Premium Essay

Christian

In: Religion Topics

Submitted By Jromeie
Words 834
Pages 4
As far as I can tell, after thirty years of experiencing God and life as a "Christian" and after thinking about this experience from several perspectives, a Christian is... a person who has a personal heart-to-heart relationship with the living God, characterized by warm and active acceptance on God's part; our honesty and dependence on the activities of Jesus Christ.
Let's look at this a little more closely.
"A personal heart-to-heart relationship":
The point of this is to exclude 'religious' relationships, in which an 'object' is revered 'from afar' but not approached in a personal way. God is indeed an 'awesome entity' but he is nonetheless a Person. A personal relationship is a reciprocal relationship, not a one-way deal. There is real interaction, real disclosure, real closeness that develops. The 'heart-to-heart' aspect intends to convey the honesty and openness of this relationship. There are no 'games' that can be played with an all-knowing God(!), no secrets withheld, no area of life concealed. (The interesting thing about this is that, even though God knows all about an area of our life, we might NEVER open it up to Him in discussion, in our efforts to 'hide' from His feedback!)

I cannot emphasize strongly enough the personal character of this relationship. I see so many aberrations and stunted-growth versions of it. It is not a formal relationship, a primarily legal one, or even simply a 'creature-Creator' relationship. (I find the human tendency to relegate God into a religious icon or image or object to depersonalize the relationship and short-change the possibilities of such a relationship--much as we do in other significant personal relationships in our lives.)
"The living God": The subject of God is quite a vast one, but the main point here is that He is LIVING. There are feelings, and thoughts, and decisions, and actions, and initiatives,

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

The Importance of a Christian Worldview

...experiences. For Christians, worldview is formed by one’s faith. Even though some people might not recognize it, everyone has a worldview. It is especially imperative for believers to know their worldview so that they can apply it to their everyday lives. It is important for Christians to develop a worldview in order to be a witness for Christ, defend one’s faith, and discern what is good. Being a witness for Christ is one of a Christians primary purposes. Scriptures say that people were created for God’s glory and to proclaim his praises (1 Chronicles 16:23-25); therefore, a worldview is necessary in order to know exactly what to believe and teach it. A worldview is a person’s ultimate beliefs and assumptions about the universe. In order to be a witness for Christ, believers must follow the basic set of beliefs Christianity teaches. For example: there is a God, God is everything, we were created by God in his image, morality is grounded in Gods character, etc. Without these basic principles there is no basis for what is being taught and what the prophet believes. Jeremiah 1:7-8 says, “But the LORD said to me,’ Do not say I am too young, you must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you, Do not be afraid of them for I am with you and will rescue you declares the LORD.” The Bible teaches that Christians are expected to spread the Lord’s message no matter what the circumstances may be. In conclusion, in order to witness as the Bible instructs, Christians must develop...

Words: 726 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

To Be Christian

...Exodus 20:1-17 King James Version (KJV) 20 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 13 Thou shalt not kill. 14 Thou shalt not...

Words: 365 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Christian Life

...The Christian Life Professor L. Swinson BIBL 425 – BO4 LUO Dana R. Peebles May 23, 2015 Introduction For centuries, Christians have looked towards the Bible for insight and guidance on how to live a life of righteousness and be free from the bondage of sin. In looking at The Christian Life and comparing it to what The Book of Romans has to say, we can see that the Spirit is integral to this process. According to Romans 8, this process is part of our sanctification. It is because of God’s grace that we have the ability to decide daily to die to ourselves and accept the opportunity to live as his children. As God’s children, often times we have very different perspectives. In many ways, these different views create debates. The controversy over the issue of God’s grace and gift of salvation, along with our response is one that should not be taken lightly. When looking at what the Apostle Paul says when he stated, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,” it is obvious that this comment leaves individuals with unanswered questions. [1].What does Paul mean by the expression of “God foreknew?” How do we fathom the election of the “predestined” individuals who are saved and sanctified? And, how are we to understand God and his “foreknowledge” of our eternal security without knowing what it means to be righteous or “conformed to the likeness of his Son?” (Romans 8:29). It...

Words: 3753 - Pages: 16

Free Essay

Christian Review

...Job Principal: A Christian leader must never question his faith in God or God’s decisions. Key Verse: Job 42: 5-6 "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." Explanation: The book of Job describes a man who had his faith in God put through numerous test. In the story of Job Satan questions Job’s faith in God . He believes that Job’s faith in God is only strong because God protected him from evils in life. Satan wanted to be allowed to test Job’s faith. God did allow for Satan to test Job’s faith but only within reason. When Job began to lose the things that he had once cherished so much in his life he began to question his faith in God. One of Job’s friends tells Job that he needed to remain strong in his faith especially at this time in his life. Job’s story provides a great lesson to Christian leaders about remaining strong in their faith. God may allow Satan to put his people through certain test in life but staying strong and remaining faithful to God is the key to surviving them. Christian leaders may encounter many obstacles during their leadership but they must never stray from God’s faith. Isaiah Principal: Key Verse: Isaiah 6:8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Explanation: The book of Isaiah is also referred to as The Book of Salvation. Isaiah served as a powerful prophet sent by God to warn his...

Words: 378 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Christian Audigier

...Christian Audigier The “vif” and the Furious (Fashion Designer and entrepreneur) He was born in 1958 in Avignon France. As a teenager he aspired to follow the Rolling Stones, but his inability to sing led him to channel his desire by designing hip, rock n’ Roll denim wear. After designing his denim wear collection (as a teenager), he caught the eye of McKeen Jeans. After this first success, Audigier became a young designer and start traveling the globe from a place to another. Then he moved to the big apple, New York City where he opened his first own fashion company in order to pursue the American dream. This opening was followed by a success. Audigier earned the title “King of Jeans”. In addition to designs for his own company, he worked with other famous labels of the denim industry like Guess, American Outfitters, Fiorucci, Bisou Bisou, Levi’s, XOXO and Diesel. Later, after watching a documentary about Bali, he went there to get some inspiration, his journey lasted three years. Then he came back to the United States, in Los Angeles this time, where he decided to live because of Hollywood glitz and media glamour, where his designs sexy and flashy fit perfectly with the LA style. When in LA, Audigier succeeded in catapulting the brand Von Dutch from the depths of obscurity to the forefront of trends. His strategy was to court celebrities to wear his designs, especially the hat with the signature Von Dutch on it. This is what leads to the success of Von Dutch at that...

Words: 455 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Christian Okoye

...Okoye Okoye Christian Christian CHRISTIAN OKOYE, former All-Pro running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, created Okoye Fitness and Nutrition to help individuals redesign their health, fitness and nutrition. In 1990, The Christian Okoye Foundation was created to help underprivileged children assume their role in society. “The Nigerian Nightmare”, as he was known, has spent his adult years perfecting the art of sculpting the human body. Growing up in Nigeria, Christian played soccer until he was 17, and was a sprinter and thrower on his high school track team. When he arrived to Azusa Pacific University in 1982, Christian won seven National Titles in shot Put, discus and the hammer and amassed 17 All American honors in track & field and football. In 1984, despite having attained marks more than sufficient to qualify, Christian was omitted from his Country's 1984 Olympic team. Frustrated, Christian abandoned track and field and joined his college football team. Having played football for a mere three years, Christian was drafted in 1987 by the Chiefs in the second round. During his seven seasons in Kansas City, Christian set a number of Chiefs rushing records, including total yards in a season, attempts in a season, touchdowns in a season, attempts in a single game, 100-yard games in a season, and was the first Chiefs running back to rush for 1,000 yards for more than one season. Christian's outstanding 1989 season culminated in an array of awards, including Running...

Words: 480 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Being a Christian

...Melody Tu Being a Christian I became a Christian last year, it really changes my life and the way I sees things. I became more positive and contentment about everything. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only be gotten Son, that whoever believed in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)”. Eternal life! Who does not want eternal life? All you have to do is believe in Jesus Christ. Being a Christian brings several good effects in life. Firstly, becoming a Christian not only offers eternal life after Earth, but it also offers a supportive group while humans are living on Earth. It can gain multiple support groups. A support group through God, and gain one through Christian friends. I talk and hang out with my Christian friends often. People from church are usually friendly and welling to help. My morals improved, and it can help lead to a better life. Subsequently, studying Bible also affect an individuals and families in an excellent way. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine for reprove, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)”. As the scripture says, being a Christian who studies Bible can avoid form sin, learn how to love one another, gain wisdom, light to our future path, salvation, grow stronger faith and brings more joy. Lastly, according to the information from Pew Research, a comprehensive demographic study of more than 200 countries finds that there are 2.18 billion...

Words: 401 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Christians in Israel

...Christians in Israel Israel is one of the most unique countries in the world because of its demographic makeup, especially in looking at the country from the perspective of an American. This is because it is the only country that is made up of a primarily Jewish population. In Israel, it is the Christians who are the minority. It is specifically these minority Christians that I am investigating in this paper. I will primarily answer the question, “Who are these Christians living in Israel?” I will examine this by looking into what specific denominations these Christians represent, what historical backgrounds they have living in the country of Israel, and how their culture meshes with that of Israel as a whole. Making up only about 2 percent of the 7,000,000 people of Israel, Christians living in Israel are very much a minority by number.1 Interestingly, though, Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian population has grown over the past 60 years, now standing at over 155,000.2The Christian peoples of Israel can be classified into four main groups. These are the Orthodox Churches, the Non- 1 Eldar, Yishai, “Focus on Israel – The Christian Communities of Israel” 2 Reidy, Tim, “The Holy Land and the Church in the Middle East” Chalcedonian Churches, the Latin and Uniate Churches, and the Protestant Churches.3 Specifically, the state of Israel officially recognizes a number of Christian Communities. This recognized status allows the ecclesiastical, or...

Words: 2892 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Christian Resources

...Topic: Christian Resources Purpose: Why do you need this site? I am creating this site to share information and other resources with members of similar Christian faith. The type of information or resources I am providing for members of the Christian faith are: Articles on Christianity (Historical and Biblical) and Christian Living, Prayer request form, FAQ, Bible Reading Plan and Daily Scriptures. Why do your visitors need this site? This site will provide resources for the enrichment of fellow Christian’s seeking to grow into their faith and also allow interaction with other members of the same faith. Audience: My intended audience will be those who are Christians and those who are not Christian’s. It is an open invitation to all without any prejudice. Brief description of target audience: Individuals whose way of life is based on the fact that they have a love for Jesus Christ and love for His people. These individuals are seekers for truth are committed to their personal integrity. General geographic location of audience: The geographical location for this audience is not limited to the United States, but may reach other Christians in other countries. Estimate number of people: Not yet known, need more details as to whether we are measuring daily, weekly, monthly or yearly data. Estimate average age: 15-75 Familiarity with computers and Internet: Not much experience or familiarity with computers or internet needed. This site serves as a informational...

Words: 359 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Christian Community

...Christian Community “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NIV). Through Christ, the first community of Christians - the Apostles - was created to serve as an example of the need to love Christ not just as an individual, but also to share with other believers and grow spiritually as a collective body of Christ. The Bible provides Christians with an assurance that Christ’s love is to be experienced and shared by all who believe in Him. In Acts 2:42-47, Paul describes one of the early Christian communities learning the “apostles’ teachings and fellowship”. He states, “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” The apostles fostered the Christian’s need to learn about Christ and praise Him together in their own daily life as well as the manner in which they shared the life and word of Jesus with the new Christians. In addition to a Christian community providing mutual learning and worship, the Bible also describes Christians as encouraging one another and inciting one another in the love of Christ. In Hebrews 10:24-25 it is said, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on love and good deeds. Let us not give...

Words: 1197 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Christian Wordview

...Worldview Essay This essay is for the purpose of formally stating my worldview as a Christian and demonstrating how I perceive reality when it pertains to certain issues. While this will not have changed much from my original worldview outline, it serves to expand on the issues and give intelligent analysis to my beliefs. As this semester draws to a close, and I re-evaluate my worldview outline, I a consistency between my beliefs and those presented in the course material. After analyzing the major questions, I have been able to find academic support for each belief that I hold. The first question we were asked was ‘Who is God, and what is he like?’ my initial answer was that God is the creator of heaven and earth, the supreme celestial being that oversees and influences everyday events. As to His characteristics, I believe that he is absolutely just while being full of grace. He is absolute power, under perfect control. He has intense emotions, but perfect reactions to them. That is who God is to me. The second question was about humans, what they were, and what happened when they died. A human is a being created in the image of God, with capabilities for reason, and an innate understanding of right and wrong. When a human dies, they go to one of two places. Those who have chosen to follow God will go to heaven. Those who don’t will go to hell. The third question was ‘what is the nature of the universe?’ When I hear that, I have to ask what they mean by nature. I have to...

Words: 1003 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Christian Historiography

...When we are familiar with the history of our country, we are able to appreciate current culture. Past events will shape the world we live in today and are critical for understanding the future; there is a direct relationship between the two and it cannot exist without the other. Society is influenced by several aspects including e.g., economy, technology, and politics, which come from previous generations. Furthermore, it helps us to understand how social values develop. Whom we are today is a mixture of beliefs, views, and interpretations brought together from former times. Christian historiography is significant in that the people have direct knowledge of the occurrence. I identify closest with the evidentialist or presupposition approach...

Words: 304 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Christian Ethics

...Christian Ethics for Christian Leaders Midterm Examination Calvin White Professor Garnita M. Selby, J.D., M. Div October 3, 2009 MIDTERM EXAMINATION 8. Discuss briefly why you believe character is necessary for ministry, how it is for good character and bad character are manifested in ministry. I believe a person should have good character because how can a person help others if he or she cannot make good decisions for themselves. As a leader in the ministry, a person should be humble, compassionate towards others, have a love for God and people, and he or she must be a trustworthy person. Character reveals the person’s inner self. What is his or hers motives, feelings, attitude and dispositions. Who a person is on the inside will reveal how he or she acts on the outside. Good character is formed by our listening to our parents. Parents taught their children right from wrong. Family members help in the raising of the children. Mentors are people that take an interest in others helping a person to learn right from wrong. The perfect role model is Jesus, Our Lord and Savior. Good character is produce when a person develops the fruit of the Spirit. (Found in Galatians 5:22). The fruit the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Living a godly life with values and morals, and being a caring, generous, and trustworthy person produces good...

Words: 558 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

The Christian Life

...“The Christian Life” Presented to Dr. Jason Epps for BIBL 425 B10 (LUO)– Romans by tvwells Date October 5, 2015 Paul’s letters to the Romans was written to address specific situations, therefore, it is considered occasional and not systematic. “But in God’s providence, those situations are such that Paul ends up addressing issues of perennial theological significance.” [1] (Moo) One such issue is “The Christian Worldview:” our beliefs about creation, sin, salvation, eschatology, ethics, and theology. Creation “For the invisible things of Him [God] since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity” (Romans 1:20). In Romans 1:20 Paul teaches, every since the world was created God’s invisible qualities, His divine nature and power has been seen. His majesty, and his excellence is illuminated in the works of His creation. Paul echo’s a passage from Psalm 24, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.” (Psalm 24:1-2) Paul delivers a warning to the unrighteous, stating, “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness who suppress the truth…” (v. 18) “ because God has made it plan, therefore, “you are without excuse.” (v. 20) He urges the unrighteous to learn from nature, and worship its creator, not His creation. Creation...

Words: 3005 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Christian Worldview

...According to the Christian Worldview, eternal life is gained through believing in the Son of God. This is talked about several times throughout the Bible. Two verses that always come to mind when I think about having eternal life are John 3:16 and John 5:13. John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 5:13 states “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. It also states in Matthew 25:46 “These will go away in to eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” So this would tell us that if we are declared righteous, we will gain eternal life. How do we do that? Romans 3:20 tells us “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” We are to repent for our sins, ask for forgiveness, and believe and have faith in the Lord in order to obtain eternal life. Atheist do not believe in afterlife, so they don’t feel a need to repent and believe in God to get them anywhere. Pantheist do not believe in an afterlife Heaven, some of them believe you become part of nature once you pass away. Just because these worldviews do not have an eternal life to motivate the way they live, it does not mean they don’t have morals or live good lives. It just means they don’t think being that way will get...

Words: 295 - Pages: 2