MtnMamma

I am a Christian. What does that mean? I ache over the fact that the Church is not one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Estimates of the number of Christian sects or denominations range from a few thousand into the tens of thousands, mostly divided on what Paul called “disputable matters.” (Romans14:1) Or non-essential differences of belief. Such as pre-, mid-, or post-tribulation Rapture of the Saints. Sincere and well-intentioned Christians feel this subject is important to faith and worth creating divisions. Me? I lose patience with what I see as unnecessary squabbling. We will know when we will know. The future is not to concern us. People are. And Now is.

What distinguishes a Christian? Love! Love of neighbor and our enemy. My fifty years of experience says that most Christians (those in authority positions mostly) will moue, pause a second or two, and then get smarmy about the (greater?) importance of Scripture.

For me, Christ is a spirit of action and not a system of belief. That is not to say that doctrine in unessential. But, again for me, the whole purpose of any and all doctrines or dogma is to realize love of neighbor and our enemy. Put love first, and the Gospel follows.

I have seen miraculous transformations happen with the simple grace of just being kind, generous, and caring—without a single mention of God or the Bible. “...As for me, I desire this privilege from the Lord, that never may I have any privilege from man, except to do reverence to all, and to convert the world by obedience to the Holy Rule rather by example than by word.” That is from St. Francis, and so is this: “Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
For it is in giving that we receive. Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

Lonewolf

Thank you I needed that

uote=MtnMamma]I am a Christian. What does that mean? I ache over the fact that the Church is not one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Estimates of the number of Christian sects or denominations range from a few thousand into the tens of thousands, mostly divided on what Paul called “disputable matters.” (Romans14:1) Or non-essential differences of belief. Such as pre-, mid-, or post-tribulation Rapture of the Saints. Sincere and well-intentioned Christians feel this subject is important to faith and worth creating divisions. Me? I lose patience with what I see as unnecessary squabbling. We will know when we will know. The future is not to concern us. People are. And Now is.

What distinguishes a Christian? Love! Love of neighbor and our enemy. My fifty years of experience says that most Christians (those in authority positions mostly) will moue, pause a second or two, and then get smarmy about the (greater?) importance of Scripture.

For me, Christ is a spirit of action and not a system of belief. That is not to say that doctrine in unessential. But, again for me, the whole purpose of any and all doctrines or dogma is to realize love of neighbor and our enemy. Put love first, and the Gospel follows.

I have seen miraculous transformations happen with the simple grace of just being kind, generous, and caring—without a single mention of God or the Bible. “...As for me, I desire this privilege from the Lord, that never may I have any privilege from man, except to do reverence to all, and to convert the world by obedience to the Holy Rule rather by example than by word.” That is from St. Francis, and so is this: “Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
For it is in giving that we receive. Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."[/quote]

EmilyStrode

[/quote]

You are welcome, wish that I had given it.

Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX

Mtnmamma, you are a lot more transformed than I am... but I'm working on it... keep me your prayers from time to time, please.

Highlander66 Loc: Illinois

Momma, I want to ask one thing of you. You see, I too am a Christian. I was born and raised going to a little country church and eventually became a Deacon in this same church. Now after a long and sad story that I am willing to share, there has been a rift in which our pastor was voted out and in doing so, we went from an active church of about 65-75 each Sunday (its a very small community) to 17 people of which 11 are over 75 yrs old. Due to my deep seated disgust at what happened and how it happened I have quietly just stopped going. I go to my old pastors house frequently for teaching but it isn’t regular. What I have found is a connection with God in nature that I had been missing for awhile. What I am asking for is your prayers for me and my family that we might continue to look to Him through the foolishness that we visit upon ourselves. May God bless you and yours. Amen

bahmer

Thank you that was beautiful. I had an instructor once and this was a class on the book of revelation and he stated at the time that there are three main beliefs in the rapture and he had four. He said that the three main beliefs were the pre trib, the mid trib and the post trib beliefs. He said that he had a fourth view as well and that was the pan trib. Pre trib was the rapture was before the tribulation the mid trib was in the middle of the tribulation and the post trib was after the tribulation. Now the pan trib rapture was that everything will pan out in the end.

Lonewolf

the bible teaches post trib

MtnMamma

Peewee, just saying what you said means you are with the Lord.

MtnMamma

"...the foolishness we visit on ourselves": that is a great insight. It comes in many varieties and shapes, always looking righteous, in my experience and errors. You have my prayers, of course, yet I think staying with your pastor might be the best for healing in the Holy Spirit. Let that and nothing else be your guide. In Romans 1:19-21 it says "...since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Seeing the magnificence and majesty and diversity and intelligence in all of creation brings glory to God.

MtnMamma

Haha, like that.

EmilyStrode

I am not very religious but your post makes me re-consider. Then I can ignore those posers of Christianity with all their hate and secular posturing for their lack of love. Love is it! Without love, they are "a clanging cymbal." Without love for neighbor and enemy alike, "they have nothing...they are nothing." That somehow Christians find a way to still support Trump is fine. I do not know their motives. But if that support is distinguished by their love, what it means to be a Christian, I have no complaint or argument.

You appear to be a very decent person. I read all of your previous threads and posts. A good heart is my ultimate conclusion. Please stay and continue to contribute.

MtnMamma

Ha, but thank you. I was not going to post this thread because I am far from the perfect Christian. It is just what my heart feels is true and not how I lived my life. There have been changes after reaching fifty yet I am not a good example of what my comments. I hated the Left and was very active in denouncing them at every opportunity. It seemed very clear to me that they were steadily eroding the moral fiber of this country and looking to make our great nation into an atheistic satellite of socialism. For twenty years I was a rabid purveyor of those opinions. One morning about a year ago, I woke up with the conviction that my approach was wrong, sinful. I could not wriggle out of it after hours spent defending myself. It came down to this: God is or is not in control. If God is, what is my focus? Love was the only answer. Love my neighbor, love my enemy--no matter what! Trust God to sort things out. It seemed then and now I can't go wrong with love. That is all that Jesus asked: love.

Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX

I agree, love one another is the greatest commandment. I think Luke 22:36, in context, is saying it's okay to defend the faith, others and ourselves... because you will be attacked... verbally and physically. Jesus sure defended His Father's house... which I believe is the main reason the temple priest and rabbis decided He had to be killed... not the average Jew... but the religious leaders. Leaders of all stripes get scared when you mess with their power or money. I will turn the other cheek a few times, but after that, it's shock an awe, if I can deliver it...IMO...:)

MtnMamma

I agree. What Jesus did at the Temple sealed his fate. He became a direct threat to the power structure In Israel--and he knew it! And he knew the probable consequences. Christians need the same boldness of conviction.

Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX

You made my day!