Do you call yourself a Christian?

wil · 10-16-2006, 01:34 PM

In my exploration it is true that I have an interest, an affinity, an acceptance of religions other than Chrisitanity. And I don't believe that Hindu's and Bhuddists and Athiests are going to Hell. And I don't believe in a new and improved version of Zeus.

But I do call myself a Christian.

As I see Jesus's teachings and his life as something to learn from and emulate. Of all the gurus/teachers, he is the one I put on the top of my list.

Now I don't know if he accomplished all the healings, or whether he rose from the dead, or if he even existed. But none of that detracts from my love of the spirit of Jesus, and being able to learn from the stories.

So I call myself a Christian.

Now you may not call me a Christian, but my question is, Do you call yourself a Christian and why?

JosephM · 10-16-2006, 06:57 PM

Hi Wil,

I will call you whatever you wish to be called. So Christian Wil, to answer your question. It seems to me I don't call myself anything except I usually answer to Joseph, Joe or JM. Others call me whatever they decide and if it is Christian, that is okay with me. Perhaps labels have lost their meaning to me and I see them only as vanities and inherently fallacious.

Love in Christ,
JM

Paladin · 10-16-2006, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JosephM

Hi Wil,

I will call you whatever you wish to be called. So Christian Wil, to answer your question. It seems to me I don't call myself anything except I usually answer to Joseph, Joe or JM. Others call me whatever they decide and if it is Christian, that is okay with me. Perhaps labels have lost their meaning to me and I see them only as vanities and inherently fallacious.

Love in Christ,
JM

What a rare and beautiful outlook!

Peace

Prober · 10-18-2006, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wil

In my exploration it is true that I have an interest, an affinity, an acceptance of religions other than Chrisitanity. And I don't believe that Hindu's and Bhuddists and Athiests are going to Hell. And I don't believe in a new and improved version of Zeus.

But I do call myself a Christian...

I call myself a Christian, but I really should be called a Christian-Buddhist.

flowperson · 10-18-2006, 10:35 PM

Sorry Prober, but I read on your super-double-secret test results from Beliefnet that you're 100% Seventh Day Adventist. Sorry...no waffling allowed.

Neo Pagan Flow....YEEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!

Prober · 10-18-2006, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowperson

Sorry Prober, but I read on your super-double-secret test results from Beliefnet that you're 100% Seventh Day Adventist. Sorry...no waffling allowed.

Neo Pagan Flow....YEEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!

But...but...but...

Buddhists have cooler stuff!

Quahom1 · 10-18-2006, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paladin

What a rare and beautiful outlook!

Peace

Could also be called cynical.

JosephM · 10-19-2006, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Could also be called cynical.

Could be called anything .... even cynical... but...

cyn·i·cal (s

n

-k

l)
adj. 1. Believing or showing the belief that people are motivated chiefly by base or selfish concerns; skeptical of the motives of others: a cynical dismissal of the politician's promise to reform the campaign finance system.
2. Selfishly or callously calculating: showed a cynical disregard for the safety of his troops in his efforts to advance his reputation.
3. Negative or pessimistic, as from world-weariness: a cynical view of the average voter's intelligence.
4. Expressing jaded or scornful skepticism or negativity: cynical laughter.

Being sincere and honest with you, I would have to say none of the definitions above seem to remotely fit but that would be my perception, so quahom1, you can call me whatever you perceive, even cynical, if that pleases you.

Love in Christ,
JM

Quahom1 · 10-19-2006, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JosephM

Could be called anything .... even cynical... but...

cyn·i·cal (s

n

-k

l)
adj. 1. Believing or showing the belief that people are motivated chiefly by base or selfish concerns; skeptical of the motives of others: a cynical dismissal of the politician's promise to reform the campaign finance system.
2. Selfishly or callously calculating: showed a cynical disregard for the safety of his troops in his efforts to advance his reputation.
3. Negative or pessimistic, as from world-weariness: a cynical view of the average voter's intelligence.
4. Expressing jaded or scornful skepticism or negativity: cynical laughter.

Being sincere and honest with you, I would have to say none of the definitions above seem to remotely fit but that would be my perception, so quahom1, you can call me whatever you perceive, even cynical, if that pleases you.

Actually, I'm not pleased by much. So I get no satisfaction in even the perception of debasement of another. But I do understand cynicism. Lived with it my whole young life. Now in middle life I find it hard to swallow. but none the less I understand it when I see it.

And you can take that as you see fit. But do not take it as an insult, since it was not meant as such.

v/r

Joshua

JosephM · 10-19-2006, 02:09 PM

No insult taken Joshua. Everyone is entitled to their own perception of what another meant. It seems we make our own reality by it.

Wishing you much healing from your experiences in childhood. My Dad was very cynical in his later years and was very close to being considered a recluse. However he did a great job of raising us for which I am thankful and there are no regrets here. But I don't think it runs in the genes.

Love in Christ,
JM

17th Angel · 10-27-2006, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JosephM

Perhaps labels have lost their meaning to me and I see them only as vanities and inherently fallacious.

We have a winner...

~Jonathan~ · 11-13-2006, 05:54 PM

It's taken me a very long time to be able to call myself a Christian. I got bogged down by what was happening in churches and the division I see out there in the world in His name. I was brought up to believe in a loving, all-encompassing and forgiving God and it's to Him I return, not anyone else. I am a Christian.

wil · 11-13-2006, 07:06 PM

Namaste Jonathan and amen brother.

Tis the journey that makes the understanding...time in the desert is always worth it.

InLove · 11-16-2006, 03:47 PM

Hey wil, my friend, how goes it? I've been meaning to post on this thread for some time now. So, since I am putting off things that really have to be done around here today....

I call myself a Christian because I decided to follow Christ. Jesus is the manifestation of Christ that I know. He showed Himself to me in the Spirit of Love. I believe that He showed us forgiveness, mercy and the deepest Love there can be. I am willing to believe in His resurrection, and that He is the Son of God. And to me, the evidence of the Spirit touching my spirit and living within me and in others is quite real--and it is something He is recorded as promising. That said, I still think He has others He shepherds, and He also went on record with this statement. So, I do not know how He shows Himself to them, but I do know that it involves Love. I've said it before--Christianity is my native language in which I am fluent, but I figure that God speaks in many ways with which I am not as familiar. I don't think He is upset because I want everyone to experience Love. I am just careful, because I don't want to mislead anyone about things that have not been completely revealed.

InPeace,
InLove

lunamoth · 11-16-2006, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InLove

Hey wil, my friend, how goes it? I've been meaning to post on this thread for some time now. So, since I am putting off things that really have to be done around here today....

I call myself a Christian because I decided to follow Christ. Jesus is the manifestation of Christ that I know. He showed Himself to me in the Spirit of Love. I believe that He showed us forgiveness, mercy and the deepest Love there can be. I am willing to believe in His resurrection, and that He is the Son of God. And to me, the evidence of the Spirit touching my spirit and living within me and in others is quite real--and it is something He is recorded as promising. That said, I still think He has others He shepherds, and He also went on record with this statement. So, I do not know how He shows Himself to them, but I do know that it involves Love. I've said it before--Christianity is my native language in which I am fluent, but I figure that God speaks in many ways with which I am not as familiar. I don't think He is upset because I want everyone to experience Love. I am just careful, because I don't want to mislead anyone about things that have not been completely revealed.

InPeace,
InLove

Hi InLove, Very nicely said. Thank you!

luna