What does it mean to say “I’m a Christian”?
No judgment here but sincerely – what does it mean to you?
How much business and status is given based on that comment? He’s a believer. They are christians. She loves God. All are markings given as though “well that’s it, problem solved” now I can proceed in letting my kids play with your kids. We are aligned. You are a christian so it’s ok to leave your guys unattended in my house fixing the kitchen remodel.
Yet, is the divorce rate exempt for christians? Do believers ever get a DUI? If one believes in God then he won’t embezzle money from you?
I once had a contract with a guy in the south that was strong in his belief of a higher power. He believed in God but did not like to work with christians. He was open about it. His thought was that it provided a wall for people to hide behind.
People that live their life by choice are choosing to make their decisions and the results speak for themselves. People that have a christian status in front of their persona are then living up to that standard vs living by “their” belief. Now, of course, there are christians that are aware and living by their belief and not according to the belief of their religion but the thought was still prompted.
I used to work side by side with an Atheist and an Agnostic. My past religion would have shunned the interaction with them as, well, that social status also clearly meant they didn’t have any moral compass or valued any code to live by…Yet, they were both some of the most honest people I worked with at that time. They were choosing to live and make decisions based upon a belief that they felt was for them and that produced a result that all who knew them saw – honest and trustworthy people, with kind and caring hearts.
On the flip side, I had an experience where a business partner embezzled over 40,000 from me. He was a loud christian and strong believer, active in his church. Apparently, he believed that it was his for the taking LOL.
In business the christian label doesn’t mean a contract isn’t needed yet in the religious circles it seems to carry so much power with it. I don’t understand how I am supposed to let my children spend time with your children based on you being given a broad label of “believer”.
People are human. People live real lives and are constantly given opportunities to learn lessons. Christian and believer alike are labels. Why do we feel the need to create separation? We are this particular label (christian) so we are better than those without? In the religious world (it’s a pretty big world) it is given with the pretense that if you are not a believer then you are not as good as us. Separation. You vs another.
Besides, can people not change? If you were strong and harsh towards your child does that also come with a permanent label of mean? Or perhaps the next time you will remember your miss-take and respond with love and kindness to your child. The lesson was provided and a lesson was learned. No need for a label as you chose different now based on the experience and the result your earlier response provided.
The point is that, either with an intention or without, people are constantly choosing their actions based on who they are at that particular time. Labels are perhaps incorrect.
Being a christian or a believer is just a label, often one that is worn proudly. Can we choose to stop saying that others are not as good as I and simply live our life by our personal code? Do we have to live towards a belief in a system that was a personal code of another?
Christian – living behind the wall that their “faith” (such improper use of the word faith by the way) has put up. Going to church and spending time in that environment can produce wonderful effects yet it too often is simply a place gone to, and then left at the end of the service. Back to the normal life. Plugged in and got the juice for the week so to speak. A disconnect between life and code. When one is living their life according to THEIR deep-rooted belief code then they are truly known for that. Their actions show their belief. Yet living behind the label of a religion or group belief is not fully integrating it within oneself as there is always the separation between the two. The church – the person. God – Human. Always a vast difference between man and higher self. Wearing the label of christian does allow one to feel connected to a higher place but it is a false sense that is known deep inside.
Setting aside what others may think of you and living fully to your belief requires you accepting all of your life consequences. No wall to hide behind. Are you up to the challenge? It can seem daunting at first but when the night is closing and you’re alone you no longer have that empty feeling. Rather the opposite, fulfillment. Sleep like a baby.
Go to church or don’t go to church, doesn’t matter. Look at what you believe in and ask if it is really something you have chosen or if it is simply a belief that was passed on to you. Then decide for yourself what to believe moving forward. In the end (if there is an end) you are responsible for you and the belief and practices of any group of others, a church, or labels worn during the day will have zero to add to you. You and you alone. Born with nothing and leaving as you are.
Thoughts gave with light and love,
Jarred