Posted on 12/30/2001 7:44:36 PM PST by Sparkvark
Well said.
I don't believe that acknowledging Christ and being saved is the end of the journey; it's the beginning of a moment-to-moment check on the progress of one's actions throughout the remainder of one's life.
I still find difficulty in accepting that I am forgiven my sins (the decalogue in-breach is my pedigree) and I will be ashamed before my creator when again I meet Him. But I know I am forgiven, and my life and actions bear fruit in testimony to His love for me, and my obedience to Him, in spite of my complete undeservingness of grace.
Do not rush things, fall prey to superstition from want of salvation; your time is chosen: begin to knock, and that door will open. Sometimes it takes years to cross the threshold.
I once fell-in with some zealous "Christians" who later unmasked themselves before me as vile characters. It was hard for me to break away and acknowledge that I had been deceived--I so much wanted to know God; but this was a necessary experience for me, in God's wisdom, that I should use it as "training" for my future walk with Christ. Take what comes, be honest to yourself, and think.
My experience is that faith that comes quickly, emotionally, and with little foundation is lost just as swiftly; Faith that comes from a cognitive recognition of inspired creation lasts forever. It's not fer nuthin' that you got a brain! Emotion and happiness follows.
I don't know if this answers your question, but it was what I felt compelled to write.
This is my Christianity.
I've read all the post up 'til now (94 so far), and find it interesting that all the answers, for the most part, attempt to push a certain "brand" of "Christianity," rather than answer your question. What is particularly interesting is all the Bible verses that are quoted to answer the question, "what is a Christian," and not one of those verses has the word "Christian" in it.
That may not be too surprising as the word only occurs (in any form) three times in the entire Bible. Here are the verses:
Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Notice that the word Christian is only used once (by Paul writing to Peter) to refer to those who followed Jesus Christ. In the other two references, Christian is used more or less as a term of derision. Obviously, the Bible authors did not consider the term very significant, while today's religious leaders put great emphasis on it. This is a clue to the nature of todays religions.
Today the term Christian may best be define as any member of any organized church or denomination that calls itself Christian. There is great disparity between what these so-called "Christain" churches teach, and therefore great differences in what different people who call themselves Christians believe.
This much is certain. There is no organized Christian religion which teaches exactly what the Bible teaches. All have added human teaching, most originated by Augustine, and injected into "Christian" dogma directly into the Catholic church, and indirectly via Luther, Calvin, and, Wesley, and a host of others into most other denominations. The Eastern or Orthodox versions of Christianity has other man-made doctrines that are a bit unique.
Thought you might like a little different perspective.
By the way, there is not a single verse in the Bible that says anyone should be a "Christian."
Hank
SEE, 'Romans 10:17' to begin with............
Following the teachings of Christ is great, but it doesn't make one automatically a Christian, at least not according to the teachings of the Bible. My brother is a Hare Krishna devotee who believes in and follows many of the teachings of Christ, but he would not in any way describe himself as a Christian.
Why are Catholics constantly singled out as being "less Christian" than many other Christian sects? They came first, have been around the longest. Not saying that faith is any better than any other, but it strikes me as odd. Also, by my understanding, several Protestant faiths do not believe in a heaven or a hell, so the "eternal life" argument doesn't really work as a basis of being Christian.
Christianity rests in the belief in Christ's teachings, not belief he was the son of God or anything like that.
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