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| What Is Christianity? |
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11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.
Some say that Christianity is a religion. But when you read the life of Jesus Christ, you notice that the religious people were the ones who were most offended by His teaching and by His lifestyle. Religious people were the ones who wanted Jesus killed.
 Russian writer Fydor Dostoevsky tells a story in the book, The Grand Inquisitor about Jesus coming again as a poor man to the Russian world of the 1800's. Once again, the religious people are offended with Jesus and have Him killed. Something tells me that Jesus didn't intend to start another religion.
Some say that Christianity is a teaching or a belief system. But as you read the New Testament, you see that the emphasis is on doing the word, not on just hearing it, learning it, debating it, or merely studying it. Christianity has to be much more than doctrines or a creed.
Some say that Christianity is a tradition or a human culture. However, that reduces Christianity to a person's upbringing -- to nothing more than a religious heirloom that is passed down from generation to generation.
Some say that Christianity is a religious organization consisting of leaders, buildings, and meetings. But there are so many differing religious organizations, how would you know which one is genuine Christianity?
Some say that Christianity consists of merely attending a weekly religious meeting consisting of singing, an offering, announcements, sometimes a sacrament, and a lecture by a professional Christian. But that is like saying that watching American TV makes you an American. It is not really true.
So how can we discover what Christianity is? Thanks for asking. Why not read what Jesus taught and look at how the first Christians lived? Fortunately we can. The Gospels contain Jesus' teachings. Notice especially Matthew 5,6, & 7 -- "The Sermon On The Mount". Also "The Book of Acts" tells and shows how the first Christians lived.
Christianity is a lifestyle of holiness, sacrifice, and obedience to Christ which is lived by those who have been reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus. |
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| To add a comment to "What Is Christianity?" |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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| Thank you laughing woman. |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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| Christianity is a *lifestyle* indeed. To be a Christian is to be CHRIST-LIKE....To walk like Christ...To talk like Christ...To worship like Christ (on the Sabbath Day)....to observe the Feast Days like Christ...(not pagan holidays)...To know the Word of God like Christ....The reason WHY the religious leaders of His day and of OUR DAY don't understand Christianity....is because they are caught up in the TRADITIONS OF MEN...and not the teachings of CHRIST. That takes discipline (disciple)...and sacrifice..and a made up mind....No wonder there is a broad way that leads to destruction....and only a few that choose the STRAIGHT AND NARROW ;o) |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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| Excellent comment, Mar Jay. |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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Spot on Steve.Action not words.Traditions and customs are for men to recognize.God,in my humble opinion wants an atmosphere where He can operate. 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.
Religion is not a good place. |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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| Good points, Jimmy. |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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I am trusting The Lord to lead me into all truth. If we ask Him to guide us and not let us be deceived, He knows if we are sincere or not, and He will not give a child a stone that asks for bread. He said He would never leave us or forsake us, and that is the only thing that has kept me going:)
One of the main things I have always asked The Lord is to please not let me be deceived! Salvation, not religion!!
The only way to Heaven is through The Blood of Jesus Christ. His Blood, His Sacrifice. I think that if we are really saved, The Lord keeps working on us. He keeps allowing things in our lives like tests, to mold us. He allows good and bad. Dark nights of sorrow bring mornings of glistening joy. People may come and go, but God's mercy never fails and are new every morning! I am a miserable, often faulty human that doubts at times. I also know that God sees the cries of our faulty human hearts. He sees that we are disatisfied with our limited human existences. He knows that we long to see Him. He knows that we are uncomfortable in our humaness. He knows our failings and He knows that we are but dust! He sees the prostitute that longs for someone to love her. He sees the addict that detests each morning that he awakens to a new day. He even sees the self-sufficient arrogance of a sociopath and He longs to crack that shell. Mercy is MERCY!! He understands the gossip that is just trying to make herself feel more noticed and wants to belong. All of these things have to be paid for, and I thank God that Jesus paid for it...ALL! after we are saved, we have to grow up in Him, so we can withstand the world, and continue to stand. Therefore, we continue to 'live' our profession.
A lot of times there are reasons that people act the way they do. I don't really think that people are out there committing heinous sins because they really think it's fun. For a while they may think it's fun, but only until they start dying inside.
Sorry I went on so long.
Thanks for your blog! |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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| Forgiven: Forgiveness, grace, and mercy are wonderful parts of salvation that we like to remember. However, we must also remember that being delievered, set free, and saved "from our sins," are also part of our salvation. |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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2 m Steve,
Great Post! Our little church recently completed our first purpose statements. Our Mission, Our Vision, Our Purpose and Our Beliefs were all built around one line of scripture - 1 John 3:18 - Let us not love with words and speech, but with deeds and action.
Our motto - His Place, His People, His Plan - is centered on the simple belief that all we do as Christians focuses on honoring Him and following the guidance of Christ and the Holy Spirit.
For me, Christianity is a belief...that we are individually both called and committed to God's Commission.
God's Blessings Friend,
pa |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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Thanks Steve, I think there is much studying to be done on the matter. We "Christians" are far too judgmental sometimes. I really like this quote... "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Mahatma Gandhi |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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| SO MUCH TRUTH STEVE,THANKS |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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| Good comments Patrick and Jerry. |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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| Thanks THE Answer. |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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| Gerry...never seen that quote...mind if I use it ;-) |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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lol! Here's another one that I wish I could leave on a certain professor's bulletin board at Illinois Central College! Good word guys! It's amazing to see the evidence of Christ in people's words. |
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| November 09, 2008 |
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HI Steve,
I so agree and I think that's what I was 'trying' to say.
In my life and heart, once I became a Christian, I was not free to sin, and my heart knew it.
Seasons of rebellion were not alright at all, but believe me, the Lord used them to show me what it would be like to live without Him.
Discipline is a 'good' thing:) |
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| November 10, 2008 |
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Amen! |
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| November 10, 2008 |
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Jerry Great quote by Gandhi,
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Mahatma Gandhi |
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| November 10, 2008 |
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Slave of Christ: Thanks for letting us see your heart! I can see a passion to love, follow, and obey Jesus in what you write. As life indicates a birth, so this living fire for God in you indicates that you are a Christian.
Where we (the modern church) get into trouble is when we try to make people believe they are Christians when they have no living fire for God burining in and through them. |
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