Christianity and Change

For Christians: How long have you been Christian? What part of you/your life do you find hardest to change as a Christian? What has been the easiest?

Me:

2 1/2 yrs.
Easiest: Interest in worldly (e.g. cursing, most secular music, porn)
Hardest: Temper, selfishness

To follow Christ is NOT to change one's self.

It is to:

Be true
Love
Accept/forgive/allow ALL to be true to self and others

The greatest friend we have is the one who loves us JUST THE WAY we ARE.

Christ is that friend.

WE must be a friend of the same order to one another but first to self.

The rest follows in
G ood
O rderly
D irection

Originally posted by queenannie38


The greatest friend we have is the one who loves us JUST THE WAY we ARE.


As you and I are to each other

WE must be a friend of the same order to one another but first to self.

The rest follows in
G ood
O rderly
D irection

I love you Annie, you are the most inspiring person in my life.

You have voted queenannie38 for the Way Above Top Secret award. You have two more votes this month.

If it hadnt been for you in my time of crisis I would not be doing to well right now. Because of you I am emerging from the darkness and into the light.

I have said it to before in private and I will say it here in public.

God must grin from ear to ear when he thinks of you Annie!





[edit on 6-1-2007 by LoneGunMan]

Aw shucks, LGM....

God grins about us all!

I know, though, that I surely grin 'like a chessy cat' when I think about God!

I grin all the time!

Originally posted by LoneGunMan


God must grin from ear to ear when he thinks of you Annie!

Which god?

You don't know HIM.

I dont know who loves you more Annie, me or Sunmatrix. I find that every time I read your posts, he is there. Am I a stalker or is he?

queenannie:

I don't agree. The goal of and the inevitability of following Christ is becoming as much like Him as possible. Since humans are horribly flawed, we can't possibly do this without change. God loves us, but not necessarily our thoughts or actions...something always has to go.

Originally posted by LoneGunMan
I love you Annie, you are the most inspiring person in my life.

satan has inspired many and is loved by many, if only they could have a glimpse of where he's leading them.

Originally posted by WiseSheep
satan has inspired many and is loved by many, if only they could have a glimpse of where he's leading them.

is this slowly becoming a bash annie thread?
because that wouldn't be very "christian" of you

now, i know i shouldn't be posting in this thread because i can't say anything about be a christian (well, at least in the present or future tense) but i wanted to look here to get a glimpse into how the faith-based mind thinks
and then i saw people starting to get off topic

get on topic people

Thank you, Madness.

Originally posted by madnessinmysoul
is this slowly becoming a bash annie thread?
because that wouldn't be very "christian" of you

A lemon tree can claim it's an apple tree all day long, but when it's hanging full of lemons, well. It's not the person doing the typing, it's the one in control of them. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, so hating flesh and blood for what the "man behind the curtain" is making it do is rather ignorant.

If you aren't for Jesus Christ your against him, there's no gray area.

Originally posted by WiseSheep
If you aren't for Jesus Christ your against him, there's no gray area.

what if you're somebody that embodiees the non-theological ideals of christianity without acknowledging the theological ones?

isn't that being for jesus's ideas without being for his theological ideas?

"if you seen the world in black and white, you're going to have a room with 2 walls and no floor"
-me, you can quote me on that

Originally posted by WiseSheep


If you aren't for Jesus Christ your against him, there's no gray area.

Are you kidding? Did you get that from George Bush?

Dont EVEN think about bashing on Annie. I know she can defend herself, but you have no idea what a good person she is. No one loves others like she does. She loves everyone.

You are going to bash someone like that, what do you do for a hobby punch bunny's in the face? Satan was made up to contol you. I am sorry for gettng off topic but why would anyone after reading what she has written not know what she is all about?

You dont know God either.

Originally posted by LoneGunMan
Are you kidding? Did you get that from George Bush?

No I got it from Jesus Christ himself.

Originally posted by LoneGunMan
Dont EVEN think about bashing on Annie. I know she can defend herself, but you have no idea what a good person she is. No one loves others like she does. She loves everyone.

Does someone who loves others feed them lies that could lead them to an eternity in hell?

As I said above, maybe it needs to be read twice:

It's not the person doing the typing, it's the one in control of them. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, so hating flesh and blood for what the "man behind the curtain" is making it do is rather ignorant.

I have nothing against Annie or anyone else for that matter. It's what's got a hold of her that needs exposing. The real fruit has been picked off that tree in the past here.

Originally posted by LoneGunMan
You dont know God either.

I know the god of this world just enough to expose him, but that's about it. So there may be a sliver of truth in that.

WiseSheep:

You are truly wise.

WiseSheep

I know the god of this world just enough to expose him, but that's about it. So there may be a sliver of truth in that.

Amen to that...
And annie, when you said

To follow Christ is NOT to change one's self.

I can't help but think of when He told the whore/adultress/infidal women to "go and sin no more" He didn't instruct her to go and get some more, He asked her to change her behavior.
He also regularly spoke in reference of the existance of the "devil".
Please don't suggest that these references were only placed in the text after the fact to control people. There are many here among who know better...
The topic of this thread is "Christianity and Change" as applied to the individual's experience since becoming a Christian, NOT :O Change Christianty to fit the needs of the misguided individual. Sorry if that offends anyone, BUT, on another thread where the queen suggested "she would get Christ laid", she had lost my respect as a spiritual guide with respect to "Christianity". I do not buy into the New Age craze, I harbor no ani-mos-it-y toward you annie, I just don't believe your brand fits this thread...
I know, way to win friends and influence people. Sorry in advance for any hurt feelings, but as she said,

Be true
Love
Accept/forgive/allow ALL to be true to self and others

Originally posted by NowAmFound
WiseSheep:

You are truly wise.

No I am nothing. Greater is he that is in me.

Originally posted by holidaystar1
I can't help but think of when He told the whore/adultress/infidal women to "go and sin no more" He didn't instruct her to go and get some more, He asked her to change her behavior.

He also told her accusers (devils in the purest translation from Greek to English) that any of them without sin should throw the first stone. They skulked away.

He also regularly spoke in reference of the existance of the "devil".

And was even accused of 'having a devil' himself! (although in this case, the 'devil' wasn't the 'accuser' type but the 'daemon/diety' type)

Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. (...)
And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Which of you convinces me of sin?
And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
He that is of God hears God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeks and judges.
~John 8:43-50

The topic of this thread is "Christianity and Change" as applied to the individual's experience since becoming a Christian, NOT :O Change Christianty to fit the needs of the misguided individual.

My understanding of being christian is to follow Christ - not christianity. I could CARE LESS about what 'christianity' says is right - I follow Christ.
And in that context, I DID answer the OP appropriately - from personal experience I know that even our most diligent efforts to 'change' and 'be good' will be mediocre at best and we lack the basic ability to truly love our neighbors as ourselves. BUT if we follow the basic ideas outlined in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5 through 7) and TRY to love and NOT judge and condemn others...but have compassion and not seek to further our own ends at the expense of another soul....the promise below WILL come to fruition....only then does a change take place. But it is not of personal effort that transforms but rather the Law of the LORD. Which is LOVE.

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
~John 14:23

What words to keep?
LOVE the LORD your God with all your heart, body, soul, and mind...
LOVE your neighbor as yourself....
Judge not lest ye be judged....
Turn the other cheek....
Be private in your prayers and good deeds...
Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and it's righteousness (equity/fairness)...

In Psalms it is written:

The LAW of the LORD is perfect, transforming the soul.

Indeed that is TRUTH.
And the LAW, once again, is LOVE.

Sorry if that offends anyone, BUT, on another thread where the queen suggested "she would get Christ laid", she had lost my respect as a spiritual guide with respect to "Christianity".

Well, that's probably for the best, then, since I AM NOT a 'spiritual guide with respect to Christianity'....and do not wish to be regarded as such.

I do not buy into the New Age craze, I harbor no ani-mos-it-y toward you annie, I just don't believe your brand fits this thread...

I'm not a cow...I have no 'brand.' I am just me. But I answered the OP because I had an answer directly resulting from personal experience.

I know, way to win friends and influence people.

What is?

Sorry in advance for any hurt feelings, but as she said,

Be true
Love
Accept/forgive/allow ALL to be true to self and others

You lost me with that. How does that close your post with relevance? Basically it's the third point that I don't see in action here on this thread.

But if you guys want to play 'Pharisees' then I will certainly take the part of Jesus (for this little 'stage show' or is it a RPG?)...

No role-playing-games for me, I decline to be a "'Pharisees'".
I guess this leads me back to the topic of this thread, what has been the hardest thing for me since coming in to The Body of Christ. Here's an example, I can't understand how one so versed in the teachings of Christ, who can quote the Master so well, can also suggest getting Him laid. Sorry, but for me it creates confusion, it pushes the fence line out beyond the gate. This is just one example for me of the hypocrisy that surrounds us as people of faith. I think that's it, I think hypocrisy in myself and others is the hardest thing to over come thus far. I know I am not supposed to judge my brothers or sisters, but, too discern between good and evil, so as not to stumble my brethren along the way.


I love these quotes

My understanding of being christian is to follow Christ - not christianity. I could CARE LESS about what 'christianity' says is right - I follow Christ.
And in that context, I DID answer the OP appropriately - from personal experience I know that even our most diligent efforts to 'change' and 'be good' will be mediocre at best and we lack the basic ability to truly love our neighbors as ourselves. BUT if we follow the basic ideas outlined in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5 through 7) and TRY to love and NOT judge and condemn others...but have compassion and not seek to further our own ends at the expense of another soul....the promise below WILL come to fruition....only then does a change take place. But it is not of personal effort that transforms but rather the Law of the LORD. Which is LOVE.

External Source

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
~John 14:23

What words to keep?
LOVE the LORD your God with all your heart, body, soul, and mind...
LOVE your neighbor as yourself....
Judge not lest ye be judged....
Turn the other cheek....
Be private in your prayers and good deeds...
Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and it's righteousness (equity/fairness)...

In Psalms it is written:

The LAW of the LORD is perfect, transforming the soul.

Indeed that is TRUTH.
And the LAW, once again, is LOVE.

But then I hate this one...
www.belowtopsecret.com...

BUT most of all:
I'd definitely do all that I could about getting him laid (with all the 'extras' and top of the line attention), too....or better yet - just take care of that 'gift contribution' all by myself!

Sorry annie, for using you as an example, but it is true.
I too LOVE and yet still hate some things, I know I am far from perfection.