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Jesus as Lord - why is this appealing to so many?
#1
Jesus as Lord - why is this appealing to so many?
One of the (many) things I don't understand about Christianity is the notion of wanting Jesus to be your lord. To want to genuflect before him and be ruled over by him. As an American, the idea of a central, non-democratically elected leader is completely anathema to my beliefs, and it confuses me that so many self-proclaimed patriots here seem so willing to be lorded over in a divine sense. IMO, a beneficial dictator is still a dictator.

So, Christians of AF, why do you want to be lorded over by Jesus? Why is this something you desire?
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#2
RE: Jesus as Lord - why is this appealing to so many?
(January 30, 2018 at 3:14 pm)KevinM1 Wrote: One of the (many) things I don't understand about Christianity is the notion of wanting Jesus to be your lord. To want to genuflect before him and be ruled over by him. As an American, the idea of a central, non-democratically elected leader is completely anathema to my beliefs, and it confuses me that so many self-proclaimed patriots here seem so willing to be lorded over in a divine sense. IMO, a beneficial dictator is still a dictator.

So, Christians of AF, why do you want to be lorded over by Jesus? Why is this something you desire?

Because I believe Jesus is God, and I believe God is goodness and love. Also, "I am the way and the truth and the life", and all that. I want to surrender myself to those things because I think they are the ultimate fulfillment.
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly." 

-walsh
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#3
RE: Jesus as Lord - why is this appealing to so many?
It helps that one person's version of Jesus is not always the same as another person's. Jesus is a standin for their own ego, which is why a lot of people get violent about others not worshiping this supposedly all powerful deity.
Poe's Law: "Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is impossible to create a parody of Fundamentalism that SOMEONE won't mistake for the real thing."

10 Christ-like figures that predate Jesus. Link shortened to Chris ate Jesus for some reason...
http://listverse.com/2009/04/13/10-chris...ate-jesus/

Good video to watch, if you want to know how common the Jesus story really is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88GTUXvp-50

A list of biblical contradictions from the infallible word of Yahweh.
http://infidels.org/library/modern/jim_m...tions.html

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#4
RE: Jesus as Lord - why is this appealing to so many?
(January 30, 2018 at 3:18 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote:
(January 30, 2018 at 3:14 pm)KevinM1 Wrote: One of the (many) things I don't understand about Christianity is the notion of wanting Jesus to be your lord.  To want to genuflect before him and be ruled over by him.  As an American, the idea of a central, non-democratically elected leader is completely anathema to my beliefs, and it confuses me that so many self-proclaimed patriots here seem so willing to be lorded over in a divine sense.  IMO, a beneficial dictator is still a dictator.

So, Christians of AF, why do you want to be lorded over by Jesus?  Why is this something you desire?

Because I believe Jesus is God, and I believe God is goodness and love. Also, "I am the way and the truth and the life", and all that. I want to surrender myself to those things because I think they are the ultimate fulfillment.

But why is surrender necessary?
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#5
RE: Jesus as Lord - why is this appealing to so many?
(January 30, 2018 at 3:14 pm)KevinM1 Wrote: One of the (many) things I don't understand about Christianity is the notion of wanting Jesus to be your lord.  To want to genuflect before him and be ruled over by him.  As an American, the idea of a central, non-democratically elected leader is completely anathema to my beliefs, and it confuses me that so many self-proclaimed patriots here seem so willing to be lorded over in a divine sense.  IMO, a beneficial dictator is still a dictator.

So, Christians of AF, why do you want to be lorded over by Jesus?  Why is this something you desire?

I wouldn't say that it was something that I was seeking for when I became a Christian or anything.

I don't have authority issues though (probably good, because there are many authorities over me), so I don't really understand your problem. 

And in retrospect, when I wanted to be my own ruler and go my own way, it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.  I prefer my life now.
It is said that an argument is what convinces reasonable men and a proof is what it takes to convince even an unreasonable man.  - Alexander Vilenkin
If I am shown my error, I will be the first to throw my books into the fire.  - Martin Luther
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#6
RE: Jesus as Lord - why is this appealing to so many?
People don't like contemplating that they have to make decisions for themselves in this life. That this is the only life you get. Because that gives people such a sense of existential dread, it's easier to just surrender the decision making over to someone else, especially if you imagine that person has divide authority.
[Image: dcep7c.jpg]
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#7
RE: Jesus as Lord - why is this appealing to so many?
(January 30, 2018 at 3:34 pm)RoadRunner79 Wrote:
(January 30, 2018 at 3:14 pm)KevinM1 Wrote: One of the (many) things I don't understand about Christianity is the notion of wanting Jesus to be your lord.  To want to genuflect before him and be ruled over by him.  As an American, the idea of a central, non-democratically elected leader is completely anathema to my beliefs, and it confuses me that so many self-proclaimed patriots here seem so willing to be lorded over in a divine sense.  IMO, a beneficial dictator is still a dictator.

So, Christians of AF, why do you want to be lorded over by Jesus?  Why is this something you desire?

I wouldn't say that it was something that I was seeking for when I became a Christian or anything.

I don't have authority issues though (probably good, because there are many authorities over me), so I don't really understand your problem. 

And in retrospect, when I wanted to be my own ruler and go my own way, it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.  I prefer my life now.

Well, there's authorities over everyone, but in the most important cases they're elected by the people. Even those that aren't (bosses, parents, whatever) can be ignored/switched once one becomes an adult without much in the way of negative repercussions. People can switch jobs, move away, etc. The relationships aren't just freely entered, but can be freely left (and, in the case of employment, there's sometimes collective bargaining in place).

That's very different, IMO, than being lorded over. I don't bend knee to my mom or my president.
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#8
RE: Jesus as Lord - why is this appealing to so many?
(January 30, 2018 at 3:19 pm)KevinM1 Wrote:
(January 30, 2018 at 3:18 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: Because I believe Jesus is God, and I believe God is goodness and love. Also, "I am the way and the truth and the life", and all that. I want to surrender myself to those things because I think they are the ultimate fulfillment.

But why is surrender necessary?

When you get married you give up being one person in order to join with and become one with, another. Your life isn't just your own anymore. You share. Everything you do, is with the other in mind. In that way, you surrender your life to them by surrendering your singlehood and whatever you would otherwise have done on your own whim. The surrender is necessary for the marriage. But at the end of the day (assuming the marriage is good and the other person has also done the same for you), that surrender of self to your spouse/marriage brings you a great sense of fulfillment.

And so it is with God. As human beings we have certain natural tendencies which are at odds with goodness and love. We have a natural tendency to be greedy and prideful. So if we want to embrace all that is good, we have to surrender the parts that are bad and selfish. Its a daily, on going battle of course. But this is what I mean when I say "surrender to God," and that's why the surrender part is necessary.
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly." 

-walsh
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#9
RE: Jesus as Lord - why is this appealing to so many?
The desired end is a just society. Democracy is only the means to that end and its effectiveness in doing so is contingent on the virtue of its citizenry. Unless the body politic recognizes an authority higher than its own general will it is nothing more than an amoral mob.
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#10
RE: Jesus as Lord - why is this appealing to so many?
I'm no historian or anthropologist but there might be something to be said about feudalism during the time the books were written. Just like one would be comforted to know that you were a vassal to a strong earthly lord or king, wouldn't one also be comforted knowing he was a vassal or even a child of the ultimate capital K king?
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