Christians, what is it like to have a personal relationship with Jesus?

[vorlon13]

That personal 'relationship' with Jesus, and that 'Jesus' they are talking about is the sum of a select group of Bible verses, not the entirety of Jesus as completely described in Scripture.

When I was a kid, one of my sisters had an imaginary horse. (not unlike Lucy in Non Sequitor) That imaginary horse did not stink up the house, never knocked over the furniture, didn't poop all over the place and other than being damn annoying as a real part of sis's life at the time, was pretty damn benign as far as real horses go.

So, this 'Jesus' most folks are fawning over isn't even the Jesus of the Bible, it (is 'He' appropriate when referring to an ersatz Jesus?) is a subset, an incomplete, partial and under-defined Jesus. It's like my sisters horse, or Danae's Lucy.

Smells of heresy to me . . .

[KevinM1]

For the record, I don't have a relationship with truth and good. Concepts don't make for good friends.

[brewer]

I give him $40 to mow my lawn every other week. Other than that Mr. Contreras and I don't hang out much.

[madog]

Ok, since I keep noticing that Christians (Evangelical Christians, particularly) tend to doubt that a former Christian was truly a Christian, arguing that the former Christian never truly knew Jesus and never truly had a relationship with him, then what does it mean for someone to have a true relationship with Jesus?

Detail for us all what your relationship with Jesus is like, and what makes you know that you are in such a relationship? Be as specific as can be. Avoid vagueness. Thank you.

 

This is both a blessing and a curse. as sometimes people who have spent most of their lives trying to serve God in a way that comes naturally to me tend to over look the simplicity but solid answers I've been given. At the same time I also find myself struggling to remind myself it is not me that produces these answers but the access I've been given to God's "google."
 

Yes I now see your problem .... having Google at your fingertips  can make you feel like you have all knowledge ... 

A bit of advice ...  depending on Google to acquire or maintain a faith is not the action of a well balanced person as you can find anything in there to support any delusion ....

If you will accept a bit of friendly advice ... stay off Google or even Bing one the the Devils search engines and just read the "Bible" and I am sure you will join us in the light after shedding the shackles of indoctrination 

[robvalue]

I'd love to hear just one thing Jesus or God has ever told anyone that isn't either incredibly obvious or couldn't be found out easily some other way.

Something other than the location of some fucking car keys. Something actually profound.

[PETE_ROSE]

What's it like to have a personal relationship with Jesus? Comforting, and loved in the knowledge that I have value to my Creator. Depressing and terrified for knowing what may happen to friends and family that do not know Christ. I shall not attempt to compare brainpans with the deep thinkers here in the forum but Christianity provided all of the answers that I was seeking; meaning of life, what happens when we die, why are we here, etc. I consider myself quite intellectual, well traveled and educated, so I readily admit that I did not like nor agree with everything that I have found, however I believe wholeheartedly that Christianity is where the true answers to my questions were found. Science and other religions (I despise that word), could not provide this to my satisfaction. Many people have personal objections or disagreements with what they find, for me I concluded that it was not about me, my personal objections, or hardships in life that I would like to lay the blame on God for letting happen. A lot of people have endured horrible circumstances in their life, or are living a life that puts them in contradiction to His will for us, this can be very difficult to square with.

You asked for specifics:

On a very specific and daily level I feel very different about death and as I get closer to the end of life since I have come to know Christ. I do not lay awake at night worrying about not waking up, or not coming home from work. Although I do not attend church, I have a Christian family and a relationship with Christ for support and fellowship. I have the feeling that I have value and worth to someone; spouses, friends and family can let you down, I feel like I will always matter to Him.

Hope this helps my friend.

[madog]

What's it like to have a personal relationship with Jesus?  Comforting, and loved in the knowledge that I have value to my Creator.  Depressing and terrified for knowing what may happen to friends and family that do not know Christ.  I shall not attempt to compare brainpans with the deep thinkers here in the forum but Christianity provided all of the answers that I was seeking;  meaning of life, what happens when we die, why are we here, etc.   I consider myself quite intellectual, well traveled and educated, so I readily admit that I did not like nor agree with everything that I have found, however I believe wholeheartedly that Christianity is where the true answers to my questions were found.  Science and other religions (I despise that word), could not provide this to my satisfaction.  Many people have personal objections or disagreements with what they find, for me I concluded that it was not about me, my personal objections, or hardships in life that I would like to lay the blame on God for letting happen.  A lot of people have endured horrible circumstances in their life, or are living a life that puts them in contradiction to His will for us, this can be very difficult to square with.    

You asked for specifics:

On a very specific and daily level I feel very different about death and as I get closer to the end of life since I have come to know Christ.  I do not lay awake at night worrying about not waking up, or not coming home from work.  Although I do not attend church, I have a Christian family and a relationship with Christ for support and fellowship.  I have the feeling that I have value and worth to someone; spouses, friends and family can let you down, I feel like I will always matter to Him.

Hope this helps my friend.

And you sleep better because you have found something that you think answers all the questions .... And for some yes it does, that was how religion was designed.

Religion answers all your questions with what you want to hear and if one religion doesn't give the answers you like their are other denominations or different religions that will ....

If you just want answers that you want rather than what actually is good luck to you, but that isn't a good enough reason to indoctrinate others and especially children 

[PETE_ROSE]

What's it like to have a personal relationship with Jesus?  Comforting, and loved in the knowledge that I have value to my Creator.  Depressing and terrified for knowing what may happen to friends and family that do not know Christ.  I shall not attempt to compare brainpans with the deep thinkers here in the forum but Christianity provided all of the answers that I was seeking;  meaning of life, what happens when we die, why are we here, etc.   I consider myself quite intellectual, well traveled and educated, so I readily admit that I did not like nor agree with everything that I have found, however I believe wholeheartedly that Christianity is where the true answers to my questions were found.  Science and other religions (I despise that word), could not provide this to my satisfaction.  Many people have personal objections or disagreements with what they find, for me I concluded that it was not about me, my personal objections, or hardships in life that I would like to lay the blame on God for letting happen.  A lot of people have endured horrible circumstances in their life, or are living a life that puts them in contradiction to His will for us, this can be very difficult to square with.    

You asked for specifics:

On a very specific and daily level I feel very different about death and as I get closer to the end of life since I have come to know Christ.  I do not lay awake at night worrying about not waking up, or not coming home from work.  Although I do not attend church, I have a Christian family and a relationship with Christ for support and fellowship.  I have the feeling that I have value and worth to someone; spouses, friends and family can let you down, I feel like I will always matter to Him.

Hope this helps my friend.

And you sleep better because you have found something that you think answers all the questions .... And for some yes it does, that was how religion was designed.

Religion answers all your questions with what you want to hear and if one religion doesn't give the answers you like their are other denominations or different religions that will ....

If you just want answers that you want rather than what actually is good luck to you, but that isn't a good enough reason to indoctrinate others and especially children 

[PETE_ROSE]

I'd love to hear just one thing Jesus or God has ever told anyone that isn't either incredibly obvious or couldn't be found out easily some other way.

Something other than the location of some fucking car keys. Something actually profound.

Hey Rob, how's the Brexit going?  I'm hoping to do a little speculation in the GBP to USD.  Everyone seems to think its going lower.  I do see value and some cash to be made there.  As for your post, I would point to the dozens of messianic prophecies in the OT that were all fulfilled by Christ.  It's really quite telling when all taken together.

[Minimalist]

I'm convinced.  Xtians are all delusional assholes.