10 Jul '14 21:13>
After an offline exchange with Twhitehead recently, I would like to open a thread about "real" Christianity and me being a "real" Christian.
Why?
Well twhitehead mentioned a few times in various exchanges between us something along the lines of "I wonder if you really believe..."This is not a challenge or attack on twhitehead, far from it, it a genuine invite to discuss what it means to "really" believe and/or really be a"real" Christian.
As many of you will know I'm anti denominational/organised religion but here are a few other things about me relative to religion and me:
I think I really do believe there is a God and that that God was represented as Christ here on earth. I think I believe this because I'm committed to it. I believe that God is committed to me but I only have the Bible's word for that.
I believe that within this belief construct I have, that the bible is the sole authority on the aspects of God. I'm not sure why I believe this though. I believe I've had experiences with God. Few and far between, but extremely compelling even for a fairly rational chap such as myself. You don't need and won't get details, just take my word for my perspective on that matter, that I believe it, or not, that it happened.
I question my faith a lot, but always find myself unable to put it down. I am somewhat of an island in that I don't mix in organised religion, but I do have fellowship. I despise corporate religion, the manipulation, authoritarianism, pomp, house-groups with tea and pleasantries, the offering plate, TV evangelists, cultism and exclusivity, spiritual snobbery and wishy-washy supercilious mystisism.
Yet I love the Gospel and declare Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.
Who here can help me know if I am a real Christian?
Why?
Well twhitehead mentioned a few times in various exchanges between us something along the lines of "I wonder if you really believe..."This is not a challenge or attack on twhitehead, far from it, it a genuine invite to discuss what it means to "really" believe and/or really be a"real" Christian.
As many of you will know I'm anti denominational/organised religion but here are a few other things about me relative to religion and me:
I think I really do believe there is a God and that that God was represented as Christ here on earth. I think I believe this because I'm committed to it. I believe that God is committed to me but I only have the Bible's word for that.
I believe that within this belief construct I have, that the bible is the sole authority on the aspects of God. I'm not sure why I believe this though. I believe I've had experiences with God. Few and far between, but extremely compelling even for a fairly rational chap such as myself. You don't need and won't get details, just take my word for my perspective on that matter, that I believe it, or not, that it happened.
I question my faith a lot, but always find myself unable to put it down. I am somewhat of an island in that I don't mix in organised religion, but I do have fellowship. I despise corporate religion, the manipulation, authoritarianism, pomp, house-groups with tea and pleasantries, the offering plate, TV evangelists, cultism and exclusivity, spiritual snobbery and wishy-washy supercilious mystisism.
Yet I love the Gospel and declare Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.
Who here can help me know if I am a real Christian?