What is the Proper Relationship with Christ?

[ChristIsSovereign]

I'm not sure if I should post this to the advice forum or the theological forum, because this deals with both simultaneously.

I know of the 'Jesus is my buddy' theology and I used to believe that but I never had an intimate experience with Christ, especially in that way.

I read on a Lutheran site that our relationship with Christ isn't particularly emotional but volitional which stood out to me. Like it's our actions, not what we 'feel' per se.

What is your viewpoint? I want to know the true way to be closer to the Godhead. I keep failing temptation trials because of my aimlessness in the way I see Christ and my addictions.

 

[ripple the car]

I think that our relationship to Christ should include the head, heart, and body. We should love Him, talk to Him, and live for Him. If we do that, He'll send us graces, help, and encouragement along the way.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I'm not sure if I should post this to the advice forum or the theological forum, because this deals with both simultaneously.

I know of the 'Jesus is my buddy' theology and I used to believe that but I never had an intimate experience with Christ, especially in that way.

I read on a Lutheran site that our relationship with Christ isn't particularly emotional but volitional which stood out to me. Like it's our actions, not what we 'feel' per se.

What is your viewpoint? I want to know the true way to be closer to the Godhead. I keep failing temptation trials because of my aimlessness in the way I see Christ and my addictions.

Isaiah 53 is an antidote to the temptation of a coldly intellectual approach to faith...

 

[S.O.J.I.A.]

psalms 119
john 14:15-24
1 john 5:2

a proper relationship with God is to trust and obey Him.

 

[Not me]

I'm not sure if I should post this to the advice forum or the theological forum, because this deals with both simultaneously.

I know of the 'Jesus is my buddy' theology and I used to believe that but I never had an intimate experience with Christ, especially in that way.

I read on a Lutheran site that our relationship with Christ isn't particularly emotional but volitional which stood out to me. Like it's our actions, not what we 'feel' per se.

What is your viewpoint? I want to know the true way to be closer to the Godhead. I keep failing temptation trials because of my aimlessness in the way I see Christ and my addictions.

Christianity is a personal relationship with Christ. The closer we get to Him the clearer we hear His voice. No one can tell you how/when to draw close to Christ. It’s what your heart is telling you. When your heart tells you you are missing something answer the call. When your heart says stop stop. When your heart go go. If you are walking in the integrity of your heart torward Him He will direct your path. As we get closer to Him we become inner directed. If something upset the “peace of Christ in your heart” do something else. Whatever upsets the “peace of Christ in your heart is not of Him.

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[thecolorsblend]

I'm not sure if I should post this to the advice forum or the theological forum, because this deals with both simultaneously.

I know of the 'Jesus is my buddy' theology and I used to believe that but I never had an intimate experience with Christ, especially in that way.

I read on a Lutheran site that our relationship with Christ isn't particularly emotional but volitional which stood out to me. Like it's our actions, not what we 'feel' per se.

What is your viewpoint? I want to know the true way to be closer to the Godhead. I keep failing temptation trials because of my aimlessness in the way I see Christ and my addictions.

I should say that my experience need not be the same as anybody else's.

But I also have never been able to do the "Jesus is my homey" thing. It's rare that I even use His name. I refer to Him as Our Lord. I refer to His Mother as Our Lady. It's a respect thing for me. I'm not an overly-emotional person and maybe that's why the, to my mind, more outlandish things some Christians do look so vulgar to me.

I don't believe it's a one size fits all thing. Different people will have different standards. While there are certain practices and behaviors which I will never respect and will never find dignified (such as referring to God the Almighty as "my Daddy in Heaven", for example), I don't think the more emotional types are necessarily wrong in how they practice their faith.

I just hope they're not expecting me to join in with their paroxysms.

 

[Doug Melven]

God called Abraham His friend for believing in Him.
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

As for calling God our Daddy, this is entirely appropriate.
Abba the Hebrew word implies an intimate relationship.
Some will try to say that saying Daddy to our Heavenly Father is somewhat disrespectful.
I would ask these people that say this, do you think any earthly father who has a child call him Daddy thinks the child is being disrespectful in any way?

Our Heavenly Father wants an intimate relationship with us.

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

It doesn't help that my father was anything but a Godly man.
To put rotten icing on the horrid cake, he'd pose as Godly to everyone he knew.
It tore me to shreds and makes me feel like I am unable to please God.
Temptations ravish me the worst in my moments of hopelessness.

 

[ValleyGal]

I also have trouble seeing God the Father as "Daddy" or Jesus as a buddy. But God is a God with many names and qualities. For me, I see my Heavenly Father more as my Provider and my Maker more than anything. I also see him as Sovereign. I see Jesus more as a hero who gave his life in my stead - which is exactly what he did - and he says that a true friend is one who lays his life down for another. I guess in that sense, I see him as friend, but I see him as a perfect Groom while I am part of a body of believers who is the Church, his imperfect Bride.

There is a song that helped give me perspective about how I see Jesus and what my relationship with him is. It's "I Can Only Imagine." Listen to it and think about how you would respond if you were to see him face to face. At the time the song was popular, I had lost my beloved and also my best friend's husband who was also my pastor. Because I knew these two men, I could imagine how they reacted when they saw Jesus. I could see my pastor running to Jesus and the two embracing in a bear hug, while I could see my beloved falling to his knees in adoration, kissing the hem of Jesus' garment. And I can imagine me, seeing him and looking adoringly into his eyes, eagerly awaiting his embrace, and walking along side by side in the garden of Paradise.

This exercise might give you some insight into your own relationship with Jesus, and how you view God Almighty.

But... with all that aside, the important thing is that you DO have a relationship with Jesus, and humbly accept the gracious gift of his salvation, the full payment of your sin-debt to God in order to restore your relationship with your Maker. As you grow in your faith, you will come to have more clarity of what that relationship actually looks like.

 

[ValleyGal]

I read on a Lutheran site that our relationship with Christ isn't particularly emotional but volitional which stood out to me. Like it's our actions, not what we 'feel' per se.

I meant to address this as well.

Faith is not a matter of emotion, though some people have an emotional experience. It is a matter of volition because it comes from your will. You will yourself to align to God's will, you will yourself to have more faith, not because you feel it but because you intentionally choose to believe that God is the God of Truth and integrity, and you believe in his word and his will. You choose to believe him when he says he is faithful and just, and will remove your sins when you confess them. You choose to believe that he died for you, etc.

I think this is especially important as you deal with addictions, because relapse is a common theme - for all of us, not just for those who have addictions. But we all have unhealthy coping behaviours, we all have sin, we all have habits we need to give up, even if it's a pattern of thinking, we have unhealthy things in our lives. So it's not just behavioural. It's about choosing to believe that no matter when we fall into temptation or how many times we mess up, that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. That's not to say we shouldn't at least try - but the closer we get to God, the more we love him and want to obey him motivated by love rather than because we "should", the easier it becomes to yield to his ways. Why? Because we choose to believe that his ways are much, much better than our ways.

Here's a program that might help with your hurts, habits and hangups:
www.freedomsession.org.

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

I meant to address this as well.

Faith is not a matter of emotion, though some people have an emotional experience. It is a matter of volition because it comes from your will. You will yourself to align to God's will, you will yourself to have more faith, not because you feel it but because you intentionally choose to believe that God is the God of Truth and integrity, and you believe in his word and his will. You choose to believe him when he says he is faithful and just, and will remove your sins when you confess them. You choose to believe that he died for you, etc.

I think this is especially important as you deal with addictions, because relapse is a common theme - for all of us, not just for those who have addictions. But we all have unhealthy coping behaviours, we all have sin, we all have habits we need to give up, even if it's a pattern of thinking, we have unhealthy things in our lives. So it's not just behavioural. It's about choosing to believe that no matter when we fall into temptation or how many times we mess up, that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. That's not to say we shouldn't at least try - but the closer we get to God, the more we love him and want to obey him motivated by love rather than because we "should", the easier it becomes to yield to his ways. Why? Because we choose to believe that his ways are much, much better than our ways.

Here's a program that might help with your hurts, habits and hangups:
www.freedomsession.org.

Still partially addicted... God delivered me from bad messages but I'm still waiting for the rest to come undone and I become clean for real.

 

[longwait]

If God is love and we are the follower's of Christ then how can our relationship with Him be that of only deeds and action and not love?

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

If God is love and we are the follower's of Christ then how can our relationship with Him be that of only deeds and action and not love?

Those things confuse me.

 

[R. Hartono]

Daniel fasted for 21 days to get closer to God.
How bout that ?

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

Daniel fasted for 21 days to get closer to God.
How bout that ?

I'd most likely die in the first 7 days unless you're talking about fasting from something specific.

 

[R. Hartono]

I'd most likely die in the first 7 days unless you're talking about fasting from something specific.

Actually we can try to do fasting step by step, such as one day with one meal only in a week, or one day with drinking water only in a week but regular.

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

Actually we can try to do fasting step by step, such as one day with one meal only in a week, or one day with drinking water only in a week but regular.

Ah, I know you can go without food for longer than you can go without water. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Drifter Kybe Scythe Kane]

I'm not sure if I should post this to the advice forum or the theological forum, because this deals with both simultaneously.

I know of the 'Jesus is my buddy' theology and I used to believe that but I never had an intimate experience with Christ, especially in that way.

I read on a Lutheran site that our relationship with Christ isn't particularly emotional but volitional which stood out to me. Like it's our actions, not what we 'feel' per se.

What is your viewpoint? I want to know the true way to be closer to the Godhead. I keep failing temptation trials because of my aimlessness in the way I see Christ and my addictions.

well certainly keep your study up about Jesus and your best way to have a relationship with him. try to write poetry about it and maybe the 'feeling' part of it comes your way. heck, maybe you'll even see visions after such establishments with Jesus. i personally think i cannot imagine an end to find that true relationship with Jesus since i'm an agnostic and have unique relationships with Jesus and other Christian beings. But if you wanna grow serious in a fully Christian way, keep up those efforts in study of it all with these guys and other christian sources. For me, I'd just say just trust in the Lord Jesus to get that relationship you crave for but of course not like me. Man...i always wanted that christian title since the word 'christian' sounds so beautiful to me...i'd be grateful to make it that far with such breaths in such a life but i don't think i can do it. hey, at least compared to me, i'm like a gesture of defiance compared to you in true Christian ways.

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

well certainly keep your study up about Jesus and your best way to have a relationship with him. try to write poetry about it and maybe the 'feeling' part of it comes your way. heck, maybe you'll even see visions after such establishments with Jesus. i personally think i cannot imagine an end to find that true relationship with Jesus since i'm an agnostic and have unique relationships with Jesus and other Christian beings. But if you wanna grow serious in a fully Christian way, keep up those efforts in study of it all with these guys and other christian sources. For me, I'd just say just trust in the Lord Jesus to get that relationship you crave for but of course not like me. Man...i always wanted that christian title since the word 'christian' sounds so beautiful to me...i'd be grateful to make it that far with such breaths in such a life but i don't think i can do it. hey, at least compared to me, i'm like a gesture of defiance compared to you in true Christian ways.

no Charismatic XD - I don't believe in signs and visions and think of it to be occult honestly XD - no kidding - about the poetry though? I vent a lot on an obscure poetry website.

 

[DennisTate]

well certainly keep your study up about Jesus and your best way to have a relationship with him. try to write poetry about it and maybe the 'feeling' part of it comes your way. heck, maybe you'll even see visions after such establishments with Jesus. i personally think i cannot imagine an end to find that true relationship with Jesus since i'm an agnostic and have unique relationships with Jesus and other Christian beings. But if you wanna grow serious in a fully Christian way, keep up those efforts in study of it all with these guys and other christian sources. For me, I'd just say just trust in the Lord Jesus to get that relationship you crave for but of course not like me. Man...i always wanted that christian title since the word 'christian' sounds so beautiful to me...i'd be grateful to make it that far with such breaths in such a life but i don't think i can do it. hey, at least compared to me, i'm like a gesture of defiance compared to you in true Christian ways.

Drifter Kybe....... I believe that it is possible for a Christian... who
terms himself an Agnostic... .to perhaps have a closer relationship with
Messiah Yeshua - Jesus than another Christian who is convinced that they
are extremely close to Messiah Yeshua - Jesus.

Actually.... I just responded to a similar question to this one over here:

Right relationship with God query!

Back in 1988 I personally thought that I had an awesome relationship with Messiah Yeshua - Jesus but.....
I began to wonder if there might be something terribly wrong with my view based on a few
issues that were facing me. I prayed and asked to be corrected.... and shown where I was wrong...... so that I could be of more use to others.

Within two years I was researching Christian near death experience accounts...
and I got myself disfellowshipped from two denominations in about a one month
period of time in 1991.

The Worldwide Church of God and the Philadelphia Church of God had dogmatic.....
Soul Sleep teachings..... and after reading NDE accounts I knew that I could no
longer just simply go along with that teaching.

If.... we are too scared to pray and ask for correction......
if we are too scared to ask to be shown what we are wrong about......
if our denomination bears some of the characteristics of an IDOL.....

there is something major missing in our relationship with our Messiah and with the Ancient of Days the Father and with the Holy Spirit.

In my opinion...... the Christian who cannot handle the near death experience account of
little Colton Burpo..... may be too worried about the specific doctrines of their particular
denomination.........

I highly recommend reading "Heaven is For Real" and after you digest that one.....
I highly recommend My Descent Into Death by Howard Storm Ph. D.......
I think that these are some of the most powerful tools for Evangelism available to
Christians in the year 2018.

I think you will find this interesting because so far..... the Bride of Messiah is very divided on the question of these NDE's:

Friends of yours watch Heaven Is For Real and ask you about it?

Is Colton Burpo a credible witness?
Edit

1. *
   Yes
   11 vote(s)
   47.8%
2. 
   No
   10 vote(s)
   43.5%
3. 
   I am not sure but I am looking into this.
   2 vote(s)
   8.7%

Change Your Vote

I have a theory on how we can become less divided on this potentially extremely useful tool:
Howard Storm Ph. D. near death experience.

If you would like scriptural proof that an Agnostic can be extremely close to Messiah Yeshua - Jesus simply read Isaiah 45:1-5......


Isa 45:1

¶
Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me"

So here we have a Gentile / Pagan king over the Medo - Persian Empire... who is held by the right hand by G-d but.....
that man doesn't even really know the G-d of Abraham.