“need” Him. However, though you may recognize that you have needs only God can meet, you must not use Him to achieve your own ends. It is not possible to bargain with God. (I’ll do this if you do that.”) That is not Christianity at all, but a form of magic or paganism in which you “appease” the cranky deity in exchange for a favor. Are you getting into Christianity to serve God, or to get God to serve you? Those are two opposite motives and they result in two different religions.
You come to God because 1) He is your creator and 2) because He is your redeemer. If you were created by God, then you belong to Him whether you feel like it or not. Ask him to soften your heart, open your eyes, and enlighten you.
On the other hand, you may feel “no need” or interest to know God at all. This does not mean you should be indifferent or angry because I say you are a member of His creation and an object of His redemption. Because whether you recognize Him or not He is. This means that while you were still of no use to Him He sent His son to die for you (Romans 5:8) that you might experience His boundless love and grace.
Why do I need to know God?
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Now this is a matter of personal choice. You have to want to know Him, but here is something to think about: Our desire for personal knowledge of God is strong, but we usually fail to recognize that desire for what it is. When we first fall in love, when we first marry, when we finally get that job, when we at last get that house—these breakthroughs arouse in us anticipation of something which, as it turns out, never occurs. We eventually discover that our desire for that precious something is a longing no lover, job, or achievement can satisfy.
The satisfaction fades even before we close our fingers around our goal. Nothing delivers the joy it seemed to promise. Many of us avoid the yawning emptiness through busyness or denial, but at best there is just a postponement. There are several ways to respond to nothing satisfying us:
By blaming the things themselves – by finding fault in everyone and everything around you. You believe that a better spouse, a better career, a better boss or salary would finally yield the elusive joy. Many of the most successful people of the world are like this – bored, discontented, running from new thing to new thing, often changing counselors, mates, partners, or settings.
By blaming yourself – by trying harder to live up to standards. Many people believe they have made poor choices or have failed to measure up to challenges and to achieve the things that would give them joy and satisfaction. Such people are haunted with self- doubts and tend to burn themselves out. They think, “If only I could reach my goals, then this emptiness would be gone.” But it is not so.
By blaming the universe itself – by giving up seeking fulfillment at all. This is the person who says, “Yes, when I was young I was idealistic, but at my age I have stopped howling after the moon.” This makes you become cynical; you decide to repress that part of you that once wanted fulfillment and joy. But you become hard, and you can feel yourself losing your humanity, compassion, and joy.
By blaming and recognizing your separation from God – by seeing that the emptiness comes from your separation from God, and by forming a relationship with Him.
If I follow Jesus do I have to give up _________?
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This is a big question and a difficult one to answer. If I say yes then it sounds like Christianity is about following rules. Contrary to what most think, the Christian life is not about rules it’s about freedom. Freedom from things that would try to control you. If you do not believe that Jesus is the son of God, my job is not to tell you how to live. It is not my job to tell you how to be Biblical. I know some people think it is. They desire the world to be moral more than they desire the world to discover Christ. The Christian life is so much more than behaving certain ways or not behaving certain ways.
The law can keep you from killing someone, but only the Spirit of God can keep you from hating those who do great harm to you. The Spirit of God goes where the law can’t go. The Bible has very little to say to a person until they have a right understanding of Christ. So my main comment to you is: seek God! Look at Jesus Christ and discover if He is who He says He is. I don’t know what God will lead you to change once you have a relationship with Him. When you encounter Christ you get a whole new perspective on life. It changes the way you look at everything. Just like when you fall in love with someone, you are willing to change some of your ideas so that you will line up better with the person you love.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery... You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5
What Denomination Are You?
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