As a Christian what are your thoughts?

Manji2012 · 10-31-2007, 09:34 AM

Today on the bus ride home, someone stood up and in a loud voice something to the effect of, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. To be saved you must be born again, accept Jesus Christ." He then sat down and some people on the bus commented with, "There he goes again, we know he is not through."

What are your thoughts on what this person did?

greymare · 10-31-2007, 12:07 PM

id be like everyone else and think "oh god, I wish that crazy guy would just shut up and let me get to where I'm going in peace" . to be honest I'd probably nervously look around to make sure he wasnt making any sudden movements or had a backpack(bomb) because seriously crazy statements like that in public places could probably get him into more trouble than save sinners. its just my opinion but I think that it reflects unfortunately on society today. Love theGrey

17th Angel · 10-31-2007, 02:35 PM

I would join in... Infact I would get a good old christian sing song going.....

The guy's Crystal meth levels were either too low.... Or he had some sort of personality disorder... OR he was just so in love with the concept of christ that he had to just freaking let it out... You know, you get that freaking feeling about something? Scoring the winning goal in the stanley cup? Smoking a reef? Seeing your hero win an award... Your dream girl/boy tells you they feel the same you know?! You just wanna freaking implode maybe he was like that...

Anyway whatever it was, I'd of joined in.

wil · 10-31-2007, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manji2012

What are your thoughts on what this person did?

Namaste Manji,

I believe he believes he is following the teachings of Jesus, and he is attempting...poorly imo...to increase folks to 'see the light'.

I believe he'd be better off being a shining example, offering his seat, helping folks on and off the bus, smiling and exuding the light and joy that Christ's teachings have to offer.

I know that these type of actions cause folks to ask you, "Why are you always so happy? Why are you always so positive? How can you just sit there an not respond in such turmoil?" And then you have the opportunity to have a discussion, and others hear the discussion, and later on another bus ride someone says..."I overheard you last week, can we talk?"

I think his method has an increased likelihood of folks deciding as Ghandi, I love your Christ, but have issues with your Christians....the bumper sticker, "Jesus save me from your followers" comes to mind.

To many he is an embarrassment, to others a work in progress, but in reality I feel if he feels he has a right to do that, his seatmate has a right to play his boombox, and another has a right to stand up Hail Satan, and ...and... and....

17th Angel · 10-31-2007, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wil

and another has a right to stand up Hail Satan,

I only freaking did that once!

LeoSalinas22 · 10-31-2007, 04:14 PM

my thoughts would be, "why is he praising Jesus when he should be praising the Creator of heaven and earth? after all, isn't God our Saviour and not His creation? maybe this guy knows something i don't." then i would stand up and go ask him. probably get into a little interfaith debate.

LeoSalinas22 · 10-31-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 17th Angel

I only freaking did that once!

i did that one too many times. man, was i an idiot! what the fig am i talking about? i still am!

17th Angel · 10-31-2007, 04:15 PM

The wive's jw studies rubbing off on you I see.

LeoSalinas22 · 10-31-2007, 04:18 PM

jw teachings? me? i really doubt it. their doctrines have too many holes and not enough answers.

17th Angel · 10-31-2007, 04:19 PM

Oh, sounded a bit jw with the first post... My mistake.

pattimax · 11-01-2007, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wil

I believe he believes he is following the teachings of Jesus, and he is attempting...poorly imo...to increase folks to 'see the light'.

2 LORD, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.
3 God came from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran.
His glory covered the heavens
and his praise filled the earth. …
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails

modern-day language …"There he goes again, we know he is not through."

and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

modern-day language …"There he goes again, we know he is not through."

yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

(are you listening, LEO? Jesus Christ is Lord. God took on human form. )
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
("There he goes again, we know he is not through.”)
Habakkuk 3

Quote:

I think his method has an increased likelihood of folks deciding as Ghandi, I love your Christ, but have issues with your Christians....the bumper sticker, "Jesus save me from your followers" comes to mind.

TODAY, Jesus’ politicized followers often come across as nostril–flaring “mad as hell and we’re not gonna take it anymore” people who detest unbelievers while glibly stating that they hate the sin but love the sinner. A watching population has only these reactionary Christians by which to gauge what it means to be a Christian, and often, they don’t see the Christian presence as a loving one. Combativeness though understandable in a hostile culture, should never displace the Christian’s primary call to love, serve, and bring good news to the world God loves. The Apostle John’ words are timely. God sent His son into the world not to condemn people but to save them. – The Culturally Savvy Christian 2007

BlaznFattyz · 11-01-2007, 06:07 AM

whether or not you like the way he presented the message, it is truth, and you have heard it. some have a need to praise their Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ wherever they are; sometimes one's soul has a need to cry out to God, and they are not ashamed, neither will God be ashamed to call them his children.

In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, declared by God high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

AndrewX · 11-01-2007, 06:55 AM

Only two thoughts, although neither are "as a Christian" ...

One, I kind of think wil has said it all!

Two, is it not said -

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. --Matthew 6:5 (KJV)

There are many reasons why a person might stand, and express oneself (or one's thoughts, beliefs, etc.) as this fella did. These can range from mental illness, to an assignment from a college drama class, to pure, random spontaneity (or a practical joke, or dare), to the Joy of the Soul ... or `the Holy Spirit,' as Christians put it.

Regardless, our choice of religious belief, and how (or whether) we express that openly, or at all, is really up to us. And if that's all it takes to make that fella on the bus happy, then more power to him. Or at least, good for him!

I recall as clear as yesterday, however, that during my 2 1/2 years as a grad student at UNC Chapel Hill, we often observed the `pit preachers,' so called because they would stand in a little common area near the coffee shop, which formed sort of a pit (two or three short steps down, on all four sides).

Yes, most of those guys were mentally ill, and I either felt sorry for them, or found myself pondering ... what strange karma is being worked out here, that these are the circumstances in which one of my fellow Souls finds itself? {see John 9:1-5}

The only part of it that really disturbed me, was that it provided endless entertainment for the frat brothers, who taunted these pit preachers, and challenged them on every last bit of scripture-picking that was done. Not that this was surprising, as our relatively harmless pit preachers couldn't resist condemning the sinners of every ilk that walked within earshot ...

... I mean, these guys get what they've asked for.

So yeah, while one might admire their courage, and their willingness to speak out - the devotion to their cause (preaching the Gospel, as they've come to understand this in a rather dead-letter, and limited/limiting fashion) ... we should also be ready, willing and able to see this in context.

Psychology, sociology and an overall soft science point of view may be able to tell us much about that guy on the bus, which we would otherwise forget to consider, if we were too busy asking content-focused questions ... or trying to decide whether or not we want to be like him.

Makes me think of the Beatles song, I Dig a Pony ...

Pathless · 11-01-2007, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 17th Angel

I would join in... Infact I would get a good old christian sing song going.....

The guy's Crystal meth levels were either too low.... Or he had some sort of personality disorder... OR he was just so in love with the concept of christ that he had to just freaking let it out... You know, you get that freaking feeling about something? Scoring the winning goal in the stanley cup? Smoking a reef? Seeing your hero win an award... Your dream girl/boy tells you they feel the same you know?! You just wanna freaking implode maybe he was like that...

Anyway whatever it was, I'd of joined in.

lol 17th. And would you believe I had almost forgotten why I like you?

17th Angel · 11-01-2007, 03:14 PM

Pathless.... Your not going to say I was almost on your forsaken list? You ass! *pinches your arm* :\

Forgot why you liked me.....