I have been wondering the question, "Why is Jesus important or not important to others?" since that last podcast episode which prompted the launch of this forum. Here are a few of the reasons Jesus is important to me:
1) He has a character and life worth following. Through history there have been a lot of leaders. Some have been very passive and waited for others to change. Some have been violent and forced people to be shaped. I believe you evaluate a word view based on the teaching and life of it's founder. I think Jesus had the best teaching and lifestyle and that makes His a world view worth following.
2) Payment for our screw ups. A lot of people like to say that people are basically good and do bad things on occasion. From my personal like experience and observations I see people as being basically bad while occasionally doing good things. There needs to be some repayment when I go before someone who has authority over me personally and has said there will be judgment. That's what Jesus did.
3) Getting To Know God. It's been said that the only way to the father is through Jesus. God created us and loves us more than we can understand. I want to get to know a God like that. His character, his reasons, and where to see him at work.
These don't encapsulate all my reasons. Some may even need more explanation. What I am really wondering is "Why is Jesus important or not important to you?"
Too simple....
This answer may be too simple, but I'm gonna say it anyway:
He is God.
Yeah, I know...sounds dumb. But for me, it's a fact. Yes, he lived an inspiring life. Yes, he paid for our sins. Yes, he proved his ultimate love for all of us screwups. But in the end, I have no choice. He's God therefore he will get my love, respect and obedience.
In my eyes, too many people forget this fact. They think they have a choice. They think they can either believe he's God, or believe he's good, or believe he rescued them or not, or believe he just doesn't exist. And they think what they believe can alter facts. It's like me deciding that I'm never going to die. I can live like that. I can pretend it will never happen. I can make fun of people who prepare for their own deaths...but in the end I'm going to die. My beliefs didn't change that fact.
So, I guess for me, it's not really a question of "is He important to me?". It's a fact that I must deal with whether I want to or not (luckily, He helps me deal with this). Otherwise, I feel I'd just be burying my head in the sand.
Too direct?
-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.bobchristenson.com
Choice
I don't want this to turn into a rant about what we think people should believe. That is a topic for another time.
I am curious of what people think about the question "Why is Jesus important or not important to you?"
Because he is God is a good answer. I would like to know what others think. I know we have people who listen to the show who think Jesus isn't important to them. I am curious why they think this way. There are others from all over who think Jesus is important. Why to them, personally?
So, please... tell us what you think and why. No pressure. This question has just peeked my curiosity.
Matt Farina
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.mattfarina.com
Oh I see...
Oh I see...so my answer wasn't right. My apologies. :)
What i listed there is exactly why Jesus is important to me....because you can't escape the reality that He is God as much as you (or I) try...
sure, seems too easy, or close minded, or whatever, but it's either that, or I make up some super-spiritual sounding answer that isn't real to me...
-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.bobchristenson.com
Jesus
He is important to me because he cared for me. He loved me enough to die for me. He sacrificed himself for my sins. He said, Greater love hath no man than this than he lay his life down for his friends.
And then he did it. He wasn't just talk. He said he loved us and then he showed us how much.
So that is why he is important to me. He loved me, he came down to my level and sacrificed his life for mine. And not only sacrificed himself, but rose again and is now praying for me.
Jesus is such an important part of my life. Not just as Saviour, but as an example and a role model. He had an answer for anything that came against him. And what is incredible is, we have the potential to be just like him.
Jesus said we can do the same works he did and not only the same but greater. Why greater, because instead of one Jesus, now there are thousands of people doing His work all over the world. Its an incredible thing.
And now I'll stop typing since looking at what I've typed, I'm starting to ramble.
Why Jesus?
I wonder what my life would be like if my brother at the age of 15 didn't ask my Mom to take us to church after watching a television program. I was 4 years old, and gave my <3 to the Lord that year.
In high school, I fell away, until a couple years into college, after a crippling injury when God came after me in such a loving way and I finally surrendered to him again. I can't say it's because of the injury, because I wasn't coming to Him as a crutch, it was deeper than that, I always believed even at the pinnacle of my rebellion - I was still rebelling when the Lord won me over with love.
That being said, without my early roots and teaching I don't know how I would be living. I'm very thankful I grew up with the truth - even when I wasn't living it. So for me, Jesus is important because I believe the Bible, and the Bible says it's all about Jesus!
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Thanks for the feedback
Thanks for the feedback. I love reading the different stories on this.
Matt Farina
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.innovatingtomorrow.net
www.mattfarina.com
The Answer to Why Jesus is important
These are MUST-READ books that will really answer your question... if you have any doubts or if you want to gain more insight about what life is really all about:
1. I Don't Have Enough Faith TO Be An Atheist by: Norman L. Gesiler and Frank Turek
2. The Purpose Driven Life by: Rick Warren
3. 8 Steps to Create the Life You Want by: Dr.Creflo A. DOllar
and check out a bunch of cd's from Lighthouse Catholic Media
my favorites are these life changing cd's so far:
Former Drug Dealer To The Catholic Priesthood by: Fr.Donald Calloway
Not Ready For Marriage
Trust me, if you do your part on yielding to this, it may drastically change your life and get you out of some life problems and difficulties along the way. I know a lot of people out there talk the talk but lack the action.... something always seem to hold people back. So please, check these out and spread the word to friends, family members, or anyone who's troubled that you can save the life of if you hand them at least one of these so they could lay their eyes on some life-saving information.
I am greatful for your time in reading this...
God bless you.
CHeck out this cool CHristian punk rock band: Stellar Kart