What is the Practice of Christianity?

E

earl

?
Messages
1,623
Reaction score
19
Points
38
Location
Kansas
I've probably overshared my beliefs about the practice of Christianity lately. So I probably won't jump into this thread too. But thought it might be interesting to start one re what distinguishes the "practice" of Christianity. Buddhism for instance has both a set of beliefs about their ultimate realizatons and a diverse set of practices to assist the "believers" in implementing and/or realizing the truth of their beliefs. Christianity obviously has its distinctive beliefs. But what would you say are its distinctive practices to implement those beliefs-or more importantly-what are your personal practices? Earl
 
earl said:
I've probably overshared my beliefs about the practice of Christianity lately. So I probably won't jump into this thread too. But thought it might be interesting to start one re what distinguishes the "practice" of Christianity. Buddhism for instance has both a set of beliefs about their ultimate realizatons and a diverse set of practices to assist the "believers" in implementing and/or realizing the truth of their beliefs. Christianity obviously has its distinctive beliefs. But what would you say are its distinctive practices to implement those beliefs-or more importantly-what are your personal practices? Earl
Click to expand...
Put on a uniform, jump in the water, save lives, go to sea, stop drugs from hitting the streets, pull immigrants from a watery grave, go home, help my neighbors, pray, sing and dance, and be grateful.
 
As a Quaker in the unprogrammed tradition, my practice is shared waiting in the light which I interpret as the spirit of Christ present in our midst.

A Quaker meeting for worship is often completely silent as we try to discern the will of God, but from time to time someone will be inspired to share something and will speak out of the place that was before words.

Outside of worship I try to live prayerfully and bring that same stillness into my everyday life.

qj
 
Q said:
Ever wonder why drugs are increasing in price, and good quality junk is harder to find?
Click to expand...

it is? that's news.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Matthew 10:8 (New American Standard Bible)

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give
Click to expand...
I'm not there yet
 
listen to Jesus and do what he commanded
LUKE 9;35 MATTHEW 28-19-20 :) AND ITS ALL IN THE BIBLE :)
 
Love ...

(Oh! I've just been informed that my message has to be ten letters at least)

OK then ...

Love, not because we derive any return/pleasure/benefit in some way — eros — but agape, which is the gift of self, without condition, without expectation, which includes suffering whatever **** comes by return ...

Proviso: Although this order of love involves forgiveness as a state of mind, and a turning of the other cheek — this does not mean the Christian is anybody's fool, or punchbag ... remember Christ said "give not what is holy to dogs" and "do not cast your pearls before swine" ... and there are examples enough of His own life to show that He made short shrift of any crap that came His way, and no-one took Him on lightly.

Thomas
 
"...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." - Matthew 25:40

While we are waiting....
 
What is the REAL practice of Christianity though?

We provide the ideals here...Love...caring for our fellow man...etc.

But what happens on the street?

Is that how all Christians on this board act toward each other?
 
wil said:
What is the REAL practice of Christianity though?

We provide the ideals here...Love...caring for our fellow man...etc.

But what happens on the street?

Is that how all Christians on this board act toward each other?
Click to expand...


here is one of the pratices of being a christian


While Jesus came to be a minister himself, he also prepared his disciples to be ministers.

He saw to it that his disciples were properly trained in the study of the Word of God and then that they preached that Word regularly

. The Christians of our century must do likewise.

They must be ministers preaching and teaching the good news of God’s kingdom to everyone.—Matt. 24:14.
 
Endurance and suffering....

What? You HAVE to suffer?

Naturally.... In a way we are all jesus when he wept.... We are within a world, that is so full of hatred, division, greed, blindness, deafness... In a world where there is pressure, and death and sin and war.... (there will be some that may say "weell it is only a few" or "it has decreased" or whatever.... A thousand dead is a tragedy... A thousand starving is a tragedy... A thousand locked in arms agaisn't his own brother... It is a tragedy, One dead is a tragedy... One starving is a tragedy, one at war... Is a tragedy....) [edit]oh also... makes me think of the sodom and gomorrah example to help explain my meaning...] What if You find 100000 10000 1000 1000 100 10 1.... You know? That works bot ways around a man who puts trust in god that is a miracle... Just like that of one man hating is a tragedy.

Within the bible... Does it not say, did HE not say that christians shall be targets of all such things? Naturally when you have such a mind set, you are not in harmony with this world, you are no longer in connection with it... You are ascending to a state far, far, far from that of Earth and it's ways, laws, morals, standards and so forth....

And as you grasp and understand these... You cannot help but be saddened and existance within such a realm you fail to see the will of YHWH.... And that is suffering.......
 
Alex P said:
Within the bible... Does it not say, did HE not say that christians shall be targets of all such things? quote]


christians and non christians suffer the things going on in this system,
things like war, crime, tragedy, death of loved ones, sickness ect ect .

but those of the true God have something else to contend with as well.


THROUGHOUT the history of mankind men of faith have been put to the test, harassed and persecuted by those opposing them.

This was true of Abel, who was killed by his own brother because his sacrificial offering to God was viewed with favor while Cain’s was not.


It was true of the Jewish prophet Jeremiah, who was thrown into a miry cistern for faithfully declaring the word of his God.


It was true of the founder of Christianity, Jesus, because of his exposé of religious hypocrisy and because of his willingness to carry out the will of his Father.

A record of the trials and faith of many such persecuted ones, both men and women of times past, is recorded for us in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews.



What courage it must have taken for these servants of God to maintain their faith when being tortured, mocked, scourged, put in bonds and imprisoned, even being stoned or dying by the sword!


As Paul, a disciple of Jesus, commented:

"The world was not worthy of them." And yet they all had not only a solid faith, an "assured expectation," but also the confidence that "God foresaw something better" for them. (Heb. 11:1, 2, 38, 40)


What was it that they looked forward to with such confidence that they were willing to endure any kind of trial?

It was the heavenly kingdom that these faithful men and women put confidence in,
"a kingdom that cannot be shaken," God’s kingdom of righteousness.

It is appropriate that the word "martyr," which is of Greek origin, literally means "witness," for many were the early Christian witnesses who endured persecution, even martyrdom, rather than abandon their faith.




Click to expand...
 
I think my belief on this is summed up in these lyrics

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in trying to fade into the faces
The girls teasing laughter is
carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chorus:
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chorus[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chorus[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jesus is the way[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Casting Crowns
[/FONT]
Click to expand...
 
I like that!

Our kids are practicing this one, simple but perfect for this thread I think:

Brother, let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I may have the grace
To let you be my servant, too

We are pilgrims on a journey
We are brothers on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load

I will hold the Christlight for you
In the night-time of your fear
I will hold my hand out to you
Speak the peace you long to hear

I will weep when you are weeping
When you laugh I'll laugh with you
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we've seen this journey through

When we sing to God in heaven
We shall find such harmony
Born of all we've known together
Of Christ's love and agony

Brother, let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I may have the grace
To let you be my servant, too
 
Faithfulservant said:
luna whats that song called and who sings it? I dont recognize it but it is perfect for this thread.
Click to expand...


The Servant Song (Brother, Let Me Be Your Servant)
Words and Music by Richard Gillard

1977

I think he is the same composer who created a lot of similar-styled contemporary hymns in the Catholic church in the 70's and 80's. I think (will check) that he also wrote Here I Am, Lord, one of my very favorites. *goes off to find a link*
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top