How Should a Christian Act?

Lash wrote:

It "witnesses" to your heart. It is approved by God, and many times an event will occur that signifies approval of the message you recieved.

This is still 100% reliant on interpretation by a flawed mind.
How do you know what is approved by god?
How do you know you have interpreted the 'event' correctly?

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Some people know. Some don't. God's in charge of that aspect of the relationship--not people. Sometimes, I didn't get what I felt was a clear answer and it infuriated me. Sometimes, my questions or actions were acknowledged.
There IS room for error. Its like buying a Christmas/Hanukah present for a friend. If you know your friend, you know they'll like what you've chosen for them. If you haven't been around your friend in a long time--you've lost that closeness--it's hard to think of gifts they may like--you're uncertain, and after you buy it, you're worried that they may not like it.

So you are not certain of your faith?

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I can't imagine what gave you that idea.
If you're out of step with Christ, you can fool yourself into thinking you know what He's saying--when you don't have a clue. You can easily project your own desires onto the Spirit.

And if the bible is open to interpretation, how do you know you are not fooling yourself now?

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I know.

You seem to be implying an 'us and them' situation but you have failed to distinguish the 'us' from the 'them'

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I'm glad. There is no us or them as far as I'm concerned.
There's a lot of patience involved, listening, seeking through prayer, self-examination and time spent in the Bible, studying who you are talking to--and what He stood for.

Would you say everyone that follows this advice arrives at the same conclusions? If not, doesn't that disturb you at all?

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I took trouble to say that everyone doesn't arrive at the same conclusions--and that Christianity is not a One Size Fits All proposition. It doesn't disturb me in the least that they follow varied paths--as long as they do get to know the One they worship well. If it's not Christianity, I wish they'd call it something else. I do understand that many people who say they are Christians can't stand it when people have different Christian beliefs. That kind of thinking takes us away from Christ's intent, IMO.Hope that's at least marginally understandable.

I think I follow you, but I am left with more questions than I started with :/
A Christian always has questions--and that leads to intense study, that one day, likely leads to a quiet revelation and a close relationship with God. Questions are good.

[I do have to ask though, do you mean Christians should not pray in public or are you speaking of separation of church and state here? ]


Momma Angel,

I was thinking specifically of Matthew 6,5-6 which seems to me to be both a clear injunction to worship in secret and to be in accord with the general tenor of the gospels.

It is of especial interest because of the emphasis Christians often place on the very opposite. That is, that they stress the importance of church attendance and will proudly boast that they are regular churchgoers. Many people, both believers and non-believers, equate churchgoing with religion, but I have known a great many churchgoers that appear to have very little of the 'religious' - in the sense of 'spiritual' - about them, and a great many deeply spiritual people who never attend a church.

The verses in Matthew draw a sharp contrast between the recommended behavior and that of the hypocrites, who make a big issue of their public worship.

Echi--

You believe that the Holy Spirit is separate from you--and the Spirit of God living in you?

I don't know if I should go further in public. If you have any further--more personal questions in this direction, feel free to PM me. I want to protect your privacy.

The "separate" thing--attempt to explain my meaning, ....

Do you believe you are born with the Holy Spirit--or you acquire it during life somehow?

echi,

If the Holy Spirit were innate in all of us, why are those that do not even believe in the Holy Spirit?

Some people know. Some don't. God's in charge of that aspect of the relationship--not people. Sometimes, I didn't get what I felt was a clear answer and it infuriated me. Sometimes, my questions or actions were acknowledged.

I'm glad. There is no us or them as far as I'm concerned.

This is how we end up with so much crap, IMO, from that quarter.

I took trouble to say that everyone doesn't arrive at the same conclusions--and that Christianity is not a One Size Fits All proposition. It doesn't disturb me in the least that they follow varied paths--as long as they do get to know the One they worship well. If it's not Christianity, I wish they'd call it something else. I do understand that many people who say they are Christians can't stand it when people have different Christian beliefs. That kind of thinking takes us away from Christ's intent, IMO.

A Christian always has questions--and that leads to intense study, that one day, likely leads to a quiet revelation and a close relationship with God. Questions are good.