How Can Christianity Change My Life?

[Question.Everything]

The title is pretty self-evident.

Note: if you are to suggest that it will change my after-life, please first provide proof that such after-life exists (in exactly the way you imagine it to be). When such proof is presented to me, I will gladly acknowledge the after-life as being part of my "life" and therefore part of the question.

This is not a loaded question and I'm eager to hear any response somebody is willing to give. While it's not loaded, be prepared for me to respond given my own life experiences thus far (and I intend to answer honestly).

 

[razeontherock]

The title is pretty self-evident.

Note: if you are to suggest that it will change my after-life

Christianity can't change your life in any way you can't do yourself - but Christ can!

Afterlife? Not a Biblical term, but I know what you mean. Here's the thing: we're not told to hang in with the sheer grit of determination, suffer in this life, and merely look forward to the next. (Even though that is a manly type of thing to do, and many professing Christians never make it past this phase) Instead, we get something like a downpayment here and now, as "earnest money" that He will make good on the rest of the transaction. This lets us have a glimpse of "the next life," and lets us know of it's reality. Evidence

Now give some pause to consider the ramifications of that! When presented with this concept, I glossed it over and it never really sunk in for well over a decade. If you buy a house, the lender wants a downpayment to know you plan on actually making payments. Now, who is receiving the downpayment in the scenario under discussion here? WE are! So who is the "buyer?" God is!

We have something He wants! Mind-boggling, but this is part of the Gospel, and it seems to be frequently overlooked:

"you are not your own, for you are bought with a price" (1 Cor 6:20)

 

[Spiritlight]

Question everything- I think your original post is very relevant question. Most of us who have been christians for a while forget what its like not to know stuff. Wondering whats in it besides eternal life is a more than sensible question. I will try to give you a bit of an answer.

How can it change you here and now?

Your natural impulses and actions often contradict those of Jesus. Following our natural reactions to situations is often a way of getting into trouble and sometimes not the best long term solution.


Hypothetical-

Your at the bar have a few drinks loose your head and hit that guy that you think deserves it. You have used your inbuilt rationale to assess your reality and act accordingly. Now you get a big fine for Assault You have done something dumb and brought shame on yourself, you now also live with guilt and anger.


What Christianity does-

Becoming a christian allows something to come in you external to yourself which is the holy spirit.


This comes with overwhelming sensitivities towards good and bad things. Doing things it doesn't like make the good feeling inside disappear. The Bible helps intensify that nice feeling.


As well as that it gives guidance for avoiding shameful situations.



Back to the bar hypothetical.

If I was drinking in the bar I may not drink excessively because my good holy spirit feeling would go away. Now because of my choices I made as a christian I might have a better chance of thinking about someone's actions towards me. The result might be a completely different outcome, hopefully a better one on your part.

In this situation the lessons I learned about other people and How I should love them and care for them from the bible would greatly influence my interaction with other people and may in a situation like what I hypothesized be a positive effect on your everyday life.

Christianity has a positive impact on my everyday life in good ways. I like it as a lifestyle choice.

It comes with good inner feelings, that's the best part.

You are also included in a group of people you can identify with and no mater where you go as a christian when you meet another one you know there is a special bond with us all.

I hope that helps you a bit, I know it was only a short answer.

 

[drich0150]

The title is pretty self-evident.

Note: if you are to suggest that it will change my after-life, please first provide proof that such after-life exists (in exactly the way you imagine it to be). When such proof is presented to me, I will gladly acknowledge the after-life as being part of my "life" and therefore part of the question.

This is not a loaded question and I'm eager to hear any response somebody is willing to give. While it's not loaded, be prepared for me to respond given my own life experiences thus far (and I intend to answer honestly).

Christianity is a religion like anyother, and if you let it the people who serve the religion it will blind you into service of the religion itself.

However if you Seek God through Christ you will find true freedom.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Question.Everything. Christianity is more than just a Religion, Christianity is a loving relationship between God and us. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and The Way, and He told us in Matthew, chapter 22, verses 35-40: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all your hearts, with all your souls, and with all your minds. The second is: Love your neighbour as yourself." Then Jesus points out: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Love is a Christian`s great weapon, and Love fights all enmity and opposition. It might take a bit longer than angry words or deeds, but it will last and give Joy and Peace. A good start: treat all we know and all we meet, as we would love to be treated: with kindness, friendly words, helping hands where necessary, and generally being a Good neighbour. God will see our sincere efforts, and God will bless us, And: God will know that we love Him, Because we are following His Commandments to love. Jesus will give us His Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will give us His Love, too. Jesus told us: " Ask and ye will receive," and then we thank God and share all Love with our neighbour. Slowly but surly, we will change from being selfish and unloving to the children/sons and daughters, which God our Heavenly Father wants us to be. We might stumble and even fail, but we ask God to forgive us, and God will forgive us as we will forgive all others. We thank God and carry on becoming as God wants us to be, loving God with all our beings and loving our neighbour as ourselves. Jesus promised us " Life abundantly" and the world will see whom we represent, and who loves us and blesses us. Jesus will lead us back to where we came from, our original Home with God. I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[Question.Everything]

Here's the thing: we're not told to hang in with the sheer grit of determination, suffer in this life, and merely look forward to the next. (Even though that is a manly type of thing to do, and many professing Christians never make it past this phase)

What if my life here on Earth isn't filled with suffering? I happen to love my life here on Earth, love my family and friends, love my job, etc. I'm not "hanging in", I'm having a great time. I require no promise (or gift) of eternal life or heaven to be happy and fulfilled here and now. I'm actually rooting for reincarnation.

Instead, we get something like a downpayment here and now, as "earnest money" that He will make good on the rest of the transaction. This lets us have a glimpse of "the next life," and lets us know of it's reality. Evidence

I'm not sure how your analogy to a down payment on a house is "evidence" that an afterlife exists. Perhaps a way to explain what this life and the next means, but you haven't provided any proof to show that your analogy is true.

We have something He wants!

This is something I can agree with. The one thing God cannot have is imperfection.

 

[Question.Everything]

Your at the bar have a few drinks loose your head and hit that guy that you think deserves it. You have used your inbuilt rationale to assess your reality and act accordingly. Now you get a big fine for Assault You have done something dumb and brought shame on yourself, you now also live with guilt and anger.

I've never been violent with people and have never gotten into a fight. And I never plan on it. If I ever do get into a fight it will be to defend somebody innocent and that's it.

I don't require a "moral father" to watch over everything I do in order to act like a compassionate human being.

 

[Question.Everything]

However if you Seek God through Christ you will find true freedom.

What do you mean? It seems that I asked the question "How can Christianity change my life?" and you answered "True freedom".

How am I not truly free right now? (thankfully I live in the United States)

 

[Question.Everything]

Dear Question.Everything. Christianity is more than just a Religion, Christianity is a loving relationship between God and us. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and The Way, and He told us in Matthew, chapter 22, verses 35-40: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all your hearts, with all your souls, and with all your minds. The second is: Love your neighbour as yourself." Then Jesus points out: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Love is a Christian`s great weapon, and Love fights all enmity and opposition. It might take a bit longer than angry words or deeds, but it will last and give Joy and Peace. A good start: treat all we know and all we meet, as we would love to be treated: with kindness, friendly words, helping hands where necessary, and generally being a Good neighbour. God will see our sincere efforts, and God will bless us, And: God will know that we love Him, Because we are following His Commandments to love. Jesus will give us His Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will give us His Love, too. Jesus told us: " Ask and ye will receive," and then we thank God and share all Love with our neighbour. Slowly but surly, we will change from being selfish and unloving to the children/sons and daughters, which God our Heavenly Father wants us to be. We might stumble and even fail, but we ask God to forgive us, and God will forgive us as we will forgive all others. We thank God and carry on becoming as God wants us to be, loving God with all our beings and loving our neighbour as ourselves. Jesus promised us " Life abundantly" and the world will see whom we represent, and who loves us and blesses us. Jesus will lead us back to where we came from, our original Home with God. I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

A couple points:

1) You should really break your posts up into multiple paragraphs. It's confusing to read one huge lump of a paragraph.

2) It seems your answer to my question was "Christianity can change your life by reuniting you with God in our 'original home'." Where is this home and how do I know it's there?

 

[elman]

The title is pretty self-evident.

Note: if you are to suggest that it will change my after-life, please first provide proof that such after-life exists (in exactly the way you imagine it to be). When such proof is presented to me, I will gladly acknowledge the after-life as being part of my "life" and therefore part of the question.

This is not a loaded question and I'm eager to hear any response somebody is willing to give. While it's not loaded, be prepared for me to respond given my own life experiences thus far (and I intend to answer honestly).

Christianity is the teachings of Jesus. His teachings focused on loving others and He said loving God and man summed up the will of God. So your question really, is how can loving others change my life? My answer would be that we can only have a happy content life if we love others--have a relationship with others and live with a concern for others.

 

[Question.Everything]

Christianity is the teachings of Jesus. His teachings focused on loving others and He said loving God and man summed up the will of God. So your question really, is how can loving others change my life? My answer would be that we can only have a happy content life if we love others--have a relationship with others and live with a concern for others.

I do love others and I support most of Jesus' teachings.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Question.Everything. I am sorry about not being able to write in shorter paragraphs, I just do not know how it is done. I will ask my Grand-Son, though, he set me up and I just write the replies. The Home where Jesus will lead us to, will be God`s House with many Mansions, as Jesus promised His disciples when He returned to God-Father, and told them that He would prepare a place for them. All of us who love Jesus as our Saviour, will follow Him there, when our time comes to leave this Earth. I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[razeontherock]

I'm not sure how your analogy to a down payment on a house is "evidence" that an afterlife exists. Perhaps a way to explain what this life and the next means, but you haven't provided any proof to show that your analogy is true.

The only thing you're missing is the downpayment itself, otherwise you wouldn't be talking about me providing proof. (Oh and it's not my analogy)

and as far as things "mot making sense;" who's fault is that?

 

[Question.Everything]

The only thing you're missing is the downpayment itself, otherwise you wouldn't be talking about me providing proof. (Oh and it's not my analogy)

It's the analogy you used, as far as this discussion is concerned it's your analogy. I'm not saying you invented it, but it's your side.

I understand what the analogy means. What I don't understand is why I should think it's true, and that it accurately explains the foundation of reality. I'm not trying to be overly-assertive here and you're more of an expert on Christian theology than I am. I'm always open-minded to expanding my "consciousness" or however you'd describe it, I just need reasons (can't do it blindly).

and as far as things "mot making sense;" who's fault is that?

Yours? Where did I say "not making sense" in my reply? Either way, saying "Hey man, you just don't understand the logic!" without fully explaining yourself is classically called argumentum ad ignorantiam. You've simply proposed an analogy about the nature of life, but didn't back it up with any logical reasoning. I'm not calling you wrong, but you haven't explained why you're right yet. I can't accept major worldview points as absolute truth blindly, that'd be a poor effort on my part.

 

[razeontherock]

I understand what the analogy means. What I don't understand is why I should think it's true, and that it accurately explains the foundation of reality.

I don't think it does "explain the foundation of reality." It's not nearly that all-encompassing. The fact remains, the subject is something one only gets directly from God. Before that, all we can do is intellectually fathom the concept, which you say you do already.

Where did I say "not making sense" in my reply?

You did comment that as a believer, this stuff didn't make sense. I didn't take this to refer to the earnest of our inheritance, but Christianity in general. It is a relevant observation that this is a critical stage of growth to go through, and if you stopped there, well ...

 

[Question.Everything]

The fact remains, the subject is something one only gets directly from God. Before that, all we can do is intellectually fathom the concept, which you say you do already.

Believe it or not this does help me understand your point better. I'd like to dig a little deeper on this subject and ask a few questions:

1) Did you receive any of this knowledge directly from God?

2) Is there a way to put it into words and explain it to me?

3) If you can't, how can I receive this subject matter from God so I can understand it myself?

4) If God is unable to provide me with insight and you are unable to put it into words, do I have any reason to believe it?

I appreciate your responses.

 

[LBP]

The title is pretty self-evident.

Note: if you are to suggest that it will change my after-life, please first provide proof that such after-life exists (in exactly the way you imagine it to be). When such proof is presented to me, I will gladly acknowledge the after-life as being part of my "life" and therefore part of the question.

This is not a loaded question and I'm eager to hear any response somebody is willing to give. While it's not loaded, be prepared for me to respond given my own life experiences thus far (and I intend to answer honestly).

I believe there is solid and compelling evidence of the survival of consciousness after death, but it's not up to me to try to prove it to you on a CF thread. After an intense 40-year study, I believe solid and compelling evidence is to be found in the best psychical research, the best Near-Death Experience research, the best reincarnation research, and (for me) my own experiences with After-Death Communications. Those who reach a conviction of survival do so by honestly following the evidence where it leads and letting it speak to them. No one ever "proves" survival to someone else; you have do to your own hard work.

When I used to be with Campus Crusade for Christ, we taught that the spiritual nature of a man was simply dead until it was activated by inviting Christ into his life. THAT is how Christianity would change your life, by awakening you to the spiritual dimension of existence and allowing you to see the world through the richer eyes of spirit.

You sound to me a bit like the fraternity guys I used to witness to with Campus Crusade: "What do you mean by a 'more abundant' life with Jesus? I've got a new Mustang, three hot girlfriends and a generous allowance from mommy and daddy -- how could life possibly get any more abundant than that?" The answer is, "Perhaps it couldn't, in terms of the purely physical level at which you live your life. But it could, if your spiritual nature were awakened by inviting Christ into your life."

Christians believe it is the Holy Spirit that convicts a person of the need for Christ in his life, so nothing anyone says here is going to "prove" to you that Christianity would change your life or "convince" you through argument that it would. But the short answer to your question would be, "It would awaken the spiritual nature that is now dead within you."

 

[razeontherock]

1) Did you receive any of this knowledge directly from God?

Well "knowledge" is a tricky word. we can know something intellectually, but mere head knowledge is not what Christianity is, or even what it is based on. God looks on the heart, and sometimes I think this nebulous term is used merely to let us know it is not just our thoughts He is concerned with. Yet when we look into what the term refers to, we see it does indeed involve our thoughts. This is a Spiritual matter, Spiritually discerned. (Clear as mud, I know

Leaving aside the common modern usage of "know," there is the Biblical usage of it, as in Adam "knew" his wife. Hands on, experiential knowledge is what matters! Not mere intellectual assent, or being hearers only, but being doers of the Word.

So when we speak of "receiving knowledge," it combines elements of all the above: input from human sources including Biblical scribes, Divine revelation to make sense out of it, and our own effort to walk in that light.

2) Is there a way to put it into words and explain it to me?

My best efforts will be to either quote Scripture, or paraphrase it. either way it's relevant to point you to the right place, so you can read the context for yourself. It is best shared by 2 or more people having the same type of hands-on experience with it, but this is also contagious among humans so watch out!

God gives us a taste of the powers of the world to come. This takes on seemingly infinite variety, and it is a growth process, not a battering ram knocking down your front door. Thankfulness may be our single greatest contribution to the process. (?)

3) If you can't, how can I receive this subject matter from God so I can understand it myself?

2 necessary steps are doing what you know is right, and prayer. Literally asking God to make these things real to you! It is possible to control our own desires, to try to shape them in a specific direction. I don't think we have total control over that, but we can exert, and He seems to honor that.

4) If God is unable to provide me with insight and you are unable to put it into words, do I have any reason to believe it?

Well I also question everything, but I do so looking for solutions, and answers. I have put a lot into words, and I would say God is so much more capable of providing you with insight that even i can't stop Him!

 

[drich0150]

What do you mean?

I mean that Christ offers righteousness and freedom from sin.

It seems that I asked the question "How can Christianity change my life?" and you answered "True freedom".

Actually no, I answered that Christianity has the potential like any other religion to focus the believers efforts away from God and direct them on the practice of the religion itself.

I said their is freedom in Christ. Their is a difference.

How am I not truly free right now?

You are a slave to sin. If you do not believe this to be true then see if you can choose to live a sin free life.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Question. Everything. The couple of questions you asked me: I know now how to break up my points into multiple paragraphs, and you asked: " where is our original home, where do we come from?" Our original home is with God, and He made us in His image. When Jesus left His disciples to return to the Father, He told them: Do not be sad, I am going to prepare a place for you in my Father`s House with many Mansions." I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.