In Reply to: My Beef and Stake with Christianity as a Relgion posted by CB on November 09, 2006 at 19:43:42:
I think I've come to this particular set of conclusions about how to live my life because I love Jesus. It's OK if he turns out to be a figment of my imagination that's based on debatable historic events. Living with the possibility that Christ'story is all a fairytale doesn't change the energy that floats my boat. That's because the energy (Spirit), as I name it, makes the Jesus story real in my own life, if only to me.
I guess you pardon me (ahem, do you?), if I especially like this quote...whatever it motivates people, to be "worcaholics" for Jesus, at least He gets preached about (Philippians 1:18)...but I think, people really look up to people, who have the right motives.
But I think there is another side of the coin :although I think/I am convinced, that we're not saved by grace, we should do something for that faith out of thankfulness, love for God & others.
And by being too negligient about the message, we can also become a bad sample...TF and others come easily to mind.
The standard in the NT for believers is very high, so high, that one could get discouraged....but we don't "fly up" to the highest floors in real life either...it takes energy & time to go up the staircase.The trouble was in TF (and other charismatic groups)...you got made to feel bad, if you didn't have this & that gift or were shining brightly for HIM...what's your sin, brother/sister
Although that is a valid question, it's an equally valid question, whether we should focus so much on the gifts, as a show off, for how spiritual we are.That's how TF is/was a lot & in the end, I didn't notice any special gifts at all...all that hype for "nothing"
I believe, His energy will continue to float your boat & please remember: the historians weren't eyewitnesses....as Gödel, Heisenberg have high significance for the idea of uncertainty in math & physics, we shouldn't think, that historians can prove or disprove anything they like or dislike.
He that has begun a good work in you....