under the radar
I used to think believing in God was a one way street. Either you believed and lived the christian life, or you didn’t. I never took any time to find out anything more behind the scenes than this, I just accepted this as it was. But lately I have had a couple of conversations with people that has opened my eyes. I often wonder what God is thinking up there about his children. Is he full of joy, is he disappointed, are we representing him in a way that He had hoped for? These conversations have shown me that some people don’t believe in Christianity but i still think believe in God. For one of the people, because of the family situation he/she was placed in and the way they treated God and church, Christianity has bitter feelings for him/her. This person said that they love to go to church back home and fully believe in Jesus, but that he/she has lived a life not connected with the church in any way because of the negative feelings that come with it. It makes me wonder… what about the person who doesn’t believe in Christianity and will never give way to the lifestyle it demands, but still fully believes in and longs for a relationship with a living God?
- originally posted by steve-o
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steve, remember that what is important is that Christian spirituality is a relationship and relationships are two way-you and God. Does someone truely believe and love God if it is not demonstrated in their life? Another question. What lifestyle is demanded by God? Does God demand or does He ask? I think He asks us; society and special interest groups may demand but i believe he asks or could we say \"knocks.\" God\'s love and the joy from listening to His Word, true wisdom, is an opportunity and was never meant to be placed upon someone as a burden. Keep in mind joy and pleasure are different but as far as my personal experience is concerned, joy is much better.
Aaron, i think you made a good point with your second question, what lifestyle is demanded by God, or is it demanded at all? That was what I was trying to get across in my first comment. The thing I see too often though is that people want to put that question in an easy to answer formula for success. It doesn't work that way. As we both know, it is between you and God how that is played out. it just seems that too often a certain routine is still expected by mainstream to satisfy the question of what God demands. When someone strays from this or comes up with a different way of accomplishing the same or similar goal, you can almost sense tension immediately, kind of like a disturbance in the force. Until it can be fully explained or justified to sufficiently meet the standards of mainstream, it still creates a sense of uneasiness in discussion.what do you say to someone who truly does believe in God, lives a lifestyle that demonstrates love for others, but is content living a life that does stir the henhouse a bit? (Just as an aside, this is not who you think it is that I am asking about '' ) \/
Aaron/Steve good points boys. the right questions too, as soon as i read the post i was asking the question "what lifestyle do we think God demands?" I've been told for years what God demands. The problem is that those things are very different from different but well-respected people. I've been struggling with the common christian phrase "assurance of salvation." We were taught in Bible school that this was something we could each and should each achieve, and ensure that those we lead have also. This relied on a formula, as you put Steve, for 'in/out' thinking. I think that is the thorn in the side of the modern church as it faces the next generations. I would question your first statement Aaron, even though there is biblical evidence to suggest that we can know a christian visibly, but because the connotations behind what that looks like are completely informed by old-school rules. I think we need to get out of it. I have a very close friend who doesn't think he is a christian because he has rejected every lifestyle choice that was prescribed for him in childhood. Yet I know his bottomline is that God is God and there are limits for him. Does that make him a believer? I'm not sure, but i won't say no. I have a gay friend who thinks he isn't because being gay means you are outside. Yet he lives with the same level of faith and love as me, and I consider myself on the inside. Its the picture of inside/outside that needs to be changed. I might start rambling.
steve/glen, just to point out, i completely hear the both of you and my questions are questions i ask myself. i still hold to my first question maybe changing belief to faith, not quite sure. im not talking about being in/out though; im talking about living what you believe or maybe better said is believing in what you re living for. i think i like the latter better. to bring into perspective a little better, think of mclarens the journey we find ourselves in. neo is not a guy who is in/out but is one who is willing to explain and connect God to the identity of others. i will keep it at that for now.
good point. i guess i read your question as a one we could impose on others, such as the person steve speaks of. it is truly a personal question, as you have shown.