Are we far too egotistical, calling ourselves christian ?

[Alithis]

I won't take you seriously since you claim to be a Christian yet argue that claiming to be a Christian is "egotistical". I do not believe you even understand what it means to be a Christian. That is obvious from your posts...so what religion/denomination are you a part of?

to answer the Q .. i am born again of water and the Spirit of God ,a disciple of the lord Jesus ,learning to do what my master the lord Jesus did and does and to become like him . to preach the gospel heal the sick drive out demons baptise people and make more disciples .... (not pray a prayer continue sinning and sit in a building for an hour on a sunday and do nothing being a hearer but not a doer of the word ..knowing what is right to do but not doing it .. for that is sin.)

 

[ewq1938]

to answer the Q

That didn't answer the question: "so what religion/denomination are you a part of?"

 

[Alithis]

That didn't answer the question: "so what religion/denomination are you a part of?"

i am born again of water and the Spirit of God ,a disciple of the lord Jesus ,learning to do what my master the lord Jesus did and does and to become like him . to preach the gospel heal the sick drive out demons baptise people and make more disciples ... we are defined and judged not on what denomination we are but on our obedience to the word of God .

and you are still missing the point and straying way off topic .. if we are Christ-like .. then by all means refer to yourself as Christ-like .. if not ,then don't until you are.

i have no problem with it

 

[ewq1938]

i am born again of water and the Spirit of God ,a disciple of the lord Jesus ,learning to do what my master the lord Jesus did and does and to become like him . to preach the gospel heal the sick drive out demons baptise people and make more disciples ... we are defined and judged not on what denomination we are but on our obedience to the word of God .

Repeating the same avoidance is not a proper way to answer someone's question.

and you are still missing the point and straying way off topic .. if we are Christ-like .. then by all means refer to yourself as Christ-like .. if not ,then don't until you are.

Christian doesn't mean Christ-like. It means one accepts Christ as the Messiah. Your dislike of Christianity is noted.

 

[Alithis]

Repeating the same avoidance is not a proper way to answer someone's question.



Christian doesn't mean Christ-like. It means one accepts Christ as the Messiah. Your dislike of Christianity is noted.

no ,that is the modern meaning that it has become equated with ..not the meaning of the greek or hebrew word . and thats just another point you've been missing all along .

 

[ewq1938]

no ,that is the modern meaning that it has become equated with ..not the meaning of the greek or hebrew word . and thats just another point you've been missing all along .

No, that is the historical, original meaning which I have already proven. You are changing what the word Christian means because you oppose the word or perhaps the religion itself.

Obviously you aren't a Christian, at least by that term, but you are using it in your profile.

 

[Alithis]

No, that is the historical, original meaning which I have already proven. You are changing what the word Christian means because you oppose the word or perhaps the religion itself.

Obviously you aren't a Christian, at least by that term, but you are using it in your profile.

nope ..yu quoted what the term has become .. AND you missed the point .
a disciple learns to become like his master whom he follows and learns from ... we are disciples of the lord jesus ..if we have taken up our cross to follow him and learn from him to become like him .. so if you feel you have become like the lord jesus and live like him and do what he does ... then by all means cal yourself christ-like , as others will . but if not ... then don't claim to be . just be what you are a disciple .. if indeed you are a disciple following and learning to be like Jesus -preaching the gospel, healing the sick ,driving out demons, baptizing people and making more disciples ..

I consider myself a disciple as im learning to do these things .. so you can drop the false self defensive accusations .
all in all you have quite simply missed the point that is being made by this thread - sorry if i have not communicated it very well -i think it is quite plain and clear but obviously not to yourself .

 

[ewq1938]

nope ..yu quoted what the term has become ..

No, I quoted the original meaning.

a disciple learns to become like his master whom he follows and learns from

No, they try to learn what the master has to teach not to become him as closely as they can.

then don't claim to be .

I am a Christian. No person will ever be like Christ as you are describing nor was that ever the meaning of being a Christian.

I consider myself a disciple as im learning to do these things .. so you can drop the false self defensive accusations .

Since you are against the term "Christian" how about You drop using it in your profile, or do you think you are fully "Christ-like" and the rest of us aren't?

 

[ingridz]

I think it depends on the seed of faith. If we have the faith, we grow. Our spiritual growth is assurance of salvation. A born again new life have the habit of confession, questioning and searching himself /herself, and changes. We are growing each day becoming more like Chirst. Faith in truth set us free. Live in sin is bitter and slavery. Many Christians never truly confess and change. They have no seed of faith, nor growth. Growth does not mean that you never sins or make mistakes, it is the growth of Chirst-consciousness and the renewal of you life. I think gratitude is very important which makes a Christian joyful. Be thankful to God for everything you have, even you feel like having nothing. Count your blessings. That is your faith. Always believe in God's goodness, even when you don't feel like it. BE thankful to people who helps you and make you grow. Forgive others and yourself. Give others chance and yourself. A good test if your faith is when you are put in a bad circumstance and feel really bad, you still believe God is good.

 

[Alithis]

I think it depends on the seed of faith. If we have the faith, we grow. Our spiritual growth is assurance of salvation. A born again new life have the habit of confession, questioning and searching himself /herself, and changes. We are growing each day becoming more like Chirst. Faith in truth set us free. Live in sin is bitter and slavery. Many Christians never truly confess and change. They have no seed of faith, nor growth. Growth does not mean that you never sins or make mistakes, it is the growth of Chirst-consciousness and the renewal of you life. I think gratitude is very important which makes a Christian joyful. Be thankful to God for everything you have, even you feel like having nothing. Count your blessings. That is your faith. Always believe in God's goodness, even when you don't feel like it. BE thankful to people who helps you and make you grow. Forgive others and yourself. Give others chance and yourself. A good test if your faith is when you are put in a bad circumstance and feel really bad, you still believe God is good.

thats a fair comment .. we do make mistakes early on. Mind you there is a huge difference between "making a mistake" and willful sin ..HUGE HUGE difference . a repentant person who commits a wilful sin.. will experience such horror of power of conviction from the lord and his chastisement.., the gratitude towards gods forgivness is so intense ..they will not do so again..! (i speak experientially ) they will not continue to practice sin . as written in 1john 3 .

 

[ingridz]

thats a fair comment .. we do make mistakes early on. Mind you there is a huge difference between "making a mistake" and willful sin ..HUGE HUGE difference . a repentant person who commits a wilful sin.. will experience such horror of power of conviction from the lord and his chastisement.., the gratitude towards gods forgivness is so intense ..they will not do so again..! (i speak experientially ) they will not continue to practice sin . as written in 1john 3 .

They will not continue to practice sin. I think it is not a rule. It is the fruit of faith. Faith is that believing in God's goodness( good intention) in giving His law, which is designed to protect and bless His people, not harm or bind.

The law, the commandments are a privilege. I remember an atheist ever said to me:" could you please have mercy on me, don't spit on me, as I am a spiritually disabled man. I have no ability to trust in God."

The law give us freedom, light, wisdom and life. It brings joy, hope and love. There is nothing in the world could compare to this.

Based on such faith, a repentant person will seek blessings instead of suffering of sins. Though living in God's commandments suffers too. Yet it is like the process of healing a disease. The suffering for good leads to healing and recovery. The suffering for sin leads to more intense suffering and death. I think the spiritual death is most horrible thing for people who ever taste the goodness of GOD, with His word. Even he/she never truly die spiritually, he/she is aware the danger and fear the horror of separating with God. After all what they love most is God. God is all they want. When they experience the truth and have the wisdom of understanding things, when they have the insight of human being, they would not have high expectation for human being or pleasures in the world.

Yes there are/were temptations. Yet faith will set them free. There are/were big, terrible trails, yet faith will pull them out from the pit of doubt and bitterness. The heart of gratitude and repentance will always launch a new day and new life ahead. There is always hope there. They are never abandoned. Whey they experience all the tests and trials in the world and life and survived, they will praise the Lord for giving them life. Even their lives were ever cursed by people, country man ,even their parents. The only and most worthy thing is that they, like Jacob, pathetic in the eyes of the world, grasped the most valuable thing under heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[ingridz]

I think I'm not able to judge anybody, though I'm always judged by people. God knows me most. The benefits of learning truth in Bible is that I have had the faith. I believe God is good. His law is good. When I meet anyone who truly loves the law of God, I am joyful. Obeying the law is not a symbol of glory, nor a symbol of righteousness. It is a blessing. A repentant person is joyful, no matter the circumstance is bad or not. He/she is joyful, simply because of God. He is always there. His word is always there. Trusting in His word, anytime, obeying his commandments, brings freedom and joy.

We are wealthy people. We have everything because we come from heaven. We are able to give comfort, even when we are broken. We are able to give and share, even when we are deprived. We thank God because He love us. Even when nobody love or care us. we are still joyful, out of tears, we have hope. Such kind of faith never dies. Nobody, nothing could destroy us, nor against us. He loves me, never abandoned me. Even I was a Muslim, or an Atheist, or refugee, uneducated, abandoned, sinned or anything awful to some people. Jesus died for me and I believe His goodness, I need nothing else. I forgot my age, beautiful or not, wise or not, wealthy or healthy, respected or not. I have enough to celebrate.

 

[ingridz]

Actually I do not mention that I'm a Christian in a nation full of so called Christians. I had many disappointments with Christians. yet I know that it is a blessing, at least a chance for anybody who call him/herself a Christian. In his/her lifetime he/she have enough time and chance to think over truth, to decide whether to live it out. We are too early to judge others. Disappointments are not judging. I feel sorry for them. yet for me it is a reminding. I may also disappoint others.

It is always a good reminding to myself that I have to be cautious to call myself Christian. I, instead of anybody else, cares most whether I live out a different life, a life more closer to Jesus. It is a life of blessing and freedom. I believe that. It is not a kind of achievement. It is not something you can plan. The only thing I ask myself to do is to believe. Always believe He is good. His law is good. He has good intentions on me, on everyone. I'm not big enough to search and judge anyone. because I have to make full effort and strength to build up faith in Him everyday, in every circumstance. Being a life I grow, this is my duty and destiny. Be humble before God. I grow, or die. There is no other choice.

 

[ingridz]

When I am asked, I confess that I am a Christian. Because of faith, believing in God's goodness.
Perfection is do according to your understanding of the law, based on faith. People stumbles and changes. Yet his/her intention of faith is showed by his/her ways. God knows that. we have false judgements.

 

[ingridz]

You know what? I found there are two types of people who have the license to sin. They create a kind of theology to issue a license for themselves. I must warn myself not to do such things.

Two are both hypocrites. One is always righteous man. You can barely find any mistake they make. They claim to be very pious and religious and know every detailed law and literally obey it, at least in public. In short they always have good reputations，and are very sensitive to show weakness or failure. Yet they barely know the meaning of the law. The law is not a religious clothing, not a tool for reputation. It is a living blessing. An always righteous man is deceitful. I doubt how a man/woman who never sins could understand and help other sinners. Yes literally they confess they are sinners, yet in detail they are always perfect. Frankly I always keep distance from such wonderful perfect man. At least apostle Paul or Peter was never like that!!!

Another kind of hypocrite is pretending humble repentant person. They always confess that they have countless sins. countless as the sand on the beach, the stars in the sky. They are too busy to count them. so they give them over to Jesus. Then they relax and do whatever they want. It is a total ignorance of the law. The law is a kind of obstacle in their life, a bondage and curse. There is nothing positive in the law. They don't care reputation, they just want whatever they like. Salvation, or religion is a kind of anesthetic deceiving themselves that nothing bad will happen.

I think God does not discipline such kind of persons. Because they do not show a bit of sincerity.

Dramatically, such two kinds of people are often found in church leaders and deacons. Yes it is not easy to be leaders. it is also not easy to live a life of a true and sincere man/woman. you maybe crushed if you are true and sincere, unless you are strong enough to bear the strikes.

 

[Alithis]

You know what? I found there are two types of people who have the license to sin. They create a kind of theology to issue a license for themselves. I must warn myself not to do such things.

Two are both hypocrites. One is always righteous man. You can barely find any mistake they make. They claim to be very pious and religious and know every detailed law and literally obey it, at least in public. In short they always have good reputations，and are very sensitive to show weakness or failure. Yet they barely know the meaning of the law. The law is not a religious clothing, not a tool for reputation. It is a living blessing. An always righteous man is deceitful. I doubt how a man/woman who never sins could understand and help other sinners. Yes literally they confess they are sinners, yet in detail they are always perfect. Frankly I always keep distance from such wonderful perfect man. At least apostle Paul or Peter was never like that!!!

Another kind of hypocrite is pretending humble repentant person. They always confess that they have countless sins. countless as the sand on the beach, the stars in the sky. They are too busy to count them. so they give them over to Jesus. Then they relax and do whatever they want. It is a total ignorance of the law. The law is a kind of obstacle in their life, a bondage and curse. There is nothing positive in the law. They don't care reputation, they just want whatever they like. Salvation, or religion is a kind of anesthetic deceiving themselves that nothing bad will happen.

I think God does not discipline such kind of persons. Because they do not show a bit of sincerity.

Dramatically, such two kinds of people are often found in church leaders and deacons. Yes it is not easy to be leaders. it is also not easy to live a life of a true and sincere man/woman. you maybe crushed if you are true and sincere, unless you are strong enough to bear the strikes.

in short - or perhaps in summary -you speak well of a NARROW way between the two extremes of law and grace a straight and narrow road that leads to life .. the one the lord Jesus said .. that few find .