Convoking assistence?

[QuoVadisNation]

Where do I start?

I need help, but not necessarily from the self-toting doyens or anything. Two years ago, I had a falling out. To be terse, my belief fell out the window in an instant. I started to question everything, found my Christian friends to be incredibly credulous and immature, and I came to the realization that God could just as well be replaced with an imaginary friend. The only difference, I believed, was that the imaginary friend was kind enough to actually speak back to you.


But that was then. I'm starting to finally rebuild the concept of a God, and I firmly believe in Jesus. Essentially, what I'm asking is can one be a "Christian" without being a pietist? I believe in religion, but the fact not only am I truly unable to think of religion everyday mentally, but I also many earthly obligations to take care of. If I was given a choice, I'd find it more pertinent to finish studying for a mid-term on Sunday rather than going to Church. I somehow do not feel obligated to believe that God would help me get an A (which I got, btw ;)) had I gone to church. Everything I really need to suceed in life, I need to do myself. In addition, I would never accept the Bible as the “word”. (for various reasons, which I won’t get into.)

The real question is, I suppose, how should a Christian act? Is it fundamentally at odds with my current world view? Is the answer just a straight forward pietist 'yes!'?

Thanks for at least taking a look at this post. God bless.

Word.

[sistakrista]

You can be a Christian without being a pietist! The meaning of the word, "Christian," is to be a follower of CHRIST, not religion! It is so NOT about going to church! Follow Jesus alone! Worship God in Spirit & Truth! We are the church, it is NOT a building! Consider the things Jesus said to the Pharisees! I'll be praying for you!

[ephraimanesti]

MY DEAR FRIEND,

To answer your questions according to what light i have--


Essentially, what I'm asking is can one be a "Christian" without being a pietist?

NO, one cannot be a Christian without being a "pietist." My dictionary defines "pietist" as "ONE WHO EXHIBITS DEVOTION TO, AND REVERENCE FOR, GOD." That certainly is one of the basic foundations of a Christian life!

The real question is, I suppose, how should a Christian act? Is it fundamentally at odds with my current world view? Is the answer just a straight forward pietist 'yes!'?


YES! Either Jesus is EVERYTHING to you, or He is NOTHING to you. There is NO middle ground!

WITH LOVE IN CHRIST,
ephraim

[WinduDe]

my friend, how u gonna be a christian and not belive in the bible, thats no good. the guide of how to be a christian is the BIBLE and you should read it as the WORD OF GOD, let me give you some reasons :

is the only prophetic book
this book have revolutionary ideas about the peace, the love to each other, how to know God.

is the first book to be perfectly ethical
is the best chronological books
this book inspire a lot of science discoverys
this book change millions of sould
this book heals millions of peaple
this book change millions of nations.
and this is the first book that talk about JESUS.

and this is a lil lil lil reason.. u should read it and you would see that is the word of God.

[QuoVadisNation]

Thanks for replying everyone. : )

WinduDe, with the exception of the last reason, none of those are objectively valid grounds to believing it is the word of God. Please don't interpret my claim harshly, but I simply believe the Bible needs to be read as a moral lesson, not as some sort of binding 'codification' of quotes verbatim by God. If that was the case, how could the church have known which chapters were the “word of God” and which weren’t while they were making the ‘first’ bible? Are we to believe they actually knew? For example, Psalms 23 is a great lesson, not a rule like a commandment. *oh right, I have read the bible. The New testament is great, but I can't say I'm a fan of the old testament. ^_^*

Ephraimanesti, could you expand that a little bit? :( My definition of pietism is as follows)

1 capitalized : a 17th century religious movement originating in Germany in reaction to formalism and intellectualism and stressing Bible study and personal religious experience
2 a : emphasis on devotional experience and practices b : affectation of devotion

I should note, that this definition doesn't give it justice.. pietism generally is the emphasis of things like faith over both reason, practicality and sometimes even common sense. (like a child even)

The question, I suppose, is then does a Christian need to forfeit intellectualism in an attempt to better "feel" Christ? How could a human being actually live then, in desperate austerity? I said before I have earthly obligations, but by that I mean I need worry about things and improve my life (not only for myself, but for everything my family expects of me). Is that the only way a Christian can act? Please answer : D

Sistakrista, thank you. :)


hmm.. it's late. Good night, bless. Thank you for responding!

Quo

[ephraimanesti]

The meaning of the word, "Christian," is to be a follower of CHRIST, not religion! It is so NOT about going to church! We are the church, it is NOT a building!

MY DEAR SISTER,

While you are quite correct that the Church is people and not buildings, we must keep in mind the caution given by the writer of the letter to the Hebrews, "LET US NOT GIVE UP MEETING TOGETHER, AS SOME ARE IN THE HABIT OF DOING, BUT LET US ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER -- AND ALL THE MORE AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING."(Hebrew 10:25)

As an example of the importance of Churches in God's scheme of things, you might note that, with three exceptions, all of Paul's letters--which contain most Christian doctrinal teachings--were written to Churches in various places. Of the three exceptions, two--the letters to Timothy and Titus--contain directions and protocol for setting up Churchs, and one--Philemon--begins with a salutation to the Church which met at his house.

Regular fellowship for the purpose of worshipping God, being taught the deeper things of Christ, and supporting one another in our Christian walks is a major part of being a Christian--WE ARE SAVED IN UNITY, NOT IN ISOLATION! As the old saying goes, "A Christian alone is the devil's plaything."

IN CHRIST'S LOVE,
ephraim

[WinduDe]

mmm quovadisnation, if the bible wouldnt exist, how you would know who is Jesus??? .... if the bible wouldnt exist u would go to Israel and ask if 2000 years ago A guy named Jesuschirst was here..... so cmon men... this is not a moral book made it by a simple mans, why this book is so revolutionary, why muslim dont have a book like bible?? so ethical? so peacefully? so perfect?? why buda didnt make a book like the bible??? cmon, you should read it again the bible becouse they are a lot of facts that demostrated that is the word of God.

[WinduDe]

btw, you should read this

http://www.matthewmcgee.org/prophesy.html

Fulfilled Prophecies and Other Evidence that the Bible is the Word of God

[ephraimanesti]

MY DEAR BROTHER,

Ephraimanesti, could you expand that a little bit? :( My definition of pietism is as follows)
1 capitalized : a 17th century religious movement originating in Germany in reaction to formalism and intellectualism and stressing Bible study and personal religious experience
2 a : emphasis on devotional experience and practices
b : affectation of devotion

As you did not capitalize pietism in your original Post, i assume that the definition i gave from my Dictionary--which corresponds to your definition #2a and 2b--applies. So i'm wondering what about this idea of affection/devotion to God puts you off. When i think of all that God has done in my life, it becomes painfully--yet joyfully--apparent to me that if i spent 24/7 for the rest of my life loving and worshiping Him for what He has done, i would still be a most unfaithful and unfruitful servant.

Sooooo . . . forgive me for making assumptions, but i don't think you have ever really experienced for yourself God's love for you on an "up close and personal basis"--1 to 1. i think perhaps you may know a lot ABOUT God (given your concern with intellectualism), but don't really KNOW God for yourself as in the Scripture which says, "TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!"(Ps 34:8) A TRUE relationship with God is experiental, NOT intellectual.


I should note, that this definition doesn't give it justice.. pietism generally is the emphasis of things like faith over both reason, practicality and sometimes even common sense. (like a child even)

Funny you should mention "like a child even." Our Lord Jesus Christ states in several places, "I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, ANYONE WHO WILL NOT RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIKE A LITTLE CHILD WILL NEVER ENTER IT."(Mark 10:15) Here, i think, the primary characteristic in view, is a child's openness and simple trust. Without these characteristics, no one can discover God and develop and meaningful relationship with Him. (Keep in mind that child-like and childish are not the same things!)


The question, I suppose, is then does a Christian need to forfeit intellectualism in an attempt to better "feel" Christ? How could a human being actually live then, in desperate austerity?

This, i am guessing, is your primary concern--"do I have to turn my mental functioning to become a Christian." The answer, of course, is NO. When our Lord was asked which of God's Commandments was the greatest, He replied, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with ALL YOUR MIND."(Matthew 22:37) God endowed human beings with minds for a purpose, and the Bible is actually a very rational Book--IF, in faith, you can accept it as being written by fallable human beings under the inspiration--not dictated by--God through the Holy Spirit. You appear to be having great trouble accepting this, which, of course, leaves you stuck, Spiritually speaking--NO Bible-NO Jesus. All the so-called "mistakes" in the Bible which non-believers have ferreted out to give them peace of mind about turning away from God are infinitesimal, in no way affect Christian teachings or beliefs, and are generally rationally explainable for those who take the time to look beyond surface appearances.

What i would counsel you to do is read through the New Testament with an open heart AND an open mind, prayerfully asking our Lord to show you the Truth. He will do that!, for He has stated, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE."(John 14:6) Your primary concern should be in learning exactly WHO our Lord Jesus is--in effect the whole Bible was given by God for this one main purpose--and what you need to do to develop a saving relationship with Him. Find yourself a trustworthy Spiritual Mentor to answer your questions and guide your growth in knowledge. (This will keep Satan from stealing the seed that is being planted as per Matthew 13:19)


I said before I have earthly obligations, but by that I mean I need worry about things and improve my life (not only for myself, but for everything my family expects of me). Is that the only way a Christian can act?

Lastly, you mention "worrying about things to improve your life." From my personal experience, and the personal experiences of millions of others over the last 2000 years, i can think of nothing which will improve your life more than a personal relationship with your Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ--ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!--and there is NO price not worth paying to gain this relationship. "Taste and see that the Lord is GOOD." May you be abundantly blessed in doing so!

WITH LOVE IN CHRIST,
ephraim

P.S. There are two books (besides the Bible, of course) which may be of help to you: THE CASE FOR FAITH and THE CASE FOR CHRIST by Lee Strobel. Both are available at any Christian Bookstore or from Amazon.com