"Some men are willing to die for their faith but will not fully live for it. Christ both lived and died for us. By walking in his steps and through his atonement we can gain the greatest gift of all--eternal life--which is that kind of life of the great Eternal One, our Father in heaven."
--Ezra Taft Benson, "Jesus Christ--Gifts and Expectations, Byu Devotional", 10 December 1974
I'm not sure if I REALLY, really am. I hope that as I grow older, I will grow wiser, and can one day say that I did fully live for my faith to the best of my abilities given the circumstances at the time. As of today, I can't say that I have mastered that aspect of life. I have a lot left to do, a lot left to learn, and a lot left to become.
What about you?
2007-11-20 08:59:37 · 14 answers · asked by Tonya in TX - Duck 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
After reading norrispenguin's answer I realize that I meant to say that I don't think I am fully living for my faith, but I am willing to. I just wanted to clairify.
2007-11-20 09:29:00 · update #1
For my faith? Absolutely.
For my religious affiliation? Absolutely not. [Qualification: My faith takes precedence over my church. If any conflict arises, I will live for my faith and not my church.]
Living fully for one's faith is often misinterpreted as living for one's church. This is exactly what Christ DIDN'T want. His entire ministry was spent preaching against theocracy, dogmatism, and organizational hierarchy, all the while advocating inner religion. He never once preached that any organization would be held as the Kingdom of God and require allegiance; only that "His church" (Greek Ekklesiasticus, meaning fellowship of believers) would be composed of equal members (the eye is not more important than the foot) and that He is the only true head, or "organization." He accomplished the Levitical Priesthood, and assumed the Melchizadek Priesthood upon Himself, accomplishing everything.
So you ask if I would be willing to fully live for my faith. I truly believe that I am, and that all should be. Whether that faith is Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, or even evolutionist in nature, we should all be willing to live fully for it.
That being said, living for my faith doesn't mean that it is set in stone or that it cannot change. On the contrary, living "for" one's faith means to live in one's faith's best interest. Many times, the best interest of your faith is to grow and evolve, sometimes taking a different course than what you would anticipate. None should have the gumption to assume that his/her faith is accurate, and that his/her prescribed ideas are the ultimate truth. Rather, we should all be willing to learn to accept new truths as they become available, having the courage to question and dismiss previous erroneous ideas once presented with more than reasonable doubt to their veracity.
2007-11-20 09:06:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 2⤋
Yes -- as I grow older and hopefully wiser, I have discovered a greater joy and excitement which comes from living the gospel fully and embracing all that is good and uplifting and shunning all that seeks to dim the light within.
This doesn't mean that I am perfect. Indeed, I have a long ways to go in my personal progress. But I have learned that there is a time and a season for all things. Now is my time to raise up a righteous generation unto the Lord -- making sure my children are taught eternal principles and catch the desire to choose that which is right and true. Now is my time to build a home on earth which reflects my eternal goals and aspirations.
Later will come time for greater service in my community, church, and [hopefully] missionary work [at least I get to pick my companion this way].
Thanks for sharing -- I love President Benson -- he lived his life in service to God, Family & Country.
2007-11-20 10:12:47 · answer #2 · answered by strplng warrior mom 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I dont know much about dying but I know that I amtrying my best to live the best I can for my faith and I know if I am willing to do the things that I am suppose to do then the Lord blesses me and enriched my life with alot of things that come to pass for me and for those who come into contact with me.
2007-11-20 14:19:58 · answer #3 · answered by LADY WITH AN ATTITUDE 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I also struggle with living out my faith the way that I should but I definitly hope that as I grow older I will not only live out my faith as Ishould but that I will also be willing to die for it.
2007-11-20 11:20:09 · answer #4 · answered by Dancing Belle 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Tonya, I think you are tempted to fall into the same trap that many Latter-day Saints find: of not being good enough. Not even for themselves - it's impossible to be good enough when we know how good we can be, and everyone else seems to be, and all we see is flaw after flaw after transgression and mistake, misgiving, and full-on sin.
We don't have to be perfect in this life. In fact, it's impossible to be, and if anyone feels they have reached perfection by their own powers, they have missed the entire point"
WE CAN'T DO IT ON OUR OWN!
That's why we have Christ and His grace. Read in the 10th chapter of Moroni about perfection: we are challenged to become perfect in Christ, and we do this through His grace, the reward of which is to never deny the goodliness of God. That is the perfection we seek. The goal of our lives is to pattern our lives after the most humble and loving of them all - our Savior and Redeemer, after which the church is named.
May God's blessings attend to you in this quest, as I'm they are. I fully believe in the principle of grace, that we are saved by the grace of Christ, after all we can do. Not after all our neighbors might imagine we can do, but by what is written on our hearts, and to whom they belong.
2007-11-20 16:15:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Defs. I try hard, which reminds me of a song...
"Seems like i'm always falling short of being worthy
Cause I ain't good enough, but he still loves me
I ain't no superstar, the spotlight aint shining on me
Cause I ain't good enough, but he still loves me...
I'm not perfect, yes I do wrong. I'm trying my best but it aint good enough. Shunned by the world when I don't succeed cause I aint good enough, but he still loves me....
Stand for him or fall for anything
Cause through his eyes we all look the same
What would we do without blame?"
And i believe that. I'm not good enough, i never will be. But as long as I try, he loves me.
2007-11-20 09:23:15 · answer #6 · answered by Princess Ninja 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yes. But my faith is very rational. We get to choose our belief.
I dont have to live by what was written 2000 years ago.
I don't have to be preached by two bit priest or a ignorant mullah .
2007-11-20 09:17:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I am given 100% to my faith in Jesus Christ, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints www.lds.org
2007-11-20 14:19:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
absolutely without a doubt
2007-11-20 09:08:33 · answer #9 · answered by skizone3 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I sure am trying. Line by line. Precept by precept.
2007-11-20 09:20:12 · answer #10 · answered by LDS Mom 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋