I prefer not to run around speaking in "spiritual saying" and gathering a following so that people will ascribe miracles to me after my death. It doesn't help anyone or me.

As for not making anything up, there is no indication that most of the NT isn't made up. The gospels and Acts are not eyewitness accounts, nor is there any collaborating evidence.

About the only thing I agree with is that children should be protected and we should be nice to each other - But people who make a bad decision about who they should marry and then get divorced are sinning?

Answer 8

An 8. I do all of the above, and in addition I actually do kind acts and volunteer my time. I don't judge anyone based on how they look or act until I get to know them. I may still dislike people once I know them, but I still act respectfully.

The only thing I can think of that I'm not really good at is continuing to be respectful if someone is very disrespectful to me. Luckily that is rare, but I will definitely get...shall we say, vehement, if someone is a complete jerk.

Answer 9

Because the writers had a purpose for what they wrote. They did not want to invent an entire life for their character and did not even write a full three years of His life. The writers also didn't know their writings would end up in a bible and preached 2000+ years later.

Answer 10

Good question. I was thinking the other day that Bono acts pretty Christlike, if you examine it in an unbiased way. He's willing for people to call him a fool for standing up for what he believes in.

I'd probably be around a 7.5 I feel like I do pretty well with loving others unconditionally, I'm a peacemaker, and I'm not materialistic. However, I am not very active in pursuing social justice issues, as much as I believe in them. I also don't share my beliefs with anyone other than a few very close friends--and within the safe anonymity of R&S!