Religion Christians of the forum - what do you think is the true essence of being a Christian?

Yes, you may have heard of the term the "Trinity" or "Triune God." The Father God, The Son of God (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit, 3 in 1. They are of the same accord. Jesus and the Holy Spirit do the will of the Father God. The Trinity can be a difficult thing to grasp. To simplify, take a grandma, we will call her Jane. Jane is a daughter to her mother, a mother to her kids, and a grandmother to her grandchildren. Jane is a grandmother, mother, and daugter, 3 in 1. Her mind and will in all three definitions of her are the same, but she does interact with her family from a different perspective in each relationship and they interact with her differently based on the relationship. This is not an exact analogy, but maybe you can understand. Essentially, 3 personalities or aspects of God. So yes, Jesus and God are on the same page.

The entire OT points to Jesus and the need for him to come and be our savior. I think you are asking this question to know if Jesus has the same thoughts about the Mosiac law, particularly in regards to homosexuality, etc...When Jesus died on the cross he fulfilled the law, we as Christians are no longer bound by the law because of Grace. But the law still does act as a school master. Without the law, we would not be aware of our sin and we would not know our need of a savior.

John 5: 19: 19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

John 12: 49-50: 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Again, other brothers please jump in.

 

Here is a book you might want to read. "Who Wrote the Bible". It is pretty good in explaining the possibilities of how the books of the Old Testament came to be.
It does little to explain the New Testament and nothing about why the books, the cannon were selected. It a good point to start though in speculating why the cannon came to be.

 

But wouldn't this be like, I don't know, Joe Scarborough setting himself up as the voice of Jimmy Carter after Carter died? Granted he's come around from being opposed, but that doesn't mean you'd trust him to speak for him. Plus it's a little odd that he never recounts any incidents from Christ's life - that's all left up to the Gospels.

 

Why, a ghost boner of course.

 

HomersGhostBoner

 

That's why someone invented Viagra

 

GhostBonersHome just flows better though

 

Or, TheSpiritOfHomersBoner.

I could open a bar.

 

or

 

I just thought about it and true Christians here are praying for us now Homer....

 

You're thinking of Mrs. Poker Dog the Dog Poker.

 

What's stopping you?

 

And you are redeemed by accepting Jesus as your Lord and savior, right?

My understanding of this is that it actually doesn't matter at all what you do--while the Bible has moral prescriptions, adhering to them wouldn't be sufficient if you've ever done a single thing wrong (which every human has or will). Nor does "mostly" adhering to them matter, since a white lie is akin to mass murder relative to the imposing wall of purity that is God. The moment you've done one small thing wrong you've done everything wrong.

All that matters is that you are "saved" (or accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior) so that Jesus' sacrifice can apply to you. So why the emphasis on sin at all? Why come down on theft or homosexuality, when none of that matters if you've ever told a white lie?

I'm not a Christian scholar at all, so I'm honestly asking for clarification. I am interested in religion (intellectually--I'm not implying that I'm interested in joining an organized religion) and I have always liked civil discussions about religion.

 

I think spirituality is important to well being...empathy, compassion, love, all those greeting card themes...I just choose to take responsibility upon myself for trying to be a good human and lead by example....I think whether it's Jesus or Gandhi or Lao Tsu....healthy love for humanity is an enduring theme...I'll have to say I think Quakers had a truly Christian system together...non violence across the board...I also think Christianity provides a great alternative for folks who cannot figure it out without a guide

 

Jesus said it best. The first and greatest commandment is to love the lord thy god with all your heart sould and mind and the second is like unto it to love thy neighbor as thyself.

I think if you display true love for god and people (love is also defined in the bible)
1corinthians 13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

If we truly display charity i.e. love, then we really display a selfless character toward all our fellow humans. Every problem and point of contention would melt away if we loved eachother like we should