Giving Up my life for what I believe

[nev]

Giving Up my life for what I believe

Christianity is based on a man claiming to be the son of God dying, apparently to save his followers from the wages of their sin, and then rising again. Ever since then we have heard statements like “…. no greater love shown than that by a man willing to give up his life for his friends”.

What does it mean to give up my life for what I believe? Does it mean I have to actually die for it? How often am I challenged to do this?

I believe that it is as crucial, more involved but far deeper then just dying for some great cause. I believe that everyday and every moment of my life I am asked the question – what do I believe is right? The answer I give to that question is reflected in the way I think and behave! If I believe in a particular way of life and I live it regardless of any hurdles then not only am I living my beliefs but will actually die living them, and that is as great an act as any!

From the minute I wake up in the morning, to when I go to work; in the way I treat my family; the attitude I adopt towards my work colleagues; my actual work; how I manage my ambitions; the attitude that I face my difficulties with; looking after myself as much as I look after others: I am consistently challenged – do I do what I believe is right, do I behave as others do, what will people think of me, how far can I push the boat out to just being me?!

These are age old questions, and will always present that dilemma. But to achieve some level of inner peace I will always have to find my answers that honestly fit in with my beliefs, decide to what extent I am willing to apply them and then actually live by them; thereby giving up my life for what I believe!

[daffodil52]

Originally Posted by nev

Giving Up my life for what I believe

Christianity is based on a man claiming to be the son of God dying, apparently to save his followers from the wages of their sin, and then rising again. Ever since then we have heard statements like “…. no greater love shown than that by a man willing to give up his life for his friends”.

What does it mean to give up my life for what I believe? Does it mean I have to actually die for it? How often am I challenged to do this?

I believe that it is as crucial, more involved but far deeper then just dying for some great cause. I believe that everyday and every moment of my life I am asked the question – what do I believe is right? The answer I give to that question is reflected in the way I think and behave! If I believe in a particular way of life and I live it regardless of any hurdles then not only am I living my beliefs but will actually die living them, and that is as great an act as any!

From the minute I wake up in the morning, to when I go to work; in the way I treat my family; the attitude I adopt towards my work colleagues; my actual work; how I manage my ambitions; the attitude that I face my difficulties with; looking after myself as much as I look after others: I am consistently challenged – do I do what I believe is right, do I behave as others do, what will people think of me, how far can I push the boat out to just being me?!

These are age old questions, and will always present that dilemma. But to achieve some level of inner peace I will always have to find my answers that honestly fit in with my beliefs, decide to what extent I am willing to apply them and then actually live by them; thereby giving up my life for what I believe!

hi and goodbye

[abbey]

Hiya Nev, pay no attention to Daffy.
Being an Athiest i have to say i envy your belief, good luck to you.

[daffodil52]

Originally Posted by abbey

Hiya Nev, pay no attention to Daffy.
Being an Athiest i have to say i envy your belief, good luck to you.

hi abbey i can speak for my self ok daffy.

and the question is

prove it...i am a atheist 2 ..... ok believe in what.....

dust to dust ashes to ashes ,,,, nothin their " ok it happen years ago he's "dead"
now,. gone.... does'nt exist ok.... get a life......

[BabyRider]

Originally Posted by daffodil52

hi abbey i can speak for my self ok daffy.

and the question is

prove it...i am a atheist 2 ..... ok believe in what.....

dust to dust ashes to ashes ,,,, nothin their " ok it happen years ago he's "dead"
now,. gone.... does'nt exist ok.... get a life......

There was no question, daffy, just an (apparently) snarky comment. "Hi and goodbye"??? WTF does that mean?
What does you being an atheist mean? What does it have to do with anything?? What should nev "prove" to you in your opinion?
The rest of your post doesn't make any sense at all, so I'm not even touching that. Actually the whole post is pretty odd, but I am wondering what it is you think nev needs to prove to you....

[abbey]

Originally Posted by daffodil52

hi abbey i can speak for my self ok daffy.

and the question is

prove it...i am a atheist 2 ..... ok believe in what.....

dust to dust ashes to ashes ,,,, nothin their " ok it happen years ago he's "dead"
now,. gone.... does'nt exist ok.... get a life......

What happened years ago? who's dead?

[SOJOURNER]

Originally Posted by nev

Giving Up my life for what I believe

Christianity is based on a man claiming to be the son of God dying, apparently to save his followers from the wages of their sin, and then rising again. Ever since then we have heard statements like “…. no greater love shown than that by a man willing to give up his life for his friends”.

What does it mean to give up my life for what I believe? Does it mean I have to actually die for it? How often am I challenged to do this?

I believe that it is as crucial, more involved but far deeper then just dying for some great cause. I believe that everyday and every moment of my life I am asked the question – what do I believe is right? The answer I give to that question is reflected in the way I think and behave! If I believe in a particular way of life and I live it regardless of any hurdles then not only am I living my beliefs but will actually die living them, and that is as great an act as any!

From the minute I wake up in the morning, to when I go to work; in the way I treat my family; the attitude I adopt towards my work colleagues; my actual work; how I manage my ambitions; the attitude that I face my difficulties with; looking after myself as much as I look after others: I am consistently challenged – do I do what I believe is right, do I behave as others do, what will people think of me, how far can I push the boat out to just being me?!

These are age old questions, and will always present that dilemma. But to achieve some level of inner peace I will always have to find my answers that honestly fit in with my beliefs, decide to what extent I am willing to apply them and then actually live by them; thereby giving up my life for what I believe!

Welcome Nev.

I never thought of the term "giving up my life" to encompass all of which you stated. It's true. AND, it's a daily on-going act of love.

Rarely are any of us called to make the 'big sacrifice', of my life or yours, but every single day we have choices of how we will live out that day.

I think this concept would be the same if one was a Buddist or a Muslin or another religion -- or even none at all.

Our daughter and grandson (plus her two dogs) are currently living with my husband and myself. It has impacted our lives, mine particularly because I am now home throughtout the day. A number of other members care for spouses that are ill.

When these acts of love are done, no one thinks of it as sacrifice, because they are done out of love. Wrapping one's mind around this, it makes God's son's sacrifice even more an act of love.

Thank you for your lovely post. I shall be passing on your thoughts to my friends and shall enjoy "walking on holy ground" today..................

[daffodil52]

Originally Posted by abbey

What happened years ago? who's dead?

is father xmass still alive ?

no only in the imagination off a child....... books are away off life before we had DNA

dino saw{LOL) rule the world for , 73 millon years ... now extinction come to mind...

were does that leave the believer..... true or false... that is the million dollar question....

work it out .. daffy50 oops dinosaur/? it a pity they didnt write a best seller of fiction...

[CountryDweller]

Originally Posted by nev

What does it mean to give up my life for what I believe? Does it mean I have to actually die for it? How often am I challenged to do this?

To me it means sacrifice. Sacrifice is part of life and it should be. It's not something to regret but something to aspire to.

I believe there are eternal consequences to everything we do on earth. You are free to choose what you surrender to, but you are not free from the consequences of that choice. I also believe that at the end of our life on earth, we will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well we handled what God entrusted to us. Meaning....that everything we do, even simple daily chores, has eternal implications.

How often am I challenged to do this? Every single day! No, it doesn't mean you acually die for it. You learn and grow from it. Do what you feel from your heart that is right. That's all He asks of us.

[Kathy]

To give up my life for what I believe depends upon what you are talking about.

For me, my religious beliefs are strong. Let's say a terrorist grabs me and says that I must denounce Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior or be shot in the head. They might as well as shoot me because I am not going to deny Him.

Now, if the same terrorist says, "Tell me you like Coke better than Dr. Pepper or get shot in the head", I am going to tell him to get me a case of the Coke and I'll drink every drop in front of him and ask for more!