A cliché about that Christianity is that it is not a religion but a relationship between God and man. However, this relationship aspect of religion started before Christianity.
The Old Testament reverberates with references to a failed relationship with Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. From the story of Adam and Eve to the cries of the martyrs in the Book of Revelation there are conversations between God through His prophets with people, conversations both with the redeemed and the rebellious.
Everyone has a relationship with God even if they are denying the existence of God or remain ambivalent as to His existence. Any position about God may be defined in terms of a relationship. Atheist and agnostics may claim it is not possible to have a relationship with something that does not exist. However, ignoring a reality does not make it go away any more than believing something exits makes it a reality. The point is that Christianity begins with the belief that there is a God and as such all of creation is encompassed in how the creation relates to the creator.
There are two primary questions about God every Christian should be able to answer.
1. How do you know about God? This should be a simple answer.
2. What do you know about God? Depending upon how specific and detailed one answers this question will determine how many categories are included.
There is one secondary question about God.
What is the proper response to God?
Is what you believe about God any different from how you learned of God?
There may be many who call themselves Christian but what they believe about God is different from the Bible. Some of these Christians believe things about God from other religions, cults, pop culture, or fads. Their answer of the question, “What do you know about God?” may vary significantly from the revelation in the Bible.
How the three questions above are answered will reveal what kind of Christian one is claiming to be.
The Old Testament reverberates with references to a failed relationship with Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. From the story of Adam and Eve to the cries of the martyrs in the Book of Revelation there are conversations between God through His prophets with people, conversations both with the redeemed and the rebellious.
Everyone has a relationship with God even if they are denying the existence of God or remain ambivalent as to His existence. Any position about God may be defined in terms of a relationship. Atheist and agnostics may claim it is not possible to have a relationship with something that does not exist. However, ignoring a reality does not make it go away any more than believing something exits makes it a reality. The point is that Christianity begins with the belief that there is a God and as such all of creation is encompassed in how the creation relates to the creator.
There are two primary questions about God every Christian should be able to answer.
1. How do you know about God? This should be a simple answer.
2. What do you know about God? Depending upon how specific and detailed one answers this question will determine how many categories are included.
There is one secondary question about God.
What is the proper response to God?
Is what you believe about God any different from how you learned of God?
There may be many who call themselves Christian but what they believe about God is different from the Bible. Some of these Christians believe things about God from other religions, cults, pop culture, or fads. Their answer of the question, “What do you know about God?” may vary significantly from the revelation in the Bible.
How the three questions above are answered will reveal what kind of Christian one is claiming to be.
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