Originally posted by epiphinehasChrist Conciousness is not some mystical experience rather than being a 'concrete' reality. There is nothing mystical about it.
[b]But how come the Christians on this site always come off sounding sad and gloomy with such subjects?
I'm not sure. Perhaps because it is a very serious subject?
Is there not a more positive way you could put the same sentiments? After all, us humans, who fall short of Christ-Concuisness, need all the encouragement that we can get, no?[/ ...[text shortened]... understanding, the true peace which all men desire whether they know it or not, is found.
You can be positive AND serious. No?
When I come to Christ,(and not christ conciousness), what will I come to? A ghostly figure of a man?
Please tell me so I will know what to look out for when I get there.
Originally posted by duecerHad things stayed that way, you'd have a point, but they didn't.
I'm VERY good...God says so.
Gen1: 27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature ...[text shortened]... made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.[/b]
Kelly
3 edits
Originally posted by karoly aczelWhen I come to Christ,(and not christ conciousness), what will I come to? A ghostly figure of a man? Please tell me so I will know what to look out for when I get there.
Christ Conciousness is not some mystical experience rather than being a 'concrete' reality. There is nothing mystical about it.
You can be positive AND serious. No?
When I come to Christ,(and not christ conciousness), what will I come to? A ghostly figure of a man?
Please tell me so I will know what to look out for when I get there.
No, nothing like that. You come to Christ through faith. Christ said, "where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them" (Matthew 18:20). If I were you, and genuinely interested in coming to Christ through faith, the first thing I would do is find a group of Christians (preferably a spirit-led, theologically orthodox church) and attend one (or more) of their weekly services. If Christ can be trusted, you can rest assured that He will be there among them. (Note: stay away from any church that seems more interested in potlucks, entertainment, and various social activities than the word of God; these will generally be spiritually dead churches and a waste of your time.)
If Christ is present, you will begin to sense His Spirit. Paul wrote, "All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it... This makes for harmony among the members" (1 Corinthians 12:27,25). Christ's body is the church, i.e., the people who walk according to God's Spirit, and God will move His body, i.e., His people, to minister to you in whatever manner He deems necessary. Psalm 44:21 says, "God... knows the secrets of every heart," so expect the Lord to meet you exactly where you're at.
Now, faith isn't something you can muster up on your own, it is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, "Only the obedient believe. If we are to believe, we must obey a concrete command" (The Cost of Discipleship, p. 64). Church is a place where faith is a possibility, because it is a place where you may find an opportunity to obey. Expect the Lord to provide an opportunity for you via the move of His Spirit, whether in your own spirit or in the spirits of those in whom He dwells. It will be hard to miss this opportunity; you will be able to recognize it easily because every fiber of your being will rebel against it.
The flesh will always recoil from obedience to the Spirit: "The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions" (Galatians 5:17). Often people are prompted inwardly by the Spirit of God, even to the point of recognizing the truth and goodness of the Gospel of Christ, but in the end choose to obey their old, familiar nature instead. But I assure you, if you obey the Spirit of God instead of your own nature when the time comes, then you will find faith. If you find faith, you will come to Christ.
I hope this helps...
Originally posted by epiphinehasGood answer, however you must admit, it is a bit vague what "christ" is in all of that. You could even argue that it was Lord Bhudda who was present amongst the congregation and not Christ. After all, there are no distinguishing features or points of recognition to say that this 'movement of Spirit' is actually Christ.
[b]When I come to Christ,(and not christ conciousness), what will I come to? A ghostly figure of a man? Please tell me so I will know what to look out for when I get there.
No, nothing like that. You come to Christ through faith. Christ said, "where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them" (Matthew 18:20). If I were ...[text shortened]... l find faith. If you find faith, you will come to Christ.
I hope this helps...[/b]
As for the flesh recoiling from the obedience of Spirit, I'm well aware of this phenomena and hold no fears about it. Because I am aware that I am Spirit and not flesh, I dont find myself in those types of material quandries that others attached to the flesh might find themselves in.
Originally posted by karoly aczelWhat is good, and isn't?
So if one can only be 95% good then they shouldn't bother at all?
Can you be good and only murder once?
Would a life filled with nothing but goodness and one murder be called a
good life?
How about a life that lies?
How about a life that cheats?
How about a life that cares more for itself even when it has within its own
power to help another and refuses to?
What makes a life, good?
Kelly
Originally posted by josephwLack of perfection shouldn't be a criteria in "good enough," because perfection is impossible. For example, sometimes one's choices are between the lesser of two evils. If both choices are bad to begin with, then one shouldn't be docked for picking one of them.
If one is going to be good, then one should be good 100% of the time, otherwise one is only partly good, and that just isn't good enough.
Good is very subjective. I had a friend who saw herself as a good person because she was nice to her friends. She wasn't nice to people who weren't her friends, and freely admitted it. I kids and adults who are bullies but think of themselves as good people. In fact, the only people whom I've met that clearly didn't think of themselves as good people were those who were long-time victims of other people (i.e. they thought they must've been bad and deserved the bad treatment).
My own thinking is that if you are "mostly good" and your lapses are generally victimless, then you're probably a good person. I guess. 😉
Originally posted by KellyJayStill if someone murders and then later sees the error of their ways , do you not think they should have something more positive to go on with than josephw's post?
What is good, and isn't?
Can you be good and only murder once?
Would a life filled with nothing but goodness and one murder be called a
good life?
How about a life that lies?
How about a life that cheats?
How about a life that cares more for itself even when it has within its own
power to help another and refuses to?
What makes a life, good?
Kelly
Heck, they may think since they are tainted already they should just keep on murdering?!?
I wouldn't describe myself or anyone else as good or bad generally as they are relative subjective terms (unless I provide definitions for a particular context). However, I would be able to discuss how much someone's morals are compatible with my own.
I dislike when someone does an atrocious act (relative to my moral code of conduct) and that person is described by others as "evil". This is often done in the media. As if there is some mystical entity one can possess to become evil. Psychology is complex, and to break down to simple wishy washy words doesn't really deal with the heart of the issue.
It is as if they cannot understand this person, so we just label them and that makes things so much easier.