no shame in being a christian

[anti_nietzsche]

Last week's Monday I made a bad mistake. It was the first day in the clinic, and I was introducing myself to the other patients in my group. I told some things about myself and then I mentioned that I am a christian. But then I remembered how some people don't esteem christianity and made the remark that I am able to shut my mouth if people are not

Comments

[pastorlenny]

I think it's silly to tell people upfront that one is a Christian. It has no positive relation to being a witness. In fact, just the opposite.

[anti_nietzsche]

I don't think it's silly. I've done that a few times, for example when I walk the city and see an old alcoholic sitting alone somewhere I might go to him and start a little talk. I'm not being offensive but I do try to bless the other people. And I always have the impression that God is with me in that. Even when they say no I just say be blessed and best wishes, and I can see in their faces that they will remember this talk.

[pastorlenny]

What does this have to do with identifying yourself as a Christian?

[anti_nietzsche]

I feel that if I stand for being a christian I can be a relay of God's love and blessings. For example, when I say to someone "God bless you" I think it has an effect somehow, that God will really bless this person. That's the reason why I am doing this.

[pastorlenny]

There is no comparison between saying "God bless you" and saying "I'm a Christian."

[anti_nietzsche]

I don't understand the problem you have.

[pastorlenny]

Introducing oneself as a Christian is completely counter-productive. I don't know any mature Christians who do this.

[anti_nietzsche]

You're working on nitpick street again?

[pastorlenny]

No, introducing yourself as a Christian is actually a central point of your OP.

[anti_nietzsche]

I think proclaiming that I'm a christian helps in doing away with timidity towards my new identity in Christ. I don't have to regard my faith as a shameful secret.

[pastorlenny]

I'm not sure that the best way to solve thr the problem of shame is to give others the impression of pride.

[anti_nietzsche]

I disagree that it's a pride.

[pastorlenny]

I didn't say it was pride.

[tinagsd2]

What??? The premise of Christianity is to spread Jesus and to hope for an eventual world entirely of Him. Some priests I have listened to say this actually IS Christianity...to SPREAD it and to spread love and to spread forgiveness and to knock and knock and knock on doors until people open up (Luke 11). And to spread it one must call themselves a Christian and identify as a Christian. Christianity has nothing 'stagnant' about it and has nothing to DO with just being a witness...it's about living God, not 'sitting' God in private. You can spread it by various means, but should never feel it's silly to indentify as one, upfront. If you offend, the person just ignores you, and actually you might not be making friends with someone you want to know better (because WHY deny Jesus...what sane and friendly reason is there to do that?). We are almost told to scream our faith from rooftops, but it's sad that we now live in a world that is actually offended when someone wants to spread LOVE and forgiveness and loving your neighbor and

[pastorlenny]

What does this have to do with introducing oneself as a Christian? Certainly we have no examples in scripture of anyone introducing oneself as a follower of Christ.

[honeygirl1946]

Each of the Epistles begins with Paul introducing himself as a follower, a servant, or a prisoner of Jesus Christ. In Philippians, Paul introduces himself and Timothy the same way. In Thessalonians, Paul includes Silas.

James also introduces himself as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ in the beginning of his letter. Peter calls himself an apostle of Jesus Christ in his letter to the refugees.