I found Jesus. Really?

[MeAndYou]

PLEASE understand im not here with a goal of turning this into religion vs atheism or whatever. I just have a question for those who are religious.

When someone says "I found Jesus and he helped me to change my life." Or something along the lines of "I found Jesus." ...what exactly do they mean?

From my understanding...if you found Jesus than that would mean Jesus has risen no? And that would mean the second coming has arrived.

Or is this more spiritual in which case how does one find Jesus and know that, that is Jesus? Is it a voice you hear? For lack of a better description...a face on a piece of toast? I just dont understand this claim and how people know so certainly that they "Found Jesus Christ" and it changed their life for the better.

For me when i do something to change my life for the better I usually give myself the credit i deserve so is this any different? Is this a case of "the semantics"?

 

[fromthatshow]

I think when people say I found Jesus they can mean any number of things.

It just means... I found hope, purpose, love, etc. etc.

Maybe even Jesus appeared to them, but ultimately that's what it means. He's just a symbol for love.

 

[MeAndYou]

Ahhh thta makes sense. But why not just say I found hope? It seems to me its spoken literally until questioned literally.....(im generalizing i know but this is based on personal experience with very devout christians of whom i DEF do NOT think anything less of based on their religious views)

But I guess that brings me to another question (based upon personal experience). Can i still not find hope, love, life etc in my own life even if that means "sinning"? (as far as the bible is concerned) And if not then why is my choice of happiness so wrong? Is it really the Bible way or the highway?

I just get so confused with neighbors i have whom gladly speak about the bible and jesus when i ask questions. But it seems there is only 1 form of happiness to find and 1 right way to live life according to the bible and i dont understand that.

And i may seem blunt or brazen but this is the only way i seem to know how to question religion without speaking in circles with a hundred foot notes

 

[Ziggy]

When someone says "I found Jesus and he helped me to change my life." Or something along the lines of "I found Jesus." ...what exactly do they mean?

If someone says I found hope or love etc. that's pretty vague. But when someone says 'I found Jesus' that might mean that they want to change their lives by following the teachings of Jesus, to learn about Jesus and his message, to live a life that Jesus would approve of etc. There's something definite and concrete there.

I think this is a good thing, you may find hope by following the words of Jesus, or by reading the books of the Dalai Lama, it's about having an example to follow. Of course you can find happiness in your own way, but this is just another option open to people.

 

[TG123]

PLEASE understand im not here with a goal of turning this into religion vs atheism or whatever. I just have a question for those who are religious.

When someone says "I found Jesus and he helped me to change my life." Or something along the lines of "I found Jesus." ...what exactly do they mean?

From my understanding...if you found Jesus than that would mean Jesus has risen no? And that would mean the second coming has arrived.

Or is this more spiritual in which case how does one find Jesus and know that, that is Jesus? Is it a voice you hear? For lack of a better description...a face on a piece of toast? I just dont understand this claim and how people know so certainly that they "Found Jesus Christ" and it changed their life for the better.

For me when i do something to change my life for the better I usually give myself the credit i deserve so is this any different? Is this a case of "the semantics"?

Hi MeandYou,

Great question. When I found Jesus, it meant that I put my faith in Him completely and believed that He died on the cross for me and rose from the dead so my sins could be forgiven.

Jesus has helped me in my life, He has been with me through my struggles and times of suffering. I am not any more perfect, I still struggle with problems in my life and I fall for sin even though I don't want to. I know however that whatever problems come my way He is by my side and I know that when I die I will be with Him in Heaven.


My faith in Christ also has been fundamental in my antiwar activism and social justice advocacy because He has opened my eyes to the importance of serving and standing up for the needy among us- whatever we do for them we do for Him.

Just some thoughts.

 

[fromthatshow]

I do not think to be Christian means to follow the Bible. I take what I can from it and leave the rest. So I leave most of it :laugh:. I have found other Christian texts (A Course In Miracles in particular) that are much more helpful and a lot of them in line with Buddhism and other religions.
If you are "sinning" but are happy because of it, then screw the idea that you are bad if you sin. Do whatever you can do to make yourself happy! What makes you happy today might not tomorrow, but who cares, just do what you want!

 

[poisonedresistance]

" i didnt know we were supposed to be looking for him sir "

 

[Ziggy]

Do whatever you can do to make yourself happy! What makes you happy today might not tomorrow, but who cares, just do what you want!

I agree. Caring about other people just makes you unhappy. F*** 'em all.

 

[MeAndYou]

Hey thanks for the responses

I Love You have you by chance read a book called "Conversations with God"? I've been asked to read this by someone who is not especially religious but not especially athiest either :P and honestly im just afraid its giong to BORE me lol!

TG123 thanks for the insight! I am glad to hear there are people who still stand up for those of whom few choose to hear.

Ziggy generally i agree that we should be doing what makes you happy in life regardless of what other people (whether thats devoting yourself to a religion or not) think but as long as its not hurting anyone. I have to admit some of the best advice ive ever been given was "Dont do anything for anyone." Too many people will gladly take advantage of blind kindness so i think its best to do things with the understanding it will be reciprocated. But then again i have real bad trust issues.

 

[mike25]

PLEASE understand im not here with a goal of turning this into religion vs atheism or whatever. I just have a question for those who are religious.

When someone says "I found Jesus and he helped me to change my life." Or something along the lines of "I found Jesus." ...what exactly do they mean?

From my understanding...if you found Jesus than that would mean Jesus has risen no? And that would mean the second coming has arrived.

Or is this more spiritual in which case how does one find Jesus and know that, that is Jesus? Is it a voice you hear? For lack of a better description...a face on a piece of toast? I just dont understand this claim and how people know so certainly that they "Found Jesus Christ" and it changed their life for the better.

For me when i do something to change my life for the better I usually give myself the credit i deserve so is this any different? Is this a case of "the semantics"?

Hi, I think finding Jesus is a gradual process or a dawning revelation for most people. People who exclaim "I FOUND JESUS, PRAISE THE LORD" are probably saying it sincerely but are often caught up in an emotional high that is soon proven to be less than watertight when the inevitable storms of life buffet them. However, sudden conversions do happen - as it did to St Paul, but they're less common.
I think 'finding Jesus' is like trying to describe the indescribable! Only the individual knows, that's part of the mystery.

 

[fromthatshow]

Conversations With God is a really good series. I've read all three.
But it is still filled with loopholes and contradictions like in the Bible.

A better book I would recommend is A Course In Miracles. It's a Christian text. It is pretty out there, if you have not delved (right word?) into this kind of stuff too much, but there are no contradictions, and it has helped me a lot. This book is in opposition to various things in the bible. For instance it states that Satan and sin are both illusions. But it still uses Christian terminology to explain things.

:heart: