Living the Christian Life

Speak even for myself, living the Christian life is sometimes a difficult thing to do, or at least it seems like that to me.

Looking at the example of St Francis of Assisi who devoted his life to poverty, the service of others, and extreme charity--our own actions can seem horendous. How we can have 60,000$/year jobs but only give so much to charity seems like only a scratch in comparison.

Fr David Bittner, one of my faviourite priests, gave a sermon this Sunday based on these readings: http://www.usccb.org/nab/092709.shtml

In short, he said that prophecy is not as we commonly think of speaking about the future. It is more properly understood as speaking on behalf of God. In the first reading, Aaron is peeved that some of the people who stayed in the camp also had God's Spirit come and rest upon them and were also considered prophets. Moses then replies that he wished that all of God's children can receive such a gift as having God's Spirit, which by virtue of our baptism and confirmation (the laying on of hands) we have. Therefore we are all called to be prophets.

St James's letter points to our actions as a form of prophecy. By our life, we can proclaim the gospel of Christ. And Christ himself also signifies this. His disciples are also peeved (like Aaron) the someone outside of the group is doing what they do. Christ tells them that if someone is doing good in his name, then he is "for them".

(Now here is where it really gets good) Father said that even an act like giving someone a drink con be considered an act of prophecy if we do it 1) for the persons own good and 2) for God's glory. This doesn't mean that we have to make a big show out of beating them with the gospel, but we do it because they are a person and because Christ says that whatever do do to the poor, we do to Christ.


When he was saying it, it was much more to my heart and spoke to me deeply. I felt like I should share it.


Comments? Any ways to proclaim the kingdom without talking from your own life?

 

PROPHECY

An inspired message; a revelation of divine will and purpose or the proclamation thereof. Prophecy may be an inspired moral teaching, an expression of a divine command or judgment, or a declaration of something to come. Prediction, or foretelling, is not the basic thought conveyed by the root verbs in the original languages (Heb., na·va’′; Gr., pro·phe·teu′o); yet it forms an outstanding feature of Bible prophecy.

Illustrating the sense of the original words are these examples: When Ezekiel in a vision was told to “prophesy to the wind,” he simply expressed God’s command to the wind. (Eze 37:9, 10) When individuals at Jesus’ trial covered him, slapped him, and then said, “Prophesy to us, you Christ. Who is it that struck you?” they were not calling for prediction but for Jesus to identify the slappers by divine revelation. (Mt 26:67, 68; Lu 22:63, 64) The Samaritan woman at the well recognized Jesus as “a prophet” because he revealed things about her past that he could not have known except by divine power. (Joh 4:17-19; compare Lu 7:39.) So, too, such Scriptural portions as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and his denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees (Mt 23:1-36) may properly be defined as prophecy, for these were an inspired ‘telling forth’ of God’s mind on matters, even as were the pronouncements by Isaiah, Jeremiah, and other earlier prophets.—Compare Isa 65:13-16 and Lu 6:20-25.

 

That is a priceless Freudian slip. Priceless! :rofl:

 

Not a Freudian slip, just a typo.

 

PROPHET

One through whom divine will and purpose are made known. (Lu 1:70; Ac 3:18-21) Although the etymology of the Hebrew term for a prophet (na·vi’′) is uncertain, the use of this distinctive term shows that true prophets were no ordinary announcers but were spokesmen for God, ‘men of God’ with inspired messages. (1Ki 12:22; 2Ki 4:9; 23:17) They stood in God’s “intimate group,” and he revealed his “confidential matter” to them.—Jer 23:18; Am 3:7; 1Ki 17:1

The Greek pro·phe′tes literally means “a speaker out [Gr., pro, “before” or “in front of,” and phe·mi′, “say”]” and thus describes a proclaimer, one who makes known messages attributed to a divine source. (Compare Tit 1:12.) Though this includes the thought of a predictor of the future, the fundamental meaning of the word is not that of prediction. (Compare Jg 6:7-10.) Nonetheless, living in harmony with God’s will requires that the individual know what God’s revealed purposes for the future are so that he may bring his ways, desires, and goals into line with the divine will. Hence, in the great majority of cases, the Biblical prophets did convey messages that were, directly or indirectly, related to the future.

Distinguishing the True From the False.

In some cases, such as that of Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and Jesus, God’s prophets performed miraculous works that attested to the genuineness of their message and office. Not all, however, are recorded as performing such powerful works. The three essentials for establishing the credentials of a true prophet, as given through Moses, were: 1) The true prophet would speak in Jehovah’s name; 2) the things foretold would come to pass (De 18:20-22); and 3) his prophesying must promote true worship, being in harmony with God’s revealed word and commandments (De 13:1-4). The last requirement was probably the most vital and decisive, for an individual might hypocritically use God’s name, and by coincidence, his prediction might see fulfillment. But the true prophet was not solely or even primarily a prognosticator, as has been shown. Rather, he was an advocate of righteousness, and his message dealt primarily with moral standards and their application. He expressed God’s mind on matters. (Isa 1:10-20; Mic 6:1-12) Hence, it was not necessary to wait perhaps for years or generations to determine whether the prophet was true or false by fulfillment of a prediction. If his message contradicted God’s revealed will and standards, he was false. Thus, a prophet who foretold peace for Israel or Judah, at a time when the people were engaging in disobedience to God’s Word and Law, of necessity was false.—Jer 6:13, 14; 14:11-16.

So, while living a good Christian life can in a way be prophesy, the fact that a prophet was to be a proclaimer, means that one needs to be declaring “the magnificent things of God,” as well. (Ac 2:11-40)

 

I was asked what "charitable" act can be done by a Christian that can not also be done by a unbeliever.

When you said this; "that even an act like giving someone a drink con be considered an act of prophecy if we do it 1) for the persons own good and 2) for God's glory." That statement points it up.

Anyone can give another a drink of water and both can do it lovingly but doing so out love, love for people and love of God, can only be done by believers. Doing so can make the act sacred.

 

So..... you read through all this hokem pokem, bored to death, and finally................ Ahhhhhh, a typo.

That will do for making your day, right? :rofl:

Such dedication to ......Ummmm well, what are you dedicated to?

Tell us why it's so important to you to distance yourself from God? And to be so obtuse whilst doing it? Tell us what you believe bro.

I'm actually praying that you respond with all the usual, fear filled, rejection based, juvenile gripes about God. Give us some of that uneducated dribble which is clutched tightly to the breast of all the scared little boys in the world. Show us your superior intellect, please.

C'mon, give me a shot.


-

 

Oh puh-lease. Spare me the drama.

What I want to distance myself from is believers who take everything so damn seriously all the time. God has 1000 times more of a sense of humor than the bulk of his followers. I guarantee you that he hasn't spent two seconds today thinking about whether or not somebody laughed at a typo in an obscure forum post, even if it was almost a worst-case scenario for this kind of a thread.

It's the internet. If I couldn't laugh at most of it, I wouldn't even bother to turn on my computer most days.

 

Please READ the guide lines for this forum.

Although I agree that God has 1000 times more of a sense of humor than the bulk of his followers and I might add, you and me for that matter. This is just not the place for you to post it.

You are not a Christian and thus are not suppose to be in this forum. Like I said earlier, if you want to post this kind of stuff just move over to the Christian forum were it will be more appreciated.

 

It's really not that difficult to live reasonably. There are things you'd want for yourself that you'd want for everyone, and it's easy to set this example: shelter, food, etc. Maybe even a little entertainment.

Anyone who would take for themselves at the expense of others isn't a true Christian, maybe. And it's up to the true Christians to make this division clear...

Perhaps some people innately can't control their greed and worship Jesus for this reason. Or at least claim they can't and are liars, and worship Jesus because they know they're innately liars. But maybe other people can't control disbelieving, and yet live humbly... So who is worse? Will Jesus be like, "Yeah, you were a terrible person, but you gave me power, so I like you." And then contrariwise, "You were a wonderful person, but you didn't give me anything, so to hell with you." ??? From what I've heard, he wasn't that selfish of a person.

(I'm not a Christian by the way... Kind of a dumb rule to only allow Christian thoughts on the matter. I mean, why do you expect to get great help exclusively from people who already attest to being sinners?)

 

Non-Christians aren't banned per-say, the idea is to have a place to discuss "Christianity" without the barrage of comments about your lack of intelligence, your heredity and your sexual proclivities, just because you have the temerity to believe in God.

 

Makes sense.

 

From your above post I figured you'd understand, even though you're not a "Christian".

 

I think it is reasonable to live reasonably, but I do not think it is easy.

How many people walk past someone who is down on their luck, while they themselves have a pocket full of change that could buy a hot lunch?

How many people avoid talking to those with mental illnesses while on public transit because it is "uncomfortable"?

It is physically easy, but difficult socially.

 

Well, you've got to determine what's reasonable and align that with your faith, I suppose.

It's kind of confusing when you're supposed to trust in God and at the same time you feel put on the spot to "save the world" at any given moment. You might wonder "What would I do?" And then that might make you question who you are as a person. But if you really trust in God, maybe you can just always trust that what you do was right without having to think about it.

But I guess Christians don't really think about God like that? Not always? Like God really has control over everything? You know...if you feel like handing someone a dollar...hand someone a dollar. Didn't Jesus say something about the spirit dwelling in us all? Or something like that...it probably knows what's up.

 

Ukr-Cdn, I found your post most thought provoking...regarding what could be considered prophecy or an act of prophecy. I know that when I was working in a diner, I would never refuse anybody a drink of water (much to some people's chagrin) because I just felt that would be wrong of me (as a believer in God).
Speaking for myself, I, too, find that living a Christian life is sometimes difficult...as far as my thinking goes anyway...
I've been looking for work and have found people's attitudes toward even letting me complete an application unbelieveable! (and I am not spouting off about what I do or don't believe in) I guess I should just wish them a wonderful life, or what?!

 

...and by drink of water, I really mean a hot dog or beans and cornbread & water.

anyway, I find it to be easy physically to respond to someone in obvious need, as one would expect a Christian to. hey, that's easy peasy!

I am particularly finding it harder and harder to be kind and Christian-thinking toward people that are unnecessarily unkind, smug, judgemental, etc toward me.
but that is where I need to figure a way to let it go, or something, huh...

thanks for giving me an opportunity to vent...lol

 

Remember Lynn that the Bible says in the last days the love of the greater number will cool off, the real hard part is not being one of them.

 

This was really thought provoking neon-toast.

I guess that is what we strive towards. I think I used St Francis as an example earlier (as someone we have as an example, but a seemingly unattainable example).

He had a follower Br. Juniper who would act for the betterment of people without really thinking of any consequences. One brother was feeling ill (as the story goes) and wanted something to eat. Br Juniper went out to a field and found a pig, cut off one of it's legs and took it for the elderly brother to eat. Obviously the farmer was mad, so he stormed off to St Francis and asked him why he was harboring thieves. In the end, through Br Juniper's insistence that it w3as an act of charity, the farmer had a change of heart and donated the rest of the big to the other brothers. ( http://scottyr.posterous.com/brother-juniper-and-the-three-leg-pig )

This is something I see in your last line, that we should act with trust without really thinking. If it is something good, we should act. It may get us into worldly trouble every now and then, but does that really matter if we've built upon the Kingdom present here on earth?

 

It is really unexplored territory to trust in God (and one's self) like that. It reminds me of that passage about the fruit...good trees bearing good fruit. Isn't trust good? How can you have peace without trust? But on the other hand, it's scary, because it's so unknown. It requires really knowing that God is in control. But yeah...I suppose it can't be the kingdom if we aren't all certain there's a King.