I went to church with my wife, and heard them singing that hymn; and as I listened to the lyrics, it suddenly hit me:
THIS WHOLE THING IS A BIG HELP.
Jesus is that great imaginary friend, for people who can't deal with stuff, and for people who understand what it's like not being able to deal with stuff, or for people who would like something better than reality to deal with, etc, etc.
Jesus is that great hope and wish -- and surely somewhere in their innermost souls they must realize it doesn't exist; but it's a nice thought, and something nice to sing about.
"In his arms he'll take and shield you..."
Question: Do you really need an imaginary friend?
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2007-11-23 19:57:35 · 11 answers · asked by 2.71828182845904 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
When Jesus falls out of vogue, people will invent a new imaginary friend to carry their baggage, it's a defense mechanism...
Cricket... why won't your Imaginary friend heal amputees?
Last Ent Wife, you are the reason I don't advocate disabusing the superstitious of having imaginary friends, I agree that the placebo effect can cause some to be better people with the carrot and stick method ( Carrot being heaven and the stick being hell)
2007-11-23 20:08:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
Jesus is not imaginary, anymore than the people you know through the Internet or in the old days as penpals are imaginary. OK, yes, some people invent screen names and personae (like your own) to hide their real identity on the Net, but there is a real person behind that name.
You could say your best friend's mother's cousin (call her Ida) doesn't exist because you've never personally met her, even if your best friend shows you the letters and gifts he has personally recieved from Ida, and tells you about the conversations he has with Ida on the phone. The fact that you don't know Ida personally, and have had no contact with her, could lead you to tell him, "Stop believing in this Ida person, she's imaginary!" But your friend, who Does know Ida personally, would simply stop defending her existence after awhile.
Why? Because he *does* know her, and has daily contact with her. And your disbelief in her existence doesn't change a thing. She is still a large part of his life, and is very real, though you can't seem to accept it.
Jesus is so much more than a cousin Ida! But the situation is the same. Just because you don't know Him doesn't mean He isn't real.
2007-11-23 20:13:23 · answer #2 · answered by anna 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋
My "imaginary friend" Jesus has helped me be a better wife, and a more patient person. The change came from within, not without. My "imaginary friend" caused a young boy to not suffer even a scratch from being hit by a car. He also has brought my mom back from the dead twice, healed a pastor's wife of MS, healed another friend of a fatal heart condition, has given me strength and peace in dealing with a medical situation with my husband (epilepsy, which has caused problems with his unit), and so much more.
So no, I don't need an "imaginary friend." An imaginary friend couldn't do all the things Jesus has done for me.
2007-11-23 20:08:04 · answer #3 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 6⤊ 2⤋
not imaganitive,He's so real.u error.u haven't even began to understand.he is the beginning, the end and the author and finisher of my faith. u have to have faith or just go on and believe u came from a monkey or a fish exc. . when u let him come in he will reveal to himself and secrets that only the ones he has chosen will know.we are a parculiar people,and passing by this life in this temporary body in this temporary world.
2007-11-23 20:18:43 · answer #4 · answered by keke T 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That is the silliest thing I have ever heard. Of course Christians believe in Christ. If you don't believe in him why do you go to Church? You are the phony one here. Those people are sincere. They are wrong in their belief. Just as they believe we are wrong in ours but they honestly and sincerely believe. Of course there are those like you who only believe for political purposes.
Kisses Betty B.
2007-11-23 20:13:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
"for which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.
while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things that are not seen: for the things that are seen are temporal; but the things that are not seen are eternal. II Corinthians 4: 16,18
2015-02-04 10:45:43 · answer #6 · answered by John D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I myself do not. Church people are a whole different breed, they have some quaint emotional needs.
2007-11-25 14:02:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ill hang out with the guy who breathed life into me, gave me wonderful blessings and died on that cross any day. Gods peace :)
2007-11-23 20:07:18 · answer #8 · answered by Loosid 6 · 6⤊ 2⤋
Well, my "imaginary friend" Jesus got my husband to stop beating me, so yeah I guess I do.
2007-11-23 20:01:52 · answer #9 · answered by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 · 7⤊ 2⤋
Jesus is no friend. Unless it is literally meaningless to say that Jesus is your friend, it entails Jesus would act like everyone else who is our friend. But he doesn't. Thus he is a friend to none.
The answer is NO.
2007-11-23 20:04:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋