What exactly does "I have a personal relationship with God" mean?

[oi_antz]

When the Holy Spirit spoke to you, did it come across as an audible sound?

If you mean did my brain interpret the words as being perceived by ear, then no, it was all happening in my inner dialogue (mind).

When God speaks directly to your mind, does it come across as an audible sound?

Again, no.

If each of these are answered with "no", then how can you know for sure that these weren't merely unexplained inclinations?

Because I did not initiate it nor expect it.

An atheist is just as inclined to have such an experience as you are. It's merely a matter of semantics. So I will reword it from the atheists perspective.

One time I was at a backpacker hostel and I heard a guy speaking to his friend about how he had no money for food and he was going to shoplift the supermarket. The next morning I got an overwhelming sense to give him some money for food, but I was too shy and I struggled with the idea. Then as I was leaving to go to work I got a strong unexplained inclination to read a portion of a book I have which has a bunch of good moral lessons. The lesson said something to the effect of fasting and in the lesson I was asked "how would you like to be forced to fast if you didn't have a strong sense that the lessons in this book are of value?". So I swallowed my pride, went back in there and gave him the money.
How is that any different from your relationship with God? It seems like your relationship with God is merely a game of semantics.

One major difference between myself and an atheist is that I delight in giving glory to God whereas an atheist does not.

 

[Cieza]

It's explained as a still, small voice. It's not audible in a manner such as using your ears and stimulating your ear drums. But, it's just like when you think to yourself. You know how you can say "I like doughnuts" without speaking a word, yet you still "hear" it in your brain, without ever stimulating your ear drums. It's just like that, except it's a "thought" that is not natural for you to think, and will even contradict your wants and desires.

What you're describing as voices is something I "hear" and most certainly every atheist "hears". Does that mean myself and all the atheists have a personal relationship with God?

The question you asked was what is the need for a creator? What is the need for a creation would be the correct question, if the creator is so powerful.

Is there a need for creation? What exactly is rationalized by saying everything we know of must have come from a higher intelligent being when Christians are unwilling to apply the same rules of creation to that higher intelligent being? If Christians can so easily accept that their higher intelligent being was exempt from creation, then why do they so stubbornly insist that humans can't be exempt from creation?

In atheism, life is revolving around science. Just because someone has a religious faith of any kind, doesn't mean their mindset is "science is wrong and The Bible is right".

Whenever you ask a question and a Christian replies with "Cause God said so/made it that way/etc" it is them saying "I don't know" and attempting to answer a question, or perhaps avoiding it altogether. Just because Secular Science wants to disprove God, doesn't mean it's right if it "does" disprove God.

Why should a Christian have a problem with merely saying, "I don't know"? By using Christian lingo to say "I don't know", they are doing a very good job of distancing people like myself from the Christian church. Just how do they think they are furthering their agenda by answering in such a misleading way?

If we don't have any kind of God in existence, explain to me how we are so amazingly made/evolved?

I have news for you. There is something out there called nature. There is also something out there called physics.

Why do we have many muscles, with only one that doesn't rest until our demise? And why do our bodies need rest, yet our brains never do. How is it that we are the only planet with life forms? Explain how math equations went above and beyond times tables, seeing as how that's all that's needed for the monetary system. And where did we get our ability to learn so much, the ability to define it, our ability to successfully clone another life form, the ability to teleport[albeit the end results are nasty] and how is it possible that everything in The Bible regarding humanity and it's future demise, although figurative language doesn't give us an accurate modern day description of what's to come, still if we modernize The Bible[substitute out-dated measurements and the like with modern things] it makes sense.

This is a question of which came first, the chicken or the egg. If humans weren't such efficient creatures, they would have died out a long time ago, as have most species which ever came into existence.

A dog doesn't have a sharp sense of smell so it can detect predators. Having a sharp sense of smell is what allowed dogs to survive when other less advanced species died out.

I suggest you read up on the fallacious argument of selective observation.

As for spiritual things, if you can't grasp it, this might help.

The Body and The Spirit exist on two entirely different planes. One is restricted by time, the other is not. One plane your abilities and life are restricted, one plane you are not. And explain ghost/hauntings stories, as well as possessions such as Emily Rose and the like. If you don't believe in God and a Soul/Spirit, then what is it that makes cabinets and plates and cups go flying all over the place?

That's a start. But perhaps you can clarify if "The Spirit" and "God" are of the physical world. If God can do a simple thing like move a rock, then he pertains to the physical world.

 

[oi_antz]

What you're describing as voices is something I "hear" and most certainly every atheist "hears". Does that mean myself and all the atheists have a personal relationship with God?

Why don't you confront the voice and demand his name? I can tell you it's either your ego (which you would know), or it is someone else. It could very well be God, but you could also be suppressing Him if it is. I think this verse is relevant to show you at this point:

1 John 4:4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

 

[Merlinius]

Many times I've heard Christians say things like "I have a personal relationship with God" or "I have a personal relationship with Jesus". Just what exactly do these statements mean?

Let's say you met an adult intelligent person who had never been introduced to the concept of God, had never read the Bible, who didn't know what Christianity was and had never been taught about Jesus. If you had to describe to this person in 50-100 words what you mean by "I have a personal relationship with God" or "I have a personal relationship with Jesus", what would you say or write?

It means you have invited the crucified, risen, and Glorified Lord Jesus Christ to come into your flesh and fill you up with Him and His Life and His Love and His Joy, Peace and Righteousness in His Holy spirit This is the Kingdom of God!

(Rom 14:17) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Peace in Christ

 

[visionary]

Many times I've heard Christians say things like "I have a personal relationship with God" or "I have a personal relationship with Jesus". Just what exactly do these statements mean?

Let's say you met an adult intelligent person who had never been introduced to the concept of God, had never read the Bible, who didn't know what Christianity was and had never been taught about Jesus. If you had to describe to this person in 50-100 words what you mean by "I have a personal relationship with God" or "I have a personal relationship with Jesus", what would you say or write?

God has become real, and it is no longer a theology but a life with Him. That is what it means to me when I say I have a personal relationship with Him. My prayers are no longer rituals or preset times and places to say and do, but are spontaneous, usually without ceasing because I am aware of His ever Presence in my life and love Him. I can be all alone and yet because I know He is there, I am never alone. He is my best friend.

 

[ChristianT]

1) If one of the reasons you argue that there was a higher intelligent being which created us is because we are so complex, then you should be able to posit a theory as to how this even more complex creator was created. If not, then why the need for a creator in the first place?


2) Please explain how God allowed Enoch to escape death.
Is Enoch still living at this time? If not, then he didn't really escape death.
How was it determined that Enoch escaping death was a result of God's actions and not merely a freak occurrence?
Are there any other documented & credible instances of God allowing a human to escape death?


3) How is your life evidence of anything above and beyond your life?


4) Please elaborate. I don't quite understand your point. Horses don't need long tails to survive.
Does the fact that there is no documented evidence of unicorns existing play any role in you believing that unicorns do not exist?


5) Please explain what it means for a spirit to be with God.

If a person's spirit is merely their existence, then every human has a spirit, as every human has existence. Likewise, every dog, horse, chicken, armadillo, tarantula and rhinoceros must have a spirit. How is it determined what happens to the spirits of such animals after they die - especially because they lack the brain capacity to recognize what God is?


6) I'm having a tough time finding an answer to my question in your response. Once again, How can one distinguish if what they have written was inspired by God?

For example, let's say you write a very wonderful piece of music. You claim you were inspired by God to write it. I also write a wonderful piece of music, but don't claim I was inspired by God to write it.
6a) How would you have known that you were inspired by God to write the piece of music?
6b) And is it possible that I may have written a piece of music by the inspiration of God while not being aware I was inspired by God?

1) The complexity of creation is not the ONLY reason for a creator, but also the Bible. Sure it may not be 100% of what God wants to say to us, but look! It's a finite book trying to describe an infinite God! Each passage MUST be able to give us multiple lessons or else God might have given us several Bibles each somewhat connected but with different lessons. Anyway, in the Bible, God says that He is the only Supreme Being. He also says he was ETERNAL,

eternal |iˈtərnl|
adjective
lasting or existing forever; without end or beginning

He says He had no beginning, a.k.a. created moment. And conversely he says with the same line that He will have no end.

2) Asking for an explanation of God's choice and work is saying you are an equal. Why must you know everything? Even science knows a person can not know everything about anything. Yes Enoch is still living. Eternal life is as real as our lives today. Difference is God didn't want him to feel the pain of physical death. Also, how God did this? He called Enoch to Himself and Enoch "rose into Heaven." I think that Enoch may have risen into the air some, but it could mean that he actually rose into a higher, better place (known as Heaven). It was determined because God said it was his choice, not the choice of some thunderbolt or tsunami. Probably. I'll research that for you as I'm not sure as of right now. And when I find anything, I'll let you know.

3) Because I met God, I started to live for Him and followed Christ's example. And if I hadn't I probably would not be the same. I wouldn't read the Bible and learn some background for moral lessons. Because I wouldn't read the Bible and know that it's not good to have premarital sex, I could've gotten into a premature relationship in college and initiated a life not intended by me or a life of worthy note. But because I met God, I am a better person.

4) Yes, that lack-o'-documentation might be a factor. Who's to say unicorns don't exist? I have a game where I can type anything and if it's viable, it shows up. Guess what, I type unicorn and it gives me a unicorn. For fun, I typed "invisible pink unicorn," and guess what showed up? I typed pegasus, leprechaun, dragon, and guess what showed up each time? So obviously it not only has real things as "viable," but also mythical things. I think if we try enough, unicorns may exist in our imagination, but thats as far as their existence goes.

5) For a Spirit to be with God, I mean it in the literal sense. You will be right there next to God, be able to see him, Jesus, and the Spirit, be able to talk to him, and fulfill your relationship with Him as a Father-child. I'm not sure spirit as the sole existence, but when a person believes in God and follows Christ, their spirit is fueled by The Spirit and grows in stature as our bodies do. Our spirit's purpose is to grow aware enough of God's presence, His love, and to believe and follow Him so that our spirit may be present with Him.

6) The reason the Bible is credible as inspired by God is that the message presented of Him is consistent with each witness. Peter's view of Jesus could have differed from Matthew's and even Paul's. But they each saw Jesus in their own way, yet their views match up to what is written in the Bible flawlessly. Matthew's view of Jesus matches John's matches Marks, matches Luke's eyewitness accounts. And there's not one mention of any gospel's rendering of Jesus mismatching the other.

6a) I would have known because if the idea of the music was not anything I'd think of, I would give all credit to God. Anyway, as a believer anything is inspired by God. A poem about a beautiful lake or nature scene is inspired by God because the nature is a work of God. Their poem was about God's work.

6b) Yes, you could have. If the style of music or the figuration of rhythms and notes are something you wouldn't personally make or is completely opposite of what you intended, then most likely you could have been inspired by God. I'm not saying you WERE most definitely in a way undebatably inspired by God, and I'm not saying you weren't inspired by God.

Please pardon my tardiness in responding Recently your questions are sounding more like a reasonable atheist at the least. You are no longer (to a point ) sounding like your arguments are from a 4 year old who doesn't want to believe in God. And I respect you greatly for your honest questions. G-d bless you!

p.s. you may take the last section as sarcasm, but please note that I did not mean it sarcastically... you know how anything can have multiple meanings.

 

[brinny]

Many times I've heard Christians say things like "I have a personal relationship with God" or "I have a personal relationship with Jesus". Just what exactly do these statements mean?

Let's say you met an adult intelligent person who had never been introduced to the concept of God, had never read the Bible, who didn't know what Christianity was and had never been taught about Jesus. If you had to describe to this person in 50-100 words what you mean by "I have a personal relationship with God" or "I have a personal relationship with Jesus", what would you say or write?

Every adult has the concept of "father" in a positive or a negative way, or just wondering what it's like to have a father if they've never seen or known theirs. God is my Father, my Abba. I can climb onto His lap. He is the Father i never had.

it reminds me of this song:

MY FATHERS CHAIR BY DAVID MEECE - YouTube