Post by OrthodoX on Apr 11, 2006 9:09:29 GMT -5
Brethren, this is part of a myspace dialogue I have been having with non-believers. Let me know what ya'll think ya hear?
What is a Christian really?
I have been faced lately with a lot of questions about Christianity. I have had some say to me that I cannot be a Christian if I drink beer and smoke black and milds. I have had others say that I cannot be a Christian due to sin I have committed in the past. I understand that how I live is important and admit that I am still learning that part. I am also filled with hope, for as the sheppard leaves the ninety-nine sheep to go after the one that has strayed, so my Lord has come after me.
So with that said, what is a Christian…really? A Christian first of all believes a different story than others. They hold to the Christian version of history, they believe that God created the world and everything in it, that he created it with a purpose. They believe that mankind disobeyed the Creator and as a result sin entered the world destroying what God intended to be beautiful and good. And they believe that God has come to earth as a man, Jesus, who lived by God's law (the Old Testament, particularly, Torah, the first five books) perfectly and died willingly as a sacrifice for the sin of his people. He took their place under the wrath of God and has given them his righteousness instead, or rather; he took the blame for their law breaking and has given them the credit for living a perfect life. He has resurrected from the dead. They understand that he did this for the purpose of establishing a people for himself through whom to reverse the ravaging of sin and to stop its destruction. They are apart of this people not by doing the best they can, or attending to religious duties, but by believing their risen King, by having faith in his work alone and in no one else, especially themselves. The Christian sees Jesus as a new Moses. As Moses led Israel out of Egypt, so Jesus has led them out of the fallen world being destroyed by sin. I like to think of Christians as the people of tomorrow. This is because if the Christian story is true and this world is not as its supposed to be and God has a plan to make it right again, then we are the people who strive to see this new world come about, and indeed live as though it is already here (in a sense it is).
The label "Christian" has become abused and watered down. Many think that Christian means someone who attends church or someone who is a conservative republican or someone who hates everyone who disagrees with them. Others hear the word Christian and they think of the protestors outside of the abortion clinic, or the naïve friend who has no reason whatsoever for what they believe. The face of our hypocritical religious relative may come to mind. These all, and more, have become what many non-Christians think of when they hear the term "Christian".
The word Christian simply means 'follower of Christ'. Was Jesus a hypocrite? Did he ever show intolerance toward his fellow man, even those who hated him? Would he vote for Bush (another blog for another day)? The historical truth is that Jesus was the model human being. All who would call themselves a Christian and not seek to imitate Jesus are kidding themselves. They can call themselves whatever they want, they are not followers of Jesus.
Jesus was often criticized for not being religious enough. The parable of the Prodigal Son for example was told in response to the religious leaders who were angry at him for meeting and eating with prostitutes, tax collectors and gentiles. The son who leaves and returns is the non-jewish and non-religious person, whereas the older son who is angry with his father for accepting his brother back is an analogy of the religious Jew.
I think that the best definition for "Christian" is found in the Gospel of John, chapter three. In this passage Jesus is having a discussion with a religious Jew named Nicodemus, who was part of a Jewish sect called the Pharisees. During this conversation Jesus tells Nicodemus that the only way he can see the Kingdom of Heaven is to be "born again". Of course our religious friend is puzzled by this and asks how he can be born again when he is already out of his mother, and indeed has been for quite some time! Jesus responds that one must be born of the Spirit not just naturally of water as all people are. A Christian is one who is born of the Spirit of God. They have in a sense experienced a second birth. Jesus does not give Nicodemus a list of religious duties, which he would probably have preferred being a Pharisee. Instead Jesus tells him that he must be born again, or be filled with the Spirit of God. And this my friends is what a Christian is, one who has the Spirit of the living God dwelling within them. A Christian is one who is not concerned about alcohol and smokes, but about the state of their fellow man. They are not ones to hate and be intolerant of others outside of their camp, but loving and accepting of all. They are the people for whom Christ died. They are not better than others, but they are forgiven.
I will end this with a brief look at the Christian's vocation or responsibility in the world. The apostle Paul says in a letter he wrote to the Christians in ancient Corinth that they have been made into new creatures, that the old thems has been done away with and replaced with new thems. Since this has taken place, they have been given an important job, the ministry of reconciliation. Reconciliation means to bring peace between two or more fighting parties or to bring together what has been separated. What are they to be reconciling? They are to be reconciling or working to bring about peace between God and their fellow man. God is angry with sin, it messed up the world he made and brings suffering to the people he created. He is angry with sinners, they disregard his Law and live selfishly. The Christian is called to reconcile the sinner and God. They do this by presenting the Christian story and by announcing the Kingship of Jesus (The Gospel) and the work he has done. They are to seek the suffering around them and alleviate it (feed the poor, care for orphans, encourage the down trodden, cry with the sorrowful, ect.). As Jesus was to Israel, so the Christian is to be to the world. In short the Christian's vocation is to usher in the Kingdom of God.
What is a Christian really?
I have been faced lately with a lot of questions about Christianity. I have had some say to me that I cannot be a Christian if I drink beer and smoke black and milds. I have had others say that I cannot be a Christian due to sin I have committed in the past. I understand that how I live is important and admit that I am still learning that part. I am also filled with hope, for as the sheppard leaves the ninety-nine sheep to go after the one that has strayed, so my Lord has come after me.
So with that said, what is a Christian…really? A Christian first of all believes a different story than others. They hold to the Christian version of history, they believe that God created the world and everything in it, that he created it with a purpose. They believe that mankind disobeyed the Creator and as a result sin entered the world destroying what God intended to be beautiful and good. And they believe that God has come to earth as a man, Jesus, who lived by God's law (the Old Testament, particularly, Torah, the first five books) perfectly and died willingly as a sacrifice for the sin of his people. He took their place under the wrath of God and has given them his righteousness instead, or rather; he took the blame for their law breaking and has given them the credit for living a perfect life. He has resurrected from the dead. They understand that he did this for the purpose of establishing a people for himself through whom to reverse the ravaging of sin and to stop its destruction. They are apart of this people not by doing the best they can, or attending to religious duties, but by believing their risen King, by having faith in his work alone and in no one else, especially themselves. The Christian sees Jesus as a new Moses. As Moses led Israel out of Egypt, so Jesus has led them out of the fallen world being destroyed by sin. I like to think of Christians as the people of tomorrow. This is because if the Christian story is true and this world is not as its supposed to be and God has a plan to make it right again, then we are the people who strive to see this new world come about, and indeed live as though it is already here (in a sense it is).
The label "Christian" has become abused and watered down. Many think that Christian means someone who attends church or someone who is a conservative republican or someone who hates everyone who disagrees with them. Others hear the word Christian and they think of the protestors outside of the abortion clinic, or the naïve friend who has no reason whatsoever for what they believe. The face of our hypocritical religious relative may come to mind. These all, and more, have become what many non-Christians think of when they hear the term "Christian".
The word Christian simply means 'follower of Christ'. Was Jesus a hypocrite? Did he ever show intolerance toward his fellow man, even those who hated him? Would he vote for Bush (another blog for another day)? The historical truth is that Jesus was the model human being. All who would call themselves a Christian and not seek to imitate Jesus are kidding themselves. They can call themselves whatever they want, they are not followers of Jesus.
Jesus was often criticized for not being religious enough. The parable of the Prodigal Son for example was told in response to the religious leaders who were angry at him for meeting and eating with prostitutes, tax collectors and gentiles. The son who leaves and returns is the non-jewish and non-religious person, whereas the older son who is angry with his father for accepting his brother back is an analogy of the religious Jew.
I think that the best definition for "Christian" is found in the Gospel of John, chapter three. In this passage Jesus is having a discussion with a religious Jew named Nicodemus, who was part of a Jewish sect called the Pharisees. During this conversation Jesus tells Nicodemus that the only way he can see the Kingdom of Heaven is to be "born again". Of course our religious friend is puzzled by this and asks how he can be born again when he is already out of his mother, and indeed has been for quite some time! Jesus responds that one must be born of the Spirit not just naturally of water as all people are. A Christian is one who is born of the Spirit of God. They have in a sense experienced a second birth. Jesus does not give Nicodemus a list of religious duties, which he would probably have preferred being a Pharisee. Instead Jesus tells him that he must be born again, or be filled with the Spirit of God. And this my friends is what a Christian is, one who has the Spirit of the living God dwelling within them. A Christian is one who is not concerned about alcohol and smokes, but about the state of their fellow man. They are not ones to hate and be intolerant of others outside of their camp, but loving and accepting of all. They are the people for whom Christ died. They are not better than others, but they are forgiven.
I will end this with a brief look at the Christian's vocation or responsibility in the world. The apostle Paul says in a letter he wrote to the Christians in ancient Corinth that they have been made into new creatures, that the old thems has been done away with and replaced with new thems. Since this has taken place, they have been given an important job, the ministry of reconciliation. Reconciliation means to bring peace between two or more fighting parties or to bring together what has been separated. What are they to be reconciling? They are to be reconciling or working to bring about peace between God and their fellow man. God is angry with sin, it messed up the world he made and brings suffering to the people he created. He is angry with sinners, they disregard his Law and live selfishly. The Christian is called to reconcile the sinner and God. They do this by presenting the Christian story and by announcing the Kingship of Jesus (The Gospel) and the work he has done. They are to seek the suffering around them and alleviate it (feed the poor, care for orphans, encourage the down trodden, cry with the sorrowful, ect.). As Jesus was to Israel, so the Christian is to be to the world. In short the Christian's vocation is to usher in the Kingdom of God.