Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    Alison, I find that my own definition of Christianity is very much
    like yours.
    
    -- Mike

    Alison,
    
    My definition, too, is close to yours.  However, I do proclaim Jesus
    Christ as Sovereign and Savior; not merely of me personally, but of
    the world.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    The best definition of Christianity is in CS Lewis' book "Mere
    Christianity."

    
                        WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY TO ME
    
    Well, first I would have to say that I see Christianity as the name of
    the WAY of Jesus, the Christ, to find God as HE perceived and
    attained...even as Buddhism is the WAY of the Buddha, and Islam is the
    WAY of Muhammed, and so on.  
    
    Secondly, we often view it as an honor to have been sent Jesus, the
    Christ to save our souls, but in fact it is a shame (there's that word
    again) that a Christ had to come to save us.  As it is written, "I came
    not to save the righteous, but the sinner...".  
    
    Thirdly, to keep things in context...Jesus was sent to the Lost
    Children of Israel (which includes the Jews), and to the Jews
    specifically.  This is clearly understood from scripture.  However, "he
    came unto his own and his knew him not", and moreso "crucified" him. 
    Therefore, was his WAY made/given to the Gentiles/Greeks and to the
    European world (nations of the Gentiles).
    
    When we look at history, at the condition of society of Europe at that
    time, Europeans were basically barbarians, which has been called the
    "Feudal State".  They were in dire need of a doctrine of "Brotherhood"
    and that's what they got.  What Buddha brought to the Orient
    "Nirvana/Peace" was the Orient's dire need.  What Muhammed gave to the
    Arabs was there dire need.  What every Christ brought to whomever he was 
    sent, was that people's dire need.
    
    I think the "missionary" exploitation of others, by the Christians and
    the Muslims, who weren't in dire need of that message, was uncalled for
    and has been the reason that we now hear it commonly said "Religion has
    caused more harm than good (i.e. Religious wars).  IMO, the
    Missionary Movement could be considered "Projectionism", or putting
    your problems on others, and when others reject or even accept this 
    imposition it causes the "arrogance" that we now find in European 
    Christians and Arab Muslims.
    
    Regardless, whether others may or may not need the message of Jesus,
    "imposing" it upon others is not scriptural, or the WAY Jesus
    instructed his disciples to evangelize others.  Basically, both
    Europeans and Arabs have used it as a tool for Imperialism.
    
    Living in America, a nation established by the descendents of the
    Greeks, thus a Gentile nation, and having in me that blood, as well as
    my African inheritance, I find it essential to adopt Christianity lest
    I succomb to the ways of Feudalism and other Greek maladies, as
    addressed in scripture.
    
    Inspite of all the misgivings, however, I try to overlook the methods
    and manners Imperialist's have interpreted scripture for their
    purposes, and try to get to the true purpose and intent of Jesus' WAY
    and message, which is what I consider "True" Christianity...and that, 
    I believe, is expressed best by the Gnostics.  For they it was who were
    persecuted and died for Christ, and didn't seek to use it for any other
    design that what it was intended for, Salvation of the soul, of self.
    
    One thing I believe is this, until we attain the fullness of the spirit
    of Brotherhood, we will not be able to "do greater works than [Jesus]". 
    When that day comes "healing the sick, casting out demons, making the 
    lame walk, the blind see, the dumb hear, and dead live again" will not
    be a miracle, but something "for the sake of the Brotherhood" we were
    in dire need of, and all things are possible with God...but you can't
    heal a person you hate, or while the hateful of the Brotherhood are in
    your midst, "the love of God cannot be perfected in fear (or when the
    fearful are around, and fear is the parent of hate).
    
    When Jesus returns, it'll be a shame again.  It is written that he'll
    come with "blood dripping from his sword, and a host of warriors ready
    for the battle against the wicked."  But I pray, that we come together,
    for as it is written in Thessaloneons, "Let no man deceive you, for
    that day (what day? the of Jesus' return, the end of this present
    world, the Gentile world) shall not come unless there first come a
    falling away (from God), and man be revealed the son of perdition,
    exalting himself above all that is called God...."  I pray that whites
    always believe and remember God and do his commandments, and lead the
    world in a righteous way, and not let the devil fill them with pride
    and arrogance and ignorance so much so that that forget God.  I like
    the things whites have done for the world, but God will not have the
    arrogance and pride, the idolatry (which includes worshipping self as
    GOD, forgeting you are his chosen "sons and daughters").
    
    But I don't know about my prayer, that it is even worth praying for, or
    hoping for.  The book of Revelations says that you will not repent of
    your arrogance and pride and self exaltation, and will fall....Oh how
    did the Great Babylon fall...that "Harlot" got em, the spirit of
    whoring with other gods, money, luxuries, life (not the Creator of it),
    etc., etc., it's just a shame.  Jesus said I made you and I'll break
    you down...yes Jesus WILL be coming, time is getting short...but it's
    really up to us, up to YOU Gentile, up to YOU Israel, up to YOU Muslim,
    up to YOU Buddhist, up to YOU PEOPLE, that's right it's JES US!
    
    Playtoe

Re:  91.1127
    
  >I'm glad that there are Christians who are more open hearted and
  >more open minded than him. Where there not, I would no longer feel
  >I could call myself one.

Bonnie,

  I'm disappointed that you perceive your status as a Christian is
  primarily a label that joins you to others who also calls themselves
  Christian rather than a statement of your relationship with
  Jesus Christ.  At least, that's what this sounds like.

Collis

re Note 244.5 by COLLIS::JACKSON:

> Bonnie,
> 
>   I'm disappointed that you perceive your status as a Christian is
>   primarily a label that joins you to others who also calls themselves
>   Christian rather than a statement of your relationship with
>   Jesus Christ.  At least, that's what this sounds like.
  
        Collis,

        Paul compares the collection of believers to a living body
        with Christ as its head.  Yes, ultimately (sharing Paul's
        writer's license) all are connected to the head, but no
        realistic complex organism has its members all directly
        connected to the head -- in fact, few are.  The shape of the
        body, its ability to function in certain ways, is as much
        determined by the members connection to each other as to
        their connection to the head.

        Therefore, interpreting "Christian" as "primarily a label
        that joins you to others who also calls themselves Christian"
        is quite Biblical.

        Bob

    Thank you Bob,
    
    and Collis, to me being a Christian is both my internal belief and
    my relationship with the community of believers. So I can find myself
    ashamed of the behavior of other Christians and ashamed to have other
    people think that I am narrow or judgemental because I am a Christian.
    
    Bon

    

It means that I recognize that I am sinner and that the only true
grace comes from God through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, who
being fully God and fully man died on the cross for my sins.  My
goal is to be as much like Him as I can possibly be.  To help me
He has given me the Holy Spirit as my constant companion.  He is my
guide in this messed up world.  The Christian life involves a close, 
personal relationship with God.  Someone I can talk to as easily as I 
can talk to a best friend.  I am never cut off from God.  It means dying 
to my own personal wants and letting God take care of my needs.  It means 
being an instrument for Him.  It means He has spared me from eternal 
damnation and I will live with Him forever in His Kingdom.  Anyone can
call themselves Christians, but the Bible said that you will "know" 
they are Christians by their love.

Jill