What's the true meaning?

[Tsaxgurl317]

What's the true meaning of christianity? I feel I've totally lost it. What's the use in even trying to serve God if you don't feel guilty for anything? You sin, say "sorry God" and continue to sin. But yet all is forgiven when you say sorry. I know that He died on the cross, expreience excruciating pain...but lately it seems as though it were just another death...one of which happen often every day. I just don't see the point in even trying much anymore. Why not just live life the way you want, do what you want without feeling guilty and get things right later? I'm just confused I guess....

 

[Protestant Minister]

Your message indicates that if you do attend church,your minister isn't explaining Christianity very well in his sermons.Salvation requires a personal relationship with God and that occurs once your prayers for the baptism of the Holy Spirit have been answered.Then you will want to serve God and follow the teachings Jesus out of the great love you feel,not out of guilt.And that is really the purpose of Christianity,to enable people to serve God for all of eternity through a salvation experience.
You're idea of sinning now and getting things right later won't work at all with Jesus.It was He who warned,MANY WILL BE CALLED BUT FEW CHOSEN.What He's looking for in people is faithfulness and dedication,not people who are trying to get around His teachings.Those who decide to wait until later are going to find the going is about to get really rough and extremely difficult and even dangerous to be a Christian.It appears that the final event the bible predicts must occur before the rapture occurs ,the coming into power of the anti-Christ ,occurred on 9/03/03 when the new Iraq foreign minister was sworn in.So next is the rapture followed by the period of tribulation which will see God severely punishing the world for its moral sickness.There will be some saved during this time of pain but unfortunately very few.The time to get close to God is now while it's still easy.

 

[Riddick]

Love one another.

Recognize Christ as your creator.

Maintaining a relationship with Christ.

Why must a Christian feel guilty? You make being christian sound so blase. Please, no funbusters allowed.

Myself, I want to live forever. If that doesn't suit you, by all means, do whatever you want. Just beware the consequences.

 

[Tsaxgurl317]

it's not that I don't want to....it jsut....i dunno...all seems unreal...doesn't affect me...like i'm numb to it...i dunno...

 

[Daily Miracle]

Why not just live life the way you want, do what you want without feeling guilty and get things right later?

How long do you think you have on Earth?

 

[Tsaxgurl317]

I dunno....for all I know I could die tommarrow, but yah...umm.....I'm not in control of that...I know what your getting at....hehe....

 

[Daily Miracle]

I know what your getting at....hehe....

Yeah, well I'm sorta surprised it came to me. LOL

Now, go out and be all you can be, God will be pleased .

 

[Iron Lion]

I dunno....for all I know I could die tommarrow, but yah...umm.....I'm not in control of that...I know what your getting at....hehe....

Hi there,

Its somthing at one time we all have come across. Truth is we will die, in a few days a few months a few years. We really arent here very long and its best that we spend our time getting to know The Lord. Being Christian isnt locking your self away and not doin anything. BUt we do know what is wrong and right. I thik you do know that if you do sinful things that they are wrong and the more you think about it the more you will start to think this is wrong. Try to think of it as if Jesus is looking over your sholder all the time. With a smile when you doin good and with sadness when your doin wrong. This is a relationship with Christ. Living your life with Christ.

Your not in control of your time of death this much we know but you are in control of what happens after death. Jesus was a sacrafice for your sins but the bible does say that if we keep on sinning and knowing we are doin so without trying to stop then there is no more scarafice for our sins. "Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins"

Hope i have helped some

God bless.

 

[JesusInMyHeart]

What does the word "Christian" mean?

***It means to be Christ-like

Jesus said that as a man thinketh, so is he. This means that a people's thoughts affect their total being, and the essence of their being is passed on to succeeding generations.

The true meaning of Christianity is that a person first acknowledge, through the Law, that he is a sinner, for whom it is impossible to perform any good work.

True Christianity flows from the faith God imparts within us, just as an apple tree produces apples. You must produce fruit; it is God’s will that you produce fruit.

 

[oworm]

the coming into power of the anti-Christ ,occurred on 9/03/03 when the new Iraq foreign minister was sworn in.

I would be interested to know how you reached this assumption.

 

[oworm]

it's not that I don't want to....it jsut....i dunno...all seems unreal...doesn't affect me...like i'm numb to it...i dunno...

The fact that you feel the way you do is evidence to me that God is in fact not far from you. Would an enemy of Christ be feeling the way you are? I think not!
get into reading the bible and praying. God is not a God of mystery when it comes to answering genuine questions from genuine enquirers!!!

 

[Tsaxgurl317]

thanks guys....ya'll are a big help....

 

[sawdust]

What's the true meaning of christianity? I feel I've totally lost it. What's the use in even trying to serve God if you don't feel guilty for anything? You sin, say "sorry God" and continue to sin. But yet all is forgiven when you say sorry. I know that He died on the cross, expreience excruciating pain...but lately it seems as though it were just another death...one of which happen often every day. I just don't see the point in even trying much anymore. Why not just live life the way you want, do what you want without feeling guilty and get things right later? I'm just confused I guess....

I think the true meaning can be summed up in two words. Jesus Christ.

I suggest you get back to Him and "look, listen and learn". You don't belong to yourself anymore, you were "paid for with a great price". Your life is no longer your own to do with as you wish.
You are not meant to "feel guilty", if you do there is something wrong. "there is no condemnation now for those in Christ Jesus who walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
But neither should you think yourself as without sin. "for he who says he is without sin is a liar".
You may need to "stir up the Spirit within". Have you been baptised with the Holy Spirit? If so, do you understand there is a new power at work within you?
Are you part of a fellowship that teaches the Word of God? Do you have a Bible reading plan? Do you spend time in prayer each day?
We are called disciples of Christ for a reason. Discipleship has to do with discipline. If you are not disciplined in your walk, being a disciple will always be a burden. I'm not talking about being legalistic in any way, just simple discipline of spirit, mind and body. If there is anything in your life that you can lay aside, because it distracts you from Christ, then do it. You don't have to start with the big things, just keep it simple. Win the small battles first then you will be able to face the large ones.
Remember "we are to be conformed to Him by the renewing of our minds". Take your "thoughts captive". Stop holding onto negative thoughts and replace them with Christ.
And most important, as I always like to say, don't get defeated, get determined.
My prayers are with you.

 

[MeganheartsJesus]

You are not meant to "feel guilty", if you do there is something wrong. "there is no condemnation now for those in Christ Jesus who walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
But neither should you think yourself as without sin. "for he who says he is without sin is a liar".

When I do something I know is wrong, I feel downright terrible, especially when I did it to some other person. How is this a wrong feeling? If I sound angry or something, I'm not. I'm just asking. Also, how can I stop feeling guilty when I sin?

 

[sawdust]

When I do something I know is wrong, I feel downright terrible, especially when I did it to some other person. How is this a wrong feeling? If I sound angry or something, I'm not. I'm just asking. Also, how can I stop feeling guilty when I sin?

You don't sound angry. I understand it can be hard to understand because if we do something that is wrong and then realise it, we do feel bad. But there is a difference between that initial "feeling of badness" and "seeing oneself as guilty". When we talk about "feeling guilty" we are really saying "I am guilty without hope." The first part is true, we are guilty but the second part isn't, there is always hope. Feelings aren't right or wrong they just are. It's how we think that is right or wrong.

Let's take a hyperthetical scenario - imagine your not having the best of days, things are going wrong left right and centre until eventually someone comes along who might ask something of you and you just snap and lash out. You didn't mean to and they didn't deserve it and you recognise instantly how wrong you were and you "feel" bad. What do you do? Well, what most people do is think, "God I must be a horrible person to do this". You might apologise to the person and explain your "irrational" behaviour and they may or may not accept your apology. Whatever they do, is out of your hands, so you will simply have to wear that. However what now do you do? The first thing is to recognise that being a sinner doesn't make you a "bad" person, it makes you a "lost" person. But Jesus has died to overcome that lostness, now His Spirit lives within you to help you overcome the "wickedness" that flows from that lostness. The reason people end up feeling guilty is because they fail to understand that initial "bad feeling" is just that: "a bad feeling". Feelings come and feelings go but how you think is a process. This is why we are told to "not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom 12:2) Also we are told to "take every thought captive" (2Cor 10:5) You must change the way you think about yourself, your situation and replace it with the way God sees you and your situation. (ie His Word) So if we take our scenario:
"I must be a horrible person" changes to "I am loved and accepted by Christ".
This change doesn't come naturally, you have to work on it and you have to remember you have 3 enemies working against you. (that is the you in Jesus) Satan will lie to you, your own flesh will lie to you and the World will lie to you BUT God's word is the truth and you must rely on that. Even though for now you do not see it, eventually you will. That is "walking by faith".
I know it can be very confusing when you first come to Jesus. It's like we have all been walking along this road, learning all the ways about it, when suddenly we are turned around and start walking the other way. It feels like we are walking backward because we are so use to seeing our sin (our lostness) and we keep wanting to turn around again. When we do sin, we immediately think we have turned around, but we haven't, we're just trying to walk forward by looking over our shoulder all the time. That's why we keep tripping up. So we must learn to look forward, that is to keep our focus on Jesus, on His Word, His promises, His life.
Everytime you have a thought that is contrary to the Word of God you must learn to replace it with God's truth.
So things like:
"I will never do this" becomes "I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me."
"This is a bad day" becomes "this is the day the Lord has made".
" I don't have enough..." becomes "my God shall supply all I need according to His riches in Christ".
Are you getting the gist of it all? It isn't based on how you feel but what God has said. When you learn to rely on that instead of your feelings (or even in spite of what you are feeling) then eventually you will find yourself in this glorious position of overcoming. Things will happen around you and you will see yourself reacting differently to how you use to react and you will wonder "how did that happen"...and the Lord will smile on you and be pleased and you will understand how Christ overcomes sin in your life. Then give thanks with a grateful heart and rejoice in the Lord always!
Please let me know if what I have said doesn't make sense to you. You can pm me anytime.
your sister in Christ

 

[Ceris]

I definately agree.

 

[The_Lords_Froggy]

What happens when you sin so much, ask Jesus to help you once more, but yet you still mess up? It's a lot of habit..am I still forgiven? I want to stop, I really do. I'm so disrespectful to others that I just wanna gag, I make my own self angry.

 

[The Midge]

You could try doing a bit of meditation. Spend 10 minutes in slience thinking through a verse like 1John 1: 5, 4:16 or "Our Father who is in heaven" anything that helps you to think about a characteristic of God you are struggeling with. Focus on God. Beware of His ominpresence. Spend time with Him.

This stuff is not just for medieval mystics, Chruch fathers and Holy Men. It is relevant for us too. Charismatics and evangelicals sometimes call it "Waiting on the Lord", Liberals and catholics tend to me more up front about contemplation and meditation. It is biblical (see psalm 119 for example). All of us can benefit from a time of quite with God no matter what our usual preferences for worship or demonimation.

A Charismatic type told me that "God is a supernatural person. He wants you to expereince Himas a supernatural God." We often forget this. God gets drowned out by the Chruch music, the liturgy, the kids running around and requests to stack chairs or serve refreshments. Spending time in silence listening to and being with God can make a big difference. It is possible that you could be aware of his presence through out the day. Give it ago before ditching the whole faith.

Blessings
Midge.

 

[oworm]

What happens when you sin so much, ask Jesus to help you once more, but yet you still mess up? It's a lot of habit..am I still forgiven? I want to stop, I really do. I'm so disrespectful to others that I just wanna gag, I make my own self angry.

The Apostle Paul felt the same way!!!!

RO 7:14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

RO 7:21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!

 

[sawdust]

What happens when you sin so much, ask Jesus to help you once more, but yet you still mess up? It's a lot of habit..am I still forgiven? I want to stop, I really do. I'm so disrespectful to others that I just wanna gag, I make my own self angry.

My dearest Little Froggy, hippitty hop over here and I will do my best to explain what happens when you sin so much.

First off let me try and show you how you are thinking backwards. Now you may not consciously think these exact thoughts but this is the general gist.
You hear yourself say something disrespectful and automatically think "I'm an awful sinner". You are right except it is not because you have said something terrible that has made you a sinner but because you are a sinner you have said something awful. You see it is because we are sinners that we commit sins not the other way round.
Are you following so far? Too many Christians don't get very far in their walk because they keep thinking their sin, ie the "bad things" they do, is what makes them a sinner. But it is not that way at all. It is because we are sinners that we end up doing all the "bad things". You and I were born sinners and there is nothing we can do but sin. We can't stop ourselves, no matter how hard we try to. It is very important that you understand that first for without that understanding you will always struggle to break the habit of sin. But there is very Good News because it is possible to overcome sin and I want you to be able to hear that Good News so I'm going to leave my post here for now and wait to hear whether you understand that or not.
I very much want to be able to show you how you can overcome, "my little hippitty" ....so I would rather take this one step at a time, that is, if you really want to learn.

love and hugs